Joys of Kitchen Usage:

Kitchens are one of my favorite rooms in houses.

I think it is because so many wonderful family memories happened in the kitchen.

Like when my sisters and i would be doing our home schooling,

and my mom would be jump-roping in the kitchen.

or when we would clean up after dinner and mom and dad were dancing.

to disco music.

or michael jackson.

(or whatever was catchy on the radio.)

and those times that daddy would come home from work, and all of us were sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen, eating chips, salsa, and drinking coke.

and the memories of peyton joining our family, and he was restricted to living only in the kitchen....until he got mom wrapped around his little finger, and she let him roam the entire house, little, by little.

and now, with my husband wrapping his arms around me, while i'm washing dinners, cooking, or cleaning...

yes, so many memories happen in the kitchen. too many to even describe.

although i wish i had time to go into detail of my sweet family and the times in the kitchen.

don't you think food brings people together?

that's for another time-maybe i'll write about the beauty of the dining room one day.

but for now, let's talk about the kitchen.

and the wonderful uses for it.

kitchens aren't always used properly.

but here are only some ways they should be used:

kitchens should:

be full of kids, gathered around a table...

have lots of laughing and talking...

be a place that even little ones can help mom out...

and suck on a spoon...

kids, puppies, and nerf guns are welcome...

and is a place where yummy cookies are made...

a place where little girls can get right in and messy with the cooking ingredients...

a place where singing and dancing can happen...

no matter how loud, out of tune, or crazy it gets...

[and praising Jesus is a given]

and pictures of dear people are taken...

and there is never a shortage of room or seats...

because the counters usually have bottoms sitting on them ready to talk, laugh, or sing with you.

[and mommas give their babies kisses]

and in the end, after burning all those calories having such fun,

your tummy gets a yummy treat.

and you get the beautiful gift of time with those that you love.

and after all that is said and done,

and the cookies are all gone,

and all you see are big grins, smiles, and more laughs,

you can't help,

but want to do it again.

i told my husband that one day, when we have a house, i want a big spacious kitchen with an island and bar stools...

so we can do just these things in the kitchen.

[p.s. anne, i love your kitchen and the ways you use it...]

kitchen courtesy of the dahlhauser family.

me? 23?

my birthday was on thursday:) i'm 23! it doesn't feel much different than 22. or 21. in fact, i still kinda feel like i LOOK like i'm 16. at least-that's what i get alot at school. oh well...i don't know why they think that.

to start my birthday off, i drank my coffee and colored while listening to K-LOVE. talked to my family on the phone and enjoyed the quietness of the morning, because everyone else in the house was asleep.

[silly me. this is me as a mermaid. i look cute with a tail, don't i?]

so are you ready to see what this sweet man got me?

my husband's birthday surprise for me was this! eeee! A 12.2 Canon Rebel xsi.

i squealed. for like ten minutes straight. because it's a rare occasion for him to surprise me completely with something i absolutely do not expect. (because i usually figure it out.) but this time- eeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i've been playing with it, but still am figuring out all the settings and stuff. i don't know if i'll get the hang of an SLR camera! But i like the challenge!

this crazy gal was here for my birthday.

she's my newest seester!

and she let me take numerous pictures of her to test out my camera:)

so, they are not anywhere near their full potential. and the whole crisp and vibrant picture is a work in progress-but i'll let you see my progress learning how to use this camera by posting pics. hehe we'll see. for now, i'll just have fun pushing the buttons and hearing the cha-chik sound that the shutter makes.

work day

our church had a work day this weekend. we worked mostly on the outside of the church, cleaning up the yard, plants, and digging up the ugly to replace with new beauty:)

my job was to replace the old mulch in the brick box, with new mulch. I weeded, picked up sticks, and then replaced the mulch. whatdya think?:) it was alot of fun-i enjoyed it, even though i spent most of the day on my hands and knees.

before:

after:

after i was done, Tammy, our church's organist/pianist, taught me how to plant flowers. THAT was fun:) it was like playing with dirt, but getting something beautiful out of it.

i'm thankful for the beauty of service. the church worked well together, and the outside of the church is cleaned up and looks inviting:)

lighthouses, lakes, and skipping stones

just a fore-warning-this post has many pictures.

i've been looking through them over and over again: i still can't believe they were here in Storm Lake! The three days they spent here were some of my favorites.

the two men in my life: my daddy and my husband. two godly men that reflect the the Lord.

I am one blessed woman, having these two amazing men's love in my life.

i can't express how much i just love them.

my daddy is full of wise counsel and does it with so much love.

[daddy testing out the pulpit]

my mom. she is full of laughter and joy. she is so wise in her ways from following the Lord all these years. I think hearing her encouragement on how to be a wife and take care of my home and husband is some of the best advice I've ever gotten, because she not only shares this wisdom with me, but she lives it, and both Ryan and I see it. I love talking to my mom. I love her input. and her contagious laughter.

[mom wanted to see the church from ryan's view at the pulpit.]

[she was trying to skip stones on the water.]

my lil sister and i have had many years and summers together, just the two of us. i think not spending the summer with ashley will be what i miss most about going home for the summer. Ashley and I can entertain each other for hours, and no matter what we do, it's just fun because we're together. we stayed up late, camped out in the living room, took tons of pictures, and played outside together. It was so cool having her here in Storm Lake in my own home! I think a summer month with her in Storm Lake needs to be planned and played out.:)

[mom and dad took us out for a big lunch at a yummy mexican restaurant.]

[sweet sisters]

we spent alot of time by the lake, skipping stones, taking pictures, and talking. we try and savor every moment we have together. our family is pretty simple: just put us together and we're happy.

[skipping stones. mom and ashley attempted. dad, ryan and i were successful.;)]

walking as a family by the lake. parks in storm lake are so well maintained and pretty!

[incomplete: we're missing one gamboa girl. but it's a nice picture anyways.]

on their last night, ryan cooked dinner-fabulous fabulous steaks.

ashley and i switched turns sitting in the middle of the front seat. we liked having three people in the front. it was fun.

aren't my parents cute?

after having the family here, we feel refreshed, encouraged, and uplifted. it was a blessing to have them here, and we were sad to see them go. although the apartment seems so quiet now, it's a treat to think back at the beauty of the family's encouragement and love. can't wait til the next time we see ya'll!

we love you, mom, dad, peyton, ashley, and ate!

i am so thankful for my family.