The Shafferland Shuffle

* GREAT church service last Sunday. Loved the sermon and the time with our Sunday School class. After church,we realized we hadn't filled the provide-Thanksiving-dinner-for-a-needy-family box that we committed to do, so we hurried and did that so we could drop it off at the church. Then we went home and watched as the first snow of the season {at our house} began. And so begins measuring the snow in the bird bath! That night, while Ryan watched the Colts game, I signed a new round of books some people have ordered for the Advent season!

* The snow that fell on Sunday meant that Monday morning kicked off a new season of crazy early commute times. It was a white-knuckle drive, but I was thankful I made it safely! Work was good - and then that evening, we enjoyed quesadillas and naps by the fire. {Is it bad when you have to take a nap on MONDAY???} And Braeya helped me with the second half of my workout...I encouraged HER to work out as well, but she walked off at that suggestion. Can't say as I blame her.

* Tuesday was not as bad as Monday, weather-wise, but people got a little overconfident on the roads on the commute home, and I was a whisper away from being hit by a fishtailing truck. {Tip: don't cut off drivers on icy bridges when you're hauling a trailer. It doesn't end well. Sincerely, the cut-off driver.} Ryan and I had a blast that night at Starbucks, meeting up with my friend, Olivia and her little girl. She kept us so entertained!! We hardly ever get to see them, since they live out of state, so this was a treat!

 * Wednesday was my second turn working at Habitat for Humanity for the station. BEYOND thankful that the weather held {snowstorms and bad wind were the forecast} and thankful for some tasks I was actually capable of doing! I got to help with some office work and cleaning! It was a c.o.l.d. day, though, so I was equally glad to come home and snuggle under the covers!!!

* Thursday, after work, all the WBCL ladies gathered to celebrate one of our own, the lovely Dana. {If you ever call in to Mid-Morning, you've talked to her, because she answers our phones for us! She and her husband are expecting a baby, so we had a shower for her! It was a lot of fun - and then I scurried home to make it to a Mary Kay Christmas open house before I finally got home! Ryan took time to help out some friends at their house - and to deliver books for me. He's a good author-husband!

* Friday, Lynne worked at the Habitat site, so I had the office to myself and knocked out a WHOLE BUNCH of work that day. That night, Ryan and I had grand plans of getting all kinds of responsible-adult chores done - like grocery shopping and list making. OR...make tacos and curl up on the couch to watch movies!!! There's something about a Friday night at home with candles burning, the fireplace on, and movies playing. Can't beat it!

* Yesterday was SO FUN! we were looking forward to it! We spent the whole day together and did 90% of our Christmas shopping! We were shopping MACHINES!! We had a blast - and we even squeezed in a movie in the afternoon, which is something we rarely do, but it was fun. The weather was pretty decent, and we enjoyed having fun together!

The Saturday Six

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You know this season of waiting {aka house sales} has nearly been my undoing at time - and my goodness, it HAS been my undoing when it comes to the presence of ANY color at all in my hair. Seriously. If you think I'm kidding when I say it's pure white, you're WRONG. But what a HUGE perspective I got from this post by the lovely Crystal Stine.

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This is particularly interesting if you're a writer, but I believe the deeper truth of learning to look at life with an "and" mentality instead of a "vs." mentality might do everyone a world of good.

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I've told you how much I adore Fixer Upper on HGTV. Love these pics of how Chip and Joanna decorate for Christmas. Would also love it if they moved onto our block. Just sayin'.

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I've read {and I think even posted on here} stories like this - of soulmates who couldn't live without each other. Here's another one. This would be me, if anything happened to Ryan.

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Another story that makes you think that all is not lost and there are still good, kind souls in the world. What if we all took this kind of time with people?

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I was never in Chorale in college {largely because I cannot sing}, but my roommate was in it, so I was quite the groupie and always loved hearing them sing. This week, I read this post by a former Chorale singer, and even though I don't know her, I thought this was well-written. Even if you've aren't an IWU alum and know nothing about their Chorale, I think you'll like this.

Please Try to Follow My Brain

I am going to tell you right from the start that today's post is going to be one of THE most wild goose chases I've ever sent you on as far as a thread goes. I have all these things I want to tell you and it's entirely possible they are in NO way related. But I'm Bekah, and I sure am going to try!

Earlier this week, Ryan and I met up with my/our friend Olivia. I was in Olivia's wedding a little over 3 years ago, and now she lives too far away to see very often. :( But she was in town and graciously offered to plant herself at Starbucks to meet up with anyone who wanted to see her.

Twist my arm.

Olivia is also now a mom to one of the cutest little girls on the planet, and she was there too! We've met her before, but it's been a while, so when we arrived, she gave us that wary I'm sorry...do I KNOW you??? stare.

But of course, she warmed up to Ryan in no time.

It was a combination of his charm and his possession of a book. She's a sucker for books.

So I tried my hand with the book thing...and it worked!!

The book I read with her had something to do with hippos. I didn't actually read the book because reading kids books really freaks me out.

It's the whole rhym-y mcrhymerson thing. I get this really weird voice and start to sound something like Flo from the Progressive commercials.

Who, by the way, I've been told I look and act like.

So while we read, I pretty much just pointed to the pictures of the hippos and said to her things like "Where's his eye?" I could sort of say that in a normal voice.

Hold that thought for one second. I'm coming back to it.

But before I leave our lovely evening at Starbucks, I feel compelled to show you this photo Ryan took. It's either a selfie that 2/3 of us were unaware we were in or a photobomb of a picture of us reading. Either way, it makes me laugh.

 And this is me with Olivia. I am so proud of the mom she is. She does a great job. I was so impressed with how she didn't wander off into the whole "who's a good wittle girl..." baby talk, but rather, just calmly addressed her daughter as a person and seems to be doing a remarkable job of intentional parenting. I knew she would. She's just good like that.

Okay. So now back to my weird baby reading voice.

I was freshly aware of my weird octave-higher Flo voice when...I had to not only use it, but preserve it.

One of our work girls, Dana, is having a baby, and last night was her baby shower at work. During the day at work, they brought around one of those recordable storybooks and wanted different staff members to take a turn recording a page.

A rhym-y mcrhymerson page.

So I shut the door to my office and pressed record...and sing-song-in-a-Flo-screech that little poem. I shut the book and declared myself done forever with children's books.

And then came the shower.

All the work ladies gathered round and they opened up that book and listened to every. single. page. All the on-air guys, with their deep, honed voices...and Lynne with her smooth delivery, and then {imagine this part two octaves higher} there was Bekah screeching out the poem in sing-songy rhyme.

So we've learned my next career is not to make children's audio books.

I HAVE, however, discovered what it might be. My next career, that is.

Do you know Penelope from Saturday Night Live? {To be fair, I do not actually WATCH Saturday night live, but someone told me about her and I found all the clips online and watched them. And laughed hysterically.}

My secret talent? I am Penelope. I can do the voice, the face, and even come up with my own versions of her material.

I realize of all the talents I could have in life, this is perhaps not the best one, but it is way better to witness than my poetic delivery of baby books.

Here's one of my faves. You should watch.

And thank you for following my brain. You may rest now.

Habitat, Round 2

You might remember that last month, I took my turn representing the station out at the Habitat for Humanity building site in Fort Wayne. Earlier in the year, WBCL raised money to help build a house, and now the house is actually under construction.

Yesterday was my second day to represent the station at the site, and I was nervous out of my mind, because the forecast called for snow and wind all day. Yes, my insane fear of driving in the winter has returned with a vengeance...not helped by the fact that on Tuesday night, I avoided an accident by a fraction of a hair. So I was nervous about being out on unfamiliar roads in bad weather, and I was nervous about being out IN the biting cold and wind to work.

If it gives you any indication of how nervous I was, I woke up BEFORE my 4:30 a.m. alarm, sick to my stomach with anxiety. That's as abnormal for me as rejecting coffee. WHOA. Yeah. That serious.

I was excited that a friend of mine from here at home wanted to carpool up so he could volunteer as well. Always enjoy company on the commute! We set out for the site and by the time we arrived, the snow was already beginning to fly. FORTUNATELY it blew right over in about an hour and we didn't get any snow the rest of the day. I was one grateful girl.

Most of the workers were the actual crew workers for Habitat...not too many volunteers braved the cold that day! The volunteer coordinator took pity on me {I was the only girl at that point and was still recovering from the incredible anxiety of the morning}...and she gave me some office work to do.

I thrive on office work. I was the happiest alphabetizing, hole punching, binder filling girl you've ever seen.

After I finished with that work, I took a quick tour of the grounds just to see the progress that had been made - and to see what the other workers were up to!

Last time I worked, I helped wrap the WBCL house with Tyvek - so on the house straight ahead in the picture below, I helped with that lower half!! {This is actually two houses, not one big house like it looks like in this picture.} Since I was there last, they've added the roof trusses and roof! Exciting! Because of the snow, wind, and cold, we weren't able to work on this house, yesterday, but it was good to see it had made progress!

 All the guys were hard at work in another house in the development, cutting trim for around the windows and doors.

 Power tools and sawdust everywhere! They were happy!

After my tour, I went back to the main office area to help prepare for lunch. A really generous {and talented!} church group brought homemade soup - four crock pots of it, actually - and salad and veggies and cookies and...and...and!!! SO. GOOD!!!

That afternoon, I joined up with a cleaning crew, because some ladies had joined the ranks throughout the day, and our job was to prep three of the houses that are going to be dedicated this weekend! We mopped floors and put down the plastic sheeting over the carpet for people to walk on. I really enjoyed that!

About the outfit above: I own NO clothing appropriate for working in cold conditions. NONE. So I wore Ryan's long underwear and his snow pants...and one of his shirts with his fleece over it - and his work coat and his gloves...and I had a pair of his socks and his Carhartts in the car, though I didn't need them. Let's just say his clothes look a lot better ON HIM.

By the end of the day, I was ready to come home, drink a pop and curl up under the covers to get warm!!! But I was thankful that I felt more qualified to do some of these tasks this time!! Round Two: A Success!

Small World, Big Impact: Wendy

Last week I started telling you about some people who had a big impact on me...not because they are famous names known worldwide, but because they were faithful in their everyday lives, and I noticed. My hope is that as you read about these people, you will recognize people in your lives who did the same, and that you'll also see that you are impacting the lives of people around you. It's your choice whether that impact is positive or negative. Let's be a big, Christ-honoring impact on those in our paths!

This week I want to introduce you to Wendy...as I wrote about her twelve years ago.

I wrote Wendy's mother a letter once. I never mailed it, but I wrote it as part of a class assignment. Wendy was adopted, and I wanted to thank her biological mother for giving her the gift of life. In my letter, I told her what a friend and role model Wendy had been for me. I told her of Wendy's inner beauty, her passion for God, her many talents, and her outstanding commitment as a wife and mother. I closed the letter by saying, Wendy's life has certainly been a blessing. Because you chose to give her life, she was able to give life to three beautiful, healthy children. I can only say one thing to you, her biological mother, and I mean it with all my heart: thank you. You made the right choice.

But now I want to thank Wendy herself. I babysat for her children many times, and I learned so much about a healthy Christian marriage and about parenting, too. I heard her talk about her dates...times when she and her husband would go out and set goals for their marriage and for their children. They spent time focusing on the needs of their family and doing everything they could to create a strong bond of love and family values.

One night she came home and showed me some cards she bought for her kids. No special occasion...she just wanted them to know how much she loved them. And she does love her kids. I've never seen a parent enjoy her children so much. She thrives on the pure pleasure of her gift of parenting.

From her, I learned to take pride in a home and to make everything in that home personal. I learned the importance of taking the roles you play in life very seriously and doing the best you can with them, and not worrying so much about what you can't do.

I saw the excitement in her preschooler's face as she told me the leftover cake on the counter was from the spiritual birthday party she celebrated with her family. What a great idea...to celebrate the spiritual growth of children! In these and other ways, I watched her cultivate the unique individuality of each of her three children.

Wendy, when I am a wife and a mother, I hope that I can not only have a portion of your sweet spirit, but also remember the valuable lessons I observed just by being in your home and watching you. Thank you for teaching me that marriage and motherhood are not chores to be completed, but blessings to celebrate in new and imaginative ways each day!

***

Wendy and her husband have seen all three children through to adulthood now, and the first of the kids got married this year. Through the magic of Facebook, I've been able to see that what they did as parents when their kids were young paid off, and they are still a family to emulate today. Though parenting isn't in our planned future, it was Wendy's example that made me strive to be intentional about weekly date nights, creating a home, and being beautiful for my husband. I still long to continually cultivate the same kind of loving relationship that she and her husband have. And I've taken all the advice I stored up from those babysitting years and all I observed in their home, and that's what I use at baby showers when I am asked to offer advice! Thankful for Wendy's influence on her impressionable babysitter!

Time Marches On

Two years ago at this time, Ryan and I were in the very last minute throes of wedding planning. I look back at that season and am so grateful it's in the past...because it was certainly overwhelming {in a blissful sort of way} and also...well...I just enjoy being married and having Ryan here with me.

But anyway, this is a glimpse at our life two years ago:

Creating our little honorary bridesmaid and groomsman...

 Writing, formatting, and assembling our 16 page wedding program {with little help from a certain someone}...

 Putting together our little tealight favors for the ceremony...

 Making boutonnieres for the guys...

 ...and lanterns for the girls.

 Packing to transport a wedding to Florida.

You think, when you're going through a blissfully busy season like this one that the next year will be easier.

And then November rolls around again and brings with it...a tornado. And so the mess looks a little different. It looks like a little storm shelter made in a closet...

 And if it were video, you could hear me screaming while Ryan watches through a crack in the door out the window.

 And after it missed our house, we went out to survey the damage around town. A few trees in the road...

 A bunch of signs down...

 And of course, the walls that caved in on the Dollar General Distribution Center...

And now we're to THIS November, where winter has started earlier than I wanted it to...but at least it's normal November behavior, right??

I'm starting to think we had the right idea two years ago...GOING TO WARMER CLIMATES.

Winter's Here: What's Your Dream?

The forecast said we were supposed to begin getting a tiny bit of snow last night. Apparently "last night" started at 1 p.m. - because the first telltale flakes were scattering in the air when Ryan and I walked in the door after dropping off some canned food at church.

We took a nap and woke up to a snow-covered yard, and I brewed some fresh coffee, while Ryan worked to put extra weight in the back of his truck in preparation for this morning's commute.

Commute.

Oh how I hate that word in the winter.

When Ryan came in from fixing the truck, he had a pizza in tow...which made me so excited. As we sat on the couch, chomping on pizza and watching TV, he said he was sorry I had to get out and drive in this mess...as am I.

So I decided there's no harm in dreaming about the perfect winter. And then I decided it would be fun to hear about your perfect winter!

When it's snowy, I think the perfect day involves waking up with the curtains open so I can see the snow falling to the ground. {Because, you know, it's always a lot prettier when you get to look at it from the INSIDE...and the HEATED BED.}

Then I would get up and continue watching it while I drink coffee and read my Bible.

I think if there's more than a dusting, the day should be declared a snow day, so Ryan and I would be able to stay home. He could do whatever he wanted to do {which would probably involve finding a parking lot to do donuts} and I would curl up by the fire to write and scrapbook and blog.

If it's not TOO cold, I might be persuaded to layer up and go play in the snow. {Snow man, snow angels, snowball fights. Notice how none of this involves a shovel.}

I would cook soup and keep the coffee pot full and probably bake some cookies {and rats...there's snow...can't make it to the gym.}

In truth...since this is my own fantasy...I have no idea why I'm not plotting to head to warmer territory, but there is something beautiful about snow, as long as I don't have to go OUT or DRIVE or be in any sort of danger.

So that's my winter dream. Stay home and look from the inside out. And if I do go out - it's only to have fun.

You???

{And if you do have to go out today, please oh please be safe out there!!}

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday started out as the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day, when Ryan and I locked ourselves out of our house on our way to church. My parents came to the rescue and brought us  a key!! Thanks, Mom! But despite the debacle that was the start to Sunday, we did manage to pull off a yummy breakfast for our Sunday School class (cream cheese Danish and crock pot breakfast casserole) so that was good. We rested up the rest of the day, and that night, Ryan even gave me a back massage complete with cocoa butter! {I'm longing for the post-house-sale-day when I can go get a massage, so he was helping me get to that day!}

* Monday I came home from work early because I was feeling super sick {anxiety - boo!!} so I made sure to curl up by the fireplace and get extra rest! Ryan did another night of work at the Greentown house...hoping this can be the LAST one of those {PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!}. Actually, it has to be! He returned the borrowed mower to my parents! Then he came home to take care of me. He's good like that. We did have the MOST stunning sunset that night. The only time I hate living in town is when my sunset view is obstructed!!

* Tuesday was Veteran's Day, but neither of us get that day off, so we went to work, and that night we went to the gym. The track was closed, and all the machines were full, so I had to wait in line for a bike. I do like a bike workout, though, so the wait was worth it. As was the apple pie we baked when we got home! HA!!! : ) {Serving of fruit, right?}

* Wednesday at work, I did one of my LEAST favorite chores {ready for how dumb this is??}...I dealt with all the little boxes that had to be broken down. Why I hate that so much, I do not know. But I wait until the stack of boxes is about waist high before I deal with them. And since Ryan and I hit the mid-week missing each other slump, I sent him silly selfies to cheer up his day. By the time we got home, we were ready to work out, eat, and CRASH, which we did. Jammies, fireplace, blankets, YES PLEASE!!!!

* Fort Wayne got some snow on Thursday morning...I was kind of hoping this little ring around the tree outside our office window would reflect the sum of the winter snowfall, but I have a feeling I'm SO WRONG about that. The snow was actually beautiful as it fell...all snow-globey. {And so thankful it wasn't the 6-12 inch dump other parts of the state received!!} Lynne went out for lunch and I ordered some BBQ from Shigs in Pit, which is probably my most favorite BBQ place ever. I ordered extra so we could have some for dinner that night. Pretty sure I got wife of the year for that.

* Friday was our IT guy, Marion's, last day at work. I hate goodbyes. I just hate them. Marion has been a treasure to work with for the past 3 years {he came to WBCL right after I did}, and we will miss him so much. After work, I came home {no thanks to the world's longest train that backed up traffic for stinking ever} - and finished cooking dinner to take to Ryan's mom's house for dinner. We made beef, broccoli and rice and dessert and had dinner with her and Allen. Ryan hooked up some electronics for them and I just enjoyed their lovely home, which could {and should} be in a magazine!!

* Yesterday, Ryan had a long day planned - had to work in the morning and then had to help some friends replace a water heater in the afternoon, so I got up early and went to work with him. I set up a little office in the dining room of the hospital and did some writing while he worked. And then I did some shopping while he did the water heater repair. We had date night at Hacienda and came home in time to watch a movie! :)

The Saturday Six

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You know how much I love looking at houses...both plans to build and existing houses to buy. Some people play Facebook games. I house hunt. But this post about mail order homes in the early 1900s is fascinating!!!!

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Melanie wrote this post about her blog...and how she felt spiritual attack as she tried to write a series on digging deeper into the Bible. I firmly believe in spiritual warfare and believe Satan does come after those who are trying to serve the Lord. I love how she's not letting him win!!

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As a girl who regularly struggles with fear, I found this post by the lovely and wise Susie Larson very timely and encouraging.

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I've mentioned this general story on the Saturday Six before, but I love this new article by Holley Gerth about how her new 20 year old daughter adopted HER...and I love it mostly because it speaks volumes of truth about how these pretty little formulas we think need to be followed are all of our own making. God sometimes writes the most unorthodox stories - and they are SO GORGEOUS in their own way.

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Well, I live in Indiana, so really putting much thought into a winter outdoor living space is pointless, since it would all get buried beneath all the Polar Vortexing...but if I did live somewhere with less snow, I would want my Christmas porch to look like this one by Emily A. Clark. Stunning.

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This week, I had a chance to interview Melissa Deeg, the creator of Droolery. When Ryan and I were shopping down near Holiday World earlier this year, I found Droolery in a store and thought it was the coolest thing. It's jewelry for moms of babies. The beads are safe for babies to chew on...so if you have kids, you don't have to skip wearing jewelry until they're in Kindergarten. You should check it out!!