New Refrigerator, Ma'am

It's out with the old and in with the new. Mom finally made the decision to do some upgrading in our kitchen :) yay! Our old refrigerator was at least 23 yrs old - older than me! But it served us well - it was a little sad watching the men roll it away this afternoon. They were both Mexicans & the one guy that helped with the installation and testing of the appliance was the talker and quite funny! He was like, "We come from Meeneeapoliees so we get up at 5:30 thees morning jus for you. Coood you understand my messeeg? I have pretty strong accent. I hoook up your water-line as long as you sign that it's okay. Eef your house flood, I pay for it and I'm not reech. Eef they call to survey our servees be sure to geev us a fieeeve. Thank you, ma'am, and thank you young ma'am." heehee! Mom and I got a kick out of them - they were really nice to us two girls who couldn't figure out how to do the water line. Anyway, we have been thoroughly enjoying our new black sleek refrigerator and all that extra room to put all our food just in time for the holidays! Thanks for all your help picking it out, Jason! It's absolutely perfect and fits like a glove!

Scary Bird Attack!

Happy 3-month Birthday, Serena!

I can't believe it was already 3 months ago today that my beautiful and adorable little niece, Serena Kay, was born! I stole this picture off of Jenny's Daily Serena blog - one of my favorite blog subscriptions ;) I'm so thankful the Lord has blessed us so much by adding her to our family! I love you, Serena Kay!

Boot Surprise!

I sware, in nearly every situation no matter how bad it may seem, there is usually something to laugh about. It's another morning that was ruined by water in the basement for the second week in a row. However, as mom was putting her boots on to go down and wade over to check the breaker box, she noticed something in her boot - so she pulled it out: a leaf. She proceeded to push her foot the rest of the way in, but something was in the way...

...as you all know mom's greatest fear and first thought was: A MOUSE! She dumped the boot over and out came...a bird!???! A DEAD bird, that is. We have no idea how that happened - the boots were in the closet!?! She had told me about this over chat. While I was in class, she suddenly popped up and said "There's water in the basement again..." and before I could get any basement info she was going off on the bird story!

Haha! Anyway, when I came home there was a little cool whip container upside down in the middle of the hallway right inside the door. I thought I would show you all a picture of our little friend. He must have gone into the boot thinking it would make a nice birdhouse and then couldn't get out because he appears to have nothing wrong with him.

Spring Break Opportunity

We made it on the front page of the local paper! heehee! :)

FAIRMONT - In March, 10 local women will travel to eastern Guatemala equipped with the skill, desire and over-the-counter medications they need to serve the impoverished people inhabiting the area. The young women are third-year nursing students at Presentation College, and have signed on to give up their spring breaks to help people they have never met.

Above: Presentation College nursing students lending their services in Guatemala, include, front row from left: Lana Howk, Katy Handevidt, Jessica Rabe and Courtney Baumann. Back row, from left: Rebekah Anderson, Alex Ristau, Kandra Miller and Stephanie Prentice.

The students get no school credit for their service, although they can use the time there toward their volunteerism graduation requirement. Some have never left the US, but all are preparing for a life of serving others and see this trip as an extension of their dedication to nursing. "I have always had a very deep need to help the disadvantaged, and I know this trip will change every single person who is involved in this project," said trip organizer Kendra Miller. "A trip of this type was never a question for me, it was just a matter of how and when." The group has coordinated with Hearts-In-Motion, a non-profit service organization with extensive ties to Guatemala, to distribute food, medicine and knowledge about nutrition and general health care. Since they are not yet licensed as nurses, the women will practice exclusively non-invasive procedures. "Our first day we will be going to a dump to hand out food," Miller said. Outside of the help they will give, the students are looking forward to how they will be changed by real-life nursing experienced in the impoverished region. Lana Howk, one of the students going on the trip, said that in addition to refocusing her dedication to service after her time in school, she feels the experience will help her connect with some of her clients. "I think it will help us understand our minority clients," she said. Miller agreed, saying, "There is no way that we could come out of this not being better people, better nurses, knowing that we've done everything we could to help. The amount of help that the people of Guatemala need is unfathomable; by simply being there, we will be doing something to help them. They have nothing; no food, home, and very little access to medical attention." In addition to fundraising, the students are collecting over-the-counter medications, toothbrushes, toothpaste and small toys to leave with the people they meet. "We will be providing the people with food, healthcare and toys for the children," Miller said. "In order to prepare for this trip, we have been feverishly fundraising, and reaching out to the Fairmont community for their support in making this nursing trip possible." The women need to raise $20,000 to pay for airfare, lodging and guides. Since the only Spanish-language experience anyone on the trip has comes from high school language class, they will rely heavily on Hearts-in-Motion guides to translate during interactions with clients. And while the travelers are all students at Presentation College, the school is not sponsoring the trip. Presentation College director Traci Lardy said the students came to her and told her about the trip, but they are going on their own. "I think it shows the dedication we have of our nursing students to share their skills," she said. "It is a special group." Miller hopes to see more students participate in a trip of this kind in the years to come. After their trip, they will present a slide show and discussion with donors.

*Donations are tax-deductible, and can be sent to:

Presentation College, attn: Traci Lardy, 115 S. Park Street, #117, Fairmont, MN 56031.

Walk PC

“Walk PC” is a program at my school "taking a tour" of Presentation College’s locations.

The first leg of our walking tour was from Eagle Butte to Aberdeen (Presentation College headquarters). Leg two of our "tour" will be from Aberdeen to Sioux Falls; the college offers various degrees in Sioux Falls in conjunction with Kilian Community College. The next destination in our walking journey will be from Sioux Falls to Fairmont, Minnesota (ours!) Presentation College has had a branch campus in Fairmont since 2003. The last leg of the journey will be the long stretch from Fairmont to Eagle Butte. Awards are given at the completion of each milestone:

Eagle Butte-Aberdeen = 173 mi. by October 9, 2009 (PC Lanyard)

Aberdeen-Sioux Falls = 204 mi. by December 8, 2009 (PC Water Bottle)

Sioux Falls-Fairmont = 120 mi. by January 12, 2010 (PC T-Shirt)

Fairmont-Eagle Butte = 423 mi. by May 3, 2010 ($25 PC Bookstore gift certificate)

*A drawing will be held for all participants that complete “Walk PC” for the grand prize of a free massage at a day spa! oooo! :D An individual making the complete round trip will log 920 miles or 1,840,000 steps. If an individual is able to meet the 10,000 steps per day goal, the entire "trip" will have been made in 184 days.

Every semester Presentation pays for half of the membership fee at Martin County Fitness per semester, so between that and a busy life, I was able to complete the first leg of the challenge logging 370,734 steps which is about 182 miles. So I got the lanyard...but to my surprise, we also got a cute little shoe key chain which I like even better than the lanyard! heehee! ;) That's MY GREEN SHOE in the top pic! I love it! Heehee! :) The water bottle for the next leg is hardly a motivation, but the walking has been good for me and the possibility of a free spa massage at the end sounds like the perfect way to end our stressful junior year.

Happy Birthday, Jordan!

I always try to blog about family birthdays. Last year I did a tribute post to both Jennifer and Jason, so this year, I have decided to do a tribute post to Jordan. Jordan, I have loved having you as part of our family and I hope you endure the 5 minute video I put together for you!

(I know, it's l-o-n-g! but, you're just such a great person! So read fast cause it's not very well done cause I squished it! Haha! ;) Happy 27th Birthday!

P.S. For those of you who don't know, Jordan & Jenny were Laura and my campus parents at college, so we gladly took on the role of being their "kids" heehee! :)

The Argyle Sweater

Mom and I have been long-time fans of "The Far Side" comic strips, but since they were discontinued a few years back, we've been searching for a new favorite. We happened to stumble upon an every day calendar by "The Argyle Sweater" during the $1 sale at the bookstore. It has been a dollar well-spent. We have both gotten plenty of laughs out of them. I didn't feel like putting much time into blogging today, so I just found a few of our favorites to share - hope you get a good laugh ;)

HaHA! I laughed over this Energizer Bunny one, but mom didn't think it was that funny

however, I caught her laughing in the kitchen over this one ;) Heehee!

Jul, I thought you would be the one to think this duck one was as funny as I did :)

Sunday Song

This passage never ceases to challenge and encourage:

Psalm 139

¹O Lord, You have searched me, and known me. ²You know when I rise and when I fall; You understand my thoughts from afar. ³You encompass my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. ⁴Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. ⁵You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain unto it. ⁷Where can I go from Your spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? ⁸If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. ⁹If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the remotest part of the sea; ¹⁰Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will hold me. ¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” ¹²Even the darkness is not dark to You; but the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are both alike to You. ¹³For You have possessed my reins: You covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴I give thanks unto You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works; and my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵My substance was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶Your eyes have seen my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me when as yet there were none of them. ¹⁷How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. ²³Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxious thoughts; ²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Autumn Days Grow Shorter...

I debated posting any pictures of fall because my fall post from last year was up for so long...but, I love fall too much to not share some of the pictures I've already taken of it's beauty so far this year. Most of the colors have vanished now that the temperatures have dipped below freezing at least a couple times and some snow (now melted) has weighted down many of the leaves that were still hanging on.

Today I had a free day for working on school, studying for my SS lesson, and trying to get over this cold! I made my first mug of hot chocolate complete with marshmallows and have been working to the sound of the crackling wood wick candle (notice the duck tape to keep it from cracking any further - haha!) and keeping warm under my big fuzzy green blanket - so cozy!

Main street of our cute little town! This is the south end right after Creamery St., and, yes, the break in the trees at the end is the north end of town - it's that small :)

I thought the railroad tracks in Granada looked so pretty with the first snow of the year barely coating them. This is all the farther Josie can walk these days...in her younger days we used to walk all the way to Sparks Dr. - this year was the year we had to make the adjustment in our walking routine. Poor Jo :(

These trees are actually nowhere near home, but are the ones that surround the junkyard on the way to Mankato. The pop of color really catches your eye, so I had to take a picture. Plus, I had to take a picture for my friend because I guess her mom is the one who planted them! There's a whole row going the other way as well. Aren't they so pretty!?

Here's our little array of color in our own backyard...still really green, right?

Not anymore! The very next day we got all this snow! It was so pretty and exciting! (although it did seem to cut fall very short...I'm looking forward to Indian summer!) Mom and I were really in the Christmas mood that day - we had to help keep each other strong in resisting the urge to start decorating for the holidays!

Josie's morning stretches. Heehee! See the big snow flakes falling!? This is on my way down to feed her breakfast and take pix of all the snow!

Our pretty home :)

My cutie dog who's getting her golden bear fur for the winter - doesn't that picture just make you want to hug her!? Well...she won't let you, right mom? Haha!

She sat and looked at me like that forever when I walked in and sat on her bed of hay. Sometimes she won't go into her barn and then I start to get nervous that there's maybe some other animal in there! (yet another reason that I finally cleaned her barn out - I had to eliminate nooks and crannies for scary homeless visitors) So I took her picture - she looks like a calendar dog!

Just thought I'd let you all know, I did finally get a picture with Josie after all our efforts - not too good, but it works. Haha!

Happy Fall to one and all!

Shape-Up

At the request of Jules, I decided to blog pix of my "new do." I hadn't gotten a highlight touch-up since April, and had't had my hair cut/trimmed since May. It was looking a bit shabby: shapeless with so many split ends and highlights starting halfway down my head :P I finally made my way over to Blerth where the only hair dresser I trust (maybe someday I'll post pix from when I strayed from her and ended up with ORANGE highlights! agh!) could fix it up.

The plan for now is to try to grow it out...I KNOW! I say that ALL the time! haha! And about halfway there I can't take the in-between stage anymore and chop it off! Seriously, growing your hair out is like trying to lose weight! But anyway, since I wear my hair in ponytails most days for clinicals and work this semester, I'm thinking I may have a better chance of getting farther along. Every Sunday I finally get to wear my hair down and am like, WOW! It's getting LONG! I pulled on the sides...and tilted my head a little (heehee!)...for the top 2 pix so you could see where it comes down to - or to make it look longer anyway :)

I Will Not Let Thee Go

Gen. 32:24 – 31 - ²⁴And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. ²⁵And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.²⁶And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. ²⁷And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.²⁸And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.²⁹And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. ³⁰And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ³¹And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

"You see the anguish of my soul, You see the blessing still unclaimed, You see my Spirit nearly crushed beneath the load. In my darkest night I wrestle with the angel of the Lord and I boldly claim the promise of Thy Word: that my diligent pursuit Thou shalt reward.

And though Thou bidst me let Thee go, I will not be denied, and it delights Your heart to see me so. When You touch me in my weakness it is but to make me strong and though weeping may endure the whole night long. You have promised in the morning joy shall come.

Everyone who asks receives and those who seek will find and all who keep on knocking enter in. Through each test of perseverance as we stand on sacred sod, soon we travel where victorious saints have trod. Let us triumph as a prince prevails with God.

I will not let Thee go until You bless me. I’ll wrestle with my God until the break of dawn. I cannot be content without the victory. Until the battle’s won, I simply can’t go on. With my soul in great travail, I know I shall prevail with Thee. Until the answer comes for me – no matter what the cost may be – I will not let Thee go."

Matt. 7:7 -8 - ⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jungle Gym Kade-man

I uploaded this video on Facebook, so don't feel like you have to comment, I just wanted to have it on my blog, too. Kaden is the cutest little guy ever - I just love him to death and am so thankful he's MY nephew!

It's been so fun to be able to watch him grow spending time with him in person, talking with him over skype or on the phone, keeping up on Julia's blog and FB, etc...I love his little voice, his adorable smile, and the way he likes to make people laugh - he can be such a little show off and I love it! I love the way he runs and has to wind up before he takes off. Heehee! You can tell he is a very loved little boy because he's such a happy little guy! I love my Kade-man!

Fall Break Project

Yesterday I dedicated most of my time to my school work. Today I definitely fit school into my schedule as well, but I also used the afternoon to get a few miscellaneous projects done that have been hanging over my head. Cleaning out Josie's barn was one of them - the last time it's been cleaned out would have been sometime when Julie was home...maybe even before she ever went to college? Wow! I thought it was a perfect time because the birds would be gone, the wasps would be gone, the mice would be hiding to stay warm, and the spiders would be gone. Well, all was true except for the spider part. (actually, I'll confess that I did think there were mice hanging out somewhere cause I kept hearing little squeaks, but then I realized it was my boots as I was shuffling with the broom - just like the cartoons! haha!) There were nasty spiders galore (and mice droppings everywhere - bleh!) But I toughed it out and got her little home in tip top shape and I even thought to take before and after pictures so you could see how hard I worked, how brave I was, and what a nice job I did ;) Heehee! The picture of Josie in the grass cracks me up! She sat there like that the whole time. She was so nervous about what I was doing, poor thing!









Doesn't it look SO nice and cozy now!? I put in the new hay from the Brochman's and shook out her blanket so she's all ready for the winter cold! She looks like she's enjoying it. Yes, I posed her on the bale...she wanted so badly to come over to me while I was trying to take her picture. I could only get her to obey the command "STAY" for about 2 seconds, so I told her to play dead: "BANG" - that worked. She didn't actually play dead, but she finally laid down and stayed long enough for me to snap the picture. heehee! Notice the shelf in the left-hand corner is clean! I don't know how many years I've wanted to clean that off but can never get myself to do it. It used to have an open wooden box up there w/hay in it from when we had cats. And there are spider webs all over it! I'm not quite tall enough to see in there unless I pull myself up on my tiptoes, so every winter I wonder to myself if there's some creature living in there. It took so much for me to grab that box and RUN to the shed with it where I deposited it in it's new home. My sudden display of urgency as I ran from her house with this big gross wooden box held at arms length didn't help Josie feel any less nervous about what was going on...but she's all happy and cozy in her house now :D HaHa!

Pictures with Josie

This morning when I woke up there was a fresh layer of snow on the ground and large flakes still falling from the sky! I bundled up in the big John Deere coat, put my boots on, and went out to do chores. I brought my camera along so I could get some shots of the scenery: everything covered in snow for the first time this season.

After I gave Jo her food and water, I decided that as long as I had my camera, I would try to get some pictures with her. I love my Josie dog: she's sweet, loving, cute and makes me laugh - she is getting so old now, though: 12 1/2 years old - so I like to take the opportunities to take pictures of her or with her. This, however, is not an easy task. She is very suspicious of the camera...I put together a 2 min. video of my efforts. Heehee! Enjoy! :)

Welcome to the World!

Serena Kay Horak

Born @ 10:42 am on July 31st, 2009

Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz

Length: 19 1/2"

Cuteness: 100%

Jules & my first glimpse of mommy & baby over skype - PTL for technology (if you look really closely, u can see us in the lower lefthand corner taking the picture - heehee!)!

Grandma Rabe and Aunt Jessie w/Serena

Uncle Jason

Aunt Julia

Cousin Kaden (aren't they adorable!? I'm so lucky to have such a cutie little niece and nephew!)

Aunt Julie (aka. Uncle Julie)

Daddy loves his little girl

the guys swaddling their babies :)

JaJuKa had to leave Sunday morning - family picture time!

the day Serena came home from the hospital - all decked out in pink!

family picture - complete with macy

"Grandpa" Ervin made this puzzle and had it framed just for Serena - he was so happy to give it to her!

in her pink bassinet that Great Grandma passed down to her

SOOO precious!

and with her Aunt Jessie so proud to be holding the cutest little girl in the whole wide world! Congratulations, Jordan and Jenny (and Macy)!

I love you, Serena Kay!

Anticipation

Thursday, July 23rd was the official due date for Jennifer of my on-the-way niece. That date passed quickly & uneventfully ...so this weekend Mom, Jules and I headed down to West Des Moines to visit our expecting Jennifer.

Jason, Julia and Kaden came over as well on Sunday afternoon. It's always fun to have the whole family together!

We tried to get some spicy food down her on Sunday, so we ate tacos. Nothing happened. On Monday we decided to keep her

walking so we went to the mall and did some shopping...still nothing. Today we headed back home, but not before taking some goofy pictures with Jenny and her basketball, I mean, Serena. Heehee! We all just can't wait to meet her! Thank you so much for the fun times this weekend Jordan and Jenny! Hopefully we'll be making the trip back down there in the very near future to see Serena on the outside of that basketball Jenny's been wearing ;) Heehee!

Hurry up, Serena! We love you SO much already - that's for sure!