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Get Up-To-Date with My Life Here!
Have dog. Will travel.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Once Upon a Sunday


There I was one Sunday morning minding my own business when God decided to step in and make obvious He had a rather unexpected plan...and had all along.  That morning I was tired (as I often am), but tired enough to pray again about it.

"Father God, I'm so tired.  I can't keep doing this all by myself.  I know I'm supposed to trust you solely, but unless you plan to come down here and mow my lawn and wash my dishes, you have got to send me someone."

And there was an "Amen" at some point.  This was not a totally unusual prayer for me.  I'd prayed similar ones before.  But this time the words I said would stick with me...probably for the rest of my rational life.

Later that morning, after the early service for which I am music coordinator, I got into a conversation with the man who runs the screens for the that service.  He asked me about what it was like being a single foster-parent.  We chatted while we were waiting for one of the other worship leaders to arrive for some brief system training.  Afterward he asked if I'd like to get some lunch.  I found myself agreeing without thinking about it.

So we went to lunch.  It was nice.  Took longer than I had originally anticipated, but I still had just enough time to get home and get ready before going to choir rehearsal.  As we were parting ways in the parking lot it occurred to me I had just accidentally gone on a date.

That week was going to be a short one.  I was getting ready to leave town to go to Vegas with Mom.  There was so much to do.  I was feeling very overwhelmed.  How was I going to get everything done I needed to before I had to leave?  And now there's this man from church asking for my attention, wanting to go out to dinner, see me, spend time with me...and that Tuesday night he mowed my lawn while I did the trimming and tended to the garden.  And Samson made a new best friend.

The following night I did cave and we had dinner followed by me in the roll of technical support trying to help fix and update his laptop.  Not my usual gig and it almost completely halted any forward progress in getting ready to leave town.

That Thursday I left work early, went to physical therapy, and then came home feeling quite frantic about all that remained to be done.  And I had company again.  This time he was washing my dishes while I packed.

Did you catch that?  Prayer on Sunday.  Asked out on Sunday.  Then he mowed my yard.  Then he washed my dishes.  Mind...blown.

Coincidences and random things in common started to pile up.  I go into some sort of shock.  What in the heck?!  Okay, God.  I appreciate the lack of subtlety.  In fact, I had asked for that at some point along the way, too.  I said (and I quote), "Make it obvious."  So, apparently, He did.

Five weeks passed.  It was Sunday.  I was sick.  I felt miserable, was coughing and stuffy.  He had made me dinner and there were two roses in a vase on the table.  How sweet!  And here I was feeling yucky.  I managed to eat some and then put on my pjs, put Vics under my nose and curled up on the sofa to just watch some TV for a while before I would send him home and go to bed.  Or...


...I could get engaged instead.  Came to learn he had been planning to propose and then almost didn't since I was sick, but in his words, he "just couldn't wait."  So he proposed anyway despite my pjs, germs, and Vics nose.  In sickness and and health, right?

I know what you're thinking.  Certifiable?  Quite possibly.  But it gets better.

So, now we are planning a wedding.  The date will be January 1st...2017.  New year, new life, new beginning...and it's a Sunday.  Keeping it very small with just the immediate family and the one friend each standing up with us, so no one but them has to figure out how to be comfortable in long underwear underneath dress clothes...since we'll be outside for the ceremony.  (Should help Pastor keep things brief unless the outdoor heaters are just too darn good.)

We're now just about seven weeks out from the wedding and God has had His hands in the planning, too, as everything from the dress to the rings has gone very quickly and smoothly.  We both see the signs all around us of His handiwork, His planning, His purpose.  Not in a million years would I have expected to be writing this blog post.  If you'd asked me five years ago when I moved to Lincoln where I would be by 2017, I'd have not guessed getting married and preparing to bring not just a husband, but also a teenage step-daughter and step-chihuahua puppy into my home.  Heck, you could have asked me that just a couple months ago and I'd not have guessed anything near this!

But the Lord does work in mysterious ways, and there's just no denying He's been at work in both our lives to prepare us for, well, each other, and all that we bring with us.  I've spent a considerable amount of time trying to wrap my mind around that one...It's impossible to fathom.  I have found it is less impossible to just accept what God has obviously planned and just be in awe of how I am being loved.  I'm pretty sure I no longer live in the state of Nebraska, but in a state of perpetual amazement.

All that being said, we're not doing any formal engagement photos, but it would probably be bad form to not introduce you all somehow to my husband-to-be.  So, we took some lack-luster selfies (we're too old maybe to be able to take good selfies, or maybe a selfie by definition is a bad picture), so you can at least get an idea of what he looks like.  His name is James Schulz, by the way, but you may call him Jim.  He looks forward to getting to know all my crazy family and friends...which may just go to show that he's just as silly in the head as the rest of us, and that's okay.

Jim & Corrine Sunday, November 6, 2016


A Special Day with a Special 8-Year-Old


It was perfect weather on a weekend in October.  Perfect for taking Ivy horseback riding for the first time as her special birthday gift from her Auntie.

After her soccer game, Ivy hurriedly changed clothes and we headed to Mahoney State Park.  Upon arrival, literally a dream came true.  "We only have one horse available at 4:00."  What?!  I had that exact dream not more than a couple weeks prior.  In that dream our plans were utterly decimated.  But, the ladies took pity on my poor panicked expression and called nearby Platte River State Park to see if they had any availability.  Hallelujah!  They had plenty of room and we had only to kill about 45 minutes.  Off we went on our grand adventure!!

Anxiously waiting for the horses to appear.

Saying hello.

Smile, horsey!

Finally atop a real horse!

Curly and Wasabi, here we go!

One Happy Cowgirl
 After the excitement of riding horses for an hour, we went looking for food and found great food at The Main Street Cafe in Louisville.  More fun and adventure!

Hungry cowgirls ready to order! 
A grown up 8-year-old

Play hard.  Nap hard.
We had a blast and she determined we need to go horseback riding for every birthday...and go with the whole family.  Sounds like she had the same kind of fun her sister did for her birthday.  Who's the cool Auntie?  :)

A Little Mommy-Daughter Vacation


I had two free nights in Las Vegas at my disposal, so I packed up my mommy and went on a vacation.  We didn't do a stitch of gambling or see any of the shows, but we explored and laughed and had our own little adventure.

Our flight out of Omaha was delayed several hours, so we got a later start than expected, but made it eventually.  We definitely were not in Nebraska anymore!

Where we stayed: The Hilton Grand Vacation Resort
Once we were settled at the hotel, we hit the pavement and hiked about halfway down the strip and back again, soaking in the sights, taking pictures, eating and exploring.

A kind foreign tourist took our picture for us outside the Venetian.

The view from a walkway outside the Venetian.  Yes, those are functioning gondolas down there.
One of the highlights of our first night there was going to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

I met Frank Sinatra!

I promise I rescued Mom from the Hulk...after taking a great photo first.
 After dinner at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas where we each got souvenir glasses), we walked along the strip again to see what the evening had to offer.

The famous light and water show at the Bellagio.

Random costumed street artist floating in the air.  No idea how he did that.

Another light and water show this one set to show tunes and classic Sinatra sounds.  I forget which casino had this one.
Day Two: Adventure upon adventure!  Horseback riding followed by a drive out to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

Receiving instructions from the quintessential example of a cowboy.

Happy Trails!
 
The only way to get a shot of both of us while riding single-file is a strange angled selfie.

Photo stop along the trail.  Thanks, trail guides!

Lake Mead viewed from the National Park's visitor's center.
En rout to the dam we stopped at the Memorial Bridge.  Don't look down!

A brave selfie with our backs to the railing way, way, way, way high up on the windy bridge.


Bird's eye view of Hoover Dam

Have to pose with the sign to prove I was there you know.

This thing is massive beyond description.
 On our last night there, we headed out again to explore.  This time we wandered to the old strip to check out the "Fremont Street Experience."

Entrance to the "Fremont Street Experience" where no cars are allowed and there's all sorts of sensory overload.
Under the canopy that stretches from one end of the "Experience" to the other with regular light/music shows...and zip lines.  We are not that brave.
The next morning we attended a small church where we met some nice people and crossed paths with someone who is related to another member of the family.  Small Lutheran world!  We were delayed in the airport on the way home, too, so got back to the farm really late and really worn out from all the excitement.  I think we needed a vacation from our vacation when we got back.  Totally worth it though.  I should take vacations more often.  Mom, it was so fun adventuring with you!