I read about hosting a "Stuff Swap" in an issue of Real Simple sometime last year and decided to host one this month. It ended up being VERY fun and everyone took home all kinds of new treasures.
I invited ladies from work, ladies from their early 20s through their 50s, and instructed everyone to clean out their attics, closets, etc and bring everything to my house to swap one Saturday. I decided to do it in the middle of the afternoon and just did cookies and drinks as the food. I also set up all of the big tables in our house and organized my stuff into piles. We ended up with piles of books, movies, housewares, kitchenwares, purses, and then items still in their original boxes (thank you wedding showers!) I decided not to do clothes because we had a wide varitety of sizes and ages. Everyone unloaded their stuff and then we shopped like it was a garage sale.
It was so much fun! We all really enjoyed finding things that we needed, or just liked, and taking them for free! We did a first touch rule so if whoever wanted it, had to grab it first. I ended up with two new purses, a box of books, a few movies, and some very pretty necklaces!
We've decided to do it again in the fall and to trade more stuff! We also took all of the extra stuff to Goodwill so we spread the free stuff beyond ourselves as well.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's Resolutions
New Year's Resolutions
From 2010...
Mark: To visit his Great Grandpa and Grandma at least once a month
Amy: To do one "Indianapolis" thing each month
Together: To lose weight and get into better shape
How did we do?
Mark visits his great-grandparents at least once a week now.
I succeeded in doing quite a few fun Indianapolis things, not one every month but my resolution forced me to get out and try new things.
Together we lost 40 pounds and got in much better shape!
Looking ahead to 2011...
Mark: ------------ He's still deciding
Amy: To live in the moment and to work on being happy as a family of two.
Together: Continuing to enjoy our Bible study that we've begun and trust that
God will take care of the rest.
SO much of 2010 was consumed by dreaming/wanting/wishing for children for our family. We, as always, will continue trusting God in the placement and numbering of our children. Please pray with us as we hope for a child of our own.
God's richest blessings on your 2011!
From 2010...
Mark: To visit his Great Grandpa and Grandma at least once a month
Amy: To do one "Indianapolis" thing each month
Together: To lose weight and get into better shape
How did we do?
Mark visits his great-grandparents at least once a week now.
I succeeded in doing quite a few fun Indianapolis things, not one every month but my resolution forced me to get out and try new things.
Together we lost 40 pounds and got in much better shape!
Looking ahead to 2011...
Mark: ------------ He's still deciding
Amy: To live in the moment and to work on being happy as a family of two.
Together: Continuing to enjoy our Bible study that we've begun and trust that
God will take care of the rest.
SO much of 2010 was consumed by dreaming/wanting/wishing for children for our family. We, as always, will continue trusting God in the placement and numbering of our children. Please pray with us as we hope for a child of our own.
God's richest blessings on your 2011!
December Recap
I have abandoned my blog this last month and a half of 2010! So Sorry!
To recap life since Thanksgiving:
- I successfully coordinated an ornament exchange/dinner night out for the ladies at work
- We survived another work Christmas party
- Our house was decorated all month and looks beautiful this time of year
- Mark worked December 24, 25, and 26 so I played "Mark" and went to all of his family's events.
- I caught the stomach flu at Christmas Eve, then Mark caught it by the middle of the week, and then we came to Evansville to share it with my family as well.
(Mark says we'll have to work on receiving and giving better gifts next year)
To recap life since Thanksgiving:
- I successfully coordinated an ornament exchange/dinner night out for the ladies at work
- We survived another work Christmas party
- Our house was decorated all month and looks beautiful this time of year
- Mark worked December 24, 25, and 26 so I played "Mark" and went to all of his family's events.
- I caught the stomach flu at Christmas Eve, then Mark caught it by the middle of the week, and then we came to Evansville to share it with my family as well.
(Mark says we'll have to work on receiving and giving better gifts next year)
- We rang in the new year in Owensboro while celebrating our "Christmas" with Momaw
All in all, a wonderful month of celebrating the season!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Giving Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Top 10 Things I'm Thankful for 2010
10. The blessing of steady employment and income for both Mark and myself.
9. Our friends at CUMC and the lessons we've learned from them.
8. A new digital camera this year! It has been my first one that's not a hand-me-down and
I love it!
(Even though I haven't been so good at posting the pictures here on our blog.)
7. The blessing of TWO vacations this year - Clifty Falls and Georgia
6. The move of Lance, Julie, and Jordan to Owensboro so they are just 3 hours away!
Finally they are close enough to see on weekends! :)
5. "Really" living in Greenwood - I have doctors and a dentist now. They are
all wonderful ladies who have helped me through the year so very much
4. Our evening Bible study. Sharing with each other every night has been such a blessing.
3. The love, patience, and support of friends and family. I am so thankful
for the internet and USPS as those systems keep us in touch.
2. Our house. I have loved it from the minute we saw it in January. I love that it is HOME
1. The blessing of eternal life and God's beautiful promise of hope!
Top 10 Things I'm Thankful for 2010
10. The blessing of steady employment and income for both Mark and myself.
9. Our friends at CUMC and the lessons we've learned from them.
8. A new digital camera this year! It has been my first one that's not a hand-me-down and
I love it!
(Even though I haven't been so good at posting the pictures here on our blog.)
7. The blessing of TWO vacations this year - Clifty Falls and Georgia
6. The move of Lance, Julie, and Jordan to Owensboro so they are just 3 hours away!
Finally they are close enough to see on weekends! :)
5. "Really" living in Greenwood - I have doctors and a dentist now. They are
all wonderful ladies who have helped me through the year so very much
4. Our evening Bible study. Sharing with each other every night has been such a blessing.
3. The love, patience, and support of friends and family. I am so thankful
for the internet and USPS as those systems keep us in touch.
2. Our house. I have loved it from the minute we saw it in January. I love that it is HOME
1. The blessing of eternal life and God's beautiful promise of hope!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Amy's Week
Mark has been out in South Dakota for the past 8 days visiting Matt, Jenn, and the girls, thus I have had my second week alone this year. In July when Mark went to lead scout camp, I sulked around and let myself be miserable about being left at home while he was out playing in the woods. So, this time, I told myself that I was going to enjoy it. And I did.
I spent last weekend cleaning the house from top to bottom. I LOVE doing this! Yes, I am a freak at times! :)
The first part of the week I worked and enjoyed watching tv/movies that I wanted to watch.
Wednesday night I had some lovely lakeview ladies over for make-your-own pizza night. It was such a blessing to fill our house with friends and to catch up on their lives.
Then I spent the rest of the week doing whatever I wanted and eating the dinners I wanted - an asparagus, cheesey casserole that Mark hates for one. And I bought myself the boots I have wanted for two years.
I feel that I have wisely and prayerfully used some of this alone time to talk with the Lord about what I have going on in my heart. I feel that I was given some clear answers and some hope for my struggles. I have been so busy this year being an assistant, a co-worker, a new friend, an old friend, and trying to be a perfect wife that I had forgotten to just be Amy. And so, just for a week, I've been just me. Mark will be home in a few hours and I will be refreshed and renewed and ready to be MarkandAmy again. Oh how I've missed him...
I spent last weekend cleaning the house from top to bottom. I LOVE doing this! Yes, I am a freak at times! :)
The first part of the week I worked and enjoyed watching tv/movies that I wanted to watch.
Wednesday night I had some lovely lakeview ladies over for make-your-own pizza night. It was such a blessing to fill our house with friends and to catch up on their lives.
Then I spent the rest of the week doing whatever I wanted and eating the dinners I wanted - an asparagus, cheesey casserole that Mark hates for one. And I bought myself the boots I have wanted for two years.
I feel that I have wisely and prayerfully used some of this alone time to talk with the Lord about what I have going on in my heart. I feel that I was given some clear answers and some hope for my struggles. I have been so busy this year being an assistant, a co-worker, a new friend, an old friend, and trying to be a perfect wife that I had forgotten to just be Amy. And so, just for a week, I've been just me. Mark will be home in a few hours and I will be refreshed and renewed and ready to be MarkandAmy again. Oh how I've missed him...
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ugly/Beautiful
I was walking out the door to work one morning and looked at our fence and saw this:
I thought, "Ugh! What kind of 'Secret Garden' do we have growing here?!"
I was annoyed with the weeds until I saw this:
God is so wonderful! Even through life's "weeds" he reveals that all of His creations are beautiful!
I thought, "Ugh! What kind of 'Secret Garden' do we have growing here?!"
I was annoyed with the weeds until I saw this:
God is so wonderful! Even through life's "weeds" he reveals that all of His creations are beautiful!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
October Already?!
Where does the time go?! I wish I was as good at posting pics on here as some other blog friends but hopefully you can make time to catch up through my facebook albums if you want to see those.
September was filled with trips and visits once again. We enjoyed a weekend away with Mama, Dad, and Lu at Notre Dame! We shared classy pregame lunch with Great Uncle John, watched the Irish win over Notre Dame, and then spent a day in Amish Country and the Marshall Co. Blueberry festival.
Our other big news has been medical news. In August I finally broke down and went to the doctor for all of the problems that I had been experiencing this year. We discovered that my insulin levels were 10 points over the highest that they ever want them to be. I am, thankfully, NOT diabetic and my blood sugar is always well below the "pre-diabetic" levels so it is just become an issue of regulating and lowering my insulin levels. I am on week six of Metformin and doing much better already. I have lost 15 pounds already and the goal is at least five more before my doctor visit next month. I have also noticed that I am once again much happier and in control of my emotions as lowering my insulin levels has also improved my hormone levels. (Mark is glad to have a happy instead of teary wife) Please be praying as I continue to get everything level and normal again and please be praying for Mark as he puts up with me :)
God's Blessings on your fall season!
September was filled with trips and visits once again. We enjoyed a weekend away with Mama, Dad, and Lu at Notre Dame! We shared classy pregame lunch with Great Uncle John, watched the Irish win over Notre Dame, and then spent a day in Amish Country and the Marshall Co. Blueberry festival.
Our other big news has been medical news. In August I finally broke down and went to the doctor for all of the problems that I had been experiencing this year. We discovered that my insulin levels were 10 points over the highest that they ever want them to be. I am, thankfully, NOT diabetic and my blood sugar is always well below the "pre-diabetic" levels so it is just become an issue of regulating and lowering my insulin levels. I am on week six of Metformin and doing much better already. I have lost 15 pounds already and the goal is at least five more before my doctor visit next month. I have also noticed that I am once again much happier and in control of my emotions as lowering my insulin levels has also improved my hormone levels. (Mark is glad to have a happy instead of teary wife) Please be praying as I continue to get everything level and normal again and please be praying for Mark as he puts up with me :)
God's Blessings on your fall season!
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