once upon a time...

alrighty then...by ann's request (www.ejdar.blogspot.com) I will fill in my once upon a times...:)

20 years ago...

1. I was 14 years old & finishing my 8th grade year at Parkers Prairie High School.
2. I thought that I would be a writer or a graphic designer when I grew up.
3. I believed there was no one on earth more annoying than my 6 year old brother :)

10 years ago...

1. I was working as a the Youth Ministries Director at the fabulous Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Park River, North Dakota.
2. I was single & not sure if I would EVER meet Mr. Right....
3. I got my first "almost new car"...a groovy little silver Escort station wagon :)

5 years ago...

1. I was living in Camas, Washington with my hubby & my beautiful little red-headed 1 year old and was expecting a new baby in December...a little girl!
2. I was preparing for my 4th annual Mexico Mission trip to Tecate, Mexico with my youth group from Zion Lutheran Church - where I was the Director of Youth & Family Ministries.
3. We had bought our first home & were living in an odorable little 1938 tudor style home on a double lot with old wood floors & leaded glass windows...trying to decide whether or not to move the nursery.

3 years ago...
1. I was adjusting to life as a stay at home mom - after leaving my youth ministry position at Zion in Buffalo to focus on my little ones - micah & cadence! Oh & I was pregnant with number three! - grayson arrived in january :) completing our little family.
2. I was feeling rather lonely having made very few connections in Buffalo & craving friendships but not knowing where to find them.
3. We were about to purchase our first home in Buffalo - and we had to do it quickly! homes were a hot commodity often selling before they were listed or within 2-3 days of being on the market!
4. We had just begun "church shopping" trying to find a place that would be a good fit for our famiy here in Buffalo.

1 year ago...

1. I was taking my kids to Bible School - just like I am this week!~
2. I was finishing up my second wedding shoot! - after "swearing" I would never take on the responsibility of being a wedding photographer...:)
3. I was feeling really blessed that I had found a church family at Buffalo Covenant & a marvelous group of friends through MOPS...

So far this year I have...
1. enjoyed being part of the steering team through MOPS
2. celebrated the milestones of Cadence starting & completing her first year of preschool & Micah starting & finishing his first year of kindergarten :)
3. struggled through the reality of my micah's special needs & challenges - prayed a lot - and tried to get him the help/resources he needs to succeed.

yesterday...
1. I took photos at vacation bible school :)
2. I spent a big chunk of my day editing photos from my summer weddings (that I said I would never do but am now doing on a very regular basis!)
3. I enjoyed visiting with the "other moms" at vbs - during my photo breaks...and I ate a caramaled apple that got stuck in my teeth. :)

today...
1. Edited more photos! :)
2. Took the kids to have lunch with friends at McD's - which was a crazy crazy zoo of a place :)
3. I kept an eye on the sky - watching the thunderstorms & wondering what would come of them?

tomorrow...
1. I will take more photos & edit more photos....
2. I will bring my kids to vbs
3. I will make sure to kiss my hubby before he leaves for work :)

in the next year I...
1. am excited to have micah evaluated so that he can get the help/resources he needs to thrive! :)
2. hope to be healthier.
3. hope to build deeper relationships with my friends & my amazing God.

springtime...

It has been a crazy bouple of weeks...lots of the endings & getting ready for the summer - just last week Cadence had her spring program marking the end of her first year of preschool! She will have the fabulous Mrs. Merz again in the fall at St. Francis preschool three days a week :)