#280: First Frost!

It's definitely getting colder out :-(

#279: Baby Bump Week 16

#278: Eggnog Pancakes

As is our tradition, we headed to Ihop after Church on Sunday. And to my great surprise and excitement, they are now serving eggnog pancakes! Mmmm!! Unfortunately, after a few bites I was all filled up. So I didn't get to finish them. But they were delicious nonetheless!

#277: Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving Phil and I went to Hannibal MO. We went to his grandparents house and got to spend some time with his family. It was a lot of fun! We also went over to a family friends house and Phil got to catch up with some of his old friends.
Unfortunately for me, I had to be at work at 3:30 in the morning for Black Friday. We left Hannibal relatively late, got home just after 10:30 and Phil and Jake (oh yeah, Jake decided to come over and stay the night) stayed up all night playing video games in the living room. Well, in a studio apartment like ours, the living room is also the bedroom.
Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep before I had to leave for work at 2:30 am.

Not a great picture, I know. But I wasn't actually focused on picture taking this day.

#276: Cookies!!!

Today I was off of work. I got to stay home and enjoy just being home! Actually, I did a lot of cleaning. So that's kinda lame. But...I also made my tiny apartment smell just a bit like Christmas! And I made these amazing sugar cookies too!

I was going to make red and green frosting, but the recipe I used for the frosting made quite a lot (more than I anticipated), so I only got to use green. But whatever. It still works.

And I didn't have any Christmas cookie cutters, so I made some of them into hearts (hey, it's all I've got!)!

#275: Baby Bump- Week 15

#274: Fun at work...

Today I had the pleasure of folding all of these papers in half! It was a joy! Okay, that's obviously sarcasm. It was not awesome! I'm still waiting for my dream job. Perhaps it's motherhood and I don't have much longer to wait!

#273: So long old coat.... :-(

Today I realized that my old coat doesn't fit me anymore. I can button the top two buttons, but I am no longer able to zip the thing up. Thanks for that Baby! Luckily I already bought my new coat in anticipation for this day. I honestly didn't think it would be this soon though. Maybe there are two of them in there! Haha! Not possible, but that'd be totally crazy!

#272: Chik-fil-A

I finally got my Chik-fil-A!! Mmm mmm mmmmm!!

#271: Learning valuable Information

Well, these pictures don't really show us learning valuable information. But, I can guarantee that we did! The last 3 photos are of a workshop about the transition of moving from one country/culture to another. 

It was quite interesting! And rather entertaining!

#270: Flying to Atlanta

Today we flew to Atlanta for the National Missionary Convention (or, what is now known as the International Conference on Missions). I was dreading getting on any airplane because my last experience was so awful. However, an hour flight to Atlanta was nothing!

Phillip on the flight there... 

Me on the flight there 

Baby Kemp on the flight there!!

#269: Broken Toe

Two Things:

1. My toe isn't actually broken

2. Please don't judge me by the way my toenails look

I managed to trip over a small step stool this morning. I was making breakfast for Phil and I (he was still sleeping) and suddenly my alarm starting going off. I didn't want Phil to wake up, so I attempted to make a mad dash for the alarm. That's when I collided with the step stool and made more noise than that stupid alarm anyway.

#268: Baby Bump- 14 weeks!

#267: Hard at work!

Sometimes this is what I do at work. Haha, just kidding. I only sat down because I was trying to fix the printer. Then I had a hard time getting back up. My dear coworker thought it was hilarious and took a picture.

Goals for 2011/2012

Okay, I decided I needed some goals again for this year. It's slightly different from last year, as I'm not doing a number to represent my age. That was a bit over-the-top, and I failed dramatically. Nobody likes to fail! So I'm revamping my entire process.

And, I decided to do it before the New Year,  because I didn't want this to be a new years resolution list. Those things annoy me for some reason.

So here are my few goals:

1. Read 1 book a month: I've already got them all picked out. Guess I better start soon, this month is halfway over!

2. Be intentional in my relationships with those around me: It's often times very difficult to keep up relationships with people, especially those that you don't see everyday. This includes close friends and family. When you don't see them everyday, it becomes difficult to interact with them. I want to be intentional about building and sustaining these very important relationships in my life.

3. Continue to learn new things about Phil, and develop an even closer relationship with him.


4. Study Scripture and be intentional in my relationship with God: For some reason, the first relationship I tend to neglect is the one with my heavenly Father. I just get so caught up in the day-to-day stuff that I often feel like that is the one thing I can skimp on. That thinking is getting me nowhere, and it's a total lie! I need that relationship first and foremost.

5. Continue learning about different missionary's and ministries, and pray for a different one each month.

#266: New Coat

Well, I splurged and bought myself a new coat...a coat that I will be able to wear as I get bigger and bigger. I bought this at work, and I got a lovely employee discount. Originally this coat was $135, and I got it for $55. I'm so excited! I love this thing!

#265: Sims...

Today was my day off, and so I decided to be rather lazy. I sat in bed watching The Office and playing a game that I haven't played in forever; Sims. I used to be obsessed with this game. It is pretty fun, actually. My favorite thing to do is decorate the house. I always decorate it how I would want to decorate my house now.

Oh, I also make my sim have lots of kids. Because I want lots of kids!

 Pregnant Sarah (Hey, this is pretty life-like. haha)

Phillip working on the computer. haha!

#264: Ice cream....for dogs?!

I don't know about you, but to me this is just bizarre! It was actually in the frozen food section. Do people seriously buy this for their dogs?!
I'm stumped.

#263: Eggnog

Finally, it is that time of year again! I love eggnog! It is my absolute favorite. I've already had 2 cartons of this stuff (not just today. No worries), and I'm sure I'll have lots more before the season is over. Mmm...eggnog!

#262: Baby Bump 13 weeks

This week I am 13 weeks pregnant. Already I'm putting on the pounds. Okay, that's not true at all. In fact, I've lost weight. Which is odd, because my gut is looking quite a bit larger. Occasionally it looks like I'm pregnant, but mostly I just look chubby. I long for the days when I actually look like a pregnant woman and not just someone who is packing on the holiday weight a bit prematurely.

#261: Birthday Lunch...finally

I was finally able to have my birthday lunch with Phil, my dad and brothers. Only took several weeks for us all to be able to get our schedules in sync. We went to Olive Garden and it was fun to get to hang out with them for a little bit.

Somehow, during the course of the meal, Jake ended up with a bloody tooth. No one could figure out what happened because him and Tim couldn't stop laughing. Tim tried convincing us that he punched Jake in the mouth for talking back to him. Eventually we discovered that Jake was going to take a drink out of his straw and Tim slapped him in the back...thus resulting in the bloody tooth.

Brothers....gotta love em.

Oh yeah, today is always my Grandma Jo and Aunt Becky's birthday. So happy birthday!

Recap of my 25th Year

It is time for a recap of my 25th year. Mainly, an evaluation of the goals that I had set for myself. Let's begin

1. Stay at this job for one year: Technically, no, I did not stay at that job for one year. About a month is all I lasted. However, I have now had my current job for 9 months now. So, I am going to consider this a win!

2. Go on a mission trip in the summer: Well, we didn't technically go on a mission trip this summer. But we did attend a missions "thing" in Dallas. Also, we did go on a mission trip in the Fall. So this is another win, in my book!

3. Go back to school- or figure out what I want to do with my life: Nope, no school for me. And the only thing I've really figured out is that I want to be a wife and a mother. I've known this all along. I think it's the most important thing. And right now, I could really careless about a job/career anyway.

4. Find a mentor: Yes, I sort of did this. The missions director at our church is my so-called "mentor". We don't really use that title though. And we haven't really gotten together a whole lot. But we did travel all the way to India together, and I love her dearly. So hopefully this will turn into something mentor-ish. If not...I'm still looking. So this is a halfsy.

5. Exercise 3-4 times a week: Epic fail!

6. Weekly prayer/worship time- alone: I'm going to have to say that I have failed this one as well. There are times when I actually do this, but it is few and far between.

7. Be involved in an activity (outside of home): This, I am happy to report, has been done. I am currently on the missions team at Church, and I am involved in small group as well. Other than that though, no other activities for me right now.

8. Find a ministry-get involved: Oh. I suppose that means number 7 was a fail then too. Because both of those I listed are technically ministries. Hmmm....

9. Walk to work twice a week: FAIL! Well, right now it would be a little difficult to walk to work, considering it's about 40ish miles away.

10. Go on vacation with Phil: This we sort of did. I considered our trip to Dallas a mini vacation for us. We left a day early and stayed an extra night, and it was a very fun roadtrip! We also went to Six Flags, and that's definitely vacation-y.

11. Learn to read Spanish: This still has not happened. I pretty much gave up the day after I started. Unfortunately. But I still plan on doing this at some point. I mean...what'd I buy those Spanish books for, if not to read them?

12. Weekly planned date night with Phil (in or out of the house): Well, we have a routine when we get home from work, which is sort of like a date. I guess. There is food and a movie or tv show involved.
Okay, I guess not. We sort of lost touch with this one. Unfortunately. Gotta get back to this!

13. Be a member at RCC: DONE!

14. Sponsor a missionary: I have not done this. Well, not financially anyway.

15. Write a book (or...at least seriously start it): Okay,w ell this is a sort of win lose one. I did actually start it. And then the computer crashed without me backing up my stuff. So...I lost it all. And then I got bummed out about that, and never started again.

16. Read the Bible Daily: Okay let's face it, I'm a loser. I can't even read the Bible Daily. What a simple goal. I fail.

17. Memorize weekly bible verses: I did this...for a few weeks. Maybe 3. Then I quit.

18. Learn to Play the guitar: Nope. Still collecting dust in the corner.

19. Go  back to my blonde hair: Woohoo! I did this one!

20. Scrapbook my pictures: I have yet to do this. Well, it first started off that I needed the scrapbook stuff. And then I bought all that. But then I didn't have any pictures. Finally I purchased some of them. And then...well then I just ran out of excuses and shoved all the stuff in the corner....next to the guitar.

21. Don't get pregnant: Well, this did and didn't happen. But in the end...it really did happen, again. Currently I am 13 weeks pregnant. But I consider this an epic WIN! I love this baby already!

22. Read marriage books (at least 5): Well, I did read some marriage books. I don't know that I actually read any in their entirety though. So...this too is a fail.

23. Lose 20lbs: Well this didn't happen. And I'm sure over the next year I will gain lots of weight. Though hopefully not too much weight. On a happy note, I have yet to gain any weight so far this pregnancy!

24. Blog often (at least once a month): Well this one I can proudly say I have accomplished. Because of this picture blog I am (begrudgingly) doing, I have been blogging quite regularly.

25. Start writing poems again: I did write one poem. I guess that's a fail too then. Drat!

All in all, I have 17 losses and 8 wins. Not bad, I suppose!

Who am I kidding?! 17 losses?! That's terrible. But, ya know what, this has taught me a lesson. I really did set some unrealistic goals for myself. Goals that I definitely wanted to accomplish, but goals that were still very unrealistic in attaining...for myself.

I am revising my list for my 26th year. And I can guarantee there will not be 26 goals! Maybe 5, at the most.

#260: Using stuff I didn't even know I had

As I believe I mentioned before, before Danielle and Justin moved to Texas, Danielle left me several things. Mostly perishable items that needed to be refrigerated. And over the past several months, I have found many items that I don't recall taking from her.
Turns out, she came back when I wasn't home and added some more things. Well, today I used two of her ingredients in my tasty crock-pot dish. It has yet to be named. I just call it the tasty crock-pot dish.

Anyway, it totally made the dish! So thanks Danielle, for giving me things I didn't want!! You knew that one day I'd need it.

#259: Eyesore Finally Sold

There are these 2 nasty houses on the corner of the street. They are run down, falling apart, and are totally creepy. They are a huge eye sore. Not that everything around it is pretty to look at, but this corner definitely sticks out like a sore thumb.
Today, as I was walking home from IGA, I noticed that the sign in the front no longer says "FOR SALE". It says "SOLD"! Well Hallelujah! Hopefully whoever bought is going to tear those things down ASAP!

#258: My pick me up totally let me down

Today proved to be one of those days. Ya know, the days that you just can't seem to shake the sleep, when you're groggy and exhausted and can't even bare the thought of going to work. That was today. So, I decided to get a little pick me up at Starbucks. I was hoping for a yummy pumpkin spice latte. But, when I saw that they had eggnog latte's, I just couldn't resist.
I totally should have resisted. Hindsight is always 20/20. It was disgusting, actually. I still drank it because...well because I had already gotten to work before I tasted it. And I needed the caffeine! But it was rather disappointing. I won't make the mistake again.

Now all I want is some real eggnog....

#257: Sewage...

This is totally disgusting, but lately every time I walk out of the apartment, I am gagged by an overwhelming sewage smell. It is DISGUSTING! This drain is right outside our door, and it makes the whole block smell horrible!

As if I need another smell to make me nauseous and want to throw up!


On a completely unrelated note: Today is mine and Phil's 5 year anniversary! It was this day 5 years ago that he asked me to be his girlfriend. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Unfortunately we both have to work, so no celebrating for us :-(
Guess there's always next year...

#256: Sending off the application!!

Well, I finally mailed in our PBT application. Only took....oh about 4 months.

Here's the thing though: The application has actually been completed for quite some time now. Lately I have been having some doubts about this whole missions thing. Ever since we found out we are going to be having a baby, this crazy fear has just gripped me. I love the comfort of knowing my family and friends are so close and can help me with anything. I love the security of being in my own house, my own town, my own country. I love the familiarity of everything. And lately I've just been so scared to give all of that up. 

And especially after our trip to India, this fear has gripped me even more. It was amazing being there and getting to talk to those persecuted Christians. But...the reality of missions really sunk in. We are called to give our very lives for the Gospel. Am I willing to do that? Am I willing to put my family in dangerous circumstances?

Of course, we don't know where we will be going or what it will actually be like. But the truth is still that the mission field is no picnic.

Anyway, I wrestled deeply with those issues. And I told God that it would be better for us to do missions or ministry in our area. Ya know...where we know the language and the culture and we could do a better job.

But all in all, I know that this is what God is calling us to do. Or at least He is calling us to take this step of faith. I don't know what's to come. And that's okay. Because I do trust God.

And that quote that I heard from PMI still rings in my head "If it costs you nothing to convey the Gospel of Christ, then people can conclude that it means nothing."

And I don't want people to conclude that by the way I am living my life. And ya know what, what else are we here for, but to glorify God and tell the world of his amazing love and salvation.

So I mailed it! 

And now we wait.

#255: Hanging out with Friends....

This evening I went to hang out with my real life missionary friend, Jenna, and also my hilarious celiac friend, Kristin. We had a delicious meal that Jenna prepared, and we got to enjoy just spending the evening together. It was fabulous.

And...as you probably noticed...that's not actually a photo of us. I always have every intention of taking a good picture of us together, but then I never do. So, instead I decided to just paint one. I'm not sure why we are all naked, other than the fact that it's easier to draw stick people, clothes don't really fit on stick people. Jenna is wearing a purple scarf though, so at least she is being a little more modest.
And also...my stomach doesn't really look like that. Yet. Just wanted to add it for effect. Haha!!