The Box

So here is the link to my sermon yesterday....
The Box - Deuteronomy 1:26-33
Once there you'll have to choose mine.

A memorable Anniversary

Okay one more post for the day and then I'm done! Today is Rob and I's 12th wedding anniversary! It has been an amazing day! Derek and Jackie had coffee with us this morning and then headed out. I headed out the door at the same time to go over to church. Today was my first preaching experience in my home church! I don't know an exact count but probably in front of nearly 250 people.

Rob brought the kids to service. Grandpa and Gramma Nuzum came over. It really meant a lot to me that they came and even more that Grandpa said when I was done. "They better let you do this more, or they can come talk to me!" I love my grandpa. He's the best!

Uncle Jeff and Julie came as well! Afterwards, Julie came over to the house for a bit. Charlene and her family also came for this first-time experience. It was such a great feeling to know that my friends and family were out there supporting me.

I was a little nervous, okay...really I was terrified, but God worked it out! I'll have to watch it back to see how I really did. But I think it went well and everyone keeps telling me that it did. When the video is posted to the church website I'll let you know, so you can watch it.

After church, Jourdyn went to spend the night at Katie's and Rob and I have hung out all day with the two little ones. He took me to dinner at Luckie's tonight for our anniversary and we are getting ready to watch some movies together!

I can't believe it's already been 12 years since we got married! That's amazing! I love him more and more everyday!


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Visiting with The Greenwald's

Derek and Jackie came up to Michigan to have Christmas with his family. Saturday morning they headed down to us to spend the day. We haven't spent Christmas time with the Greenwald's since before they moved to Virginia. So this was a special weekend for us!

We exchanged gifts for the kids! They got Jourdyn some bath and body works and an Old Navy gift card. Rowan and Nadine some coloring stuff and candy! She brought me a beautiful pic of Carl, Stirling and Ainsley and a Yankee candle! We gave the girls some Brighton Jewelry. Stirling a bracelet that says "Believe in yourself." Ainsley a necklace that says "love & respect."

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Since they were in town, we made a trip to the Toledo Zoo. Rob and I renewed our membership finally and off we went to explore the lights. The lights themselves seemed to be a bit of a cut back, but with the economy who can blame them. But the kids had fun. The older girls are getting so big. They've always had their little squabbles because there's three of them. But this is the first year that we got to experience those raging hormones of teenage girls. It was FUN!!!! :) Especially at 2 am when I was splitting up a cat fight!

Overall they love each other and had fun! And this morning when they headed out they all hugged and made up!

Rowan loved the train display. We had a hard time pulling him away from it. Check out the pictures you can see the excitement in his face! He was in love! In the Smilebox you can scroll over the pics and click on them to zoom them bigger to see them better.

After the Lights we headed downtown to try to get into Pizza Papalis. Everytime we have ever tried to get in there it has been packed. So this was our first time! And there was no waiting. We had an excellent waiter. He was fantastic. And when you put us with Derek & Jackie, you know your eating experience will never be boring!! We had so much fun!

The food is FANTASTICAL!!! The kids made their own pizzas, and we ordered their famous Chicago style deep dish! Better than UNO's anyday!!!!! We will definitely be going back! Kudos to Pizza Papalis!

Well, Derek & Jackie's stay wasn't long enough. It never is! They stayed the night and left first thing this morning to head home so Derek could get to work. We are hoping to head down for a four day weekend in February sometime! And if all goes well, we'll be vacationing with them next summer at Cape Hatteras!

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Christmas Day

We watched the Disney Parade! I just couldn't get into this year. I have always thought it was live and have had this dream to take my kids there for Christmas morning one year. My friend Ronda, my Disney expert, told me around Thanksgiving that this wasn't the case. It is filmed in late November/early December. It just wasn't the same this year! But we did watch and enjoyed the time together!

Julie, Bro and Kelsey came over for the night! We ate dinner. Keilbasa, ham and pierogies, of course. We then decided to head over to Food For Thought and give the gift of time and sandwich making to that ministry. We spent about an hour there making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with about 25 other people. It was great! Nadine and Rowan colored lunch bags. Brodie and Julie put jelly on the sandwiches, Jourdyn and Kelsey did peanut butter. Rob brought bread and kept that stocked. And I filled in where I could! It was an awesome evening! It was really neat to be there on Christmas Day giving of ourselves for others, very symbolic of the giving that Jesus did the day of His birth and 33 years later on the cross!!! It was cool!

Charlene had dropped off a couple of her girls to help, so we got to visit with them for a few minutes. And then we went home. We opened presents and played "Last Word" for a while! We put the kids to bed and watched the movie "The Hangover!" It was pretty funny!

Also before Rob got home from work, Julie had come early and brought Bro's copies of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We watched the first one. Rowan absolutely loved it. He's not completely able to sit still for a whole movie yet, but he did his best. And all weekend he has been quoting the Turtles, saying things like "Radical" and "Cowabunga!"

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Christmas Morning

Well, since Christmas Eve it has been non-stop around here! So I will be posting several posts tonight to catch you all up!

We spent Christmas Eve at our church service and then the McQueary's. With every passing year since Jack's death the holiday's continue to change around there. It's been 4 years this year, in fact today (the 27th is the 4th anniversary of our burying him.) Things are just different. But we hung out for a while talking with Crystie and Joe and some of the other nieces and then came home.

These pictures are our Christmas morning pictures. Rob worked this holiday on day shift. So we all woke up Christmas morning at 4:45 am to open presents as a family! I was hoping the kids would just go back to sleep, but not my luck! They were up for the day at that point!

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The kids received clothing and a couple of toys. Grandma & Grandpa MacFarlane sent a gift card and I went shopping for them. Since they live in Idaho it's really expensive to buy gifts and send them. The two little ones received outfits from them. Jourdyn got a giftcard, which she will most likely buy a new Wii game with??? Rob received a pair of Nike running pants and I received some jewelry!

Nadine and Rowan got some new games: Operation and Cooties! They love them both. Jourdyn got a new MP3 player and some really cool piano gloves.

It was a good Christmas. Rob went off to work and the kids and I spent the day watching movies and cleaning for our evening festivities with Julie, Bro and Kelsey!

Jourdyn's Christmas Performance

Jourdyn and her friend Brookelynn had the opportunity to sing "When Christmas Comes to Town" at church yesterday in front of 300 people! It's the same song they sang at school, but minus one girl, so Jourdyn got solos!! She was wonderful!! I was so proud of her!!! I am proud of her! God has given her a great gift of music!!!

Christmas Recital 2009

I always love this time of year because Jourdyn has her Christmas Recital. She traditionally has a spring and a winter recital, this one being smaller than the spring. But we love it anyways. Here's a video of the her playing. She played Fur Elise and What Child is This? And did a great job. Both songs are a little complicated and she did a fantastic job! Enjoy!

Concert videos

Christmas Concerts

Last night was Jourdyn's Christmas Band and Choir Concert for school. I was so excited! At the beginning, some 8th graders sang pre-concert solos, like O Holy Night, Do you hear what I hear?. It was so neat to be sitting in a public school and have the kids singing about Jesus' birth. Way back when Jourdyn was in kindergarten in a different district, they wouldn't even call it a Christmas program, it was a holiday program, in which no "holiday" songs were sang.

Jourdyn sang in a trio with her friends, Brookelynn and Mackenzie. This was a surprise for me. She hadn't told me anything about it. They sang, "When Christmas Comes to Town" from the movie The Polar Express.

Our arts department does such a fantastic job! I'm really hoping that Jourdyn clings to this gift that she has been given!

The Bands performed last and sadly Jourdyn was sitting in the back with the other sax's so you can't see her. I got a couple shots of her like "Mr. Wilson" from Home Improvement, peeking over her music stand. Again, they played songs like Hark the Herald Angels sing, God rest ye Merry Gentlemen and the sorts! It was a great night!

I will have video shortly! :)

Christmas Fun

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This was the weekend of Christmas parties! We started out on Saturday at church for Breakfast with Santa. We had donuts and cereal with about 150 kids and parents, then watch Santa and his elves tell the story of Jesus! It was fun. We had to leave that one early, so we missed the craft and picture with Santa, so we could make it to the Brush Kid's Christmas party out in Fremont.

Evalee's daughter Mandi was there to help with crafts! The kids made Santa pins and opened their gifts! We didn't wait to see Santa there either. The line was way to long! So we will be visiting Bass Pro this week to see the Santa man!

Just the other day in the store, Rowan was telling us how much he wanted Nerf guns, and that's what he got at the Brush party! He's so excited! Nadine received a Sorry game, to which she is happy with except the Spongebob theme. But they will play with it anyways. This was Jourdyn's final year for the Brush party's. They stop giving gifts at 12 years old. And she received 20 bucks cash!

On another note, some friends of ours are moving and couldn't keep their furniture. They were going to put it to the curb because it was dirty. So we said, no, don't just throw it away, let's try to clean it and see what happens! Needless to say, I have pretty much brand new furniture sitting in my living room! When they had bought it, they had a protection plan put on it, so it was scotchguarded - everything was surface. It took me about 3 hours of deep cleaning and it's beautiful! :) It's microsuede so in the picture it looks different colors but it's not.

Daisies in Action

Tonight was our first Daisy service project. The Girl Scouts offers projects like collecting socks or hats and scarfs. But I thought the girls should do something hands on. So I decided to take them to Food For Thought.

Three of my daisies came and we had a lot of fun coloring the bags that the Peanut Butter and Jelly lunches will go in. When it was time to go, none of them wanted to! They were ready to dive in and make sandwiches!

I've made a slideshow with some of the artwork and pictures of the Daisies in action!

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Christmas Preparation

Today was the day that we finally got our Christmas decorations down and began to decorate the house! We put up only one big tree this year. We've decided we are going to look for a clearanced 9-ft tree at the end of the season. We also put up Nadine pink feather tree and Jourdyn put up her white tree in her room!

We are expecting a big storm tonight so maybe no school tomorrow! We'll see!!!!

Grandma's village is out and under my TV. Stockings are hung! And one of my nativity's is up. Our Women's Ministries Christmas party is Thursday and our theme is nativity so most of my nativities are in a box waiting to be used as centerpieces on Thursday.

School is officially DONE for me!!! I haven't received my final grade for this last class yet! I will be updating my resume soon! I am also preaching for the first time at my church on my anniversary, Dec. 27th! Exciting and terrifying - all rolled into one big ball!!!! :)

My Hero

Jourdyn has a Hero's banquet at school today. She invited me. I was up early and got ready to go experience the 7th Grade Hero Banquet. I was a little nervous. I had never been to one of these before and thought it a little fishy that Jourdyn would invite me! :)

But she loves me, whether she wants to admit it or not! And she made me cry! We were near the end so it took a very long time and we watched almost everyone else. No one hugged their admirer at all. I was going to and then I thought that could very well be social suicide if I clobber her with hugs right here on stage!

Here's what she wrote for me and read in front of the 7th grade class and all their heroes and you better bet it's being hung on my wall:

My Hero
By Jourdyn McQueary

My hero is my mom. Her name is Sharon McQueary. She doesn't work, but she does go to school online at Northwest Nazarene University. She lives with me and my family. She loves to sing and is a really great artist. She enjoys having fun and is always messing around with me and my dad. She also enjoys going on Facebook and her blog.

I invited my mom because she is an example of what a hero is to me. She always tries her best and doesn't give up. She's always there for me-even when I think I don't want her there. She is also loving and smart. She even stays home with my brother and sister all day, and that is really brave. She is very protective of my family too. I can't imagine life without her.

One thing we did together is go to a conference called Revolve. It was a conference for girls in middle school and high school. We had a whole weekend down in Columbus. We went with a big group of people from our church. We had lots of fun. We even got an autograph from Krystal Meyers, a famous singer. Afterwards we all went to the Cheesecake Factory-I think that was my mom's favorite part. This experience was really important to me because I got to spend time with my mom. It was really great.

Thank you for being my hero and my mom. I'm thankful for you always being there and caring about me. I love having you as my mom. We may fight sometimes but we get along more than we fight and that is the important thing. You're really great. Thank you so much.

Fat Squirrel

Well, the leaves are completely down in our yard. Winter is setting in. Rob filled our feeders this week and we have had lots of visitors! A mating pair of Cardinals, blue jays (occassionally), a mating pair of Downy Woodpeckers lives in our tree. Of course, all the sparrows and martins are out as well. And then there's this fat guy!

We just recently added this squirrel feeder because normally the squirrels devour our suets in a day or two. They have left them alone since we installed this. We don't have many squirrels, in fact, I think this is our only one. He likes to taunt Tate. He climbs down as low as he can, just out of Tate's reach and then shakes his tail at him. As soon as Tate lunges the squirrel backs himself up the tree, just out of his reach. It is quite hilarious to watch the two of them. Also Jourdyn's try-outs for basketball are Dec. 1st. Pray for her - she really wants to make the team!

Basketball season

Well, girls basketball is just about to begin! This past Friday Jourdyn began open gyms. She had one friday and then also today. Crystie came over Saturday and helped her with her moves! They had lots of fun! Basketball isn't as popular as volleyball so she has a chance to get on this team. (Top: Jourdyn is white shorts/blue shirt)

On Saturday, we had Aunt Julie, Crystie, Aunt Karen and Uncle Dave over to watch the OSU/UM game. Crystie and Jourdyn decided to take on Dave and Rob in a little two-on-two. The guys felt real old before it was over!


It's the 3rd Monday of the month so it's Daisy Day!!! This evening we talked about being considerate and caring. We have 6 girls now! And boy do they have fun together! Tonight we played "Mother, May I?" for the first time. That one threw them for a loop! But they figured it out!

My Weekend

This past Thursday I flew out to Washington, DC. My final destination was Culpeper, VA. My friend, and classmate, Lonnie pastors a church there. He invited me this past spring to come and preach this fall. So that was my goal this weekend to get up and preach without puking!

Thursday night, Lonnie picked me up at the airport. We met his wife, Jan at Ruby Tuesday's and had a wonderful dinner together. I have built a relationship with Lonnie through our classes and with Jan through facebook. It is amazing how well that relationship can transfer to real life. I felt like I've known them for forever!

I stayed the weekend with Stephanie, their Women's Ministries director. She has a wonderful family. Joe, her husband, who used to be a horse jockey, and has a cool corvette! He's a funny guy! They have a son, Prescott who is 8 years old. He had lots to share with me, including Star Wars facts, video games and just boy stuff!!! Their daughter, Savannah is 5 years old. We played together as well. Just a great family all around! I was so blessed to be able to stay with them.

Friday, Stephanie had planned an afternoon lunch, at which I would share my story with her ladies. That was a small, but great event! Very loving people! I felt as if I was part of the family.

Saturday, we spent the day at Team Day 2 - their district leadership event. The Keynote speaker was Leonard Sweet. He was fantastic! I also got to meet many great women pastors and share with them life and trials and victories! I am so thankful that we planned my trip down around this event! It was awesome!!!

Sunday was the day! I surprising slept well. Because Lonnie had suggested that Stephanie sit down and watch a movie on Saturday night before bed. We rented The Proposal. Very funny movie! But it worked!!! In fact, instead of dreaming about how it would go in the morning, I dreamed about the movie!

I was nervous, but well prayed up! So I can't explain how I did. I don't remember. I was so focused on not messing up that I didn't monitor myself and keep track of it all. They recorded it and it is posted on the internet now if you would like to listen.

http://www.hopecwc.org/sermonplayer.html

Overall, the weekend was fabulous. I couldn't have asked God for a better "first time." I also can't imagine how God at all had time to bless anyone down there, he was too busy blessing me!!!

Jar of Thankfulness

This is our family's "Jar of Thankfulness". Beginning this Monday, we began as a family to sit down each night and on a cardstock leaf, individually write out one thing we are thankful for that day. We then share that thankfulness with each other out loud and then place the leaf in the jar. On Thanksgiving we will empty the jar and revisit each moment of thankfulness!

My friend, Bethany, gave me this idea. The kids are so amazed by it. Nadine and Rowan can't wait to share what they are thankful for. Jourdyn, being 12 is, of course, a little aprehensive to the idea, but she is participating and over the next couple of weeks, I hope to see her grow through this.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Imagination Station

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Well, the failed COSI in downtown Toledo has finally reopened with a new name, Imagination Station. Dad and I took the kids Saturday morning for their first visit to the place. Lucas County residents now pay for the place to be open, so Saturday mornings are free for kids. There were many people there. I will have to go one time during the week to see if it is as busy when you have to pay $6.50 for each kid.

Overall, I was impressed though because at COSI so many displays were busted and didn't work. One water thing broke while we were there and a maintanence guy came out immediately to fix it!

The kids had fun. There were things that we didn't get to do because the lines were too long. But they had a ball playing dress up and playing with all the water stuff. Rowan especially liked the building stuff. We'll be going back often I think! :) On Saturday's when it's free!

Also to answer the question from my last post: I am preaching on I Samuel 3:1-10.

Upcoming Trip

Next weekend, I am flying out to Washington, DC to go preach at a friend's church on Nov. 15th. This will be my first preaching experience and I don't know how to describe it. I feel confident in what the Lord has given me to say and I actually feel pretty confident in being able to get through it. I just completed the sermon this evening. Until this point, I had not been really nervous. Now I feel an anxiousness, I think that is because I have sent it to that pastor and to my pastor to read over.

I also, as I read it to get an idea on how long it would take me to deliver it, had this sense of speaking is definitely part of what I am supposed to be doing. Like a confirmation of that. Let's hope that after delivering it to a congregation I feel the same! :)

Rob will be home with the kids for the weekend that weekend! It's just me flying out. I also get to do a Women's Luncheon. I have to prepare a message for that as well. And then we are going to their district leadership day together on Saturday, which will be great for networking possibilities!

It's all very exciting!!!

Trick or Treating

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Halloween Mayhem

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Yesterday afternoon Rowan and I went over to Nadine's school for her halloween party. Most of the afternoon at school was dedicated to the party and the halloween parade! One of my Daisy mom's, Kirsten coordinated Nadine's class party. She did a fantastic job! I enjoyed it because I was able to go and just enjoy! I didn't have to take anything or lead any games, I just went and watched.

Rowan played quietly with all their classroom toys until the candy came out and then he was on top of making sure that he was included in the distribution. The day ended with the halloween parade. All of the kids in the school, in class order, paraded out of the school and around the building. Nadine's class was the caboose. Rowan say patiently on the ground waiting for his big sister to round the corner and pass by him! My only negative comment for the day was "What are some parents thinking when it comes to dressing their girls in costumes!" This was elementary and some of those girls were wearing adult provocative costumes.

After much searching, we found a sitter for last night! Rob and I joined, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Diane, Jeremy, his girlfriend Laurie and Jenna to go see Jenna's girlfriend Suzi in the live performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show put on by the Monroe Community Theatre. Besides Jenna we were all Rocky Horror virgins! It was an amazingly funny show! All of us, except Uncle Jeff and Aunt Diane had an idea of what the show was about and what to expect. But they didn't and it was hilarious to see their reactions! The audience participation was one of the best parts, just to hear people yelling back at the performers and dialoguing with the cast. It was fun! Suzi did a great job, as well as the rest of the cast!

This was the first time that Laurie, Jeremy's girlfriend met any of his family. We all laughed about the initiation that we gave her going to this show! Before hand we went to eat at Carl's in Ida, MI. It was a little mexican joint! Pretty good food, slow service! Jenna had rounded up a group of 20 people to go, us and her 4H group. But we didn't know any of them.

It was experience, Rob and I would love to go see it in a high budget live performance sometime.

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What a week!

The McQueary Clan has had a busy week!!!

Tuesday night, we all went over to Jourdyn's fall choir concert. The kids loved it because the choir sang Lion King songs and Somewhere out There from An American Tail, which we just watched a couple of weeks ago. Rowan had some issues with wanting to sit still but overall did really well.




Wednesday night the kids had their harvest party at church for Caravans. They had a ball. Rowan is a cowboy this year and Nadine is a cheerleader! Jourdyn wanted to be an alien but we couldn't find what she wanted to wear. She didn't want to budge and compromise so she is nothing. Of course, she likes to stay at Grandmas and pass out candy on Halloween anyways instead of Trick or Treating. We are doing our usual for Halloween, going to Grandma McQueary's to Trick or Treat and have warm potato soup!!! The kids are so excited! Not so much for the soup but for the candy! That's okay I'll eat the soup!

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Thursday, Nadine was off of school for parent/teacher conferences, and the HS and MS closed for fog. That didn't stop Jourdyn's GT class from heading to Cleveland for the Chamber Theatre Production of Encore - a series of short stories. I chaperoned. So 50 of us (Jourdyn class and the other MS's GT class) piled on a bus and made the 2 hour trip. It was fun. The kids were a little bummed that they had to go even though school was canceled, but in the end they really enjoyed it and I think they would have been sad to miss it. We saw Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart," Washington Irving, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs and finally "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain. It was at times a little disturbing but overall a fantastic performance! This is Jourdyn and a couple of her friends.


This weekend I am participating in Tent City in Downtown Toledo. So last night, a couple of my girlfriends, Andrea and Judy joined me for Tent City volunteer training. It was really neat. Basically this weekend a little city is set up to build community and help the unhoused find the resources they need to start over in life: recovery programs, housing, ID assistance, clothing, food, etc.

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Friendliness & Helpfulness

That was the topic for our second Daisy meeting! Bernadine looks forward to her Daisy nights so much! Every Monday she asks if it's Daisy night!

This week we talked about Friendliness & Helpfulness and they earned their yellow daisy petal! To earn that petal we paired off and helped each other make life-size self-portraits! Check out the pictures they are adorable!

We also had a Daisy join us! So we are now 6 and going strong! The girls are just adorable and I love being able to help them grow!

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Halloween Party 2009

Our plans were for this past weekend to head down to Virginia for the Highland Games. However, the weekend just proved to be too stinkin' busy for the Greenwald's and for our family. So we stayed home.

That gave us the opportunity to go to Jason and Amy's annual halloween party. We didn't put any money into costumes, except buying fake full sleeve tattoos. I went as I guess myself with full sleeve tattoo. Rob did the same.

We weren't able to stay late because of the sitter situation, but it was fun to go hang out for a bit. And while we were there many celebrities showed up! Including, newly famous Balloon Boy, Slash, Madonna, and the absolute best costume, Kanye & Taylor Swift!

Survived

Well, I have survived the first week of my new class! I had to write a 1000 word paper by Saturday and I have that done. Also we read and post personal reactions to the readings three times a week. And then carrying on conversation about those reactions with other classmates. Not much is different from other classes I've had. However, there is this surrealism, I really can't believe that I know have 5 weeks left until I have my Masters. That is simply unbelievable!

Rob and I are still left with uncertainty about when and where God will use us. There seems to be doors opening, even just slightly here in the Toledo area. We are anxiously anticipating what God is going to do. It wouldn't be right to not mention the frustration that sometimes creeps in, but I am learning to trust Him and see what He sees.

Jourdyn brought home two B's on her grade card, the rest were A's. She's doing well. Nadine needs to work on writing our last name and knowing our address and phone number but otherwise, she is doing great in school as well. Rowan is completely potty trained and has good weeks now with NO pacifer! Praise God He is good!!!

Another life-change...

During all this potty training, which is doing fabulous! I think we have achieved success! No accidents for a couple of days now, not even at night. He is on cue, going on his own. YEAH! But another life-change for Rowan is that it has been over a week since he's had his pacifier! He hasn't even asked for it! I don't know what's come over my boy. He's growing up so quickly!

I received a 98.6 in my History of Christianity class! I had had a perfect score until the last week and then I slipped. Overall I am very happy with the end result! Email me if you want to see my paper. I'll email it back to you.

Rival Football Game

Last night, Jourdyn had the opportunity to get out on the football field and participate in a marching band experience. Our school district has two junior highs and of course they are rivals! So every year when they play each other it becomes a huge deal! They have tailgating and just a lot of fun. It was really cold! So we didn't tailgate, in fact, Rob kept the little ones home and I went to video tape and take pictures!

When Jourdyn was done, we left at half time because of the weather. But she did a fantastic job and I tried to get as much video for all you out-of-towners that I know would have been there freezing with me!

Potty Update

Today is day 5. Day 4 went extremely well. Rowan didn't have an accident and even was putting himself on the potty, when he felt he needed to go. He told me "Mommy, you don't watch! Leave, I did it myself!"

We'll see how Day 5 transpires. He has also gone three nights with no bedtime accidents. The day time accidents aren't number 1 accidents, its when he poops! So I would have to say that they aren't really accidents, they are more like refusals!

Revealing...

When we purchased our home two and half years ago. We knew because of its age and a little peeking under the carpet that the bedrooms were solid hardwood floors beneath the carpets. A while back we tore up the carpet in our office to find damaged floors. Whoever painted previous didn't care that they were working over oak floors, so there was and still is paint all over it. The previous owners tore out some of the original hardwood in the dining room to put in linolium (now covered by carpet) but when they did they damaged the floor at the office entrance. They did ALOT of hokey stuff.

Not sure of the condition of the other rooms hardwood. We have left the office floor sit, until we could decide if we would just lay pergo over it to cover the damage or if we would sand it down and refinish.

Well, yesterday we decided! We tore up the carpet in Nadine and Rowan's room to reveal what really was beautiful hardwood. There is no paint all over it and it for the most part was in okay condition. There is a black stain between the dresser and bed. It's square and it's moisture damage, so we think that something was left there for a period of time (not on our watch!) The room needs sanded and refinished because it is evident that in the 40+ years that the house has been here it has never been done. But they look great for being that old.

So our decision is that we will tear up the carpet in our bedroom and Jourdyn's, see what we got and then refinish them. We absolutely LOVE hardwood. Rob and I were ecstatic when tearing back the carpet revealed hope that they were taken care of better than the office area was.

Of course, the office area used to be living room area way back before our time...and they did renovations to make it a 4th bedroom and a dining room, giving the house only one "living room" area. We aren't sure when they did it but we know they had no clue what they were doing when they did it. We don't use it as a 4th bedroom but instead our office.

A Potty we will go...

On Tuesday, I forcefully began the wonderful world of potty-training with Rowan. It's not that I haven't tried before, he has just not been interested and really just stubborn. Well, I have the week of school so, I didn't give him an option. He seems to be catching on. Today is our third day and maybe the third day will be a charm! He only had one accident each day before, hopefully today we'll get by with no accidents!

My last class begins this coming Monday! Let me say that again - MY LAST CLASS BEGINS THIS COMING MONDAY!!!! YAY!!! I'm excited that I have 6 weeks remaining and than I will have my Masters. I really can't believe it. This class is Christian Theology II and from looking at the syllabus, I think it's going to be a hard one!

Go Buckeyes!

We had over the past few months collected a couple of Build-a-Bear gift cards! So Rob and I took Rowan to Build-a-Bear a couple of weeks ago because they have a Brutus! Rowan being the boy that he is really cared more about running the stuffing machine at Build-a-Bear than the toy itself. But we got it and he loved carrying Brutus in his box through the mall and then home.

Brutus even plays the Fight Song! Well, yesterday during the game, I came out of the bedroom to find Rob sitting on the couch, watching the game! And who is sitting beside him? BRUTUS! So I asked him, "who exactly did we get Brutus for?"

Later, that night Nadine came up and snagged Brutus from him. He said, "Hey, give me back my Brutus!" Rowan politely tapped daddy trying to get his attention. Rob said "What Rowan?" Rowan said "Daddy, it's my Brutus!"

Marching band debut

Even though it was pouring down rain last night, Jourdyn still hit the field with the high school marching band for her marching band debut! She was minus her instrument, but out there marching all the same.

Neither Marching band had their woodwind sections. The rain can cause serious damage to woodwind instruments, so those band members march along with no instruments. Of course, the band is nowhere as loud as it should be and integral parts of the music are missing, but they are still distinguishable! You have to give the kids credit to be out there being part of a team.

Our district has two junior highs. The other junior high was there and participated but their band director had them take their woodwinds out because this was a one time important event. As a parent who has bought and paid for not only the instrument but repairs in the past, I was much appreciative of our directors choice to not allow the saxophones to go out in the rain. Jourdyn will have other opportunities to do this in the future!

Rob kept Nadine and Rowan home because of the rain. It was just me sitting in the stands trying to keep dry and video tape at the same time!

Clay played Whitmer and they were smashed 0-38. Whitmer has some pretty tall boys with very long legs. So when they got out, they were just too fast for any of Clay's boys to catch them.

Week in Review

There hasn't been too much up around the McQueary house. Rowan is definitely over his sickness, however, I have been suffering from a horrible cough for a couple of weeks now. I ventured out to the doctors this week and was told that he thinks that it is asthma and allergies causing it all.

We also had our second blood drive at Hope this week! So I spent Wednesday at the drive making sure everyone was checked in, donating and having a snack before they left! We collected 14 units of blood this time, a little less than last but it was a crazy day!

Oh, and I had a birthday on Wednesday! I am now 32 years old. The day went by like any other, except that I had the blood drive.

Jourdyn is playing with the High School Marching band tonight during half-time! We are very excited! I've borrowed my nephews video camera so we can get video for all you out-of-towners!

The Haunting

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Friday night, Amy and Rhonda invited me to go with them to Adrian Michigan to go to "The Haunting." It's three haunted attractions in one. It was fun because of being out with the girls. The first haunted part was a traditional haunted house. How they used their space was fantastic and required a lot of forethought and execution (no pun intended!) But lacking on the scary-ness! The second portion was a 3D House of Clowns, or something like that. We were given 3D glasses and the 3D portion was the coolest part. It was 100% 3D and they had phenomenon artists that painted all of the walls and floors. No so scary again, but really neat and made it worth the money we spent to get in. The third part wasn't scary at all, just a black maze with very little light. We didn't get too lost and were out in a matter of minutes. Amy and Rhonda are so fun to go out with!

Afterwards we went to IHOP for a late meal...and even our food was bleeding!!! Not really just the strawberries!!!

Daisies

L to R: Juliana, Bernadine, Lydia, Faith and Keana

Nadine is officially a Daisy Girl Scout! And I am her Daisy Leader! This is our troop. It's small, but entirely manageable, which is fantastic! We had our first meeting last night. We learned about the Girl Scout Promise and began to dissect the Girl Scout Law. So last night we focused on being honest and fair. We talked, read a story, made a craft that reinforced fairness, had a color sheet and put our vests together! The girls loved it.

One of the grandma's made the vests for us because they are so expensive to buy through the Girl Scouts! They turned out wonderful!!!!

My first 5K

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Yesterday, Julie came over to watch the kids while Rob and I made our way to Put-in-Bay for the Put-in-Bay 5K run. We had to leave the house at 6 am to catch the 7:30 ferry to the bay. Its great on the island at 8 am. No one is around and it is very peaceful! 542 people participated in the 5K. Unfortunately, I was towards the end of those 542. I finished the run in 41 minutes. Partly because I am out of shape and partly because I have been sick. I couldn't breathe but more importantly I couldn't stop coughing. There was probably a two minute portion that I just stopped and coughed. It was fun and I am going to continue to run them.

We didn't stay late but we stayed at the Island until the 5 o'clock ferry took us back. We run with Jeff and Darlene, so we hung out with them for the day. We hit some of the local establishments to people watch and laugh at the craziness. It is amazing the reasons people come up with to party! Put-in-Bay celebrated this weekend the half-way point to st. Patty's day. They even had a parade! It was funny! A great money-making ploy as well!