Wanna See More?

Last week I gave you a sneak peek at the pictures my mother-in-law took of us. She gave us the full set of photos this week, and I thought she did such a lovely job, both photographing and editing. Wanna see her handiwork?

This picture was our funny "test the lighting" pose. But it cracks me up.I'm thinking THIS is the Christmas card winner. Hands down.

 We took this first round of pictures at the sunken gardens in Huntington. {It will probably show up again whenever we get around to touring Huntington County.}

 Loved these stairs!!

 Then we moved over to the little park area at the Forks of the Wabash. They had some really pretty flowers there.

 And some little old cabins, which made for great photo locations.

 And one half of the Wabash forks. :)

 Such a trial to have to stand and kiss for a while. JUST KIDDING!

 Pretending to talk. That's a challenge for us, as we never actually STOP talking.

 Isn't he a handsome fellow? I married up.

How in THE WORLD I am ever going to pick a photo and craft a card is beyond me and mine. But hope you had fun looking at the pictures!

Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday, Ryan and I became OFFICIAL greeters at church. We have our own real name tags and everything! How fun is that? We had his Mom and Allen over for lunch and then his mom spent the rest of the day with us, taking our annual pictures. It wasn't the sunniest day of the year, but I was thankful it was warm outside and NOT raining so we could get our whole photo shoot in...and have comfort in the process!

* Monday morning was when I arrived at work to find I'd been pranked with a Bert Convy picture hanging in my office. {Why you should keep crazy childhood crush information to yourself!!} I spent my lunch hour praying....and this is my view while I pray. When I started a week ago, all the trees were green and this ONE has turned completely golden in one week. Love it. We had a low-key evening at home, and our entertainment was Braeya, who sat on the couch staring at what we can only assume was a bug flying around.

* Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to give one of my friends a ride to the Fort Wayne airport. {Drive right past there on my way to work, so it was a perfect chance to play taxi!} She bought me Starbucks in return...thank you, Kathy!! And later in the day, one of the work girls broke out a DeBrand caramel apple; those are SO GOOD! That evening, we went to the funeral home to see my brother-in-law. His grandma passed away, so he made the trip from Kansas, and we wanted to go spend a little bit of time with him before he went back. Braeya seemed unamused with the amount of time we spent away from home.

* Wednesday was our big book giveaway on Mid-Morning, which is always fun! Lynne and I had a blast giving away books! Had to take a detour on the way home and ended up driving through some GORGEOUS tree lined road areas! Ryan and I were scheduled to help with a service project at church - helping a lady move. But I came home feeling achy and gross, and Ryan thought I should rest instead of going out in the rain for a while, so I slept the entire time he was working to help with the move! Whoopsie!!! But I must have needed it. I felt much better after that.

* Thursday morning, I got a fun surprise in the mail: my very own Barnwood Tray!! I now own a piece of Midwestern history turned into a tray. I love it. Had lunch with my friend Elisa. I love talking with her! Thanks, Elisa, for trekking my way to meet me for my grilled cheese! :) Ryan was really tired, so he rested that evening while I went shopping for baby shower supplies. Got a bit lost in the baby department. This is how rumors get started. Someone asked if I was expecting. Nope! Just Trying to find the little cloth diapers. That's all!

* Friday morning, when I started to eat breakfast at work, I discovered Ryan hid a whole cinnamon roll breakfast delight treat in my lunchbox - with a note! Great way to start a day! When we arrived home from work, we found the materials had been delivered for the next big Shafferland project: new roof! Ryan was deliriously happy! We spent our evening at a Sunday School class party, complete with bonfire! Ryan was mostly excited to sit on his friend Nate's motorcycle. I abhor motorcycles, so getting one of his own is not in his future, unfortunately.

 * And then yesterday, I made another pilgrimage to Fort Wayne to attend a baby shower for our neighbor. {Funny, huh? Driving to Fort Wayne for a shower for someone who lives on my street?} It was a lovely shower and the cake was both beautiful AND tasty. Ryan went to work and his co-worker surprised him with his favorite coffee! So it was a good day for him! Last night, we went to see Ryan's sister's new house. Ryan did some work for her - not gonna lie. It was funny to watch him hang things using the pink flowered hammer!

The Saturday Six

One.

This week on BLT, Lynne and I did a game show theme, and in our discussion of game shows, I may have confessed that as a child, I had a massive crush on Bert Convy, the host of Win, Lose or Draw. I do not know WHY I felt compelled to share this information as it is both ridiculous and embarrassing. Lynne apparently had a discussion about this information with Scott during their on-air segment, and the next day, I came in to find THIS hanging in my office. Scott's handiwork. LOL!!! {Anyone else out there ever have a game show host crush? Please? ANYONE?}

Two.

Source

Though I have seen some of these ideas before, I loved this post by Emily A. Clark, inviting us to use our memories to decorate our homes. I LOVE this concept. On all levels.

Three.

Source

Because Ryan and I NEED more ideas for road trips {HA!!!}...did you see this one? Guy and his family traveled around to visit locations from movies! We actually do have at least one of these in Indiana that I'm planning for. Maybe two. Maybe I need to learn more movie locations! {Or maybe people just generally don't make movies in Indiana. Probably that one.}

Four.

Source

I read on Natasha's blog this week that she visited New York and got to go to Central Perk. WHAT!?!?! It's a real place? Apparently until today...yes. It's a month long pop up coffee shop, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the TV show Friends. So I'm guessing I won't make it there before it closes. Maybe they'll bring it back and I can go!!!

Five.

Source

So I'm not sure why this post has mostly turned into a TV fest. Sorry about that! Anyway. I taught Ryan a bit of trivia this week...maybe you didn't know it either. We had the TV on the music channel one night and a Lyle Lovett song came on. So I said to him, "Did you know he was once married to Julia Roberts?" He did not know this. I said, "Know where they got married?" He did not. Answer? Marion. As in the town where we live. True story! Back in 1993, the two got married in a Lutheran church in our very town! {They are no longer married, by the way.}

Six.

Source

The year Ryan and I were engaged, we helped pack a couple of boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Last year, for whatever reason that I do not know...we didn't do it. But I'd like to again this year! If you're not familiar with it, you can read about it here, but even if you are, I know the collection dates tend to sneak up on a person. I read online that they are November 17-24 this year!

In Which I Pretend I Live at the Spa

I'm not a review blog kind of girl. I like to read a handful of blogs where the bloggers review products, but sometimes {in truth} they bug me because:

* I'm jealous of their cool free stuff {just keeping it real}.
* I feel like they're pushing stuff just to push stuff, and in reality, they probably really wouldn't try whatever they're reviewing.
* They try something one time and pretend to be an expert.
* They're not really passionate about it and it shows.
* They end up becoming full-time reviewers and forget all about the things that their blog used to stand for, and I always miss those things.

 That's why I started the Saturday Six posts. I like to tell you snippets about cool things I find, but they're always truly just cool things I find, and not things I'm asked to tell you about.

Well....a few weeks ago, my mom let me borrow her e-cloth window washing kit. Ryan and I had a cleaning day at the Greentown house, and my job was to wash windows. I was highly skeptical. Highly. In fact, I pretty much only tried it because it was my mom, and I hate telling her no.

Blew. My. Mind. One washcloth. One drying cloth. One bucket of water. A whole house full of clean windows - with no streaks.

Shut. Up.

I was so excited about it that I told you about it on the Saturday Six. And for the first time ever...I got an email! Someone from e-cloth saw my mention of them and asked if I'd be interested in trying one of their other products!

It was an exciting day for this producer girl. I'm quite accustomed to spending a work day tracking down people like e-cloth to invite them for an interview, but I'm not used to being on the other side of the invitation!

I labored far too long over their product page, trying to figure out which thing I wanted to try. {They said I could pick anything.} Ryan really wanted me to get the car wash kit, because he is nothing if not meticulous about his car, but I {sadly} am anything but meticulous about my car, so I wanted to try something that I could try firsthand. I guess when Ryan starts a blog, he can check out the car wash kit! :)

So I went 100% girly and tried the e-spa body collection. How fancy did I feel, knowing that would be showing up in the mail?

I actually received the products the day Ryan and I left for Holiday World at the end of August, and I wanted to spend a good long time using them before I told you about them, because, you know, see bullet points 2, 3, and 4 at the start of this post.

Let me tell you what you get in this three-piece set, which has recently been discounted almost $10.00, making the new price $34.99. 

* One eye-cleansing pad, which you can also buy separately for $9.99. It is very smooth to the touch, and has two separate ends that you can use {helpful, since you have two separate eyes}.

Here's a photo of my hand in it, so you can get an idea of the size:

* One face cleansing mitt, which you can also buy separately for $14.99. It is also very smooth to the touch and is the size of an oven mitt that fits over your whole hand.

* One exfoliating body mitt, which you can also buy separately for $19.99. Because it exfoliates, it's got a rougher texture, but it's not nearly as rough as a pumice stone.

Per the e-cloth website, the eye-cleansing pad should work with just water, saving you the need to buy eye makeup removers. The other two do require the use of the soap of your choice. They're designed to be gentle on your skin, yet do their job. You wash them in hot water with a little detergent, and you don't use bleach or fabric softener on them, nor do you dry them in the dryer or iron them.

After one month of use, here are my thoughts and observations:

Eye Cleansing Pad

* I had just purchased a new bottle of Mary Kay eye makeup remover before I received these, and I love the way it cleans - especially since I wear waterproof mascara. {Frequent criers have to do that.} Therefore, I used the eye-cleansing pad with my Mary Kay remover rather than using just water. Obviously this means I cannot speak to whether or not its claim to remove makeup with water alone actually works, but it did partner well with my remover.

* Obviously my makeup stained the pad, but I was able to use it repeatedly {daily} for about a month before the buildup of makeup made it ineffective. I realize that may be an in-print disgusting admission, but I wanted to see how long I could use it before the makeup was too much to allow it to clean.

* The product is guaranteed for 300 washes, so this is obviously a long life span and even though it costs $9.99 when purchased alone, the amount of money saved in purchasing cotton pads/cotton balls, not to mention the saved waste of throwing away disposable pads every day is, in my opinion, worth it.

* When I washed it, there was a bit of a permanent stain left from the mascara and eyeshadow, but I was impressed with how much did come off.

Face Cleansing Mitt

* Prior to using this mitt, I used a regular washcloth in the shower every day to wash my face. I replaced that with this mitt.

* I use a store-brand pump facial cleanser in the shower, so I just used that with this mitt, and it lathered nicely and cleaned my face well, without being harsh on my skin, because the material is so smooth.

* I got about three weeks out of this one before the buildup of soap started making the mitt really stiff. {Again - just trying it to see how long it could go.} It, too, is guaranteed for 300 washes, but since I don't use disposable face cleansing wipes, this one might not save as much money over the long haul.

Exfoliating Body Mitt

* Since I did my testing right at the end of the summer, my feet were really dry from flip-flop season. I've used a pumice stone in the past, but those are obviously very hard and rigid. I liked the flexibility of this mitt. I could wear it on my hand and form it around my foot to clean it well.

* I felt like this was tough enough to take on dry feet, but gentle enough to exfoliate my arms, for example, without being too rough on them, so I liked that about it. No need to have one thing in the shower for my feet and a second thing for exfoliating my arms or hands.

* I used my regular Bath and Body Works shower gel with this to create a lather, and it worked well and rinsed well.

* I washed this one with the other two...but it hadn't even shown signs of having buildup on it at that point, so that was impressive.

Overall Thoughts

* I liked all three products well enough to continue using them on a regular basis. So that makes me happy!

* My two favorites were the eye cleansing pad and the exfoliating body mitt, because I felt like they offered me something that what I already owned couldn't offer. The face cleansing mitt is nice, and I will continue using it, but I don't notice any different outcome on my skin than I had using a regular washcloth. {If I had used disposable face cleansers before, I probably would feel differently}. But I love saving my cotton pads for my nail polish removal and using the permanent eye cleansing pad instead. And I love the flexibility of the exfoliating mitt vs. a pumice stone.

* I remain really happy with e-cloth and am sure I will end up trying their other products as well - and getting Ryan his car washing kit at some point!

So there you have it! My month of pretending to live in an e-cloth spa and my thoughts on the products they sent me!

{And the part of review blogs I hate THE most. The disclaimer. But I know I have to do it...so here it is. The folks at e-cloth allowed me to choose a product from their website and sent it to me free in exchange for a blog review.  You just read my honest opinions!}

A Thankful Kind of Thursday

Thank you for hearing my heart yesterday when I struggled. Thank you for understanding, reaching out to hurt with me, and most of all, for praying for me. {For us.}

A couple of nights ago, when I was in the throes of the hard stuff, one of my friends called. I told you yesterday that she called to encourage me with the account of how God had worked in the sale of her house last year.

But there's more. She really struggles with her health. We're the same age, but her body has revolted on her in so many ways {won't spill the details since I didn't ask for permission}, and she struggles with things most people don't even think about doing on a daily basis. Her mobility. Her diet. So much more is affected by these diseases and disorders that settle over her fiercely.

And yet I must tell you, she doesn't complain. Ever. Much of her quality of life has been taken from her, and while she'll admit it's hard or disappointing, she says {with a true smile in her voice} that it's okay because...and then she'll fill in the blank with things that are going right. Things that are blessings. Things that give her cause for thankfulness.

She doesn't reach for them. She keeps them right there at the front. They are her focus. Always.

I was convicted by her call, because while I still firmly believe it is okay to admit discouragement and have a little {huge} meltdown when life is hard, I am also reminded that for every discouragement, I have a billion blessings that deserve a bigger platform than I'm giving them. Just hearing her share hers has pushed me to want to find mine.

So here we go. A couple notes of gratitude from me on this Thursday.


 * Even on the hardest day, Ryan makes me laugh. Whether he makes a goofy face that I just cannot resist, or he breaks out one of his silly voices or just tells jokes, he always makes me laugh. This is a gift that I do not take for granted. I'm thankful for his presence, his sense of humor and the natural gift he has to be able to help me refocus into joy. I appreciate that so much.

* Working with and for Lynne Ford is a gift and a treasure that I cannot even fully explain to you. I appreciate her wisdom {which she shares freely}, her prayers {which she offers frequently}, her generosity, her kindness, her compassion, and her gift of laughter. I have had many great supervisors and co-workers in my day, and I appreciate them all, but having Lynne in my life in this season is a blessing beyond measure.

And because sometimes I like to have Ryan help me blog, I asked him for two things that he's thankful for right now. He said...

* I'm thankful for a wife who supports me and encourages me in ways that I didn't know were possible. Her wit and clever sense of humor always keep me laughing and upbeat. People at work have said, "With you having a job where you talk all day and with your wife being in radio, is it quiet at your house at night?" The answer is a resounding NO! I am so thankful there is never a dull moment around our home and thankful for a wife that loves to communicate like I do. {Editorial note: minus the meltdowns. I am the sole owner of those.}

* I am also thankful for my mother. One of the most special things in my life has been my relationship with my mother. I've always been able to turn to her in the hard times and laugh with her in the good times. I can be honest about my worst flaws with her and know that she won't judge me. She always offers a listening ear, sound advice, and love. I consider her one of my best friends and we have a friendship I treasure deeply. {Editorial note: Ryan really is good to his mom and it's fun to watch them interact and laugh together.}

So apparently we're thankful for people...but so much more, too: a cozy home {times two, actually}, coffee {of course}, safety in our commutes, Braeya {most of the time}, and much more.

Want to join us in our thankful Thursday? I'd love you to make a list for yourself of the good things happening in your life today, just to help you when the hard things want to take over your mind. {And if you want to share any with us, we'll be thankful with you!}

And We Wait

Yesterday was not a graceful day in the land of Shaffer waiting. After being told we should close on Ryan's house by the end of the week, we are now looking at a delay to next week...if then...if ever.

Not surprisingly, I cried.

I cried because I'm tired of waiting. I cried because it's not fair that we've waited and trusted and been quiet and patient and...nothing. I cried because I don't understand why paperwork-pushing needs three months. I cried for Ryan. I cried for myself. I cried for the buyers.

Waiting takes so many forms.

I have a friend who has said goodbye to five babies. Five babies. She waits to see if God will ever grant the wish of her heart to hold, love, and raise a baby of her own flesh and blood. Earlier this week, I read about a friend of mine whose wife gave birth to their first child...at twenty-four weeks. They wait to see if their tiny, tiny, tiny one pound baby girl will thrive and develop as she lies protected in the NICU. I have a friend just a couple years older than I am who has been battling cancer for several years now. With every treatment, she waits to see if her body is responding...if remission will ever come. I have another friend...a single lady with kids in college...who lost her job. She waits to see how God will provide for her financially in an economically deprived area. I have many friends who are waiting, praying, begging God for a husband. Wondering why everyone else gets a turn at love while they wait and wait...and wait some more.

The wait in front of you is the hardest one, because it's yours.

Here are a few things I'm learning in the waiting. {And by learning, I mean some days I grab hold of these things fiercely and other days I have an ugly cry.}

1. Pray. Hard. Often. This season has spurred me on to be much more consistent about getting up early enough to pray before work. It's spurred me on to pray in the car before I wait for Ryan to call. It's spurred me on to pray in the stolen moments of the day, walking here or there. Just having my mind in a regular spirit of prayer has helped bring me such peace.

2. Ask for support. Last night, as I was mid-ugly cry, I did something I don't often do. I posted to Facebook and shared briefly about my struggle in that minute. Just seeing the acknowledgements from others and knowing prayers were being offered up in that moment for me calmed my heart in a moment when I did not have it in me to calm myself. Initially, I felt bad about asking for prayer for something as silly {in the eyes of some} as a house sale, but I'm so glad I did it. It was humbling both to ask and to receive.

3. Change up the perspective. One of my Facebook friends urged me to pray for the right buyer in the right time. Less than ten minutes after I read her post, one of my friends called me and said the same thing with her own story of how God had worked in the sale of her house last year. Those two things, back-to-back, reminded me that this sale is not just about us selling a house, but it's about the people buying the house. Their future rests on it as heavily as ours. Good perspective.

4. Recall what you learned in the past.  I told Ryan that you would think I could call up some of the lessons I learned in the desert a few years back. You would think. And so I forced myself to think back to those hard days and all the lessons God so graciously taught me in that hardest place. I reminded myself that the very thing I thought would kill me did NOT, in fact, kill me. And neither will this. Those days prepared me for this one.

5. Be excited about the story. Truthfully, this one is the one that gives me hope in the shortest amount of time. I love a story. And I do believe, that somehow, somewhere, someday, this is going to be THE coolest story. On the other side, when we have all the details...now THAT is going to be great. I cannot wait to tell it. I'm excited to know that every day we wait is a day in which God is writing a magnificent story. A story that points to HIS hand at work. A story that points to HIS goodness.

6. Focus on the good.  One really good thing that has come out of this season has been the opportunity for Ryan and I to watch each other handle the stress of the situation. It's been a blessing to see how we've naturally leaned toward each other instead of away. It's been exciting to see our together-prayer-life grow and take root. It's been encouraging to see how we are able to lift each other up and when one has a good day and the other has a bad day, we can balance each other.

7. LAUGH. After I posted to Facebook last night, one of my friends sent me this:

Ryan and I cracked UP in the kitchen when we read it. And that laugh broke SO MUCH TENSION. It was so great! {And how did they get a picture of us?}

So that's what I've been learning in the waiting. Not a foolproof method of surviving, and certainly it's unlikely that I'll remember all this perfectly in the days to come, but I want to be faithful to the Lord and to Ryan and to the lessons we are to learn in this season.

In Luke 22, Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

I'm not Peter, but I so want to believe that He has also prayed for me...that my faith may not fail. And I pray the same.

So as I wait this hard wait in front of me...as you wait the hard wait in front of you...let's strengthen one another with prayers for strong faith in a Strong God.

Weekend Fun

So this is just a random post of Shafferland fun from the weekend!

First up...Friday night! My friend Kari, has two sons, and the oldest is a senior in high school. We will NOT talk about how he was roughly TWO when Kari and I met for the first time. That is what we will NOT discuss. Kari is a lover of scrapping like I am, and she understands the Bekahrazzi and all I love when I become her. {As if I ever STOP becoming the Bekahrazzi.} So earlier this year, Kari asked if I would be willing to attend some of the key events in Michael's senior year, so she could be free to be a mom on those nights, and I could take pictures for her.

Let me think: SURE!!!!!

And so it was that last Friday night, I went to my first ever high school football game. Michael plays in marching band, and that night was senior recognition for marching band. Ryan and I met up with Kari and her husband for dinner, and then we went to the game! It was a chilly night, but not ridiculously cold like it could have been. YAY!!!!

I was in three layers. It doesn't do a thing for the figure, but it does wonders for insulation.

How good of a sport is Ryan? He comes along with me to all my gigs. Concerts, football games, all the stuff. He's a good husband. :)

Here I am with Kari...pre-game.

Taking pictures at the game was tricky, because it was dark before halftime. I was trying to take pictures of moving targets in the dark with blaring floodlights. And I'm only a Bekahrazzi. Not a professional. But I just clicked away and managed to get some pictures Kari liked, so I was thankful for that! And it was fun to get to go to a game!

And then there was Saturday!

One of Ryan's co-workers got married Saturday evening, so we went to the wedding. It was a small wedding...the same size as ours, actually. Everyone wore Colts blue and black, and it was just a sweet little ceremony in a cove of the church they attend.

My handsome wedding date:

We were in the back row, but no one sat directly in front of me, so I had a great view of the couple.

Funny story. The groom went to the same high school I did, and he was a year or two ahead of me. I remember him from high school, but he does not remember me. AT ALL. {Story of my life.} When Ryan and I went through the receiving line after the wedding, I gave the bride {Ryan's co-worker} a hug and then started to congratulate the groom. He said to me, "You must be Ryan's wife. It's nice to meet you!"

LOL!!!! I told Ryan later, I should have said, "Nice to meet you too - in high school!" {And this is why everyone at my 10 year reunion thought I was someone's date rather than a member of our class.}

Really cool ending to the wedding: a sparkler send-off!

And then of course...

Annnnnnnd that brings us to Sunday.

I wanted to get pictures taken {by a person, not a tripod}. We had our engagement pictures taken in October two years ago, and then last October, we had another photo shoot for Christmas card photos, so I thought it was time for round three!

Ryan's mom took the pictures for us, and I thought she did a magnificent job. She sent a few sneak peeks. Wanna see?

We had the BEST time with her. And with each other!

So it was kind of a busy weekend, but it was fun. {And quite a smorgasboard of temperatures!}

Housewarming Gifts

OHHHHH how I wish I could kick off this week by telling you we'd closed on that Greentown house. We've been told it could happen this week. I confess my heart is tired of hearing "just around the corner" news, and I'm ready to actually be around the corner. We are doing our very best to hold a spirit of trust and faith, but some days are better than others. {Just keepin' it real.}

Meanwhile, we compiled a list of all the suggestions you gave us for housewarming gifts, and last week, as part of our engagementversary-palooza, we went shopping for our buyers. This past weekend, we stopped by the house and arranged all the gifts in little piles around the house. We had so many more suggestions that we wanted to do, but we had to limit ourselves from spending our whole paycheck!

BUT! For those of you who might want the whole list to keep for a future house sale of your own, here it is!

* Bottled Water
* Toilet Paper
* Light Bulbs
* Snack Foods
* Frozen Lasagna
* Can Opener
* Frozen Pizza
* Cleaning Supplies
* Night Light
* Toothbrush/Toothpaste
* Paper Towel
* Kleenex
* Hand Soap
* Hangers
* Cups
* Picture Hanging Kit
* Picture of Home in a Frame
* Hand Towels
* Garbage Bags
* Plant
* Salt and Pepper
* Pop
* Ice
* Laundry Basket
* Pan of homemade goodies
* Chocolate
* Gift Cards to Restaurants
* Laundry Detergent
* Napkins
* Plastic Silverware
* Throw Blanket
* Paper Plates
* Shower Curtain
* Broom/Dustpan
* Welcome Home Card
* Extension Cord
* Dryer Sheets
* Coasters
* Air Freshener

And here are some pictures of what we did!

I had some fun adding a few printables to the gifts we left. A case of water waiting in the fridge with a Welcome Home sign. {Absolutely intended to buy a bag of ice for the freezer, but we forgot. We might yet do that before closing.}

 This was a bit of a cheat. We didn't buy these, but they were spares, so we left them. Mop, Swiffer, broom and dust pan waiting in the pantry. We also left the shower curtain in the bathroom {since that was a suggestion}.

 Some disinfecting wipes, kitchen trash bags, AA batteries, and an extension cord.

 Night lights and a candle with some matches.

 Detergent and dryer sheets - with another printable.

 Air freshener, toilet paper, and soap for the bathroom.

 And in the kitchen, some paper plates, napkins, plastic cups, plastic silverware, and some dish soap.

 And just a few food treats. Cookies and Chex mix, pancake mix and syrup, and pasta/sauce. And we signed a card with a little note explaining the gifts they'd find around the house!

So it's ready for them! And now we pray {fervently} for the sale to be done THIS WEEK!

Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday morning, we had a magnificent church service. About halfway through, I realized I should have been taking notes while soaking in the sermon. Whoopsie. Ryan and I enjoyed a day at home, relaxing, watching the Colts, scrapbooking {you can guess who did what}, and Ryan experimented with grilling our leftover mac n cheese. MAN was it good! And that night: another sign of fall. FLEECE SHEETS!!!!!

* Monday was kind of a hard day in my heart, so I was grateful for my journal close at hand an the promises God sent throughout the day that I was able to chronicle. That night I drove home in the WEIRDEST rain ever. It rained so hard that I couldn't hear my mom through my Bluetooth, so she finally just had to hang up - and the only reason I knew the smacking against my car was rain and not hail was the lack of bouncing ahead of me. And speaking of ahead of me: blue skies. Crazy!!!! Ryan and I went to the gym that night, where I ended up running out in tears after a trainer got to me, so I came home and ate peanut butter cookies!!

* Tuesday morning NO one wanted to get out of the cozy bed - including Braeya. But we did. The Dove awards were Tuesday, so while I worked, I streamed the daytime awards online. I am a sucker for award shows of any kind! That night, while driving home - again with the weird weather! Storm tot he north. Blue skies to the south. SO stinking weird. Our night was low key and we even went to bed early! Even Braeya!

  * Wednesday morning we awakened to the Blood Moon/Lunar Eclipse. I will be the first to admit that I am not one to get into the whole moon thing, but I figured I better document it, though this may be one of my worst, grainy phone pics EVER. But still. It happened. Wednesday was a HARD day. Meltdown at work, in front of the morning guys, no less, rough Mid-Morning show...I was just ready for the day to be OVER! The evening, though, was lovely. I went shopping at Cato and got a couple new shirts and enjoyed Ryan's hard work on the yard while I watered our (very gorgeous, these days) mums. The little things brighten the day!

 * Thursday was CONSIDERABLY better than Wednesday. We could really feel the prayers offered on our behalf and began to feel some peace and joy in our hearts! After so much rain this week, it was so nice to drive into a gorgeous sunrise that morning, and then that evening, we enjoyed a quiet night at home; Ryan grilled chicken and veggies, and we ate some of the fabulous lemon cake I made this week. And of course, we watched the Colts!

* Friday night was a first in Bekahland...my first ever high school football game! My friend Kari has a son who plays in the marching band and is a senior, so it was his night to be recognized at halftime. She asked if we could come to the game and take pictures for her...so date night moved to the football field! I had to wear three layers and felt like a puffalump, but it really wasn't a bad night for a game, considering the rainy mess of cold we've had lately. I had fun taking pictures and marking football game off my list of things to do someday!

* Ryan worked yesterday, so while he was gone, I did some writing and cooking and chores around the house. When he came home, we got all dressed up and headed to the wedding of one of Ryan's co-workers! It was a small wedding - about the size of ours. His co-workers are all so much fun and we had a great time together. Loved the post-wedding sparklers! On our way home we stopped to visit my parents, since it was my dad's birthday!