we are the champions, my friend...

Last night was our church Chili Cook Off. Sean and I lead a LIFE Group on Sunday nights in our home. Our group decided to enter together with a Toy Story theme. You can't really see me in this picture. I'm behind the Prospector. I'm the tail end of the slinky dog. We had a lot of fun last night. Mr. Potato Head and I made the chili. It was kind of funny because last week our group had our own chili cook off. Anyone who wanted could bring chili to our group and we would vote on the best one. That would be the chili we would enter in the contest. Well, only Mr. Potato Head and I made chili. Everyone liked them both. So, one guy mixed them together and said we should just mix them and enter. So, we did! Our chili won 3rd place! Our group won 1st Place for Best Decoration! Sean and I got a lot of teasing and laughs being the slinky dog, but we had fun making our costume together.

Here's a picture of our prizes! A $10 Wal-Mart gift card for 3rd Place Chili. A $25 Wal-Mart gift card and a soap apron for Best Theme/Decoration! Awesome!

This is Sean and I in our interpretation of the Slinky Dog. I do have a little curly tail, but it's hard to see. That Buzz Lightyear doll is mine. Just so you know.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I'm such a goof when it comes to giving gifts or surprise. I like to give things, and I can never wait. I like watching the person receive the gift and their reaction and all. Well, I wanted to surprise Sean this year by getting him an amp for Christmas. He's been looking and asking for one for over a year. So, I did. I got him a crazy, loud amp. Sean said it would melt concrete blocks. It's a Vox Valvetronic 100VT something or other. It has 2 speakers and is 100 watts. Pretty powerful. I couldn't stand it any longer. I forwarded him the email receipt last night. He didn't even believe me at first! He's pretty excited about it though. I had to order it, and it should arrive sometime next week. He kept saying, "Babe, I can't believe you bought me an amp." And I said, "I know. I can't believe I bought you an amp that you can't play at home."

Here's to an awesome night tonight! Sean and I have been trying to squeeze time in for each other here and there over the past couple of weeks. Tonight we have no other plans. So, here's to date night with my Sean!

you are in control

When all around me is uncertain
It's Your arms that hold me close
When I am frightened by the unexpected
I'll remember that You're in control

When my faith is weak and hope seems lost
I know You're love won't let me go
When I feel undone and lost in despair
I'll remember that You're in control

You are faithful
You are sovereign
You are in control
You are mighty
You are loving
You are in control

When my spirit's restless, I'll trust in Your promise
You'll fill my heart with Your peace
When those dark days come, I won't give up or back down
I'll remember that You're in control

You are faithful
You are sovereign
You are in control
You are mighty
You are loving
You are in control

You, God
You hold everything
You, God
You hold everything

i never would have thought

I'm procrastinating. I should be cleaning my room. It's cold and rainy outside. I just want to sit on the loveseat by my front window with a book and a cup of hot chocolate. And I don't quit thinking about it then my room will never get clean!

I went to a girls' convention this weekend. It was really, really amazing. There was so much hard work put into it. I was super impressed. I was asked to teach a breakout workshop. I talked about worship and music. It was a real learning experience for me. At one point I was encouraging one girl in particular to write songs and share them. I kind of stood back and listened to myself...I was thinking, "Tonya, you really need to listen to yourself." I just had one of those moments where I was challenging myself and didn't realize it until later. I've written several songs. Over the last several years, I just stopped though. I don't know why. Maybe getting married, family,...or maybe fear. Whatever the reason, I'm really trying to get back to myself, get back to my gifts. I wrote a song a week ago. I'm still polishing it up. I don't know how God wants to use me through music. But, I'm trying to find out. All of a sudden, I'm also teaching two girls piano. I've been spending a couple hours a week working on my piano skills and working with my voice...trying to stretch my range and get it back to where it was several years ago. So, this is all kind of new. Not really overwhelming...but I'm just going into all this very interested and watchful of what God wants to do and how He would want to use me.

We had a really, really good LIFE Group last night. I truly enjoyed it. The video we watched was good. The discussion we had was good. The people there are amazing! I don't know if anyone from my church reads my blog, so I have to be careful saying this...we had a lot of fun talking about our theme for our church's chili cook off coming up this weekend. I like it when people are laughing. It means they're not sad. It's fun to laugh with others. We did a lot of laughing last night. Good times. Good times.

Back to the girls' convention. I won a dance contest. All the leaders had to go up and do this Zombie Dance. I had been wanting a free t-shirt. They were giving all kinds of stuff away all weekend. I hadn't won anything. So, I decided this was my chance. And you know, in a dance contest...it doesn't matter if you're good. The one who is the goofiest and the craziest always wins. So, I had to do what I had to do. I got crazy. BUT, I got my free shirt, a Starbucks tumbler, and a poster! Woot! Woot!

long time coming...

I've been putting off posting. So much has happened in the last several weeks. Both of my grandpa's did pass away within about a week of each other. There has just been a lot of family stuff happening. Things are starting to get back to a routine pace.

The truth is I've just been lazy. The first three weeks of October were crazy and stressful, so I just took last week off. I took a break from doing anything. But now, the break is over, and it's time to get busy. Get busy with all the little things! Finish my sewing projects. Begin making Christmas cards. Finish replacing all the things I lost when I lost my wallet. The tedious, boring things need to be done!

I did make a pumpkin pie last week! My first time to try my mom's famous pumpkin pie! It turned out okay. It would have been awesome had I used traditional pie crust. I used graham cracker crust. Woot for me going out on a limb while baking!

My youngest son, Aaron, went to Washington D.C. last week on a school trip. Every year the school takes the 8th grade class to Washington D.C. Aaron had a blast. He finally called the day before he came home to let us know he was okay. So independent!

Because of all the family situations happening, my sister came to visit. I got snap a few pictures of my niece and nephew! They are both growing up so fast! Here's a couple pics, so I can share their cuteness!