taking stock :: currently

Making :: grocery list and to do list for the week. my favorite kind.
Cooking :: chili &  maple cornbread today. 
Drinking :: hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Reading :: Clive Cussler. This particular book for the 3rd time, I believe? Up next: Bread & Wine.
Wanting :: to go get acupuncture. and pumpkin caramel sauce from williams sonoma. and a dog.
Looking :: at the MLS listing for our neighbors house that just got flipped. who says you can't choose your neighbors... come on over guys!
Playing :: carbles. a new game we learned with friends yesterday.
Wasting :: one last roma tomato in our basket I just couldn't finish.
Wishing :: we had made it to an apple orchard by now.
Enjoying :: the mustard cardi I'm sporting today. with the big brown wood buttons.
Waiting :: for my cast iron skillet to bake in the oven. it's getting re-seasoned today.
Liking :: the way I re-organized the living room shelf for fall.
Wondering :: if I should get bangs. I think I've made up my mind. :)
Loving :: the length of Jared's hair right now. I really should note how long ago we cut it for special occasions.
Hoping :: the vikes win?
Marveling :: at the yellow trees. they are my absolute favorite.

Needing :: some new socks. my toes are too cold right now.
Smelling :: my fall candle. current fave: sweater weather from bath & body works.
Wearing :: my mustard cardigan with dark jeans and apparently an old pair of socks. ;) 
Following :: the same fruit fly around the kitchen. he has eluded me for too long.
Knowing :: that my God shall supply all my needs in accordance with his will. 
Thinking :: about the family photoshoot I'm headed off to here shortly.
Feeling :: full from lunch, cozy in my house, and thankful for weekends.
Bookmarking :: a site for a cozy loft getaway in Stillwater, and a page in my fave cookbook for roasted cauliflower with chickpeas and parsley.
Opening :: a jar of pickled beets. and eating right out of the can. thankfully Jared keeps his paws off those. ;)
Giggling :: when we quote lines from Over the Hedge. we watched it this week. Hammy cracks me up.
Planning :: our next fall fun day. Picnic is topping my list right now.

Thanks for the fun list idea, Jen! I'm going to try and pop back with a few of these Taking Stock posts occasionally. Especially during season changes. :) Happy Sunday, friends! 

this christmas.

and we hope you did just that. as you look back on this year, may you be able to see just how faithful the Lord has been in your life - big ways and small ways. we are so blessed.

"What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
 I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people." {Psalm 116:12-14}

this christmas we...

spent time with all our families and extended families in storden, mankato, iowa, & chanhassen
ate peanut butter balls
played loaded questions
got a home visit from santa
snuggled the dog
cozied up in some new sweaters
wore wool socks
sat in the dark to the lights of the christmas tree
played with our new ipad
found a new favorite drink
helped prepare a LOT of food
hugged a lot
rejoiced in the {continued} healing of a family member
enjoyed blessing and being blessed by our families
saw the movie Lincoln
went to the outlet mall
had friends over for dinner
shoveled some really sparkly snow
had the fireplace on
tried a new breakfast-date spot
enjoyed a few days off work & school
.... i could go on and on.

We close on the year thankful for the presence of a SAVIOR. Oh, how we need him daily. I am filled with gratitude, and an overflowing cup for all He provides. May He be GLORIFIED in 2013! 

These things I love...

* having jared home on a Saturday morning! Even if he does have to write a story....
* bing cherries
* "summer nights" from this album
* all the free stuff we've been getting
* my lilac soy candle, a scent of mn summer
* photobook of our Sami girl that mom sent in the mail. love.
* netflix instant streaming
* this hymn
* glorious morning muffins..... a heavenly healthy recipie from grandma barb

It's gonna be a good day, all!

3003 Snelling

For Jared and I, this place holds new meaning in the springtime. Not only does it bring back memories of our early dating stages, but the new life that explodes around campus puts a sense of excitement and joy in your heart. I felt it just going back there this weekend! It's almost hard to explain how the budding trees, flowers, and green grass makes you feel, but for those of you who have experienced the JOY of Northwestern in the springtime, I hope you can appreciate this. For those of you that haven't.... take a peek into some of my favorite things about spring at NWC..... (as well as pictures of the new building!)

New blossoms.

The view of the new Student Life Center as you come over the hill.

The tulips.

What used to be a dirty parking lot between the Courtyard and Totino is now quite pretty!

The Courtyard.

Standing in front of Riley looking over the new Maranatha Lawn. Part of the Student Life center is on the right. Jared thinks that the new lawn (which they downsized a bit) is unfortunately a bit too small for frisbee golf - a regular pastime here.

The greeness.

The side of the Student Life center next to Naz, like your'e walking/ from Totino to the entrance to Naz Chapel.

"Studying" on the lawn behind the (old) Student center.

Through the window - the new MC's. So much more space!

The white, smelly trees.

New building - and the white smelly trees that line all the sidewalks.

Walks around campus.

Another through the window shot of the new bulding - not sure what this area is, but we like the wood celinings!

The flowers in the courtyard (again, because I love them so much).

New landscape outside Totino - no more fountain, but much better stairs!

The feeling.

There's my wonderful husband standing on the campus we first met, became friends, and fell in love. The feeling of this campus in the spring brings me back to that place. I just have to throw in some Spring of '07 pictures for posterity sake. Would we have ever thought 4 years later we'd be coming back already to reminiss about that springtime as a married couple?! God is good.

You guys remember this night, don't you?! :)

Thanks, Northwestern, for wonderful springtime memories!! We will forever be grateful. :)

Little sisters

I was so excited. It had been far to long since I saw these 3 girls. We have spent many summers together while I was a PCA for Molly; at the beach, museums, doing girl stuff in their room.... the list goes on. Probably all too frequently I like to tell them how I came to see all 3 of them: Molly, then Laura and Haley, in the hospital when they were born. I remember it all! (Sure makes me feel o-l-d.) I actually remember confessing to their oldest sister that I didn't want the twins to come... that meant our moms would make us play with them too. :) But my perception on those two joys turned right around! I have never been more thankful for such sweet family friends. These girls are the little sisters I never had. I think of them as such, and I know they think of me as a big sister. They're so special to me! The bond they have also developed with Jared now, is truly awesome. He's a big brother they never had! So when mom + dad "be-bopped" to Hawaii.... guess who got to entertain them!? US! Here are some special moments, on this love-filled friday.

 Morning love - white hot chocolate & dark hot chocolate (unfortunately both weren't mine.) ;)

Breakfast love - a trip to Great harvest for apple "scruffins!" That's their mix of a scone + muffin top. Truly ingenious. I mean, it's the only part of the muffin you eat, anyway...

Sister love - had to let those "scruffins" settle. :)

Nature love - we walked Lake Calhoun to burn off those scruffins! It looks colder than it was - except for around the windy part of the lake!!!

Puddle jumping love - she was so sad at first when we couldn't find any good and muddy puddles. It's one of her favorite things to do in the spring! But just when we were losing hope......

The big guys came out.... VERY frequently. :) Dosn't that just make your heart happy?!! It does mine... and it looks like it did to Laura's too! Man, I adore these girls...

Picture love - We do love using our camera. :) And props to Jared for all these! I was probably skipping with Miss Molly while she was singing about the puddles. :) Lake Calhoun is a beautiful place.

Comfort food love - and what sounded better after a moderately chilly 4 mile walk? (That I somehwat turned into an aerobic walk much to the dismay of the girls... ;) Comfort food at its finest!! And I don't know about you, but this is in our top 3 for ultimate comfort foods!

Youthful games love - yup... we played twister! Funny how your not as good at it in young adulthood as you were when you were 7. :) Case in point, the hammy look on my face.

 The "good tired" love - we were beat! So we decided to hole up for the evening, watch a movie, and in Laura's case... take a nap! Fireplace was on, a blanket nest was created, popcorn was popped, and we were all happy as clams!

I wish I had more fridays to spend this way - carefree, nothing to think about.... with people I love. But even if they're few and far between, I appreciate them. So glad to consider these girls my not-so-little-anymore-I-guess sisters! They bring me true joy. :) And they filled up a FUN friday!!!
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Stay tuned for what FUN FRIDAY Jared and I have cooked up tomorrow!!!! We're starting early at 5am... This will be a good one, folks! But for now, enjoy your Thursday!

tuesday thoughts.

Laundry is going very well today.

(some days I'm extra slow. Not today!)

I've already started making dinner for tonight.

(mexican tortilla soup with special raspberry salad. Yum.)

Thinking about our ski trip coming up with Toni & Jake to Colorado!

(I miss my best friend so much. Jared and I are just jacked for this!

(this is us 4 years ago... but what we'll look like in 8 short days!)

I'm done with school for the term and loving it.

(it was time....)

The Fresh Balsam candle I'm burning is infusing our home with the goodness of pine.

(Bath & Body Works... 'ya gotta try it, thanks Amy!)

We have had/still do have something fun to do every night this week!

(and it gets capped off with CHRISTMAS.)

It's a cleaning day today.

(and that just makes me plain & simply happy.)

There are Christmas presents under the tree all wrapped up pretty.

(a few of them are tormenting me. Specifically a tiny box from my husband. :)

Remembering that Santa brings the presents... but Christ paid His life for me!

(to quote a song KTIS is playing often right now. Great message.)

HAVE A HAPPY TUESDAY, ALL!