The Family Keeps Comin!

Gabe's Here...

...and he's Gone!
Andy and Gabe came to visit us for a couple of days and Andy is going to Rock (or at least lullaby) Geneva tomorrow. More pictures of what goes down to come.

Easter Feast 2007

A group of friends and family gathered together at the Kirksey household to stuff ourselves with a marvelouse meal. From Left to Right -

Top Row: Taylor and Joanna Sprague, Justin Miller
Bottom Row: Steve and Laura Hanson, Jay and Laurie Lorenzen, Sarah Kirksey, and Ryan Holt

Wise Words

A question we all struggle with this time of year answered by a seven year old.

I'd rather...

...be wearing sandals! Two days ago - High of 71 and sunny : Today - High of 31 and snow flurries. Such a tease.

Delayed

Spring in Phoenix!
Scott was my date to the wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Suarez
The future Student Developement Office at some cutting edge school
An incredible day of golf with one of my favorite people! Thanks Dad!

Seattle

Thanks Emily for a delightful time!

Divide and Conquer

Taylor had plans to travel to Phoenix this weekend for a wedding. It was not in our budget for both of us to go. I was going to have to stay in Beaver Falls and be bored. However, my wonderful husband felt sorry for me. For my birthday, he surprised me with a ticket to Seattle to visit my good friend Emily (he chose to ignore the budget). So Thursday morning, we traveled to the airport together and boarded different planes. Both on our way to a city we love and to see people we adore. We brag on the phone to each other about what we are doing….Taylor is wearing shorts, enjoying 80 degree weather, and playing golf. I am taking in the beauty of Seattle, visiting a new coffee shop every few hours, and enjoying hours of girl talk with a true friend. Though it will be hard to return to Beaver Falls, we are praying that this little break will refresh us and give us new perspective. We also realize that “home” is when we are together, no matter what city we are in. So lots of pictures soon to come from our two different adventures.

"I think America is much like an absent father. We throw money at things. But when it comes to actually participating in the lives of the young in the community and the nation and the world, we really couldn't care less. ... Stop just throwing money at the problem. It's like a cortisone shot for an athlete or like Jack Daniels fora singer when he has had a bad night. It helps temporarily, but it's going to be so much more damaging in the long run. People need to be fed into. Each one of us Americans has a choice to stand out and conquer or sit back in apathy and just stay in our monotonous lives."
-Stephen Christian
Lead Singer of Anberlin

Who Needs Starbucks?

Joanna made these amazing scones from scratch!

Bob Sr.?

Months ago, our sister-in-law Kari emplored us to enter the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway in hopes that someone in our family would win the amazing custom built WinterPark haven. Since then, we have daily delivered our entries into cyberspace hoping that one of us would get to win the place we would use for family vacation this summer. So, tonight...we sat...anxiously waiting...hoping to get a knock on our door or to at least see one of our beloved family members on T.V. jumping around like we would if we got it. The moment came...........and the moment went. Bob Sr. from Tenessee took it. Bob Sr.? Joanna said he doesn't even like Colorado:) Oh well, back to saving Africa.

Sweet Sweet Sunshine!

It was flip-flops and iced grandes today as God smiled down and said "Happy Birthday Joanna!" The weather was so incredible, the kind that brings memories of days gone by. We did a lot of reminiscing and talking about how much we missed places and people. It would be a long blog if we listed them all. We are looking forward to another warm day tomorrow before it gets cold again for the weekend. The boys are back in Pearce tonight, which means no more peaceful evenings, but it's good to see all of them. 7 weeks left (way short) and we're hoping to finish strong.
THE SPRAGUES

Just Cuz We Miss Them

It's a make-your-own pizza and rootbeer float party!

5 States in 10 Hours

We're back in Pearce tonight. We had such a great time in Iowa this past week and it was very refreshing to be with familiar faces. We realize more and more how great of family we have. Thanks Andy and Jody for your hospitality, thanks boys for your laughs and all of you for your love. You're already missed.
Explanation
We drove from Iowa through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio into Pennsylvania. We didn't realize the title fact until half way through the drive.

The Other Boys Couldn't Be Left Out...

Dawson

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Gabe

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Here's where all the talent is!

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P.S. It's a lot easier to blog when you have kids :)

My Wife the Amazing Aunt

Quincy, the youngest of the Landers boys, is feeling less than his best today. He is a very giving boy though. Early this morning, he gave up whatever was in his stomach to the floor. The only immediate mediator for this is a mommy. Quincy clung to Jody all morning. Unfortunately life doesn't stop even if you have a sick kid. Jody had to take Max to school, so Quincy found his ease in his Aunt Joanna. She took him in her arms and he laid his head on her shoulder as they watched out the window onto great stretches of field. Then it happened. Quincy bestowed his giving upon Joanna. She didn't freak out, she didn't get upset; she held him close and comforted him. Tears welled in his eyes and he laid his head back down in the arms of love. Amazing.
Now the clothes are in the laundry, Quincy is sound asleep, and I am once again reminded of the incredible gift God has given me.

A Little Home Run Derby

"Taylor I've got two words for you..."

The third of four nephews (4 yrs old) came up the stairs out of no where and caught my attention with the above statement. So I humored him and asked Max what the two words were. With all the confidence of a little white skinned baby face said, "Peace Out!" and disappeared back down the stairs.
We suprised Jody (Andy and the boys knew) and have taken over the basement guest room for a little while. It's good to see some familiar faces. Here's to family!

Freedom

Today, we woke up, checked the weather and decided..... TODAY IS THE DAY!!!! It was amazing. No constraints. All that room to spread out and breath. JOY! It represented the promise of spring, hopes of warmer days...sunshine even? It was glorious and we did nothing but soak it in. We Wore Sandals.
I hope the title didn't suggest depth

"It is too easy simply to talk or concern ourselves with the poor who are far away. It is much harder and, perhaps, more challenging to turn our attention and concern toward the poor who live right next door to us." Mother Teresa

My Friend

Thanks to technology, I was able to talk to my dear friend Sarah, in Sierra Leone. I was sitting on my comfortable couch and she was sitting in a mine. She is going to eat Top Ramen tonight (which she has to ration out) and I am planning on going out to eat to PF Changs with some friends. It was awesome to hear her voice, to talk about our upcoming trip to Sierra Leone, and let her know we are so proud of her. We asked her what we should know before coming...she said, "Come with an open heart. God is going to teach you something that you probably won't expect."
Isn't she beautiful?

I was trying to think of something to blog about, when the huge heart hanging on our fridge caught my eye. I thought I'd share with you one of my most treasured Valentine's. Though Taylor spoiled me, this Valentine came from his RA's (with a little prompting from Taylor I think). A poem like this could make any girl's heart melt: "Your cookies are as if sent from Above A major resaon for our love Thank you for your time and your warm heart We're sorry for when we're in your room and we fart The coffee you brew is nearly divine We hope that you cherish our Valentine!"

We May Not Have Kids but...

... we do love our nieces and nephews for reasons similar to these. I got this in an e-mail today.
Why We Love Children

1) NUDITY I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"
2) OPINIONS On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."
3) KETCHUP A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."
4) MORE NUDITY A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"
5) POLICE # 1 While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?" "Yes," I answered and continued writing the report. "My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?" "Yes, that's right," I told her. "Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me, "would you please tie my shoe?"
6) POLICE # 2 It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me "Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, What'd he do?"
7) ELDERLY While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
8) DRESS-UP A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning "
9) DEATH While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently , his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes."
10) SCHOOL A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write and they won't let me talk!"
11) BIBLE A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear? " With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."

Freezing Rain? What's that?

We've never experienced freezing rain before. I don't think it occurs out west. But the other night, after a good 3-4 inches of snow, it started to rain. I still don't understand how when it's cold enough to snow it rains, but rain it did. The result? A sheet of ice completely covered the car, icicles were hanging everwhere, and the snow had a smooth glossy crust. We have never experienced anything like this. CRAZY

That ice rink out there...that's the tennis courts covered in snow topped with ice.

We Do Stuff!

We're just not as good at frequently posting like Jody (Sister). We've come to that conclusion and we're ok with that. That being said, we still do things, and we often think about blogging those, it just doesn't always make it's digital appearance. I'm sure we could come up with plenty of excuses, but we'll save you the time.
That being said, we had a great Sunday night this past weekend. We spent the day meticulously cleaning our apartment and cooking dinner for a group of six friends that were coming over for this groups monthly game night (hopefully it looked clean in the video below, cuz that's what they got). After some amazing Tortilla Soup, we spent the night yelling numbers at eachother; normally no higher than four. This, apparently, is how you win the game "Pit". A game from 1904, it's one of the best we have ever played. Great food, loud fun, and spending time with people who we're really getting attached to. So...We Do Stuff!

Apartment Update

We've mentioned that the office was getting a makeover and that we finally got a couch. Well here's proof. Again, the video doen't do justice, but you get the idea. Enjoy!

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Taylor may be sleeping on the couch tonight!

Don't worry, no need to call the marriage counselor, it just might be safer for Taylor to sleep on the couch. This morning I was in a light sleep, dreaming that Taylor and I were having lunch with some friends. In my dream, I playfully reached over and pinched Taylor's butt. Appartenly I act out my dreams, because I abruptly woke up Taylor with a nice real pinch. That may be too much information to share on a blog, but funny right? Taylor decided to brave another night sleeping nexts to me, let's hope tonight I don't dream about being a boxer.

14 miles above Irelynd

No, we didn't spell Irelynd wrong. That's our nieces name and this past Monday, we were only 14 miles away from her and her parents, and we didn't see any of them. Ok, we were flying over them on our way to a layover in Houston, but that is probably as close as we'll get to them for a while. Kind of sad.

On a brighter note, we got spend the past weekend in much loved (and much warmer) Phoenix. Joanna's old roomate (Shannon) got married and Taylor was the MC. We saw just a handful of all our great friends and family there, but it was great to see who we could. It feels like there's never enough time to see everyone.

We're back in Beaver Falls now. The high today is in the twenties and the ground is caked in snow, but it's home and it's good to be back.

Today, I walked home in the snow. It was beautiful.

FYI

This week so far:

*Finishing renovation on Taylor's office (Pictures coming soon)

*Beat Taylor in Basketball 12-10...and pig;)

*Learning how to whistle (yes, I'm 22 and don't know how to whistle)

*Checking my dad's blog jaylorenzen.blogspot.com, He is in Africa!

*Getting ready for the Pura Vida (the coffee we serve) representative who is coming to audit my coffee shop tomorrow....I have a few suggestions for them:)

*Went tanning in order to prepare for the wedding we are attending Saturday in Phoenix

I know you are just dying to hear how the rest of the week goes.

Raising the Bar

Within the last twenty-four hours, we have had 6 cell phone numbers, with as many as four at one time. We had to work the system in order to keep our cell phone numbers. We were successful! We spent the evening dancing around our apartment with our new phones....that's right....we can now use our cell phones anywhere in our apartment. We no longer have to kiss the window to talk on the phone. So we are determined to catch up with family and friends who we have neglected due to horrible cell phone service. Feel free to give us a call!

Tears over Furniture

I had the bold idea to redo Taylor's office as a Christmas present. Let me just paint you a picture of my experience so far.... First, a coat of an ugle mint green. Then two coats of a basil pesto green, sounds yummy huh? Then a mini breakdown as I try to arrange furniture. The fear that there is no way to fit eveything in the room that needs to fit. Remember we live in a space the size of four dorm rooms. So I decided to buy more furniture to somehow get everything to fit. Off to Ikea. Then I spent an hour putting together a bookshelf. I normally brag about my ability to assemble furniture, but I am offically humbled. I called Taylor in to help me put the last few pieces together. We thought it would be best to stand it up in order to fit the top on. BOOM! Thats right, it feel to pieces. Then came a short laugh followed by tears. So I am headed to bed, a bit furstrated. Tomorrow will involve another trip to Ikea to return now broken shelves and another attempt to put the bookshelf together. Wish us luck!

220 Multiple Choice & 1 Essay

I have never been so excited that a day is over. Saturday from 7:30am till 5:00pm, I was taking the Praxis tests. I have to take 5 tests in order to get certified in PA to teach. Apparently I will be a good teacher if I can answer a question like "what is Marie Curie famous for?" Anyone know? So I have finished three of the five tests I have to take. I will take two more in March. Thank you to everyone who said a prayer for me. It really helped. I will let you know in four weeks if I passed the tests.

Oops!

A gift from Joanna...she is redoing the office. Furniture added and rearranged, EVERYTHING reorganized, and a new paint job! I'm pretty excited. Joanna let me pick the paint color and let me say I'm thankful for second chances. This was not the color I expected it to be. Too Minty. We got new paint and I cannot wait for my colorful new office to be done!

Dog for a Day

As Joanna and I were sitting in the Student Center today, just outside one of the dining areas, we noticed something very unusual coming down the stairs along the students. Out of nowhere and with no one came this adorable and energetic little beagle. No one was around to claim it nor did it have any i.d. tags. We waited and plotted, but came up empty as to what to do with our new friend. Joanna drove around trying to find it's home, we made phone calls, but in the end we didn't want to send this young, healthy, and smart pup (she could sit, shake and heel) to the Humane Society. So......we kept her for the day:) We ran around with her, introduced her to the boys, she peed in our office and somehow, in a matter of hours, Joanna grew attached. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to have pets and as the sun began it's descent, we had to find a place to send her... We sent her to you Jody! I'm sure the boys will love her!:) Actually a student who knew our situation and lives off campus took her into his home with the hope the we will find hers. All in all, it was pretty fun to have a dog for a day

We prefer a chocolate lab though:)

DREAM BIG!

Our New Baby!

Six months, not nine, but we were proud to bring home the newest member of our family. We've been searching for a replacement for our, um, firm futon since we've been here. Today we walked into Ikea and found a great deal on a sectional. The only problem is that the corner piece is a little beat up. We are headed back to Ikea first thing in the morning to hopefully replace the misssing link.
Missing Link + Red Slip Cover: Priceless

A bag of change

While some of our family is braving it in the snowy depths of Colorado, it's warm and rainy here today. The weather has been unusual to say the least, but we are not complaining. In fact, I've been trying to do the opposite. Sometimes I forget to appreciate the little things and the blessings that I am so barried in. As I sit here writing this, there is a bag of change plopped on the coffee table in front of me. No more than $15 shimmer through the plastic. It could be used for laundry, or our starbucks fund, or even for a night of cards. It's just change. But that change could change someone's life! It seems like we all have heard the stories of how one dollar could provide water for a village or an education and medicine for a child. So many times those stories have hit my numb heart, but the more and more I dig into the truth of what's happening outside of my bubble, it seems those stories are true. A bag of change and a change of mind (at least a reminder)...We are incredibly blessed.

Back to Beaver

We returned to Western PA today. Having our full of travel, we are now unpacking knowing we pack up again in couple of weeks for an Arizona wedding. It's like we're taking after the parents' Lorenzen:). We've had a splendid Holiday season and will fill the blanks of the last week or so soon! We have been challenged to blog more as a New Year's Resolution so this one's for you Jay. Thanks to all those who made this Christmas and New Years special.