Yep...first illness of the season has me with a low grade fever, sore throat, no voice, runny nose and green stuff.  Mmmm.  Pretty sure it's because I was outside for 10+ hours this weekend in a field and then had my windows open yesterday.  I hate that I can't enjoy this weather.  Argh.  So, please pray for me to get better quickly.  Thanks! 

Just a few pics from the grouting the other night.  Here's the link to the whole album:  http://photoserver.zenfolio.com/p653151914/

Looks like toothpaste!  This is the consistency it has to be, so I modeled what you would do if it was real toothpaste.  I do not recommend tasting it! (By the way, I did not taste it.  Ick.)

Hard at work!  It had been 3 years since I last grouted, but it came right back to me!

Julie and I hard at work!  Teamwork makes it go fast!

I would just like to say that I love my life.  I live in a beautiful home in a gorgeous city and work in a phenomenal workplace.  What more could I want?  *sigh*  Go God on all of the blessings I have! 

Today was our monthly Day of Prayer and Fasting at Emerald Hills.  Once a month, we close the office and head to Emerald Hills where we spend the morning praying for different things.  Because this month is Ramadan, we spent the morning praying for Muslims and for our workers who are serving in Muslim nations.  It was such a perfect day weather-wise.  Chilly in the morning, but the sun came out and warmed us all up.  And, Cory played some worship songs for us interspersed as we prayed.  It was such an awesome morning.  I am so thankful for working in such an environment that chooses to glorify God and seek Him in all that we do.  I just don't think I could make it in the secular world.  I thrive on the fellowship that I get here. 

Last night, Julie, Lissa, and I went to Emerald Hills to grout a bathroom.  We had an awesome work team from MI over the weekend who laid tile in all of the bathrooms and a mop closet.  The next step was to grout, so we headed over to do it.  I had helped grout the bathrooms and office in the barn 3 years ago, so I had a bit of experience which was nice.  I like grouting.  It's fairly easy work and you can get the rhythm down quickly.  I did get a blister on my middle finger, but that's okay.  It's a war wound!    Joe pitched in and helped us after a bit, so we finished the whole thing in around 2.5 hours.  It was a good night's work.  1 down, 3 to go!  So, men, when you come to Emerald Hills and use the bathroom upstairs, look down and enjoy our handiwork.  It's quite beautiful. 

Today, I went up to the building after we finished praying and looked around.  They're in the process of hanging the tongue-and-groove ceiling in the wings.  It's so beautiful!  Light cans are in too, so soon we'll be able to turn on the lights.  Woo Hoo!  And, the back concrete patio is now totally poured.  It's gorgeous.  I can't wait to have lunch out there and enjoy it.  Just 6 weeks till the dedication!  Eeee!  We won't be moved in until Christmas, but it'll be exciting to have people gathered there.  And, speaking of moving in, I think that I have a different office space.  CrossRoads Missions is no longer officing with us, so we're changing up the floorplan a decent bit.  I think *hope* I'll be downstairs and will not only have a door, but maybe even a window!  Woo Hoo!  After working in my cube for the last 4 years, I'm looking forward to having a door so I can close it when I'm on the phone or what not.  Thanks for walking this road with me. 

Okay, I need to go finish up my newsletter for this month and then head out of here.  I'm going bowling tonight!  Yay!

We finally have power back!  WOO HOO!!!  I only had 4 minutes left on my computer battery, too!  Perfect timing.  It was crews from KS that restored it to us, so a huge shout out to them!  (And yes, I know that they will never see this, but I don't care!  I'm excited!)

Yay for lights and the sound of the refrigerator running! 

It's been 8 days since we lost power across Louisville and our office is still in the dark.  I'm here today just watching for packages and working.  Since I have my Verizon wireless card, I'm the only one in the office who can have internet access here.  It's a fun time!  It's actually really spooking because I'm here all by myself and there's no lights or anything to give me background noise.  After working in the loft for the last 4 years and dealing with all of the noise that brings, it's hard to work in quiet.  I need some background noise, but if I play music on my computer, my battery will drain faster and I can only work for as long as I have power. 

I had a pretty relaxing weekend.  Woke up with a migraine yesterday morning, but I took my meds, went back to sleep and was okay in the afternoon.  I did watch my Colts play and was very sad to see them get beat.  I really want to go to a game at Lucas Oil, so if any of you have some connections for a poor missionary, please let me know!

Finally, we're launching a new way to raise funds for Emerald Hills tomorrow.  It uses special gift cards for Kroger and Emerald Hills gets 4% of the money put on the gift card.  So, you just put $100 on your gift card, then pay for your groceries, prescriptions or gas with the gift card and we get money!  It's a great way to donate money without changing what you do!  It works at all Kroger affiliates...King Soopers, JayC, Fry's, Dillon's, etc.  There are 9 or 10 different stores that it works at, so check out your local grocery store to see if there's one that you can make a difference through.  If you are interested, let me know and I'll put your card in the mail! 

Have a great day!  Only 1 hour, 11 minutes left on my battery, so I better go work faster!

So yesterday Louisville was hit with a very strong wind storm.  As a result, 301,000 people are without power in the metro area...about 75% of the population.  Thankfully, I have never lost power.  So, my house has been set up as a interim shelter.  My best friend spent the night last night, another friend was here till midnight last night, and yet a third friend is here now.  My frig is going to become full of other people's things soon, but that's okay.  That's what I'm here for.  So, please be praying for everyone affected.  They're saying it will be 10-14 days before power is restored to everyone. It's going to be a long week for a lot of people. 

Emily came over last night and helped me tape off for the stripes at the top of my bedroom walls.  We used special "frog tape" (the green stripe) to mark where the white area will be in between the stripes.  The 1" blue tape was used as a marker to know where the bottom skinny stripe will be.  We went back and put another stripe of the frog tape under the blue, then pulled the blue off.  That strategy took much less time than using my laser level to tape one inch below the top stripe of tape.  So, the blue is now gone, and there are two stripes of green.  If it matched better, I'd be seriously tempted to leave it up there!  It looks great!  Left to do: Paint the Kelly's Island stripes on the wall, paint my photo screen white, then paint it Kelly's Island minus the stripes, paint my dresser and reload the room!  It's getting there!

Seven years ago, I was getting ready in my dorm room.  The Today show was on and I was brushing my teeth almost ready to go to Chapel.  I stayed in my room to see the breaking news report after the first plane flew into the Trade Center and was late to chapel.  I don't remember who spoke, but I can tell you almost the exact seat I was in.  Dave Wheeler got up at the end of the service to tell us about the second plane at the World Trade Center and the plane at the Pentagon.  After Chapel, I went back to our dorm mom's apartment with my RA (whose dad worked at the Pentagon) and several other girls and watched it unfold.  My discussion group for Tommy Smith's worldview class met that afternoon at Carole and Lee's trailer in Old Orchard and we talked only about the day. 

Life changed after 9/11.  I have the front page of the Knoxville News-Sentinel for those next 6 months in a box under my guest bed.  I have no idea why I kept them, but they're there.  I have no idea what I'll do with them, but that's okay.  I felt like I needed to preserve that piece of our history.  I know that I'll never forget that day, where I was when I first heard, or the way I felt.  May we all remember those who died that day and never forget the ways that God worked to save thousands more lives. 

 I am so excited that the temperatures finally feel like fall!  Yay!  It's only 72 outside right now and I was able to turn off my air con last night.  Which was also good because I painted my bedroom.  I was mostly a slacker this weekend and took advantage of the quiet to lay on the couch and get some much needed rest time.  I watched entirely too many chick flicks to count, surfed the internet, and had a refreshing weekend.  I did spray paint my two bedside tables and a wall shelf on Saturday.  The wind was not working too much in my favor as I ended up with paint in my hair and all along my left leg.  It was a very funny looking tan line let me tell you!  The tables look great and match my bed really well.  So, I decided that I am going to paint my dresser a dark brown color to match instead of white with stripes.  I think it will ground the room more.  So, I need to go back to Home Depot and pick out some swatches before buying.  Lissa came over last night and we painted the Frost color on the walls.  It turned out great!  The room looks so open and airy and clean.  I still need to measure and tape for the stripes, paint my dresser, and prime, paint and stripe my photo screen.  It's getting there.  I can't wait to have it all pulled together! 

In other news, I can now rub my eyes!  It's been a full month since my LASIK surgery and I am so excited to wash my eyelids well now.  Yeah, I know, it sounds dumb, but it's true!  I'm still a bit careful, but I should be totally in the clear.  It's great.  I have so much more vision than I did before, even with contacts.  My peripheral vision is much improved and I notice things a lot more.  Colors are more defined as well, which is very nice.  Still seeing some major halos at night, but I'm getting used to it.  I'm just so thankful for Dr. Schmitt and the work that he did.  He's literally changed my life and I am so excited about it! 

And, I leave you with a picture from Emerald Hills last week.  We had a guy from a church up in the Cincy area here and this is what the Prayer Center and Atrium looks like now! 

David and I at the "storefront" entrance.  There will be glass inside each of the holes in the framework and 2 sets of doors for the entryway.  It's one of my favorite parts of the building!

David and I standing at the cul de sac at the back of the building.  It's been awesome to see this come together!

To see the whole album from that day, go here:  http://photoserver.zenfolio.com/p222177094/.  When you're done, just use the navigation at the top to look at pictures from August as well.  The building dedication is November 1 and then we move in.  I cannot wait to be here for Christmas! 

Here in Louisville, it's been pretty dry lately.  As a result, the gorgeous tulip tree by our office has started dropping leaves.  These beauitful red-brown and yellow leaves are everywhere and it's making me anxious for fall.  I LOVE October.  It's my favorite month.  I love cool weather and sweaters and crunching in leaves.  I love high school football (gonna make it to a few games this year!), hot chocolate and bonfires.  The older I get, the more I love spring when things start to bloom, but I just love fall.  It's still my favorite season.  I've always wanted to get married in October, maybe I'll get to now. 

Speaking of the wedding, I'm doing very well.  My counselor released me last week and said I was moving well through the grieving process and healing well.  He's helped me immensely and I am so thankful for insurance that covers that.  I also feel like I have my zest for life back.  I find myself humming around the house and belting it out when a good song comes on the radio.  It's nice.  I feel like my old self, and I'm realizing I wasn't like this for a long time. 

I'm redecorating my bedroom and am in the process of painting.  Over the weekend, I moved all of my furniture (including my queen size bed!) by myself.  I felt rather buff after that.    I've taped and done the primer coat and let me tell you, that room looks so strange with white walls!  I'm painting it white (Frost) with 2 stripes of a really pretty dark aqua/green color called Kelly's Island.  I need to double the primer on the trim on the old orange wall, then I will be ready for the Frost coat.  I need to figure out what you put over tape to insure that the pant doesn't bleed or feather down and I have a crisp line.  I read that clear gel acrylic works well online, but I need a trip to Home Depot to ask the paint people there.  I'll go tonight after Julie's birthday dinner at Q'doba.  Pictures will be coming soon.  I don't want to put up the in progress ones until I get the final coat on. 

Have a great day everyone!  I've got to go do my weekly prayer update now.