New recipe for biscuits--by default...

So at my practicum yesterday, we made cookies. It was fun. ^_^ Some of the kids had never made cookies before, so that was cool, too. I gave them the recipe for sugar cookies...minus sugar. They had no idea, at least until they took the first bite of their cookies. I had everybody take a bite at the same time, and their reaction was priceless!! I wish I had taken pictures. They all went "EW" and "GAG" all at the same time. It was great!!
The point is, every ingredient in cookies is necessary. When the cookie misses the sugar, the cookie becomes a weird kind of biscuit. We talked about the role of members in families, how missing the sugar was a negative choice, and how positive and negative choices affect the family. It was special. Some of the kids shared more than they usually do.
I think it will take time before I am a more competent group leader, but I cherish every mistake i get to make along the way. I love being at this place!! The kids are beautiful in so many ways. God knew what He was doing when He put me here. I have so much to learn, but I'm having a great time in the process.
These people, especially the staff, are angels.
by the way, one of the kids eats everything in his path, so he ate 4 of the "cookies" himself! That was fun. Gave the kids a laugh, too. my next group is next Thursday. We'll see how it goes!!
Love to all! ^_^

Surprise Baby Shower

Sami

Lisa

Mary, Sandy, Julie

Marian, Mary, Sandy

Nicole and Elaine

Marian and Sandy

Linda, Glory, Carol

Sami, Lisa, Diana, Mary

Me and Whitney

Mary
Yesterday was so much fun!! My friend, Whitney, who also lives here in PA is expecting her third baby, first girl. All the ladies at church threw her a shower, and up until she got to church and saw her friends walking in, she had no idea! It was so much fun. We had typical foods, punch, a fun cake, and games. ^_^
I got to do the games, and that was fun. We played celebrity baby names game, where you match up celebrities with their kids' names, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Apple. She named her kid that, by the way, because the name sounded CLEAN. Whatever. ^_^
We also played "Build a Baby's Library" where we each brought a book as a gift for Lucy, Whitney's baby, and the book had special meaning attached to it. I brought "Robert the Rose Horse" because I remember my family reading it with special emphasis on the sneezes! How fun. ^_^
Finally, we played a game I invented where you look at the differences between raising boys and girls, such as differences in hair fixing, potty training, toys you buy, and protectiveness. ^_^ Whitney wrote her list while everybody else wrote theirs, and people who matched the most got a prize. ^_^ That was fun. Whitney keeps thinking about the whole hair-fixing thing because with two boys, you don't have to do so much!
We had a great time. Here are some pictures of me and my wonderful church lady friends! I'm so glad I'm here. These people are so wonderful. ^_^

We're not kids anymore...

...but it's okay to play like it from time to time! I needed a little break from stocks crashing, presidential candidates debating, and criminals murdering, so I watched cartoons this morning. Bryan and I sat with our coffee cups and Captain Planet and Jetsons. It was nice to watch something to make us laugh for a change.
I'm not an ostrich, mind you. I don't stick my head in the sand when confrontation is necessary. I do, however, think that if you constantly allow yourself to be filled with pressure, like a balloon, you'll pop and it won't be pretty.
Remedy? Allow yourself to watch something silly everyonce in a while so you won't be bombarded with life's pressure. Take care of what needs done, but breathe and relax with Pink Panther for a moment before getting back to the grind. ^_^
Love to all!

Megan's wedding, yea!!!! ^_^

It was a blast!!! Megan was gorgeous, Zack was handsome (both were, but the groom description had to follow the bride, right?) Kierrabelle was an adorable flower girl, and Kole couldn't have been handsomer in his little suit. He was especially cute when he was dancing to the music! He was also cute when he was helping direct Kierrabelle down the aisle. ("Hey! Go that way!--big point--go that way!!") A fun day was had by all. Megan's dress was phenomenal. She looked radiant, as most brides tend to do. Plus, the sun was shining on her, which is lucky, and so she looked extra happy. ^_^
The whole day was Megan, absolutely. She had bluegrass music playing. She's always been folks-y, which fits in with the neat way she sings and plays guitar. I so love that about her! Uncle Kevin sang a song to her that he used to sing to her when she was a little girl, and I nearly cried. It's too bad that Megan's voice wasn't feeling so hot that day because the girl has talent.

The setting was Megan as well. The leaves were beginning to change, and the hills were beautiful. They encased the setting of the ceremony perfectly. Besides the area being beautiful, Megan has always excelled in the outdoors, especially when it comes to fishing. I still remember being a little girl and fishing with the cousins, being horrified because I was told to pick a worm up from the ground and put it on the hook by myself, and I just couldn't do it. Megan did it for me. ^_^ Thanx, Meg. ^_^

The bridesmaids' dresses were Megan. They were satin but also had a dragonfly pin on the side, and I remember megan liking dragonflies. It was the perfect touch. I wish I had pictures!! This will teach me to bring a digital camera to a wedding without extra batteries...

Thanx to Aunt Donna, the wedding cake was amazing. It was a white cake with chocolate icing and raspberry filling. Aunt Donna even fashioned birds to put on the cake and these cute little white flowers as well. Great job, Aunt Donna! Aunt Kathy also made peach cobbler, which was wonderful. Bryan especially loved the cobbler, since he's a big fan of fruit desserts.

Uncle Mike did a sweet ceremony. He made the right jokes at the appropriate times. ^_^ I loved how he made me think about love. I was so glad to have Bryan there next to me so we could watch Megan and Zack dedicate their lives together, and have us rededicate our lives to each other. I'm such a sucker for weddings. ^_^

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Kevin looked happy, sad, excited, enthralled, all the emotions that people have when their children are getting married. What a beautiful thing, to get married, to fall in love, and then to, as Uncle Mike said, make a choice to love for the rest of your life. It's a power that many people don't trust anymore, but it's also one in which I believe, thanks to a God who makes this love possible.

Love to all, and I am so glad that I got to see some of my family. I miss you so much, and I pray for you everyday.