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Friday, September 29, 2006
I found myself with my head in the toliet this morning (don't get excited its not related to the very contagious pregnancy bug that's everywhere these days - just a regular bug). I had to miss my women's bible study and had to cancel a lunch date I was very much looking forward to. God had other plans though - rest. He always knows our needs.
I felt much better by 11am, so I decided to break out the crock pot and make Andy his favorite dinner: Pot roast. To be honest the smell is making me nauseous, but I know he will love to come home to that. Hopefully I can find enough motivation to make the homemade applesauce i've been talking about making for a week. We still have buckets of apples leftover from last weekend. I'm just so tired today and the rain thats dropping in buckets outside isn't helping.
Yawn.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/29/2006 11:43:00 AM,
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Pray
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Today is "See You at the Poll" day. I remember participating in this event when I was in high school. I remember how exciting it was to pray other students and teachers.
Be encouraged today and pray! It really does make a difference.
Some prayer sites:
National Day of Prayer
Presidential Prayer Team
Presidential Pray for Kids!
1 Tim. 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/27/2006 07:48:00 AM,
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Apples galore.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Dinner witht the Odom's went great last night. They are really fun to hang out with it. Aaron and Andy are both in the science field, so they have a lot to talk about. We had dinner and then we played a few rounds of Catch Phrase. I love that game.
Fall decorating:
Mark Swiger, our missonary to India spoke today at church. God is doing amazing things in India!
After church our friends Kelly and Aaron, along with Caren and Theresa took The Hillman children apple picking at Russel Orchards in Standish. The Hillman's just moved their four children into a new house yesterday, and Shelly (the Mom) is 9+ months pregnant with her fifth. We thought a break was long over due! Here are some pictures from the day:
Grace, Rachel and Abigail
Going apple picking... hurray!
Kelly, Rachel, and Abigail
Andy coming back from the apple field
See all the pictures from our day HERE!
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/24/2006 03:34:00 PM,
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Odom's
Saturday, September 23, 2006
... pumpkin spice candles, harvest bouquet, leaf sequins, and apple crisp baking. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful morning? It's a very wet day here in Maine. Our youth skate board competition was cancelled. Anyone need 100 brownies? In spite of the rain, our friends Kelly and Aaron are coming over for dinner tonight. I'm making chicken marsala over angel hair, salad, green beans and brushetta. With now two choices of dessert: apple crisp or brownie a la mode.
Andy is playing a computer game, molly is comping on a bone and i'm thanking God for his blessings (and scrapbooking !:)
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/23/2006 10:36:00 AM,
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Undone.
Friday, September 22, 2006
I've been working at church for 7 weeks now. I agreed to "help out" at my old job until my old boss found someone new. So i've been coming in on Fridays for 8ish hours (church is only M-Th). I've been trying to leave, but every week there is a new excuse why he hasn't hired anyone yet. It's so frustrating. Fridays are now the day that the women's bible study is at church, so I told him I would only work for 5-6 hours so I could go to my class. Today he told me that I wasn't allowed to go anymore because he needed me full time on Friday. I'm so sick of being taken advantage of, but i'm so not confrontational. Today I found my courage and left and told him I woudn't be back. That was 6 hours ago and I still feel sick to my stomach.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/22/2006 07:07:00 PM,
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Skater Boy...
Thursday, September 21, 2006
My husband bought a skate board tonight. We are having a youth outreach event this weekend at the skatepark. Andy is doing his part by making a fool of himself on the skateboard to try and make other people feel more confident. I will be contributing in a much less obvious way by making 2 sheet pans full of brownies. That is how I roll.
Today at work I finished the handmade invitations for my friend Kelly's baby shower (also a church member, I wasn't slacking on the job). I always go overboard. I hand cut the cardstock and vellum and of course had three diffent colors of gingham ribbon. They turned out fabulous. I'll have to post a picture if I think of it.
In other news - if you have a Michaels near you they are having an amazing sale on scrapbooking paper. 5/$1. I bought 50 sheets tonight for $10!
On a more serious note, I met with a lady today that has a very dark past. She was involved in some capacity with a cult and satanism. Eek. The pastor was out of town, so I listened to her, and prayed over her. I never been in such a position as this and it was a little scary. But so is the reality of spiritual warfare.
My today was busy! After work we also looked at a house a friend is selling for an unheard of price. It unfortunetly is way to small though. It would be really hard to go from 3000 sq feet to 1000. Building equity would be nice though... I'll be praying about that this week.
Well I'm going to bed! Friday is upon us! Hurray!
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/21/2006 09:24:00 PM,
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Baked Pears with Streusel Filling
Monday, September 18, 2006
Baked Pears with Streusel Filling
Streusel:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 1 ounce)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Pears:
3 Anjou pears, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
1/3 cup apple juice or cider
Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare streusel, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (through allspice) in a bowl. Stir with a fork until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans.
To prepare pears, using a melon baller or spoon, scoop out core from each pear half. Spoon streusel evenly into pear halves. Place pear halves, cut sides up, in an 8-inch square baking dish. Pour apple juice into dish. Cover dish with foil. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Serve pears warm. Drizzle evenly with cooking liquid. For dessert, serve a la mode.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/18/2006 06:31:00 PM,
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Good Weekend
Sunday, September 17, 2006
We had a really nice relaxing weekend. It was good to have time to ourselves for a change.
Saturday I scrapbooked and puttered upstairs in the morning, while Andy took Molly to the dog park. Her second favorite place in the world aside from the beach. The beach doesn't allow dogs until November 1st, so she's got a bit of a wait.
Saturday night we got a quick bite and then went to go see The Last Kiss with Zach Braff. It was ok, but a little more crued than we were expecting. I thought it was a chick flick, but cleary not. I guess we need to pay more attention to the rating.
Today our sister church in Bangor had their grand opening so we had a guest speaker preach about The Rhythm of Culture. It was a great message.
Andy watched the Patriots game today while I made a lovely sunday dinner: Roast chicken, wild long grain rice with peas, corn bread and for dessert - poached pears with strussle topping a la mode. Yum-o as Rachel Ray would say.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/17/2006 07:44:00 PM,
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FYI: This is NOT good. Why oh why did I try something new at Uno's Pizza?
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/15/2006 07:52:00 PM,
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Wisdom hurts
The left side of my face has hurt for three days. At first I thought I was getting a cold as the tell tale signs were there...runny nose, ear pain, headache. Now I’m thinking wisdom teeth. I feel like they are pushing my other teeth forward creating pain and unhappiness. I have a dentist appt. on Tuesday, can't wait.
The fall women's bible study started today at church. We are reading "Fight like a Girl" by Lisa Bevere. I love it so far. It is a video led study, which is something new for me, but I really like it. I can't wait to go back!
We finally are having a quiet weekend. The only agenda is to buy a new vacuum cleaner. I bought a new one last year after I took a nasty tumble down the stairs with our old one, which is now in pieces in the attic (why do I keep it? I don't know). The "new" one is OK, but its an upright and it just doesn't get in the cracks. Additonally we have a dog now, whose hair is everywhere! I can't take it anymore. Exciting stuff, right?
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/15/2006 01:51:00 PM,
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Dates
Thursday, September 14, 2006
It's interesting what dates stick out in your mind. Today is September 14th, Jessica Kolerski's would be 27th birthday. She was my bestest friend in 6th grade - the same year she past away. I'll never forget her birthday. Why do we hold on to these things?
My friend Caren and I prayed this morning before work. I have a heavy heart for my friend Keith this week - she reminded me of these verses from Ephesians 3 that I am going to use to pray for him.
14) For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15) from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 19) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/14/2006 09:06:00 AM,
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Serving
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Instead of staying upstairs for the sermon today, I served in the nursery. Today was my first day on a rotating monthly schedule. I had two babies to myself. Emma happily vibrated in her bouncy chair, and Gabriel and I played with the leap pad play station until he realized that his mom had left. Then the tears started to flow. First Gabriel and then Emma. What do you do with two screaming babies? Emma was easily taken care of after a rather unpleasent diaper change. Gabriel finally calmed down when his mom came back. I feel so bad for her, she needs a break, and I couldn't give her one today. Oh well, maybe next time.
This afternoon I painted many little faces with paint, and helped decorate several sugar cookies (I finished baking LATE last night - 500 cookies is alot!). It was a fun afternoon at the OOB firehouse. The firemen and police officers really appreciated being recognized. It was nice to be able to pray together and share a meal. I think they were really blessed.
Well, i'm off. I want to finish the book i'm reading, it's called "Death by Meeting". Sounds exciting right? It's suppose to help staff mtg's be more productive.
I made this for dinner tonight. You should try it, it's really good and easy!
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/10/2006 05:14:00 PM,
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Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday. Turning 27 wasn't too bad. Andy's Dad and Step-Mom sent me a bouquet of flowers at work. I love getting flowers. Andy also brought home a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers. Our house smells great!
We took the car in yesterday morning before work (timing belt this time) and they were suppose to have a rental car ready so we could go to work. Of course, they didn't. So instead of calling a company, the manager told us to drive his Suburban. Um, ok - only in Maine would people do this. So I dropped Andy off at work, and I drove the school bus, I mean suburban. We nicknamed it Goliath.
Friday night we went up to Topsham. Linda had given me a gift certificate to my favorite scrapbook store for my birthday, so I was dying to spend it. Then we all went to the 99 resturant.
Today I have to make 500 star cut-out sugar cookies. Our church is having a big BBQ in celebration of the 1st Responders. I'm making the cookies, so the kids can decorate them. I didn't realize what a big task this was going to be!
Patriot's kickoff game tomorrow at 1pm! Don't miss it! Andy set the church up so the men could watch the game on the big screen - football, fellowship and hotwings. It doesn't get much better for Andy.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/09/2006 08:54:00 AM,
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Never a dull moment...
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Andy came home last night with a horrible headache. You could tell just looking at him that he was in pain. I gave him two motrin and sent him to bed. Hours past, and he came downstairs feeling better. Well the phone rang (or some other distraction) and we come into the living room to find Molly had chewed through the Motrin bottle (she has quite a reach as it was on the BACK of the counter). For fear that she injested one (or more!) we called the Animal Emergency vet and they had us give her hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up. Luckilly we didn't see any pills in the vomit, but we were on edge all night. She started shaking a little bit, which was scary as that is a side effect of eating one, but the doctor didn't seem too concerned. He said it could be because of the peroxide we had given her. She made it through the night ok (in our bed), and seems fine this morning. How scary though!
Tomorrow is my birthday! I'll be twenty-seven. Wow.
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/06/2006 03:20:00 PM,
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What a weekend!
Monday, September 04, 2006
I love three day weekends. They are such a blessing.
Friday night Andy I went to our favorite steak house for dinner: Bugaboo Creek steak house. My new favorite thing there is the Mountain Blue steak salad. Wow is it good! After dinner we came home and watched Friends with Money. It's the new Jennifer Aniston movie - it was entertaining.
Saturday we got up early because we had plans to help decorate the church basement for children's ministry. As we were getting ready to go I hit my foot on the box spring of our bed and got a cut an inch deep on the pad of my foot. Wow, is that sore! We were really late, but we did stop at Panera to get bagels for everyone. Andy put up a big fake maple tree - it turned out really cute! I was responsible for the "Fall in love with Jesus" bulletin board, and I watched our pastors little 3 month old daughter Emma. I fell in love with her too!
Andy went up to Topsham to help his mom out on Sunday after church. She is still struggling with her broken arm, but it's feeling much better. I stayed behind with the dog to do laundry and clean the house. I also made my first apple pie of the season. The apples were really tart, which I realized after the pie was done. So I also made an apple crisp and added a ton of sugar.
Our friends Ben and Sarah from MA came over today. We had such a nice visit with them. We went to Panera for lunch. Andy always complains how much he hates Panera, but everytime we go he loves it. I think he thinks, it's a little expensive - but you get what you pay for. After lunch we took a nice drive out to Portland Headlight. Its really painful for me to walk because of my foot, but we had fun.
We found out today that our friends have been TTC for over a year and that natural conception is not possible according to their doctors. They are starting the process of IVF this week. I feel so bad for them. I'm not sure how I feel about IVF, but I really feel for their situation. Keep them in your prayers if you think of it
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/04/2006 05:31:00 PM,
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Friday blues.......
Friday, September 01, 2006
*Keep Rebekah in Prayer*
I've been in a bad mood for about three days, and I can't seem to snap out of it. I'm just stressed out - I started a new job (which I love!), but am still working Friday's at my old job. I know it's not my responsibility anymore, but I worry about the workload at camp. My old boss hasn't even starting looking for a replacement yet and that puts pressure on me to get a lot done in one day!
I'm also grumpy because up until two weeks ago, I’ve had the summer off. It's hard to adjust to things at home. I do all the cooking and the majority of the cleaning. My husband is used to that, but now I want some help and he's not quick to offer a hand. We've been fighting a lot about that this week.
We haven't had a day to relax in almost a month. Andy's Mom has required constant care on weekends, and we've had a ton of problems with our car this month (we have another appt at Midas tomorrow!). So that adds stress!
On top of everything our dog Molly has a UTI, so she has been peeing all over the place (mostly in the kitchen, thank God!). I can't get a vet to look at her until Tuesday b/c of the holiday weekend, which means three more days of this.
This week we read about fasting in bible study. I've never been too hot on the idea, but I don't honestly know much about it. Sure, I’ve done 30-hour famines here and there over the years, but I don't feel I’ve ever been called to fast. The idea seems appealing to me now though. Can anyone explain to me why we fast? Or fasting stories?
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 9/01/2006 01:14:00 PM,
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