I finally found it. My new favorite grocery store in the world...Fruit and Veg City. Wow, I thought the produce at Sams Club was fresh and reasonably price. Fruit and Veg city blows it out of the water. A beautiful market with everything imaginable from a fresh milk tank to sushi,ice-cream bar,fresh fish,fancy cheese counter,and loads of produce. Not what I expected at the Fruit and Veg.
As if this beautiful market could get any better...it does. South African money is called rand. The trade for $1 American is 9.98 rand as of today. I checked before we left and it was actually trading at 10.30 so it had dropped a bit, but still the dollar is very strong here. So lets say for the sake of easy math $1 = 10 rand. The prices at the market were unbelievable. I know you grocery girls would've been as excited as I was. Crazy deals.

*A huge watermelon (you know I dig the biggest one out) 19.99 rand Get out- $1.99 It would have cost $7 or $8 back home.
*Block 72 oz of cheddar cheese- 29.86 rand = $2.98.
*The longest english cucumber you've ever seen 3.30 rand = $.33
*Bananas here are super sweet so I got 8 thick big ones 7.56 rand = $.75
*Big loafs of homemade ciabatta bread and wheat bread 5.99 rand = $.59
*All the clementines I could shove into a plastic grocery bag 31.54 rand = $3.15
*grapes 4 lbs of them 14.99 rand = $1.49
*Lamb is there speciality here, like Texas is with steak, so we got lamb to try since I've never had lamb. A big 4 pack of thick chops 31.90 rand = $3.19

How great. I love the prices here. We went out to a beach side restaurant and we ordered fish and chips. It was 40.00 rand = $4.00. A local gourmet ice cream shop even in a tourist district was 3.90 rand = $.39.

The point is...I say we do the food storage thing and ship a ton of groceries and supplies back home!

Kory's youth pastor from back in Iowa moved to South Africa with his family about 3 years ago. Cape Town to be exact. He has been inviting us to come visit for a couple of years now..and for some reason we all the sudden decided to go. Most people need to plan for something like this for years because of travel expense, tickets, passports and all the other craziness that is South Africa, but that wouldn't be much fun. I've only known for about a week that we're for sure going. My mom doesn't even know about London yet!

The other day when I posted on Facebook about our trip to Africa some good friends of our who are in London for several months on business invited us to visit them too. Of course me being the great adventurer thinks it's a great idea!
Do you remember our friends the Brawners? It's Jason's sister Jill and her husband David. They have a great flat, so there is plenty of room for us she said. They are amazing. Every year around the holidays we get to hang out when they're in town from LA. Brawners are more like family then friends. I think I got voted onto the family sometime at one of Jason's last Birthday parties. Its a hard invitation to score. Oh, and just in case Kory was out of town flying, Jason's dad Jim was my back up labor coach and hospital driver with Madie. Everyone needs a back up plan.
Jill is super spunky and will be an amazing tour guide! They also go to the Hillsong London church and we will be there for it on Sunday. I am excited to see Hillsong. Chances are it is a lot like JRA! or at least the music will be ;)

Kory just bought the tickets last night

We leave this next Thursday the 29th. We fly direct from Minneapolis to London a 10 hour flight. I'm bringing Benedryl!

We leave London on Monday the 2nd. London to Cape Town, South Africa on British Airways a 12 hour flight. I'm bringing lots of Benedryl!

We are in South Africa! Our departure date will probably be the Wed. the 11th. Not for sure due to flight loads. We will fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg to JFK New York on South African Airways. This one is super crazy. From Cape Town to Johannesburg its a 2 hr flight, then we have a 6 and a half hour layover in Johannesburg then the flight to JFK is 14.5 hours, then JFK to Memphis, Memphis to Springfield. Oh dear Jesus please help ME! I may need to see the "local Dr." is South Africa for some special medicine for the way home!

We are incredibly blessed. Our tickets for all 4 of us from Springfield, London, Cape Town and home is only $1200. Crazy huh. I feel like I earn the savings having to deal with Kory out of town all the time! The other amazing blessing is we will have no hotel expenses. We are staying with Jill and David in London and with the Siplings in South Africa. What a huge blessing! We are so thankful!!

That's the skinny of the travel plans! Be praying for us! Safety, health and that I can keep it together! I need lots of prayer!

The point is...The Benedryl is for me!

What a crazy week. I thought rather than rehashing our week for your reading pleasure I would make it a fun little game. I wrote down several phrases that flew out of my mouth during the week. You can guess when I said it, where I said it, and who I said it too!

• Can you name one of our close couple friends that does not already have a 3rd, are trying for 3rd, or are pregnant with their 3rd baby? They ALL do.
• I can not believe you will drink out of that mud puddle.
• You think it's sexy when I drive your tractor don't you...?
• The bus is here. Quick run. Wave your hands while you run. I looovveeee yoooouuuuu.
  
• Pull your pants up Sis!
• You can imagine its like rubbing food on fresh stitches.
• Are you serious. AHHHHHH I am so excited to be an Aunt again! Number 3!
• I am an anti-dentite!!!
• All I do is pick up after you three...seriously.
• Absolutely no mac&cheeses tonight.
• I can't wait to have mine done...I'm totally jealous.
• Is that really necessary?
• I already called the last bag of oatmeal.
  
• ITS SNOWING!
  
• Why is the Carbon Monoxide detector going off...oh crap.
• I really do think we need to get shots for our trip to South Africa in a few weeks.
• I love Redbox. It has to be my favorite new invention. Its $1. Yes!
  
• Oh my word...that tube she just pulled out of your neck was WAY longer than I expected.
• Please, Please I can not hear that one more time.
• Oh coffee I love you.
  
• Make sure you wash your stinky toesys and pitts!
  
• Get that hairy beast out of my house.
• I am vacuuming in 5 minutes and those Polly Pockets are going to be eaten by the vacuum if they are still out.
  
• Yes, you monkeys can sleep with me!
• What do you mean you're on Iron Chef America and need recipe help? Get out!
• This medicine makes me feel slow...reallllly s..l.....o.....w.
• Oh, babe I wish you were home. I need you.
  
• There's a hole. An actual hole in my face. Can I see it?
• I don't even know how to work this thing...Madie can you help me?
• I just came in for milk.
• Dear Jesus, Please help me.
  
• My face feels like it's out to here. How long will I be numb?
• You are speaking gibberish to me.
• I love you girls so much. Thank you for helping mommy so much.
• Sweet, Rock Star parking!
  
• (whispering) Kitty you are lucky the girls love you. (hiss)
• Are we the saddest bunch of friends or what. It is like traumatic surgery week for all of us.
• Its freezing out here. I can hardly breath. Run like a wild chicken.
  
• I'll be back on Friday to get money and if you don't have it we will evict you. I'm Done!!
• Snooze Button
  
• American Idol is so funny. Honestly where do those people come from?
  
• Who went to the bathroom last?
• Do I need to bring my Khaki one piece and face paint?
  
• I feel sick.
  
• Can I snuggle you forever?
• I just licked that egg roll by the way.
• Sure, I can make a dessert for 20 teachers for next Thursday.
  
• Don't make me smile, it hurts!

It was another wild week with Kory gone Monday through Friday. On Thursday morning I had a root end surgery, also known as "apicoectomy" which is an Endodontic surgical procedure whereby a tooth's root tip is removed. The doctor actually left 4 stitches in my gums on the upper left side in the wake of fixing the problem. I was more than thankful to have it over with. Thankfully the infection was contained in my upper jaw bone and had not broken into my sinus cavity. See there's always a bright side!

The point is...Note to self: Don't let things go and just expect them to "go away" or magically disappear. They don't.

Don't worry I won't spoil the book in this post!

My mom over Christmas bought the book The Shack at Sams Club. ($9.98 totally worth it) She read it the week we were in Bella Vista and every so often would pause to take a deep breath or even to put it down since she couldn't see through her tears. She insisted that I read it and sent it home with me, I obliged knowing I had no time after the holiday burn out.
Flash Forward to Tuesday the 6th. Since my van was way over due for an oil change I headed to Jiffy Lube after I dropped Jenna at Preschool with The Shack in tow. Thankfully they were running behind and I got to read 45 minutes in total peace. Well, beside the occasional chat of dirty filters and dust bunnies attacking me it was peaceful!
At first I thought I'd have to stop reading the book. I never watch the news. I can't handle any of the shows on TV that show people hurting people especially when children are being hurt. I pushed past my fears fully knowing that I was reading my own worst nightmare. When you're at that point...keep reading.
I was released from Jiffy Lube and headed to the mall on the great jean search since my favorite jeans are wearing out. However rather than getting out of the van at the mall I just sat in the car for the next hour and a half reading this book that was glued to my fingers. I felt like a nerd sitting in the cold car for so long but the total silence was worth it! I dig solitude!
I was sitting at Jenna's school by 3 and on time to grab Madie and the carpool by 3:40, but other than that if I was not cooking dinner, bathing children or otherwise detained I was reading the book and finished about 11pm.
I was so overflowing with new thoughts about God and his amazing love and grace that I was wired. I have never read anything that gave me a better sense that all God craves is our relationship. I feel like I understand so much more about the grace and compassion of a Savior that would give his life for us. It made it tangible and simple to have a relationship with God that is as simple as a best friend free of religion and ritual. In its simplest form God made us for a purpose and even though life happens around us with terrible tragedies he is always with us ready to comfort us. He is waiting for ME to come to him. WOW.
I finally settle into bed at about midnight with wild ideas of actually meeting Jesus face to face in my head. Which at midnight in a dark house when you are scared of the boogie man can seem slightly unnerving. But it's Jesus right? I am sure he would never hide behind the door and jump out with a scary mask on just to say "got ya"...right? Anyways with one eye open I drifted off into a restless night of sleep tossing and turning to the ideas in my head.
The next thing I know...Madie is tapping me on the arm saying, "Mommy, I think it's time to wake up." For those who know us, my girls never get up early. We have trained them since babies to sleep in. So I immediately knew if Madie was waking me something was wrong. I had that startling moment when you jolt out of bed so hard that you pull a muscle only to realize that I've over slept. Yuck.
We usually are up by 7. Well, set the alarm for 7 get up more like 7:25. The bus rolls down the hill at 8 on the nose. It's 9:30. Madie is already over an hour late for school. So, we took our time had a great breakfast and arrived fashionably late at 10:45.


The point is...It may seem cliche to say that the book is life changing, especially when it's theologically not 100% correct it's a novel for pete sake, but read it and pay attention to how God reached down to heal, restore and give amazing grace. It just may change your perceptions too. What a fantastic page turner!

Who can resist the 80's? Clearly not me! I jumped at the chance to be a fashion victim and a hair disaster! I had an absolute blast at the 6.8 girls sleepover! Despite the lack of sleep...the night was like way totally fun! I got to be with all my favorite girls! (except Madie and Jenna...thanks Brownes!) I ate way to much junk food and am still paying for it.

The night started off with the realization I was going to have to go to PriceCutter to grab change for the candy store----DRESSED LIKE THIS!


People full on stared. NO glancing and then politely looking away...they stared and smerked. I felt like I had lost some ridiculous bet. Totally humbling!

I was the MC of the fashion/Miss America show. I laughed so hard I could hardly continue the show in some parts. Note to self: Be prepared. Think the show through.

I got to the final round with he top 6 girls and it came to the secret question. I threw some out like--If you could be any sandwich at McDonald's which one would you be and why? If you could paint the world just one color, What would it be and why? And then girl #5 I was stumped. Then out of no where out of my mouth comes..On a scale of 1-10, how HOT do I look in these pants? And then my legs take off in a strut that would have put runway model to shame. The crowd went wild and the contestant totally said I was a 10! I could not get myself back together. I am such a nerd.

I also did all the shopping to stock the 80's dress up closet! What an experience. The most disturbing thing is that the outfit that I was wearing (sexy huh?!) and all the other baffling items were readily available at a variety of stores around town. I shopped in 6 different stores and found gems in each of them. Apparently here in Springfield someone has just gotten the memo that jeans that can double as a bra, because they are so high wasted, are no longer in style. There is someone who actually owned the sweater that I wore. Where on earth would that sweater be an appropriate choice? Can you imagine her pulling out the sequined sweater and asking her friend if she liked it? It reminds me of the snowman vest incident. (SHAWNA) Clearly her friend loved her enough to tell her to let the sweater go and give it to Goodwill. Thank God for good friends.

The point is...Run to your closet and if any of your jeans have zippers as long as your coat...it is time to get some new jeans! (I say that in love) AND If you need a "good friend" to come with you just call me!

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, he named him ... Daddy

~~Author Unknown.~~


In keeping with tradition I wanted to celebrate my Daddy today on his 5 year heaven birthday.

My daddy was an incredible man, an ever shining example of Christs love.
If I have ever meet anyone with a servants heart it was my Daddy.
He was a living example of the saying, preach the gospel always and
when necessary use words.  If you knew my dad, you know that he
usually only spoke when he had something of value to say, unlike me!
He had a heart of gold and I was so blessed to be able to watch
my Dad love God and lean on HIM!

I never went too long without a bear hug from my Daddy and a
whisper that he loved me.  As a little girl and as a women I have
always had confidence that I am the sparkle in my Daddy's eye! 
My Mom and Dad were always my biggest fans, never giving up on
me and could see potential in me before I could ever see it in myself.
I can only imagine the love our Heavenly Father feels for each of us! 
I pray that each of you will put your trust in Jesus, and know that you
are the sparkle in HIS eye!  He thinks you are amazing!  He thinks you
are incredible, and he will never give up on you!

I want to encourage you to love your friends and family.  Don't leave
things unsaid or undone.  Daddies make sure you grab your kids and
whisper to them how incredible they are and how you love them like
crazy.  Life is precious and we never know when it may be too late.


The point is...And I'm going to keep that celebration going because
I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and
the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants
to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue
on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the
contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make
Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They
didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger;
dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.
Philippians  1:19-21  The Message