The Shafferland Shuffle

It hasn't been a shuffle this week. It's been a speed walk. Or a speed train ride. I'm not sure. This has been a common theme in 2019 weeks for us, hasn't it?

* Last Sunday we were still on our anniversary trip, and we did a couple of REALLY fun things that day. We visited the American Sign Museum and also enjoyed our big splurge of the trip: Winterfest at King's Island. It was bitterly cold and raining for a good chunk of the evening, but we bundled up in a hundred layers and had the best time. I can't wait to tell you all about it!

* Monday was our actual anniversary, and we chose to keep the day as low-key as possible. We slept in, watched movies, went out for lunch, did our annual wedding-photo-recreation-photo-shoot, took naps, watched more movies, watched our wedding video, exchanged gifts, and just enjoyed being together. It was delightful in every single way.

* We checked out of our cozy little Airbnb on Tuesday morning and headed back home for the beginning of the week-of-craziness. We stopped at Duck Donuts for one last hurrah, and when we got back home, we scurried to unpack, do laundry, and get the house put back in order after a few days away. Our small group showed up that evening and we had our final meeting of the fall semester. We love these people SO MUCH!!! (We were missing two from this picture, but we took one anyway!)

* Wednesday began a new adventure for me, and I'm going to tell you all about that tomorrow, but it required getting up early, putting on real clothes, and packing bags for a whirlwind day. (I made Ryan take my picture so I could fully document.) The day also required a lot of coffee. That evening, we had to report to church for a rehearsal for our Christmas program. My goodness, the choir sounded SO AMAZING!

* Thursday I got to go out for lunch with some friends, and we went to Ruby Tuesday. Our service was pretty slow and sad, so how glad was I that I chose the salad bar!?!? We spent the evening at church again for the final dress rehearsal for our program. It was SO GOOD! I was in tears by the end of the night because the music was so beautiful!

* I got to be home during the day Friday, so I scurried around like crazy catching up on all the things I'd gotten behind on earlier in the week! And then it was time to get ready for the first night of the Christmas program! I did my hair all curly and everything! (Ryan too - but his curls are a bit on the invisible side.) We had a great night and the presence of the Lord was POWERFULLY strong. A night I doubt I'll forget for a long long time.

* Ryan worked yesterday and I did more catch-up chores, and then we went back to church for the second night of our program. We were excited to see so many of our friends and family there! :) And it was no less powerful the second time through!