Painting to the Glory of God

Last weekend Cheryl from my church sacrificed 8hrs of her Saturday to help me transform the look of my upstairs room. We pulled down a border, spackled, scraped, primed, and double coated the walls in paint. All the while I talked her ear off again (same thing happened the previous weekend when I was helping her run a table at the women's expo.) believe it or not the blue was actually darker than it looks in these pictures. It was alot of work, but the company and the results made the effort worthwhile.

Strangers in the Cellar

This weekend I spent in costume at a haunted house. We plan to be open Oct. 18, 24, 25, and 31. Its been alot of fun already, but I'm not going to publish details, at least not until we close for the season, but if your looking for some fun come to the "Strangers in the Cellar" haunted house. http://homepage.mac.com/thezooman/Personal58.html Its a frightful good time.

Saturday at the Soccer Field

Madison and Cassie in their "Purple Lightning" uniforms.

Joe and Charlie are rivited at the sports action.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------After the game we headed to Culvers for lunch.

Did you say ice cream?

A Kickin' Birthday Weekend

This weekend had a couple notable events taking place. The first was the Upper Midwest Kickboxing Championships. The picture to the left is my 1st place plaque. Although I was the only one in my age division so I only had to beat me. :) But it was fun, and I'm looking forward to the next competition when there will hopefully be a few more people competing.

The other notable event was my birthday. That's right I am now 24yrs old. Although I still feel 16. My Dad, brothers, sister-in-law, and my nieces and nephew all made it up to celebrate my birthday and watch the competition. My nieces loved the kickboxing, and tried out a few punches and kicks afterward. And my oldest brother Joe was even brave enough to try a kickboxing class with me. My sister-in-law sent me a picture of me and Joe in the class. She named it "Sarah scares me." I can't imagine why ;).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It was a fun day from beginning to end. After kickboxing and some time at the park, we all had some food and rootbeer floats at my apartment. Followed by some time at the hotel pool and hotub, and we had an ice cream birthday cake. I thoroughly ruined my diet for the day, but hey what are birthdays for? And I even got to hear my nephew Charlie sing"happy birfday dear Sarwah." So cute. Video of competition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=294xyRRbVzs

The IPA Upper Midwest Bench Competition

This weekend I was mostly a bum, but I did get up somewhat early Saturday morning to be in a bench press competition. I saw two state records being set. You can read about that on my trainer's website http://www.thezooman.com/ just click on the trainer of man and beast icon. First place for the women was 172.5 lbs. lifted by Leah Krenz. I tied for second at 137.5 lbs. but after looking at our previous lifts I won second place, and got a medal for it. All in all it was a fun event.

A Fun Eventful End to A Long Week

It was one of those weeks. Monday morning, I found myself thinking it was Friday. Wrong orders, picky customers, filling in for vacationing route jumpers, lack of sleep, and an account starting up again for fall, all added to the regular routine of work. I couldn't help but think of the sovereignty of God this week. I know how it seems that when something goes wrong allot of things go wrong. And when something good happens, most of life is going good. I started thinking about the fact that nothing happens without a purpose. Have you ever gotten out of bed and stubbed your toe just as a start to your day? Even that is for a reason. Its mind boggling, anyway now that I've finished my rant about the week, on to the fun stuff. Friday, after work, I went to the park. Buttered Corn Days was going on this weekend. I came to see The Zoo Man. He is also my trainer, and I had never seen his show. It was fun to see and hear about some reptiles I wouldn't normally see, and after the show he had me hold his 15ft. snake! That thing was really big. Sorry I didn't have my camera. I believe it was a yellow albino python of some sort. Anyway, It was very large and feels really weird when it starts to slither, but it was fun. Saturday morning was started with a 5k run. I would never have thought that I would be in a run, but I finished! And I wasn't even the last one. I now have a medal for running. That's pretty cool. After some mini golf came the main event. A boxing match between Brent and Joe (my trainers) and John Janke from SAM radio. It was a makeshift ring with sock 'em bop 'em gloves instead of regular gloves. 3 Rounds with no decided winner, it was fun. Especially since John's partner didn't show and I wound up filling in. :) The day was ended with some blue grass/gospel music from Stan and Connie Rasmusen, joined later by Leah Siefkes. All in all I liked the end of the week much more than the beginning.

Saturday at the Park

Ramsey Park, Redwood Falls, MNThe sounds of water flowing by. Beautiful paths lined with trees. Such a picture perfect bridge.

Paths to get lost by.

This one I took from a bridge.

This was on the other side of a dam. I climbed down a pretty steep not meant to be a path, path and climbed over some rocks to take this one.

I love waterfalls

All of man's inventions and "improvements" can't compare to God's creation.

I like to get close. Any further I'd have been at the bottom.

Gifts From God

Thursday, my dad called to tell me he would be home this weekend. He is a cross-country truck driver, so we never know if he will be or not. Anyway, since he was gonna be home, and his birthday is this Wednesday, I drove down. Midnight on a Friday evening I walk through the door to find home-made pizza waiting for me. :) Always a good start. The whole weekend was nice, and it was good to spend time with my family, but what sticks with me the most was Saturday afternoon at the fair with my brother's kids. Charlie's big ketchup covered smile. Cassie, trying to keep her plate from blowing away when she picks up her pizza. Madison, bursting into tears at the thought of having to climb a net, and having the guy in charge let her out the back way. Both girls, sitting in bumper cars trying to figure out why they won't move. and Cassie spinning aroung in circles, once she found the gas pedal. Hearing my sister-in-law say that the kids get all excited when they hear we are coming over. Listening to Charlie walking around saying "hi' to everyone, except my dad, then its "Howdy Hi." The way he pronounces my name, "Sawah." And seeing my dad's face as he gets to hear Charlie say "grandpa." These are some of the gifts God gave me this weekend. We were not able to spend the past seven years with Joe and his family, long story, but what a blessing to be able to spend time with them now. I don't think anyone could top Charlie's gift to my dad. He sang"Happy Birthday." God made those kids very sweet, and if you were aware of the situation, that song coming from him was enough to melt your heart.