Cause I'm a Woman...W-O-M-A-N

This week, I had the pleasure of seeing some of my favorite female friends. And what a wonderful week it has been! Mandy was in town with her husband, Adam. We got to share some brief, yet precious, moments with them! My heart has had a Mandy-shaped hole in it since she left; so, it was filled a little bit while she was here.

(This is Mandy at one of her wedding showers, but I thought she deserved a picture!)

Jess, Rachel, and I took an adventurous trip "Up North" over a break we all had from school. They both teach elementary grades....but you can't tell, right?

The hotel was highly decorated for Halloween. So, we all made friends:

Jess

Rachel

Me

A glimpse at the shenanigans we enjoyed while shopping:

The trip was altogether too much fun. We laughed too much, ate too much, shopped too much, and hot-tubbed just enough.

Well, I had about 2 hours between getting back from that trip to go to another friend's house. One of my former college roommates, Tara, had us over to make applesauce and have dinner! Katie, Molly, Tara, and I all got married around the same time 2 years ago. In that aspect, we're in very similar places in life (which is always encouraging to share).

Tara, teaching us how easy applesauce is to make!

Molly and Katie take over

Molly and I

Thank you, Tara, for being a wonderful hostess.
Thanks to Maria, Ahna, and Mom for helping me put together my Halloween costume (more on that in a later post).
Thanks to all the woman in my life (those who I saw this week and those I didn't) for being wonderful and making my life so happy.

I've Been a Lame Blogger!

I'm sorry for my absence! I have no good excuse. But I'm back and would like to update you on the big events of the last couple months.

At the end of July, I attended my friend Holly's wedding. We've been friends since our AWANA days. She had a beautiful wedding and was a glowing bride. Lots of high school friends were there and it was great to catch up. We've all changed so much...and yet, so little. Gerrit couldn't be there. :( And I vow never to go to another wedding without him. I got hit on more at the reception than I ever did when I was single. No thanks!

In August, Gerrit and I made a quick trip to my hometown. My oldest niece, Aubrey, made the decision to be baptized and we wanted to witness it! The church was planning the annual baptism while Aubrey was visiting "Grandma and Grandpa" and she knew she wanted to do it. We all rushed to be there. The pastor performed the rest of the baptisms, but my dad got to be the one to "dunk" Aubrey.
Also in August, I went to my friend, Brittany's, commissioning service. She just left a few days ago to go to Ukraine. She'll be there for four years helping to build churches. She's a dear friend and she will be dearly missed. So, as you read this, pray for her as she settles into her life there. School started last month. I changed elementary schools, but I'm still an EBD para. I've already gotten sick once. Kids are so germy! I had a fever for 4 days! Gerrit was having a boys weekend with his dad. I was supposed to go to a baby shower and to his hometown, but instead I was dying alone on the living room couch. I had to recruit my friend, Jess, to take me to Urgent Care. They took blood to determine that I did NOT have H1N1...or anything else they could do anything for.

That's all for now. I'm sorry for being such a loser blogger! I've missed you!

The Day I Became an Adult....

...was last week, at a playground, no less! (My mom really wants me to blog this story, so here it goes:) I was at work and had taken my kids to the park, when my co-worker called me over to her. She said, "Look over there, under that tree." About 100 yards away was a VERY young couple MAKING OUT. Not just making out, but on top of each other too. We were all grossed out by this scene of two 12-year-olds going at it. Something had to be done! But I thought, "If I go and say something, they'll just go and do that somewhere else. They might yell at me." But then I thought, "No! That's terrible logic! We are the responsible ones!"

So, I marched myself over there and yelled, "Hey! Knock it off! We are at a playground. There are small children here who can see everything that you're doing. EVERYONE can see everything that you're doing!"

The young girl look mortified (as I think she should have). She said, "Soooorrrry." But when I saw her bicycle leaning against the tree, I had to get one more thing off my chest. So, I said, "If you have to ride a bike here, you're probably too young to be doing what you were just doing. Go somewhere else. Find something else to do."

They both hung their heads in shame. I wanted to stay and give them a little more education on this topic, but I thought I had said enough for the time being.

And with that, I walked away from the couple and into adulthood. Just call me the Young Love Buzz Kill.

An Unexpected Treasure

The most wonderful thing happened as my friends and I were celebrating Jess' birthday. We had been planning to go to the beach, but it was freezing outside! So instead, we were browsing the Farmers' Market when we saw an antiques shop that Jess had always wanted to go into. It's unique because there is a vintage/antique bridal boutique in the basement. And as we walked through those doors, our lives changed forevermore.

We were having fun looking at the usual antique store loot.

But as we descended into the basement we found vintage euphoria. And we could try it all on!!!!There were dresses lining the walls, some dating back to the 1800s. It was amazing (and I sang the word 'amazing' just now).

The sales girl was very personable. She knew we were not at all interested in buying, but she insisted that we try everything on that we loved. And we obliged. This is Mandi in a 1960s party dress.

We weren't sure what this was, but we found Jess wearing it.

This hair clip is everything Jess has ever dreamed of. For a mere $150, it could have been hers. I don't know why she didn't buy it.

Hanging on display was this wonderful find from the 60s. But in case you didn't know, it was made for me. The sales girl was very excited that someone finally tried it on. Again, I was happy to do her this favor.

We left.....leaving a little piece of our hearts there.

Well, to top it all off, we had my homemade beach cupcakes for what turned out to be Jess' not-so-beach-themed day. Vintage bridal shopping and cupcakes?! Life will never be the same again.

We're Just Simple Folk.

Last weekend, Gerrit and I celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already! Without telling me beforehand, Gerrit planned a very fancy evening for us. (He told me not long after he made the plans because he can't keep a secret.) We dropped our things off at a swanky hotel downtown before heading out for dinner at Manny's Steakhouse.

The hotel was very modern and had lots of little surprises. This is the headboard before turning the lights on.

This is the headboard after turning the lights on.

After checking out our room, we realized that the jacuzzi tub and the T.V. above it didn't work. Our big-screen plasma T.V. wasn't working too well either. We had to call the front desk a few times, but they quickly put us in a new room.

Here we are heading out for dinner. I'm not in love with how I look here, but you get the idea.

This is our appetizer bacon! It was huge! It was a flavor experience like none I have ever had. The food came in ridiculous sizes. I'm pretty sure they hand out coupons for open-heart surgery when you walk out the door.

Basically, we enjoyed the luxury of the night, but we realized it just didn't suit us. It was good to get it out of our systems. So, the next night we went to a FREE fair with Adam and Maria. Instead of being surrounded by overly helpful waiters and steak,

we were with friends eating cheese curds...

...watching a cover band who had an awesome groupie who looked like a gypsy!

....enjoying the perfect summer evening weather.

...and really wanting to take this cow home.

We had a wonderful anniversary weekend. For next year though, instead of the 4-star fancy activities, I think we'll set up a tent in the living room and call it a night. We're just simple folk.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday and this is my small written gift to her. I know I can't fit all that is in my head, but here's an attempt to get the point across:

I knew God had given me a really good mom when...

...I was 4 and you sent the neighbor girl home for hitting me with a plastic bat. "Because no one hurts my little girl."

...You stopped dressing us in these outfits.


...I was 6 and you told me that I better pray that God take my temper away. That was good advice.

...I was 8 and you tucked me in and listened to all my little worries in the world.

...I call you now and you listen to all my little worries in the world.

...you'd be home after we got home for school ready to hear about our days.

...I was 14 and my friends told me they would rather talk to you about important things than their own parents. I knew I could talk to you about those things.

...you would get more nervous for all our plays and solos than we would.

...you were the pastor's wife who wore leopard print on Sunday morning. You break the mold!

...I realized that you sit and make time to be with God everyday.

...you did a million daily things for Dad, Carey, Courtney and I with too few "thank-yous" but didn't ever complain about it.

...I was in high school and you'd wake me up on a Saturday morning by yelling through my open window, "COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME!" I woke up laughing!

...I was in college and would open my mailbox to find a letter from you. "Just because I love you."

...you were diagnosed with breast cancer and you were so brave. I know someday I could have cancer too, but I'm not scared because I saw how you trusted God and continue to do so.

...I realized that I don't mind "turning into my mother" because someday I want to be the kind of mom you are. You are a funny, funky, wonderful woman. I'm so blessed to have you, Mom, for many, many reasons. I love you so much.

Mandy's Wedding Extravaganza!

Last weekend, Mandy who is my former roommate, bed bunk neighbor, tears and laughter sharer, road trip partner, and dear friend got MARRIED! Between all the fun we had, I managed to snap a few pictures that ya'll might enjoy.

This is the lovely Bride at her Bacherlorette Party! She's simply radiant! I wanted her to wear this on her wedding day. She didn't. It was disappointing.

Some of the girls in full bowling gear. Socks were generously given by Jess, since we all forgot our own! We were the only ones bowling, so we danced, sang, and got terrible scores!

Pedicures the next morning. Wonderful! However, the owner (or just a very bossy employee) told me I needed my eyebrows waxed. I gave in. Then a different lady who actually did the waxing said I needed my lip waxed. You know, I understand the eyebrow thing. But for the record: I have thin, blond facial hair. But she kept saying, "It's bad...it's bad." How could I deny her the pleasure of ripping out my facial hair by the root? I couldn't. And you couldn't have either! Don't judge me!
Amy and Brittany (Bridesmaid and Personal Attendant) at the Rehearsal Dinner.
Jess recieving her Bridesmaid gift: a gorgeous necklace and set of earrings made by Jess and Rachel's sister, Mandi.
Blurry Gerrit and I at the Rehearsal Dinner. There was some weird lighting in there....oh, and our camera is terrible.
Our hair stylist for the wedding day, Rachel. She was such a trooper and did a great job!
Mandy getting her hair done by Cousin and Maid of Honor, Lynette.
The finished porduct! Obviously, she looked amazing. She was a wonderfully fun and calm bride.

Rachel and Mandy saying goodbye at the end of the reception. We were all a bit emotional.

Mandy and me saying goodbye. Okay, this is before the goodbye. But no one wants to see blotchy-faced, crying Cassie.

Congrats to you, Adam and Mandy. We couldn't be happier for you. You are amazing individuals and a wonderful couple. We'll be praying for your new life together!