The Haute Life

Final Kidney Chronicles

2011-07-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

In the last 6 months, most of our blog audience has been receiving blogish emails chronicling every twist & turn in Dan's kidney disease. If you would like to read the emails chronologically sometime, take a look at our last 2 blog posts. We thought it would be neat to have the whole 'story' documented in one spot. Some other ways to learn about our experience are on links below. Check 'em out!

Our church interviewed Dan & Steve about the donor process in this video shot the day before the transpant surgery. http://vimeo.com/24328748

The news station Dan used to work for did a story interviewing Dan & Steve just after surgery.

http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/local/bro-gives-bro-gift-of-life-thanks-to-transplant

Finally, our local newspaper did an article on the guys.http://tribstar.com/opinion/x1517689230/Terre-Haute-man-receives-kidney-from-his-younger-brother

We are happy to be on the other side of the process & give all glory to God for bringing about healing in His perfect timing!

--Bethany

Kidney Journal (Transplant Month of May)

2011-07-12T12:52:00.001-07:00

It’sOfficial! May 5

This just in...the latest on the kidney story. We've all been praying for a miraculous healing & recovery, and God is definitely providing. We just heard the news today that we are officially scheduled for a Kidney Transplant surgery in Indianapolis on May 26, just three weeks away!

My brother Steve called tonight to tell us that he passed the final test & has been approved by the doctor to be my donor. It was quite a process, so this is definitely an answer to prayer. In total, it will be just over 5 months from the day we found out about my kidney failure on January 17th until my surgery date. This is extremely fast & shows God's provision for us. I am incredibly blessed.

Now that the date is official, we are starting an official countdown. We have 21 days until the actual surgery so, according to my calculations, I have roughly 77 more dialysis treatments left! The timeline will be for Steve & I to report to Indianapolis on May 24th, stay in the hospital 4-7 days, then recovery time for a few weeks, with follow-up appointments very frequently during June.

Join us in prayer for my body to receive this new kidney & for Steve to stay healthy & recover well. It's quite humbling to be receiving such a precious gift.

Thanks so much for your continued prayer and support through all this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And... it is almost over!!!!!

--Dan

TransplantThisWeek Sun, May 22, 2011

Many have been asking about the details of Dan's surgery this week. So, I thought I'd send a reminder. Thanks for everyone who has been faithfully praying & supporting us.

· Monday Night--Dan's brother Steve & his fiance fly in to Indianapolis

· Tuesday--Dan meets Steve & Marni in Indy for final testing. Then they return to Terre Haute for the night with us

· Wednesday--final day before surgery. Drive up to Indy; Dan's parents & sister join us in Indy.

· Thursday 5:30am--report to IU Med Center for surgery prep. No surgery time given yet...

In-hospital stay ranges from 4-6 days it sounds like, for both Dan & Steve. Then both guys will be here in Terre Haute at our house to recover together & make some follow-up Dr. visits to Indy.

That is the plan as far as we know it! We know God is in control, & we are praying for both guys to stay healthy as they await the surgery. Dan's allergies started acting up today, so we pray against any further health issues or infections. You can anticipate some 'play-by-play' updates from me over the course of the week, at least on Thursday.

--Bethany & Dan

Thu, May 26, 2011 at 10:34 AM “T-Day”

It's T-Day (Transplant Day). We arrived at 5:30am at the hospital here in Indianapolis (IU Med Center). Both guys went back for surgery prep almost immediately upon arrival.

Steve went in for anesthesia at 7:30 & was taken back at 7:58 for surgery. Laproscopic incisions have begun, but kidney not out yet.

Dan went at 8:40 for anesthesia & was taken back for surgery at 9:49. Dr. Goggins kept us entertained with his antics this morning, & he said he'd be 'ready to roll' as soon as he finished his coffee:) They have begun making the first incision for Dan.

Nurse Rachel comes every hour & a half to the waiting room to give us updates, & she just came by with the latest update just minutes ago. Both Dan's family & my family are waiting here with us, plus Steve's fiance Marni. We are so glad to be together for this big day. Tune in later for more updates...so far so good here. –Bethany

Thu, May 26, 2011 at 11:35 AM Update #2

News just in...Nurse updated: Steve is closing on his surgery. Kidney out. Success.

Kidney remains out & is 'on the bench', which means Dan's surgery team is now inspecting & familiarizing themselves with the kidney. But until it is 'cleared' by the new 'team', it cannot go in for 'play' into the 'new field'. LOVE the terminology!

Dan is opened up & doing well. Can't wait to get that kidney on the field:) More Later… --Bethany

Thu, May 26, 2011 at 3:18 PM home run!

In keeping with the sports references, I'll give a final report of the day. We have hit a home run!

Steve came through well & is resting in his room.

Dan also came through well. His surgeon met with us & said the new kidney is functioning properly, even on it's new playing 'field', & that Dan is all stitched up! He is currently leaving the recovery room as anesthesia wears off & is heading to his new room, just a door down from Steve:)

Who knew that these brothers would be bonding in this way? Only God, The Coach of it all. I can't wait to see them both. I can't believe Dan has a new kidney, & we can begin recovering.

Thanks for being a great cheering section for us through this season. Signing off for today.. --Bethany

Quicknote... Fri, May 27, 2011

Things continue to go well here, all Thanks be to God. Through the night Dan & Steve rested as much as possible in between nurse check-ins. The great news on Dan's end is that his new kidney is functioning well. One indicator of that is his Creatnin Level. For a healthy person, Creatnin should be below 1. At his highest (In Feb), his was around 10. In May, his was a 7. After receiving the new kidney by 2pm yesterday, but 10pm last night his bloodwork showed Creatnin dropped from 7 to 3.4. This morning's blood work showed it had dropped further to 1.9. Doctors were very pleased.

Another praise for Dan is that he was able to bypass the strong drug that nearly all kidney transplant patients receive. This strong anti-rejection drug basically 'wipes out' the immune system for the first few days after surgery so that the body does not reject the 'foreign' organ. However, since Steve's kidney was a perfect match, this drug was not needed, & instead we went down a milder drug. The nurses keep talking about how great this is for him to avoid that powerful drug. It's pretty rare to skip that one.

Steve's good news is that he has been able to eat & that he has been up walking around a couple times, once he even walked over to visit Dan's room. Neither have experienced much negative side effect from the anesthetic.

Thanks for checking in with us & for praying us through. God is so faithful. --Bethany

KidneyPraise Mon, May 30, 2011

Steve was released from the hospital on Sunday around lunch time. Dan was released today (Monday) around noon. Both guys are currently resting & recovering in our house here in Terre Haute. Dan will have follow up appointments for awhile, & Steve will rest a few days before returning home to Virginia. All the nurses & doctors seemed to be pleased with the recovery process thus far, so we are very grateful.

HeyEveryone, Mon, May 30, 2011

Thanks for your fervent prayers, visits, calls, gifts, emails, & support over the last 5 days in the hospital. We are all home now to recover & relax. Dan is adjusting to life with a new kidney & Steve is adjusting to life with one less kidney. They were even given matching t-shirts with kidneys on them. Pretty cool.

Your support helped get us through this time. We can't say thank you enough, Love, --Dan & Bethany

Kidney Journals (January through April)

2011-07-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

In an effort to remember & proclaim the miraculous journey of Dan's kidney disease, we want to document the emails we sent. Feel no need to re-read them if you have already done so, but we are glad to have a place to come & remember the work that the Lord has done for us!

Hey Loved Ones, Mon, Jan 17, 2011, MLK Jr Day

Thanks for your prayers, support, & attentiveness today through the shock of Dan's hospital visit. It has been quite a day. We'll attempt to give an update about where Dan has been & what we've learned today.

I know some of you didn't know he was having any health problems at all. He has had headaches since mid September, just 1 or 2 a week, & we thought it might be connected to the new work schedule at the church (which started in August) -- being 'on' all day on Sunday & then having a headache the next day as a result. But the headaches continued all fall. In December he had a Dr. appointment, & his blood pressure was a bit high for the first time. We monitored it, & it got higher. Meanwhile, headaches continued almost daily by this point.

That leads us to today (Monday). At a 7am appointment, his blood pressure was at its highest, blood was drawn, & he was given a chest x-ray & EKG. At 1pm, we received a phone call about bloodwork results. Dan's kidneys were not functioning properly & the dr. recommended we head to the ER.

We repeated the blood work to find that kidney function showed up abnormal again. By evening, we were moved into a room to stay overnight at Union Hospital (Room 4117) to see Dan's family Dr & a kidney specialist the family Dr. sent. We have now met with both of them & are winding down for the night. No real answers yet, but those 2 Dr's are being very thorough. Dan will see both of them tomorrow & do more tests throughout the day. We've been told he'll probably be here through at least Wednesday night.

Your prayers & surrounding have been so encouraging today. Thanks for all calls, texts, & concern. Continue lifting us up & asking for answers or at least progress regarding Dan's blood pressure, headaches, & kidney function. We are asking God to reveal the root & to give wisdom to the Doctors He has sent us. May He shine in, on, & through us during our stay here.

Love,

The Gisels

Jan 18, 2011

Yesterday you might have been able to tell was Bethany's version of the day's events. Today it is actually me - and my version always includes fewer words. Basically, the doctor still doesn't know what is going on. Ruled out most of the minor stuff, so am going to have a biopsy tomorrow on my kidney to get more info. We will go from there. Thanks for all your prayers and concern. We are grateful to serve a great God and know that through the challenges we are pushed to trust and know Him more.

Will do our best in communicating moving forward. Love you.

--Dan

Thurs, Jan 20, 2011

You all have surrounded us & kept us going this past week. THANK YOU. And now....

We are heading home from the hospital tonight, which we are grateful for. (SO NO MORE VISITORS HERE!!! : ) Dan is a bottom line guy, so we'd like to be up front with the results we learned of in the last hour.

Dan has a common kidney disease (IgA Nephropathy), & 80% of his kidneys are damaged. So we are looking at several upcoming appointments with thoughts toward dialysis & an eventual kidney transplant.

We are glad to know what is going on now, & God is our strength & shield. We are learning as we go from here.

Love you all,

Bethany & Dan

Friends&Family- Tues, Jan 25, 2011

I feel I have finally gotten to a place where we know pretty much of what is going on with my health and how we are going to move forward so wanted to give you a "wrap-up" to the last week. Some of this might be old information but want to get it all out.

I have a disease called IGA Nephropathy which has damaged 80% of my kidneys. However, at this point 20% of my kidneys is still enough where I am not having any other major problems. I do have high blood pressure, fatigue, nausea, etc. but in the grand scheme of things it is very minute and I am functioning fine. The doctors are unsure of how long I have had the disease (could have had it for several years) so they don't know how fast my kidneys are worsening. I am not in need of dialysis right now - but I am very close - so I am taking the necessary steps to be prepared for dialysis when I need it. This will involve minor surgery and getting educated on how to conduct daily dialysis. (Dialysis is a way to 'clean my blood' of impurities & toxins since my kidneys cannot do that well right now)

However, my hope and prayer is that I might be able to skip dialysis altogether through a kidney transplant. This is the number one form of treatment and the best solution to my issue at this point. The best would be a living donor that matches up perfectly with my system. This testing process is obviously very involved for both myself and the donor. I will be working with doctors in Indianapolis over the next few weeks to get transplant information. They say it will take at least six months, and that is if things go very well; it could take several years on a waiting list. The long time line for the transplant is why I need to be prepared for dialysis.

Those are the facts. Here are prayer requests and praises...

Praises:

*We are thanking God for answered prayer that he brought to light the specifics of what was going on. I was not feeling well for several months and we were specifically praying that we would find the root of the problem. So, we are very thankful to have found the issue, and one that has treatment available.

*Thank God for very thorough medical staff who have gone above & beyond to get lab results quickly & who have given extra time to help us out.

*Amazed and awed by the great love and support of my community of family and friends. We are truly blessed in so many ways that it is hard to fathom. Thank you for all your prayers, e-mails, texts, words of encouragement, gifts, love... you are amazing.

*Thank the Lord for a beautiful, supportive, loving, caring wife who has been a great anchor of support for me. Not sure I could have done the last week without her.

*Thank the Lord, that He is our solid Rock Foundation, He has a perfect plan for lives, that we do not have to doubt the things that are going on, and that the challenges that He places before us help us grow more in His likeness.

Prayer Requests:

*Pray for the donor that will provide a new kidney for me. That it will be quickly brought to light that we are a good match and tests go very smoothly.

*Pray that my kidney will hold out until a transplant is possible... I would really like to avoid dialysis :)

Insurance... haven't started to deal with all of this yet, but I am sure I can use prayer that our insurance will cover a lot of the costs and will not cause any issues in the transplant procedures.

*Thanks again for your support and prayers through the last 10 days. They have been felt and much appreciated. I am incredibly blessed, more than I could ever ask for. But, this e-mail is still not all inclusive to those I need to thank, so please forward on to others who may be wanting to know, as I am trying my best to communicate well. This is the last update for a while, but I will try and keep people in the loop with any major developments. Feel free to stay in touch :)

Know that I am well and God is in control!

Love you. --Dan

Jan31,2011

Dan,

As you get back into the swing of things today, remember to stop & slow down a few moments when you can--take a little stroll or sit & try to meditate 5 minutes (not thinking about a thing)...Just ease your way back into work. You are doing so well & I'm so proud of your attitude. I wanted you to know what our church body is praying for you from the daily prayer chain:

Dan Gisel: Pray perfect match donor Kidney will be found quickly. Protection while waiting. Total healing. That is my prayer this morning, but I also pray that you have a wonderful Monday & enjoy being with the staff.

Love, Bethany

Heyeveryone- Feb 8, 2011

It has been a while since the last update, and several have asked. This isn't the best news in the world, but please know that in the overall scheme of life I am doing very well... I would just like to give you some specific prayer points - as I know that prayer is the thing that is going to help most!

My symptoms from the low-functioning kidneys, combined with some side effects to the meds, have started to hit me pretty hard. Therefore, I am now pursuing dialysis as fast as I can. There is a surgical procedure I need done to start dialysis (inserting a cathiter), but first I start with a consultation before I can schedule the surgery. Then it will take two weeks to heal before I can start dialysis, then 3-4 weeks on dialysis before I will start "feeling" better. So, I have a long month ahead, looks like. Please pray for strength & energy, timely doctor visits/appointments, and a smooth operation.

At the same time I am still waiting to be "accepted" as a donor recipient at IU Med Center in Indianapolis. They are checking insurance and my case to see if I will be a good candidate at their hospital. After I hear from them, I will go and get a lot of tests done there in Indy. Then they will start looking for a match. They do one person at a time b/c of the amount of tests and work that is involved. My brother, Steve, is going to be the first person tested, as relatives are usually the best candidates. I appreciate all those that have expressed interest in donating a kidney - it's overwhelming to think about & to see your generosity. So if you need your prayer check list....

1. Symptoms will go away - or just the strength/energy to get through the day

2. Dialysis procedures will go smoothly/quickly

3. Will be accepted as a transplant candidate and get started on a new kidney

4. For the donor - God to lead us together & to be a perfect match

5. That God gets all the glory

Bethany & I are so grateful for all of you, especially as we learn how to walk through this new season together.

With Love, Dan

Hello- Feb 11, 7:52pm

I have just received results back from my weekly blood tests and my creatinine levels have increased to a level that they feel I need to do emergency dialysis. This is a little unexpected, but we are rolling with the punches. Headed to the hospital tonight for surgery tomorrow.... not any other details than that for now. Thanks for your continued prayers. Love you.

--Dan

Feb 12, 2011

Just wanted to keep you all in the loop, as you have been so diligent to think of us, pray for us, & let us know you are supporting us. We stayed in hospital overnight & now await surgery at 10:30am (or when they get to us) to place the catheter tube into Dan's chest to start dialysis. Great news--Dialysis should begin later today! Dan will probably be here in the hospital a few days to monitor things, & then we'll be doing dialysis at the center 3 days a week for a few weeks. This is not the type of dialysis we were planning on doing daily at home, but we plan to switch to that home dialysis within 2-4 weeks. Until then, we'll do dialysis at the center.

For surgery, Dan won't be sedated fully, but will be numbed up some:) Some risks involved that you can pray specifically for:

1) Pray there won't be complications or infections with this surgery & that he won't feel much pain.

2) Pray the dialysis starts to help quickly to cleanse Dan's blood.

3) Pray that the catheter for the other type of dialysis could be placed in Dan's stomach while we are here, as this is a possibility.

4) Pray for God to shine light to those around us in the hospital.

PRAISES:

1) We are actually quite glad to get dialysis going so quickly because Dan has felt more sick & tired this past week.

2) We noticed in Bethany's journal entry from this past Tuesday was "God, we ask You to lower Dan's blood pressure, for a speedy catheter placement, for dialysis to begin quickly."

God has answered all of those requests this week. So keep praying! He is listening! ----Bethany & Dan

Feb 12, 2011 “Surgery Complete”

After the successful catheter surgery this afternoon, Dan was wheeled to the dialysis wing of the hospital & had his first treatment. YEAH! He said the doctor 'hooked him up' by assigning him a single room with an individual nurse who stayed with him the whole time (most patients are 2 to 1 nurse). It went well, he wasn't in pain, & although he didn't get to eat during dialysis as he'd hoped, he got to talk a lot to this nurse who is about our age. He even told her about our church & invited her, as she's new to Terre Haute. That's Dan--the connector :)

He got to his room an hour ago, ate some chicken noodles & before he could even finish his meal, he nearly fell asleep out of exhaustion from the day. It was a day full of blessing, & he truly seemed at peace & in minimal pain, & I even got to walk outside this afternoon for a nice break. We'll see what tomorrow holds...I promise not to continue w/ detailed play by play now that the big day is over. To all a good night! Love, --Bethany

Sun, Feb 13

Just a quick update today. Dan slept well through the night. This morning had a little nausea from pain meds he took early in the morning, but he slept it off until lunch. He's eaten today & had a buddy come by to watch the Celtics play Miami--so he got some good sports time in today, which revived him:) Basically, he is movin slowly as he recovers but is in little pain. He's napping now, & we hope to watch our church service online together at 6:15 tonight:)

At this point he knows he'll have dialysis treatment again tomorrow (takes about 5 hours for total process) but don't yet know what time. They do this outside of his room in another wing without visitors, so if you plan to visit, you should call or text his phone first to see if he's in the room. Don't know anything beyond that as far as a timeline for the week, but he will probably get the stomach catheter put in while here...not sure when yet.

The dialysis may make him feel up & down as he gets used to it, so lots of rest this week. The effects of the dialysis will probably really start helping him feel better within 2 weeks or so, not instantaneously.

That is the update. God is strengthening my faith today to remind me to pray believing in His power. I am reminded to not only pray for the details but to ask for total healing for Dan's body, particularly for his kidneys to be healed & for this IgA nephropathy disease to be healed that is what seems to have caused the kidney failure. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. Praise be to Him! --Bethany

HeyEveryone! Feb 15

Since we last wrote Sunday night, Dan has continued staying at the hospital & had 2 more dialysis treatments. So, his blood is getting 'clean' of the toxins that were building up, & after today's treatment he said he feels like "he is back"--meaning he is starting to get some energy back! WOOHOO! Other good news includes one of the levels in his blood --his Creatinine level-- nearly returned to 'normal' today. Since he was admitted to the hospital on Jan 17, it has been at nearly a 5 or higher, & last Friday when admitted he was at a very high 10. A normal level is between 0.4-1.4, & today his level is at 2.5. That is good news!

Other than the dialysis, not much newhas happened that we can see. But on the inside, God is doing lots to change our hearts & encourage us through His Word & through many of you. We keep hearing how many are praying from all over the world for Dan, & we are also hearing about your loved ones who have been healed completely of sicknesses. God has really been encouraging us that He is using this trial of illness for His purposes & His glory. We are eager to see what that will mean in our lives & the lives of others around us.

We are hoping to leave the hospital in the next day or so, but for now Dan's stomach catheter surgery is scheduled for Friday afternoon. So there is a chance they might keep him until then. Once he does leave, he'll be going to a dialysis center here in Terre Haute 3 days a week for treatments while the stomach catheter heals enough to use it for dialysis at home. Sometime in the next couple weeks we'll be spending time at the Home Dialysis Center to learn how to do dialysis treatments at home.

We are so grateful that the dialysis is already helping! That's all for now...

Love,

Bethany & Dan

Good news: Feb 16

Dan's doctor released him today. It was a perfect day to get out of the hospital-- 60 degrees & a taste of spring! Everyone was outside, & he even had enough energy for a stroll at the park & a Dairy Queen treat:) We're resting at home now & will take things day by day as we adjust to this new season's pace of life.

Dialysis at the Center starts early tomorrow, Thursday at 6:30am, so we'll get a good night's rest before heading to that. Outpatient surgery is scheduled for this Friday at 1:00pm to insert the stomach catheter. Sounds like Dan's dialysis schedule will be Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays @ 6:30am until 11ish at the south Dialysis Center here in Terre Haute. Once his stomach catheter heals up, we hope to start the daily home dialysis.

We're glad to be home! Love you all, Bethany & Dan

SurgerySuccess

Feb 20

Friday was a day full of good news. Dan had another successful surgery, thanks be to God. The catheter was placed in his stomach, which will allow him to do dialysis at home once it heals (2-3 weeks). While it heals, we'll train at the Wabash Valley Home Dialysis Center for a few days so we learn how to do the treatments ourselves at home.

The surgery was outpatient & was his first time under an anesthetic to be all the way 'out', so he couldn't eat or drink since midnight Thursday. We went in at 1:00pm today, planning on a 2:30 surgery. It was pushed back until 3:45, but in the meantime, we got a wonderful phone call from IU Med Center about the transplant. So, even though we were bummed about the delay, the time was well spent with that phone call. We have scheduled a day in mid-March to go up for what they call an Information Day to meet the team of doctors & workers who will work with us & to attend a class. We were glad to get that ball in motion & hear from them! In the meantime, Dan's brother will start being tested to see if he could be a living kidney donor for Dan.

Love to you all,

Bethany & Dan

Hello everybody- Feb 24

Here is the latest update on what is going on with me. I had a check-up today and my PD catheter in my stomach is doing well. I am planning to meet with the at home dialysis center next week and maybe start training and switch over to at home dialysis in the week or two after that. I am currently doing dialysis 3 days a week at a clinic and the dialysis is helping as I have been more myself lately - but it is not exactly fun. So, looking forward to being able to be a little more in control of what is going on with the at home dialysis.

At the same time - we are working toward kidney transplant options. We have had discussions with the IU Transplant Clinic in Indy and things are moving along. My brother Steve and I are actually going to do blood work tomorrow morning to see if he is a compatible donor. This timing worked out awesome as he will be back in the Midwest just for a short while on his travels. This obviously is a huge prayer point as it would be great if Steve were a perfect match. Thanks again for all your prayers. Love you all. --Dan

March 6, 2011

Quick update on how things are going... first I am feeling really good. The dialysis is working, I am walking a couple miles a day and getting back into normal activities and schedule. I am still doing dialysis at the clinic for two more weeks before switching to at home dialysis.

We did get some big news at the end of the week, as we were told that Steve is a perfect match for a transplant. This is kind of rare so it is awesome that we match in all six areas. It means that the success rate for my body to accept the new kidney is very high. This is a big answer to prayer and we are very excited. I am very grateful for Steve being willing to give in this way. Continue to pray for Steve and I as we work out the details and the go through our final rounds of tests.

I think that is the latest info. Thanks for your continued prayers. We appreciate you all so much. Love, ---Dan

Hello, April 11

Well, it's been awhile since you've heard from me. Things are going very well lately. I have gotten used to a new form of dialysis, which I can do at home 4 times a day. I have regained a lot of my strength & energy & am on a pretty normal schedule. The biggest news to share is that we have a surgery date for transplant, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 27th! This is obviously awesome & a huge answer to prayer. This is still a tentative date, as my brother Steve still has a few more tests to go. But, if all goes as planned, Steve & I will go to Indianapolis on May 25th for our final evaluations. Please be in prayer that this will happen unless God chooses to heal me before then.

Thanks again for your prayers, concern, & care. --Dan

April 19

Dan’s frequent exposure to needles & blood draws inspired me to give blood. Today was the 2^nd time in my life that I willingly gave blood. I saved a life today with little pain in only 10 minutes! I faced my fear & hope to do this regularly!

-Bethany

Many Hands Making Light Work

2010-07-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

A week ago, some of my dear college friends drove a few hours to help pack up our house here in Terre Haute! I'm not gonna lie...since school ended in June, my mind has been so full of preparations & anticipation that I have had a hard time relaxing during this summer 'break'! From coordinating our school's fall musical, to planning our summer Europe trip, to buying our first house & packing up...I could hardly sleep when I laid down at night!

But when I woke up last Thursday & knew my friends were on their way to help me get organized, I was more at peace then I had been for a month! Becca, Glo, & my sis Emily spent a full day packing while I flitted from room to room trying to guide & direct as they asked, "Are you sure you want to keep this?" Dan helped out too, & did a great job of being the only guy at times but also givingi us space for 'girl time' :) We got so much done & had a great visit catching up as well. We even biked over to the new house. I realized neither of them had even been here since our wedding 2 years ago! I guess the big life transitions really do bring friends together!

Now, a week later, our house is nearly boxed up just in time for us to leave on our Europe vacation tomorrow. This week our new house has been thoroughly cleaned, carpets washed, shed built, screens installed on windows, & today the guttering is being installed. When we return from Europe, we'll be ready t0 move & start getting to know our new neighborhood!!

This summer God is teaching us how to live one day at a time (& one project at a time!). My sister says this is our new mantra, in Spanish, 'poco a poco' (little by little). Whenever I stress or try to focus on more than one thing at a time, God shows up & changes my day or opens up extra time so that I can focus on what is at hand or what is needed. Often what is needed is not what I had planned, but I'm learning to be flexible & adjust. He's really good at timing things just right, if I can stop & remember that:)

Tomorrow Dan & I leave for our Europe trip to France (Paris & Marseille) & Italy (Rome, Florence, maybe Pisa, & Cinque Terra). I'm certain that we'll learn more about flexibility & adjusting while in another culture! We can't wait to soak it up & learn about the history, beauty, traditions, food, & people of another place. Though I doubt I'll blog while in Europe, I do plan to journal & photograph the experience. So, when I return I can blog to share with all of you
...poco a poco...

We're Moving!

2010-07-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

In the course of the last month & a half, Dan & I bought our first house! We are moving from our little blue rental house on the corner of 4th & Washington to a 3 bedroom home in Terre Haute just north of Wabash, closer to downtown. We've been drawn to this neighborhood & looking for housese there for the last 10 months. Finally, in mid-May, this house went on the market. It's the most move-in-ready one we've found in the neighborhood in our price range (it's right in the middle of our 'quadrant', as we like to call it).

We are so thankful God opened up this opportunity & are eager to start this next phase of life in a new part of town. I've been wanting to post this for quite some time now, complete with all the details & other 'life happenings'. But once you skip a blog idea or 2, the moment kinda passes. Dan said, 'just post the pictures & say we're moving.' So, this is my Dan version of a blog. Not as short as his would be, but at least I'm getting the jist & basic message across.

We're moving! See?

Cherry Pickin'

2010-06-18T20:17:00.002-07:00

A few months ago, we began taking trips to the country where our good friends live & run a Dairy Farm. The Yeghernlehner Swiss Connection has been in their family for generations in Clay City, Indiana. www.swissconnectioncheese.com

At the end of a long work day, we welcomed the countryside drive and gardening in the beauty of a spring evening. Plenty of views of nature & creation seemed to revive us with each visit--nursing baby cows, gorgeous open sky sunsets, blooming trees & garden sprouts...the list goes on. We learned a lot as we planted many things we'd never grown before--even a huge potatoe patch!

After a few weeks of helping to garden, we had the privilege of an overnight stay on the farm. We picked pie cherries (quite tart!), watched the cows as they changed pasture, weeded the gardens, saw part of their cheese-making process, & enjoyed a wonderful farm-fresh, home-cooked meal. Then we rose with the sun to head to a local farmer's market to sell cheese, milk, keefer, & meat in Bloomington, Indiana.

Our brief time on the farm this spring gives us a taste of the life of a farmer & a newfound appreciation for the foods we eat.

Christmas Store, Sauerkraut, & Samples...Oh My!

2010-04-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

We made it to Michigan on Saturday in time to make traditional Gisel pizza pockets & watch the controversial final four game. We hoosiers rooted for Butler while Dan’s family gave him a hard time for not rooting for Michigan State with them. That night, it paid to root for the Bulldogs!

Easter Sunday was a special day that Grandma Picklo, Uncle Paul & Marilyn joined the Gisel’s for church & a spectacular turkey dinner. Wonderful time together to celebrate this meaningful holiday as a family.

Monday’s sunny warm weather sent us out on a day trip to the famous Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, Michigan. We didn’t have to drive far to experience the sights, sounds, & smells of the quaint German-inspired town. On our drive from Chicago, we had seen signs for Bronner’s CHRISTmas Store for miles, so Bethany knew it was an attraction. But nothing could have prepared her for the massive 5.5 football field sized store stocked with thousands of ornaments, figurines, nativities, all displayed in a larger-than-life building. Our favorite parts were the nativities & ornaments from countries around the world. www.bronners.com

Other fun experiences throughout the day included watching French Crepes being made, sampling several of the 30 popcorn flavors at the Popcorn Wagon shop, viewing the famous Glockenspiel clock & the story of the Pied Piper, enjoying a traditional German meal complete with Rouladen, Sauerkraut & Spatzel noodles, & even sampling a fudge-like ‘chocolate cheese’ in a cheese store, which is still puzzling us. This little town has truly captured the aura of a quaint Bavarian town. If you’re ever in the area, it is well-worth the stop. www.frankenmuth.org

We Made It...Chicago

2010-04-06T04:43:00.000-07:00

In our last blog, we were trying to make it to Spring Break. Well, we made it, & it feels like quite an accomplishment to have nearly survived Bethany's first year of full-time teaching!

Unlike many of our Indiana friends, we headed north for a getaway. On Good Friday, we drove over to Chicago to catch up with 2 college friends from Taylor. Annie is our actress friend who plays on several improv teams & is currently in a play about Anne Frank. We didn't see her on stage this visit but instead soaked up lots of sunshine with her at the Lake, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the patio seats at Tilly's Restaurant, & simply walking the city sidewalks.

With all the spring fever going around, people were swarming around the Lake. The sandy beach looked like a Florida spring break destination, complete with bathing suits, beach volleyball, & some crazy ice-water swimmers!

After some beach frisbee, we happened by the Moody Bible Church just in time for their Good Friday service. We heard a messianic Jew speak on the Passover Seder meal & how it represents the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. It was quite enlightening, even though we were still in our beach shorts in the beautiful sanctuary! Apparently the Jewish meal talk inspired our dinner selection because we headed to the Old Jerusalem Restaurant on Wells Street to enjoy middle-eastern falafel, tebouleh, hummus, & pitas.

Our brief Chicago excursion concluded across Indiana's border at a breakfast place called Egg On Your Face. Our friend Gloria spent the morning with us there, catching up on life while also hearing Dan explain the menu's stories of 'egg on your face' boo boo's that many athletes have committed over the years. Once our eggs & hashbrowns had settled, we headed for Midland, Michigan to see Dan's family. More travel tales to come...

called out (by Bethany)

2010-03-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

So...I just read a chapter in a book called '30 Days to Live' about openly communicating the truth to those you care about. Since a friend just emailed me to call me out on not blogging for over 5 months, I thought I should communicate the truth about our blog to our blog readers (who are probably 'former' blog readers by now)!

Truth is...Dan & I are not sure if blogging is something we can maintain right now. In the last 5 months, we are learning & being stretched in some new directions in the midst of new jobs & new relationships. Rather than sit down & write about these people & opportunities, we are just trying to invest in them. Hopefully that is not selfish, just the truth about where we are.

It could be that we pick up the blogging again (I do love to write), but right now, I am just trying to make it through to spring break--starting April 2nd. We'll be heading up to Michigan to spend several days with Dan's family, & we are SO ready for a getaway & for time with his family.

Until next time...

Mad Dash

2009-10-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it been awhile since we’ve posted a blog! For any of you who still check our blog, thank you for your attentiveness during our months of silence. We are still alive & kickin!

Since our last post in August, we have experienced many changes. The week after Bethany returned from Kids Hope Training to start her new part-time job, she got a phone call from our public school system offering her an interview for a full-time middle-school choir teaching position. God worked a miracle & brought her into this position just one week before school started. And in that week, she finished up 2 weeks worth of work in her summer job, attended meetings & orientation for the teaching job, & trained her Kids Hope Director replacement, Dan. He graciously agreed to take on the responsibilities to keep the program going between our church & the local elementary school we sponsor. Talk about a whirlwind!

Since accepting the teaching job, life has drastically changed for us. The breakfast & prayer time, lunch hour, & evenings that we used to spend together have changed. Bethany works most days from 7am-7pm at the school. Dan works through some of his lunch hours to maintain the Kids Hope duties. And he has taken on many of the household necessities. He is becoming a great chef! This fast pace will not last all year, though. Teachers do get summer vacation:) But by the end of October, life should settle down a little bit when Bethany's musical is over.

When she stepped into the teaching job, a musical was already going on, so she stepped into the role of musical director. This has been a wonderful learning experience because the teacher who preceded Bethany had everything planned out and has been a continual resource for her as she has questions along the way. If you haven’t yet heard, the musical is “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr”. It’s set in the 1920’s, complete with flappers, tap dancing, and an adorable story about a young girl who moves from Kansas to New York City. We invite you to come and see one of four shows during the week of October 28-31st at Otter Creek Middle School, for those of you who live close! Email us if you are interested!

Sushi & Kids (By Bethany)

2009-08-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

Annie & I singin songs from our Freshman year production of Peter Pan!

Chicago!

Last Monday & Tuesday I went to St. Charles, IL (outside Chicago) to be trained as the new Kids Hope USA Director for our Church. It had been a long time since I had attended a retreat, class, seminar, or anything focused on learning. I love to learn, so I welcomed this training getaway & even combined it with some family & friend visits. My dear friend Annie lives in the city, & her acting & improve world are always fun to see. I even got to meet some of her friends & bond over a game of soccer in the park, Italian Ices in Lincoln Park, & then we ended the night with ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ Sushi! Nothing like Mango Tango Salmon rolls!

After sleeping off the sushi, I woke up Monday & headed to Kids Hope training at Christ Community Church in St. Charles. The training time was full of new info, energetic people, & even a chance to meet the founder of Kids Hope USA, a program that has been around since 1995. The idea originated from a man who realized the deep need for relationship with at-risk children. After research, he found a way to meet this need: one-on-one relationship between a mentor & a child to show the child that he or she matters to someone.

In short, Kids Hope pairs ONE church with ONE elementary school & trains mentors from the church to meet with ONE student for ONE hour ONCE a week for at least ONE year. Teachers identify children from their classes who need extra attention relationally or in a certain area of study, & then directors help match the mentors from church with these precious children. This ONE powerful hour empowers these kids by changing their hearts, minds, & lives. Results are showing that even after 2 weeks of ONE-hour sessions, many kids are showing improvements: some are more able to focus on school-work, others are gaining self-esteem or making friends more easily, the list goes on… The impact that this ONE hour can have upon a child is incredible!

Kids Hope USA is all over the US, & your community may already be involved in some way. Check out more info at www.kidshopeusa.org. New churches & schools are being added to the program all the time, so perhaps you could have a role in bringing this wonderful program to children near you.

Loving 30 (by Dan)

2009-07-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

First, thanks to all my great friends and family for wonderful birthday wishes for turning 30 last week. It is very humbling to have such a great support group and I appreciate it often - not just on birthday's or holidays. I am very blessed.

Which leads me to the conversation of 30. Many people acted like 30 was going to be a big deal but I still haven't quite figured out why 30 is so bad. Actually, turning 30 was awesome b/c I had something like 4 birthday celebrations and ate like a king for more than a week!!! And last night I successfully (along with my great teammates) beat up on some 20-somethings in ultimate frisbee and now live to tell about it, so I don't think I have gone over the hill just yet.

But all of you, the aforementioned friends and family, are 'far and away' the reason that I am not dreading my 30's and beyond. I have had so many great experiences and relationships in the first 30 years - and am looking forward to many more fun adventures over the next 30 years. Hopefully, with a little extra knowledge and experience it will be even better!

Camping at Delaney Park

2009-06-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great time camping for a few days at Delaney Park in Southern Indiana with Bethany's long-time friends Meg & Jerome. Besides great times with with friends, Bethany captured the best part of the trip in pictures and an early morning poem.

Delaney Park Morning

Fog rolling on the rippled lake, birds soaring o’er and hopping on my chair.

Gently, mist is swirling, moving, floating up

Up into the sky, which begins to cast sunbeams on the water full of cat tails.

Each living creature is waking up, now roused & stirring.

My fuzzy mind is still not quite awake, but this show of nature is more brilliant than any dream of mine.

Now a fish jumps, a water bug twitters along, a break of bubbles float to the surface so a circle ripple grows – another, & over there & again the bubbly breaths keep on.

A firefly hovering before my eyes while a woodpecker taps behind me in the woods.

Three birds wing flight over thin tree stumps that poke out of the water.

They land a moment, then dash and chase again

All the people are sleeping inside their tents, while this symphony of sounds and movement grows with the sun’s rays.

Surprises (By Bethany)

2009-06-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

While I'm at the internet cafe, I'll add one more quick update on this year’s vacation. It had been several years since we’d been on a Riggs’ family vacation, & this was a special year because it was the first year for my sister & I to bring along our 2 newest family members—our husbands! We were thrilled to introduce them to Holden Beach & to have some down time to spend with my parents. (We even had trouble finding enough days to visit all the restaurants & spots we wanted to show them.)

I had 2 surprises on this trip…Dan surprised me by shaving off his goatee. He actually flew down & joined us a few days after my family had arrived, so when I greeted him in the NC airport, I had a ‘new man’ with a fresh face! The 45 minute car ride from the airport to the beach consisted of me staring at his upper lip & saying things like, "Wow! You look SO different!" while grinning ear to ear. I had never seen him without facial hair before!

Surprise # 2 was something feeling different about this beach I've visited all my life. It wasn't the way it looked, but something definitetly felt odd. When I mentioned it to my sister, she said, “Well, the beach hasn’t changed, but you sure have! You haven’t been here since before you & Dan had even met. Your life is completely different now!” That was it. I used to lie on the beach & read novels about my heroes, dreaming about my future. I’d watch families & couples play in the sand & wonder what my future family would be like… Now I’ve found my partner, & those dreams are becoming reality. I sure was glad to have him join me for the 2nd half of the week. Dan is a great vacation buddy & life partner. On Sunday we celebrated one whole YEAR of marriage!

Holden Strong (By Bethany)

2009-06-16T17:21:00.001-07:00

We spent last week in Holden Beach, NC, the traditional Riggs’ family vacation spot. While there, my mom proposed a contest for the family. “Let’s all think up a name for our ‘future beach house’, & vote for our favorite pick!” Not that we are really going to buy a house, but it was fun to dream a little…We have always been content to rent a beach house on this quaint, non-commercialized family beach. Our time there is simple—filled with reading, swimming in the ocean waves, eating sea food & ice cream, collecting shells, & biking.

Part of the charm of this little island is that nearly every beach house owner names his or her house, posting it on a creative sign on the house front. Nearly every name is a play on words, many including the name of the beach, ‘Holden’. We love reading the names as we bike along the 10-mile island.

Back to the family contest…I was the only one who participated, coming up with the name “Holden Strong” for the house my family might someday own. Here’s why…

•This beach has been a constant for our family since my older sister & I were born. Amid many seasons of life, we’ve been holden on to the promise of this vacation every summer.
•This time together has strengthened our family relationships. Every summer we knew we’d have family time for us as well as time to spend with cousins there. The memories we’ve made together have made our family strong

And there you have it—Holden Strong!

Summertime (by Dan)

2009-06-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

June is here, school is out this week and although it might not be official, I am proclaiming summertime has arrived. Here are 10 reasons we are excited for summer (in no particular order):

Trip next week to Holden Beach, NC – the Riggs annual summer destination which I will be visiting for the first time
Lots of fresh, local vegetables each week from our CSA that we are a part of (more on this in the future)
4^th of July weekend with the Gisel crew in Michigan where we get to see the newly renovated kitchen at the home pad
Sunday evening trips to Sonic with friends or the occasional surprise drop-in to DQ
Very few regularly scheduled events – we purposefully left the summer open for an impromptu bike ride AND
Time for more reading of causal books and study of the Word AND
Grilling on the Bar-B
Our church has a new worship pastor coming in July and our young adult group and the whole church are in the midst of some exciting changes
At least five other road trips – we might not have regular plans during the week but we are using up our weekends
Finding a pool to swim and hang out

A Tribute

2009-05-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Late last week we had a small neighbor over and were discussing our long weekend plans. We asked what she was doing to celebrate Memorial Day. In a very sweet, slightly humbled manner she asked “What do you do on Memorial Day?”

I thought that was a very good question. I think the older you get the more you appreciate Memorial Day and what it stands for. So today we remember those in our lives who have dedicated their lives for our country.

We think of 4 of our Grandfathers who served the United States in World War II.

Bethany’s Paternal Grandpa Allen Riggs was a staff Sergeant in the Motor Pool, 3rd Army under General Patton. He was on Normandy Beach, which especially comes to life for those who have seen the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. This man has shared more stories about his ‘army days’ than anyone else I’ve been around.

Dan’s Maternal Grandpa Ray Picklo served in the US Army as Master Sergeant. He passed away in 1989. We didn’t have a picture of him handy at the moment.

Bethany’s Maternal Grandpa Lloyd Drake served in the US Army stateside. He died in 1982 of lung cancer, just before Bethany was born.

Bethany’s Maternal Step-Grandpa Charles 'Chick' Julian served in the US Navy.

We also thank the many other uncles, cousins, and friends who have served or are currently serving our country to defend its freedoms.

On the Brink (By Bethany)

2009-05-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

Transitions are tough. Dan says he loves the actual process of change because he is usually ready to move on to something new. Definitely not the case for me…I am much more reflective about change. Often by the time I warm up to the new, it is nearly over, & I am not sure I am ready for what’s next.

We Gisel’s are currently in a transition, so I thought I’d write & reflect about what is changing right now, LOTS of aspects of my schedule: My job & Most of my Evenings.
I taught & subbed all year, so I only ended up working part-time each week. School is nearly over, so my school music program is just a week away, only 2 more music classes to teach for this school-year! One Change.
I decided to get a summer job since my teaching is ending & our budget requires some income on my partJ. So, my new ‘summer job’ actually started before summer, 2 weeks ago. I am getting adjusted to working five days a week again. This summer will be the first time both Dan & I are working full-time since being married, & we are preparing for the changes that will come with this schedule. Another Change.
Our evenings have been very full this spring. Each night of the week held something we are committed to every week, except Tuesday date nights. But our Small Group, Worship services, & Church meetings happen to all come to a close on the same week! Though some of these commitments have been awesome, we know a slower-pace is in store & is much-needed for us. More Change.

The great thing is that God’s timing is perfect, & we have a clear-cut fresh start coming our way. In a week & a half we’ll have a weekend getaway. It just so happens that all of our evening commitments, programs & big work projects end during the week that leads up to our trip. So, once we get back, we have something to look forward to: TIME & the freedom to choose what we do with it.

All About Perspective (By Dan)

2009-04-24T12:30:00.001-07:00

As you grow and learn, your perspective of life, the world, and your role in the world changes. I am sure as a young child the whole world revolves around you and the things that you need. Unfortunately for many, that doesn’t ever change. That is not what this is about, but you get the idea… your perspective on what is important in life and your role in it should continue to change as you grow.

Well, one of the most impactful learning times in my life was a class that I took on world missions called “Perspectives”. I actually took it a couple of years ago, but I just received an e-mail about it that caught my attention. So I thought I would share the impact of the class.

Not only do I understand the concept of missions better, its origin and its current role in our society, I think my view of the world changed, as well as the purpose of why I am here. So, the class had a great impact that still affects my perspective today.

Here is a link to the Perspectives website. http://www.perspectives.org/

It has a section where you can see if there are any classes in your area, as they are held world wide. You can take the class for credit, certificate or just audit the class… obviously it is just like a regular college class and credit is the most work. But the more work you put into it, the more you get out of it (Bethany and I did it for certificate, which gives you a little accountability to do the work). Even just sitting in the class, aside from the readings, and learning from the great instructors was worth it.

But basically the goal of this post is to raise your awareness for a future time when you hear about a Perspectives class in your area. Hopefully, it piques your interest enough for you to go and check out what it is about.

Cow Walk is Big News (by Dan)

2009-04-15T16:27:00.001-07:00

Bethany gave you her take of the cow walk we had a couple weeks ago. It really is quite the experience, and I think this was my fourth time helping move the herd.

I wanted to share an outsider’s perspective on the event as it garnered a rather large feature story in our local paper which was very well done…

http://www.tribstar.com/features/local_story_087234805.html?keyword=secondarystory

There are some pretty good pictures and if you look close you can find Bethany in one to verify our claim.

Also—if you are interested in home-made cheese products from grass fed cows – you can check out the Swiss Connection website – they even ship all across the country. If are close to Clay City, they have store hours and are at local farmers markets.

http://www.swissconnectioncheese.com/

Signs of Spring (By Bethany)

2009-04-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of spring break for our local school corporation, which means that my mom, sister & I have a few days off at the same time. We worked it out to have a girls' night with my aunt, grandmother, sister, mom, & me--an overnight in a hotel suite with plenty of fine dining, hot tubbing, shopping, & laughter.

For our week off, we expected to have some warm rays of sunshine to soak up, & the pictures make it look nice n sunny, don't they? But we actually have temps in the 30's with snow flurries. Thankfully, I was able to capture some of the beauty of nature last week, before the blustery weather hit & the frost bit the blooms off the trees. Enjoy pictures from my nature walk & the signs of spring & Easter around our neighborhood...

More than a Concert (by Dan)

2009-04-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Bethany and I, along with our small group, went to a great concert this week in Terre Haute. Andrew Peterson, his sidekicks and band are kind of under the radar and don’t get on Christian radio much, but they give a great live show. We went to one a year & a half ago around Christmas called, “Behold the Lamb”. This show was called “Resurrection Letters II” for Easter.

The reason Peterson’s shows are so great is that he is very real and open. You can see his heart and passion for God, and he gives great insight into where his songs are coming from. But the highlight is the second half of the show, both Christmas and Easter, which is the story of the season in powerful, heartfelt song. The show this week even had readings in between the songs, and I almost thought these were more impactful than the music – and the music was great!

Bottom line: if you see Andrew Peterson in your area, check it out. It is worth it.

If you want to get a preview…. www.andrew-peterson.com/

Sister Katie--By Bethany

2009-03-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Dan & I just wrapped up a Fabulous Weekend with our sister, Katie Gisel. She made the 7 hour trip down from Michigan on Friday & must have brought the cool temperatures with her because it was a rainy, chilly, snowy couple of days! But we managed to have lots of fun doing indoor activities. Above pics show lunch at Steak-N-Shake & our first ever pedicure (minus Dan). Below you can see our baking extravaganza of homemade pretzels & pineapple upside down cake.

We saved the cake until Dan & Katie's parents joined us on Sunday night. It was part of our birthday celebration for mom. And paired with a couple scoops of homemade cherry almond Yegerlehner ice cream, it was quite delicious! (Gotta love those grass-fed cows.)

Dan & I are continually reminded of what wonderful families we are a part of.

Thanks for coming, Gisels! We had a blast!

Cows Comin' Home

2009-03-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

Guess what we did on Saturday morning? Our friends in Clay City own & manage a dairy farm of grass-fed cows called The Swiss Connection. Twice a year, the cows need to change pastures, so this family rounds up their friends & neighbors to herd the cows 2 miles down a country road to new pasture. A tractor leads the pack, & the people form two lines on either side of the narrow road, each line holding a thin wire that acts as a fence, keeping the cows in line. To the cow, the wire appears to be the electric fence that could shock them if they touch it. So, for the most part, they steer clear of the wire & stay together with the herd. And with a few taps on the nose from a long stick, & some vocal reminders to 'slow down', they did pretty well to stay inside the 'human fence'.

But it wouldn't be an adventure unless a few cows got loose, would it? At one point, 4 cows ducked under the wire & were on their own alongside the road. Later on, 2 more escaped under the wire. But by the time we reached the new pasture, all of them had returned to the herd.

After securing them in their new home for the next 8 months, we helpers were treated to some homemade fresh cheese, ice cream, bratwursts, & chili soup. Yum! What a reward for surviving the adventure! Hopefully we'll be back for the winter walk in December!

Enjoy our video & pics of the day.

Time Well Spent (By Bethany)

2009-03-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

“All we have is time.” In college, a friend of mine loved to use this phrase. It countered against the phrases frequently heard echoing around us. “I don’t have time to finish that term paper, no time to stay up & watch a movie with friends, no time to do laundry, to eat breakfast, to work out. I probably utter this phrase on a daily basis. But, is it true? Or is it more about how I spend my time, sometimes doing things that aren’t the most important.

By Friday of this past week, Dan & I were exhausted. After long workdays, each evening had held a scheduled activity at church, the House of Prayer, Small Group, or things that ‘just came up’. Even though we were spending time doing good things, & spending daily time together, we had not given undivided attention to one another. After a meal, it was time for dishes. During one lunch hour, we rushed to the tv to finish a DVD we had rented because we didn’t want to pay a dollar late-fee. Instead of paying a fee, our rushing cost us some arguing, all because we were ‘pressed for time’. Other time spent together included car rides to meetings or conversations about chores & routines.

When we finally realized that our priorities were not being lived out this week, we decided we had to make a change. If we want our life priorities to reflect the 3 main things we believe in, then our time should reflect God, our spouse, & then our friends & work. But when work & some extra-curricular activities were taking time away from one another, we decided to take action.

We cleared our schedule on Friday, found a deal for a hotel on www.priceline.com, & drove to Indianapolis for a night away, just the 2 of us. 24 hours of undivided attention, AND swimming, talking, walking downtown, laughing. Just being together was probably the best time we spent all week.

Post-It (Pt II)- By Bethany

2009-02-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize other bloggers were writing about post-its too. But I thought this was a good piece of info for post-it note addicts like myself. Check it out at our friend Jeff's blog.
http://www.jeffshinabarger.com/?p=388

What Are You Giving Up?

2009-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

Ash Wednesday is just a couple days away, and many people will be choosing to give up something for the next 40 days. Most people that I know who have participated in Lent have given up chocolate, pop, coffee, or one of their other favorite foods. I am not going to give an analysis on the significance of Lent but rather offer up an alternative. What if you gave up some of your time? Ouch… that one hurts.

I think that is the point, right? Sacrifice something that is significant to you. Maybe it is that hour of your favorite TV show on Tuesday or Thursday night. Maybe it is sleep that you value and getting up an hour early would be a sacrifice. Maybe an hour is not too hard for you… maybe you need to take a whole evening each week, or maybe a weekend.

For Lent our church is encouraging people to participate in service projects – taking some time out of their schedule and using it to show God’s love in practical ways to people “on their corner” (see Bethany’s last post to understand that).

But whether you find a new way to serve, take extra time in God’s Word, or expand your prayer life – why not make this Lent season something more than trying to kick your chocolate fix? I encourage you to push yourself, find a way to give up some of your time for a higher purpose, and experience the 40 days leading up to Easter in a new way.

Post-It Craze

2009-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

When I opened my bulletin at church last night, 2 yellow post-it notes were stuck on the inside page. “Weird,” I thought as I saw that my neighbor’s bulletin had them too. I was eager to hear what our pastor was going to have us do with these ingenious little notes.

Background: [If you’ve ever lived or worked with me, you know that these multi-colored mini reminder sheets are a big part of my daily lifeJ. As an idea person, thoughts are constantly popping into my head that I want to jot down. My husband, former co-workers, & former roommates can attest to the rainbow-colored array of lists & notes that adorn my living & work spaces. Post-its of tasks to do around the house, brainstorms of art projects I want to start, dreams of huge choir programs & praise dances I’d like to direct…the lists go on...] Now that you understand the value of post-its in my world, let me continue…

It turns out that our pastor’s message was a spin-off of the classic Good Samaritan story found in the Bible in Luke 10:25. This religious guy is asking Jesus what he has to do to gain eternal life. In his typical manner, Jesus answers the question rather unexpectedly by saying, “Love God first, then love your neighbor as yourself.” This response begs the question, “Who is my neighbor?”, & Jesus tells the parable about the man who accepted the neighbor God placed in his path by helping this injured stranger who was considered his ‘enemy’ because of his ethnicity. Our pastor had insight into the context of the story that I’d not heard before. (Sermon can be heard at http://exchangemcc.org/)

Then came the purpose of the post-its—to write down every person or group in our ‘corner’ of life. Basically, the people we regularly come into contact with. My list includes my neighborhood, the House of Prayer, Community Christian School where I teach music, the school where I mentor a girl through Kids Hope, & whatever school I happen to be subbing for on a given day. (My friends & family are obviously a part of my corner, but they are people that I tend to call without promptings that I ‘should’.) On the contrary, some people I encounter in my corner may not be ones I’d choose to interact with. But they are the ‘neighbors’ Jesus told me to ‘love as myself”.

I easily forget that this command is so high on God’s list. I’d rather spend time emailing friends than to go visit my next-door neighbor. I’d rather take a book to my sub job than to try to start a conversation with a teacher in the staff lunchroom. But these people around me are my neighbors who all have their own story, hurts, joys, trials, & stresses. I know that I go about life best when others show me that I’m not alone in what I go through. I should show others they are not alone either. As I go about my week, I hope I’ll remember to value the people in my corner.

First Things First (by Dan)

2009-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

This is my first real blog post. I have kind of been anti-blog because I really don’t like to share details of my life with people (my parents will even attest that this is not my strong suit), so posting them on the world wide web seemed kind of silly. However, this is a growth area for me and I do think it is important to share things that are impacting our lives. Hopefully through some of our posts you will be able to know more about us and at the same time be encouraged or challenged.

First things first… we were at IHOP on Friday (not pancakes but the prayer house that is two blocks down the road-the picture above was taken inside IHOP), and we were challenged by Marvin with one of the most well known scriptures – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22: 37-39). His message was simple: Are you keeping the first and greatest commandment first? Are you loving God with everything that you have?

This was a perfect time for me to hear this message as we begin the spring with many different activities that we are serving in, and also as we have moved the focus of our blog to be about service to others. The question for me is – am I serving God first and others second? “If not,” Marvin said, “You are a great humanitarian. You are Oprah.” Now, I am not saying Oprah doesn’t know God, but the point hit home to me.

I want my love and service for others to be the overflow of my love for Jesus. I want to love Jesus so much, that I really can’t help but show that love to everyone I meet.

Instead of primarily focusing on serving others, you might be the opposite… maybe you do well following the first and greatest commandment – WONDERFUL! Are you then exercising your spiritual muscle and showing the love of Christ to others in practical ways? Are you spiritually fat (as our pastor would say), soaking up all the knowledge and great gifts God has given you, but not passing it on to those that need it?

Love God. Love others. In that order, of course.

Time for an Upgrade

2009-02-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Lately I realize that Dan & I are surrounded by people who are living life on purpose…They have found a cause worthy of their time & attention & have wrapped their lives around it.

In our first months of marriage, we have begun to search for what our purpose is as a couple. Since we are now a team, our dreams & goals are shifting & changing to include each other. Since we are walking through life together now, we’d better be heading the same direction!

What we’ve discovered is that we have many differences—skills, perspectives, learning styles, hobbies, ways of communicating, even cooking styles! But one thing we share at this point is Purposefully Serving Other People. We are trying to shape our schedules to include regular time investing in people. And we find that the time we spend with friends, mentors, neighbors, kids, & family fills us up & gives our days PURPOSE.

We are so convinced that the people we know are more interesting than we are :) that we have decided to change our blog to show glimpses of them. In this stage of newlywed life, we don’t have funny kids to write about, & our weekdays are spent in polar opposite work environments. But we do share goal of investing in others, spending purposeful time with them. And as Dan has said, “Our own thoughts & days are just not interesting enough to blog about right now. So we should write about what we get excited about—the people around us.”

Mini Golf with our Little Bro.

Snowhawks

2009-01-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Since my wonderful husband works for WTHI TV, we like to check out all ‘the latest’ offers from our local news station. We recently signed up for the School Closing Texting Service. Last night I was almost asleep when I received a “NO SCHOOL TOMORROW” text! WOOHOO! Was I excited for a day off.

My first adventure for the day was sweeping off my car. Yes, sweeping, with a broom…to get the 10 inches of snow off. I did a pretty darn good job, clearing the front & back windshields, all windows, even headlights & the grill. (My Dad taught me well) But all that sweepin’ tuckered me out so that I left a little snow on top of the car.

A little later, my car caught my eye when I noticed the top of looked like a ‘Mohawk’ haircut, but made of snow. That is when I coined the word ‘Snowhawk’. I knew it was a hit when Dan used the word in his next sentence after I mentioned it. And so we began pointing out Snowhawks on cars all over town. It’s really quite fun to watch for—
some are more of a flat top, or a front spike, but most are somewhat lopsided Snowhawks.

Go ahead & use our new word as you spot snowy cars. It’s great entertainment for a snowday.

History in the Making

2008-12-31T07:38:00.001-08:00

It was our first Christmas as a married couple, & we got to make history in a lot of ways!

1—It was our brother-in-law Erick’s first Christmas in the U.S! Apparently in Venezuela, they celebrate Christmas without focusing on Jesus as a baby. They think of his coming as God in flesh more than a baby boy’s birthday. He couldn’t get his mind around how much we all talk about the baby’s birth.

2—Dan & I managed to be in both of our parents’ homes on Christmas day! We spent Christmas Eve night at the Riggs’ home in Terre Haute, then opened gifts & ate breakfast there on Christmas morning. By 11am, we were on the road for a 6 hour drive to Midland, Michigan & arrived just in time for a Gisel family dinner. Not sure how often that will happen in the future!

3—Dan’s brother Steve was home for Christmas after being in Ecuador for the past 2 years, so it was the first time I got to celebrate with the whole Gisel crew! And Steve brought his girlfriend Marni…check out the amazing scarves she made for all the Gisel girls. This was definitely a special Christmas for the family.

4—The annual fantasy football Gala changed locations from the famous Hunt Club to the Hathaway home in Howell, Michigan. It is so awesome to see Dan’s college buddies staying involved in eachother’s lives & making a point to get together each year. After 8 years, the leagues & friendships are still going strong.

Some other fun things included sledding in Michigan, trying some of my mom’s new soup recipes on Christmas Eve (believe it or not, even Dan voted that Oyster Stew was the best!), & Dan & I making a 2009 calendar together. Even though we spent less money on gifts this year, it was a very RICH holiday…full of family & friends who we hold very close.
--Bethany

Christmas Card Blog-2008 Year in Review

2008-12-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

We decided that since it is almost a decade into the new century, a Christmas blog is totally appropriate (O.K. – maybe Dan thought it was a good idea). Anyway—we hope you enjoy a year-in-review edition of the blog and also look forward to a much more up-to-date version of the blog in ’09 (new year resolution).

The first five months of 2008 were definitely dominated by wedding planning. Bethany did an outstanding job of managing her role as director of nearly 80 kids at 14th & Chestnut Community Center in inner-city Terre Haute, with evenings of plotting out the colors, the cake, the flowers, the invites, and all the other details of the big day. Dan’s roles were to keep Bethany sane, help with wedding errands, and to be the motivator for our mini-marathon training. (His efforts paid off—we both completed our first 13.1 miler in Indianapolis!)

The wedding was a great success, mostly due to all our friends and family who assisted and came to celebrate with us! Thank you! We honeymooned at a great resort in Cancun for a week and enjoyed the beach and sunshine, practiced our Spanish & dancing, and tasted lots of excellent food & drinks. The rest of the summer was a whirlwind as we both participated in the wedding of Emily and Erick – our sister and brother-in-law, had several great road trips, and of course played the weekly Ultimate Frisbee.

By the time autumn rolled around, we were ready to get into a routine. I think every married person has asked us, “So, how is marriage?” The real answer is that the first three months were definitely an adjustment period. We suddenly fought a lot more – mostly about dumb things – and our new favorite verse became 2 Tim 2:23 “Don’t have anything to do with foolish or stupid arguments”. The good news is that after we figured out where the dishes should be, got our new house in order, and started a more daily routine, marriage has been wonderful. We enjoy sharing life with our best friend.

God has been actively at work in many areas of life outside of our marriage. Bethany has been an intern at the International House of Prayer just two blocks from our house. Both she and Dan have learned a lot about prayer and worship through this new ministry. God has blessed us with countless relationships. From the neighbor kids who pop into our house, to the middle schoolers we see each Tuesday morning at breakfast club, to the new young adults we’ve met at church, to the people of the community that we connect with over ice cream each month, we have learned many lessons from our wonderfully diverse group of friends. We give thanks for this past year of change and new experiences as we eagerly anticipate what God has in store in 2009!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from The Gisel's!

Backyard Baseball

2008-11-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

We have the best kid neighbors. Seriously, these kids know how to be neighborly. They come visit us at least once a week & bring energy, smiles, laughter, & joy into our lives. One of them only comes on the weekends when he is visiting his grandmother who is our neighbor. So when he comes & we are available, Dan plays whiffle ball with him. A few Fridays ago, he came by just as we were eating dinner, so Dan told him to come back in about 20 minutes to play. I think the kid has an internal clock because he was back at our door in precisely 20 minutes. “You should come play with us too,” he said to me as he darted past me in the kitchen. I agreed to come after washing one more dish.

When I went out, I was greeted by 2 more of our neighbor kids, & the game was going strong. Since our yard is small & fenced in, I was automatically assigned to the ‘outfield’ to fetch the hits going over the fence. I got my work-out chasing balls across the street, into the next-door parking lot, & down the alley.

I also got a great view of what was happening on the field--Connecting, laughter, & fun, an investment in the lives of these kids. Dan was shouting out the score & play-by-play while the kids ran, giggled, cheered one another on, & tried to take Dan’s advice to ‘choke up’ on the bat. They were having a blast, & the youngest one kept saying, “This really is fun. I am having so much fun.” As I watched the cars passing by on their way out to dinner or the movies, I couldn’t help but smile because of the simple Friday night entertainment we were having just by playing with these kids. It was better than any steak dinner.

Picture of some of the baseball players when they came trick-or-treating for Halloween.

Outdoor Treats

2008-11-06T18:29:00.000-08:00

God has wowed us with the sun shinin' down on Indiana lately! Just yesterday it was 75 degrees during the first week of November! Unbelievable! I guess the beautiful weather has kept us outdoors making memories rather than sitting inside to blog about them…so now, here’s an update on some October outdoor memories…

conneXion Bonfire—Dan & I work together with our friend Steph to plan monthly events for the young adults at our church http://www.mccth.org/. October marked one full year of events for this group called conneXion. We held our 2nd annual bonfire in the church yard & had a great time with friends old & new.

Some highlights: touch football, an amazing sunset, a visit from Meg’s giant lovable dog Daisy, s’mores, a variety of apple desserts-n-cider (‘tis the season, I guess), celebrating our friend Jess’s birthday, & our brother-in-law Erick seeing his breath in the cold air for the FIRST time EVER! Cold weather continues to bring fascination to our new Venezuelan brother. Here is a picture of Erick & my sister Emily, the birthday girl Jess & Amber, & a group sittin by the fire.

Catalyst Conference

2008-10-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we were at the Catalyst Coference in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme was 'Together'...we can ALL accomplish MORE & live BETTER when we do it UNITED. Many future posts will be influenced by ideas we heard or conversations we had while there, but for now I wanted to give you an overview & a video.

Highlights...
* meeting more of Dan's college friends
* spending time with a 3 week old baby, the 3rd of 3 daughters to Dan's best friends Josh & Ang
* hearing pastors, business-men, & inspirational speakers share the principles that shape them
* exposure to all kinds of organizations that help others in creative ways

The friends we stayed with had a booth for their non-profit organization. They collect unused gift cards that are sitting in our wallets with just a few dollars left on them. In just 2 days of collecting at the conference, we were given hundreds of cards, bringing in money for lots of projects to help those in need. Check it out http://giftcardgiver.com/

I am trying to post a video I took of our card collection one morning...maybe in a later post...

Right On Time

2008-10-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Dan & I just returned home from a trip to Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference. We had a cool encounter with a guy on the flight down. Due to our flight delay, we had 2 extra hours of reading time. Dan spent his plowing through "The Shack" because the author was speaking at the conference we were heading to. And I was finishing a book I'd started many many months ago, "Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken. As soon as the flight began, the man sitting next to us told me a friend had recommended the book to him a week ago.

This fictional book is a love story between a man & a woman that involves heights & depths of joy & pain...it involves loss & death but also points to the depths of mercy God has for people! I was nearly in tears as I finished the last chapter, & by that time we were delayed waiting for a gate to open up in Atlanta. I told the man that I seconded the recommendation of the book. Then I started to make small talk with him & asked about his family...he told me his wife died in January, & he is raising their 3 children, 12 & under. WOW! I knew he could totally relate to the loss & grief, hope & redemption of this book. Dan leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Wanna give him your book?" So I did. We noted the great timing of things--me finishing just before we left the plane, in time to give him the book that he had been wanting to read. "You know," he said, "my friend just emailed me the title of the book today." I can't wait to read it.

Wedding Photos

2008-09-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Thank You's have been sent. (Finally! I hope you received yours:) Most of the wedding gifts have been tried out around our house. The gift cards have helped with groceries & gadgets. And we are settling in as life partners, working through all the joys, struggles, & lessons that marriage is bringing our way.

In case you have not seen our wedding pictures yet, we have a link with 2 viewing options: http://picasaweb.google.com/danielgisel

1--View the basic "summary" of the wedding weekend, about 100 shots, OR
2--View ALL 450 shots, all photographed by our dear friend & artist, Aaron Leu
You can order these prints, e-mail them, download or post them on your website. Enjoy!

Weekend Getaway

2008-09-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

As are most of my Type A friends & relatives, I am a creature of habit. I like to say I ‘thrive’ on a busy schedule. Piecing together the small errands & tasks between appointments & work times is like putting together a puzzle, but I tend to squeeze in ‘extra’ pieces that don’t fit, changing my ‘thrive’ to ‘rundown’.

In the past few months, though, God has shifted my focus, helping me to let go of some commitments & slow down in the process. This time has been wonderfully refreshing & life-giving to me. But one of the best things about my change of pace has been my availability & energy for my other half, Dan. He comes home from the office ready to take off on adventures & activities together, & I actually have energy!

Last Friday, he came home with a brilliant idea for a camping trip, having already scouted out a tent to borrow. We were itchin to use our wedding gift sleeping bags & air mattress, & the weather sounded perfect for a getaway. He was so determined to get a campsite on that sunny weekend that he woke up early Saturday morning & reserved 1 of the last 3 campsites within a 40 mile radius of our home. We already had plans to attend the annual local Altrusa Chili Cook-Off. So, after sampling about 15 kinds of chili, we headed to Southern Indiana to stay at McCormick’s Creek State Park. Our friends Rachael & Nate joined us for a hike & cookout, but we Gisels were the only ones to brave the night in our tent.

Here are a few highlights of the Camping Trip…
* If you haven’t yet seen a silver, oversized bus/RV with a flat-screen tv on the OUTSIDE of the vehicle, you are missing out. Perhaps your closest state park has one too, because we had one right ‘next door’.
* 3 bundles of wood + 2 adventurous guys = a GREAT Campfire (Yeah, Dan & Nate!)
* Hot Dog Creativity 101:
~Hot Dog Cigars may appear if the stick breaks off inside the hot dog with a small glowing tip of it poking out the end…check photo below
~Hot Dog Curls can come when small incisions are accidentally made in the pre-cooked dog & fire temperatures are hot enough to make those pieces curl up…no photo available
(~For the record, multiple kinds of chili for lunch followed by a dinner of hot dogs & s’mores does not really do a body good. It makes me wonder who came up with chili dogs as an actual food combination.)
* Rachael & Nate both had a 6th Sense for the presence of Raccoons on our campsite & didn’t mind chasing them away
* We came upon a big troop of elementary girl scouts who were hooping & hollering all along the trail. Thank goodness Dan nudged me along to get in front of them rather than lag behind them & their shouts!

We had a great time camping. Enjoy pics of our first ever camping trip as a married couple.

Back to LIfe, Back to Reality

2008-09-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Now that the glimmer & glam of wedding season is over (for at least a couple months :), Dan & I are getting back to life, back to reality. Reality hit me like a ton-a-bricks last week when I traveled to a new school building every day of the week! I am substitute teaching this fall, averaging 2-3 days a week. But for some reason this was a week of prevalent testing, reading programs, & teacher meetings. So, I got to sub several times. I am actually on a 5 day subbing streak because I subbed for high schoolers last Thursday & Friday, had a wedding weekend hiatus & relaxing Labor Day with my man & my famJ, & then got back in the grind on Tuesday.

My daily grind these days consists of teaching music at our local Christian school on Wednesdays & subbing as often as I can on other days. Now let me tell you, I have worked with kids in many settings throughout my life. But substitute teaching is a whole new world for me. This is a humbling, fast-paced, ever-changing, quick-adapting, patience-thinning experience that I am engaged in. With the age group & classroom setting ever-changing from one school to another, I never know what to expect. So, after 3 weeks into my new job, here it is:

Mrs. G’s Top Ten Reflections on Substitute Teaching …

10. An office desk job isn’t so bad IF you want to have energy, composure, or a voice left at the end of the workday.
9. Weekends & Summers are Necessities for Sanity.
8. When subbing in elementary classes other than music, I should show up AT LEAST 30 minutes before my scheduled report time if I want to be able to locate necessity items like The Magic Name Bag, Perfect Attendance Jar, First Aid Kit, Cough Drop Bag, Free Standing Flip Chart, Big Fish of the Day Duty List, or the much-needed Discipline Policy that the kids are accustomed to following.
7. I like to be in control of the noise level around me so much that if I could invent anything to accompany me to each classroom, I would make a giant Volume Control Knob that lowers the noise of other human voices yet raises the volume of my own voice.
6. Elementary teachers notice details WAY MORE than I do…they are AMAZING!
5. Half the time I am asking for quiet, I understand why kids feel like talking, wiggling, moving, or playing…it is HARD to stay in one room all day without seeing daylight or smelling fresh air.
4. Repeating instructions is tongue-twisting. The more I have to repeat, the more words I switch around or mispronounce.
3. Putting your feet up during the 15 minute lunch break is the best way to make it through the 2nd half of the day.
2. An X on a paper hurts more than a punch, push, pencil stab, or being called a name. An X on a child’s paper is sure to bring pouting & possibly tears.
1. You can NEVER really know if a child who asks to go to the bathroom is telling the truth, & you should be careful not to test whether or not he or she is lying. You could end up with a big puddle on someone’s seat & a very upset child.

Birthday Adventures

2008-09-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Now, if any of you are reading & realize “Oh no! I missed her birthday!”, do not dismay. You can push aside any feelings of guilt for not wishing me a happy birthday & rest assured that my husband & facebook helped me to have the happy birthday celebration I needed:) I received enough facebook birthday messages to carry me through another year of my 20’s. And, gifts can still be sent in the mail…hehe…just kidding.

My birthday celebration began AFTER the wedding festivities in Illinois, & the fun began a couple of hours after the reception, when we arrived with some friends at our hotel for the night. We got there late, so by the time we checked in & looked at the pool up on top of the 14-story building, we were ready to hit the hay. We were a little bummed that we were so tired because the hotel was complete with a hot tub, Starbucks, & many floors to explore. But our sleepiness led us to bed right away so we could enjoy the hotel in the morning.

By 11:15, we were tucked into bed. And we lay there quietly, until about midnight when Dan whispered, “Are you sleeping?” To which I huffily replied, “No…our neighbors are way too loud.” Just a few feet from us, on the other side of the connecting door of our room, the party of the century was happening, & we had not been invited. Instead, we had been dragged into the noise of it all without getting to have any of the fun that was happening on the other side of the door & in rooms throughout our hall. Between the yelling, the music, & the door banging that occured as the partiers paced from room to room, we could find no silence.

Even when we played the complimentary Relaxation CD that our hotel had so lovingly furnished, we could still hear every move of the party. I considered going next door to tell my thoughts about the party that was happening on my birthday that I had not been invited to that was keeping us awake, but Dan convinced me to call the front desk instead. Yet after two of my complaint calls that brought security visits to the party, there was no diminish in noise. Finally, we were escorted to ‘the only room left in the inn’, which happened to be smoke-filled. But we found rest in this room after we aired out the room with open windows. By morning we had discovered the reason the ‘inn was so full’—some motorcycle race in Springfield had filled up every hotel in the city!

The next day was a much more enjoyable birthday celebration for us:) We woke up for a morning swim, brunch with our friends, & then a trip to Forest Park in St. Louis, where everything is FREE! The St Louis Zoo was such a blast that I took pictures of almost every animal we saw! Oops…overexcited, perhaps?

Seriously, though, if you haven’t been you should make the trip. Outside the zoo in the park is a fountain & reflecting pool for kids & dogs to splash in, an art & history museum, tons of walking trails & park space, a lake to paddleboat or canoe in, & The Boathouse Restaurant overlooking the water. We met up with Dan’s cousins there, & got to play with their dog Lucy & eat a wonderful meal by the lake. And after a pleasant drive home that evening, we lay down for a peaceful night’s sleep in our own bed, with quiet neighbors…home sweet home!

On our Labor Day off, my family prepared a wonderful birthday meal & cake--Thanks Mom, Dad, Emily & Erick!

Christmas in August

2008-09-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

This August weekend took Dan & I on yet another roadtrip. It seems like the summer was jam packed with them! After receiving Free Tickets, we were able to take my sister Emily & her husband Erick to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, where Erick rode his FIRST Roller Coaster!! He is from Venezuela & had not been to an amusement park of this size before, so this was the biggest, fastest ride he’d ever been on. He kept saying, “I’m nervous” the whole time in line, but once we finally boarded the coaster & started moving, he yelled & laughed the WHOLE trip! What a riot! Enjoy the pics above that show the parts of the day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our latest trip took place over the long Labor Day weekend. We got to leave work early on Friday to drive through cornfields of Illinois to a small 'town of Beards' (Beardstown). Our friend Lance's wedding was happening in this quaint little town where his wife-to-be had been born & raised. We gathered on Friday for Lance & Kimberly’s wedding weekend, the 3rd wedding that Dan was in this summer! For a girl, that seems typical, but for a boy, that is, well, a lot of times to put on a tux!

We were eager to spend the Big Day with our friends, especially because they had been overseas on the mission field in Taiwan for the past 6 months. After being married for nearly 3 months myself, I can only imagine the transitions & changes they’ll experience as a couple heading into another culture to bring forth the gospel! Wow! Yet, how exciting to be heading to another country as life partners AND as partners for a mission of service.

We are excited for the adventure that Lance & Kim are embarking on, & we are prayerfully seeking God to see what adventures He might have in store for Dan & me…Enjoy a few pics of our weekend in Illinois…

Just Beginning...

2008-08-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

After a 13 month break from blogging on my old Xanga account, I have decided that I am once again up for the 'Blog Challenge'. A friend of mine is keeping me accountable for my blog 'start date', Dan is urging me to update the blog at least once a week, & I have agreed to try to write about things people actually want to read. So, with all that said...here goes!

Lots of changes have happened over the past 2 years, & the biggest life change involved my new husband, Dan! Last Sunday, August 17th, we celebrated my Grandpa Allen Riggs' 88th birthday, which also marked 2 years to the day since Dan & I met in our church lobby. We became friends that fall & began dating in early November, & have enjoyed growing closer through each step of our journey together. On December 19th of 2007, Dan proposed! And just 2 months ago on June 14th of 2008, Dan & I were married in Terre Haute, Indiana, where we now live in this cute blue house that is part of the historic district in a part of our city called Farrington Grove.

Enjoy a few pictures of some handywork around our house & of my Grandpa's 88th birthday party this past Sunday! In August (8) of 2008, he is 88! What a life he has lived, & continues to live in his healthy body & mind. We thank God for Grandpa's amazing health. As a doctor recently said, "He is an 87 year old in what looks like a 67 year old body."

Check back weekly for more updates & thoughts...