New Etsy Site

Check out my new Etsy Site where I am posting my crocheted items for sale. Click here.

snowflakes

check out my other blog to see how i made these snowflakes

baby plants

above is one of my plants and i realized yesterday that it made some babies, so I transplanted them, see belowWe did a little rearranging as well.

80 cent purse

Click here to see my newest project.

New Post on Stitch Twitch

Click Here

work at the multicare centre

So, I really don't have much to blog about right now. But, I thought I would post some of the pictures I've been taking for the website at work. Above is the sign on our building. Below is my desk. I'm not putting that on the website by the way. But I've had fun taking all sorts of pictures at work.

Below is Randa and I hard at work. Randa is a lot of fun. She's the main receptionist until 2:00, which is when I take over the front desk. When I'm not at the front, I'm working on insurance, billing, website stuff, newsletters, or filing.

Below is a picture of the building we're in. It's a pretty cool shopping center we're in. It's called Westport Village. They have all kinds of cute little shops, restaurants, and various things.

Below is some occupational therapy taking place in our rehab room. :)

Below is some heartmath taking place. She uses the computer which is hooked up to the patient's ear to see the heart rate. She coaches the patient to focus on thinking and breathing right which affects your heart. She's done this on me before. She has you start off by thinking of a stressful thought so that you can see what goes on when that happens and then she has you think on "happy" things that relax you and helps you to breath correctly. It just goes to show how when we aren't resting in Christ, we are even affected physically.
And below is my boss April. She's a lot of fun. She also plays on my indoor soccer team.

Every Knee Shall Bow

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with an unbeliever feeling completely defeated for the cause of Christ? Well, I came home from work one day last week feeling like a loser. It all started when he asked me about the republican convention and Sarah Palin's words regarding war in Iraq being God's will. So that started up a huge conversation about God, the Bible, Women's rights and everything.
While, he always teases me about having a Bible degree ("how hard can it be to learn one book?") he found another occassion to make fun. He twisted everything I said to make it sound rediculous as if I'm a little brain-washed Bible girl. He said all our answers are so vague. And basically what he believes is that it's good to do good because we all have an effect and an impact on others. I couldn't get anywhere in this conversation. When trying to defend the inspiration of the Scripture he twisted it to say that the men that wrote scripture spurned women's rights etc. Anything I said to defend sounded so weak and "vague" although his arguments were actually the weak ones. Somehow the conversation ended as I had to take a patient's copay. I felt I had totally lost the case for God. He made everything I believed in a mockery! If only you could see his mocking grin as he attacked Christianity.
So I felt defeated. All my life I've been learning Scripture and how to defend the faith. What was wrong with me? Was I useless or what? But, I've come to the point where I'm grateful God put this conversation in my life to show me the necessity to be ready to make the most of all opportunities. Next conversation I'm definitely going to be praying for God's help in giving me answers and Scripture to use. And when I am bothered by his teasing, though light, I am reminded that he won't always be smiling. "Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." God, have mercy on him. So, Although, I left the conversation feeling defeated, God taught me much that I could gain from this experience as well as a greater appreciation for my Messiah whom they did not recognize.

Louisville Ballet

I got free tickets to the Louisville Ballet from work since we provide medical services for the dancers. It was a really neat show.

just an update

Well, we've been back into the swing of the semester. Scott is taking 12 credits, which made me cringe at first, but Scott is doing very well and enjoying most of his classes. He is gleaning so much from his professors and books. We are going through one of his hermaneutic books together and learning much from that.

A couple perks to being a seminary wife is I can use the gym for free and go to the sewing class on mondays. I've been working out there pretty regularly with some other "seminary wives" while our hubbies sit home and read, read, and read. Mondays are for sewing and Tuesdays are for organized volleyball at the seminary. Boy, I was rusty at volleyball. So, it's been nice taking advantage of those perks and having friends to enjoy them with.
me, Casey, Leah

Also, Scott and I are always busy Friday nights playing indoor soccer. It's a lot of fun and keeps us active. My boss also plays with us, which can be a bit confusing since her name is April as well. But I guess we're pretty much used to it from work. Everyone is grateful to have her on the team since she played professional soccer and is still in great shape of course. You should see her arms. Me and Casey always talk about having arms like hers. :) Anyway, we're starting to do much better in our games this season.

I went thrift store shopping with some new seminary wives that live in our apartments. We went on Labor Day and found there is a Unique Thrift store here in Louisville. Below is some of the fabric I found for super cheap along with a few polos for Scott.



Also, for Labor Day Scott and I enjoyed dessert at the Cheesecake Factory. Scott had chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake and I had snickers cheesecake.


And this is a picture that just cracks me up. It's my little brother Marco and my Dad. If you can't tell Marco shaved the top of his head to match my dad and is wearing my dad's glasses. Also, how classic of my dad to wear a Patz shirt. Ha, I miss them. I miss my whole family!

check out my new blog

Check out my new blog regarding the one too many projects i try to tackle. Visit Stitch Twitch

"Breaking Chains" by Scott Mohler

"You're My Favorite"

married two years

Today, August 5th, we celebrate two years of marriage to each other.

It was July of 2001 when it all began. I noticed a stunning soccer player (at soccer camp) walking down the rows of tables in the dining hall. In my mind it played like a movie in slow motion with music in the background. I still remember the light blue gap shirt he was wearing and how it made his eyes stand out. And then I remember the handshake and the place I was standing right outside of the dining hall where I met him a few days later. These are my silly but precious first memories of my best friend and husband.
My mother asked me the other day if marriage is all I thought it would be. Not thinking real hard I told her "of course." But when I thought more about it, marriage is definitely not how I pictured it. Marriage is harder than I thought (I am a selfish person), yet marriage is much more rewarding and meaningful than I had ever thought. To have each other to share EVERYTHING with gives us an amazing bond that can't be explained. We share beliefs, time, memories, feelings, opinions, things, family, friends, experiences, good times, bad times. Because of this bond that is only possible because of Christ, I can squeeze my husband and tell him he's my bestest friend. And to have my husband look me straight in the eyes and say "April, you're my favorite!" gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment.

I don't pretend to know everything about marriage. I've only just begun. Everyone says that once children come everything changes. But I look forward to sharing those future times with my husband. There will be hard times. But I have someone to share them with. And that means so much to me. Scott, not only are you my best friend, but YOU ARE MY FAVORITE!

This was in 2002 at the Mall of America

This was in 2001, first pic together (the pic above that is)

A Tiny Beating Heart...Stopped

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the sad story of abortion that occurs all around us everyday. In America, murder is your choice.

3,900 babies die from abortion every day in America - one every 22 seconds. Each year, over 1.4 million infants die from abortion.

Have you ever viewed photos of an aborted baby? It will break your heart.

Testimony of former abortion provider Dr. Paul Jarrett

My 23rd abortion changed my mind about doing abortions forever. This patient was a little overweight and ultimately proved to be a little farther along than anticipated. This was not an uncommon mistake before ultrasound was readily available to confirm the gestational age.

Initially, the abortion proceeded normally. The water broke, but then nothing more would come out. When I withdrew the curette, I saw that it was plugged up with the leg of the baby which had been torn off. I then changed techniques and used ring forceps to dismember the 13 or 14 week size baby. Inside the remains of the rib cage I found a tiny, beating heart. I was finally able to remove the head and looked squarely into the face of a human being -- a human being that I had just killed. I turned to the scrub nurse standing next to me and said, "I'm sorry".

I knew then that abortion was wrong and I couldn't be a part of it any longer.

The following is a comment from a woman who had an abortion at a clinic here in Louisville:
"I am so thankful you are there for women who need your services. I never thought I would even consider abortion, but it was the best decision I could make. Thank you for not judging me and for supporting me."

The clinic had this woman thinking this was the best decision. What are we as Christians doing to truly help these women who are afraid of being judged? What are we doing to support and reach out to these women? What are we as Christians doing to save these tiny human beings?

I can't help but think, "What can I do?"

a door prize

Are you one of those people who never win door prizes? Well, that's how i feel, or felt. But, earlier this week I went to a Women's meeting at the seminary, it's like a snack, fellowship time along with a devotional type workshop. When we walked in, they had us put our name in a basket for the door prize. 3 names would be picked to have lunch with Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Cheong, or Mrs. Mohler(the president's wife). So, my friend and I put in our names, and laughed at the thought of my name getting called since I have the same last name. Of course, you wouldn't believe it, but the last person they called was me. Afterwards, when we were still standing around chatting, Mrs. Mohler came and introduced herself to me, and said that she would be taking me to lunch sometime in May. I have so many questions I could ask Mrs. Mohler. I've heard so many neat things about her from my friends who have taken some seminary wives classes from her. She is a really neat woman, and I look forward to getting to know her a little bit and learning from her.

a cry for easy, yet healthy recipes

Scott and I have started to realize how unhealthy we eat. Even though I have taken a cooking class, recipes are so intimidating to me, unless it's for caramels. It's so hard for me to expand what I know. So we tend to get quick meals that aren't so healthy. We know that we need to change if we don't want to end up with heart disease down the road. My parents have always given me healthy food, but I never had to do the shopping for it or find the recipes. I have to tell you, it's so intimidating to me. But today, I've started gaining knowledge on the different vitamins and foods we need. I found a weight watchers cookbook for $6 at half price books, so I'm attempting to try some of it, however, it's still intimidating to me. So Please oh Please, send me your favorite, yet quick and healthy recipes if you have anything. And please help me with this planning thing.

Scott knows how to make it special

this is the poem Scott wrote for me this year. it means so much to me

my 22nd year

I sit here and think of the last year of my life...the 22nd year of my life. it's over with. in a few hours i will celebrate my 23rd birthday. many thoughts run through my mind but mainly, how have i loved, sought for, and enjoyed my God in the past year? Psalm 39 says,

Show me, O Lord, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro;
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

And now, I'm reminded of the meaning of life for me...to know Christ and be found in Him.

Also, I'm reminded of the godly example I've had in front of me my whole life - my mother. She's the virtuous woman I look up to in so many ways, from the way she's raised her family and continues to nurture her children to the way she extends her hand to those in need and serves expecting nothing in return. She's a strong woman who draws her strength from Christ. And the thing I will never forget is the many nights growing up, when she'd tuck me in and quote scripture to me for the struggle I was going through. She taught me how to meditate on scripture. Last but not least, she practices prayer without ceasing. I love my mother and cherish the role model I have in her.

Then, there's my husband. He's my best friend and I continue to thank God for this gift. Scott is always there for me. Even when he's at work, and I can't sleep, I know how he would tell me to trust God and to meditate on Scripture. He prays with me and has family devotions with me. He makes me feel secure and reminds me of my heavenly Father's love. He exemplifies patience and selflessness to me. I am so blessed to have a husband that inspires me to seek after my God.

what do you do when you can't sleep?

don't you hate that, when you're tossing and turning, just knowing how tired you're going to be in the morning when you have to go to work? well, tonight's one of those nights for me. as i'm writing it is almost 2am. scott's at ups working right now. there's no one i can call at this time to vent my frustration to. i keep thinking about the busyness of the next day of work, and how i might get called by the office anytime in the middle of the night to work a shift. i keep thinking about how frustrated i am with one of my acquaintances, and what i'd say to her if i only had the nerve. all these things are churning in my mind and i'm grinding my teeth subconsciously. i'm eating to see if that helps me sleep. and i'm watching yet another show to see if that makes me sleepy enough to forget everything.
so i'm asking you, what's your advice when you can't sleep? what's the best way to redirect your thoughts to things that are lovely, just, and pure? how can i rest in perfect peace? it's simple right? go to the Word, pray, keep your mind stayed on Him. it's that simple, yet so hard at times!

easter

scott and i are thankful for friends to celebrate Easter with.
we had a potluck with some friends from church that we normally rotate lunches with on sunday's. we had a good ham with lots of other food.

scott showed a Texan and a Floridan how to enjoy snow

Nancy and Beth above

here's the whole gang starting a game

the boys won in battle with the sexes

here's our easter eggs which i forgot to get a pic of all of them when i was finished

crocheting progress

above is a blanket i started before i was married.
took me about 2 years to finally finish.
so it's a big night for me. :)

above is a blanket i made for scott 3 Christmas ago

once in a while poor scott gets stuck helping me get knots out

and here is a scarf i just finished.
it's much faster than doing single stitch on a huge blanket