I went to get a picture off my camera and realized there were some other fun picks I had forgot about, so ...
This is the yummy carrot cake I made for Jonathan's birthday back in January.
Some small group members enjoying said yummy cake.
The guys talking after small group. I know exactly the tone of voice Jonathan is using in this picture - a little high-pitched and mocking.
These are some Valentine's cupcakes I made. (with a couple of pretty adorable helpers)
This is Nazaria (one of the above mentioned helpers) and Jonathan. We've been spending a lot of time with her and her brother - giving them rides and babysitting for their mother. Jonathan and Zari have developed the sweetest relationship. I love watching them together. The first time she said to him, "Hey friend, I want to talk to you about something" (in an incredibly cute toddler voice) she melted his heart. God help us if we have a little girl, she will have him absolutely at her mercy.
Zari is not the only little girl who enjoys time with Jonathan. There is no place Lexi would rather be than very, very close to him. He is acually praying on the right, and she decided to keep him company by perching on his back.
And this is my grand finale - the reason I wanted to get the pictutes off the camera. MY SOCK DRAWER! (cough, cough) yeah, I just wanted to share because it's so fun and colorful - I love my socks.
Last Night before bed . . .
Jonathan: I have to work tomorrow.
Jodi: I know.
Jonathan: that means 7:30.
Me:
I know. You work every Monday and we always have to be there by 7:30. (I didn't say it, but I was thinking,
duh.) Jonathan: o.k.
This Morning . . .
Jonathan walks in at 7:23. I am standing at the stove in my pajamas about to pour the oatmeal into the pot.
Jonathan: Babe! are you not going to work today?!
Me: ofcourse I am. I'm just making some breakfast.
Jonathan: just stares in disbelief.
*the light bulb comes on over my head*
Jodi: Oh no! I forgot.
This is not a singular incident. I am notorious for this kind of thing. I don't know, I think I just block things out that I don't like, or don't deem that important at the time. For example, Jonathan tutors
every Thursday - it used to be on Monday and then I asked him to change it so we could have more time together on Mondays - because I get off work earlier. Well, I NEVER remember this change. Every Thursday I get upset when he reminds me he is tutoring - because I have inevitably made plans. goofy.
This is the first time I've ever had someone say that to me. It made me smile.
This weekend I went to a retreat called "Freedom in Jesus". It's a powerful time of getting rid of some of the nagging and strangling sins in one's life and growing spiritually. I went through it a couple years ago - so this time I was a presenter. This retreat also bonds people together like you wouldn't believe. So I made some great new friends. Anyway, one guy was there without his wife and as we were leaving he said:
I'd really like for you to meet my wife - I think she would like hanging out with you. I felt so grown up and yet so much like a kid. Now many of you may be wondering why the big deal. I am fully aware that you have likely had such comments directed toward you many times in your life - I've probably directed some of them your way - not for hanging out with wives, but other friends, people you would get along with. No one has
ever said such a thing to me before. It's new. I like being liked.
I love fall, and I was afraid I had missed it this year - we were just hurtling on toward winter. Happily, nature has taken a fall detour, at least for the moment. The sky has finally gotten that distinct blue color that only comes in autumn, and the sun is still warm though softer. And my dear friend and I are planning a fall party for this weekend! Combining two of my favorite things - planning and fall. It will be just lovely - pumpkins, popcorn balls, harvest treats, a bonfire. *contented sigh* I will make the cutest little pumpkin candle-holders and some spice cupcakes and some maple leaf-shaped cookies.
My sister is gone back home to Alabama. I feel like there is a hole now in my life. For the past month she has been everywhere I have been and I loved it. Now, there is no one waiting for me at home at lunch time. No suitcase under the desk. No hand constantly reaching to find mine while we walk side-by-side. No sister within my reach at any given moment. And I am sad. Sadder than I or my poor husband expected me to be, but I am grateful we had a month. So grateful for the shared experiences, the inside jokes, the spiritual growth. If the cost was a day of sadness - I will gladly pay. Bye Kayla. I will see you soon - and one day we will be in Heaven, where time won't matter - and where, if we are apart for a thousand years, we will have another thousand to catch each other up on what was missed. I love you.
Jonathan and I lead a small group at our house every Thursday evening. Besides all the other blessings we receive from this; it also requires me to clean my house at least once a week :) That sounds bad...I clean my house. I guess what I mean is that - when I know people are coming over, I look at my living space with a different eye, and that's helpful. Anyway, my very sweet husband decided to help me out and do the "before small group" cleaning a couple Thursdays ago. I gave him some ideas on what needed to be done...dishes, vaccuming with smell-good stuff, general arranging and putting away of things. Unfortunately I forgot to mention the bathroom. We are not fortunate enough to have two bathrooms, so that one can always be kept in tip-top shape, with nice lotion and hand towels. Nope, just one, so it has all our stuff strewn about, and we are prolific strewners (wow, positive that is NOT a word). Nightgown, hairdyer, make-up, little toothpaste remenant in the sink, maybe a few wiskers from Jonathan's last shave...yeah, bathroom stuff. So, anyway, I usually do a quick once over in the bathroom before people come, and add nice little touches like a candle and nicely folded hand towels, and above all, I close the shower curtain! We have a very cute shower curtain, and we have one of those old tubs that never looks clean no matter how often we scrub it; and while I can learn to ignore it, the thought of someone else seeing it makes me feel unwell in my mind. (dingy bathtubs make me think of scary roach-motels) So, the first few weeks of our group I was very confident in my bathroom...almost wishing people would need to go, serving lots of juice and water; no one ever did....I mean NEVER. I'm sure you can see what's coming. Jonathan did not think about the bathroom, and I did not think to check when I came home from work, guess how many people went to the bathroom that night! JUST GUESS! Every person, every single one!!! Can you believe it?!?!? And it was timed so that I couldn't go in between to check it out, so my mind was racing..."oh dear....what did I leave out? please have at least put your undies away, did I take the garbage out recently, gasp.....the shower curtain!" After everyone had left...bladders ALL empty, I walked grimly into the bathroom; the shower curtain was wide open. Sigh. As you can imagine I redoubled my efforts for the following week, and miraculously not a single person has gone since. You've just gotta love it :)
