Ryan's Whitewater Rafting Trip

So this is weird. I have never before blogged about a trip I didn't take. But this is as close to whitewater rafting as THIS girl is ever gonna get, so I thought I'd let you take a peek at where my man has been for the first part of this week!

It was a pretty great vacation for Ryan, because he didn't have to do any of the planning! His friend Anthony organized the trip and had all the details {food, lodging, transportation, reservations, etc.} all worked out before they left! If you're a read-all-the-details kind of person, here's the site for the place they went.

And for the record, a million points to Ryan for doing such a great job documenting his trip. Shawn pitched in and took pictures too, and between the two of them...they did a GREAT job of bringing home scrapbookable material to me. Sigh. Of. Happiness. 

His home for three days and two nights:

His home with seven other guys. It did have electricity. It also had ONE outlet, no air conditioning, no indoor plumbing, and no coffee pot. He's my hero.

I did find it surprisingly nice on the inside, even if it was primitive. Ryan's bunk - neatly made. I love it that he's a neat freak even on a camping trip. :)

What the place lacked in indoor amenities, it made up for in view:

There's a few different rafting options where they were...but they did the Upper Gauley, which is 13 miles long and has five class-5 rapids. Ryan took with him the waterproof camera we got for our Holiday World trip. It had a few pictures left on it that we didn't use up, so he took it with him. So the pictures to come are a mix of the ones they bought from the trip and the ones from his camera. Hope you enjoy!!

This is Ryan's good friend, Shawn. We all went to high school together, and these two have remained good friends in the years since. When Ryan got his gift of the trip, he invited Shawn to take another of the slots, and I'm so glad he did. By the way, they were the only two in the raft wearing blue helmets that day, so you can find them easily!

 The full group, ready to raft.

The water was 54 degrees that day. Brrrrrrrrrr!! Their guide's name was Jillian, and they were her very first group to guide solo. They said she was really good!

 Ummmmmm yes. Ryan is in the front seat.  True story. Would you expect otherwise?

 Nope! No one from this boat was lost overboard at any time. Good work!!!

 Some of the pictures Ryan took in between the busy parts....

 I was praying SO HARD during this time...I was so nervous for him!! I knew he'd done it before and I probably shouldn't worry, but I tend to default to worry. :)

He hadn't taken his phone on the rafting excursion at all, so I had to wait until he got back to the cabin to take pictures. When he texted this one to me, I had some SERIOUS tears of relief.

He loved it. Shawn loved it. I think all the guys loved it. So glad they had a great time. So glad they were all SAFE and that their guide took good care of them, even if it was her first day! :)

The First Time Apart

Ryan and I have been married for 21 months, and in all that time, we've not spent a single night apart. The very thought of it gave me hives. I know that so many of you out there reading do this kind of thing all the time. Your husbands {or wives} are truck drivers or nurses or in the military and you are used to suitcases and packing and separations of the long or short variety. {Or maybe you never actually get used to it...but you survive it.}

But I was adamant that I didn't wait 34 years to get married just to be apart all the time. Or ever, really.

But last April, when Ryan turned 35, I wanted to give him a really good present. I knew he'd gotten a letter in the mail from a friend of his who was organizing a whitewater rafting trip, but I also knew he'd put it aside because he didn't think we had the money for it, nor did he ever imagine that I would be okay with being apart for three days.

But I dug up the letter, contacted the guy and reserved a spot for Ryan on the trip, and surprised him completely when he read the letter inside his gift.

And so it was that last Saturday night, he began to pack...and I pulled a Braeya:

He reminded me that this was my idea to begin with. I told him I'd not had enough time to prepare. He asked how much longer than four months I needed, exactly. Don't ask. For the love of Pete, don't ask.

I hid all manner of cards and treats inside his bags after he packed them:

And then on Sunday morning, we went to church together to spend our last little bit of time before he left. This is my attempt-to-look-happy-when-I-want-to-cry face:

And then I DID cry. All the way through church. We hurried home, changed our clothes, and it was time to load him up in the car to deliver him to his departure destination:

The eight guys heading out met up at a church in Kokomo, and yes I was the only wife who showed up to see her husband off. Make fun if you want; I don't even care. I managed to be brave as I said goodbye, and then I got in the car and snapped this picture right before the waterworks let loose.

Cried for about the next three hours, before I headed off to one of my friend's houses. She told me she wanted me to come over for the afternoon just to keep me occupied. And she did! I spent the afternoon chatting with her and playing aunt...which included a trip to the sandbox!!

She fed me dinner and then I headed home to make it through the first long evening and night without him. Surprisingly, I did very well - even when he called to talk to me for a little bit!

When it was bedtime, I unmade the bed {proud of myself for even sleeping in it...I bet he thought I'd pull a Bekah and sleep on the living room floor} and found THIS under my pillow:

Yeah cried after I read that too.

Braeya wasn't handling it any better than I was. She spent her evening sleeping on the ottoman where Ryan props his feet every night - because normally she sleeps on his legs while he has them propped up. And when it was time for bed, she cried and cried and CRIED...and right after I FINALLY fell asleep, she threw up. Twice. So I got up, cleaned that up, and started over. This time she nestled right in on his side of the bed. Bless her heart.

He got up extra early Monday morning to call me, and I risked being late to work just to hear his voice for ONE MORE MINUTE. Then he was off to raft and hike...and I was off to my day. Found this tucked inside my lunchbox and MADE myself wait until lunch time to read it.

 One of my friends offered to have dinner with me, which I appreciated. We soaked up the goodness that is Chick-fil-A and then I came home. I wanted to just sit and wait, but I forced myself to get up and be productive...to clean up the kitchen, to do some laundry, to take out the recycling...and to make this tasty treat for my dinner appointment on Tuesday night. Doesn't it look good?

By the time I finished all that, it was bedtime, and LESS than 24 hours until we would be reunited. We could do this! It so helped that throughout the day, Ryan sent me pictures and texts and videos just to let me know even though he was having a blast, he hadn't forgotten about me.

{And no, I didn't really think he would...but there's something comforting about KNOWING you're remembered...and more importantly, missed.}

And just so he was sure...I updated our message board in our room. :)

Woke up Tuesday morning and scurried STRAIGHT into the living room to rip open the card that had been sitting on the shelf with STRICT instructions not to open until 9/9/14. He got me the sweetest card, and after mopping myself up, I tried to get all cute for when I picked him up!

He texted me during my time with the morning guys to tell me he had the whole rafting group gathered round his phone and they were streaming live to hear me. {Melt.} So I gave them a shout out! I loved it that he did little things like that to make me feel included from 8 hours away!

The day took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to end. I was trying to read a book for work...a very good book...but my mind was wondering when it would be time to pick him up and bring him HOME!!!!!!

One of my new friends invited me over to her house for dinner, so after work, I grabbed my pre-made dessert and drove her way to spend a couple of hours talking and eating with her...before going to pick him up!

I had grand plans of being WAY early for pickup, and stopping at Starbucks on the way to get us some coffee, but they ended up being EARLY, so I actually arrived after the caravan, and I sped {literally} into the parking lot and screeched to a halt beside the cars. The guys scattered, probably very unsure of what they were about to see, and I ran to Ryan and about bowled him straight over onto the ground with the biggest hug.

Yes. I was that wife.

One of the guys commented that he was surprised I didn't show up with balloons. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about it.

And so it was that we were reunited:

So grateful to have this handsome guy back. And also thankful for the technology of texting and cameras on phones and radio apps that let us stay connected for the time we were apart!

Hudson's Bands of Hope

I wanted to take a day here to tell you about an organization/ministry that has really tugged at my heart. This isn't an ice bucket challenge, and I'm not here to make you love what I love. I actually think it's a pretty beautiful thing that each of us has a different passion - and when all of them work together, we make a crazy amazing difference in this world.

I've told you before {many times} that my life has been touched too many times by infant loss. Not personally. I've never been pregnant...never been excited for a new life inside and then had to say goodbye before I could say hello. But my sister has been there. And Ryan's sister has been there. And my like-a-sister friend has been there. And it's hard. It's hard to watch people hurt like that. It's hard to watch them try to make a new life that doesn't include a life they planned for and prayed to have. It's hard to feel helpless in someone's hardest hour.

A few months ago on Mid-Morning, I interviewed the CEO of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep...an organization that provides photographers for families in the hospital who have lost their little one. I wanted to interview Gina Harris because I wanted our listeners to know about about an organization that could provide something our family doesn't have: professional photos of their little one.

I so believe in what NILMDTS does...and my hope is that one day I'll be able to hone my own photography skills enough that I can serve as a photographer for them and help a family in a heartbreaking moment - just as others reached out and helped us in ours.

And just last week, I had an opportunity to interview another mom who knows this pain firsthand...and her ministry is different from NILMDTS, but in my opinion, no less important.

Misty Howell is actually from my hometown, and two years ago, she and her husband found out they were pregnant with their second child. Her pregnancy was picture perfect...just like her first one had been...until she went in for a third ultrasound. She was 19 weeks pregnant and this ultrasound was the much-anticipated gender reveal.

Except instead of revealing little Hudson's gender, it revealed that he had died.

And in an instant, everything changed. Not only had she lost this little life she helped create, but she had to prepare to give birth to him...to have a few fleeting moments with him...and to prepare to bury him.

As she left the hospital, wheeled out per hospital protocol, her arms were empty. The arms that should have carried a baby were empty, and all she had to prove she had been in that place to give birth to her son was her hospital band. She couldn't bring herself to take it off, even after she got home and didn't need to keep wearing it. Misty's mom bought her a charm bracelet with two footprints on it to take the place of the ragged hospital band.

As Hudson's actual due date drew near and Misty still grieved, she began to make a list one day...and on the list, she wrote Do something to help others.

And with a Divine nudge, Misty came up with the idea to make charm bracelets for grieving moms. A tangible reminder of a life gone...but a life that was there. A life that carried weight and mattered.

That's how Hudson's Bands of Hope came to be...and Misty had no idea how it would take off. People began to donate toward the cause, and recently it became a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax exempt.

I wanted to tell you about Hudson's Bands of Hope for a few reasons. First of all...I believe Hudson's life was fearfully and wonderfully made and I wanted you to meet this sweet little boy whose life has now impacted so many. Secondly, I want you to know about this ministry in case you know someone who needs a tangible bit of hope to wear. And last but not least, if this kind of ministry does strike a chord of passion in your soul like it does for mine, I wanted you to know how you can help a mom honor her son's life with bands of hope that bear his name.

Mama's Sloppy Joes

It seems appropriate to share this recipe with you today, because this is my mom's recipe...and today is her birthday! Happy birthday, Mama! It seems even more appropriate because her recipe became ours a year ago on this very occasion!

Ryan and I went to have dinner at Mom and Dad's house for her birthday last year...because all three of the Freelan girls went together to buy Mom a brand new set of cordless phones for her house, and Ryan and I were the setup committee. It was a night of MUCH amusement that you can read all about here if you need a good laugh. And the photo summary of our come-to-life Family Circus is as follows:

Even though it was her birthday, she wanted to do the cooking, so we agreed and sat down to a lovely meal of her sloppy joes. And after we got home, Ryan said to me: Those were really good sloppy joes!

The first time ever that he'd so loved something someone else made that he wanted me to make it too. Gulp. And so it was that I went about asking Mom for her recipe. Turns out...she doesn't have one. Yep, that's Mom. She cooks by "a pinch of this and a pinch of that." So she gave me the best recipe she had...and I've worked with it. So here it is! Mama's sloppy joes...from the circus that is our family... on this anniversary of her day of birth! 

Mama's Sloppy Joes

* 1 pound of ground beef or turkey
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 1 cup ketchup
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 Tablespoon chili powder
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Brown the ground beef or turkey along with the chopped onion until meat is cooked all the way through and the onion is tender. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly and allow to simmer for ten minutes while flavors marry. Serve warm!

A Few Tips:

* I always use either ground turkey or ground chicken, just to make it a bit healthier, but whatever gound meat you like works well!

* You can add more sugar or cut some of the chili powder if you want the taste sweeter or tangier. What I use is the perfect blend for us.

* We use the slim buns to save a few carbs, but you can serve it on whatever kind of bun you'd like!

* This warms over very well if you save it for leftovers!

Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday would have been my Grandma's 100th birthday, and it seemed only appropriate to celebrate her life. I am nowhere near the cake baker and decorator she was, but I did bake a Texas Sheet cake and lit candles in her honor. Love and miss her! We had a lazy day at home that day - but we managed to get outside for a walk late in the evening, and the prayer chapel was STUNNING at night with the light streaming through the stained glass!

 * Since Monday was Labor Day, I had the day off work. Ryan had to work, so I got up early with him and LOVED walking into the living room {as I often do in the mornings} to find him doing his devos. Makes my heart so happy. I had a busy day at home - including some fun reading in the hammock!! That night, we hit the gym for a workout...and it's busy again. Students are back in town!

* Tuesday, as you already read about, was our 21 month anniversary - and an odd one at that. That night, Ryan worked at the Greentown house, repairing a few things that need fixed before the place sells. I took pizza for dinner and then spent the evening hanging out with one of my friends while Ryan and Randy worked on the plumbing. We did a 9 p.m. run to Menards for more parts and topped off the evening with some Subway coffee...anniversary beverage of champions!

* Wednesday evening, I got the hankering for tomato basil soup {pretty sure that's the first time I've ever written that} so I made some from scratch. WOW. I impressed even my own self. We had that and some quesadillas for dinner, and then I hunkered down to watch the first episode of 19 Kids and Counting, because I'd missed it the night before. I won't lie. I cried through the whole thing. What. A. Sap. Ryan was a darling and put new windshield wipers on my car because mine were so bad that it was actually easier to see out the window BEFORE using them. I appreciated him doing that outside in the dark with a flashlight!

* Thursday morning, I had much fun with Lynne doing our BLT show. I always enjoy that. Thursday night was, of course, the start of football season, but it did not play at our house. Ryan wasn't home and I didn't care for the teams playing, so I sat at home working on random chores and drinking coffee by myself. :( Ryan was working his tail off at the other house again - still fixing plumbing. Also :(

* Friday morning I had one of the worst commutes ever. First there was some sort of police altercation in town...and then the never ending train...and then the narrow miss of being hit head-on by someone driving the wrong way down a one-way..and then I managed to miss getting hit by a semi running a red light {he blasted his horn to get my attention...thankful!!!} and I was just glad to get to work in ONE PIECE! Despite all that, the sunrise was gorgeous and the day was good. That night, Ryan just wanted to stay home since he'd hardly BEEN home all week. We got pizza and a movie and just cuddled up on the couch for the night - ending with watching Matlock while a storm raged outside. {We're old. But fun.}

* Yesterday we had an actual lazy day at home. Like the kind where we didn't even get up until after 9 a.m. That NEVER happens. We made breakfast and enjoyed a leisurely day at home. In the afternoon, we ventured forth for a  much needed ice cream date and then he spoke the words that nearly undid me: "Do you mind if we go to Hobby Lobby?" I swoon. He always cracks me up in stores...picture below is case in point. That night I experimented with a homemade low-fat pumpkin spice latte. It was pretty good!

The Saturday Six

One.

Source

My in-laws live in a GORGEOUS log cabin in the woods, so since joining this family, I've developed a new appreciation for beautiful log homes. Found this one over at Between Naps on the Porch. I think my favorite thing is the fireplace on the screened in porch.

Two.

Source

Did you see this article floating around? Some firefighters went to a home after receiving a call that a man had a heart attack. After he was taken to the hospital, they went back and finished mowing his lawn and put away the mower. Love stories that show the good still in the world.

Three.

Source

Well, one of my friends I've met through work thought of me when he read this article. Ryan and I will consider it an accomplishment to hit all 92 counties in Indiana. Apparently we have several thousand more to go...to get all of them in the entire country. Sweet goodness.

Four.

Source

I love THIS beautiful reminder that just because a dream changes doesn't mean it's died {or failed}.

Five.

Source

I shared a long time ago the video story of Ian and Larissa - and now their book is out! I can't wait to get it and read their love story. Man...it takes love to a WHOLE new level. Huge amounts of respect for these two and not only what they live out in real life every day, but what they teach others.

Six.

One of my current favorite songs. Goose bumps every time. Mercy....LOVE this one.

Tributes and Such

Yesterday on our BLT show, we spent the hour sharing stories of some of the best traits we inherited from our parents {or grandparents} {or mentors}. It got me all in the mood to pay tribute to some of the people who have made me who I am so today is tribute day here in old Shafferland.

I mentioned a couple of days ago that last Sunday would have been my Grandma Kesot's 100th birthday, so I'm going to start with her.

Grandma Kesot: Grandma was already retired {all my grandparents were, actually} when I was born so I remember her as a stay-at-home wife who dearly loved being with her husband. In fact, I think that's where I got the idea that you can be married forever and still genuinely enjoy spending time with your spouse. It wasn't just something she said. It was something she did. She loved her family and doted on us. She cooked for and hosted all the holidays, and she baked {and decorated} cakes for all our birthdays. Grandma and I became extra special buddies during my high school years, after my Grandpa died. I spent a lot of weekends at her house, and I loved that time with her. I appreciated her undying devotion to everyone she loved, and I hope that her love for and dedication to my Grandpa is something I replicate in my love for Ryan.

Grandpa Kesot: Well, Grandpa had much more of a quiet strength about him than I've EVER had about me, but one of the things I remember most about him was that sweet twinkle in his eye. He could say so much{good} with one look. He was so funny...so often when he didn't mean to be. He'd get words mixed up {like the time he told us all the cartridges wore out in his knees} and then those words would become our words. I can't even come UP with the word cartilage now without much effort. We'd tease him and he took it all in good-natured stride. Grandpa died when I was going into my freshman year of high school, and I miss him. I appreciated the gentle way he served as our family patriarch and if I ever stop being so bull-in-a-china-shop, I hope to find within me some of his gentleness.

Grandma Freelan: Grandma and I were buddies...and if there's one thing about her in her dealings with me...she was long-suffering. When I was little, she'd come stay with us for a couple weeks at a time now and then, and when she did, I took over. I played nurse and she was my patient. I played teacher and she was my student. I played piano instructor and she sat dutifully on the bench and pressed her thumb against middle C for four counts before I gave her a check mark on that page. She was so patient. {Yeah, I didn't inherit that one.} The other thing I remember about her was how devoted she was to her prayer time, and I'll tell you what...until the day she died, I was one of the three most-prayed-for-ever grandkids you ever met.

Grandpa Freelan: I didn't want you to think I ignored him, but he died before I was born, so I can't tell you what I remember most!

Mom: I shared this on BLT this week, but my Mom is a funny lady, and I have been told I have a delightful blend of both my parents' sense of humor. And the thing I shared on the air was that I always appreciated her devotion to her quiet time. She's a morning person {yeah didn't get that either} and I remember watching her do her devotions while I ate breakfast before school. A million things to do before she headed out to work, but she always made time for that and it was such a great example to me. And my goodness, does she ever have a servant's heart. She lives to help others, and I admire that so much about her.


Dad: The other half of my sense of humor came from this one. He's funny too, though in a completely opposite way from Mom. Dad is a HARD worker and has put in many late nights {got that from him} working to make sure everything was in order for the family. And from him, I inherited my love of studying the Bible and really digging in to learn all sorts of things about it. I appreciate the foundation he gave me in an above-average knowledge of Scripture when I was just a little thing!

And now I have the joy of a whole new family - with in-laws! I have two mothers-in-law and two fathers-in-law and I appreciate so much how all four of them have welcomed me in and made me feel like I belong. They're all kind, generous people who have been a joy to get to know in the last two years.

Ryan's dad (Gary) and step-mom (Lynn) have included us in their celebrations, they made the trip to Florida for our wedding, and I enjoy it when Lynn sends a text out of the blue to share about something she read on the blog or a fond memory she has of time spent with us. I really treasure that! I appreciate witnessing their love for and commitment to one another and to the family.

Ryan's mom (Nita) and step-dad (Allen) have made me feel every bit as much their child as Ryan is. I've appreciated their hospitality, Nita's photography documentation of our relationship, and their constant willingness to help us with anything we need. I also appreciate how they've included my parents as part of their huge family too! They're encouraging and affirming to both of us, and we appreciate that.

And of course I saved the best for last. Ryan has really changed my life, not just in all the obvious ways, but in the character traits he teaches me on a daily basis. He is such a good listener. He's hysterical and can get me to laugh even when I am so sad or so angry. He loves me even when I'm {ahem} grouchy. And probably THE biggest thing I've learned from him is how to have a generous spirit. He gives and gives and gives to anyone in need. He always sees the good and the potential in people and wants to help in any way he can. I've watched him buy a tank of gas for a total stranger {while I huddled in the corner with the phone at the ready to call 911 because I have watched too much TV}, I've watched him haul a car a long distance for my co-worker who had no way to get it to the shop, I've watched him sweep branches off the roof of his great-aunt and uncle who couldn't do it themselves, I've watched him help his co-worker bust up a slab of concrete and haul it away, and I've watched him treat his patients with dignity and the utmost in kindness as they struggle to rehab. He is amazing. I'm blessed to get to learn from him every day.

 Oh goodness. I could go on for days. {And some of you already think I have.} But these are just a few of the folks who have showed me how to live well. I'm grateful to have been part of their lives. And I hope SO MUCH that I can leave even a fraction of this in the lives of others. Truly.

Join me? Honor some people who have blessed you?