last ZAO of the school year...

After a dramatic incident during the lesson last week of the diet coke exploding high in the church, we decided to take it outside and experiment with it with the kids...

and here's the last dinner together:) we had a pizza party!!!

the attempts at a group picture...kinda unsuccessful? the kids kept wandering off. 

anyway's here are some of the ZAOkids 2011:)

i think it's beautiful how diverse this pic is...

Thank you to the volunteers who made ZAOkids possible! You provided Lifeblocks of over 20 different skills, provided dinner, and gave your time to play, hug, and love these kiddos. You worked so hard, you gave your time, and you were wonderful to work with! The kids loved having you there!

God is great!!!

raindrops, wet toms, but a blissful anyways

Chicagoland was rainy but beautiful.

 I was so thankful to be back, even for the brief time we got to be in the city.

 I kept having this feeling that when I was done walking in the rain, I could go up to my sweet cozy apartment on the 30th floor of Chestnut St and warm up with a blanket next to the floor to ceiling window overlooking downtown Chicago, while drinking a hot mug of coffee.

but, nope, there was no apartment to go up to:(

(look, ilene Anthropology replaced the old American Girl store on Chicago Ave!!) 

These city sightings makes me long for city life again.

I had a hard time this past weekend trying to figure out why we live in a little town in Iowa when we had it good living in beautiful busy downtown Chicago.

How'd that happen?!

Why did we ever leave?!

I did alot of processing over coffee each morning in the Starbucks below our hotel. 

Yep, I admit, I was unhappy knowing I had to go back to that small town that was full of stress and busyness that I am pretty sure caused my very first gray hair on March 25th, 2011.

But if I looked past all the luxury of the city.

and looked past all the different smells and odors of pigs here in Iowa,

and oh, yeah, the lack of good places to eat or shop here...

and when i finally get over myself,

 I realized, I wouldn't want to go without the relationships that Ryan and I have here in Storm Lake.

I wouldn't know that sweet little boy that comes knocking at our door and joins in our prayer meetings with elderly folk.

I wouldn't know that 13 year old boy that sits on our counter or stands next to the sink while I'm cooking or washing dishes to talk about why his day "sucked" or "was awesome."

I wouldn't know those kids that drive me nuts at Zaokids but still looks at me with those big eyes that just  asks, "do you really love me?"

I wouldn't know those dear friends and church family from all over town that has loved and supported my husband and I.

I wouldn't know that girl that has a hard exterior, but soft and sweet heart on the inside.

I do miss the city.

I miss the memories.

I miss the independence.

I miss the activities.

but even with all that, I see the testimony of God's work in this little town of Iowa. I have seen Him work in ways I never thought I could ever claim to have witnessed. 

God is constantly amazing me. 

I'm glad He's got us here. 

I'm glad I know those people I love and care for here.

I even think that one day,

 I may even grow to love it here...

graduation details

Graduation Morning, Saturday, May 14, 2011

a great way to start the morning: @ starbucks with Oatmeal and my Bible for devos:)

and here's graduation at Moody Bible Institute: 

 amazing proffs that train us up...

 here comes the graduate, heading into the auditorium...

 Chairman of the MBI board and Moody Biblel alumnus: Jerry B. Jenkins

 full house at Moody Memorial Church (our old church!:))

Congrats to Katie Brandenberger! 

I am so very proud of this school.

Sitting in graduation and looking down at the graduates; I got teary eyed. (i know, i know, it makes me sound like an old woman, but I did!)

I am filled with so much Moody Pride. The school that sends out the best of the best into ministry and trains us up in God's Word and our ministry focus...

This school prays diligently over every single applicant that applies at Moody...thousands apply, but only 400 (ish) are chosen to train here. So many of those that I graduated with and watched graduate will be the next generation of dynamic speakers, missionaries, pastors, counselors, martyrs, etc... and are able to go straight into the mission field without worrying about debt-because MBI is a tuition paid college. We have the privilege of having Moody Bible Institute as our training ground, where even the name is respected all over the world.

As Dr. Robinson gave his address, and familiar proffs that I had sat under was sitting before my eyes, I felt my thoughts wander back to the days at Moody in Chicago, 

where you are in the heart of the city, ministry, diversity, and adversity. 

Because of all those reasons though, we are where we are today. 

We have 125 years of alumni that has left Moody and stepped into the world of full time ministry and we are blessed to be a part of that legacy that Moody BIble Institute holds.

Oh, and I went to visit ilene, except she wasn't in Chicago this time:( I missed her through my whole visit!

Congratulations, Moody Bible Institute graduates of 2011!

you are one of the few and proud that recieved a MBI education! Be bold and continue the legacy of Moody in the Lord:)

spring rolls, city walking, lights, and PEOPLE!

the Brandenbergers are back in Chi-town-there's so much to this favorite city of ours that brings back such wonderful memories.

The food is one of the very most best parts of this place.

Panang's was our first stop to eat at here in the city. 

Mmmm...Spring rolls. 

Spicy Fried Rice.

Green Tea Bubble Latte.

aaaah...why can't we have these kind of places in Storm Lake?

  

Tomorrow's Katie's graduation day. 

Can't believe it's already here! I remember when she just got to Moody...and I was trying to make a good impression on Ryan's sister:)

Crazy how time flies. 

[Happy Graduation, Moody Graduates of 2011!!!]

cracked me up...

this totally cracked me up...

such late nights...let's start a list:

It's been a crazy long couple weeks. Lots of great things that's happened, as well as somewhat burdensome things...but let's focus on some of the good.

In my 4th grade reading class, we are reading the book, "Becoming Naomi Leon." It's a great book and brings up pretty intense conversation and subjects but the kids will have neat project and are enjoying the book. Anywhoos, in this book this young girl makes lots of lists of things. So my 4th graders are doing that as well. Since the kiddos are doing it, I thought I'd do the same for you. That way you can know roughly what is going on in my life! 

So starting off with my, "Fun/funny things that happened this past week!"

1) Visiting with a friend in my living room when Ryan and Damian walk in from playing together outside. Damian ran into the bathroom rubbing his mouth and Ryan announced, "Damian thinks he has a mustache." (Ryan tried to convince him that it was washable...but Damian thought this was his entryway to adult hood;)) Ryan let him "shave" using his shaving cream and one of my razors (with the cap left on of course!) They finished his 1st time shaving with the studly smell of Adidas aftershave. 

2) Our fostering classes have been so interesting! you'd think a 3 hour night class might be long, but it's so intriguing and absolutely challenges us. It's great. It also helps that it's one night we get the chance to drive away from Storm Lake and enjoy French fries in the car together:). We can't wait to move out of our apartment and into a house where we can actually take kids in:)


3) Our buddy John is back in town! We haven't had too many game nights of Catan yet, because we've had really late night events, but those night that we get home before 9, we usually try to call him up:)


4) zAO kids has been fun to watch. The Lifeblocks have gotten to be pretty creative as you can see here. Took this pic with my camera phone, but this is their "castle" and i think they're making robots or something else too...

5) I have been so encouraged with our Perspectives team...and as perspectives ended this past week, ryan and I felt kinda sad that we wouldn't be seeing this part of the body of Christ weekly now. They've become ryan and my church family. but i've seen tidbits of the team here and there, so that's been nice:)

Sometimes, lack of sleep gets to me. This week, we've been getting home so extremely late that we basically tumble through the front door, and stumble into bed. We are so tired. I'm not even gonna hide it. It resulted in a complete emotional breakdown last night. 

Good things my husband is great at hugs and listening. :) 

that's it for now. 

i'm going to try and hit the sheets before midnight tonight:)

I wanna be you one day

I want to be my mom one day:

One day when I have kids,

 I want them to be able to snuggle in bed with me and I want to read chapter books to them while they listen and fall asleep next to me...because you did with me.

I want to take my kids Black Friday shopping and make it a tradition - because you did and I still love it today.

I want to be able to jump rope in the kitchen while homeschooling my kids...like you did with us. 

I want to teach my kids that their siblings and family are the built in best friends that God gives us...and I want them to see how my sisters and I are best friends ...because of what you taught us.

I want to be able to kiss and hug and cuddle and snuggle with my little boys and girls...because you did with me.

I want my kids to be able to wake up in the morning, and see me reading my Bible and praying, and go back to sleep comforted by the sight of their momma spending time with the Lord...just like you did.

I want my kids to see me hug, kiss, laugh, dance, and love their daddy...just like you did to my daddy.

I want to tell my kids their beautiful, even during their awkward weird looking stages in life...because you did even when I was awkward looking and nerdy.

I want to provide meals each night for my family to sit down and talk for hours...just like you did.

I want to take care of my husband and love him and make a nice home for him...just like you did for your husband and my daddy.

I want to listen to my kids make up skits, radio shows, songs, and annoying noises and let them go about doing it-  just as you did.

I want to be able to talk about everything with my kids - just like you did. 

I want my kids to come to me with their problems and dilemas, just like I could and can do with you. 

I want to go to every single sports game and event that my kids are a part of...just to cheer loudly for them just like you did:) 

I want my kids to see how much I love the Lord - just like I got to see in you.

I want you to know that as Ryan and I are going through the course of becoming parents to kids who do not have mommas that love them, that I am going to do my very best to be just like you. 

I want my kids to see my joy, to see my smile, to see my love...

just like you did.

Love you, mom...Happy Mother's Day.