Celebrate!

Robby's 30!  Whoohoo!  We are celebrating tomorrow night by going to the much anticipated Banff Film Festival World Tour!  YESSSSS! 

He got trail running shoes, a backpacking hammock & a camping book for his Birthday and he was so excited.  Awww my outdoorsy boy.  I love him.  I'm sorry i've been bad at taking pictures lately but here's the BFF trailer! Enjoy.

If I were...

...at Mary's Halloween party tonight I would dress up as...

An Owl.

A perfect amount of weird...

When Jill first told me her boyfriends name was Swan I thought that was the wierdest name I had ever heard.  I think I went a few days before I figured out that was just a nickname.  Turns out Swan turned out to be the perfect amount of weirdness for Jill.  Congratulations to Jill & Swan who will be tying the knot... I couldn't be more happy for you two!

Yes, I did creep the face for this beauty...

L is for Lily!

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to the most beautiful five year old I know... Miss Lily!  She is smart, creative, gorgeous, loves her brother, and is so incredibly funny.  She keeps you on your toes, is full of joy & always finds a way to compliment others.  Happy Birthday Sweet Lily... I love being your Auntie!

These girls LOVE being your Aunties too!

Grace is the God who stoops

Erin & I went to the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul... and to our surprise we weren't the only 20 something's there (yes, I'm still a twenty something!).  The weekend was spiritually refreshing, full of inspiring messages and lot's and lot's and lot's of laughing.  All of the speakers were incredible but my MOST favorite was Max Lucado... I've read his books and heard his daughter speak but this was the first time hearing him.  He spoke on "Grace" with Scripture from John 8:1-11 where Jesus wrote in the sand "Grace happened here".  We actually don't know what he wrote but I like that guess!  If you haven't read John 8... read. it. now.  It's beautiful and a wonderful reminder that we need God's grace daily no matter what our sin...
Grace.  It's beautiful.  It comes from a relentless God. When grace happens generosity happens.  It's an undeserved favor.  More than we deserve.  Greater than we can imagine.  Grace is the God who stoops and get's eye level with us and meets us exactly where we are.  I can't wait to read his book "Grace"!

The worship band

Justin Beiber's mom sharing about how God brought her through a teen pregnancy.. cool lady!

Mr. Max Lucado praying for our great Country

 - painted by an artist hands - beautiful 

Our first born son... errr I mean our new sponsor child Eric from Rwanda!

Erin & I enjoying a fine Italian treat... a Cannoli!  Worth every calorie.

Here's to a Healthy Heart!

Robby & I walked in the Northland Heart walk a few weeks ago.  After a ton of genetic testing which proved that i'm at a high risk for heart disease & stroke, living a healthy lifestyle has never been so important to me!  The American Heart Association is definitely an organization that I believe in and is making a big difference through educating children, families & professionals around the Northland.  This year I led our Ferguson team to raising over $3,000 (the 2nd place fundraising team at the event!).

Robby & I walked in memory of our Grandpa's who both suffered strokes.

Another reason to love JOE!

Joe is my boss.  I know i've mentioned multiple times on my blog how blessed I am to have him as a boss.  I will literally cry for weeks the day he retires.  He is the most genuine, compassionate and generous boss i've ever known.  He makes going to work a pleasure, which takes a rare kind of boss and is why our turnover is so low and many associates have been there for 20+ years.  Because of him Robby & I get to enjoy Duluth's fine arts events for free a few times a year (he just gave us tickets to a play and the symphony is just around the corner!).  One pretty sweet thing about Joe is he knows how to keep a girl happy... chocolate & flowers! :)

Friday's day brightener was a dozen roses for each girl in the building!  The best part was the money he spent on the flowers went right back into the community.

The one disappointing thing about Joe is that he is a Packer fan.  And not just any old Packer fan... a devoted (with all of his heart) Packer fan.  Everyone has been joking with him about the horrible call a few weeks back when the Packers lost... here he is strangling a Vikings fan.