Hello December...

How did you get here so quickly?  I've horrible about blogging, seeing as I skipped the whole month of November.  Oops!  Oh well, we've been busy, and when the only place that our internet works in our apartment is the guest room that's cold, cluttered and requires sitting in one the most uncomfortable chairs we own, I decide the internet isn't all that worth my time.  But I miss writing, so here I am back for at least today.
I had the morning off unexpectedly.  I always have mixed feelings about getting unexpected time off.  I like what I do, I love playing and teaching and learning right along with the kids.  Sometimes it's nice to have a break though too, but when that break is because they're sick I feel bad for them.  It seems this fall has been terrible on these kids' immune systems; colds and coughs abound, runny noses and fevers, and even strep.  Ugh...I'm glad I haven't gotten anything yet, and I am grateful for the parents who call off therapy due to illness, but I miss the time with them.  Oh well, 'tis the cold and flu season, and hopefully it will pass quickly.
What else have we been up to?
-I had a birthday and my wonderful husband cooked Shrimp Alfredo for me
-We've been having friends over and going over to friends' for dinner



-Steve went to Milwaukee for training
-We helped the youth group at church fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child
-We bought new bedroom furniture (finally!)
-Thanksgiving was celebrated at a couple's house from church, as well as at our house with our own meal for 2: Stuffed sweet potatoes, tangerine glazed turkey, homemade gravy and stuffing, and cranberry sauce.  Pumpkin pie was made later in the day too!

-Shopping happened on Black Friday...and we didn't even have to wait in lines as we went at 10 in the morning after the rush was gone
Those are the big highlights...nothing very significant.  Maybe that's why I skipped the whole month of November?  I have some ideas in mind for the upcoming month though, it relates to the Bible study I've been doing for the past 10 weeks.  It's one that has challenged me and stuck with me since the beginning.  Not one where I do the day's study and forget about it in 2 or 3 days.  Nope, this one is a study I really needed, and as soon as we're done I'll be starting over and sharing it here.  One, to keep it fresh in my mind; two, to remind myself in the months/years to come; three, to help anyone else out there who might benefit from a challenge like this.

Our Story

Kristen & Cam's Wedding August 2011

A couple that we will be working with this fall with our middle school youth ministry asked me this morning if Steve and I grew up together.  I told her no and the proceeded to tell her the story of how we met.  I don't think I've ever written it out before, but I've told it many times (especially in the last few months it seems, as we've moved to a new area and have made new friends too).  So today I thought I'd share, because it really is a story of God working in our lives to bring us together.  And boy am I ever glad I gave some of my "ideal" characteristics in a man to God, because He couldn't have blessed me with a greater husband than Steven.

Wright Brother's Museum, OBX August 2010

 It all started at the end of the summer in 2006.  I had always dreamed of going with the Confirmation kids to camp as a counselor; that's what our church did when I was in Confirmation, and I wanted to do the same now that I was in college.  Well, my home church had just pulled out of it's denomination and was now a non-denominational church.  Not wanting to take the 7th/8th graders to a camp of previous denomination our pastor started looking for other camps in the area.  He came across Bair Lake Bible Camp.  And that is where I got to go for a week to be a counselor for 10 girls, 3 (or 4 I don't remember) of which were from my church.  I loved middle school classic and the camp grounds in general. 

First date in Ohio after camp, before school August 2007

 I specifically remember meeting Steve this week as my large co-ed group did a photo page story throughout the week.  The kids came up with their own story and we (a male counselor and me) helped them take pictures to go along with their "mystery."  The kids' story was a "cereal killer" story, I don't remember details, but I do know that lifeguard Steve was a victim in the story.  I think the first time we met, he was laying on his back on the diving board with frosted flakes on his chest.  Great huh?! And by the way, he doesn't remember that I was there at all!

End of the summer 2008 w/2 oldest kids of our boss before their move

 Fast forward about 9 months and I'm back at Bair Lake.  This time as a senior staffer, there for the whole summer to be a counselor.  I was also in a relationship, one that I wasn't quite sure I should be in (for many reasons, but that's another story).  I don't remember much of the first half of the summer; I spent many weeks counseling various aged groups of kids.  Towards the end though I began to realize the relationship I was in was outside of God's plan, and I desperately needed to get back on his path, not mine.  I decided to end the relationship mostly due to conversations with Steve (he was a very good listener and encourager as he had "experience with those kind of relationships before) and several lessons I heard during the week of Teen classic.  After that week of camp, my interest in Steve piqued a bit and grew even stronger when we were both counselors during the adventure camp week.

Mr. Strong man after square dancing at Family Camp July 2008

 I wasn't sure if it was God's plan, and I told myself that He'd have to change some of my feelings if a relationship was going to happen because (as many of you might know) Steve was shorter than me.  I had always pictured myself with someone taller.  I know it might sound silly to pray for that, but I did because I knew my heart wasn't going to change if I didn't.  Being 5'10" I'm self-conscious of my height, so dating someone 5'7"ish was almost out of the question in my own mind.  I also knew that if a relationship was going to happen, Steve was going to have to do some hard work and say the right things because I had been reading Captivating and knew I needed to be pursued.

Coast Guard Graduation April 2011 w/niece Jaiden

The next few weeks at camp went on fairly normal.  Or so I thought.  I was approached by my boss, at the end of one of the weeks where I counseled.  He had my jaw on the floor when he said he didn't know what was happening with the other relationship, but that he liked seeing Steve and I together.  I was like, how did he know!?  I didn't think it was that obvious, but apparently I was wrong.  Steve and I had started running together fairly regularly so I could get back in shape for fall track.  We also went on our first "date" going out to eat twice in one week because a group had come in that brought their own cooks and didn't always have enough food for the Bair Lake staff.  Apparently he also gave my boss (and his as well) a list of his "Top 5."  I was at the top.

Engagement picture April 2008

 Soon it was time for me to go back home to get ready to go back to school.  I went to a Christian university where there was often a lot of pressure to "have a ring by spring," and I had ended a relationship that probably would've got the that point by the time I graduated.  I knew that God was directing my path, and that I needed to be all right not having a boyfriend and letting God take care of me instead.  The night before I left Bair Lake, Steve told me he wanted to talk.  And talk he did...I don't remember all of what he said, but he now gets teased about "beating around the bush."  The words from him that I do remember were: "I don't need an answer from you now, but I would like to pursue this relationship further."

First dance September 27, 2008

 Well there I thought, God's bringing it all into focus.  He had changed my thoughts about the importance of physical appearance and had brought a man into my life who would pursue a relationship with me.  We officially started dating August 23, 2007.  Got engaged 7 months later the Saturday before Easter in 2008, and were married September 27, 2008.  God was working to bring us together, and he still is working to bring us closer as husband and wife.  I can't wait to see where He takes us with this adventure in the Coast Guard.

Smoky Mts Gatlinburg, TN Honeymoon September 2008

First Anniversary Grand Haven October 2009

Family Visit Photos

Last weekend, some of Steve's grandma, aunt, cousin, sister and niece came to visit us.  We had a blast with them seeing the many sights of our new hometown.  Sorry there are so many...I took a lot of pictures that day just because I can, and I'm still trying to figure out my new camera.

"Sherman Tank"

I love our dog.  I resigned myself to not ever having one when Steve and I were engaged because he's allergic to pet dander.  So when this little guy showed up I had to try very hard not to fall in love with him.

 

Because look at that face!  He's adorable!  Obviously I gave in...because we do in fact have a dog now.  But it's not all because of me...

snuggles with daddy

That man is more in love with that dog than I've ever seen any man become attached to an animal before.

And really who wouldn't fall in love with a face like this?

on Me-maw & Papa's couch

sleeping on mom

And he is such a good dog.  We don't know exactly what kind he is, but he definitely has Jack Russel/Parson Russel and probably some Rat terrier in him.  Fortunately for us, he loves to sleep and snuggle and isn't super hyper like most Jacks.  (Though I also believe spending some time with his me-maw and papa led to his sleeping habits because my mom worked early morning hours at a bakery, and slept during the day and the dogs slept with her.)

sleeping at Me-maw & Papa's

in his bed while I got ready for work

sleeping in Steve's guitar case while we played guitar

So how did we acquire such a dog as this? Neighbors of ours found the dog wandering some back country road and brought him home with them.  We told them we'd watch him for the night because they already had a dog and didn't know how she'd react to a new friend.  After calling to local shelters and asking around if anyone had lost a pet, we decided we were going to keep the little guy because my wonderful husband just couldn't bear to part with him.  I was definitely ok with that!

We ended up moving shortly after getting him, and moved into an apartment complex that didn't allow pets.  So he spent some time with Steve's sister and then went to live with my parents.  After about a year there he moved back with us when we moved out of our old apartment.  Now he's at our new home in Wisconsin and he's adjusted so well!

waiting to for Mom to throw his bone

waking up from a nap in the sun

"What? It's more comfy than the floor!"

I didn't think about the stress of moving on an animal before we left, but I'm so glad it wasn't too horrible for him.  Though I thought we were going to have a howling problem on our hands because he would do so when we left him alone in the hotel before we got our apartment, and then when we moved in did so when he was left inside while I took out the trash/boxes/checked mail etc for the first few days.  But he's been fine being locked in his bed when we run errands now.

He loves to play...his favorite is his Frisbee.

playin' Frisbee in MI

And there's a nice dog park here that we've visited a few times so he can play Frisbee and run to his heart's content.

at the dog park

He loves going for walks.  And since we live in a brand new complex, with only recently planted grass seed, he gets to go on short walks just to go potty.  Though, now whenever we head towards the door he thinks he gets to go too because he's just associated the two things together. Mom + Door = Outside which also equals super excited Sherman Tank.

His name is unique yes, but so is he.  With his half floppy ear, crazy fuzzy tail, looks and glares that really make you wonder what he's thinking, and all around crazy, fun, loving personality his name fits him well.  It comes from WWII history, which Steve enjoys immensely.  The British tanks were called M4 Sherman, and I just thought it'd be funny to name a little dog after a tank.  Plus the only other name on our list was Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet, which I wasn't a huge fan of.  And we also weren't going to name him after a German tank (Panzer).

So yes, we love our little dog (even though I was completely opposed to ever having a little dog).  I wouldn't trade him for any other.  He is snugly, loves to play and keeps me company on the nights Steve works at the station.  He will be Steve's fishing buddy once again, and hopefully for a long time to come he will guard our home with his "fierce" growls and barks, but proceed to lick our guests to death.  He won't eat us out of house and home, but will nuzzle his way onto our laps when we're trying to write blog posts or upload pictures or fold the laundry.  He is our baby for now, spoiled of course, and hopefully will be a wonderful family pet in the future when our own kids come along.

Time for Some Pictures

Here are pictures of our new apartment.  And lots of our little dog.  Cause he's too cute not to photograph.

I don't have the before pictures on this computer, but really does one need before pictures?  It was just empty rooms anyway...I like final pictures better.  I'll post some more "final" pics once we get our new bed, that include both bedrooms, bathroom and decor on the living room walls.  Happy Saturday (and only one more night alone then Steven is back for 3 in a row! This schedule is going to have to take some getting used to...)