Long Time No See!

...So it has been a while!  As most of you probably know, winter for me is synonymous with hibernation, and so I have been majorly slacking in the photos and updates department!  This winter was especially cold and snowy, with weather experts deeming it the worst winter in over 20 years!  Hopefully another 20 years will pass before this polar vortex returns!  Even as I am typing this, I am staring out the window with a marvelous view of countless snow covered branches and mounding piles of fluffy white snow on the ground due to our most recent mid-March snowstorm.  That is it!!  I am officially declaring Winter to be completely over and done with, making way for the beautiful colors, smells, activities, growth, and warmer weather that comes with the wondrous season of Spring!!  Can I get an Amen?!

Andee and I have been working and volunteering as usual, but one special day in mid-January we got a special surprise from an unexpected person while volunteering at Harvest!  On a typical day, Andee would drop me off at Harvest and head to work, but this particular morning he came inside to print off a quick homemade card before heading off.  As the two of walked by our good friend Amy Freitag as Andee was about to leave, she suspiciously stopped us and asked us to wait at the front for a few minutes.  A couple minutes later she arrived with a wrapped present and a picture of a hand written note with very familiar handwriting!  I knew right away that is was Cassie, but was still confused as to how the note even got to us, let alone what was in the package!  We excitedly opened up the package with Amy giggling and taking pictures, and my amazing sister Cassie had bought us a brand new TABLET!!!!  We were shocked, and so excited!!  We had recently been looking into getting one when both of our laptops died within a week, but decided against it since we are a little low on funds.  But Cassie in her generosity decided to get it for us as a gift, working through Amy to get it to us in Illinois!  And on the note read a very encouraging and needed verse; "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."  We are so grateful for family and friends who are the hands and feet of Jesus in helping to meet the needs of His children!  Since opening up the tablet that day, we have used it an embarrassingly large amount and have so enjoyed finally being able to play The Simpsons Tapped Out!!  What an amazing gift, and what an amazing sister!!  We love you Cassie!!

Since Christmas, our little Aloe cat has been extra affectionate and adorable as he has now become a lap cat and loves to cuddle!  And what is better than a cuddly cat on a cold Winter's day?  Nothing! We also celebrated our little Choop-face's "birthday" (the day we adopted him) with a special gift for him that we named "Companion Cube".  If you do not understand this reference, ask the nearest game-er and continue reading.  He loves to play in his new cube, and is oddly always very receptive to gifts!  Happy Birthday Aloe Cat!!

We also recently took a trip to the Brookfield Zoo on one of the warmer (still freezing) days of this Winter!  Although the weather was less than desirable, many of the usually docile animals were loving the cold!  And no one was having more fun than the Snow Leopards!!  Momma and Baby leopards were having the time of their lives playing in the snow, and the baby was even playing with me through the glass!!  Very little in this world entertains me more than a zoo full of amazing animals!  Typing this now is making me want to go again!  Better head to the Library for the free passes!!

Recently at Harvest I was invited to a Staff lunch/celebration of Harvest's 14th Birthday!  Little did I know, but they had a surprise waiting for me when I got there!  Every so often, Harvest gives out a "You Inspire Us" Award for a Staff member to show their appreciation for what they do in service to the Lord!  However, they decided to break tradition and give the award to a volunteer - Me!!  I was so surprised and excited to receive this award that I naturally started to cry and was unable to properly thank everyone!  The whole staff had come together to write such thoughtful and encouraging things in the award, and I am so thankful for the work that they all do for the Lord in serving others!!  God is at work, and I am so thankful to be a part of it!!

Speaking of God at work, he is currently moving so much in our lives through Bible Studies, speaking through His Word, and speaking through others!  We are in a season of waiting and expectation in the Lord, and we are confident in His perfect plan for us!  We would love prayer during this time, and so if you are reading this, please pray!  More updates on this particular topic to come!!

Well, that's all folks!  Spring has almost sprung, and God is making all things new!  And if you are reading this, it means that I love you!  Happy Almost Spring!!