The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday morning, we wrapped up a sermon series we've been doing for the majority of the fall, and we ended by taking communion together. Ryan and I came home to rest for the afternoon, and we thought it would be a good idea to grill chicken for lunch. It was so cold outside {and we ran out of gas partway through without knowing it} and it ended up taking two hours to grill that chicken! LOL! It was worth it, though. Very yummy! There's not much I love more than low key Sundays at home together!

* Monday I went over to my parents' house to document my mom's candy making process. It's quite an art form, and she's very good at it. {And I ate some of the mess-ups, which is never a bad way to start a Monday!} And to counter-act that, we went to the gym that night, where I braved the big-boy weight room and the kettle-bells!

* Tuesday was a big day for us, because our first podcast went live! It was so much fun to share that with all of you; thanks for being so very kind to us! Ryan's work had a Thanksgiving carry-in lunch that day, and I made a pumpkin cake for it. I was really glad there were leftovers for us to have at home the rest of the week! YAY! And that night we had a special treat: my friend Jessica was in town and came over to have dinner with us and just hang out for a bit!

* Wednesday, Ryan hung up the rhino head gift and officially instituted it as a coat hook. Cracks me up. LOL! I spent the day at home doing various chores and trying to keep Braeya out of my special treat pop that I sprung for just because I could. It wasn't enough, though. By the afternoon, I had to brew more coffee. It was just a sleepy sort of day around here! Before we went to bed, we put Swedish meatballs in the slow cooker to marinate overnight...YUM!!!

* Thursday was Thanksgiving, and we had a great day with Ryan's side of the family. I saw the official family photo after I blogged about the day and we had 37 there for the main part of the day {more might have come in after we left!} - and it was such fun. I had the chance to meet and talk with some of Ryan's cousins that I'd not really seen before, and I enjoyed it! And there was so. much. food. And there was ham. I was excited about that, since I don't like turkey.

* No Black Friday shopping for us. Ryan had to go back to work on Friday, and I stayed WELL clear of the stores until very late at night, because I can't handle the madness. When Ryan got home from work, though, we went to dinner at Red Robin {truly YUM!!!!} and later, he decided he needed some ice cream, so we split a Blizzard. It was a fun night out!!

* Yesterday we knocked out as much of our Christmas shopping as we could. {We even got to do some shopping for ourselves to save our family some time. That was good!} We went to Fort Wayne for our shopping, and of course a trip to Fort Wayne deserves a stop at DeBrand chocolates for dessert. Heavenly. Heavenly. A fun and lovely day together!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* We were in charge of breakfast for Sunday School last week, so I did a Pinterest experiment of a coffee and donut trifle. I will not lie. It was quite delectable. I will make it again. Just for myself. {Kidding.} {Kind of.} Anyway, we watched some football that afternoon, attempted a family photo {which did not go well} and enjoyed another stunning day outside; we are so spoiled by this warm late fall weather!

* Monday morning, I hunkered down to write again; I needed to add a chapter to the manuscript I just finished. I worked hard until I got it done - in draft form, anyway, and then I moved to being a wife and working some around the house. I tried to fluff the ferns we brought in from the yard...trying to keep them ALIVE through the winter. The mums? They aren't faring quite as well. The frosts have been unkind to them.

 * Tuesday was a busy day! Ryan had a dentist appointment that morning and sent me this cute picture - and a glowing report. {Sigh. Happy for and jealous of him.} I spent the day learning audio software...it was like being back in school! That evening, we had the opportunity to go watch our niece in her dance class. We have never seen her dance before, so this was a special treat! She did a great job, and all the little dancers were so cute in their line!!

 * Wednesday was gray and rainy - the kind that chills you to the bone. I went to lunch with my friend Jenny and came home with teeth chattering! But when sunset time came, there was a hint of sun that reflected off the trees in the most beautiful way!! We went to the gym that night, and I tried out the new exercise bikes. Pretty fancy! We decided to use our wedding mugs for our evening coffee, but Ryan poured creamer in the wrong one and had to drink out of my mug all night. LOL!

* Thursday I went to visit my friend Julie, and when I arrived, her son had arranged a massive game of Memory for us to play. {Two boxes mixed together.} This is so beyond my short term comprehension level, but we had a blast playing - and catching up all day. Ryan, meanwhile, was at work, being silly to make his patients laugh. He really is the best. If I had to have therapy, I'd pick him. That night - I spent some time filling up pages in my journal. It had been too long and my brain was FULL.

 * Friday morning, Ryan sent me this picture of the sunrise...gorgeous!!! I went to Kokomo that afternoon to meet up with him for our date night, and while I was at his office, I gave him one of his anniversary presents early. He said it was the best gift he'd ever gotten. And yes. That is a rhino head. Obviously there will be more on this story later. We went window shopping around town and ate giant salads at Ruby Tuesday. They have such good salads!

* Yesterday I got to see a couple of my WBCL friends! I had lunch with Amy and Cindy - and while we ate, the first snowfall of the season hit - like CRAZY. We were just supposed to get flurries and ended up with somewhere between 3-4 inches. We had slushy driving ,but man was it ever beautiful!! I had a great time taking pictures, and when Ryan got home from work, we just enjoyed watching the snow fall. {This stuff is so much easier to like when I'm not commuting!}

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday, we served in the cafe at church...we are loving this new chance to do something together, and loving it more because it involves coffee, of course. That afternoon I tried a new recipe {which I loved so much, I made another batch later in the week} - apple crisp! It was delicious. And Sunday began our string of unseasonably warm temps and lookie here...unseasonably gorgeous sunsets!! Swoon.

* Monday was our 35th monthiversary - NEXT MONTH is three years. WHAT?! Ryan had to work, of course, but when he got home, we tried out a new-to-us restaurant in our county. We had heard incredible things about their food and they did not disappoint! We both got burgers, and they were HUGE. Mine lasted two meals, actually and probably should have been more like three. It was such a fun night!

* Tuesday was Ryan's first day of a new adventure that I'm not sure if I ever told you he was doing! He's trying out the world of Home Health Care as a side job, and Tuesday was his first night of work. That morning before he went to his regular job, he did his last practice run on me - nothing like a BP check at 6 in the morning! While he was busy working, I spent the day in the classroom again! I spoke in three college classes taught by my friend Amy. Oh how I do not miss college and homework and quizzes!! We went to the gym that night, and it was SO WARM, we walked around campus in shorts before we came home. IN NOVEMBER. Crazy. And crazy wonderful views of the chapel, too.

* Though I haven't said so thus far, my other HUGE job this week was writing. I wrote pretty much nonstop every moment that I was home. And on Wednesday, it was so pretty outside that I got to take my writing out to the pirogi and sit in a t-shirt, writing. That evening, kind of last minute, I was invited to help a photographer friend of ours take his family pictures. I was SO NERVOUS because he's really good, and that was a lot of pressure. But I had a blast hanging out with the family, cuddling with their kids when it wasn't their turn to be in the pictures, and I was relieved when the pictures turned out well!

* Thursday was my writing marathon. I wrote ten thousand words in one day, which is a LOT. Braeya must have decided I was going to be a terrible mom all day and decided to eat the sticky notes I used to organize my journaling thoughts. I didn't even care, because I was just so happy the writing was flowing well! I read all 10,000 words to Ryan that night and he fell asleep when I was done. HA!! {Not because of my writing, but it's still funny to make it look that way.}

* When Ryan got ready to leave for work on Friday, Braeya said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! She didn't want another day like Thursday. He went, though, and she gave up and curled up beside the computer to sleep. I was THRILLED when I decided the first draft of my project could be declared DONE that day. Still much to be tweaked and edited on it, but the main part is finished and I'm grateful. We had to go to the funeral home after work, and then we tried to order a pizza online and their site was down for routine maintenance! Note from a patron: perhaps a Friday night is not the best time for "routine maintenance" for any pizza establishment??

* Ryan was on the road before six yesterday morning to go to a continuing education class with his work buddies. I was excited he found a free class, but I was sad he couldn't go with me to the Feed My Starving Children mobile pack that we'd planned to attend together for the second year in a row. Instead, I went by myself, which made me incredibly nervous. I don't do things alone very well. {Funny for a girl who was single so long, right?} Last night we went to our little nephew's birthday party - a tractor themed celebration!

The Shafferland Shuffle

Happy November! Happy end of DST! It's a good, good day, isn't it??

* Last Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL fall day here in the Midwest, and I think our trees are extra pretty this year. I am enjoying the views around town! Ryan gave blood at the visiting blood bank after church - and that afternoon, we went to a viewing for my friend Carol, who died very unexpectedly last week. So very sad to say goodbye to someone so young! That evening, I started on our vacation scrapbook. MANY pages ahead of me.

* Monday morning, I took a friend to a doctor's appointment and then I came home and worked on a surprise for Ryan: I raked our entire backyard. Nine bags of leaves. {And you can't even tell any are missing off the tree yet. WAAAAHHH!!!} He had planned to work on it when he came home, but I wanted him to enjoy a night off, so I did it while he worked. And then for our reward, we went to IWU to get our annual fall treat: apple pie chai!

* Tuesday was a cold day here...a good day for staying inside, reading, and working on projects, which I did. Braeya helped me catch up on Bible study homework. :) That evening, Ryan and I went to the Goodwill to buy pieces for his Halloween costume, and then we hit the gym for the first real workout since the race. {Although we walked more miles on vacation than we did IN the race!}

* Wednesday was another cold, rainy, chill-you-to-the-bone kind of fall day, and after a while, I was feeling like I might be fighting something. No time for that! It's early, yet! I curled up on the couch to finish the novel I was reading, and turned on the fireplace and the diffuser. Felt MUCH better by the time Ryan got home. He had a good day too; they finished painting his new "office," and now I get to decorate it! :) YAY! We had soup for dinner that night, but we still haven't replaced our good six quart crock pot, so I had to cook it in the two smaller crock pots to make it all fit. Keep it classy, Bekah.

* Thursday, I hunkered down to work on a writing assignment I have for church. I was so thankful when I knocked out the entire draft before lunch! That was definitely God-led. There is still much tweaking to be done, but I'm thankful the base part is written! The whole thing bored Braeya Jo Jo, who just wanted to sleep. Ha! We braved the blustery day {again!} to go out to the gym after work, and I ran one of my best mile times in a long time. And then I killed my arms in the weight room. They still hate me.

* Friday seemed to become our Halloween! Ryan dressed up for work...bet you can't guess who he is! And after work, I surprised him with a jack-o-lantern pizza for our at-home date, and we carved pumpkins together! We had so much fun, and it was nice to be able to stay home for the evening after a cold and busy week!

* Ryan worked yesterday, so I spent the entire day writing. I really appreciated a day to more of that spelled out on screen! He came home mid-afternoon with Chinese takeout, and we ate at the senior citizen hour. LOL!! Since we don't really have trick-or-treaters around here, we headed out for moo-lattes at Dairy Queen and some shopping. It was a fun night! {And not snow covered like last Halloween!}

The Shafferland Shuffle

* It's rained for what feels like forever here...but when I see all the gorgeous raindrops on the flowers, it makes the rain showers worth it. That was so fun to see first thing on Sunday when we got up. After church, we met Ryan's dad and step-mom for an early Father's Day lunch, and then we came home and took a lonnnnnnnng nap. All of us. {Because Braeya has such a hard life.} I rested the rest of the day, drinking coffee and finishing Kara Tippetts' book {which Ryan promptly started}!

* Monday was our new producer's first day, and it was also one of our busiest show days. She certainly got a trial by fire learning the ropes sort of by crash course alongside me. She was a trooper though and took notes and paid close attention to all her lists. Lynne and I took her out to lunch {BBQ}...and then in the afternoon, I did more training! I was so thankful for God's protection on the commute home, as things got pretty harrowing on the interstate. Low key night at home for the Shaffers...we were pooped.

* Tuesday the producer training continued, but in the afternoon, she and Lynne had to head out for their official photo shoot, so I stayed behind at work to catch up on paperwork {so she wouldn't get bogged down} and decided to enjoy her beautiful flowers while I worked. It was the first day of sunshine in days, so after work, we headed to the gym and then out to run {Ryan} and walk {me}. It was too hot for this girl to do an earnest run. And guess what I did for the first time ever that night? Made homemade granola. Won't lie: delicious. More than I even expected.

* Wednesday we had a surprise party at work for our dear Doris, who had a milestone birthday this week. She's not easy to surprise, so it was fun to pull that off! After work, Ryan and I scooted down to Indianapolis to attend a funeral calling for my friend Julie's grandpa. I always hate it when that's the sort of thing that lets me see my friends, but it was really good to see her anyway. And since we were down that way...seemed only fitting to have dinner at Red Robin!! :) When we got home, I threw together the candy shop pizza for Ryan's work carry-in on Thursday and fell in bed and went to SLEEP!

* Thursday, Ryan went to a memorial service for one of his co-workers who passed away this week. They wrote their favorite memories of him on rocks and got to share about them during the service. {I loved that idea!!} I spent a whole day in training and was so brain-tired driving home that I forgot the ONE ASSIGNMENT I had for that day. Put gas in my car. Ryan always does that for me, but we ran low on time without realizing I was low on fuel. Whoopsie! That light scared the puddin' outta me, but I made it home without incident. Also that day...our big timer crock pot cracked in half. SADNESS!!

* Friday, our new producer was out for the day, so I spent the day recording videos of how to do tasks, so she can keep having access to training even after I'm gone. I looked like a Life Alert operator, but I had such fun making them! After work, we ordered pizza and hunkered down on Mo for the evening, and Ryan worked on  helping me set up my new desk at home! {He had an old monitor from the pre-Bekah days that we found out we could hook up to my computer so I can have two screens like I've had for years at work!}

 * Yesterday we got up super early so I could work on our house, which was a mess, and Ryan drove to his parents' house to help them get ready for their Father's Day party. He got to play with chain saws, so he was a happy boy. We went to the funeral of one of Ryan's great-aunts, and then we went back to his parents' to help some more. {With a frappe stop in between, of course.} We didn't get home until after 10 and we still had to do a bunch of cooking. This has been one exhausting week!!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday was a beautiful day at church. I needed the sermon and our Sunday School class so much and also loved my church cafe coffee date with Ryan. We rested all day, reading and praying and napping and just enjoying a day together. These are among my favorite days. And that night...little at-home pedicure date for Bekah!! Got rid of my scary winter feet!

* Monday was a busy day at work, and the best part was...leftover cupcakes from Daddy Daughter Date Night! Will work for cupcakes! After work, Ryan and I went to the gym, where I did my first FULL workout since surgery. Like with weights and everything. And I might also mention...I adored all the pretty trees outside the gym. Spring is stunning for the trees.

* Tuesday, we had a special treat at work. Habitat for Humanity brought us lunch! It was a year ago Tuesday that we began the process of partnering with them to build a house! So we all celebrated with Chipotle, which is a beautiful way to honor anything, I say. That evening, Ryan worked hard on our yard, and I worked hard on chores, but I loved pausing to enjoy the beauty of the backyard for just a bit...leaves popping out and sun shining through. And before the day was done? We celebrated Kiss Your Mate Day. {Of course.}

* Wednesday morning, Ryan sent me off to work with my coffee cup to match my outfit {Shout out to our fellow OCD'ers!!} and when I arrived at work, I discovered he'd also gotten me some donuts for breakfast! What a fun surprise! After work, we went back to the gym, where I suffered through the second workout of the week. I was proud of myself though...for being as sore as I was {and that was a lot!!} I actually did better than the first day. Baby steps!!

* Thursday  was a curly hair day for me - something I've not done much lately. But sometimes, you have to choose between extra minutes of sleep or extra minutes for hair straightening. And if you're me, you choose sleep. So curly it was! After work, Ryan and some of his co-workers went to his boss's house to plant a tree in memory of his boss's dad, who recently passed away, and then they got to stay and have pizza! He had a lot of fun, and I always enjoy seeing pieces of his life that I don't get to be part of in person!

* Friday night, we grilled our dinner at home and ate in the backyard for the first time this season. {Pirogi is not up yet, but we just dragged the furniture into the yard and ate!} Then it was time for a Starbucks date {of course} and a lovely walk through the park. We figured it would be PACKED with people, but it wasn't. Found out later there was an event downtown, so everyone must have been there instead. So we enjoyed our leisurely evening!

* Yesterday was our 29th monthiversary...and in honor of that, Ryan worked, and I went to the salon! And THEN the best part was when we both came home and had a fun date. We went to Ivanhoe's, got dinner, took it to the Taylor campus to eat outside, and then came home to eat our STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!!!!!!!! Finally!!! It was a fun night...I'll tell you more about it next week!

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday, Ryan and I came home after church to spend some time in prayer about things we're wrestling through right now. I think even Braeya was feeling it...because she parked herself on the Bible to watch us! We rested all afternoon and ventured forth that night for a few things we needed, among them {for me, anyway} a stop at Starbucks! :) And then I started the aforementioned hippie practice of making my own face wash!

* Monday, on the fourth day of spring, Indiana got snow. Not the most we've ever gotten in a day, but apparently people had already forgotten how to drive, because I passed half a dozen wrecks on the way home, and I had to drive about 30 for a good chunk of that trip. BOO. By the time we got home, we were just worn out, so we skipped the gym and stayed home. And while Ryan took a nap, I did some journaling in my new journal. Ahhhhh how I love a new journal.

* Tuesday's commute home was SO much nicer than Monday's. Thank you, Lord, for blue skies again! Ryan and I hit the gym and then came home to enjoy some skinny Mexican pizza, which was absolutely DELICIOUS. And I was so excited because my oils kit arrived! Yeah yeah - I entered the oils world!! {More proof for Mom that I'm a hippie, I fear.}

* Wednesday night, Ryan and I kicked our original dinner plans out the window and made the pizza kit we bought from the youth group at church. It was actually really fun to construct our own pizza! We curled up and watched TV and even did some reading - yes, even RYAN did some reading! It was a fun night!

* You already read about our Thursday - when I forgot my breakfast and had to go in search of it in the rain...and when Ryan forgot the coffee grounds in our coffee pot. It was a gloomy day, but we made our way to the gym that night anyway. It was not a great workout for either of us. But I suppose going is better than sitting at home, right? {Things I tell myself...}

* Friday, Lynne and I had a Mid-Morning planning day! It apparently required four iced teas, two coffees and a water. :) We had a fun day and got a lot of work done - and took advantage of the fact that the place where we met had white board markers provided for writing on the windows. OKAY!!!! After work, Ryan and I grilled out for dinner and then headed to Starbucks for a leisurely little date.

 

*Ryan worked yesterday, so I enjoyed a long day of writing at home. One of those kinds of days where I get so engrossed that I forget important things like hydrating and bathroom breaks. The not so fun part of the day was the GIANT splinter I got in my foot and had to yank out. It HURT! {This is why I'm a carpet girl. Hardwoods are hazardous!} Ryan and I tried to FaceTime on our lunch hour, but our phones rebelled against us, leaving us to stare at ourselves. :( 

The Shafferland Shuffle

* We won't even talk about how I felt about the return to DST last Sunday. But let's just say that DST plus a late night out the night before plus being greeters at church was an interesting combo! We were ready to crash on Mo come lunch time! And we pretty much stayed there the rest of the day, dreaming and talking and watching TV and napping. And then we rallied in the evening to have a Dashing Dish cooking palooza to get ahead for the week. Texas sheet cake, raspberry chocolate chip muffins, and pepperoni pizza puffs. Ryan made all the oat and almond flour for me; good husband award!

* Monday was re-entry to the work world. I was well-showered with love and even accomplished quite a bit with decent energy! That night, we finally got around to changing our clocks at home. {I'm not kidding about rebelling the DST thing.} AND - exciting news - we went back to the gym for the first time since the entire gallbladder mess began. I only felt safe walking, but I was desperate to do SOMETHING! I did 2 miles on the track and felt really good about that. And then we got to have a delicious dinner delivered to our door by the lovely Lisa of our Sunday School class! YAY!

* Tuesday, I got a fun delivery at work: a big box from Jelly Belly! I interviewed them this week and they sent treats! Do you know how popular you become at work when you have a massive box of treats on your desk? {Hint: very.} I sorted books for our big book giveaway coming up and wrote interview questions, which in my mind, is a fun day. Did 2 more miles on the track that night, and shaved a minute and a half off my time, which was exciting. And then I hunkered down for online work at home - with my number one assistant fast asleep on my feet. HA!!

* Wednesday morning, we had some CRAZY heavy fog, but I made it safely to work! I wore a very cheery {read: WAY BRIGHT} shirt to try to counteract the weather. It must have worked, because by the end of the day, it was sunny and sunglasses weather! I was so happy to drive in that! Ryan and I took the night to stay at home and do tons of chores. Even though we weren't all hunkered down watching TV, I really enjoyed being home together just living life.

*  Thursday morning was SO SPRINGY, so it was extra funny to open the blinds at work and stare at the Santa on the house next door. He stays up a long time!! I guess it's really true that he sees you all the time. Lynne and I hosted BLT together, and she sprung a quiz on me. A vocab quiz. I failed miserably. That night, I walked 2 1/2 miles outside - and I got to pass my beloved prayer chapel! It was really a lovely day.

* Ryan and I had such a long week that we were desperate for Friday and date night. We stayed in town and had fun - including dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings {yay, gift cards!!!}, some shopping, and of course...Starbucks! I didn't care for one minute what we did as long as we got to be together. It had just been a long week for both of us. And best of all? We had a slumber party on Mo!

 * Yesterday we shared a GLORIOUS day at home together. We slept in and had a fun breakfast and spent the whole day cleaning up the house. It had sort of gotten out of hand while I was down for the count. We both love to organize, so it was a good day! We also went on our first for-fun walk of the year. It was so pretty out!!! Let's bring on spring!