for amanda!

briana on halloween:
they don't come much cuter!:

gospel hour

call me an old fart, but i LOVE the gaithers.

tonight i came home from a fabulous weekend in new jersey... i sat down to relax after my drive and came across a gospel hour, which concluded with the song i am about to post the lyrics and video. the tune is to "be still my soul", but the lyrics have been changed. i was sitting in my parents tv room, in tears as i listened to the music and words of this song. give the 5 minutes of your time it will take to listen to this amazing piece. the words truly stir the soul.


I then shall live as one who's been forgiven
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid
I know my name is clear before my Father
I am His child and I am not afraid
So greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother
The law of love I gladly will obey

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved I'll risk loving, too
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges
I'll dare to see another's point of view
And when relationships demand commitment
Then I'll be there to care and follow through

Your kingdom come around and through and in me
Your power and glory let them shine through me
Your Hallowed name, oh may I bear with honor
And may Your living Kingdom come in me
The Bread of Life, O' may I share with honor
And may You feed a hungry world through me

cape may, new jersey

i'm officially in love with cape may. my brother mike and soon to be sister in law thea took me away for a weekend of much needed rest & relaxation. saturday we had breakfast right on the water at mcglades - best omelette i've ever had! asparagus, tomatoes, onions and cheddar cheese! we shopped a ton, took a horse & buggy ride, climbed the cape may lighthouse, went to sunset beach for sunset... it was phenomenal!

waves at the beach of cape may:


mike and thea:


cape may lighthouse:


a little history:


the atlantus today:



sunset at sunset beach:


one of my many finds... this i got for my mom and dad:

never forget

i'll never forget that beautiful tuesday morning - coming back from my 8 o'clock math class to turn on the today show as the first tower was hit. classes were canceled, and lauren & i stayed up all night watching the coverage with peter jennings. i can't believe it's been 7 years. i've never been more appreciative of the armed forces in the 7 years since 9/11/2001.... i'll never forget.

adding to the family :)

my brother michael FINALLY proposed to his girlfriend thea this past weekend in new jersey! nearly all of thea's family was on hand, as it was the 20th annual andresen family frog jump picnic. after a few hours of an all you can eat potluck buffet, mike popped the question before the jumping of the frogs :)

mike asking thea to take a leap:

she said yes:

first glimpse of the ring:

putting the ring on:

my brother tim, sister in law bridget and twins john and gabe:

everyone got tshirts:

some scenery from the pond at thea's parents house:

more beautiful scenery:

proud auntie

yesterday my 6 year old niece briana took part in her 2nd gymnastics competition. gymnastics is something she takes very seriously for such a young girl, but her hard work has paid off! she won 5 gold medals, and was named the nutmeg state's best all around competitor! GO BRIANA!!!!!
1st place!!!!!:

briana with my sister in law, peggy:

briana with my brother, chris:

5 minutes after bri told my sister in law she was going to go in her room for a little while:

the theme for this year's church picnic is "take me out to the ballgame!". amazing. i LOVE baseball. knowing we all have to bring a dessert or side dish to share, i made this:



isn't it adorable??

"there is more to your life than you ever thought. there is more to your story than what you have read." - max lucado

these words were on a birthday card sent by a dear friend of mine from choir. those words came just as i was mourning my twenties... thinking of all the things i wanted to accomplish this past decade and and failed to do.

upon graduating high school, the plan was to graduate college by 21, find an amazing job by 22, buy a house by 24, be married by 25 and be done having kids by 30. oh, i had it all planned out. i would teach part time after having my children. i even envisioned a white picket fence! but oh... the Lord had other plans.

with hitting 30 the itch to marry is getting stronger... of course i need to be dating a guy for that to happen. and the maternal pull is getting stronger... of course having a husband helps in that area. at 30 did i see myself with just a half year of teaching under my belt? did i see myself teaching in new london of all places? did i see myself living with my parents still? did i see myself parent only to a dog?

no.

but i also didn't see my walk with the Lord being stronger than it ever has been. i didn't see the amazing people currently in my life. i have an amazing family, great friends, wonderful coworkers, beautiful nieces and nephews, a job that pays decently, a church family that is an incredible support system. i have my health, a roof over my head, a comfortable bed to sleep in, food to eat (often times too much :P), a very cute car... and so much more.

so... i guess my point is... while i was lost in my self pity... this card with the words of max lucado couldn't have come at a better time! i KNOW that this was just a reminder from God that while i'm finished with my twenties... He's not finished with me yet!

i'm going to miss this child. my sister, nieces and nephew left today after a nearly month-long visit.

this video was taken on wednesday - i was trying to distract my niece so my sister could leave and run some toddler-free errands. my favorite part is at the end, when natalya turns, smiles, and says "toot toot". :)

"Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message... despise our person; but they are helpless against our prayers."
~ J. Sidlow Baxter