Gifts to Ecuador

Have you ever prepared a box of gifts for a child through Operation Christmas Child?

I remember doing this at church when I was in elementary school. I remember doing this in homeroom in high school. I remember doing this on my own during college. I have always enjoyed picking out toys, toiletries, and school supplies for a child in another country that does not have as much.

Recently, Operation Christmas Child has made available a way for you to track your box - they will email you and let you know what country your box was sent to.

Nate and I put together some boxes this year, and I got an email saying they want to Ecuador! Yes - Ecuador, the country I minister in this past February!

The email had a link to a website with more details, stories, pictures, and videos. Check it out here if you are interested. The videos will make you smile!

Our boxes were two of 151,200 that went to kids in Ecuador this year - a simple task we did that will bring joy to children and allow them to hear to good news of the Gospel.

Family Christmas

Our family decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve this year, with responsibilities at church on Sunday morning, we still wanted to have a relaxing morning. We set cookies out for Santa on Friday night and crawled in bed anticipating Christmas the next morning!

Amy and Julie decided we needed a real tree this year, and there were several presents under it on Saturday morning! We enjoyed choosing gifts for each other to open - some gifts were to replace what was lost in the flood and others were simply for fun.

After all the gifts were opened, there were still stockings to do! Amy had made new stocking for us to replace the ones lost in the flood. Mom and Dad have not had stocking in the past, but my sisters and I had a fun time stuffing them [overflowing them!] full of goodies for our parents!

My grandma from Maryland was able to celebrate with us this year, and Nate came for our appetizer dinner before the Christmas Eve service at my parent's church. While we celebrated on a different day, we still kept our Tischer Family Christmas traditions alive!

Oh What Fun!

It looks like we should be heading to a Christmas party! Both of my sisters are home, so we are having a party! We've had a couple nice family dinners all together and have plans to celebrate Christmas. Trying on our dresses from high school was just one of the many random things we will end up doing during the time they are home!

My grandma is also in town, so while Mom and Dad are at work tomorrow, my sisters and I plan to spend time with Grandma. We'll probably decorate a gingerbread house, bake lots of cookies, and have Grandma take us out to lunch!

Julie and Amy decided we had to have a real [big] tree in our house this year, so that was their project today. They found and cut down a tree for our living room, and we all spent the evening decorating it. It already has quite a few presents under it, waiting to be opened on Saturday morning. Yes. Saturday. We decided to have a more leisurely Christmas morning on Christmas Eve. We'll save our [new] stockings [that Amy made!] for Christmas morning before church, and have a nice turkey meal for supper on Christmas day! Grandma will be with us for the weekend, and then we head to my other grandparents on Monday to celebrate with more extended family for the day.

It's nice to have the whole family together - we haven't all been together since May! I'm looking forward to our time together as we continue to make Tischer Family Memories - like trying on fancy dresses!

Breaking in the Kitchen

Here's a look at our new kitchen. And that pile of pots and pans means we have been putting it to good use!

I picked out a handful of new recipes to try for my birthday. Mom started working on things in the morning, and the meal turned into a three-person morning activity! Mom was working on three recipes at once, trying to coordinate each one with the others. Dad stepped in to help, but I continued to hear, "Oh shoot!" come from Mom's mouth on occasion - what was going on in that kitchen?! I decided to keep my distance and hoped to be pleasantly surprised when it was time to eat.

My sister, Julie, wandered through the kitchen, and Mom pulled her into the mix! Julie became in charge of grating the cheese...lots and lots of cheese!! I picked out buffalo chicken grilled cheese and Dinosaur BBQ's mac 'n cheese for my lunch. I could have continued the theme and asked for cheesecake, but I requested fruit flan for dessert.

After an overflow on the stove, a few substituted ingredients, and an exhausted cook, we sat down to a very tasty meal!

Nate was able to join us for lunch, and after we ate, we tried another new recipe - eggnog cookies. Nate has not been able to stop talking about eggnog since he started thinking about Christmas, so I figured he would love these! Our time in the kitchen had a few interesting moments as well, but the cookies turned out yummy!

We certainly put our new kitchen to good use today! Notice the lower cabinets, dishwasher, and counter tops in that picture! With just a few details left to take care of in the kitchen, Mom is looking forward to a break on the house project until after Christmas. I'm sure she'll do plenty more cooking and baking with her "time off" and enjoy her new kitchen!

Free Passes

About a month ago Nate and I went to a snowboarding and skiing movie. Everyone who went to the movie got free passes to a few different mountains. With limits on what days you could use the passes, Nate and I went today, even though only a few slopes were open at Windham Mountain. After the two hour drive, we were on the slopes around 11:30. Nate has his own snowboard, and we were able to borrow some skis for myself. Free lift tickets and no rentals - score!

They were making snow and only two chair lifts were open, so we went down the same slopes over and over. I had not skied in two years and the conditions were not excellent, so I cautiously made my way down the mountain each time. We did warm up to an intermediate blue slope, but I let Nate brave the black diamond alone this trip!

We're hoping to use another one of our passes sometime this season to enjoy these winter sports some more!

Think Pink

My coworker, Emily, is pregnant. It's kind of interesting when you work at a pregnancy center and a staff member is pregnant! We have enjoyed sharing in Emily's excitement as she and Ben anticipate the arrival of their little one. Many of us have been predicting the gender of the baby - with lots of guesses for a boy, I said it's a girl. Yesterday Emily and Ben found out they are indeed having a little girl!!

As soon as Micaela and I heard the news, we decided to decorate Emily's office with all things GIRL! We got pink balloons, streamers, and confetti. We wore pink and purple and got pink candy, a pink flower, and a pink gift - an elephant bank to start her college fund! We did this before Emily came into work, and it brought a smile to her face when she came in.

We are looking forward to meeting this little girl, and we loved celebrating with her mommy today!

To Grandmother's House We Go

Nate and I spent some time in Canandaigua visiting my grandparents for a couple of days. After stopping in Skaneateles for their Dicken's Christmas, we joined my grandparents for a dinner my grandma had made. My grandpa sets up his own Dicken's Village in their basement every Christmas, so we checked that out. We played a card game, drove around to check out Christmas lights, and just enjoyed the evening together.

In the morning, we went out for breakfast at a little cafe/diner that my grandpa goes to almost every morning. Three of us got the french toast special, and it was yummy! It was neat to get a peak into my grandparents lives during the time we spent with them. We also went over to their church to see where they are involved in ministry.

Grandpa travels to Ecuador every spring with a group from their church. He showed us some pictures and videos of recent trips, and this led to a mini computer lesson on how to use a flash drive! Grandpa also writes stories about his younger years, so he read some of those to us.

With the Village on display, they have lots of guests during this Christmas season. Nate and I helped them get ready for having 14 people for dinner and a tour of the Village. Grandma also showed us the many paintings she has done over they years that are now displayed around the house. Their dog, Lizzy, kept us quite entertained - she just had a procedure done, so had a plastic guard around her head to keep her from licking it. She kept running into things, but she sure could still eat all of her treats from Grandpa!

We enjoyed our time with Grandma and Grandpa, and I'm thankful for their heart for the Lord. Their desire to serve and live for Him was so evident in their actions and in conversation. What an example they are sharing!

Mom Loves Her Projects!

My mom loves projects! She usually plans ahead before she tackles a project, but when our house flooded three months ago, she jumped right in and took on this new project! She has overseen rebuilding our home from the beginning, organizing days to clear out our house, making sure everything was sanitized and dried out properly, making decisions about what we needed to be able to move back in, coordinating work efforts to re-wire the electric, sheetrock the walls, and install kitchen cabinets, and so much more!

Mom has done all this while still continuing to work her regular job. She has done all this while still fulfilling her commitments at church. She has done all this while still keeping in touch with far away family. She has done all this while still having a joyful spirit. She has done all this while still wanting us to have a special Christmas.

She has put the house project on a slower pace lately, wanting time to celebrate Christmas. Our house progress has moved right along, and she is taking a well-deserved break! There is still plenty more to do after the holidays, and I hope she is able to get the rest she needs to gear up for the next step in this project!

Thank you, Mom, for the time you have put in and the commitment you have made to rebuilding our home. Many have been impressed by your positive attitude, and I appreciate your flexibility as we live together in a half-finished house. We will be able to look back on this experience with great memories! I know your true hope is in the Lord, and He has certainly blessed us with family and friends that care for us. Continue to allow them to wrap their arms around you during this time, encouraging you on this journey. I love you, Mom, and it is a joy to be a part of your family!

In the picture above, Mom is cleaning up after a painting project. She is how she also washed our dishes for a few weeks! We did not have a sink in the kitchen, but she wanted to move in anyway and agreed to wash the dishes in the bathtub. She has certainly made sacrifices during this time, and I hope she knows that they do not go unnoticed.

Looking Like a Kitchen

My uncle came down for a day this past week to install our lower kitchen cabinets and our kitchen sink! We now have running water on the first floor, and we hope to move kitchen items into the new cabinets soon. We still need to install the lazy susan in the corner and the dishwasher next to the sink. Counter tops will be in soon, and kick boards and knobs will come eventually.

We did redesign our kitchen less than ten years ago, and my mom like it just the way it was. That made it easier to make decisions about this new kitchen. She had the original layout and plans, so took those in when ordering cabinets. We did save the upper cabinets, and the store still had the exact match for the lower! We changed a few of the colors, and while we did save our old sink, Mom is excited about the new stove - it has a flat surface, unlike our old one! We have already done some cooking and baking in our new space, and are looking forward to it being done by Christmas.

While we are making progress at our house, homes around the area are at all different stages. I had the opportunity yesterday to help clear out a house down the road. This place had not really been touched for 3 months. Friends of mine from Rochester came down for the day to work on it, so I joined them for the afternoon. We tore out walls and floors, and it was strange to think that my house used to look like that. Unlike us, many families are not rebuilding. Several homes around us have been sold or are for sale. The owner of the home we were at planned to sell the house after it was cleared out. I was glad to spend time helping at a house and being reminded of what others are still working on.

We are still moving forward and continue to appreciate encouragement, prayers, gifts, and support. God has given us a sense of joy and peace during this time through family and friends like you!

Lunch Break

This is Nate's first attempt at taking a picture of us - a little blurry, but I like it! I like it because it reminds me of the times I met him for lunch at his work. Since I have Fridays off, I would sometimes meet him for his lunch break. We met at a nearby Subway a couple times, but then we realized we would have more time if we just brought food and ate together in his truck. It was always fun to spend a little bit of time together on Friday afternoons, but yesterday was our last lunch together at Willow Run - where Nate works. His last day there is on Tuesday! He took a new job at Frito Lay with an undetermined start date at this point. He still put in his two weeks at Willow Run, looking forward to some time off in between around the holidays. He will still be working his part time job at Frito Lay until the transition to the full time driver's spot.

It will be a little harder for me to join Nate for lunch at his new job. He did say that he gets to take a passenger twice a year, so I'll have to join him on the road at some point! He is looking forward to this new position. He has been working at Willow Run for 6 years now, mostly as a yard jockey - moving trucks around in the yard and getting them ready to take out. [By the way! After our lunch on Friday, Nate drove me out back to the yard so I could see where he spends most of his day. I always enjoy seeing where people live or work, so I was glad to see that before his time there is through.] More recently, he picked up a part time job at Frito Lay, hoping to get in there full time eventually. A spot opened up for him, and he is looking forward to scaling down to just having one job.

Maybe Nate will have to come visit me for lunch now until he starts his new job!

Kitchen Floor

Our kitchen floor was installed today! That means all of our new appliances are in the front room - we can move them back tomorrow. For now we are running back and forth from our dining room in the back to the fridge in the front room for each meal!

Our lower kitchen cabinets also came today. My uncle is coming soon to install those. We'll need counter tops and the sink and the dishwasher set up with plumbing, and our kitchen will be back in business!

Friends have still been bringing us meals twice a week - they have been very helpful!

Mom is looking forward to having the kitchen complete. She is planning to take a break from making any decisions about the house until after Christmas - then she will work on the rest of the house!

Sharing our Interests

When I tell people about Nate, they usually think it's really great that we do stuff together! So many couples just watch movies and hang out, but we each have our hobbies and enjoy doing them together. Here are some of the things we have done together:

• Four Wheeling - The first time I hung out at Nate's house, he had a group from church over for four wheeling. I had only gone four wheeling once before, and he even let me drive for a bit! We've gone in the mud and in the dark, and we've taken it up to see the sunset at this house.
• Running - This is how Nate first asked me to hang out one-on-one. You see, the four wheeling went so well, he decided to show interest in something I enjoy. He found out I was doing a 5K for my work and pretty much became a runner over night! We ran together a few times before the race and have gone a couple of times since.
• Farkle - Something else Nate learned early on is that I love games! He had the dice game, Farkle at his house, and I noticed it after an evening run and four wheeler ride at his house. He got the game for his birthday, but had never even played it! Well, I changed that, I taught him this great game. Now Nate has started asking me if we can play Farkle when we are hanging out!
• Making Food - Nate had no clue how much I like making smoothies, but he suggested we make them that same night we played Farkle for the first time. Since then we have also made pizza, grilled cheese, and some breakfast foods together. I still need to show him some of my crock pot recipes!
• Motorcycle - Nate has a bike and took me for a ride the week before we started dating. We took it out together a few times since then to go hang out with friends and a longer ride to enjoy the fall leaves.
• Hiking - One place we took the motorcycle was to go hiking. We have gone hiking at a few places recently and always enjoy spending time outside together. Of course I bring my camera, and we look for some scenic views. It's usually very peaceful and a fun afternoon activity.
• Shooting - Nate has all the cool toys! He has a number of guns, and a few friends got together one Sunday afternoon to shoot clay birds. I had never shot a gun before, but I did manage to hit a few!
• Hunting - We shot clay birds before deer season, but Nate just took me out hunting! I got to wear orange and we sat in the words for about two and a half hours until the sun set. We saw four deer, but none were close enough to shoot. It was fun keeping an eye on them with the binoculars and spending time together - Nate did let me whisper every so often!

It is fun to share these activities with each other. We are both learning new things and can appreciate what the other enjoys. The time we spend together usually has purpose, and we enjoy getting to know each other through these activities.

Thanksgiving Reflection

• A job that I love with wonderful co-workers.
• Friends' hospitality, love, and support during the flood.
• The time and ability to keep in touch with long distance friends.
• A house with a firm foundation.
• A church family to learn and grow with.
• Grandparents that love me.
• God's creativity.
• Sisters and many years of memories from growing up together.
• Spiritual encouragement from friends.
• Past experiences - pleasant or difficult - that I have grown from.
• Contentment.
• An easy transition to life after college.
• Parents that set an example of a good work ethic and a positive attitude.
• Text messages that make me smile.
• Those days when I realize how much God spoils me.
• Traveling to visit friends and family.
• A boyfriend that seeks to keep God first.
• Time to reflect on God's goodness.
• Events on my calendar to look forward to.
• Joy and peace that comes from God.
• New experiences.
• Having a true desire to read and study God's Word.
• Stars and sunsets.
• Laughter.
• Mentors I have had over the years.
• Knowing we have heaven to look forward to.
• Another year to reflect on the many blessings from God.
  
  Happy Thanksgiving!

A Painted Kitchen and Lots of Laundry

Things are coming along at the Tischer Home! Our kitchen now has a fridge, microwave, stove, upper cabinets, and the latest - paint on the walls! My grandparents came down earlier this week and painted the kitchen and all of the ceilings. We broke in the new stove by baking cookies - oatmeal chocolate chip - a family favorite! We have been making our own meals, and we mostly use paper plates and cups, but what dishes we do have, we have to wash upstairs in the bathtub.

The floor, lower cabinets, and counter top will all come in next week. With the kitchen complete, my mom will take a sigh of relief until after Christmas - then she will begin thinking about the other rooms in the house!

When many of our kitchen appliances came, our new washer and dryer came as well. This was helpful as I had to wash my entire wardrobe! Since my clothes had been sitting in my closet for two months in air the flood had touched, they all smelled and needed a good washing. I did several loads of laundry, and these guys get the job done! The dryer is really quick, and both of them sing to you when your clothes are done.

You'll notice a section of the bathroom wall is missing there on the left. When the sheetrock was hung, a nail went into one of the pipes. We had to open up the wall to fix the water issue, and we are waiting for the sheetrock guy to close it up again. (It's okay though - this gives Mom more time to think about a paint color!)

Julie is off from school and home for the week. This is her first time home since the flood. She went right to work cleaning flood mud off items when she first got here! Amy will be home for Christmas, so we'll see what it looks like at that point. Pictures and my blogging help, but my sisters will never really know what it was like to go through everything with the house. Talking to a neighbor the other day, she did not ever want to look back and remember what it was like. I think it's important to remember the tough times and reflect on what God has brought you though. We are continuing to take small steps in this process, and celebrate little accomplishments along the way - like paint colors and laundry!

A Job I Love

"I really love my job - God is good!" This was my Facebook status yesterday as I realized how much I enjoy my job. Here's a peak at what I get to do at Life Choices Center, the pregnancy center I work for:

• Design Projects - I create posters, door signs, pens, postcards, letterhead, banners, that sweet table covering in the pictures up there, business cards, and other promotional pieces that help to let others know who we are. I love playing around with font, images, and colors, making each piece just right! How it all began: I was the yearbook editor in high school and loved designing pages!
• Communications - My title is Communications Director, and I an responsible for letters, emails, newsletters, and connecting with our donors and supporters. I also do a lot on our Facebook page and website. How it all began: I took the initiative to write our family Christmas letter one year, and my roommate dubbed me Email Queen in college!
• Events - I assist in planning and organizing fundraisers, volunteer fairs, and speaking engagements. The picture above in me and my co-worker, Micaela, at a volunteer fair at Binghamton University. We had students fill out a survey for us, gaining insight into what college students would need if they faced an unplanned pregnancy. How it all began: I led fundraisers all throughout high school and some during college, and I have always loved planning events for friends!
• Pregnancy Tests - Much of my work is focused on our donors and supporters, but sometimes I get a break from that and interact with our clients. Many come in each week for a pregnancy test. A staff member or volunteer talks with them and is there when they take the test. I have been training to do these and did my first one on my own this past week! It's great to be a part of this primary work that we do and to support girls in this way. How it all began: I have always had a heart for people and enjoy being a listening ear.

There is always something new happening at Life Choices Center, and the variety keeps me moving. My co-workers are great, and my schedule is flexible. I have enjoyed reflecting on my past years and seeing how things I have done are now being used in this ministry. I look forward to continuing to allow the Lord to use me in this position, and I'm thanking Him for this job I love!

Settling In

We have been back home for a week now. We are still settling in as we are slowly getting back items that people took home to wash for us. My aunt from Maryland came to visit over the weekend and brought several items with her. We now have a couch, lamp, rugs, puzzles, and some kitchen items! The picture above is our living room where Mom takes naps and Dad reads his book or catches up on Amazing Race (on our new laptop, no TV yet). The patio furniture works well in there!

We saved our upper kitchen cabinets, and my uncle came down last week to install them. They are now filled with paper plates, cups, and bowls that we eat our meals from. Several families have been providing dinners for us as we are still waiting on our stove. We do have a fridge and microwave, so the kitchen is coming together. The floor has been ordered as well as the lower cabinets and counter tops. These will all go in the two weeks after Thanksgiving if all goes as planned. Mom also picked out a kitchen paint color, so my grandparents will be down soon to help with that!

Many of you have provided for our family in so many ways! Love, support, encouragement, gifts, time, prayers, meals, housing, money, gift cards, labor, and interest in our lives. THANK YOU for coming along side us during this time - we appreciate you! You are helping to make this our home again, and we continue to thank God for your part in the process!

Peace Leading to Hope

A song had been in my head lately, and every time it comes on the radio I smile. It's a great reminder of the peace we can have during tough times because we know where our hope is. Check out the song by Aaron Shust here and reflect on some of the lyrics below. (Please ignore the advertisement in the beginning as the video loads.)

My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You, Lord

Whatever situation we are facing, we can have that peace that passes understanding because of the hope we have in the Lord. My parents and I have talked about this - the sense of peace we had during this flood from the very first day. We can't explain it, but we can move forward with hope for the future.

If you didn't listen to the song, you really should! It'll stick in your head too - My Hope is in You.

Homeless No More!

I have been living out of my car for 62 days. I started with just that blue duffel bag, my pillow, and my laptop. I continued to acquire more and more, packing it all into my Honda Accord. Once we were able to get back into the house when the flood waters went down, I grabbed a few more clothes. And then the weather got colder as summer turned to fall - I had to have some sweaters, jackets, and something for my feet besides sandals!

I ended up getting another duffel bag and a suitcase to use from home. I tried organizing these all sorts of ways! A week's worth of clothes in each - then I would only need to bring one bag into the house I was staying at. That became difficult, so I started putting nicer work clothes in one and pajamas and t-shirts in another. I was constantly rearranging all the belongings in my car! My trunk became the place for items I did not need on a regular basis, and I had my core items that I would bring into every house I stayed at. I was surprised at how full my car became in two months time, but then again, I couldn't go two months without a few good shopping trips!

You'll notice bedding in my back seat here. No. I did not bring bedding and a towel everywhere I stayed! Those are the ones from my bed at home. The ones I recently washed that are now back on my own bed, ready for me to fall asleep tonight. Did you catch that? I'm sleeping in my own bed!!

It's Okay to Cry

It has been an emotional week. I had been doing okay with the flood up until a couple weeks ago, and then I cried for the first time since May. I cried again twice this week.

I used to be a crier. I think I get it from my mom. Things hit me pretty hard emotionally. After going into the hospital for mental health issues two years ago, my crying has not been as often. In fact, I started to view crying as a sign that something was wrong. I would call my doctor right away with hopes of straightening things out. That first year after the hospitalization, I think I only cried twice. I didn't like it. Something was missing. Something that used to be so "Laura" was now gone.

I asked my doctor about my lack of tears. Was the medicine preventing me from crying? He was not concerned, and I simply started being thankful for the fact that my life circumstances were going so well that I had nothing to cry about.

These past two years I've seen crying as I huge warning sign, but now I am trying to see it as a normal emotion, understanding that it is healthy if it does not get out of hand. I think crying and those emotions of frustration and sadness that go along with it are okay as you respond to it appropriately. What do you do with all of those emotions? Does it lead to anger? Or do you process through what is really bothering you at the time with hopes of changing something for the better.

Sometimes it takes me coming to tears to realize I need something. I need to talk. I need a hug. I need encouragement. I don't realize how worn out I've become until I reach the point of tears. In that moment, I cannot be afraid to ask for help. Simply expressing those emotions brings others to surround you with the love you need to carry on. How would they ever know you were hurting unless you express it? It's so hard to ask for help, so sometimes our tears will do that work for us.

I cried this week and clued others in that I was hurting. I was met with encouraging messages, helpful conversations on Facebook, texting, and the phone, two unplanned visits with friends, and love that allowed my day to end in laughter, not in tears.

After two years of tears being a sign that something must be wrong, I am slowly coming back to the place where I've realized to appreciate my tears and respond to them appropriately, realizing again that it's okay to cry.

Fall List Complete!

A couple months ago, I made a list of fall activities that I wanted to do. I completed that list over the weekend when Nate and I carved pumpkins! Here's what else was on my list:

• Make a Pumpkin Pie - which I did with my friend, Amanda
• Participate in a Donuts on a String contest - which I did at a group event at Elaine's house
• Take a Ski Lift up to view the fall leaves - which I [sort of] did at Elk Mountain
• Go to Iron Kettle Farm - a childhood favorite that I did with Nate and our friends, Ryan and Amanda

Now it's time to start thinking about a Winter To-Do List!

The During Phase

 Remember this? Our home when we first went back inside? This was BEFORE. Now we are in the DURING phase! Check out the progress we have made on our front room:

We passed our electrical and insulation inspections this week and began sheetrocking! All of the sheetrock is hung, and the taping and spackling will be done shortly. We hired a team to work on the sheetrock, and they have been moving fast!

Our home is looking more and more like a house, and now we have recognizable rooms! Keep checking back for the AFTER picture - that will be very exciting!!

Making Progress

We passed inspection! The insulation and electric were both inspected this week, and we got the "Okay!" to continue the rebuilding process. The sheetrock was delivered recently and has just been waiting to be hung. Well, that all got started today! Our house will soon have recognizable rooms and should be completed some time next week.

Our next steps include:

• Purchasing Appliances - We still need to make a decision on a stove, dishwasher, and microwave.
• Install Flooring - Carpet? Tile? Wood? Linoleum? We still have a few decisions to make...
• Kitchen Cabinets - They will be ordered this week, and then we have to install them.
• Paint Colors - Hopefully we will paint soon after the sheetrock goes up. The question is...what colors?

We built an addition onto our house about ten years ago. Sometimes I think the fact that we did that has been beneficial throughout this rebuilding process. My mom was very involved in the stages of the addition, so she now has a good idea of what needs to be done each step of the way. She has put a lot of time into working on the house and making decisions about it, and I know her efforts will pay off when we are able to enjoy our home again!

Girls Weekend

And the bride wore..cowboy boots?! Yes! I went to West Virginia for my friend, Sarah's, wedding. In high school, I never saw her in cowboy boots, but I guess West Virginia has gotten to her. She has actually even started picking up the southern accent. It was fun to be a part of her big day! Sarah and I have kept in touch since we graduated high school together. I enjoyed supporting her and seeing her so happy with the new life she has begun in West Virginia. She was a wonderful bride, and I'm glad I was there for her special day!

I decided to make the most of my trip to West Virginia - I visited three other friends on the way there and back. Driving through Virginia is beautiful this time of year! It was a little crazy to be in the car by myself for that long, but I was able to find things to do to pass the time.

It was great to see Heather, Christina, and Audrey! I was thinking about it, and each friend I spent time with is from a different season of my life. I knew Heather in elementary school, Sarah in high school, Audrey in college, and Christina after college! So neat to have friendships in so many stages of life - and I've appreciated staying in touch over the years!

I definitely had a lot of girl time this weekend, which was great! Four days, four different states, and four great friends - I loved it!

22 Hours and 1200 Miles

I'm heading out on a road trip tomorrow! I will cover 1200 miles and drive 22 hours and see 4 friends along the way! Here's what I'll be up to:

Virginia - I will spend the night with my friend, Heather, on Thursday. We have plans to go shopping, do some baking, paint our toe nails, and other girly stuff! We always know how to have a good time, and I'll meet some of her friends at Bible study that night too.

West Virginia - Sarah, a friend from high school, is getting married, and I am a bridesmaid. I will travel there in time for the rehearsal on Friday, and then Saturday is the big day! It's always fun to celebrate with friends.

Virginia (again!) - My friend from church, Christina, lives near Liberty University. I'll head there after the wedding and spend the night Saturday. I love seeing where people live and getting a sense for their life away from Binghamton. I'm looking forward to spending time with Christina!

Pennsylvania - Audrey, a friend from Rochester, moved back home to Lancaster, PA after graduation. I'm stopping by on Sunday to have dinner and catch up with her. She just moved into a new apartment, so that will be fun to check out!

It's going to be a whirlwind of a weekend, but I'm looking forward to seeing lots of good friends!

Overflow with Hope

Nate made something for me the other day. He gave me a decorated envelope that said, "Your Verses for Encouragement" and inside were several verses written out on elephants he had cut out! I read through them all and have been taking a different one with me every few days to think about and try to memorize. I'll share one here:

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I love that! The God of hope is the One providing hope, and He does so by allowing joy and peace to be evident in our lives. It has been so encouraging throughout this flood experience to have family and friends comment on my attitude. They have seen joy and peace displayed, and it's not something I am having to work at doing - it comes naturally, from God! I do have a hope for my future, in this life and in the life to come, so I have joy and peace now as I work through this more difficult time.

I am thankful for the God of hope and for what He has provided for me during this time. I also love that word overflow. God has given so much to us that is should cause us to overflow. I pray that I am overflowing with the goodness of the Lord as He fills me up!

Waiting on Two Things

We now have lights on the first floor! The electric is coming along, and before we can sheetrock, we have to have the electric officially inspected. We have lots of new electric boxes, and we were able to turn on lights and ceiling fans tonight! It's funny to remember that we used to have to look around with flashlights, and now that it gets darker sooner, the real lights will be very helpful!

The second thing that has to happen before we can sheetrock is having the house dry out. We have a moisture meter that we have been using, and the house needs to reach a certain level of dryness before we can do the sheetrock on the walls. The garage is a little further behind than the rest of the house, but we keep a handful of dehumidifiers running and are hoping it comes down soon! We have been using a lot of gift cards to Walmart lately, and Mom was able to buy this dehumidifier there today. That gift from a friend is helping us reach the next step in the rebuilding process!

If you are keeping us in your prayers, here are two specific steps you can pray for: the electric completion and inspection and the moisture level to come down. (And patience as we wait for these to happen!) Thank you for your continued interest in my family and our flood recovery - we are still moving forward with energy and enthusiasm!

Replacing What Was Lost

It's not just for brides and babies any more! My mom and I went to Target the other night to register for household items. We titled our registry "Flood Recovery" and scanned in items that will begin to replace what we lost. My parents' church is planning to throw us a shower and wanted to know specific items we would like.

Mom and I registered for lots of kitchen items, office supplies, handy items, and family games. It was a little overwhelming to make so many decisions, and there were items we did not even put on the list because we have not been able to think that far ahead.

We have received much encouragement through the gifts from family, friends, coworkers, and church families. Our new home will be made up of the love of so many!

Views from the Top

Before I even met Nate I had wanted to find a ski place that let you go up on the chair lift to see the view from the top during the fall. After we started hanging out, I mentioned this, and Nate said he had done it before and that we could plan to go in the fall. Elk Mountain has a whole weekend of festivities and the chair lifts are open during the day. We made plans to go on Sunday after church.

Nate's dad and brother, Ryan, joined us for the afternoon trip down to PA. Shortly after arriving, we were climbing up a black diamond ski slope - yes, climbing! We did not take the chair lift, but I joined in the traditional hike up the mountain. It was a hot and sunny afternoon, but after a few rest stops, we made it to the top! The leaves haven't been too spectacular this year, but it was still a neat view with ponds and rolling hills. It was a nice day to enjoy the sunshine, and we got quite a bit of exercise!

One Giant Hug

Our house is coming along, and we are starting to purchase new items to go inside of it. So many family and friends have offered to buy new appliances or other specific items. In fact, my parents church wants to throw us a shower like you would have for a bride-to-be. This means my mom gets to go and create a registry at Bed, Bath, and Beyond or wherever else - that will be fun!

I am picturing our new house and the many hands that will have a part in making it a home. I can't help but imagine feeling like I'm surrounded by one giant hug coming from our many family and friends that have helped us to rebuild.

We have been blessed in so many ways and have been loved and supported during this whole process. Today marks one month since we were evacuated from our home - one more month and we might be moved back in!

I smile every time I think about our new house, and I'm looking forward to receiving that giant hug when it all finally comes together!

The Fun Part

I had some time to kill, so I stopped by the paint section in Walmart today. It will be some time before we can paint the rooms in our house, but it's fun to start thinking about! My mom had been stuck on this country blue for years, and now with that sofa gone, she has agreed to let the blue go too!

Before we pick paint colors, we will probably find furniture we like. It's been fun to dream about what we want our new house to be like! We're thinking about one of those L sofas for the back room with a flat screen TV and room for a computer desk. The front room will have a piano and a love seat or two reading chairs. Without the basement as our family room, we'll need a new place to relax away from the TV in the back. The kitchen and dining room will be similar to what we had before. We haven't talked about the bathroom yet, but my mom has been shopping for a washer and a dryer!

My mom has done quite a bit of appliance shopping and has her vacuum and fridge picked out. We will receive rebates for many of our bigger purchases, and it's crazy to think that just about everything in our house will be brand new!

It's been a long process, and not too fun at times - try bleaching the basement walls when it's 85 degrees down there! - but looking forward to our new home has been pretty fun!

Many Places to Call Home

It's been a little over 3 weeks since we evacuated and left our home due to flooding. While we have made a lot of progress on the house, we still have not been able to move back in.

I have been staying with different friends for two or three nights in a row, and then I head to another house. I have stayed at 8 different homes over the past 3 weeks! Each home has made me feel very welcome with a bed, food, good company, and telling me I can come back any time.

My parents have stayed with two different families and have plans to head to another home next week. Once we have insulation, sheet rock, hot water, and a fridge and microwave, my parents and I might consider moving back into our house. For now, we are thankful for the many friends that have shared their homes with us!

Squeaky Clean

Our house is looking better! Mom has gone out of control with the pressure washer, cleaning off the driveway, the outside of the house, the basement, and the inside of the house! That wasn't enough, however, and when my grandparents and Dad's aunt and uncle came to help yesterday, that scrubbed the two by fours with a toothbrush! Our windows and screens are now clean as well, and we enjoy a patio with clean furniture each night for dinner.

Now that everything is cleaned and sanitized, we have been working to dry everything out. We did restore electric yesterday, so we have plenty of fans running and dehumidifier. We also fired up the wood stove to help dry out the basement.

The electrical wires still need to be replaced, and I believe the next step after that is insulation and sheet rock - once everything is dried out enough. A family friend has been working on the electric, and a guy from my parents' church knows someone that wants to sheet rock for us and only charge for materials. They plan to meet with him next week to discuss that process.

Our needs have continued to be provided! The Red Cross came around each night with hot meals, but last night was the final night for those, so now we'll have to get creative. We have applied for a handful of grants and rebates and even have over $500 toward food stamps we can use the next few months - we're thinking Thanksgiving and Christmas!

The flowers in the picture above were given to us by a church in the area. They sure bring some cheerfulness to our yard! We have been so blessed throughout this whole experience, and Mom and I were even having some fun last night dreaming up our new home - we have a lot to look forward to after all the hard work that will go into this house!

Cheering as Alumni

Four years ago, Lindsey and I got pom poms at Homecoming. We headed back 4 years later to cheer on the Raiders at the Homecoming soccer game!

Nate and I headed up to Rochester on Friday night. We stayed at my friend, Jillian's, new apartment real close to campus. We participated in Homecoming activities all day, starting with a grand tour of campus for Nate. He also met several of my friends and professors that made my time at Roberts memorable. We celebrated the business department's 30 anniversary and watched some soccer games. The weather forecast called for rain all day, but we enjoyed sunshine and blue skies!

Nate ate his first garbage plate for dinner, and we went to Cobbs Hill Park for the sunset. We went back to campus for LIVE, the entertaining talent show students put on every year. Let me just say that one of my kids is going to be in a professional jump roping competition someday - you should youtube it!

A couple friends joined us at Jillian and Justin's place for the evening, and we stayed up talking until after 2:00! It was great to catch up and have some girltime again!

After enjoying crepes for a Birthday Breakfast, Nate and I went to Browncroft for church. We grabbed lunch afterward, and then headed back to Binghamton. It was nice to have a weekend away, but we did make it home in time to help my parents with the house Sunday night. Our weekend together ended with stargazing at Nate's house - it was such a clear night, and we saw 5 shooting stars!

It was fun to attend my first Homecoming as an alum, and I enjoyed showing Nate some of what my college years were like.

Heading to Homecoming

It's Homecoming weekend at Roberts, and I've had it on my calendar for a long time! When this whole flood thing came up, I wasn't sure I would still be able to go, depending on the status of the house. Since we got a lot of work done last weekend, I am able to take a break this weekend and head up to Rochester to spend time with friends up there.

I have not been to Rochester since June, so it will be great to see friends again. There are activities on campus all day Saturday, and I have a list of people I want to be sure to see! The business department is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, so I'm planning to go to their dessert reception and catch up with some professors too.

Nate is coming up with me, so I'll have to show him around Rochester a bit and introduce him to garbage plates! It will be fun to have him meet my friends and get a sense for how I spent my college years.

The weekend away will be a nice break from all the flood clean up back home, and it will be neat to attend Homecoming as an alum!

Good Night's Sleep

I have been staying at different homes all month since being displaced by the flood. Many friends have offered for me to stay with them, so I have been traveling around.

Despite not having a place to really call home, I have slept well at every house I have been to - a little too well the other night! I actually overslept and was an hour late for work! While I don't intend to make that a habit, I am glad that I am sleeping well and resting up for the day's many activities.

A good night's sleep will definitely be important in the weeks so come. My parents and I have been putting in a full day's work at our regular jobs, and then heading to the house to work until dark. After that, it's time to deal with laundry, phone calls, paperwork, and touching base with family and friends. Pray we will continue to make sleep a priority to energize us for these long days!

Back to Work

We all went back to work this week - including my dad! He has been unemployed for almost two years. He had started expanding his job search to outside the area, and my mom was beginning to think what life would look like if they had to relocate.

Just as Dad was interviewing for a job in Maryland, the director of Arrowhead Camping Ministries approached him about a position with their organization. The Business Manager would oversee the two camps and Christian bookstore involved in this ministry. After a few conversations and a shut door with the job in Maryland, my dad is now the newest staff member with Arrowhead! He started his job on Monday, learning about the financials of the organization. He was a little overwhelmed after day one with so much information to process, but he is very excited about this opportunity that the Lord provided.

My dad is facing many changes right now with this new job and the house project. Pray that he can find the right balance between the two. We are thankful that the job in Maryland did not work out - it would be awfully hard to sell our house right now!

Many Hands and an Empty House

We have had a busy 3 days! We have been so encouraged by the many willing hands that have come to help clear out our house. That was our task Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - and the job is done!! The basement and first floor of our house are down to cement walls and two by fours. We will let it all dry out while we determine the next step.

FEMA did come evaluate our house yesterday, so we will wait to hear back about the assistance they will offer. It will probably take a week for the ground water to go down and really dry out the basement, and soon after that we hope to restore the electric.

Above is me with my friend, Amanda. She has been just one of the many that have helped with this process! I'm bad at estimating, but I would say we've had 30-40 people come out to help - what a blessing! Below is the "toss" pile that so many people helped us bring out from the house over the past 3 days.

We left the house tired and exhausted last night, but encouraged by the love and support others have shown. We're working on the house again this afternoon and hope to get a plan in place for our next steps.

Pray we can find a good balance between working on the house, our regular jobs, and taking time for rest to renew our energy. We still have a long road ahead and many decisions will need to be made in the weeks to come.

Happy Home Owners

Today was the day! We got back into our house to start clearing things out. Dad was able to get in around 11:00, and Mom left work and arrived soon after. They called me around noon to say they could use my help. I ate my lunch, changed into dirty clothes, and headed out. I was on a mission to find rubber boots because it sounded like rubber boots, masks, and gloves are required when working in our area. I picked up several pairs from a family from church, then headed to another church to get more bleach.

I arrived at the house and helped make some decisions about items to keep. Then we began clearing everything out. Little by little, many helping hands came to work on our home. We cleared out cupboards and drawers and moved the large pieces of furniture. Next thing I knew, the guys were tearing down the walls! We just about gutted the entire first floor - and there's a huge pile of trash to prove it!

The basement is still full of water. It has only gone down to about the fifth step from the top. I did peek down there, and there is insulation floating around, and the ceiling is gone. That will be a big project for another day!

These happy home owners are hanging in there. I know they were glad to finally get in the house! While it was sad to see things go, they were able to do what needed to be done tonight and kept people organized. There will be many decisions to make in the weeks and months to come, and little by little they will see this house become a home again!

Focusing on What is Unseen

A friend and co-worker reminded me of some verses today that had not come to my mind yet. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal."

This picture was taken in the Binghamton area last week and shared on Facebook. Despite the devastation that was sweeping through our area, we had some neat skies to enjoy each night! Our surroundings were muddy and damaged, but the sky was gorgeous - how much more beautiful will our home in heaven be! Though things around us are wasting away, we have Christ's love inside of us, renewing us daily as we focus on eternity with Him!

My other co-workers also blessed me today. Emily popped into my office with a basket full of goodies, giftcards, and notes from those I work with. It was so thoughtful and an encouragement to me. I only brought practical items with me from home, so the fun items in the basket will be enjoyable. Our family is seeing our needs being met, and my co-workers have been very loving all week!

God has been using others to provide encouragement to renew our spirits each day!

A Look Inside

After seeing our backyard on Sunday evening, my dad was determined to get back to the house yesterday! After being turned away twice by the police, he walked into the neighborhood using the rail trail, hopping fences, and walking through back yards. I called him after work yesterday, and he answered his phone with, "Laura, I'm in the house!"

He took pictures and grabbed a few things from upstairs. Here's a look at what the flood left behind. Above is our kitchen. The fridge flew open, sending food everywhere! There is still sitting water that we will have to deal with when we can really start clearing things out.

Here's our dining room - lots of family time has been spent around that table. And check out the wood floor! It just completely buckled and pushed stuff around! I was not expecting that. You can see the water mark on the wall in the corner.

Here is our piano in the front room. Each of us girls learned how to play on this piano. Many family and friends have enjoyed hearing music come from those keys over the years. Sadly, I think it has played its last tune.

My parents tried to get back to the house today, but the police have tightened up security. There was a problem with some of the sewage lines, so there is sewer water mixed in with the mess, causing a major health hazard for our area. There is still sitting water in the road, so there is no where to toss stuff or to drain water to. We have many willing hands eager to help clear out our house, but for now, we will have to continue to wait. The longer we wait, the more chance there is of our house being condemned after the foundation has just been sitting in water for so long. Many homes in our area have already been condemned, so pray that ours will be structurally safe when we can get back in.

It was good to get a glimpse of the house so we can better plan for how to tackle the big project we have ahead of us!

Our True Shelter

In church yesterday there was a song on the screen titled, "Made Me Glad." I immediately thought of the kids' song, "He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad!" and I wondered how they were expecting us to joyfully sing that after all that has happened in our area with the flooding and remembering that it was September 11th!

We did not end up singing the song together, but simply listened as the instruments played with the words displayed on the screen. After reading the words, I wished we had been singing the song together! The chorus was very fitting and a good reminder of who our hope rests in. Read some lyrics below, and listen to the whole song here.

You are my shield, my strength
My portion, deliverer
My shelter, strong tower
My very present help in time of need

Those words, "my shelter" really hit home as my earthly shelter has been taken from me for the time being. However, I have not been without shelter. The Lord has provided many friends in the area where I have been able to stay, and I have not been without a meal or clothing!

The verse at the top is Psalm 46:1, and that whole passage has stuck out to our family. My younger sister, Julie, is away at school in Pittsburgh. As soon as she found out about the flooding, she organized a prayer night on her campus. A friend of hers read Psalm 46, reminding us that God is mightier than anything that happens on earth, and we can rest in His strength. He is God and is in control!
We will continue to look to God during this time and thank Him for His provisions!

A Glimpse of the Backyard

I spent all day with friends from church cleaning out three homes in the area. We were about done for the day when I got a text from a friend in Virginia. She had heard that they were letting people on Old Vestal Road to see their houses! I headed over that way with a few friends and drove into my neighborhood. You still needed a boat to get down Second Ave, but we walked through some backyards to check out my family's backyard.

You can see from the picture above where the water line was - a little higher than halfway up the windows. That's higher than I was expecting - over the couches, counter tops, and dining room table. We won't know the extend of the damage until we can get into our house, which might not be until the end of the week. There is still a lot of water that needs to be let out.

It was kind of crazy helping people clear out their houses today, realizing that I will be doing that soon, but with my own belongings. It might be a little harder to toss those items to the curb when I recognize them and appreciate memories behind them. I did, however, come up with a few "flood clean up" tips for when it's our turn!

My church has already been very helpful. They set up a distribution site in our gym where flood victims can receive needed items. I swallowed my pride this morning, walked in, and asked for help. I was able to pick up cleaning supplies, toiletries, clothing, and bottled water. I also put our family's home on a list to eventually receive assistance. They can most likely hook us up with pumps, generators, and willing hands when the time comes. It's so neat to see the body of Christ coming together to help those in need!

Since we cannot get back into our home yet, I am planning on going back to work in the morning. My boss has been gracious and already told me I can take time off as needed to help with the house. It will be hard to balance "normal life" with dealing with this house. It will be interesting to see what these next few months look like as we find our new normal.

The Rains Came Down

"The rains came down and the floods came up."

Remember that childrens' song?

The last line says, "But the house upon the Rock stood firm."

We were able to see our house from the highway today! Thankfully, it has stood firm despite all this rain and flooding. Ours is the white house in the middle of this picture with the three windows across the top. Looks like the water is part way up the front windows. Our bedrooms should be dry on the second floor!

There is a meeting tonight for Vestal residents. Hopefully we will find out when they think we will be able to get back in. The water is coming down so slowly, so it will be a while.

We have had so many friends express interest in helping us out when the time comes. We'll spend a lot of time deciding to "toss or keep" items in our house. We had a finished basement full of books, toys, electronics, craft supplies, Christmas decorations, and more. We're thinking we'll just gut it all and leave it as storage. We're not sure what the first floor will look like - a lot from there will probably have to be tossed too. It is all just stuff, but some of that stuff has years of memories attached to it. We did bring the photo albums up to the top floor!

It was good to see our house today and know it's still standing! It might be a while before it feels like "home" again though.