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.