Weekend in Pics

Saturday morning bike ride with our friends:

The clouds came and (Woo-Hoo) we finally got some rain!

************

This past weekend my 'work' church opened up a Community Prayer Trail. The pic below is a picture of the newpaper picture that was taken last week:

Saturday Nik and I went to the Prayer Trail Opening/Dedication which was folllowed by a BBQ Dinner. We had a great time!

There was a large tent set up on the land at the location where their new church will be built.

The BBQ Dinner under the big tent.

My co-worker Gail, and I at the opening of the Prayer Trail.

*********

After PM church Sunday night the Children's Ministry had a fundraiser-supper. At the supper they decided to play a game: "Are you smarter than a Bible Quizzer?" (Our Children's Ministry does Bible Quizzing). They picked 7 adults to go against 7 of the quizzers....Nik was one of the 7 adults (no pressure).

It was really funny! He was asked a pretty tough question, from the book of Matthew. He was struggling with the answer and in the picture above, you can see him pulling out his cell phone to find the answer...but that was not allowed - and Nik is not smarter than a Bible Quizzer!

And that's my weekend review in pictures!

 

Broken Dryer

Our dryer is broken. Again. Nik was unable to fix it this time - but he gave it a good try. Last night, at 8:00pm Nik took 3 wet loads of laundry to the laundromat to dry while I went to Wal-Mart and picked up some much needed items to get us through the week. We were both home by 9pm. Although it was not the most convenient to go to the Laundromat, it was kind of nice to have all the laundry dried and folded in just one hour!

Hopefully we will be able to figure something out soon with our dryer!

Confession

I hate cleaning my microwave!

That's my confession. Really, I do. And I cannot even tell you the last time I cleaned it. It's gross. In case you were wondering 'Can this really be true...that her microwave is gross?' Here's proof:

Um. Yup. Gross.

I found myself with a few free minutes this afternoon and decided it was time to man-up and clean my microwave! Proof:

All better.

I don't know why I don't like to do it, but I don't! Oh well, it's done...for at leat the next year, anyways!

Now I have to get back to watering my one, my only (my almost-dead) plant! Yes...Landscaping Take Two (see post 5/14/11) has not faired so well....

I have had enough confession time for one night!

Off to cook dinner.

A story of real life...

Wednesday night after work I went and got gas in my car. Because I had to do that, I would be later-than-usual getting home. I talked to Nik earlier that day and ask if he could cook dinner. All of it, by himself, and have it ready when I got home. (That way, we could eat together before he had to leave for church).

Fast forward...I walk in the house and dinner is cooked! He grilled pork chops, made some mac-n-cheese and had green beans ready. We sat down to eat and had a nice dinner together.

Fast forward....Before he walked out the door, he stopped in the kitchen to tell me bye. I was at the kitchen counter, trying to pry staples out of a frame with a kitchen knife. He look at me and stated "You know I have pliers, right?"

Whatever he said in those 6 words did me in. What I heard was "Stupid girl - why are you so impatient that you cannot go in the garage and get the right tool for the job?"

So I replied - out loud and with a tone - "Don't yell at me. Yes, of course, I know you have pliers. I'm not an idiot. I am just trying this first."

Nik very nicely stepped away from me and said "I'm going to church - see you in a little bit".

I can honestly say that I checked my attitude, apologized to my husband (over and over again), told him how great he was and then proceeded to find the right tool and did the job with no problems. Then I cleaned the whole kitchen and started a load of laundry. By that time, I was feeling better and went on to church.

Please tell me I am not the only one who snaps at thier spouse for No. Reason. At. All.?!

Why do we (assuming I'm not the only one) do that?!

Later that evening Nik wanted to play tennis - but I was really tired. I told him we could go play still, but he (in all his wisdom) told me that we better stay home, so I could get some much needed rest. And I did! I went to bed early and slept well. I am feeling a bit more rested today.

Nik - Thank you for being so loving and patient with me. Thank you for not responding to me in a mean manner when I deserve it. Thank you for showing me kindness. I am lucky to have you as my spouse and I thank God everyday!

Dinner & Movie

Last night Nik took me out to dinner at our favorite Greek food restaurant in Round Rock. We had a Groupon that was going to expire soon - so we called some friends and made plans to go! Thank you Steve and Jennifer - we had a fun night!

Carla and Jennifer 

Steve and Nik

By the way - I want everyone to know....I tried a new food! Can you believe it?! Those who know me well, I know this is a shocker. I tried Dolmades. Nik loves these things. He normally orders meat ones, but they accidentally brought him vegetarian ones. This is what they look like:

Dolmades (cut in half, with a bit taken out)

First, I smelled them. Because that is what I do. They stunk. Bad. But I kept on....! Then I tasted it.....GROSS! I actually swallowed. But wow, that was not very good to me. But aren't you so proud I tried something new?! (Thank you, Jennifer, for trying it with me!) I think I will stick to my usual - Greek Salad and a Gyro.

After dinner - actually at 10:10 PM, Nik went to the movies. He went to see Courageous with our Pastor. (Too late for me to go!).

In Nik's words - He highly recommends it. And everyone must see it!

That is all for now. Exciting stuff, I know!

Fall Bucket List Update - September

I have been working on my bucket list for 1 month now! Below are some updates to it:

Memorize 6 scriptures (2 completed!) - 2 Peter 1:3 "His Divine Power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us according to His own glory and goodness." Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the intersts of others.

Visit long time friends, Rusty and Diane - Completed!

Finish the shred - Have. Not. Even. Started. Yet. (Again).

Make Recipe Cards - 

Get a new family photo taken - 

Have 3 couples/families over for dinner -

Make a Fall Wreath -

Learn to sew and make something - Completed! I have studied my entire sewing manuel.  I purchased fabric and I have spent a couple of hours at the machine, and this is what I made:

It's a teeny tiny little pillow. I had to start small. I have other fabric ready and waiting for me to make pillows for my spare bedroom. Hopefully I will complete them this next month!

Bake homemade bread - I have a few recipes I am looking at...but no baking yet.

Complete the Weight/Sewing room - Thanks to my mother-in-law, I now have a sewing cabinet! This was actually Nik's grandmother's that she passed down to me.

So, we have the sewing part of the room...now we just need the weight part of the room!

Drink Apple Cider - I have a recipe ready. I am just waiting for a cool, fall evening when I am at home.

Play Tennis - Completed! And acutally, Nik and I play tennis now pretty often!

Buy a fall decoration for the house - 

Surprise 3 people with flowers  (1 completed!) - I prayed that the Lord would show me who needed encouragement that particular week - and He did! He is so faithful and I am so glad I got to bless another person through this small act of kindness.

Go to San Antonio - 

Pay off car loan - Close, but not there yet.

Decorate Nik's office at the church - Completed!

Have a picnic - 

Eat Greek food with the Lentz's - 

Buy a Christmas CD -

Lose 10 pounds - I have actually gained 2. So I guess this means, I have to lose 12 pounds, huh?! We will see how that goes :(

Buy a car -

And that's my Bucket List Updates so far....! I'll keep you posted in another month.

We are back home now from a quick trip to see Nik's family. Nik's grandmother passed away on Tuesday and her funeral was held on Friday. It was definitely a sad time. Nik's grandmother was a really sweet, neat woman. Over the past few days I heard lots of stories and saw some great pictures of her. I know she was special to Nik and she was always so kind and loving to me.

All of Nik's family was in town and it was good to see them - especially those we do not get to see very often. Thursday night we had dinner with aunt Sharon and uncle Charles -

Also while we were there we had to play 'Spoons'. This is an insanely fun game! Although it can get rough sometimes...especially when Nik's cousin, Mike, plays. (we, meaning Mike and I, broke a chair last time this game was played!). This time - no injuries and nothing was broken!

The 'Spoons' Champs:

Here are some more pics from our time with the family:

Zack, Gabby, Corinna, and Karen.

Anna, Ryan, Bella, Zack and Gabby - playing Spoons.

Angie and Nik. 

(Nik) Tiffany and Mike. 

Bella and Caleb - our future niece and nephew. 

Bella, Nik and Caleb having a 'sweet gum balls' fight!