bambachblog

Birthday and Beach

2011-05-24T11:20:00.001-07:00

A little update for the last two months: April brought with it Walton's third birthday! I cannot believe we have a three-year old now; he is really much more a little boy and each day brings with it new challanges and hilarity with him. His big birthday surprise was his first bicycle, which he is thrilled about! He has special places that he "parks" it around the house. May allowed us to get a much-needed family vacation at the beach in Florida. We stayed at a beach condo with our dear friends the Luciano's and their two boys, and it was a lot of fun! Walton and Anthony really hit it off, and were little buds most of the time. Harry was kind of the third wheel, but he was ok with that :) Both boys enjoyed the beach, even warming up to being in the ocean by the end of the trip. They also liked swimming in the pool. Bill and Mike were able to get in some guy time with a couple of golf trips, and Mandy and I some shopping and walking on the boardwalk. Sunshine and gorgeous weather every day - so thankful for the opportunity! Kindermusik and Bible study have come to a close, so we are now beginning our (hopefully!) more laid-back summer schedule, if only we can get the summer weather! Below are pics of birthday, beach, and around the house.

Christmas in March

2011-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's March, but I found the Christmas pics! So, just thought I'd post a few to celebrate.

February's Read

2011-02-16T17:24:00.000-08:00

For fun, I've chosen at least one nonfiction book to read each month. This month's is:

I Cannot Find Our Christmas Pics

2011-01-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know where they are. And so I've been waiting to find them, but....I'm just going to move on now. So, here are a few fun pictures of late. And, a few quick updates: Walton has come through potty-training with flying colors. Harison is taking steps.

Fall Activities

2010-10-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

Fall is in full swing here, with whispers of winter in the steadily dropping temps. We spend as much time as we can outside, but it has been unusually rainy this season, so we've had more days inside than I would have liked. Leaf color is peak, though many trees are bare now, their leaves crunching underfoot when we go for walks. In September the whole family went to a leadership conference in the Adirondacks, which was a lot of fun. We stayed in a beautiful conference center that was on a lake. My favorite of the trip was a huge stone fireplace in the lodge that was lit in the evening; I could have stayed there in front of that for a long time! After the conference, we took two days vacation at a castle turned B&B - much needed relaxation and rest as a family. Columbus Day we went to Bristol Mountain, a ski resort about 45 mins from our house. During the peak fall season, the resort runs the ski lift, and you can ride these to the top of the mountain and down again. To see the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows from this vantage point is breathtaking - not to mention just fun to sit in the lift (especially if you are Walton!) We've also done some applepicking, and I made applesauce for the first time the other day - a little too sweet, but still yummy. Now I can hardly believe that October is coming to a close and the holiday season is almost upon us!

Some pics of our fall activities - plus two thrown in just for fun!

Walton and Harison both thought this was fun game!

Walton now likes to help set the table!

Harison likes apples.

Loving the ski lift!

Fall leaf walk.

Harison's first ski lift ride.

Riding the ski lift at Bristol Mt.

Walking onto the balcony from our bedroom at the B&B.

Walton and I both loved the fireplace in our bedroom at the castle B&B!

Walton exhausted on his bunk at the conference center.

Summer Catch-up, or Ketchup, or Catsup

2010-09-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

There is an old movie in which one of the characters says there are two kinds of people: those who spend their time writing about what they want to do, and those who don't have time to write because they are out doing them! I won't say that we have been doing everything that we dreamed of this summer, but we have been doing a lot! This has been a full summer with, as life goes, both fun and hard times. So, to catch you up: Walton is a busy almost 2.5 year old! He loves cars and tractors and trains, looking at books, music, and "helping" Mommy and Daddy in whatever household chore they are doing. He loves his little brother and is quick to mention that he wants Harison along in whatever he does. His biggest thing right now is asking for "baby cars?" (Harison to play cars with him). This is very entertaining, b/c Walton will drive his cars along this road mat that we have while making appropriate car sounds, while Harry sprawls himself in the middle of a road like a baby Kong and tries to put every car that Walton drives into his mouth! They also enjoy wrestling together, which is hysterical! Harry is going to be a real little bruiser, I think. As for Harison, he is sitting by himself, and yes folks - crawling. He easily goes wherever he wants to and can follow anybody now, which makes things like vaccuuming difficult for me. He idolizes his big brother, and no one can make Harison laugh like Walton. Just last week Harry cut his first tooth, and that has not been a fun time. Interesting how children in the same family can be different. Teething for Walton happened almost w/o notice - no fussing, etc. One day there wasn't a tooth and the next there was. Sadly, it has not been the case with Harry, and sleep and schedule has suffered for all this last week. Hopefully we are near the end of that, b/c we are exhausted! Still, he is a very fun baby and good natured. Bill taught a retreat at the beginning of this summer at a conference center, and that was fun as we all attended. We stayed in our own cottage right on the lake, and it was lovely - like our own little vacation home. Even though Bill was teaching, it was a relaxing time for all of us. Bill also put a new patio in our backyard, and we have so enjoyed having that addition. We had a nice visit with my parents later in the summer, and Grandad and Mimi watched the boys for a night so that Bill and I could celebrate our 7 year anniversary! We still like being married :) On a harder note, Bill had to go to MI about a month ago to help deal with a serious family issue, and though better, it will still take a while to resolve. He has also been dealing with a very difficult on-going situation at work, and continues to try to find a solution for that. It's been stressful for both of us. As for me, I am having fun being home with the boys, and trying to keep up with the eternity of laundry! I took a drawing class this summer, which was great fun and a wonderful creative outlet. With the beginning of Fall, my ladies' small group resumes, the boys started their Kindermusik class last week (lots of fun!), and the three of us are doing a community-wide Bible study. Harison is in the class with me (a class for mommies with babies, which is fun), and Walton is actually doing his own Bible study for toddlers. I almost cried when I dropped him off at his classroom and he walked right in w/o a backward glance. He brought home a craft, a lesson sheet, and a Bible-verse. So cute. So that's about it for the Bambach family right now. Gotta go put some clothes in the dryer! :)

The First Camping Trip

2010-06-22T11:03:00.001-07:00

Our family of four took our first camping trip together last week. We stayed in a tiny cabin at a Niagara Falls KOA. It wasn't as rugged as tent camping (we're not that brave yet!), but it had no water or plumbing and only enough room for a double bed and bunks. Walton slept in the bunkbed, and with the exception of falling out once in the night, loved it! The cabin was in a secluded area and no one else was in any of the surrounding cabins, so we had the entire area to ourselves. Walton was going nonstop - in and out of the cabin, across the bridge, playing in the dirt or creek, roasting marshmallows and walking the dogs! He explored everything and "helped" with everything too - gathering firewood, stoking the fire, feeding the dogs and sweeping the cabin and surrounding grass. Harison had a great time whether swinging on the porch swing or dangling precariously over Niagara Falls from the Baby Bjorn (I told Bill to please not lean so far over the side without holding onto Harison!). As can be expected, though, sleep was brief, as we skipped naps the three days due to activities, and bedtimes were later than usual. Walton was also up at the crack of dawn laughing or singing his first song (Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric! If you've seen the movie 'Stranger than Fiction' the song is featured in it.) Thankfully Bill and I could at least still lay in bed while he entertained us :) So here are a few pics from the trip:

How Harison Has Changed Walton's Life

2010-05-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

How has this little fella affected Walton's life?

Walton regularly tries to use the breast pump - so far no luck!

He likes to carry his monkey in the Baby Bjorn.

Feeding Harison is a new hobby - whether Harison is hungry or not!

Potty-training is in the works...very loosely.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Walton!

2010-04-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

Walton, "in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of His calling and fulfill by His power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thes.1:11-12)

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

"Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom."

Harison Kurt Bambach

2010-03-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

Today is Harison's five week birthday. And, yes, it has taken me five weeks to blog about it! Having two little fellas now is really keeping us busy! To quickly fill you in, however: Sunday, February 21, at 5:06 pm, Harison Kurt Bambach was born. Delivery was quick and went really well, and he arrived two weeks early at 7 lbs. 14 oz. For those of you wondering about the spelling of Harison's name, though unusual, it is intentional as he is named after Bill and my grandfathers: HARold, ISaac, and jackSON - the combination of their names. These last five weeks have been totally exhausting and amazingling special at the same time. Harison is a happy, content baby and doing well. Walton loves his new baby brother, too, and very much wants to help out. He is especially obsessed with diapering, and I often have to stop him from trying to take off Harison's diaper. He also wants me to diaper all his toys; now he carries around a blue football with a diaper on it, or bounces a large rubber diapered ball. :) This now family of four is doing well, though both Bill and I would love to have more sleep. We just keep telling ourselves that it will come if we just hang in there! Isn't it amazing how much Harison looks like Walton did?!!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

As we did last year, we traveled to Michigan this Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with Bill's family. It was good to be able to spend time with everyone, and always nice to have and extra pair of hands to help with Walton! The Lord has blessed us with so much, and we are thankful!

Join the Conspiracy!

2009-11-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

This year we are joining Advent Conspiracy as a family and as a church. This is a really neat movement that started a few years ago and has such a great message! Check out the video and the website at http://www.adventconspiracy.com/!

Debrief on the Retreat with Calvary

2009-10-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the retreat with Calvary Church's college group this past weekend! Bill was the speaker, and did a great job! The retreat center was really nice, and it was fun getting to know the group that our friends, the Luciano's, work with. Of course, it is always fun spending time with the Luciano's, and we even left a day early to spend time with them at their house in NYC before the retreat. Another treat was catching up with Chris & Kelly (Chris led worship), and hearing about what they are doing now, since the last time we saw them in Dallas they were not yet married! They are a sweet couple with tender hearts for the Lord. Walton had a great time, too - enjoying all the attention from the college girls! He is such a good baby for travelling, and always sleeps well despite the changes in location. That is such a blessing, and I am hoping that our newest little one will be the same way. Thanks for your prayers about this - hopefully some of the students were challenged and will make some lasting changes!

Missions and Friends

2009-10-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

Our church held its first annual Mission's Conference October 2 -4. It was a lot of work and planning, but all in all it came off without a hitch. We plan to do this every year, and it was initiated with the hopes of spreading awareness of and excitement for international missions. We had a pretty good turnout, but we hope to get even more young people and families involved in the following years. Easily the highlight of the conference was being able to have our dear friends, Chad and Julie, be a part of the event. It was an exhausting time for them, but they were really able to share their passion for missions and their call to Spain with our church, and it was such a blessing for the congregation to be able to meet them and interact with them. On a personal level, Chad and Julie stayed at our house, and it was so good to be able to laugh and cry and talk with them - reconnect with these dear friends that we hadn't seen since we left Dallas. So grateful that the Lord let us spend that time with them. Walton was quite smitten with Julie, too, and spent much time in her lap or being carried by her :) We are excited to see all that the Lord has planned for them in Spain!

Walton is getting a .......

2009-10-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

....little brother! We found out last Wednesday that we are having a little boy - so exciting! Truthfully, though I would have been thrilled with a girl, I was kind of hoping for a boy. The idea of having another little boy so close to Walton in age just sounded fun. I can just picture them playing together and being little best friends. Yes, our house is going to be a total circus, but I think that will be fun. Everything looked well in the ultrasound, too, so that is a blessing. The little fella is already kicking a lot - so much so that Bill can even feel it when he puts his hand on my stomach. I wonder if that is early warning of the personality that he will have....oh dear :) Now if Bill and I can just find a name that we can both agree on! Thanks so much for continued prayers for baby and me!

First Apple Picking of the Season

2009-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for a Good Read

2009-09-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air. There are whispers of it throughout the day, and stronger voices of it in our coolish, more readily darkening evenings. Leaves are starting to loosen, apples are ready to pick...and I need a good book! A good book just goes with fall - like a pumpkin spice latte, apple butter, or a bonfire. I went to the library today, and just couldn't find anything and didn't know where to start. I need help (I'm sure some of you are thinking that applies on many levels, but let's just keep this superficial, 'k'?). So....suggestions, please? I'm most interested in good fiction, but I am open to non-fic. Anything! Please just give me something to curl up on the couch with as I drink my tea.

Thanks!

Weekend in the Adirondacks

2009-09-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

We thought this kind of looked like a Jeep comercial :)

The view from our balcony.

At the top of Whiteface mountain.

Walking through the tunnel to the castle at the top of Whiteface. Walton loved this!

One of the perks of being parents: dressing up your kids for your amusement!

What a mountain climber!

This has been such a busy summer, so despite our desire to take a vacation, it hasn't happened. Thankfully, we were able to take a little "getaway" last weekend to the Adirondacks, specifically, Lake Placid. This is a beautiful little ski resort town, that is nestled among the mountains and borders two lakes. For a little trivia, it has twice hosted the winter olympics, including the historical (so Bill tells me) "Miracle" when the U.S. hockey team beat the heavily favored Russian team. We stayed in a nice resort at the top of a hill. From our balcony we could look down on the town and lake, and see the mist hanging in the mountains. Lovely. We drove to the top of one of the peaks and hiked around, walked through the downtown and looked at the shops, and ate some of the best fish and chips that we have EVER had. Wish I had those now, actually. Though brief, it was a nice litte respite in our busy summer. Now we want to go back and see it during the winter!

Pics of Our Summer

2009-08-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

Helping Mommy in the kitchen
Sliding down the gift friends from church gave us - he loves this!

Swimming in the hippo pool that Grandad and Mimi bought for him when they visited.

At the Rochester Museum of Play.

At the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.

In the gardens at Anthony Road winery along Seneca Lake.

The first haircut.

Hanging out with a friend from our discipleship group.

Happy Birthday, Walton!

2009-05-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

April 27th was Walton's one-year birthday; is he really one already? I look at some of the "baby" pictures of Walton, and he doesn't even seem like the same child anymore! He looks so much more like a little boy than a baby. And talk about active - this little fella is into everything! He is speed crawling and climbing into and onto anything he sees. He can be up the stairs in a flash. Keeping up with him is definitely a workout now! For his birthday we went to the National Museum of Play in Rochester. This is the coolest museum, even if you don't have a kid - everything is 'hands on'. They have a butterfly exhibit that the three of us especially enjoyed. It is a large conservatory with jungle plants and waterfalls inside, specially adjusted to tropical climate. Thousands of different butterflies and moths fly around and land on the flowers and floor - even on you. Beautiful instrumental music plays over the speakers, giving it a fairy-like feel. Walton was mesmerized by the butterflies that flitted right in front of him - many with folded wings as large as my hand! After our adventure at the museum, we went home for a birthday meal of spaghetti and meatballs (he loves that!) and birthday cake. It took Walton a few moments to figure out what to do with his cake, but once he did, it became a full-body experience!

Easter Pics

2009-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Not a Picky Eater!

2009-03-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

True to both parents, Walton loves to eat, and is not a picky eater. We have yet to discover a food that he doesn't like! He has tried some of my Thai food, Indian food (loves curry!), steak and asparagus. He makes a meal out of Italian bread, cheese and olives. Soups and pancakes, eggs and paninis - so far, he chomps them all! A recently acquired fav food? Fresh orange slices!

We're Doing Ok

2009-03-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

We really are! As most of you know, a little over a week ago we found out that I had miscarried. It was a hard day. Walking into the hospital thinking that we were pregnant, and walking out knowing that we were not. Looking at that ultrasound sceen and not seeing a little one moving like we had hoped we would see. Oh, that hurt. Last Sunday was difficult too, because we had to tell everyone at church that we had lost the baby. But, as emotionally draining as that day was, there was healing in sharing the news with people, healing in the telling of it. So, it's been about a week and a half since the miscarriage, and we're doing ok. Of course, we're still sad about it, and I'll have a good cry about it every now and then, but we're not discouraged, depressed or despairing. One of the hardest things has just been having to change my thinking. I'll catch myself thinking about how to decorate the nursery for Walton and the new baby, and then realize that I won't have to do that now. And, of course, the simple fact that what we were looking forward to in October isn't going to be happening now. It is amazing how many women have gone through this, and it has certainly helped me to be able to empathize with others, and to know how to pray about this issue. One of our friends (thanks, Chad!) reminded us of this verse in Romans 8, verse 18, "For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us." Paul doesn't minimize what we are going through, but just reminds us that the glory to be revealed will be so much more amazing than our grief. Hallelujah for that! Thanks so much for your continued prayers!

Still Doesn't Feel Like Home....

2009-03-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know that it takes a while, and it hasn't even been a year yet, but it just surprises me sometimes at how it still doesn't feel like home here in NY. Don't get me wrong, it's familiar now. I know streets and directions and recognize landmarks. I can match faces with names, and am no longer the "new person". My books all have a place, and familiy pictures decorate our walls. But it just doesn't feel like home. There's no sigh of contentment when, after being gone somewhere, I walk back into our place. I live here, but there is no emotion connected with it. How different from our place in Dallas. I can close my eyes, and retrace every detail of that house, see it in my mind as clearly as if I am looking at it right now. I can see the fresh green of our little bedroom, and the way the ivy vines framed the windows, and how beautiful it was to wake up with the sun beaming through them, and to hear the birds singing in the trees outside. I loved the warm brown walls in the study lined with books, and the secret nook in the center for Bill's desk. I can almost feel the wooden bench on the deck in the backyard, where I spent countless hours reading or napping, or sitting and finding stars at night, peeking through the branches of the giant pecan trees. I can even hear in my mind the sound of the garage door opening when our neighbor went to get his Harley for a Saturday morning ride. That is still home to me. I miss it. Right now, I miss it a lot. I miss Dallas. I miss sweet friends. I miss warmer weather and sunshine. I miss walking by the lake with Bill. I miss getting coffee and strolling through the Arboretum. I miss all the different ethnic restaurants so easily at hand. I miss our old neighborhood, and discussing with Bill about which house we would live in if we could. I miss leaning across the fence and talking with our neighbors, and having a bite of the delicious something she just took out of the oven. I miss sampling all the fresh produce at the Farmer's Market and feeling like I'm in a different country. I even miss some of my students from school! I know that it was time for us to move on, and I really do feel like the Lord has a plan for us here in NY, so I'm not regretting that we came here, or even wishing that I could go back. I'm just saying....that I miss it,.... and I miss the feeling of home. And I don't know why it doesn't feel more like it here yet.

Open window day!

2009-02-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

Though today started out glum and grey, the sun broke through the clouds later in the morning, bringing with it lovely weather. It was so sunny and warm, and being the way I am about fresh air, I thought this a perfect opportunity to "air out" the house. I opened the window in Walton's room, one in our bedroom, the one in the study, and two in the living room. Fresh. Crisp. Clean. The breeze circulated throughout the house and soon the stuffy, stale feel was gone. It felt good to breathe in our house. Hooray for open windows, and weather nice enough for open windows!

I just checked the forecast for this week, and happened to notice today's high: 34 degrees. Funny how things work out: in TX I would have turned up the heat and added another layer; in NY, I open the windows. Guess it's all relative.

January Pictures

2009-02-05T06:44:00.001-08:00

A contemplative moment. Helping to Clean Up.

Aboard the Dragon Ship at the Museum of Play.

Astride Mother Goose at the Museum of Play.

A Taste for Books

2009-02-05T06:31:00.000-08:00

Bill and I, being the book-lovers that we are, are thrilled to see that Walton is developing a "taste" for books at an early age. He now pulls himself to the bookshelf and takes out a book of his choice. Some of his recent picks: By Paddle Wheel and Pack Train, James Herriot's Dog Stories, Dearest Dorothy Are We There Yet, and Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette.

House-Hunting, Crawling Out of Diapers, and Tanning Beds

2009-01-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are actually looking for a house. Funny thing about living in New York compared to Dallas: in Dallas, it was by far cheaper to rent an apartment than to buy a house. You could rent something pretty nice, too. Not so, here. There are very few nice places to rent, and it is not cheap! Although our place is working for now, we have discovered that it is actually equal to or less to buy a house, and would be a wiser use of our money. So, we are on the hunt. We don't have to move out of here until June 1, so we have time to look around and consider. It is a big undertaking, though, so please pray for us as we look for a place. It is both exciting and frustrating at the same time.

Walton is almost nine months old, and he is such fun right now. He isn't crawling on his knees yet, but is extremely mobile using the 'soldier crawl', pulling himself toward, over and into anything that catches his interest. Which is usually something that shouldn't! He's keeping us busy, and Bill and I are endlessly entertained by his antics and his personality! Earlier this morning I put him in an empty diaper box, as the pic shows, and he loved it! And speaking of diapers, we have to keep an eye on him if that is all he is wearing. Since he pulls himself along the carpet, the tabs of his diaper often get snagged on it, and he will completely drag himself out of his diaper! I have developed a soft spot for baby toshies, however, so I always enjoy the little peek! :)

I am missing the sun. I can take lots of snow (which we have), and I can take lots of cold (which we also have). I do not do well, though, with lots of sunless days (which we have experienced many of). I like the sun. I like the cheery way it waves through the windows and the warmth of its rays on my face. I like the way it makes my cheeks rosy so I don't look like a vampire. In short, I like sun. So, a few days ago, I was telling Bill that although I have never considered a tanning bed before, it is beginning to tempt me now. The thought of having a few minutes of sun - however fake - and warmth on my body sounds so inviting! If the next time you see me I am a burnished copper color, you'll know what happened!

And lastly, a little eye candy :)

Baby in a box

With a few tries, Walton can hold his own bottle

The boy in the Alaska pajamas ....

..or at least the pants!

Walton likes to play with the curtain - it must make him feel mysterious!

Holidays '08

2009-01-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

Let it Snow......

2008-12-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

We have gotten tons of snow, lately! It is so deep that we have to dig the cars out, and the dogs make tunnels when we take them outside. Drifts have piled up that are at least as tall as I am. And it's not stopping. Truthfully, it is quite lovely, though, and we are really enjoying it. Definitely looks like a winter wonderland. We've gone sledding and taken walks in the snow. I especially love it at night, looking out the window and seeing a blanket of white, glittering with diamonds. The world has a softer, gentler feel under a layer of snow. It kind of glows, too. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Walton and Uncle Sam

2008-12-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

Samuel Walton Minatra and Walton William Bambach - two of my favorite fellas. We love you Uncle Sam!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-12-02T07:43:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! This is such a special time of year as we remember all that the Lord has blessed us with, "blessing piled upon blessing". For the first time since Bill and I have been married, we were able to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Michigan. Every year past, Bill had to work the day after, so we weren't able to go anywhere for the holiday. We had a great time. We celebrated Christmas early with them, which was especially fun as we watched Walton "open" his gifts. We did a little shopping, some sledding, and got together with some of Bill's friends. Bill went to a hockey game with his Dad, and had great seats. We had an unexpected blessing this year, and I am so grateful that the Lord worked it out for us. My dear cousin, Sam, lives in AK and works in Canada, so it is not often that we get to see him. However, he is dating Amanda, who happens to live in MI, about an hour from Bill's parents, and was visiting her for Thanksgiving. We were able to meet for lunch that Friday, and what a treat that was! It was so good to see my cousin, and to meet his sweet girlfriend! It was the first time that Sam had met Walton, too, which was very special. The time with them really blessed my heart. We returned to NY Saturday, and Sunday we went and got our Christmas tree. Every year in TX we went to the same Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree. It was something that we looked forward to each year. We wondered if we would find a farm here in NY that we would like as much, since that is one of our favorite traditions. Thankfully, we found a very neat tree farm about 40 minutes from our house. It had a great selection of trees, and lots of extras for Walton to look at. The only downside was that the lovely light snow we had that morning turned to freezing rain by the time we got to the farm - brrrr!! But, we still enjoyed it and picked out our tree in record time! :) And now we welcome in the Christmas season!

Lumberjack Bill cutting down the Christmas tree

Special time with Sam and Amanda

At Bronner's Christmas Store: checking out the reindeer with Daddy

Walton examining his stocking

The Bambach family after Thanksgiving Dinner

Smog the Dragon: Halloween '08

2008-11-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

October Snow

2008-10-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Bill and I were reminded yesterday that we no longer live in Texas when we got a light snow. It didn't stick, of course, but still...snow...in October. I am looking forward to a white winter, but I admit that I am not quite ready for that yet! The sun is out today, and it is a crisp Fall day, but the weather is getting cooler. In preparation for this, I wrote on our grocery list yesterday, "HOT COCOA" :).

A Crying Kind of Day

2008-10-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Today has been a crying kind of day for me. Ever have one of those? There is nothing really wrong with me, but off and on throughout the day, I've cried about different things. I have just felt overwhelmed today with all the grief touching those I know and love. At the church we used to go to, three little girls lost their father to a brain tumor. An amazing lady at our church just brought her father home from the hospital to die with his family. Another lost her spouse unexpectedly when a routine procedure found a rare disease; she couldn't even touch him to say goodbye. A friend of ours here in NY lost his mom a few years ago, and then his dad just died in June. And a friend of my sister, a neat, godly young man, lost the battle with brain cancer Sunday morning. And there are lots more that I could list. I admit, sometimes I just want to pound my fists against the Lord's chest like a little child and cry, "No! No! This isn't right. It isn't supposed to be like this!" As I cried that today, I had the sudden realization that, no, it ISN'T supposed to be like this. We weren't created for death, and, thanks be to God, death is simply a stepping stone for us into eternal life. I thought of the verse about the Lord "making all things new". Then, with tears flowing harder, I raised my eyes to the rain-filled grey clouds and cried with new urgency, "Please come quickly, Lord Jesus. Oh, come quickly!".
And so, as I continue to cry throughout this crying kind of day, I just whisper again, "Oh, come quickly!"
Amen and amen.

Random Oct. Pics

2008-10-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

A New York Fall

2008-09-30T15:13:00.001-07:00

It is officially Fall in New York, and it is as lovely as we had heard it would be. After spending five years in Texas, it is nice to be back to the four distinct seasons. Though we have had quite a bit of rain lately, the weather overall has been gorgeous - in the 70s with crisp wind and sunshine. We have taken lots of walks, gone apple picking, and the leaves are really starting to put on a color show now. Supposedly the peak time for Fall color is mid-October, so I will try to post some pics of that when it comes. Last but not least, I've had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte, to ring in the season! The view from our back windows on a rainy day. This picture doesn't do it justice, as the reds and yellows are really beautiful.

A hike through Watkins Glen Gorge. This place feels like being in Rivendell, for you LOTR fans!

Pumpkin candles and a puzzle make for a cozy Fall evening.

Dressed for a blustery day.

Apple picking - this orchard is so gorgeous and only about five minutes from our house. Great apple cider, too!

Beautiful Fall colors!

Are we presenting an "Un-Christian" view of our Christianity?

2008-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, the senior pastor at our church introduced this book to us, and Bill and I both started reading it. It was so compelling, I finished it in a few days. Now, there are not many books that I would say "everybody has to read", but I think this is one of those books. I would go so far as to suggest that if you really want to be a relevant Christian - and impact today's culture - you need to read it. (Now, if you don't read it, I'm not going to think that you are lax in your faith - I just think it is a provocative book). Based on studies done by the Barna Group, the author, David Kinnaman, addresses the six major perceptions that our culture has of Christians. To pique your interest, the research showed that the majority of people considered Christians to be:

1) Hypocritical

2) Only interested in "getting people saved"

3) Anti homosexual

4) Sheltered

5) Too political

6) Judgmental

Now, you can agree or not agree with his suggestions on how to address these perceptions, but you can't argue with the statistics. Which is why I think it is so beneficial to read this book. If we say we are Christian, then for many people, the aforementioned six subjects are what they believe our faith to be. Personally, I found this book to be convicting and challenging! Pick it up - and then let me know what you think!

The Last Four Months in Photos

2008-08-17T17:29:00.001-07:00

Living in New York!

Four- wheel drive for New York winters

Amy's Wedding

Bill's Graduation from DTS

Bill's Ordination

Walton's arrival!

Funny Things Bill Has Said Since I've Been Pregnant

2008-01-21T10:27:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while, and I promise to post pics, updates, etc., soon. I just wanted to share a few of the funny things Bill has said during this pregnancy:

"I hope you get really huge".

"I hope you have a big baby" (ok, some of these maybe aren't all that funny!)

"You are not as mobile as you used to be"

"You are getting to be mondo, sweetie"

"Once you get the epidural, labor is going to feel just like you are sleeping" (oh really?)

"I think I am going to pass out when you have the baby".

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to us that is going to ruin our lives" :)

I know I am forgetting some, but as he continues with these classic lines, I'll keep you posted.

Life with Bill is NEVER dull :)

Thanksgiving Blessings

2007-11-25T18:58:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Though several dear friends were absent this year, it was great to spend time with family and friends. The turkeys were great, Mom made her best-yet dressing, and Bill delighted us all again with his famous pumpkin cheesecake. Usually, we eat our Thanksgiving feast outside, but the weather was too cold and wet to be out this year, so we lined up tables in the dining room and were cozy and warm for dinner. As we went around the table and each person shared what they were thankful for, I was reminded of all that we have and the numerous blessings the Lord has given us. My loving and wonderful husband, my supportive and fun family, and encouraging friends are at the top of my list for sure! On Saturday, despite the rain and cold temps, we traveled to the Christmas tree farm and cut down our tree. This is the fifth year we have gone to this place, and always look forward to it. We brought home our fattest tree yet - so tall and fat that we had to rearrange our living room to make space for it! But it is gorgeous and the smell of fresh evergreen greets us as soon as we enter the door. Now Bill and I will spend many evenings cuddled on the couch looking at the sparkling tree - I love this season :)

Ode to a Red Starbucks' Cup

2007-11-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that on my list of favorite seasonal things, I left off the Red Starbucks' Cup!!! Now, I did mention the seasonal drinks from Starbucks - namely the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Eggnog Latte, but the Red Cup is a whole separate thing. Thankfully, a friend who has a similar devotion to Starbucks reminded me of this (thanks Juls!), and of course she is right! The Red Cup is a symbol of seasonal bliss, that all is right with the world - at least while you are drinking your eggnog latte! And so, to honor this annual phenomenon, I composed a poem. Please read this with your seasonal Starbucks' beverage of choice (in a Red Cup):

Ode to a Red Starbucks' Cup

Oh Red Cup, of cardboard frame

Eggnog, Pumpkin, what 'er your name

Filled to brim with warmth and cheer

Addictive, yes, but it's not beer!

You will rouse us from our bed,

Gladden our heart and clear our head

Make our mornings oh so bright

Keep us working all through the night.

More than that, you let us know

though temps are high and there's no snow,

That Thanksgiving is drawing near,

And Christmastime is almost here.

Through it all we won't ignore

Though buying you might make us poor,

Remember thanks when we sup,

Our cheery, cardboard, oh Red Cup!

Happy November!

2007-11-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that is it November! November is one of my favorite months, and this is the beginning of my favorite season. I love everything about the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
A few of my favorite things:
pumpkins, acorns, mums
cinnamon and spice smells
hot apple cider
Thanksgiving feasting - mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes
Bill's pumpkin cheesecake
pumpkin desserts of any kind!
holiday coffees at Starbucks
candles
fires in our chiminea
autumn colored leaves - brown, gold, burgandy, orange
snuggling under the covers
the smell of pine needles
cutting down our Christmas tree and decorating it
Christmas music
hanging stockings
eggnogg
sugar cookies
hot cocoa
exchanging gifts
bundling up in scarves and gloves to go for a walk
the meaning of Christmas and how it fills me with wonder
maybe beliving in Santa Claus....still
sitting it the dark with Bill looking at the Christmas tree
red and green decorations
Christmas lights everywhere

And so, with all those fun thoughts in my mind, I will now have a bowl of stew with my darling husband :) Share some of your favorite things about the season with me!

And Baby Makes Three...

2007-10-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, a baby Bambach is officially on the way. Baby came as a little surprise for us, but I guess the Lord in His perfect timing decided the time had come for the Bambach duo to become a threesome. Or, as Bill told me, "You play, you pay". :) We are really excited about this little squirt, and thankful that the Lord has given us this opportunity. The picture was a sonogram at eight weeks, and I am now almost 13, so baby has grown considerably since this, but you get the general idea. I think the baby definitely looks like Bill! :) I had a doctor's appointment last Monday, and got to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was exciting. The nurse also took a lot of blood for tests. I told her that since I was pregnant and supporting myself and this baby now, that I thought I should keep as much blood as possible, but she didn't agree and took four big vials of it! I am starting to realize that now that I am pregnant, my body is no longer my own! The baby is doing all kinds of things to it, and the doctor does all kinds of things to it, and basically I'm just supposed to sit back and let it all happen. Hmmmm.... Is there a way to keep one's modesty and be pregnant at the same time? Please advise.

Pug-O-Buffer (Gigi's first ever full length feature)

2007-09-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Bill and I made this movie about a month ago and I thought I'd post it for all to enjoy. I wish I could have done a better job of not laughing, but I kept almost losing it. Oh well - hope you get a few laughs out of it too :)

We're Tired

2007-09-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

It seems as if we have "hit the ground running" since school started, and frankly, we're tired! Bill's classwork is keeping him busy, and since he doesn't have time to study at work anymore, our evenings and weekends look a lot different than they did before. His job duties have also changed, and it is very fast paced and tiring. My job responsibilities are also diferent than last year, and between before/after school duties, meetings, paperwork, lesson plans, discipline problems, coworker problems and teaching, I'm feeling a little worn out! And to top it off, neither of us has felt well , so that makes it even harder to function. It has sort of been just getting through one day at a time, which I hate living like, but I guess that is just how it is for now. Don't worry, we are still happy and in love, we're just exhausted too. I'm doing good now if I can stay up past 8:00! But, we have a lot to look forward to this year....if we can just make it there :)

Four Years and Counting!

2007-08-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Thursday was our Four Year Anniversary! Bill had to work late, so we really didn't do anything special that day (although I did make homemade chicken pot pie for him). On Friday we went out to eat at a delicious restaurant called Texas de Brazil at which you can eat all you can eat huge hunks of meat. Believe it or not, I actually love those kinds of places. Then we went to the Dallas Museum of Art, and then ended the outing with cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Thoroughly stuffed and tired, we went home and watched a movie in our p.j.'s. A great day! In some ways I can't believe that it has been four years, and then in other ways, I can't remember what it was like to live without Bill. Either way, would I do it again? YES!!

The First Step Towards an End and Beginning

2007-08-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a pretty neat day. Bill had scheduled a meeting with the head of the Placement department at Dallas Seminary to discuss our future after graduation -and how to get there. We met with this kind man and he took us to lunch at a chic little sandwich shop, where he talked and we talked and we ate great food, too! It was a really encouraging lunch meeting. We were able to share roughly with him some of our ideas and desires for ministry, and he responded with lots of suggestions, advice, and things to think about as we begin the process of life after graduation - also known as "full-time ministry". As we are just beginning this, I don't know lots about it, but I think this is this general outline: 1) Decide what ministry we are interested in/suited for and the area for that - i.e: urban, rural, traditional, blended, etc. 2) Prepare a resume, have it proofed, edited, perfected 3) Send the finished resume out beginning September, shooting for at least 30 submitted 4) Wait for responses from churches 5) Candidate (visit interested churches) 6) Get hired on at one of the churches!!

Now, a lot happens in between all of those steps, and the process will probably take quite a while, but that is it in a nutshell. So, during the next few weeks we will work on preparing a resume for Bill and have it edited. We haven't determined our send - out day yet, but it will be sometime in September. It is exciting to begin this much-anticipated process, and we would covet your prayers through all of it!

A Few More CO Pics

2007-07-25T09:42:00.001-07:00

Spontaneity is Fun!

2007-07-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we found out that due to a switch of days at Bill's work, he had a five day weekend starting Friday. So, after a meeting at church Friday morning, on our way home we decided to go to Colorado. Yes, this was my idea, but Bill - being so wonderful - was up for it. So we came home, packed a few things and the dogs, grabbed an atlas, and headed to Colorado. So much fun! I love mountains!! We spent time in Colorado Springs, Denver, and the surrounding areas. We drove to the top of Pike's Peak and hiked around (my highlight), saw the Garden of the Gods, visited The Royal Gorge and crossed the highest suspension bridge in the world, tent camped, stayed at a nice hotel and an icky hotel, and spent the last night in a darling, tiny little cabin (also my fav). The cities were pretty and we enjoyed exploring them. The scenery was breathtaking. And the time with Bill and only Bill was the best! There is something nice about being up in the beautiful mountains with no access to t.v., internet, and no reception for your cell phones! The dogs were perfect, too, and made the trip so easy. All in all, it was a great time and I'm glad we got to do it. And here are some pics:

Some of the 'Wildlife' Around our House

2007-07-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

This little green guy was in our kitchen! I rescued him and put him back outside where he belonged.

A dragonfly - love his colors!

Just a Few Pug Pics

2007-07-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Gidget - after I brushed her teeth!
Gidget's fav place to sleep - under our bed.
Gigi's fav place to sleep - in the wicker chair.

Florida Vacation Pics

2007-06-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

On the beach by the condo. White sands, blue waters!

On "The Pier" in Naples. We watched the sunset from here - gorgeous!

Drinking Thai Tea at a Thai food restaurant.

The view from our bedroom window.

On "The Pier" with Mike and Mandy.

On the condo roof overlooking the canal.

Mandy and I on the condo roof, overlooking the canal.

2007-06-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Summer Break at Last!

2007-06-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Last week was a busy, draining one, but I have finally made it to summer break! Today is my first day of not having to go to work, and it is lovely. This morning Bill and I were laying in bed and he grinned and said, "You better get ready for work". Oh how nice to be able to laugh at that statement and roll over and sleep more! I think it is going to take me a little while to wind down from the semester, but I already have lots of ideas on what I'd like to do this summer. I think my first on the list is going to be a nap...... :

Camelot

2007-06-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night Bill and I went to see "Camelot", here for part of the summer season of Dallas Summer Musicals. The theatre was in the art deco style, and wasn't that pretty, but I really enjoyed the play. I never realized how pretty some of the music was. Growing up seeing all the musical movies, somehow I missed seeing this one. Bill enjoyed it too, but he had some trouble understanding what the actors were saying/singing. Still, it made for a fun night, as we always love going to the theatre!

Thank You, John Piper

2007-05-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy and decided that I just had to write about it. Or rather, John Piper in general. As I finished reading that book this week, I have found myself feeling genuine gratitude toward this man for his help in my walk toward, as he would say, "passionately pursuing Christ". I really may write him a letter even though he probably gets tons of mail and may never see it. He has really had such a tremendous impact on my life and I so respect and admire his life and ministry. Now, before you take me the wrong way, let me say it clearly: I do not worship this man, or think that he has some sort of superhuman powers; I am not a Piper "groupie". He is a normal man. BUT, his radical pursuit of the Lord, his drop everything else but a focus on Christ, his passionate pulsating faith is NOT normal - and it is that that I admire and want so desperately to be said of my life as well. This fella is extreme, and everything about his life points to the all-surpassing worth of Christ. How that stands out in a world of lukewarm faith - and how it challenges me. I first met Piper when I was a sophomore in college and he was speaking at a Passion Conference in Texas. He spoke on suffering, and his words were so challenging that I actually debated on whether I would even write them down or not! (I did, finally). Then, at Moody I had a missions class and read Let the Nations Be Glad, where his heart for world missions and the need for it fell upon my heart like never before. (As an aside, during this time one of Piper's sons attended MBI, and I did my best to meet him; I determined I was going to marry him and then move in with his parents! I didn't do that.) After that came Desiring God and then Don't Waste Your Life. That book was a life-changer. It has almost given me a fear of EVER picking up seashells - and if you read that book you know what I'm talking about! And now, just finishing When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. His practical points to fight to keep joy - the kind of deep, fulfilling, Christ-exalting kind of joy - are worth studying. I believe that it is most of those disciplines that he shares that have been the fuel behind his passionate faith. So, if you haven't, I encourage you to pick up one of his books. He is a prolific writer/speaker and you can visit his website: www.desiringgod.org to find out more. Now, my challenge is to apply what I've learned to my life. Next time you see me, ask me how I'm doing with it.

2007-05-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~Mark Twain~

He is Risen; He is Risen Indeed!

2007-04-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter (a week late)! I meant to post this last Sunday, but I am just now getting to it. These are the tulips we planted in the front flowerbeds; they bloomed in time for Easter and looked so pretty when I put the cross in the middle of them. We had a nice Easter. Friday we went to a Tenebrae ("Darkness") service to commemorate the crucifixion and burial of Christ. Easter morning we went to church and celebrated the Resurrection. In our ABF (Sunday school class), Bill took a break from his usual lesson in Romans and we focused on the resurrection and what it means. We all read Scriptures relating to the Past, Present and Future promises of the Resurrection, read an Easter creed, and prayed and sang together. It was a meaningful time. Later that evening we had several couples over for Easter dinner. Before they came, I had boiled and colored eggs, and so we all sat around the table and smashed our eggs (like at Pappy & Christina's), which was fun.

Spring Planting

2007-04-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Spring has come here in Dallas, despite the weird cold weather we have been having lately. On nice days, I've been able to get outside and do some planting and potting. I planted 35 Caladium bulbs in the front beds. I haven't done a lot with the backyard yet, but I do have a basket of 2 kinds of oregano, and several pots of basil, mints and rosemary. My Azalea has more blooms this year (as you can see in the picture), and my lemon tree already has many baby lemons on it. In the kitchen I have started 3 different kinds of tomatoes, and as soon as they get a little bigger, I will plant them outside. I am hoping to get a good crop of fresh tomatoes this summer! Come join me for a salad :)

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2007-03-31T06:18:00.000-07:00

We have had a deluge this past week! SO much rain! And if it is not raining, it is still overcast outside and looks like it will. I'm sure it is helping to make everything green and growing, so I probably shouldn't complain too much. But I miss the sun. I am a sun - person. I suppose I inherit that naturally from my Mom who is practically a lizzard and could comfortably bask in the sun on a hundred-degree day! I'm not quite there, but I do love the sun. It makes me happy. So I am excited this morning b/c there is a glimmer of sun peeking out and it may be a lovely day.

Bill is working today, which is always a bummer. Half of the fun of having a weekend is spending it together. Thankfully, this is not the norm, but I still wish he were here right now. It will give me some time to myself, though and I will try to get done some of the things that are harder to do when he is around. I have been meaning to plant tomatoes for weeks now, so that is one thing I can work on. I am hoping to have three different kinds this summer.

Bill was able to go to a church-planting conference this past Thursday, and he came back so excited about it. He said the speakers were great, and it is something he is really interested in possibly doing. I love it when he talks about things relating to our future plans :) Please pray with us as we seek the Lord's will on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. We are praying the He will give us a real passion for a specific calling.

As we move into the Easter week, I want to spend time meditating on the depth and richness of what the resurrection means in my life. Hope you do too :)

Getting a Little "Ride" in Sausalito

2007-03-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

I Know Paris is the City of Love, But if You are With the Right Fella....

2007-03-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

In the Wine Caves

2007-03-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

This winery was called Benziger. The tour was great, and the especially neat thing about it is that it is an all-natural, organic winery. An example of this is the wine caves, which are built right into the sides of hills, and stay cool naturally.

In Front of the Golden Gate Bridge

2007-03-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Bill at the Helm of the Balclutha

2007-03-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Balclutha was an old Windjammer Ship that sailed from England all over the world, collecting spices, etc. She was later bought and sailed from San Francisco to Alaska to carry Salmon. Such a romantic ship - and what a handsome captain! :)

Touring SF in a Double-Decker Bus

2007-03-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Me in Front of the Jellyfish at Monerey Bay Aquarium

2007-03-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sunset at the Beach in Carmel

2007-03-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

2007-03-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

And what a lovely city it is! Bill and I had a great Spring Break in San Francisco and the surrounding area. It was our first big vacation since our honeymoon, and we loved it. We spent the first two nights near Monterey Bay, and Carmel. The beaches there were gorgeous and the scenery breathtaking! Everything was so green and flowers and fruit were blooming. Our favorite event was driving the 17 Mile Scenic Tour, in which we drove along the rocky coast, saw Pebble Beach, etc. That is some of the prettiest country I have ever seen! We walked along in the sunshine and I picked up shells. We even saw a large group of fat harbor seals sleeping on the beach! Carmel was my favorite city. It was so quaint and picturesque; I tried to talk Bill into buying one of the seaside cottages, but he said we couldn't yet :) After that, we drove to San Francisco, where we spent the rest of the trip with the Luciano's. They are graduating soon and moving to NYC, so it was nice to get to have "one last fling" with them. We saw Alcatraz, the Muir woods, drove down Lombard - the crookedest street in the world -, visited the Wharf, and walked all over that hilly city. It is a beautiful city; I love that it is so outdoorsy. We spent one day visiting Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Country, which is another lovely area. We toured some wineries and did some wine-tasting; we are now wine - connisuers :) Ok, not really, but it was fun! Our last day we visited a quaint city across the bay from San Francisco called Sausalito. It is lovely how the mountains stretch right to the ocean, and the houses are built right onto the sides of the hills. It had such a laid-back atmosphere, and Bill and I actually took a nap right in the park square of the city. I asked Bill if we could buy one of those cottages, and again he said that we couldn't. But I haven't given up hope :) We both did say that it was somewhere that we could see ourselves living one day - we really liked that area. One of the biggest blessings was the weather; seriously, I felt like that was just an extra gift from the Lord. It was unseasonally warm and sunshiney that whole week, and the day we left it became cloudy and cooler, and I kind of think the Lord just gave us that lovley weather to enjoy. Every good and perfect thing....

It was a little hard to come back to work and the normal routine after that, but we have adjusted back slowly. I do like our time here in Dallas, but going somewhere else made me look forward to the time when Bill graduates and we move on to a new adventure in a new setting. It was a good vacation, though, and we are thankful that we had the opportunity to get away. It was a good time for us to reconnect and just enjoy being together all the time. I've included many pics from our trip, so enjoy!

A New Year

2007-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

And so we begin another year. I can hardly believe how quickly the time has gone! It is so amazing to look back over the past year and see all that the Lord has done, all that He has brought us through and blessed us with. I came across this verse at Thanksgiving, and feel that it very well sums up this past year: "O Lord, my God, You have accomplished many things; You have done amazing things and carried out Your purposes for us. No one can thwart You! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!" (Ps. 40:5).

On the Way Up

2007-01-27T19:06:00.000-08:00

Bill and I in a pod going up to the top of the St. Louis Arch.

Getting What You Want

2006-09-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

It is very interesting when you finally get something that you want - especially if it is something that you have been wanting for a long time. Sometimes it is everything you thought it would be and it is thrilling. Sometimes, it is even more than you imagined (Heaven will be like that). But other times, and very often, it is not quite all that you thought it would be. (As an aside, I think marriage falls into all three of those categories!) Let's just say that I am experiencing the latter option with my new teaching position. Teaching is not something that you "ease into". I don't mean to imply that you don't prepare - you do! A great deal between your education classes, certification, training, room preparation, lesson planning. But the actual teaching - the position of having a classroom and being responsible for its students, is immediate. One day you don't have students in your classroom, and the next day, you do. There they sit at 8:40 A.M on the first day, new school supplies in their hands and eager expectation on their faces. And you have them all day for the next nine months (kind of like gestation). And you have to at least appear like you know what you are doing, that you are in control, and that you are happy to be at school (It is a toss-up as to which of those is most difficult!). But it actually isn't the teaching/lesson planning part that has proven the most challenging. It is the........discipline. Oh yes. What happens when little Johnny (or in my case, Juan) doesn't want to listen? He would rather sing a song, draw a picture, kick the person sitting next to him, flirt with the girl across the room, play a game, talk about a game, or make obscene gestures to the student in the next desk. And you, poor, idealistic, new teacher, you don't want to discipline. You don't want to go through the three steps to a detention, move the student to another seat, rearrange seats, call parents, or CONSTANTLY reprimand the student. You just want to teach about continents and read "The Hungry Caterpillar" to them. And hopefully have an "Anne of Green Gables" moment. (I will be sure to blog if such ever happens to me!) In short, words that describe these last three- going- on -four weeks are: overwhelming, exhausting, frustrating, challenging, draining, consuming. Please pray with me that I would have the wisdom to handle classroom management, strength and refreshment, a joy in my work, and the ability to "have a life" outside teaching as well. Don't read me wrong, I do have enjoyable times and like my students. It is just.....a lot. And on that note, I say goodnight :)

Yea for Italy!!

2006-07-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

Woo-hoo! Italy wins the World Cup! They played their hearts out; it was a great game. I have never been so "into" a game before. It was thrilling :) Toni and Grusso and Buffon are my favorites. Oh, and Pirlo. And several others, but I don't know their names. ( I am a very new fan). Anyway, yea Azzurri!!

A Brief update while fighting exhaustion.

2006-06-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I thought I would do a lot more blogging than I have done. It isn't that I have forgotten; I've just been busy. And Bill has the computer sometimes too when I am in the mood to write, so that doesn't help. But, I am still here. And right now I am tired. It is almost midnight, and that is late for me. But, I was in the blogging vicinity, so I thought I'd jot off a quick note while I was here. Much has happened since I last wrote, and maybe sometime when I am not so sleepy, I will go into more detail. Until then, I am going to make it a brief catch-up. School ended about two weeks ago, and I am glad. Though I enjoyed working with the students, the whole atmosphere was dysfunctional, and therefore exhausting. It drained me. So I am happy about having a break now. I did get hired to teach ESL next year at a different school (a healthy, happy school!), and I am really excited about that! I am hoping that soon I will be able to start working on my classroom and lesson plans. The way that job worked out is a HUGE blessing and really the hand of the Lord was so evident in it all. I'll have to share more about that sometime. Bill and I are thrilled about it. Then one of our cars went caput, so it became inevitable that we needed a new one. We sold our faithful little Sunfire and just bought a '05 Grand Am. It is the newest and also the most expensive car I have ever had. So yes, that means we now have car payments for the first time since we have been married, which I'm sure will prove to be fun. But thanks to a friend, we got a great deal on it, and we are happy with our new purchase. At least I won't have to ride my bike to work (though it would be a good workout for me!). It is now midnight, and I am tired, tired. I need to go to sleep. I love sleeping. So off to bed I go. Hopefully my next entry will be intellectually stimulating, full of brilliant writing and interesting details.
Goodnight for now.

My Cup Runneth Over

2006-02-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

Just to let everyone know that a job has opened up for me - how exciting! I am going to be a teacher's aide in the special education department at a middle school. I am thrilled about it. It is an old school in a nice neighborhood not even ten minutes from our house. Such a blessing! The neat part about it too, is that the principal seems very interested in hiring me to teach ESL in the fall,which would basically be my dream come true. So, even though losing my job was hard and hurtful ( and still is some), it is neat to see how the Lord has worked in this difficult situation. His ways truly are best, even if they are beyond my understanding all the time. But I guess that keeps it adventurous, right? I have to fill out some paperwork tomorrow, so I am not sure yet of the official start date, but I will keep everyone updated. Just wanted to share the exciting way that the Lord has worked in this, and to share my extreme gratefulness to the Lord for His loving-kindness! And thank you all too for your prayers :)

Even Little Leaks Grow

2006-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Tis true. Our adorable little drip-drip from the bathtub spout has grown up. It has gone from the cute, cliche tiny drip of "aren't old houses charming and so much character?", to, well, basically Niagara Falls. It is now a gushing stream that you could easily take a bath in. I read an article today in National Geograpic about the shortage of water in the Serengeti region in Africa, and felt immensely guilty. We could probably have watered an entire herd of wildebeast and a few lions with all the water that has been wasted. This drip sounds like the Falls too, as it can be heard anywhere in the house now, even with the bathroom door closed, as Bill has pointed out numerous times. And speaking of Bill, this guy would never have made it through the Chinese water torture (didn't that have to do with water dripping?). He must put as much of a sound barrier between himself and the drip as possible. Last night, with the bathroom door and the bedroom door firmly closed, he could still hear the water. So, despite the fact that it is relatively cold inside and out, we had a tower fan humming to us all night. Bill finally couldn't hear the drip any longer, and I'm sure my sore throat from the cold breeze on my face will go away. Having the bathroom door closed at all times - Bill's mandate - has brought with it certain interesting aspects as well. You see, the leak is from the hot water faucet, not the cold. So it creates a kind of tropical environment in the bathroom, which is most unusual. It is constantly humid and warm, and the mirror slightly steamed over. Our bath towels don't dry out and my bathrobe is always damp when I put in on in the morning. The toilet paper is getting soggy. But hey, on the bright side, my ivy is thriving. I think I may move all of my houseplants into the bathroom and use it as a kind of mini-conservatory. The handyman is supposed to come tomorrow, and hopefully that will restore our bathroom to its normal arid climate. A few days ago, while wrapped in a hug from Bill, he kissed my head and said, "I can't WAIT for Saturday!". I looked up at him and smiled, "Why's that?", I asked, expecting some romantic banter. "Because," he said, his eyes full with feeling, "then the leak will be fixed".

Time For A Change

2006-01-16T13:36:00.000-08:00

'TIME FOR A CHANGE' the Pottery Barn catalog blared in large white letters, as I pulled it from my mailbox that afternoon. "Well," I thought, "I certainly got that!" You see, about 45 minutes earlier, I had been called into my supervisor's office and told that they were "letting me go". No reasons, no warning, and no second chance. My position was still wanted, but I was not. And so, I was at home now, shell-shocked and still trying to digest what had happened. And why. And how, and what in the world did I do to result in this?!
Nearly two weeks later, I am going through the stages of 'processing' what has happened, and working through the various feelings and emotions that go with all that (as well as looking for another job!). I am mostly over the initial shock, though I still have moments of disbelief, and am trying to respond to my new situation in the right way. Is there a 'right way'? I think so, though that does not mean that is always my response. I think it means forgiving, even though I am genuinely hurt by the situation, and the poor way that I feel it was handled - by people that I trusted. I think it is also not allowing this incident to cover our overall good opinion of that organization, and especially as Bill resumes classes again tomorrow there, that has been difficult. Though I hope that we will continue to heal and look back at our time here with appreciation, I confess that for both of us, it has affected the way that we look at the school somewhat. It is hard to see the things we loved about it now through the haze of losing my job, though I am praying that as Bill begins his classes, we will remember, and be able to isolate this incident from the whole experience. Overall though, I believe that the right way to respond is in trust. Trust that the Lord was not caught unawares by this, that He will provide for us, and even more, that His hand is in it and He intends good in all that has happened. This is not some kind of forced optimism - belief that this happened so that my dream job could be revealed (though that may be the Lord's intention!). My next job may be a stinker. But this is trust that the Lord will not let us fall, and that He does have our best in His plans for us - whether we see and understand them or not! The second half of Isaiah 50:10 says, "Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God". I feel kind of like we are in the dark right now, without a light. Yet, looking back over our marriage and my life - and the ways the Lord has worked - I know that I can trust Him. And I must attest that through all of this disappointment, we have seen glimpses of the Lord's care for us - little things that have happened to help us out and provide for us and encourage.
So, I end this blog with a plea for your prayers for us, that we would have right attitudes and feelings, that a job would open up for me (a teaching job would be wonderful!), and that we would choose to trust and rely on the Lord. Also, for those of you who I kept up with regularly via email, I lost all my email addresses the day I left, so please leave a comment with your current email so we can keep in touch!

What Better Way to Top the Tree?

2005-12-11T19:26:00.000-08:00

O Christmas Tree!

2005-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Search is Over

2005-12-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

Green with envy? This soup was good!

2005-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

Katie and a Little Elf

2005-12-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Trimming the Tree

2005-12-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Outside of the Concession Barn at the Tree Farm

2005-12-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

The Concession Barn at the Tree Farm

2005-12-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

Pie-eaters

2005-12-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving by Twilight

2005-12-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

The Brains (and beauty!) Behind the Operation

2005-12-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner alfresco

2005-12-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

The Finished Product

2005-12-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

The Brawn Behind Operation Thanksgiving Dinner

2005-12-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

Art: The Extravagant Gesture

2005-11-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

I get an email newsletter from Image magazine, a publication that addresses Christianity and the arts. This letter arrived today, and I thought it shared an important perspective on the value of art, as well as goals for all artists who have a relationship with Jesus. It follows:

Dear Friends of Image:
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” We've heard the opening words of Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities so often that they've become a cliché. But my guess is that most of us can relate to those words after the year we've just gone through. Whatever good news we have to celebrate has to be set against the spectacle of a world battered by hurricanes, inundated by floods, and shaken by earthquakes. The human cost has been beyond comprehension.
At times like this, those of us who work in the arts have every reason to do a fair amount of soul-searching. What can a poem or a painting do for the bereaved and the homeless?
But then I think of Mary Magdalene anointing the feet of Jesus. Judas reproves her for wasting a precious substance. Jesus, however, commends her. In some mysterious way, the beauty and extravagance of Mary's gesture is seen by Christ as an icon of compassion. What she does demonstrates God's prodigal love for his children—and in that sense it becomes a sacramental sign that has the power to move human hearts.
Art, like that precious oil, can be the extravagant gesture that moves us to understanding and charity. All the more so when in the case of Image the writing and art we feature provide glimpses of the human solidarity that only God's grace can underwrite.
And so we hope that you will help us continue the mission of Image: to deepen the imaginative life of the church, to make faith credible in the mainstream culture, and to nurture the writers and artists who are striving to renew that faith.
Cordially,
Gregory Wolfe

A Light From Heaven

2005-11-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

I usually don't get nervous when I meet "people of importance" - and I have met a few before. Actually, I don't think I've ever been nervous before an introduction. But, suddenly, as I stood in the "meet and greet" line for Jan Karon, I was. There were a hundred questions that I wanted to ask her - about her writing, her books, her faith. None of them came to mind as the line drew closer and closer to where she stood. I had the awful realization that I was going to shake her hand, stare at her, and awkwardly stumble away. And there was nothing I could do about it - I was frozen. Before I continue this tale, let me just explain why this meeting was such a big deal for me. Simply put, Ms. Karon is an authorial inspiration for me and the reason is threefold: she is a gifted writer, she has a sincere relationship with the Lord, and she has been successfully published in a secular market. Yep, that's what I want to be. Lofty, I know, but I can't shake the conviction that it is so important for Christians to be involved in the "arts", and that it shouldn't be in our own "Christian culture", but in the culture of the world! Someone once said that since we (as Christians) have an intimate relationship with THE Creator, we should be the most creative people around. But not to keep our creations for ourselves, but to share with everyone. At the event last night, Ms. Karon spoke of themes that she felt were woven throughout her Mitford series - unconditional love, grace, forgiveness. But she shared that the one that stood out to her the most was that of redemption. These books can be picked up at any bookstore by any person, and the story he or she reads is one of redemption - through a personal relationship with our Lord, I might add. I believe that is being salt and light. However, to finish my story... when my turn came to stand in front of Ms. Karon, I smiled (and blushed, because I still didn't know what to say). She warmly pressed my hand, took Bill's hand in her other, and said, "What a beautiful young couple; so sweet". Her assistant bent towards her, "This is the lady that asked the question about publishing a book with Christianity in it in a secular market". Ms. Karon smiled and squeezed my hand tighter. "Are you a writer, or do you want to be?" I melted and my tongue was loosed. Yes I do want to be, I said, but I just don't know what, how... my usual thing. She spoke to me some about that, and then ended by saying, "You will know when you have 'your story'. Pray about it and just wait. Pray about it". Pretty good writing advice from a New York Times bestseller.

Oh yes, and did I mention? When I came back to have my picture taken with her, she put her arm around me and said, "Take a good picture; she is going to be a famous author some day".

Ms. Karon wanted Bill in this picture too!

2005-11-17T19:57:00.000-08:00

A New York Times Bestseller...and a wannabe.

2005-11-17T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hungary Trip - July 2005

2005-11-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I FINALLY posted pics of our trip to Hungary this summer. We spent nine wonderful days in Toalmas, a small town outside of Budapest, teaching English to campers at Word of Life. This was for us both, our first taste of Europe, and we fell in love with the people, the architecture, the land, and the culture in general. Thanks to all who kept us in your prayers - and please continue to lift up the students that we had!

2005-11-16T18:47:00.000-08:00

The Chain Bridge at night - hanging over the Danube River like a guardian of its waters.

2005-11-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Parliament at dusk in Budapest- ethereal in the evening.