tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-150838712024-03-07T21:36:44.763-06:00Real Kelli Sauce"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-54276184714955936672011-05-18T23:19:00.004-05:002013-08-13T02:34:15.349-05:00My First Mother's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo5-GUl8r_PAS8LnhiRIuFy7lU5GgEYaj3l46p9SzjKsOBZBRzdDF-z8c6GQOiDIgKv-ny6jee5n2xXSp4iDQEZTnaRqC3nuIZvB95h9lOE_pRD4VK55e1ZwtNB6GRKkg-YqMBQ/s1600/IMG_1174_1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo5-GUl8r_PAS8LnhiRIuFy7lU5GgEYaj3l46p9SzjKsOBZBRzdDF-z8c6GQOiDIgKv-ny6jee5n2xXSp4iDQEZTnaRqC3nuIZvB95h9lOE_pRD4VK55e1ZwtNB6GRKkg-YqMBQ/s320/IMG_1174_1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608277369076768498" /></a><br />And my first <a href="http://www.simplecitylifeblog.com/search?q=wordless+wednesday">Wordless Wednesday</a>....<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-21779009879682948202010-10-14T16:11:00.005-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.132-05:00Long-Held Personal SecretThis may be surprising to hear, but I strongly dislike jokes and comments about how much I talk. I'm very sensitive to it. I've been teased about it my whole life. It <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">really</span> </span>hurts my feelings. <span style="font-size:78%;">(And I really hated getting that "most-talkative" award at senior banquet.)</span><br /><br />Today at work, just after my lunch break when I was in a pretty good mood, my coworker asked me something about a book I had read. She asked a lot of questions, so I told her with excitement how much I enjoyed it and why. The two of us, and the student worker who was covering the desk, then got chatting about all kinds of stuff. I was all revved up and excited, so I was talking about all kinds of things. I started doing that thing (like the Bing commercial) where I keep switching subjects and one thing reminds me of the next. (Okay, so it's not as bad as the Bing commercial, but really...) I wasn't entirely dominating the conversation. It wasn't like they couldn't get a word in or anything close, but then my coworker* started teasing me about how much I talked. At first I was cool with it, kind of played along, but she just kept going on and on. She told me I do it all the time and that my boss can never get away from me because I keep asking him questions (in social conversations). Not true! I have trouble getting out of my boss's office, too! He's a funny guy and we enjoy the funny things we talk about (like his dog having bad gas today because he mistakenly gave the dog oatmeal). So clearly it just went down hill to all-out making fun of me. :( I exited the conversation by making a phone call I needed to make, then went on with my day.<br /><br />If I just straight-up tried to quit chatting like I do, I would get so depressed. I would be a little mouse in a corner, never making anyone laugh, never sharing a smile, never truly connecting with anyone, and never sharing the Gospel with a complete stranger just because it happens to come up (which I've been known to do). I'd be a mess.<br /><br />When people make fun of other people, they have to be careful. They may think it's just a joke, they make think it's all in fun, but they also may be completely insulting something they really can't (and shouldn't) change about themselves. It needs to occur to all of us that God made us the way He made us <span style="font-style: italic;">for a reason.</span> I talk, because it pleased Him to make me talkative. (tear)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*This coworker seems to find something wrong with everyone. :( She had a bad day yesterday, so she kept interrupting me when people would ask ME questions and teased me - asking me if I was a doctor when I was telling our other student worker she should call her doctor about her knee injury before going home this weekend to see if she could possible get some pain medications to get her by until then. I couldn't do anything right by her yesterday. Today she was totally fine, except for the talking thing. :(</span>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-50702812149584584352009-02-10T18:50:00.004-06:002013-08-13T02:29:04.147-05:00Inner-City NewsWell, you probably noticed that "At Random" got a new look. :) I got kind of sick of the other template a while ago and decided today, for no apparent reason, was the day to try out another template. Alas!<br /><br />To be honest, I'm pretty depressed lately. :( I've been working at a charter school since September/October sometime? and over "winter" break, one person quit and another quit within a few days after we started back. We were already short staffed at the time, but that was a HUGE hit. Long story short, I'm going on week four as a high school teacher working with inner-city "at-risk" students. <br /><br />I have had next to no training and/or direction from my team leader or my supervisor, my school has this really odd way of "redirecting" behavior that is not working for me and there are about 30 9t-11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> graders assigned to my room. I wish they would come to school, but on the other hand it's nice that I only have about 20 kids who show regularly. IT IS INSANE!<br /><br />One might ask, "Kelli, why don't you quit?" The answer is, I don't really know. :-/ I really like the people I work with and I LOVE these kids, which keeps me going there day after day, but I'm clearly not cut out for this. I'm thankful that I've realized the students are too smart to hurt me, but they are truly out of control. One day my buddy "R" was in the back of the class yelling "Ms. Wood, yo class is out of control! How you not control yo class?! This class is out of control!" and I nodded in agreement as I had three students running around the room having a "book fight" (yes, throwing textbooks at each other) and others rapping at me. Sometimes I think, "this is probably what a non-medicated psych ward looks like." The only thing I can really do is write up a 3-day suspension for the kids who are out of control, then try to deal with them the rest of the day. I can't even kick them out of class because there's no place for them to go. <br /><br />Today one of my favorite and most-helpful students flipped on me. She's 15 and pregnant, so I can't imagine what made her so moody ;), but she got mad at me for giving her letters (our "redirection" strategy) that she didn't agree with and she went off on me. Ouch. You lose one who's your "pet" and you've lost 'em all!<br /><br />I want so badly to help these kids and to teach them something that will help them in life, but I'm obviously not cut out for this. I get defeated and discouraged every day and every day I go home with the reality that I taught them nothing. :-/ I'm at a loss for what to do with them, but if I quit they're going to feel I'm quitting <em>on them</em> when in reality I'd be quitting on the school, who I don't feel has equipped me or supported me as I've stepped in for a few weeks. Part of my problem in the classroom is addressing their hurt and anger about their previous advisor bailing out on them. Often times the most stable environment an inner-city youth has is the school. It's really sad. :( But they still need to learn to behave!<br /><br />When I first agreed to step into this role, I was working about 28 hours a week, which was perfect. I still had time to do other things that are really on my heart to do. Ever since agreeing to this job, I work 8 hours a day at school (sometimes more) and then I take 2-3 hours of work home with me every night. I also have no prep period. I get 15 minutes to eat lunch and catch the toilet in the middle of the day. Otherwise I'm with the students ALL DAY. So I have these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ridiculous</span> expectations on me to complete work that's never really been explained to me and they won't pay me for more than 8 hours of work in a day. I found out last week, by visiting the WI Dept. of Labor website, that this is illegal (as I suspected) and that I'm actually due time and a half for everything over 8 hours I worked over the past 3.5 weeks. So I have this thing weighing heavy on my heart because there is some pretty serious economic injustice going on AND it's illegal and I am totally convicted that I can't allow it - for myself or anyone else. So how do you handle that one?!<br /><br />There's so much... just so much. I'm really overwhelmed. I don't mean to jump on here and complain complain complain, but that's really what's going on with me lately and I could really use some prayer...<br /><br />My mom and I always say to each other "what a tangled web we weave." Indeed.Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-66354631076325848682008-07-21T10:35:00.015-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.167-05:001st Anniversary Getaway!<div>I <em>was </em>waiting for Lee to send me a couple pictures, but I haven't received them yet, so I decided to go ahead and post about our getaway anyway...</div><br /><div></div><div>That's right! We took a little trip, following a wedding on July 12th, "up North" for our 1st anniversary. On Sunday we went back to Bayfield, where we took our honeymoon!</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229589609394120610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA5WEgYjbXyCAmk2b5qMI4MLtQelhggKDIPcXgzEoKAudv59gYH26jC2lEA5P9BRxPwSNSYFtattlPr1eATCwQHOiiL2IL99ZgL6yVx3CqvgugJdV-JCxkWfyT0LErSLrihF0Cw/s320/on+the+boat.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">Here we are taking the Ferry over to Madeline Island.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229590007643861586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CEGEg8YNRyTE5gnEf1hyphenhyphenL2KzXhHS5AZ6eemlsrIOjPEuIyOzCrGXAvgDuCHiKkm9tvEkOfNbRdsbo5_YbLbazlaTTXmedhkB5TZyAwWEMG6aLMAqSQzCVPAIapRKDcJdVJQ4tw/s320/Bayfield.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center">Beautiful Bayfield from the Ferry.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDYAQU-CwdqB0rBBl9NW4IAVmnvree9yAezGEhcDt5eNLWSPr6z3v1106KeWiJqUrcKR7BKRRxmYdwI3LwXf0Cf0e54Olv8LwLH7UCacWCVw9h-NcFpolk7iuX3GJGJUXs3kxqA/s1600-h/mopeds+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229588584365925858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDYAQU-CwdqB0rBBl9NW4IAVmnvree9yAezGEhcDt5eNLWSPr6z3v1106KeWiJqUrcKR7BKRRxmYdwI3LwXf0Cf0e54Olv8LwLH7UCacWCVw9h-NcFpolk7iuX3GJGJUXs3kxqA/s320/mopeds+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> We rented mopeds to cruise around the island! It was SO fun!<br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaBEu_5EDIximlWZ3Zr4tJkfUqfdLqegmxsPErpUDF9iQC7Cuck8DmNlUURez4byimFwa8l7mIMMkftmrd9AheTh9gWB2aOFcWjMWjULPvfy81e5pds34MkLD2zSpjGy4YmocRQ/s1600-h/DSC02222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229587849361186354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaBEu_5EDIximlWZ3Zr4tJkfUqfdLqegmxsPErpUDF9iQC7Cuck8DmNlUURez4byimFwa8l7mIMMkftmrd9AheTh9gWB2aOFcWjMWjULPvfy81e5pds34MkLD2zSpjGy4YmocRQ/s200/DSC02222.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzxBuCwnW9mz3Fqy7KFL78mNUXnYuygqcDgbH3sIHyWN6zv3x8OFnCtCgjZ1SwmvtKA4hrvDrfwBrnE3MAZQ1HwvZJdu8GKSUPPmz4pdWsLb60LnhnNKsuC16-RfjcOmiSL2mPw/s1600-h/DSC02224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229587032776768754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzxBuCwnW9mz3Fqy7KFL78mNUXnYuygqcDgbH3sIHyWN6zv3x8OFnCtCgjZ1SwmvtKA4hrvDrfwBrnE3MAZQ1HwvZJdu8GKSUPPmz4pdWsLb60LnhnNKsuC16-RfjcOmiSL2mPw/s200/DSC02224.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><div><div><div align="center"><br />Ben always likes to take these contemplative pictures. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyjJKPSIyiUQtS5h8MVIXH2rDt45huCVw6N8JdZEHTIEnRk66iUFlfeJEd9V5IyODb-jW3nN1a5F_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div></div><div>Ben records us - <em><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>very dangerous</strong></span>!</em> </div><br /><div></div><div align="left">Even though it was dangerous, I like that you can see some of the things were were looking at as we were cruising around. To the left is Lake Superior and off in the distance you can see Upper Michigan.</div><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229589288923769170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGb9pk7Y8HF-m1foHhzVLxMUeigN1N5_jaF_fIpy7CLNzcKl225QmQRL8Y5z-9azfPG7vtaAhpNbEsNUFjgQjBk_uXdUB4n00BcF7w_zNxSgSWoIrtR3MteT9LSTRTrWIG2Erpw/s320/DSC02192.JPG" border="0" />A picture I took on the ride.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229597478171824226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EwZvGsTR7ZR-e3zNFAjQ_a_fJSP0VWbZtnYvVBVjCE2AQjuZPLb572sWNQkq8pgO7VRYIjEM4Ghdd8_5S-LCbn_B9iPKbibDMcEMjtWNN52qrmInkb0TyxhIYDF2RZ2N7iR-2g/s320/Mad.+Is.+Lagoon+2.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div>We rode the town park where there was this beautiful lagoon! I don't know if the pictures do it justice because it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. We spent some time hiking around, cuddling at the beach and watching two dogs play. =)<br /><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFlcZ7IISVJuhPW2si_bSWWOHIy1lgoZjz0QHb1sMzwkabJDMxNrUaImtDlwgWzQmHnBWIKaUVr97OmUXXqRRMrGOzaph2L7wTg9euH60eVyNiic6UsNGXY_Fu8fsvRsPVBwkYQ/s1600-h/Jacuzzi!.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229585810686781154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFlcZ7IISVJuhPW2si_bSWWOHIy1lgoZjz0QHb1sMzwkabJDMxNrUaImtDlwgWzQmHnBWIKaUVr97OmUXXqRRMrGOzaph2L7wTg9euH60eVyNiic6UsNGXY_Fu8fsvRsPVBwkYQ/s320/Jacuzzi!.JPG" border="0" /></a> After a long and breezy day, we took turns relaxing in the jacuzzi (while watching Sports Center :p)!<br /><br />We were having a great time, but alas! we had to continue on...<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpqwaUmgg7uuttlU6ySxzHxLcM5frjmep9qUqui3cZKAGT1iPD_hGyMDCgTSXSeRXvgUok49za1AZTRnRIhvFSct2PGHQF1KLNOlgdVYsKF-xAYnzPQ0CVrp89SK57lT3h3L2PA/s1600-h/MI+or+WI.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229585425032170770" style="WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px" height="317" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpqwaUmgg7uuttlU6ySxzHxLcM5frjmep9qUqui3cZKAGT1iPD_hGyMDCgTSXSeRXvgUok49za1AZTRnRIhvFSct2PGHQF1KLNOlgdVYsKF-xAYnzPQ0CVrp89SK57lT3h3L2PA/s320/MI+or+WI.JPG" width="224" border="0" /></a></p>... taking Hwy 2 down to "Grandma's" - Ben's grandma, really - in Eagle River! When we got there, we shared homemade pie and smoked fish we brought with us from Bayfield. :) We decided to stop there for a day so I could finally meet Ben's aunt, Mary, from Virginia.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidE4E11gltW5IbOJp0q_9pv4m4Xfl-OfaMq-LlHbjyFveD1ppYABJZsnjmh1Nvj5jcSCew8t4izdWLmFriI6wSImSORXqhwEM_PdBikKYiIVKstVBNGMQH0ERwwjlqZwNsfUsvw/s1600-h/Two+Fawns.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229584157894155394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidE4E11gltW5IbOJp0q_9pv4m4Xfl-OfaMq-LlHbjyFveD1ppYABJZsnjmh1Nvj5jcSCew8t4izdWLmFriI6wSImSORXqhwEM_PdBikKYiIVKstVBNGMQH0ERwwjlqZwNsfUsvw/s320/Two+Fawns.JPG" border="0" /></a> Two fawns in "Grandma's" front yard. Mary and I had a good time quietly chasing them for these pics. I was a little concerned at how tame they were. I hope they get grown up and scared before November!</div><div> </div><div align="left">Lee and couple of his friends were there fishing for a couple days. We went out on Matt's boat water skiing and knee boarding on Tuesday! It was AWESOME! I had never water skied before, but I was proud of myself because I "got up" on the 3rd try! I had a hard time staying up, however. :p We didn't have a lot of time, so I didn't go a second time, but I'm confident I would have been skiing gracefully if I had. ;) Instead, I knee boarded for my last pass and had a good time flying off in an exhilarating water crash for my grand finish! I have yet to find a water activity I <em>don't</em> like. Ben has experience water skiing so he had not problem, of course. He did have one of those crashes where I wish I had it on video... my belly hurt with laughter! :) I have to say that being in Grandma's lake made me a little nervous, however, because it's known as a muskie lake... yikes!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">In true Wood fashion, we forgot to take the camera on the boat, so hopefully Lee will send us the pictures soon!</div><div align="left"> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRCWO34E76yHib9Cgi7NNVAU2wUSwv4w8CO13ES446Q0z9sP6xe9C3srla6aC2upsHRvOq_ZWJcdlsUvMIS_MeDIuVGbUecFhyphenhyphenNMqJsG3Iim8caHckWFWEgKGbkOz8WGfjya8ag/s1600-h/First+fruits!.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229583607592856178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRCWO34E76yHib9Cgi7NNVAU2wUSwv4w8CO13ES446Q0z9sP6xe9C3srla6aC2upsHRvOq_ZWJcdlsUvMIS_MeDIuVGbUecFhyphenhyphenNMqJsG3Iim8caHckWFWEgKGbkOz8WGfjya8ag/s320/First+fruits!.JPG" border="0" /></a> When we got home at 10pm on Tuesday, the 15th, it was not too late (for me) to pick the first fruits of all my labor!! They were delicious and we keep getting more! =)</div><div> </div><div align="left">A lovely trip to celebrate our anniversary. Lovely. =)</div><div align="left"> </div></div></div></div></div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-60768520446487755732008-07-16T11:49:00.013-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.161-05:00Anniversary DateOn our anniversary, we got to spend the day together as Ben worked the 4th and took his holiday on Monday, the 7th. :) Since we had a wedding on Saturday the 5th, we weren't able to go away till the following weekend, but here are pictures of the "supa-fun" day we had on our anniversary!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjxZ8FLBF-YKdBKN_5qECG5ou2eRoV-MmerLv696v2TYi4uZ5ABVxU-3oi5wiflaZuDrgwc8JWudhVsrnsjF9elQ2YL7fsykvMwpu5kWBXk5MQQup7sYHqdEmzkMvuQJXNHaKGw/s1600-h/DSC02109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223661605441481794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjxZ8FLBF-YKdBKN_5qECG5ou2eRoV-MmerLv696v2TYi4uZ5ABVxU-3oi5wiflaZuDrgwc8JWudhVsrnsjF9elQ2YL7fsykvMwpu5kWBXk5MQQup7sYHqdEmzkMvuQJXNHaKGw/s320/DSC02109.JPG" border="0" /></a> Leaving the house for lunch.</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ab9MxxUca8w-sv7XortFBhjrs8lgPTJLbBKLNbmZ_OPYgy_chyphenhyphen5Bwo2ABe_1Q3tD6NmhfKYfOnaj-PkMwkaepDG41DqJSy91BdwAXHM01aDqdU8MLuF6_nY8IX42Qv8H8zHX9w/s1600-h/DSC02111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223661272339848626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ab9MxxUca8w-sv7XortFBhjrs8lgPTJLbBKLNbmZ_OPYgy_chyphenhyphen5Bwo2ABe_1Q3tD6NmhfKYfOnaj-PkMwkaepDG41DqJSy91BdwAXHM01aDqdU8MLuF6_nY8IX42Qv8H8zHX9w/s200/DSC02111.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sad our favorite Thai place was closed, forcing us to eat at the crappy Chinese place next to it. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwe-Hpr8Ry04fIkQiJUivN7z1AFZwT5YiBcZitYmVlCNYyfvqljVu4dBgoShfQSfYWswXCzjQZkwVwZ2DgwtmcygHEH3WJ6QgenRtVAwmMK4dUpFZ4tUB5ZV0YXFdk3aYZh4RCQ/s1600-h/DSC02148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223659801163573746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwe-Hpr8Ry04fIkQiJUivN7z1AFZwT5YiBcZitYmVlCNYyfvqljVu4dBgoShfQSfYWswXCzjQZkwVwZ2DgwtmcygHEH3WJ6QgenRtVAwmMK4dUpFZ4tUB5ZV0YXFdk3aYZh4RCQ/s200/DSC02148.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpg-2qXB_k70hp3FNZWszmz0mYtn5mFj3U-uBw0gCUKoDQKu7ebm3_oZs6QZzDqfGYlet4TwpV8K2BmSbPwVArDXoVm6bYxS0MdUs9g701FuWcrMRxF_B6r5yf1d29CSQkI4PNg/s1600-h/DSC02151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223659327514555234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpg-2qXB_k70hp3FNZWszmz0mYtn5mFj3U-uBw0gCUKoDQKu7ebm3_oZs6QZzDqfGYlet4TwpV8K2BmSbPwVArDXoVm6bYxS0MdUs9g701FuWcrMRxF_B6r5yf1d29CSQkI4PNg/s200/DSC02151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br />This was the BEST part of the day! After going to the museum and watching this really cool movie about the great lakes in the IMAX, we went to Grand Slam USA to hit some balls in the batting cages. After hitting for a while, we decided to play spaceball! The floor of the net cage was one big trampoline! The object was to throw the ball at each other through these 2 holes in the wall that separated us and try to get the other one to drop it. You switch servers each play, but you can only score a point if you serve. It was a great cardio workout, as you can see by all the sweat. I won 3 games to 2 in sudden death. =) </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h0PPXE9_EGVTKBua626qh-MdJQJ-pozjN3dFZM7U22BmIEG7IGC0Ax1lnoWW7epcSMog7q6_XKy3q-XvNSNS0TfQJbhJKyGyzDVB79iBGIWBJT1RjdNJSzOSCVzfkwzRau2-JQ/s1600-h/DSC02152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223656067862907906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h0PPXE9_EGVTKBua626qh-MdJQJ-pozjN3dFZM7U22BmIEG7IGC0Ax1lnoWW7epcSMog7q6_XKy3q-XvNSNS0TfQJbhJKyGyzDVB79iBGIWBJT1RjdNJSzOSCVzfkwzRau2-JQ/s320/DSC02152.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center">My husband makes me do the craziest things. Here we are holding Ben's sign on Wednesday, the 9th last week, trying to get it on FSN. We went to the game with Jason & Rachel, which was a real treat. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5SqDxlcvcJF5zOOgfIMC1Hm7SRWx4ijsaj-LbuMdz1tleO-sz8OGANS5-dzsznoackRjeOBc77rzaUWriRH7kiJcjkNmv9FlffmPZwgZT-GtQIFw6wxk2KnaJSmEPzk-iguaHA/s1600-h/DSC02156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223655619194733346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5SqDxlcvcJF5zOOgfIMC1Hm7SRWx4ijsaj-LbuMdz1tleO-sz8OGANS5-dzsznoackRjeOBc77rzaUWriRH7kiJcjkNmv9FlffmPZwgZT-GtQIFw6wxk2KnaJSmEPzk-iguaHA/s320/DSC02156.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center">Speaking of a real treat. We came home and ate some of our anniversary cake after the game! Our cake shop provides a brand new anniversary cake for your 1st anniversary free. That enabled us to eat the first one on our honeymoon last year. ;)</p><p align="left">We just returned home last night from our anniversary getaway. We spent four days "up North" and even got to spend one day back in Bayfield, WI where we took our honeymoon a year ago. A post to follow will include pics and more details. Happy anniversary to us!</p>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-18235948326029448512008-07-07T11:01:00.014-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.124-05:00One Year Ago Today!Tear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OHeKd8b0VZ_Slma0rffKzoQGDa28KfW7WSJh2oYL3hk0KON3tI5Df_pgCyIYn8OWQ_JqzRfd7CKtF13Gv6tuc5MSxwWHpQouLfxUtQJtVfbQMiHao4S6wEGKpJ24zZpy4PkCsg/s1600-h/07.07.07_0425_WoodWedding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220304246965389202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OHeKd8b0VZ_Slma0rffKzoQGDa28KfW7WSJh2oYL3hk0KON3tI5Df_pgCyIYn8OWQ_JqzRfd7CKtF13Gv6tuc5MSxwWHpQouLfxUtQJtVfbQMiHao4S6wEGKpJ24zZpy4PkCsg/s320/07.07.07_0425_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220305506605979538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuq61vJnKooCEtZGuOc_8hvhOwDBCuHZ-iN_j75WqMQs_fdzUjscDVMQhdLKmp-Y52a3_WAGPDAlh7LeYcMHpH2WuylcYw4UiH5V47BaD5I-VVe8BwM_PXskumVN6AtIk4bUM_w/s320/07.07.07_0552_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /> <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220306207972941938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GR-oYHX9IzDNiiuTGV1w7v1VJdhLILBlCZbTEGYJt5SqcXwTiD7MgSEyNCTuJ3mLdIG8w2-Yo8nPveu4tHgFUBix_hJteeWMtXSYxZo7ToO5tEbZ7jwcJRuXJMqzP8DhXWjiYA/s320/07.07.07_0617_WoodWedding_bw.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220308815225228786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxk5zKSbQr-cN43fe_jK9wf_lJFKb3tKrMvesyP1kHoHKBry3uajvykeAjadgQTfOS0MCu6UZoKekwc-WdLGlG9nfkIxgYS5JWkR2M0FFQ3WW1clv8hjK024dG69dJRvd1VSvHA/s320/07.07.07_0633_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220309596161320530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv62R8Ktkm85pOn-4gEV5drLpG2k1jGYLREpo7tQCgwWCTPCIaLyofNJnQevvuTisTk_373kfhhVc4sllHFyoLEdaTXygIrQfhLDeUroN0eqf401kkdsdbQsY-nyA8ckC6JaMSg/s320/church+door+bubbles+-+bw.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220313073915757090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFi7zjMmJu5g5DZmyLhPd56MgTneZuUW6xHJeXV88-LUtMr2qO3TfrFa7xWMuOtH8nXXcZyR3dJSyYTCBCC82zKtuEGeMPF1xvUHi73iFE8YJMxn0p3NQ4_86kOZDxxxILKd99A/s320/07.07.07_0958_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220310751986314818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbBvtqpONtM0EkMMQQoVh0hDwvYciNdqmCQZzXbuQrHkFZ4qDMVvtns1arWe_xcxvfB-5Z4HS29GACP45IEHhjjLmAtMnpfA4knTAhFLI7gxIb1d9htcQk6f9TIut-WQEgUi09Q/s320/07.07.07_1054_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220313586556128146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaA12eQxgzAbho8gZGHCdVuHv0763IIbncHCFUy0G9LSj1lJmr7l14z5Tw9rjLTRqI3mJGH65qp8MdMt02Cv9gh3BHiz8C8vU73yngSpaIw_UKkfpWrB8cUhqPSwi4KRtWGd21w/s320/07.07.07_1165_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220314357789216306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8uKZZTJgFHxcUknWApVvEjDRmzGM-UgEhd1q8NMo11NB1LMu88tUVJHhmMbYh0L_wQAA38qSX2qDQZthURrI609hcqnOWv29PYctnW0S5QaX46w5_8XYQ-ZlPt0or8bhIyiI8A/s320/07.07.07_1260_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220314963451948882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FwoaxFbZ_EWGEW6j40wex1bZLMaEJgppljOOkpKglYjl68c0l_MrEjAGaSOpsQSsWMsKKv3axppAQMTCZ8-mJpQVD_m19ioOGDby8IZNyeun098lluB-ut-NDmk30JZFaZdcBQ/s320/07.07.07_1330_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220315557108893330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrjUDZU4Ye_I3OqaqVH2AYTHwcmQ0Fowwhq89fELApKKFwHFK7glBVptRBioSqJb46pRMAidmwHv-mc1JtlcRHujcOXjgXp4RyuNEnBXAJ2zKKEgJyaKoixrmh9bOW6uanYCDSQ/s320/07.07.07_1390_WoodWedding.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220316052731684674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dnUKJSRKm9O6UywEfeObjU4PW3FMQ38ffCoQjtjgSooS5cCn9GETD5PDij0xy_VhNMGXFqGEuVWN4UKQQj71zUYBBhUDLQ-D5Nu8z84fC46uPqKkXIpR7CqWJQ5vSjFTZ9pcww/s320/07.07.07_1537_WoodWedding_bw.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Most people have to wait 365 days for their first anniversary. We had to wait 36<em>6. </em></p><p>(It was a leap year this year, if you're still trying to figure that out. ;) )</p>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-43856837314238807902008-06-11T12:20:00.007-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.137-05:00The Garden Post, Inspired by Abby<div>Well, I've been wanting to post pictures and details about my garden, but I didn't quite get to it last week. Over the weekend we had 6.85" of rain in our neighborhood and my garden is <em>very</em> muddy. Many of my plants are pounded to the ground and a lot of my flowers lost all their pedals! They all look like they'll bounce back, but I'm not going to post pictures till they look a little better and the soil dries a bit.<br /><br />I, like Abby, have planted my very first, very own vegetable garden! I am growing peas on the vine, red and white onions, carrots, salad greens, cucumbers, green bell peppers, red chili peppers, yellow bell peppers, 1 cherry tomato plant, 2 large tomato plants, 1 medium tomato plant, green beans, 1 butternut squash plant, and 3 zucchini plants! I planted everything closer together than recommended because we just didn't have the room. We'll see how that works out. :) I also planted chives, cilantro, basil, rosemary, and parsley? I think that's right... I planted all my herbs, including the chives, in little pots with the hope of bringing them in for the fall/winter and having fresh herbs all year. I planted about 3 or 4 weeks ago and everything is up and growing well!<br /><br />I also planted a host of last week flowers and they're doing okay. If I could do it over again, I would have had a bit more variety and I would have grouped things together. They're all planted sporadically with other flowers and other colors. It doesn't really flow, but I guess the way to learn is by trial and error, right?<br /><br />The best addition to my garden is my rain barrel!!! For my birthday, Ben built me a rain barrel! (One of the benefits of marrying a civil engineer who works with water supply and water distribution, I guess.) It catches rain water off the roof of the garage into a 60 gallon barrel. It only takes a half inch of rain to fill the barrel and in a dry week, I'm estimating I could water my whole garden, vegetables & flowers, at least twice. Rain water is best for my plants, plus we're being good stewards of our resources, while saving money at the same time. Although I was a little disappointed to open a box of PVC pipes on my birthday, I've grown to love my rain barrel so much that I'm having Ben build me a second one for the other side of the garage. Here's a picture of it, including the watering can he bought to go with it:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210705447776999010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDDdDVG9PCOGdNAfV6shbS5OQIDKLgg9VgoXh8aT0AXaW7Z5lt29xIsqQHahoqP80CStrnkEO5Tc_xwrd_6HW41PAbT98PwJfFfRMShn08E1D7gUYpQFj5smFCl6EnCNWV-hRUA/s400/barrel+%26+can.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p>Oh, I guess you can see my tomatoes growing in the back. :) It's funny, I call it a rain barrel and Ben calls it a "rain water catchment tank."</p></div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797235827154781798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-21003677609266461102008-04-16T10:36:00.009-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.130-05:00Kelli's Big Adventure<p>Well, I started this post, then ran out of time to finish it, but I wanted to post the pics anyway to see where they would show up on the page. I got busy for a couple days, then our internet got disconnected, so here we are... </p><p>OOOOOkay, a couple of weeks ago Ben had to go to Chicago for a seminar for work. He wanted me to go with him, but I would need to find stuff to do during the day while he was gone. We took the Amtrak down there, which was awesome because it only took us 1.5 hrs (even during rush hour) and ended up being cheaper than taking the car, if you included the cost of parking. It was a nice way to travel - highly recommend it. :) </p><p>We got to the hotel around sunset and the picture below is looking Northeast out of our hotel room. You can see the John Hancock building. It was beautiful!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189869143417824690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Tv1lF5VUanm_I4C3KS7UlBFf8udtCh_o2X9Z2pIS2Ma4SpHg6Nllzcq4PWnWg0SyBsGJtii3JRKuvxn0YkA7_5_hiu7CHmkm6ezQggFge74rzcni_ByCxu9MgdXJtP-wywh9lA/s320/Chicago+Sunset+1.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>I forgot to include my knock-off picture of Missy's famous, yet kinda gross, picture of a a half-eaten piece of Chicago-style pizza, but we made sure to get that for dinner that night.</p><p>On Thursday, I decided to take the L up to Wrigley Field because I had never been there and hey, they were playing the Brewers! I was just going to get my ticket when I got there to avoid the fees, but some guy in front of me overheard me telling someone what I planned to do and he handed me a ticket - for FREE! That was VERY nice! It only cost me about $4.00 round trip to ride the L. NICE.</p><p>Well, when I got there, I started taking touristy pictures like the one below. (I got my finger in it -whoops! I don't know how to touch up photos, so it has to stay.)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189869684583704002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hKZGEUJEmvCcOucqMsXR0SiOmzaiES4Zq6d8r2iq3Lac6CZ0I6Cqm10tpw5uEqTb0s8RGrFm-9LIdbyTyB5WEUH9mnYz_ggDJYrNXGnqPPBM9NCghWRHjPYaWN-TAE5K4zhyphenhyphenOg/s320/Wrigley+%26+Me.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>While I was doing this, a guy with a <span style="color:#ff0000;">Wisconsin</span> ball cap on came and asked me first if I was a Brewers fan. When I replied that I was, he asked me if I wanted a ticket - for FREE! I showed him the one I already had so we could decide which one was better, and he assured me that his was better. I gave the first ticket to a scalper who looked like he could use the money.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUJn3M4uob5oGE5d0rVUMm0ZLSJl-roAk1fkzy4ZQ3QBB3EdQ4hnWOHxNG5iG1o6YlTT8aS5SN07X6kE4XM_yV0WvZSL4dnQWGUlmAVDJT8gblSMgD0V96vH1sBazjX2xV-rlFg/s1600-h/The+game+-+infield.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189870496332522978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUJn3M4uob5oGE5d0rVUMm0ZLSJl-roAk1fkzy4ZQ3QBB3EdQ4hnWOHxNG5iG1o6YlTT8aS5SN07X6kE4XM_yV0WvZSL4dnQWGUlmAVDJT8gblSMgD0V96vH1sBazjX2xV-rlFg/s200/The+game+-+infield.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189870827045004786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZYYWvU34bJ5hrDCRi2ga2ETlUMeFQJHiG08-GdSP1UA7piPkayWIpiNlkBMo6-ZyRiYiAQA9V8VwLliGrtfrr5l9VbWZ9QdpIr0LXPHO59DuX3HAgGv4rL76Mb-62GxWu4vlJA/s200/The+game+-+outfield.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out these seats! The guy was NOT kidding! I haven't had this sweet of seats at any game since my last game at County Stadium!<br /><br /><br /><p>Turns out I sat with the guy who gave me the <em>sweet</em> ticket (the one in the middle below) and his two friends. I had the very BEST time!! They were so fun and very respectful. People keep asking me if they hit on me or anything like that and they didn't. They were very cool. We were just four baseball fans enjoying the game and a healthy rivalry (2 Cubs fans, 2 Brewers fans). I learned about their kids, where the live, how some friend of theirs couldn't make it, allowing for them to give me his ticket, etc. My cool new friends are from closest to farthest, Joe, Pat, and Dean. I sat next to Joe, who was really fun. He took my teasing him about being old and losing his hair very well. :) They bought me a coke and would have bought me anything I wanted. I really wish I had sat down before paying $7.25 for a dog and water! They were very sweet. My only regret is that I didn't get their email addresses so we could maybe catch another game together someday. =D Oh, and Joe used to play like a minor league professional baseball or something, and he was VERY impressed with how much I knew about baseball. I have to give credit to my dad <span style="color:#ff0000;"><3</span> for that! :)</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUaWLOgOp9uJZo9t_NjY-Z6UYQwB1K7rXXs3f7juhORO6zRfFUuHAmsYht5vC6TUo-LeqWPQMGVZT6vmDPGwf5W8MHr8xzGEkomQwUX7aD2un_xp6gP8ToAA3whGzBtJCFKongQ/s1600-h/Joe,+Pat+%26+Dean+-+Cubs+game.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189870144145204690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUaWLOgOp9uJZo9t_NjY-Z6UYQwB1K7rXXs3f7juhORO6zRfFUuHAmsYht5vC6TUo-LeqWPQMGVZT6vmDPGwf5W8MHr8xzGEkomQwUX7aD2un_xp6gP8ToAA3whGzBtJCFKongQ/s320/Joe,+Pat+%26+Dean+-+Cubs+game.JPG" border="0" /></a>I wish I could say the rest of my stay was that exciting, but it wasn't. I didn't really know what else I could do for cheap. Looking back, I suppose I could have gone to the museums or something, but those are kind of expensive, too. All I did on Friday was work out in the fitness center, pack us up, and surfed the net till Ben was done at 3:00. My first trip to Wrigley was definitely worth the trip, though!Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-86540911542003281712008-04-08T13:28:00.014-05:002013-08-13T02:29:04.182-05:00Ben's 25th Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXv-d39cjNN1mE5dE1eLP5_AplON30wKacACsuCN0qNr-jzPxd4_aP5odhcSmc_zMzNmhkab6Yf0qzED1oJ94rkcdViVFnn3Uj3XPZtu_pOdJREv_qV01rny-gUQ9kPe50YJ9PA/s1600-h/Ben's+presents.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186944143154363650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXv-d39cjNN1mE5dE1eLP5_AplON30wKacACsuCN0qNr-jzPxd4_aP5odhcSmc_zMzNmhkab6Yf0qzED1oJ94rkcdViVFnn3Uj3XPZtu_pOdJREv_qV01rny-gUQ9kPe50YJ9PA/s320/Ben's+presents.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was Ben's 25th birthday yesterday. (He's so young!) I started the day by getting up <em>early</em> and baking him cinnamon rolls to take to work. After dropping him off, I came home and took a nap.<br /><br /><div><div><div>Later we went out for lunch down at the Grand Avenue Mall and he got to pick out a new Brewer's hat. I bought him two because they had them buy one get them half off! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch AND the extra time we got to spend together. I also got Ben a new basketball, which he wouldn't stop playing with the rest of the night, a pound of tasty coffee, and the collector's edition of his favorite movie, Braveheart. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Since the NCAA championship game was on his birthday, Ben requested buffalo wings and a beer for his birthday dinner. :) </div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR1n_qBBYDuYcquUrnLga2gTaxzKnBNDB5db7-UUWlCAPfjnfEsAosrg_bvDKMq1ooNK8xINKT3n8kNhGa2uGbdkvPzs69_76SP32DTT8wOOAmZVOSOUL_Hhu_WqCWOqUOmIo9A/s1600-h/Cooking+birthday+dinner.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186947750926892306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR1n_qBBYDuYcquUrnLga2gTaxzKnBNDB5db7-UUWlCAPfjnfEsAosrg_bvDKMq1ooNK8xINKT3n8kNhGa2uGbdkvPzs69_76SP32DTT8wOOAmZVOSOUL_Hhu_WqCWOqUOmIo9A/s200/Cooking+birthday+dinner.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>They turned out really well and were just as good as any sports bar in town, I'm sure. He thought they were <em>awesome</em>! </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXGtyp5M1W4Qt9pJ6o67znQsff_q_h4M1pJz9i8P-eNEFrFrcamtV3AKgN4mjd2nB2L6OaArJmM-55jEK7wXDhbCYj11xY4phGuGwculQ0AG0J0M7EWdVXv6MbYM4oWQNpWaUjw/s1600-h/Ben's+yummy+B-day+supper.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186948420941790498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXGtyp5M1W4Qt9pJ6o67znQsff_q_h4M1pJz9i8P-eNEFrFrcamtV3AKgN4mjd2nB2L6OaArJmM-55jEK7wXDhbCYj11xY4phGuGwculQ0AG0J0M7EWdVXv6MbYM4oWQNpWaUjw/s320/Ben's+yummy+B-day+supper.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>(He had to wear the hot pads cause I had heated the pan to keep the wings warm. It's kinda funny because I think he looks like Mr. Mom with them on!)</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>For his cake, I made a snicker cake, which was also enjoyed by all. (All two of us.)</div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186949292820151602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsaSsJpDtbd5vWMnAkJ3aKXLKD5772jJfdsWRjVb3GA4e7wnmEh4922HB7RGO3kIr-nbBmSwjlAOO1nR7lgd-YDDhf_5zedFOFdd1-DoiDE2_U8O34QoNE00trbHLf1Hf6C9Jow/s400/B's+birthday+cake.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>We were so glad that Ben was able to eat so much good food yesterday (good food is Ben's love language) since Friday and Saturday he was so sick he was puking, a disease he contracted from his wife who was sick and puking one week before.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186951070936612162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BHcVb2_DpnVuzuJxEPS1LAD0RuH2uVBfvd7_UtI7SHhwsF4WASs6lPEY64y5VrvhVWQGP9hdWAkPxHZChlEJKWot-swmZ3yaaHyNDevCQi3LH2NJG8cuPEzSnddVR1KNV3GK2A/s200/Sick+Day.JPG" border="0" /> <p>Ben said it was the best birthday he's had since he was a little kid! I was excited because who has birthdays now that rival the ones of youth? I mean really. My favorite parts of the day were watching Ben enjoy all the good meals after being so sick, seeing his delight in his new basketball and all his presents, and the best of all: he cried when he read my card. What a good birthday!! <em>I really love my husband. :)</em></p>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-6181946958112388672007-12-08T11:22:00.000-06:002013-08-13T02:31:01.339-05:00Our New House!Wow, it's been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SOOO</span> long...<br /><br />So, marriage is good. I love being a Wood and we love being married. :) Ben has been hunting a lot lately, but he's not having a good year. :( No deer yet. His report from opening weekend "I scared a lot of deer." That's why he's out today for the 4-day doe season... his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">last</span> chance (unless he wants to bow hunt some more). Apparently "taking doe is good deer management." Whatever? :)<br /><br />So, WE BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE!! We moved in the weekend of Thanksgiving and we love it! We're doing a lot of painting lately, so I don't really want to show you any pictures yet because the previous owner's style was very dated and it's kind of embarrassing. :) We'll be done with our living room on Monday or Tuesday, so at least I'll pictures of that. Unfortunately, colors always look different on the wall than in the samples, so I'm a little bit <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">disappointed</span> with how our living room turned out. I might be doing a little RE-painting next spring or summer??<br /><br />Here's a picture I took just yesterday of our new house! Ben shoveled the sidewalk again yesterday for the 3rd time in like 5 days. He even did a little bit on Wednesday, even though we both gave blood! He takes good care of us. :)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141658817515082354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pvKAz6Y3_P1laTdgQbeTMLtzoSc_OYzxyyFmvBBD8YuRCLv5sTeZJChH9zFRVRNOKDbDVOS_mhcPsj4pMUpWi_NflajQ2c3Aw-zapByrEQtMw0NUZ_5IVCn0eEp2q7u3uOIxiQ/s400/Ben+-+shoveled+small.jpg" border="0" />Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-85753501859093516582007-10-05T15:56:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.357-05:00The Post Hanging Over My HeadSo, you probably want to see some more wedding pictures, huh?<br /><br /><br /><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.mkirk.fotki.com/weddings" target="_blank">http://www.mkirk.fotki.com/weddings</a><br /><br />password: YMCA<br /><br /><br />I think I'll write something this weekend. =D That's if there's anyone still visiting this page out there?Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-7144803100992496242007-07-24T15:48:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.350-05:00WE'RE MARRIED!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH4SnBwR2nByWTA9063cP1oFOs-KImO0wIFfgNvqoOanHtnyXCxN67E_C97mCl_RqNocHY9imU0DxPAg0orpBDn_pIYizl2k-IHRzWd2GwXyJNF3H1Rg2x5c2sUuw4FqfaPJIdw/s1600-h/KB+-+head+table.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090868575693182562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH4SnBwR2nByWTA9063cP1oFOs-KImO0wIFfgNvqoOanHtnyXCxN67E_C97mCl_RqNocHY9imU0DxPAg0orpBDn_pIYizl2k-IHRzWd2GwXyJNF3H1Rg2x5c2sUuw4FqfaPJIdw/s400/KB+-+head+table.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ben and Kelli Wood</div><br /><div align="center">July 7, 2007</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Ben and I couldn't have been more happy with our wedding! Although it was a hot 92 degrees, it was a beautiful day. The details all fell into place so nicely and we received many nice compliments on everything. Our ceremony was touching and the Lord's presence was very strong. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">couldn't</span> have asked for anything better. :)</div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Some things that were cool for me were the way the little things worked out, as I was saying. For instance, I ended up not having time to run down to the florist to see our bouquets and other arrangements before the wedding and they turned out perfect! Wow! I also wasn't prepared for the way the bright colors would "pop" against the periwinkle bridesmaid dresses. It was so pretty! Definitely exceeded my expectations. :)</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">One of the biggest blessings for us, besides being joined together by God, was that everyone seemed to have a wonderful time! I think every bride thinks at one time or another "will people dance? Will they have a good time? Will they stay or leave? etc." I couldn't have been happier. People loved the food, they said everything was beautiful, and they DANCED!! Boy, did they DANCE! =D It was awesome! People seemed to be having so much fun and it didn't start to clear out really till after 10:30. We were so pleased.</div><br /><div align="left">We've been home in Milwaukee now for two weeks after our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lovely</span> honeymoon in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bayfield</span>, WI (put your left hand on the table or desk in front of you. Put the pointer finger of your right hand at the top right of the middle finger on your left hand. You've basically found <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bayfield</span>. ;-) ). We still have a sea of boxes from moving and wedding gifts to sort through, but it's coming along. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Please be praying for us as we transition and as we begin our lives together!<br /></div><br /><div align="left">**Correction** Please be praying for us as we begin our <strong><em>life</em></strong> together! (thanks Jenny!) :)</div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-21814868848644297432007-03-28T16:50:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.306-05:00Ben and Kelli sitting in a tree...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_1Y9nk82Gouk0PD7Xk1CNW530pUROHO3IHFMMResZO0btKbN1B4-bcM9PI6dQ5UH9QNRGNoQzg5PbLfaWJrXQ4U2_3nv3Ias2xviLlpsqk3_sVp8_vKupNCcw_HVWVWzrUWBA/s1600-h/sitting+in+a+tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047096578921502850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_1Y9nk82Gouk0PD7Xk1CNW530pUROHO3IHFMMResZO0btKbN1B4-bcM9PI6dQ5UH9QNRGNoQzg5PbLfaWJrXQ4U2_3nv3Ias2xviLlpsqk3_sVp8_vKupNCcw_HVWVWzrUWBA/s400/sitting+in+a+tree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We had so much fun taking our engagement portraits last week! </div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-86226004780800337512007-01-31T10:55:00.000-06:002013-08-13T02:31:01.362-05:00rANdoM nEWsHerein are the minute newsly details and my random thoughts of the week thus far.<br /><br />Some people post nothing and get 15 comments, other people post nice things often and no one cares to comment. I never post, so I'm sure that's why I fall in neither category, really.<br /><br />Being a bride can be NUTS. I'm having fun most of the time, though.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DJ7Hcn0dcj6F7wbEiXFqkm0kXrQs7Mv8igwx96_2rHjZGpwlJC6u65qFdzl_-yLOL33MGlu2wd-Ice_meTzfCvQD8evRitxOkA0TkaqC5osnBms_YdanphqU5MFDvlisyAK3xw/s1600-h/Undone.small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026660990755994306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DJ7Hcn0dcj6F7wbEiXFqkm0kXrQs7Mv8igwx96_2rHjZGpwlJC6u65qFdzl_-yLOL33MGlu2wd-Ice_meTzfCvQD8evRitxOkA0TkaqC5osnBms_YdanphqU5MFDvlisyAK3xw/s320/Undone.small.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I don't like mean people. There's this mean girl at work who is almost always just so mean! Mean people usually don't look you in the eyes. Neither does she. If she did, she'd feel bad and then maybe she couldn't be so stinking MEAN all the time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH7H6lcA4Jtz0lkm5TwTK4wcpCqNCjq2dWLS_gP5eIFYbGdhz0eQ1TD3uHYfNyuRGSP7ZNwZyw7f4j3It5DJSGiVcTgF5VAboCyg9CeMy8HA3H37MBpXbKkcxKB-6-_emsvVqEQ/s1600-h/Baptism+-+blake+5.small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026665500471655170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH7H6lcA4Jtz0lkm5TwTK4wcpCqNCjq2dWLS_gP5eIFYbGdhz0eQ1TD3uHYfNyuRGSP7ZNwZyw7f4j3It5DJSGiVcTgF5VAboCyg9CeMy8HA3H37MBpXbKkcxKB-6-_emsvVqEQ/s200/Baptism+-+blake+5.small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Blake got baptized on Sunday and Ben and I got to be there. That was boss. :)<br /><br /><br /></p><p>I've got more to do at work than I can do.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgfsH3Pnhq3bmvTmpG09Pkcj-SAlKOYxo1mtd7ytl4YD77o4nXW4vXVhN-tTNBDBMMa6qftl1IItEwqh4oZ8vOuz_jiPwI3NEX9DeaypAa_nwcBwioSctMf0XIvQWNiI2rMHqPw/s1600-h/somersault+Ben+-+small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026670405324307234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgfsH3Pnhq3bmvTmpG09Pkcj-SAlKOYxo1mtd7ytl4YD77o4nXW4vXVhN-tTNBDBMMa6qftl1IItEwqh4oZ8vOuz_jiPwI3NEX9DeaypAa_nwcBwioSctMf0XIvQWNiI2rMHqPw/s200/somersault+Ben+-+small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ben is pretty much amazing. <3 (Here's a picture of him doing a somersault at the St. Louis Arch on New Year's Day! Do you think he was getting excited about something?!) ;^)... ) </p><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="left"></p>Ben taught Sammy (my cat) to climb the dresser. Ahh!<br /><br /><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><br /><p align="left">So, it's been a year since my friend Katie Hartke died. :( There was an auction and a dance in her memory to raise money for music scholarships. It was pretty fun. That was just on Saturday. I should post some pics. It was great to see so many of my SAI friends.</p><br /><p></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GCmjQOrs4k3lyJLGfaPxOd2XaeESneO5Vja6bYdKiyHuzZ6BzO4AXVpa7Yzzc_MZHPeiv7up-OUoxvKBGgBXjvPo52K-s75nbWneDaDibgeliWSMo-pFAm4gBo7CewT6r_3TlQ/s1600-h/dancin.small.1.27.07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026680090475559794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GCmjQOrs4k3lyJLGfaPxOd2XaeESneO5Vja6bYdKiyHuzZ6BzO4AXVpa7Yzzc_MZHPeiv7up-OUoxvKBGgBXjvPo52K-s75nbWneDaDibgeliWSMo-pFAm4gBo7CewT6r_3TlQ/s200/dancin.small.1.27.07.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><p></p><br />I'm going dress shopping Saturday. Woot! (I mean, honestly... what does that mean anyway?) Pray that I find the dress of my dreams at a price I can afford. I think the dress shopping is the thing I'm most overwhelmed about. There are just SO MANY dresses to chose from. What do you do? I mean, how do you know? Oy!<br /><br /><p></p>Peace out!<br /><br /><br />* * *<br />I added some pics for your viewing pleasure. </div>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1167953813364442692007-01-04T17:21:00.000-06:002013-08-13T02:31:01.298-05:00Yes, It's true.Hello all,<br /><br />I'm so sorry it has been so long since I have updated all of you lovely people. I wanted to write when Ben and I had our amazing 6th month anniversary date, etc. but life was so busy trying to complete my basic statistics class!! I was in class two nights a week and studying like mad every other night. Weekends are always busy, too but I think if I <em>really</em> wanted to, I guess I could have, eh? At any rate, occasions like this come along once in a lifetime, so I suppose I better post it. In case you haven't heard...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">BEN AND I ARE ENGAGED!!</span><br /><br />Yes, it's true. He proposed late at night on a walk out at my parents house while the moon was almost full and very high in the sky. It was very romantic and I didn't see it coming that night AT ALL!! It was just Monday, January 1st, a very special and sentimental day for us. I'm beaming all the time and I have the most beautiful ring ever (of course, I'm probably biased)! Check out these pics and ask me sometime why the ring is so special:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4097/1385/1600/112715/Ring%201%20-%20email%20size.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4097/1385/320/507324/Ring%201%20-%20email%20size.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4097/1385/1600/771969/Ring%202%20-%20Cropped.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4097/1385/320/609433/Ring%202%20-%20Cropped.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">We're looking to get married in July and I'll let you know when we set the date!<br /><br />Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - <em>Ephesians 1:3</em><br /><br /></span>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1156371834517208112006-08-23T17:02:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.289-05:00My Best Friend's WeddingI don't know why I waited this long to post this, but I wanted to share some pictures from Rachel's wedding (8/12/06). I was honored to be a bridesmaid and I was so proud and moved during the weekend (especially the ceremony). :-) I thought I was fine, but then when she started walking down the isle my eyes totally filled up with tears. It's hard to explain watching one of the most important people in your life do one of the most important things in their life. I had a similar feeling at Abby's wedding last year, too. Rachel and I have been like sisters, though, so it was a little different. It's bittersweet because you know you have to let go a little bit, but you're so happy for them at the same time. Anyway, I'll stop babbling and just say CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL AND JASON!! Doesn't she (don't they) look beautiful? =) Ahh! Praise God!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/A%20little%20flower.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/200/A%20little%20flower.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Here%20she%20comes!.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Here%20she%20comes!.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/200/Here%20she%20comes%21.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Mr.%20and%20Mrs.%20Jason%20Treutelaar.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/200/Mr.%20and%20Mrs.%20Jason%20Treutelaar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Misty.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/200/Misty.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Rachel%20and%20Kelli%20-%20again.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/200/Rachel%20and%20Kelli%20-%20again.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So yeah, I'll add captions tomorrow... or whenever. :-) YAY!Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1156278373112576892006-08-22T15:23:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.286-05:00My First Box<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/My%20First%20Box%20-%20email%20size.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/My%20First%20Box%20-%20email%20size.jpg" border="0" /></a> That same day I also had my first bite of string cheese. I love it at Kelli's house.Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1155135140520783252006-08-09T09:41:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.279-05:00Sammy, Sammy, Sammy! Kitty, kitty,kitty!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Petting.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/Petting.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Sammy.small.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/Sammy.small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>So, I've had this precious little creature for about 6 weeks, but I haven't mentioned it yet. I named her Samantha Muffy Kruser, after our old kitty, Muffy, who had to be put to slee a couple of months ago. Sammy is enjoying the use of Muffy's litter box, feeder, and cat carrier. She's a lot bigger than she was in these pictures already, but she's still little and cute. She's crazy, actually, but I'm told there's not kitten who isn't. She's a great addition to my home and she likes to sleep on me. Cats can be so cuddly - I love it.</p><p>In other news, I'm going to start writing a series of dreams that I've had since I've been walking with the Lord and posting them on here. They are important and they explain a lot about where I am right now and what God is doing. Hopefully they will encourage you, as well.</p><p>I should also mention that Ben and I broke up because we we both sense a need to be in a deeper place with Jesus than we have been and we knew we needed to get there apart from one another. We did fall in love and we wanted to get married, but we must lay it aside right now and chose to place Jesus first above all things. For both of us, our hope is that the Lord would bring this around in the time he sees fit and that we will be together one day, but we are laying it down, letting it go. We would rather have Jesus first, <strong>whatever it takes</strong>. Your prayers for both of us would be much appreciated.</p><p>May you be blessed today and find the peace of Christ in your life.</p>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1153172407950286642006-07-17T16:36:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.277-05:00Life's Little LessonsI was talking with Dereck the other day and for some reason I remembered this little story from last summer:<br /><br />I decided to head out for a power walk walk around my neighborhood at around 9:00p.m. in late June or July. I lived in a complex that was right next to this newer subdivision that was well-lighted, so I felt safe. I also felt safe to leave my door unlocked because I was only going to be gone for a half hour. (And by unlocked, I mean light on and the door wide open - anyone could have walked in my screen door. )<br /><br />Anyway, I went out strong, getting my heart rate up, you know. So I walked all the way to the end of the main drag in the subdivision, but had only been gone 15 minutes. Instead of coming back the way I came, I thought "I'll just take one of these side streets, I'm sure it will loop back around to this one." WRONG! Hello, Kelli, it's housing development, individualized, white pavement, sod-lawned, designed for looks - not for practicality - America! I ended up just getting looped and twisted around for the next 45 minutes. I was still too stubborn to go back, so I kept trying to find new ways to get back to the main drag, each time thinking "this one's gotta go there eventually."<br /><br />I was tromping along and walked by this house one of Missy's kids showed me when I dropped him off last summer. I realized that I had looped and twisted myself all the way around this marsh that I lived by and I was probably about 2 miles from my house, as the crow flies, but there were no roads that would take me there quickly. What had I done?! I eventually had to stop for 10 minutes and rest because I was exhausted. I had also been fasting that day, so it made the situation even worse. I was so hungry and sooo tired! I kept thinking, "if someone kills me and doesn't take my ring, that's how they'll identify my body." :p<br /><br />Alas, I stood up and started back tracking - what I should have done a long time ago. After a long time, I ended up back that the road that I knew and that I needed to be on to get home! Whew! I guess I got home at about 11:00-11:15, maybe. Heidi had been working at Wal-Mart, so she wasn't quite home yet, either. I was able to thoroughly (and nervously) look through the house for any predators. Trust me, it looked like I had never left and I found no such villain lurking. Whew! (again) Boy, did I get lucky.<br /><br />Anyway, that was a crazy experience and rather humorous at the time. I sure miss my homemade tie-dyed shirt I was wearing. :-( I felt at the time like it was just culminating the feeling of living in a new city - always thinking you've finally got an area figured out, only to realize that your knowledge was limited to one road. I tried to find some spiritual significance in the experience, as well. All I really ever came up with was that when we're stubborn and ignore wisdom, we're prone to walk and walk in circles, never getting where we need to be, only tiring ourselves in the process. If we find ourselves tangled, tired, and hungry sitting on a curb in the middle of white suburbia, all we have to do is humble ourselves, and go back whence we came. Wow, that makes too much sense right now...<br /><br />Here I am, Lord.Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1152808079909626772006-07-13T11:05:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.275-05:00A Couple of Hotties in IL<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Ben%20n%20Kelli%207.8.06.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/Ben%20n%20Kelli%207.8.06.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Ben%20n%20Kelli%207.8.06.jpg"></a><br />This was taken last weekend at TP's Wedding. Ben was an usher, but for the record, I was invited independently. ;D<br /><br />I/we had a good weekend, although there was a lot of hustling around and we were stranded in the middle of northwest Illinois. :)<br /><br />CONGRATULATIONS MR. AND MRS. PRINCE! (not that they'll ever read this... which is exactly why there's a picture of us and not them. :p)Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1150812734007855252006-06-20T09:00:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.270-05:00Fun weekend, boring to talk aboutThis past weekend:<br /><br />Friday night - picked up steaks for Dad at the store and drove to Platteville. Hung out with family and boyfriend.<br />Saturday - Ran some errands, made coleslaw, helped mom out, FAMILY REUNION. That was fun. I hit better than my brother in wiffle ball and I broke a ball (yes!). I also sang karaoke with my little cousins and my sister and it was hilarious. Later on I went to Ben's, chatted with his dad, watched a John Wayne movie, and ate pizza. :p<br />Sunday - Slept in. :-/ Gave said steaks to Dad for Father's Day. Went to picnic with my dad's side of the family at Lake Joy. My little cousins and I caught like 15 bluegills as big as my hand. I should have brought some home with me! They would have been good for dinner. :)<br /><br />A lot of people have way more interesting lives than I do. ;^)Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1150494242576298242006-06-16T16:41:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:01.268-05:00A Note<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Note.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/Note.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1148593017969576272006-05-25T16:35:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:56.093-05:00Graduation<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/1600/Ben_kelli_2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4097/1385/320/Ben_kelli_2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1148323097098683582006-05-22T12:17:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:56.091-05:00Sucker for a Love Story<span style="font-family:arial;">Well, here I am on another lunch break. People kept asking me if I was coming to lunch (in the lunch room, that is) and I was like "no, I want to eat by myself today." Sometimes I just don't want to go to the lunch room, I'd rather sit at my desk or another office and eat by myself. I know what you're thinking "you don't want to talk to anyone, so you're talking to everyone?" No, I do not believe writing on your blog counts as talking to people.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Man, the lady in the cube next to me is almost always on the phone, half the time it's work related. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've been finding myself reading these silly dating articles on MSN after I check my hotmail lately. I find them all so humorous. Some of them are touching. Some of them are flat-out lame. Like today, they were giving tips to divorcees on how to get back into the dating pool, but the title of the article clearly implied that they were talking about "break-ups." Breaking up and divorcing are different, if you ask me. Anyway, then there was this other one about avoiding your ex (bf or gf, that is) in public. Funny. I guess I'm a sucker for a love story. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Speaking of love stories, I'm dating now. I almost made it 3 years (dangit!). Ben, my NEW boyfriend, says I can borrow a few of his months (over 4 years) to add to mine to make it a full three. What a nice guy. We've been dating 15 days now. (That seems like a long time... maybe it's because it's compared to the 3 years I haven't been dating leading up to this?)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">So dating is interesting. I'm suddenly reminded of why people do the silly things they do and say the *stupid* things they say when they're dating. I had forgotten. They don't seem so stupid anymore because now <em>I </em>want to do them and <em>I </em>want to say them! I kind of surprise myself!</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> I'm all "oh, I just thought that (or said that). I HATE it when people say stuff like that. It's so lame." ;-) I guess I had forgotten that love (not that I'm in love yet, but you know, the potential) is good, dating is good, making a fool out of yourself and getting all girly about a person is good, etc. Really, I just think being with Ben is good. =) Also, I suddenly have this new thing in my already busy schedule and I'm kind of going "okay, now how's this gonna' work?", but the fact is I <em>want </em>it to work, so I will make the time. In addition, it's going to be long-distance, so I will have to consider the gas thing in my budget (good thing I'm car pooling now, hey?). 70 miles to Milwaukee is not so bad.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anyway, yes, being with Ben is good. We've been such good friends for the last 3 years, so it's nice not to have to do that whole "I gotta' impress them" thing nobody ever means to do. If we did that, we'd completely see through it because we already know each other so well. We have both been praying about each other for 2+ years now, but we had never talked about it till this winter. That's pretty crazy - and cool. (Pause, I did tell him once last spring that I had become attached and wanted to know how he felt. He said that although he had feelings in the past, he wasn't interested at the time and he didn't think he'd be interested in the future, either, but added "but I'm not sure about a lot of things right now", which was an out-of-character comment for him. After that, I let go of the idea and tried to let go of the hope, but the fact that I felt drawn to him and was attracted to him did not go away.) So this winter he approached me and we eventually began talking about it. It turns out that he had liked me for 2 years also, and he had a theory/explanation for where he was last spring that made sense to me. Through the course of our conversations we realized we really wanted to, or needed to, date in order to find out if we really could marry each other or not, but when we prayed about it, God said "Not yet." So we let it go, possibly forever. Our good friendship remained and surprisingly, it never got weird and we truly stopped talking about it. We both felt that if we would ever revisit our conversations, it would be months away. Little did we know...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Apparently Ben got to this place a few weeks later where he just realized that he wanted to be with me and he didn't want to be without me any longer. :-) He also felt like, although he's moving and starting a new job in a new city soon, he wasn't interested in dating any other girl - I was the only one he wanted. He actually said "I got to this point where I realized I didn't WANT anything else." I realize this sounds conceited, or whatever, but I'm just telling you like it is. It's a blessing and a gift, not a result of anything that I've done. I feel so blessed. :) So anyway, he brought it up to me and we talked for HOURS about. I saw no reason to postpone it any longer, but said that my "yes" was a tentative "yes" because we needed to seek God for a few days on it. Both of us did that and God confirmed to us individually that he was giving this to us as a gift and that we were now free to date... My goodness! :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've been learning so much already. Not dating till I knew I was ready and it was the right person was the best dating decision I could have ever made. I'm not saying we're getting married, but I can see that God'</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">s hand is in this and is guiding this, which means that it's going to be good, no matter what the outcome. I'm not banking on marriage, but I'm banking that it's going to be a good process, either way. I closed an e-mail to Ben last week this way:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:Arial;">I am praying about our relationship. I want to keep doing this the right way. (Romans 12:1-3, 9-12) I guess I just feel like whichever way this turns out, I want to do it with honor. If I get to keep you, I want to deserve it. If I don't, I want you to be a better man because of it and I want to be a more Godly woman. At the end of the day, there's no point to it unless we understand God better and fall more in love with Jesus. Therefore I will pray and ask God to be near to us, to speak to us, and to be Lord over this process... and I have faith that he will because of his grace and lovingkindness. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">That is how I feel and that's how I want it to stay. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><em><strong>Toute la gloire à Dieu.</strong></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083871.post-1145914973329578262006-04-24T16:34:00.000-05:002013-08-13T02:31:56.089-05:00Carpooling Rules!It's 4:33p.m. and I will be leaving the office in 7 minutes. It's been a long time since I've left work this early (especially on a Monday). For the past 9 months or so I've been coming into work at 9:00 and leaving at 5:30. Although this sounds great because I can sleep in later, I've found that I don't like getting off that late because it cuts into my evening activities, yet I haven't been able to be self-motivated enough to do anything about it.<br /><br />Last week a guy in the office e-mailed a few people he heard lived near him and now I'm in a carpooling group. There are only three of us, but that means that I don't drive at least 2 weeks out of the month. HOLY GAS SAVING, BATMAN!! <strong><em>and</em></strong> we get into work at about 8:10 and leave at about 4:40. It's just the motivation I needed...<br /><br />So, pros to my carpool:<br />1. I got TONS done today at work! Way more than I usually do.<br />2. I beat my boss into work. :-)<br />3. It was quieter than normal in the office for the first 30 minutes.<br />4. Better coffee (someone shared their own fresh-ground beans with me)<br />5. Less than 3 voicemails and 5 e-mails waiting to open this morning.<br />6. People to talk to in the car.<br />7. I'm leaving now (4:40pm).<br /><br />Cons:<br />1. Earlier bedtime.<br />2. Others depending on me not to sleep through my alarm clock.<br />3. No vote on radio station at least 2 weeks out of the month. ;-)<br /><br />So all in all, CARPOOLING RULES!!Kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05519316107744066896noreply@blogger.com1