long lost friends

The reunion was last night and was pretty fun. It was great to see so many people that I literally hadn't seen once in 10 years. I should have taken more pictures but sometimes breaking out in full mama-razzi mode at an event like this is kind of embarrassing. So I limited my picture taking. I felt bad that Casey might be bored but oh no...he reminisced with people about Kindergarten T-ball teams and tried to score admission to some premier golf course through a friend of a friend. There several people missing that I would have loved to have seen but all in all it was a fun time with long lost friends.

Party Like it's 1999!

My 10 year high school reunion is tomorrow night. So I thought I'd do a throw back post dedicated to those 3 pretty good years at Kentridge High School. (Thank you to Chelsea for scanning these pictures for me.)

These are just a few things I was loving back in 1999:

Christina Augilera. Ready to fight anyone who tried to tell me Brittney was better.

A blizzard every Monday night after YoungLife.

Cowboy hats, pom poms, and knee high socks at French Field.

My 1967 Chevy Camero.

My brand new boyfriend, Casey Bell.

Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance workout video in Food & Fitness class (PE).

Abercrombie and Fitch I know I can't even walk past that place without getting nauseous from the cologne smell wafting out into the rest of the mall.

Krista (She made me an entire slideshow of just us for my birthday! I loved pictures even back then.)

The movie Clueless.

99 cent gas at AMPM.

Youth Group

And of course, Chatelaines.

I ♥ Mr. B. and other random thoughts

First of all let me start off by saying that I ♥ my sweet husband, Mr. Bell. I got several emails from him today. Most of were about typical things, bills, items we have on Craig's List, etc. But two caught my eye and made me glad to have him.

He sent a separate email just to call me a "blog slacker" It's true, I haven't been posting in my typical fashion. It's mostly because there hasn't been anything to blog about. I've even been scrounging for pictures for my Project 365 days. Not much is happening right now. But I thought it was sweet that he was checking.

The second email was just to point out an article that he thought I might enjoy. It was about clever new uses for everyday old items. He was right I did like it. This was my favorite idea here on the left, to use window decals (which we have) to differentiate drinks when you have a party. There were lots of cute ideas like this. Thanks for thinking of me Case.

In other randomness, I've also been trying to be a bargain hunter lately. Might be taking a coupon class called "Couponing for the Clueless." I'll let you know how that goes. I'm organized enough so I should be able to do it. We'll see. Today I got a morning to myself. I've been saving some of my birthday stash cash for such an occasion. I spent exactly $120 (all of the stash cash) and got 12 cute new fall clothing items. It was defiantly a hunt. It was fun. Can't wait to show Casey when he gets home. He'll be impressed.

I don't even have that much randomness to share. I told you we were pretty boring lately...

The Sound of Music

More like the sights of music (be glad you're not hearing the sounds). This is something that happens EVERYDAY in our house...a show, a dramatic song, and competing voices.

us now...our shows

The start of fall means better TV. Since this blog is called "us now" I decided to document what each of our family members is watching now.

Monday night is football night. Of course Sunday usually is too. There is nothing on that I want to watch on Mondays and so typically I'm on the computer or reading and Casey is watching a game. I told him last week, "watching football on TV is really like reading gibberish to me." No matter how hard I try (I probably haven't tried very hard) I don't get it. Since the Major golf tourneys are over, there isn't too much action on the Golf Channel these days!

Tuesdays I/we usually watch the Biggest Loser. I could really take or leave this show and would never watch it on DVR. The 2nd hour of the show is the best...the weigh in. All the workout drama gets a little old.

Wednesdays are So You Think You Can Dance! Casey does not share my interest and usually reads while I watch it. It hasn't gotten good yet because they are still in the audition stage (a bit like American Idol). It won't be my favorite part (the top 20) for a few more weeks.

Every one loves Thursdays.

It's the Office. Casey laughed particularly hard last week.

Thursdays also mean Project Runway. One of my most favorite shows. Can't wait to see it tonight. I still don't quite know who my favorite is. Casey is asleep when I watch this. It's not on until 10.

Fridays are one of my long time favorites, Monk. Most people haven't really heard of Monk but I LOVE it. Mr. Monk is an OCD detective. This is the final season. Only a few more episodes left. Sad. When Monk marathons come on USA network I have seen them all. Kyla will come downstairs sometimes after we've put them to bed and say, "Mom, are you watching Monk?"


Saturdays are lame TV days/nights.

Sundays is Mad Men. I have never actually watched an episode of Mad Men on Sunday. I really have only seen it once other than yesterday. Yesterday while my kids were at the fair with Grandma and Papa I watched 4 or 5 episodes On Demand. My mom loves the show and I have to say I will probably add it to the list. Casey doesn't even know about this one.




I did say this was what the family was watching now. Well, Kyla and Heidi only want to watch one thing....Yo Gabba Gabba. Yep, this weird little show is the only thing they ask for. I'm not really sure why they love it so much except for the fact that its mostly songs.

When you lay it all out like that it seems like we watch a lot of TV!

A Morning Prayer

Every morning I get a Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion in my inbox. I rarely open them but today I did. This is the one from today by Lysa TerKeurst. It reminded me that I really need to get back in the habit of reading God's word and praying daily. Doing that makes each day so much better, filled with purpose and His presence- if cleaning up poop and pee up all day has a purpose (still potty training).

"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

It is very early in the morning. Not many people are stirring yet. Though my body begs me just to roll over and go back to sleep, my soul is stirring to get up and go sit with Jesus. Though I can't physically see Him, I know He is present. I decide to open my Bible to the Psalms and use the verses I read as prayers to start my day. And the more I pray those verses out loud the less I hear all the nagging things of the world. A beautiful melody of truth starts to rise up and suddenly my worries fade in the light of God's truth. His perspective on things that are troubling me starts to over shadow my anxiety. Like shade on a hot summer's day, I feel relief in His presence. I know that He is preparing me for what I will need throughout this day. He is already standing in every minute of my day and He sees what I will face. So, He's equipping me to be able to handle what is ahead of me with His gentle boldness, quiet strength, and loving grace.

In Psalm 81:10b, God instructs me, "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." He will give me what to say today. What to say in happy moments. What to say in aggravating moments. What to say in moments where I feel insecure and what to say when I feel completely confident. What to say in disappointing moments. What to say in response to questions. He also reminds me that sometimes it is good to keep my mouth closed and say nothing at all. All the words that rumble about in my brain and those that will proceed out of my mouth, Lord, You be the author of those.

Psalm 84:1 reminds me that God's dwelling place is lovely. So, I ask God to dwell in me richly. I want Him to be what radiates about me. I want Him to be my pretty today. Not my hair. Not my outfit. Not my efforts. But simply Him and His spirit dancing invisibly about me... shifting a wrong attitude, guarding my words, and whispering constant truths into my heart.

Psalm 86:11 is what I ask the Lord to give me. "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart..." Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the truth and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity...rather than a personal inconvenience.

And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13a, "Great is your love toward me." You already see all the many ways I will surely fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. You love me warts and all. Have mercy, that's amazing. But what's most amazing is that the God of the Universe, the Savior of the world, would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this.

September Swim

Today we enjoyed a late September swim. It may be hot outside but this water was COLD. I was suprised that all the girls got right in. Heidi of course was in to her neck, forcing me to venture into the icy waters as well. For the most part we were on our own private beach but we did see some interesting characters get into the water fully clothed (jeans and all). Then again, by the end of our outing we were there with half naked children and a potty that was used by all three babes. We were probably the interesting characters!

(just to clarify: all three babes is Kyla, Heidi, and Pearson...not me)