Rummage to Rome

You would think that downsizing from a house to an apartment a year and a half ago would mean that I would have very little to downsize. I wish.

I've been going through every drawer, closet, and Rubbermaid tub that have been filled with "too good to get rid of" things. Those things now are wearing stickers for the garage sale I have planned for the end of July. My sister-in-law in Crete is hosting and going through all of her things too. We also have a good friend who is donating lots of household things (she's getting married in Aug.) and will need to combine two households.

We need others to donate their things too. We are planning on using the proceeds from the sale to help with start-up costs for Italy. Which is why it's our Rummage to Rome! So, if you are like me and have lots of "too good to get rid of but not using at all" stuff... donate it to us! We would love to help you help us! My pile of sellables is growing and it's going to be a very big sale! You have a month to look through all your things and get them to us, if you want to know how, contact me via facebook (leave a comment) and I will get back to you with the how-to. Or if you want to help us out at the sale.. let me know.

We are looking forward to simplifying our life and letting go of the clutter! Sounds good right! I'm off to look through another closet... how many towels does one really need?

Weekend Wrap up

It's Sunday night at 11pm and I am thinking about all the moments of this weekend... I just wanted to jot down what it held.

Friday night we vegged out a bit as a family... Caleb got home from the College World Series and we watched a movie and ate ice cream. Saturday we looked through all of our tubs of storage and eliminated four tubs, then we went over to the Roeloffs' and enjoyed s'mores and fellowship. Sunday held Michael preaching and after church heading into Omaha with my niece Natasha to get our hair done in Omaha (thanks Kelly Patton). Then heading back into Crete to drop off Natasha and eating some pizza with the Kingston's of Crete.. what a wonderful weekend of fellowship and organizing! My hair is looking pretty good too! ;)

I think a lot about how different my life will look next year this time... how I won't be zipping around in my car all over Lincoln or Omaha.. I'll be riding public transit around Rome, Italy, my weekend updates will be very different...

Positivity!

Fabulous, Amazing, and Fun! These three words come out of my mouth a lot (I guess)... thanks to good friends who made note and poked a bit of fun at me. :) This would be why one of my Strength Finder gifts is "positivity".

Yesterday was Father's Day and I had the privilege of gathering with my daddy and whole family (almost.. my niece Emily had to work.. :( sad face!) and I thought to myself that this would be the last Father's Day spent in the US for awhile.. I will miss the laughter, inside jokes, food, and spending a day with my Dad! I took lots of pics and took in all the enjoyment of our gathering and had a wonderful day! My positivity does pay off sometimes! ;) Next year I will need a big hug from my hubby and a Skype appointment with my family as they gather for Father's Day!

Life is going well with Michael and I working full time on getting funded. We are quite a team! Please pray as Michael is preparing to preach this coming Sunday.. it's sermon prep week and I am still going through closets, drawers, and tubs.. trying to pare down... trying to stay positive as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the stuff we will need to get rid of! :)

Hello Summer!

It's been a wild and crazy summer so far! Michael is done working at Target, I have been to Kansas City for a mother/daughter getaway, back to Kansas City for Team Building, off to Maranatha for a week on staff and featured missionary, home to pack Faith for another week at camp, cleaning out our apartment for a garage sale, prepping for our life overseas.. woo it's been crazy!!

I have loved the busyness and activity...partially because it's distracting and partially because it's fun! It's distracting in a good way.. it's helped keep Michael and I busy and gives no time for us to worry about what this life of full time fundraising means.. we know deep down that God continues to provide and we've had success in getting new donors and are amazed at how God keeps reminding us that he is in control! It's been fun to get away and spend time with other people and talk til late into the night.. we did lots of that at team building and then did lots more of that at camp, singing songs of praise to the Lord late into the night. What a wonderful time we've had this summer!

We are in the process of going through all of our stuff and I really mean all of it... we have lots more to go through.. you know all of those art projects you save from your kids' school and all the little pieces of paper for awards for who-knows-what.. yeah, we are starting to look through those.. wow, and to think we still have a lot stored at Michael's Aunt and Uncles, that we plan to go through soon as well... we've acquired too much!! Now, it's time to only save those things that are precious and necessary.. Michael has informed me that I need to get the kids' scrapbooks going for graduation.. I'm a bit behind, but with going through it all, I'll be on my way to organizing that!

Life is busy and full, but we are focused on the goal, we know that this time next year we will be in Italy, this is our last "normal" summer in the States for awhile. Every family event, every item we decide to keep or sell, every trip, every night spent chatting around a table with friends and family; I am taking it all in more deeply.. trying to hold on to the moment and savor the time.. it's causing me to be more intentional and I love it! It's going to be a wild and crazy summer and I can't wait!


Time spent with my mom and dad memorial day weekend!


Mother/Daughter Getaway!


Team Time (the girls)


Team Time (the boys)


Camp Maranatha Duties!


Michael teaching & praying at Maranatha Bible Camp

Team Time

In KC hanging out with our team has been wonderful! We've had time to reconnect and for two of our teammates to meet one another for the first time. I am enjoying just the being together and talking late into the night about what is happening in every one's life. We are taking time to just live life together and I am so thankful for my team! More details to follow! Pictures too!!