New floor and New "neighbor"

Last Sunday (20th), Lee came up and we decided to go ahead and pull up the carpet in our family room since we were putting the new floor down on Saturday. Therefore, we had what I called a "poor newlyweds apartment" for the last week (not to offend anyone!): no entertainment center and just a third of our sectional couch. It was actually quite cozy!









Saturday, Jason and Gary put the new floor down, but unfortunately, the salesman did not estimate correctly, so we're missing about 2 feet. He got to the store just after it closed, so we'll finish it this week!








Lastly, we have a "new neighbor" who we've named Charlotte. A few weeks ago, she had camped out right outside our sunroom door, so we had to relocate her to the Crape Myrtle tree in the backyard, but she parked just outside our window in the back of the family room. She has a very nice web! We think she's a garden spider. Apparently, she likes Wake Forest!





Saturday night, we went to our friend Tony B.'s 60th birthday party, which was tons of fun! An Italian cook made from stratch lasagna, even the noddles were homemade, so it seemed sweeter than the other kinds.

Sunday, went went down to Charlotte for Becca's birthday, eating at Olive Garden, and then going to their house and we played pictionary. Jason and I did pretty well, getting some hard ones that we drew for each other since we were on the same team.

Then, we had TNT talking about the distorations with the word community: how we hide our struggles and isolate ourselves, which thereby doesn't promote community. It was very challenging!

Off to a new week! Next Saturday is the U2 concert in Raleigh, which I've been looking forward to since April when I bought the tickets! It's going to be a long week!

All Church Retreat!

We had the Corinth All Church Retreat this weekend! Jason and I really enjoy this retreat. This our third time going. We actually went when we weren't even members of Corinth, which is where we met a bunch of people, and even found out about the life group we now attend on Fridays.



The theme this year was "All Hands on Deck: Service over Self". Pastor Bob talked about the idea of a "consumer driven church": where we are more focused on what we get out of church then how we can contribute to church and the community. It made me think a lot of how I can get caught up in having more things instead of doing more things for God and others.



We really enjoyed that since our theme was service, each "crew" did a project around the Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds. Our crew pulled weeds in the front and then put some new mulch down. It was so amazing that in an hour, the flower beds looked completely different! I guess it shows that improvements happen when you pull the bad stuff ("weeds") out of your life and replace it with good stuff (like mulch!).



Saturday evening, the whole retreat goes to the Daniel Boone Inn to eat dinner. We had to leave early since we helped with the "Nautical Nonsense" games later that evening. I think everyone had a great time! First, we did a "shoe hunt" and had everyone take off their shoes and pile them in the middle. Then one person from each team goes up, finds their shoes, ties them and runs back and another person goes.



I didn't get this on video, but someone tied Pastor Bob's shoe strings together, and then our other Pastor Paul threw one of the youth's shoes across the gym at the end and then they wrestled a bit as they tried to get back to their team to "win" the game. I have a quick video from the beginning of the game!

Then, we had them complete different tasks and at the end, they'd make a flag for their ship.

Blindfold a crew member to "walk the plank" because they complained about the food

Stick life saver candy to a member's face since they were drowning

Pull one of the younger members on a towel with a rope (to pull in the anchor in )

Pass a beach ball over each member's head in a line (to help work together as a storm comes)

Blow up balloons as your "floaties" since the ship is sinking!

Most of my pictures turned out blurry since the teams completed their tasks so quickly! Just use your imagination! But, here's a photo of some of the flags! Our team was the SOS Servant's Heart!

Quirky pets!

This week felt long for both of us, even with Monday off! We've both been feeling a bit of fall allergies, which is a bit distracting to life.

We enjoyed life group of Friday, talking about Joseph revealing who he was to his brothers and saying the infamous translation to his brothers: "You intended it for evil, but God intended it for good."

Saturday, Jason went dove hunting while I just chilled at the house. I did get my cat Lilac to actually sit on my lap for about 5 minutes, which is HUGE progress! Sunday, we watched the Panthers get slaughtered with Liz here at the house and then went to Red Lobster.

I have some videos of our crazy pets for entertainment.

First is Lilac, who is in love with our kitchen faucet:

Jimi doesn't do much that's odd, but he loves the sunroom!

Lastly, the crazy dogs! Chip sneezes when he's excited and Molly just loves to love!

Pre Labor Day Week and Labor Day

It's been a busy week!

Monday, had the normal dinner with my mom and dad.

Tuesday, I went to help with a service project at church that the women's ministry did. We put together care packages for a missionary in India. Jason went with Liz to the Crawdads game, but it wasn't a very good game at all.


Wednesday, had the usual working at church.


Thursday, we had a Community Watch meeting. There were more people than I thought since it wasn't just our circle. A few weeks ago, a house was broken into and a car stolen. The people were on vacation. The police officer did mention that alarms are good to have. We do leave the dogs in the sunroom at night, which makes me feel safer, but I'm not sure if we need to take further steps or not.

Friday, I had half day off and Jason took comp time. Gary, Linda, and Lee picked us up around 1:30 and we headed up 321. We stopped at Moses Cone for awhile, then the Boone Mass General store where we bought some candy (since we never do!), and then headed to Shatley Springs for dinner. It was a nice evening to just spend with family!


Saturday, Jason and I decided to head to Grandfather Mountain!







Both of us had not been there in years and I just thought it would be nice to go! We enjoyed seeing the animals (we fed a bear in the video below) and the mountain views! The weather was a bit overcast so it felt great! We drove on the parkway with the windows down since it was so cool!




Sunday & Monday, we just rested for the most part! We did do some yardwork and walked the dogs today, so we weren't completely lazy!

A "new year" of school and learning

Jason's first week of school went well! There was a compressor in one of the Jenkins' trailers that went out Monday, but thankfully got it fixed on Tuesday, the first day of school! He's been very tired this week, especially since Saturday he helped his friend Kevin again.

I am learning more about self insurance through another co worker because I've got to spreadsheet some competitive quotes. It's completely different than fully insured, so I've got to be patient with myself.

Friday, we had some lightning storms, especially at the Shankles house near Fred T. Foard high school where we had life group. We talked about Joseph getting out of jail and becoming "Vice President" of Egypt. All for interpreting a dream that told Pharaoh he needed to prepare for a famine in seven years!

While Jason was gone on Saturday, I went with mom to the mall for a bit and we bought "Cletus" a bib from Babies-R-Us that says, "Chicks Dig Me." I think it's cute!

Sunday, I worked in nursery for a new member orientation, so Jason got to sleep in a quiet house during the afternoon!

Then, we went to the 50th annivesary celebration for our church, Corinth. They opened a time capsule with some newspapers and articles from the early 1900's to the 1950's. Later, they had a service, with some talking about memories of coming to the church.

Now, we're watching the documetary called "Planet Earth" that's on the Discovery Channel. We didn't know there are really glowworms! I thought it was just an 80's thing! They live in caves! We don't see how anyone can watch a show like that and not believe there is a Creator!

Cletus is a BOY!!!

My brother has been calling their baby "Cletus the Fetus".

Today, we found out that Cletus is a BOY! Carrying on the Starnes family name! I don't think they'll really name him Cletus!

Estimated Time of Arrival: January 12th, 2010

Appreciation!

Jason was back to a normal schedule this week, except having to work until 5:00 on Wednesday. The administration/teachers had a kick off "pep rally" on Thursday and Jason said it was good. Hopefully, since many had to wait out the whole summer not knowing if they had a job, everyone will be more appreciative towards one another (especially the maintanence department).

I have gotten very busy with work, having at least five groups I'm working quotes for. I'm started to get the groups confused, so I need to slow down and not let myself get overwhelmed. I'm also having to deal with a co-worker who is causing difficulties towards me and others, so that will be challenging. She tried bossing me around Wednesday and it made me mad! I did get over it, and have decided to have the best attitude I can about it.

Friday, we had life group at our house since the originally host was sick. I had to lead too, so I prepared on Thursday evening! We are at where Joseph works and gains the trust of his boss, Potiphar. Then is thrown into prision after Potiphar's wife lies and accuses him of assault. (which he is innocent of).

There, he somehow makes the best out of his situation and is put in charge of the other prisioners. What a work ethic! We even discussed that since Joseph was the favorite son, he probably didn't have to do a lot of chores like his brothers did. He apparently trusted God on such a deep level that things would somehow work out, though he is unfairly in prision. Of
course, knowing the end of the story makes it easier to see this, but I try to read as if I don't know how it will work out. That way, it relates to my life more!

Saturday, I cleaned the inside of the house while Jason mowed. We watched "The Mummy" in the afternoon. We had dinner with Liz at Village Inn, then flipped between the Bristol race and Panthers game that evening. We hadn't seen her in awhile since we've been so busy on the weekends, so it was nice!

Today, we helped with nursery the whole time because a co worker needed to leave early. Then, we had TNT tonight and talked about the mystery of pain & unfairness, which correlates to the Joseph story from Friday.

We had another thunderstorm tonight! There's been a few this week! Even though it makes things muddy, we need it so it's another appreciation!