It's Sunday!

I know, I missed last weekend. It was a holiday weekend and we were busy lovin' on nephews so I think that gets me off the hook =). Chris, Melissa, Ethan and baby Logan came for the long weekend. We had a very relaxing and fun time. We celebrated with a cake one night since me, my mom and Melissa all have January birthdays. Really, it is just an excuse to eat cake. I made a chocolate cake with white frosting and Ethan insisted it have sprinkles on top. Melissa and I stamped the nights away, oh it was such fun! The boys played non-stop, Lego's, Playmobile, dart tag, hide n go seek. The weather was bitterly cold out so we all opted to stay inside. The only bummer was discovering a leak in a pipe in the basement. Yes, I had discovered one a couple of weeks ago, this was a different leak. My brother did a temporary repair to tie us over until Greg or his dad or a plumber can fix it right. Now that I think of it, Dad has sworn off plumbing. Drats!
Greg missed the fun at home because he was away speaking on the Pearce teen retreat. By the sounds of things he had plenty of his own fun. He phoned on Monday and reported they had 18" of fresh snow where they were. Our ground was brown, no snow, just bitter temps. He took one of the boys from our church with him and he had no problem finding a place in the crowd of strangers. Greg was so thrilled to see so many kids he knew and to catch up with what has been going on in their lives.

I have been very busy with some new opportunities. I was asked a few weeks ago to be a featured designer for Whipper Snapper. More specifically to help promote a new set of stamps illustrated by Anna Wight. Anna asked 5 of us to design samples for the release which took place this past Wednesday. It was such a great joy to be asked to be a part of this release. I have long been a fan of Anna's work, she is amazing at illustrating, photography and stamping.
I have also been asked to write a tutorial for a new product. The tutorial will be posted to their website in the next couple of weeks. I completed the first draft of it tonight and it is on it's way to the company owner. I am praying it doesn't require many changes, it was a long process to put it together. When I get the go ahead, I will tell you the name of the company and tell you where you can see my work. They are also making a DVD of their product and I will be getting creative credit on that as well. It is all quite overwhelming for me yet I am thrilled for the opportunities.
This past Tuesday I began teaching a stamping class at a recreation center in a neighboring town. This is in addition to the class I am doing at church. Slowly I am getting my name out there in an effort to rebuild my stamping business. Greg says I just need to tell them I am famous. Yeah right! As long as he thinks I am, it's good enough for me, lol!
Our bathroom is almost done. Greg has trim up now and the door is back on. He has some sanding and painting left but it is looking so nice! In fact it is so nice that now the rest of the house is screaming for paint. It can never just be one thing can it?
The boys are doing well. We went to Kaleb's school on Friday night for a family winter carnival. Greg volunteered to work one of the booths for part of the time and I made a basket of stamped items to donate to their basket auction. The boys played lots of games and had a good time.
Yesterday, I had some friends from Rochester come for a day of stamping. We had so much fun, the time just went by too fast.
Tomorrow the van has an appointment with the mechanic. Pray the repairs are manageable.
I hope you all are well. Remember, visitors are always welcome! Mom and Dad came for a few hours this afternoon, after church. It was short and sweet.
Blessings on your week!

It's Sunday...

and here I am!! This week just flew by! I was getting a little down about my birthday. I think it is only a small bit about turning 40 and really more about feeling so isolated from friends and my life in Rochester. These kinds of events just drive home that I am home-sick and friend-sick, if there is such a thing. So, I set my mind to a task. On my stamping blog I held a give away each day this last week. Can I just say I had such a delightful time interacting with these people I have never met! I asked a simple question each day and it opened up such interesting things. I have laughed and been touched by people's situations and hearts. Today's sermon hit on some of this. PB (that would be what we call Pastor Bill) talked about conversations and relationships, ultimately about being fishers of men. We all have been given the task of being fishers of men, everyone of us. How do we do that? Through relationships and conversations with people. I often feel inadequate when it comes to sharing Christ with others. This week on my blog and today in PB's sermon, I am reminded that we can and do have conversations all the time. That it is not as difficult as we make it out to be. All I did was ask a question and I got some incredible responses. Now granted, they are commenting in hopes of winning some goodies, but they still shared some good stuff. God has made us to be relational, with Him and with others. Perhaps the more difficult thing is to be intentional with our conversations, remembering to keep Christ as our motivation. I believe that if we are intentional, we will be fishers of men by what we say as well as by what we don't say. If Christ is our motivation we will treat people differently, kinder with more grace and love. Even if we never mentioned "Christ" we would be fishing. We would invite questions by people just by who we are and how we live/act. It has happened to me many times. I am not writing this to be all preachy, I find myself challenged. If God has indeed called each and every one of us to be fishers of men, how am I doing on that assignment?? Am I even in the boat as PB asked us today?? Am I hoping that fish will just jump into the boat on their own? Better yet, am I hoping someone else is fishing for me?? God would not task us with an impossible task. I am not sure how it will be, but I am looking to have conversations with people this week. Simple ones. Intentional ones. Will you?? I hope you do and then will tell me about it.

In other news...our bathroom is almost complete. I had asked if it might be done by my birthday. No particular reason it had to be, just wondering. Goals are good. Greg has tried, I don't think he'll make it but we are making progress. Mom and Dad bought us a new shower door...a beautiful shower door...and it took almost an entire day to install the thing!! You would think that 2 college graduates with plenty of life experience and more than a sack of rocks for brains could figure out how to install a shower door, lol!! Oh Mylanta!!!!!!!!! (my new favorite saying, btw) We finally completed it at 11:15 last night. My only consolation, it is beautiful. Did I mention how beautiful it is??? BIG thanks, Mom and Dad!!! Dad was also kind enough to leave his air compressor and nail gun here so that should make quicker work of putting the base boards up.

The boys are doing well. Kaleb had ELA exams most of the week and Josh has them coming up this week. They are enjoying their Saturday morning basketball time. Greg is preparing to be away all next weekend. More about that next week. My brother and his family are coming here for the weekend and we are all looking forward to that. Bummer Greg will be away but I am sure we will have plenty of fun anyway. I WILL get pictures of that baby this time.

I would have more pictures for you but alas, I am a knuckle head!! Somehow, don't ask me how, I deleted every last picture on my camera. All my pictures of Christmas, the boys band concerts, the family get together, our last trip to Chris', my pictures of the Cini family visit, gone...poof...no more. Don't even get me started!!!

Have a wonderful week. We send you hugs and love from Ransomville!

Hangover 150

No, I don't have a hangover...that is the name of the race held at the Ransomville Speedway every New Years Day. The price of admission is a non-perishable food item and if your car meets their guidelines, you can enter it. The cars are basically on their last wheels before hitting the junk yard. It is a series of 3 races: V8, V6 and V4 engines. Each class runs 50 laps for a total of 150 laps...if they make it, which none apparently did. Greg took the boys to this packed event, and I imagine it's probably one of a kind, LOL! The first group to race was the V6ers, with a total of 62 cars at the starting line. After 11 laps only 6 cars remained running. The last car running made it only 38 laps. It looks like it was basically a mud bowl. They don't clear the cars between races, they just shove them to the side. The first thing the boys told me when they came home was about the pink van that caught fire, and it wasn't the only one, to catch fire that is. This is what you do when you move to Ransomville. Greg actually said the big thing to do was tailgate before hand, people brought pallets to set on the muddy ground and had grills going all morning long. Some things I just have no category for...

Bathroom update: We have lights, running water and a working toilet! We're cooking with gas now, baby!!! There is still trim work, a shower door and towel bars/toilet paper holders to install but I can see it all coming together now.

In 8 days I turn 40, ack!! I know there are those of you reading this that will say "been there, done that, no biggie". But since I haven't been there or done that yet, I am having a bit of trouble with it! A lot of trouble actually. Joshua laughing at me didn't help either, punk kid!! (kidding, I love that kid but he's gotta learn what ground is safe to tread on and that isn't it!!) It isn't too late to buy me that gift I know you were thinking about. Try here... www.papertreyink.com or here... www.buffalostamps.com . Stamps and chocolate, those things may help!!

Otherwise, things are clicking along. Hope they are in your neck of the woods!
Have a great week!

Happy New Year!!

The Harp family wishes you a Happy New Year!! We brought in the new year at church, first with a family game night and then a communion service. That was a first.
We had a busy week between Christmas and New Years. We traveled to Rochester on Wednesday to enjoy an annual tradition. We had the Harp/Odmark Christmas dinner. I am so glad we were able to participate this year. It was great to see Michelle, David and Damon who were in from Colorado for the week and Mike who was in town from Nashville.
The boys stayed at Mom and Dads for a couple of days. They had a chance to meet up with some of their friends, go to a movie and swim at the Y. They had a jam packed, fun filled time!! Meanwhile, Greg and I did some more work on the bathroom. It's beginning to feel like the remodel that never ends, LOL! Before we headed over to church last night we managed to lay down the new flooring so things are progressing.
On Saturday we headed back to Rochester for a day with family. Thom and family as well as Jon and Gail were at Mom and Dads. We spent the day eating too much, opening gifts, napping and enjoying each others company. These days it is rare to get us all together at one time. Here are a few photos of Christmas day at our house and Saturday at Mom and Dad's.
Mo and baby Sara











Brothers!! All three with goatees and Boston hats!








Mom and Dad at our house Christmas morning.








Greg and Kaleb








Josh, Jacob and Greg building Lego's.



I have another post coming with New Year's day stuff.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and were able to spend it with loved ones.

Merry Christmas!

The preparations are just about done and we are looking forward to Christmas! The boys are winding up a bit more everyday. I thought I would share a few photos with you of how we have already been celebrating the season.

The boys were both in the church musical, The Next Noel, this past Wednesday. Joshua had a speaking part as Freddie, who also played a donkey. Kaleb was one of the wise men but much to his liking, he had no lines to say. The photo is of one of the last scenes, Joshua is the donkey in the bottom left corner and Kaleb is barely visible with his gold crown to the right of the angel, tucked behind another boy. Click on the photo for a bigger view if you'd like. The children did a wonderful job! Josh has come far from the days when he wouldn't even open his mouth on stage when they were singing in preschool.

We returned yesterday from visiting my brother and his family. They have a new addition, Logan, who is now just over 3 weeks old. Oh, is he a sweet baby!! Melissa looks great, hard to believe she went through labor just a short bit ago! Ethan, is the ever excited older brother now, talking up a storm. We managed to leave without getting a single picture of the baby, phooey!! But here a couple we did take.





Chris wanted to start a new tradition of hiding a pickle ornament on the tree for the boys to find. Whoever found it got a small gift. This is apparently a German tradition, it says so right on the box! I just don't think any real German knows about it, LOL! We called my mom in Germany while we were there and she had never heard of such a thing. Joshua was the finder of the pickle this year and his gift was a pickle ornament of his own. Now we can carry on the German, yet not really German, tradition.



Of course, there had to be outdoor play on the farm! The weather had warmed a bit so sledding down the big hill was out. Chris got out his tractor and plowed some Mogul hills for the boys to sled over while being pulled by the 4 wheeler. They had a blast!

Mom and dad are coming out tomorrow to join us for Christmas. That will help with some of the sadness I feel being in a new place for the holidays. Then next week the Harp fam is getting together with everyone in Rochester. We are looking forward to that.

We wish you a blessed Christmas where ever you are!!

Movin' Along...

These are busy days, the kind where you need more hours in the day and more energy to go with it! I find that I can get easily overwhelmed by my mental "to-do" list. When I get overwhelmed, I get a bit cranky. Ask my family. Actually, don't ask them, I am sure they would say "a bit" was an understatement! It is one of the things about myself that I rather loathe. Getting cranky doesn't serve me or my to-do list well at all. It doesn't win me any points with the family either. It is an ongoing battle for me and I know God is not going to let me off the hook in this area of my life. I am such a sloooow learner. But I plod forward. I am examining my list, what is essential and what is not. I really wanted to have my Christmas cards out early this year since most people on my list don't realize we have moved. It's not gonna happen. We just put our tree up yesterday, 2 weeks later than my mental calendar said we should. The hand stamped gifts I had hoped to make aren't even started. My mothers gift will never get to Germany in time. Baking, what's that?? Seriously, friends, my eye was twitching due to all the things that weren't getting done on my list! Sillyness I tell you! God gave us enough hours in the day and the talents he wants us to have to accomplish what he sets before us. He does not give me more than I can handle, I do. So now I am asking different questions. What, Lord, do YOU want me to do today?? How can set about accomplishing the tasks set before me? How can I let go of the things that are on my list but not on God's list? I know this, but need frequent reminders (because I am slooooow, remember?) that God's peace dispels crankiness. God's peace comes from time spent with him and doing what he has called me to do. Not more, not less. I get cranky when I am outside the bounds of what he has called me to. Why oh why, do I continue to step outside those bounds?? I used to think the Israelites must have lacked a nugget in their happy meal because it took them 40 years of wandering in the desert to get to the promised land. That journey could have been a 2-3 week trip had they gone straight and claimed God's best. But no....they went in circles and wandered aimlessly. They thought they had a better way. They got cranky. Now I know I am no different. My happy meal is short several nuggets, LOL! I don't want to wander for 40 years until I get it. Lord, help me to get it. When I pray in the mornings for God to pave the way for my day, to set his tasks before me and to give me the energy and desire to do those tasks, I have a great day. I am not cranky. I feel satisfied at the end of the day knowing I worked at those tasks to the best of my abilities. I amazingly, don't have guilt over the things I didn't get done. Oh that those days were greater than the others.

I wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas decorations with you. This is a nativity set that was given to us by Parkminster Church as a going away gift. It is even more special because Mary Jane Preston picked it out for us. It was made by hand from clay. Isn't it darling?? It is so precious to me. It sits near the 3 ceramic angels that we were given by a congregation member when we left the church in Florida. I enjoy memories of those people and places each year when we decorate for Christmas.

Things around the house are movin' along. We asked the man who installed the septic system back in 2001 to come tell us about maintaining it. We have never had a house with a septic. He was a nice man with colorful language but he was quite helpful. One of our concerns is a huge willow tree in the back yard. My brother immediately thought it could be an issue for our septic and since he knows water, we made mental note. Mr. Septic told us he had advised the homeowners at the time to remove it. The shallow roots of a willow can be very destructive to your pipes. Their response was to let the next homeowner deal with it. Seven years and 3 homeowners later, I guess it falls on us. It is a lovely, shade providing tree, but taking it down seems way better than the $15,000 it would take to replace the septic system. Greg will tackle that job in the spring. Mr. Septic will return in the spring to empty out our tank and dig up the tree stump if we'd like.
Last night I was in the basement and discovered a leak coming from the main pipe going out to the septic. When Greg got home he took a look at it and discovered that there are holes that have pitted through the copper pipe. It's a big pipe too, at least 3" diameter. It's a big job I am sure, not just a leaky joint. We are waiting until the morning to call a plumber. I am glad that I found it sooner rather than later!

I hope you all are well and preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth!

It's Snowtime!!

Snowy greetings from Ransomville!! We woke up this morning to about 6" of snow. So much for all the talk of this area being the Miami of the north! Now I wonder what else they told me that wasn't true, LOL?! But it was a perfect backdrop to the Advent sermon series PB is doing called, Christmas in Narnia. As most of you know, I am the only one moaning about the snow in my family, the guys are all outside romping in it as I write.

Greg is excited to use the $50.00 snow blower he purchased. Remember my post way back when? I was hoping the mere purchase of a snow blower was my insurance that we wouldn't need it! It did need a part and Greg just got it back this past week, so he is happily taking care of the driveway. The boys of course did what they thought best, made snowballs and had a war with each other. Oh they fun!

We traveled back to Rochester yesterday. It was Greg's first time back since we moved. They drove with me so I could co-host my annual Ornament Exchange. For the last 8-9 years, I have had an ornament exchange to kick off the holiday season. Even with all the moving we did in Rochester as Greg changed churches, there is a core group that has been there from the start. Each year I have included some new people so it has been a neat time of sharing with old and new friends. I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen to my tradition when we moved here but I have wonderful friends who figured out a way to carry it on. Jackie co-hosted it with me, providing us a place to have it. Everyone brought a dish to pass. It was strange for me to host something that I hardly had a hand in. I am used to decorating, baking and cooking and doing most, if not all of the preparations. But the most important part was being together and it was wonderful. I took my camera and after everyone left, I remembered it so I have no photos to share with you. When we decorate our tree every year, the ornaments I have gotten at this event are some of my favorites to hang. It is nice to think back to the person who gave it or some of the funny and serious moments we have shared in our time together. Many tears and much laughter have taken place over this simple sharing of ornaments. I am so grateful to my friends for making sure we carried on the tradition. And I have a beautiful glass ornament to add to my tree this year.

We have baby news to share, well, not "we" exactly, but my brother. Chris and Melissa welcomed their second son, Logan Daniel on Thursday, 11/29. One day before Chris' birthday. All are doing well, we can't wait to meet him and hug him for ourselves.

And there is a bathroom update. Boy, is that a funny statement??!! The plan was, and I think still is, to just give it a new coat of paint. The wallpaper is all down. Greg removed the vanity, medicine cabinet and toilet tank so he could access the walls behind those items. And as with most jobs, it is never quite what it seems so to be. He found wet drywall behind the vanity as a result of a leaky pipe. And he found what I think is black mold or at least really bad mildew behind the toilet tank because the tank was right against the wall and the wallpaper must have trapped the moisture from it. The drywall spackle he used was bad or cheap because it bubbled up and caused pits everywhere. Now he has to re-spackle those areas. And since this is all happening in his "spare" time, we are without the use of the bathroom and will be most likely for some time to come. We did momentarily consider buying a new vanity even though we said we wouldn't but it appears we may not be able to do it anyway. The placement of the pipes in the wall prohibit us from using an off the shelf vanity so we would have to custom order something. Not likely to happen. And moving the pipes is even more unlikely to happen!! It was only supposed to be a coat of paint!

Well, that is enough for today. Thanks for stopping by and sharing a moment with us.
Blessings on your week.