Moving Day

Last weekend my entire family headed to Indy to help Amy and Graig move into their new house. It was a crazy couple of days. Here are some pics...

Over worked

Amy not unloading the truck

They have a beautiful backyard and an awesome screened in porch

TV set up... very important in our family ;)

My older brother working hard

My younger brother and I unloading the truck... still no Amy.

Taking a break

Taking a break

;)

Almost finished

...almost

That's right, her laundry room is upstairs with all of the bedrooms... she is very lucky!!

Finally relaxing

Bloomington

After we finished helping Graig and Amy in Indy we headed down to Bloomington to visit Dan. I was FINALLY able to see his new house... which is amazing. We didn't take any pictures of it... I was way too tired and never even thought about it... whoops!

This is me in his living room. He works for the Navy and had a random sign up. That's Dan.

[notice this is a sign for warfare centers... what a lovely welcome to his guests]

Dan driving us to the lake

the launch

some of the family by an airplane that we stumbled on

...and then there's me. It was very windy

...the end

Back in South Bend

I'm back home. We went down to Indy & Bloomington to help my sister move into her new house and to visit my brother. I'm exhausted. Pictures to come later... I'm tired and I must get some sleep.

The highlight of my trip... hearing my dad say "this is stripper business." oh yeah.

It's Difficult...


So I've decided to give up Starbucks for 1 month. It's mostly a calorie thing. My last cup was March 16th. It's been 13 days. 18 more days to go. ahhhhh!!!!

This is what I woke up to...

...and I loved it!!

this was in my email today...


AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK. "A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ," HE BEGAN. "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED." THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH. "THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. " HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE." WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM. THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVER ED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE. "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM,"BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN." "WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE... I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

Hmmmm......

What a weekend...

Another weekend spent in the hospital. Everyone's okay. I'm exhausted. More to come later.

Love.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

So I was reading my devotions tonight and I came across this…

“Don’t wait for your list of grievances to be met before you are willing to move forward in God’s will. He can use you right where you are, even if it isn’t exactly where you want to be! The old adage is appropriate here: BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!”

I’m doing a study of God’s will for your life and the chapter I read tonight was talking about how we have this one thing (or more than one thing) that we are waiting for to make things easier for us… maybe a new car, a dishwasher or computer, etc. That paragraph above really stood out to me.

It also relates to the destination disease that was talked about at church tonight. How a lot of us “waste” time waiting to get to our destination. We say “once we get ____ then we will be _____.”

We aren’t living tomorrow, we’re living today.
Bloom where you are planted.

I feel a new calling. It’s kind of scary. Something I never saw coming. Pray for me.

So we decided to bake some brownies, here's how it went...

...they were amazing!!

What a crazy couple of weeks...

On Monday Feb 19th we found out that Tim’s grandma passed away so we went to the hospital to be with his family. We stayed until 10:00. When his parents left they were hit by a drunk driver. We rushed back to the hospital and got there right when the ambulance pulled in. I stayed there until 6:00 in the morning. They put the drunk in the room next to his mom. We heard him scream while the doctors put his elbow back in place. The name swalms came up a time or two that night.

I just found out my sister bought a house outside of Indy [excuse to go shopping @ Ikea].

I’m not allowed to watch LOST “live” anymore. I have to tivo it and watch it when someone doesn’t have band practice…. still waiting….

I held Lilly for the first time in a long time.

I had my first car “accident.”

I found out I still need to take my series 6 & 63 exams.

Life is good.

Straight from Egypt...

Miss Kara Burkey!!

It was a bittersweet trip, but it was amazing seeing you again!!

I LOVE YOU!!

Peace.

Gloria A. Burkey

Oct. 18, 1937-Feb. 19, 2007

LAGRANGE, Ind. — Gloria Ann Burkey, 69, 1415 S. 460 West, died Monday at 6:20 p.m. at Elkhart General Hospita following an extended illness.

She was born Oct. 18, 1937, in Goshen, to William and Lela Belle (Snodgrass) Hartman.

She married Ralph Edward Burkey on May 3, 1956, in Mississippi. He died Sept. 3, 1980.

She worked for 26 years at CTS, Elkhart, and a number of years at A.R.C. Opportunities, Howe.

She was a member of the Lake Missionary Church, where she served as children’s director. She also served several years as the Bible Release Teacher through the Steuben County Association of Churches. Over the years she has served as a Sunday school teacher/superintendent, children and vacation Bible school director, curriculum writer and Women’s Bible Study leader.

From 1996 to 2000 she served as a missionary in Donesk, Ukraine, working with the university students and helping them start and develop Hope Church.

She enjoyed playing Scrabble and the piano.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ann (Jeff) Grate, Bronson, Mich.; five sons, Daniel (Erin) Burkey, Granger, Stephen (Lisa) Burkey, Howe, Jonathan (Twyla) Burkey, Lima, Ohio, David (Juanita) Burkey, Hamilton, and Peter Burkey, LaGrange; two sisters, Wanda (Robert) Hooley, California Corners, Mich., and Carol (Roy) Parker, Elkhart; a brother, Jim (Betty) Hartman, Union, Mich.; and 19 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a grandson, Reuben Paul Grate.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, and one hour prior to the funeral, which is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana. The Revs. Mike Cain and Bob Renner will officiate.

Burial will take place at Shore Cemetery, Shipshewana.

Pallbearers will be Timothy Burkey, Andrew Burkey, Adam Burkey, Jonathan Burkey, Caleb Burkey, Daniel Burkey, Micah Burkey and Matthew Burkey.

Memorials may be sent to Hope Church, Donesk, Ukraine.

Online condolences may be sent to millerstewartfuneralhome.com.

It has been awhile...

Some fact about Sweden from Car...

Sweden.

Also known as The Kingdom of Sweden. A very large country. I learned where it is located today. But this is not all about the new (about 20-something) countries I learned the location of. This is all about Sw eden...

Sweden just happens to be the leading industrial nation. (hence IKEA)

Sweden has a king right now who's name is (appropriately enough since this is for KIMMI Gustafson): King Carl XVI Gustav

Sweden has one of the world's highest life expectansies. Lucky ducks.

In the 60's and the 70's Sweden was considered the international leader in the "sexual revolution".

As of right now, Sweden has one of the highest number of single people in the world.

Also, they have this building (the Twisting Torso):

Sweden has also given us musical gifts such as ABBA, Ace of Base, and The Hives. But Ebba Gron is considered the first "Swedish punk band".

So you see, IKEA is the best thing that ever happened to America.
Nuff said.

♥♥♥Car.

Anti BW3's Group
[taken by Car]
So the plan was Houlihans for Timmy's birthday... that didn't work out, the wait was over two hours. So after calling around and around we settled on BW3's...
BIG MISTAKE, BIG.
Half the table ate; Half the table watched.
No fun. No fun at all.
We were all VERY angry.
[as you can tell]

Those that ate only paid half their bill.
Those that didn't eat didn't pay at all [and eventually got their food].
So, I guess, it worked out in the end [sort of].

Join the Group on MySpace.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMMY!!

P.S. BEAR DOWN!!

My poor Jeep...

So I bought new tires last Saturday and spent $600. I drove maybe two miles and look what happened...

Tim could have fixed it an hour earlier if he would have gotten off of the phone!!

last weekend...

... in CHICAGO

Vince [won't leave me alone] Vaughn


So I'm driving down Michigan Ave on Sunday afternoon with Car, Tim, Kim and Aaron for some shopping and coffee. All of the sudden we notice random snow on the ground {it's 50 outside} and a ton of Christmas shoppers. Next thing we see are a bunch of santas running down the street and Car and I say it's probably Vince [stalking us again] filming another movie.

So today during lunch i log on to people.com to catch up on the news and what do I see...

"Vince Vaughn forgoes a sleigh for his own two feet Sunday in Chicago while filming a naughty scene for the movie Fred Claus. The comedy – about Santa Claus's bitter brother – is due in November. "

Field's clings to a sweet spot with Frangos of yore

By Heidi Stevens
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 7, 2007

The bags say Macy's, the gift cards say Macy's, even the awnings along majestic State Street say Macy's.

But oh, sweet salvation, we've still got our Frangos--for now. Buyers of the chocolatey Chicago icon will notice the boxes still sport the eloquent Marshall Field's moniker, a lone standout in the New York-ified institution. Macy's spokeswoman Jennifer McNamara says the store is using up its "existing supply" of Frango boxes and when those go, so goes the name.

The new line, McNamara says, will simply be called Frangos, not Macy's Frangos.

In the meantime, you chocolate lovers may want to snatch up what's left of the soon-to-be-extinct version, and you don't have to be in Chicago to do so. McNamara says Frangos are now available in about 200 Macy's locations--and in some cases are proving a tough sell.

A recent story in the Philadelphia Inquirer told the tale of Philly shoppers encountering the new-fangled chocolates at the Center City Philadelphia Macy's: "I wouldn't buy it for $18," Anita Donahue told the paper. "Not unless I knew it was really good," added her sister-in-law Regina Donahue.

Of course, $18 (a 1-pound box of Frangos actually retails for $17) is a pittance for the serious chocolate lover. A list of 21 Ultimate Gifts in December's Robb Report highlights the Michel Cluizel special: a shipment of $200 worth of Michel Cluizel chocolate every week for the rest of your life, a chocolate room designed for your home, a tutorial on how to better appreciate fine chocolate and a private tour of the Cluizel factory in Damville, France, with Michel Cluizel as your guide. The price? A cool $4 million.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...ahhhhhh the world is coming to an end; forget global warming what am I going to do when there are no more Frango's?!?!

[thank you lisa jump]

2007

[ahhhhhh!!!!]

...more to come