Normal days . . .

Well, Deanna fussed at me for not posting. So, for anyone who cares, let me re-cap the past week or so.

Saturday night (March 18) we threw a birthday party for Ben Bradley. He turned 28. It was a fun night - full of Ben trivia, games about Ben, cake with Ben's favorite color on it . . . well, you get the idea. It was all about Ben. Here's a photo (that's my Mark behind the Ben mask) . . . and a link to more pics if you know Ben and care to look.
http://photos.yahoo.com/missmandybee


On the first day of spring, it snowed in Iowa. There were 6 inches of snow on the ground on the second day of spring.

I drove to Iowa City (about 1hr 45min away) Monday afternoon to spend the night with Angie Shepherd. Yep, Shepherd came to Iowa and it wasn't even to see me! She was here for a job interview. You can pray for her as she seeks out what God wants for her in life. She'll finish seminary in May and is really trying to figure out where she will work after that. I wouldn't mind at all if it was Iowa, but only if that is where God wants her.

Yesterday I had lunch with Darlene Lubinus. It was wonderful to sit down with her and catch up. It is weird that she lives here now. I mean, good weird, but weird. Tim moved into his office today. We share a wall. CRAZY.

I had a wonderful date night with Mark last night! God is so good to me. He has answered so many prayers about this relationship. Mark is a great balance for me and is a wonderful leader for us.

We have a Time Out for Parents tonight at Cornerstone. Want to know how good I've gotten at delegation? I'm not even coming! I've given all responsibility to my two interns. They have my cell number if they need me. Isn't that wonderful?

Tomorrow is our next to last Upward game day. We'll have our Awards Night Ceremony next Sunday (April 2 - Mark's 35 birthday by the way).

I'll miss our final game day next weekend. I'm headed to Kansas City with Mark and his family for the weekend. I have not met one of his brothers and his wife and have only spent a little time with the youngest Stenberg and his wife. It will be a fun time I'm sure.

So, that's about it for me. Tired of reading? Feel caught up? Thanks.

My dad's wonderful job!

Hey friends. My dad loves his job. He gets to do so much fun stuff. For example, this past week he was on hand as officials caught and moved 2 mama black bears and their four cubs from land close to the hunting camp to another parish in an effort to repopulate that area. These little guys are so cute!



My dad cracks me up with stories of his work. Mostly I laugh when he talks about his hard day with the nap right in the middle of the day! I'm so happy that he is so happy and I'm thankful for the Maddens who take such good care of my dad as he works for them. The first photo here is my dad with one of the mama bears. The second is John Madden with three of the cubs.

Night on the Town

Hello friends. Mark treated me to a wonderful night out last night. The Lion King is playing in Des Moines. We've had tickets since November, so this has been in the works for quite some time. Mark invited me over for dinner before the show. I didn't know what I was in for or how much work he had gone to for me. I walked in to a table set with flowers and candles! It was really nice. He had been working on dinner since 2p and it was all delicious. Yep, he's a keeper!


We went to the show with friends Andrew and Holly. Holly is expecting twins in May.

It was a really nice evening. The show was great. The company was even better!

Bailey Ann Johnson

She's here! Princess Bailey Ann Johnson has arrived! Billy and Elizabeth are the proud parents of a 9 pound 11oz baby girl. Mom and baby are doing well. Bailey was born around 2:00p our time, 10:00p in her world.

Go here to see pics of Bailey . . . SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
www.dropshots.com/billyjamesjohnson

OK, a little clarification for my friend Becky . . . . . THIS is the real man in my life. While "pink shirt guy" is indeed a super fun guy . . . . . Mark is who has stolen my heart. Seems that my earlier blogging of our relationship has been pushed to the bottom of my blog and new friends don't get the chance to "meet" him. So, here you go . . . . .

Mark and I have been together for 4 months as of this coming Friday. He is an incredible man. He is a servant. He is stinkin' hilarious. He is an amazing leader in our relationship. He likes to dance! We have a great time together. We are learning more and more about one another AND about God because of the time we spend together.

Yeah, we need to take a new picture. This one is from this past Christmas. I'll work on that.

Life is busy here in Central Iowa. God is at work at Cornerstone. Upward Basketball is going great. D6 (Wednesday night) stuff is strong. Summer is quickly approaching which means VBS and day camp and camp and day trips and a new add for me personally . . . . weekends at the lake with Mark and his family! Yippee!

So, that's me in a nutshell. Drop me a line to say hello. I love to hear from you all.


"

Pink Shirt Day

So my friend/co-worker Ben and I were dressed alike today at work. It was a little bit planned. But funny nonetheless. Ben and I first met when we were both living overseas in Turkey. Now we both work at Cornerstone Church. He's a super funny, smart, SINGLE guy . . . . . Anyone????

Happy Valentine's Day!

OK, so for the first time in many many years, I actually wore red on Valentine's day. I did without the traditional BLACK clothing. One small step for Mandy B, one giant step for single women everywhere!

I worked at a local florist doing deliveries for them. It was so much fun. I loved seeing the reaction of ladies (and a few gents) as they received flowers and goodies from someone who loves them. It was a neat reminder of the spot created in each of us that longs for belonging and love. Sadly, many people don't know that it can only be filled by our Creator, and that only He can completely fill your soul with love for another person because He first loved us.

After working all day giving others flowers, I was certainly thrilled to be showered with a dozen reds of my own . . . . Thanks to my very own Valentine sweetheart!

For the queen

So, today I talked on the phone to my friend Elizabeth in Central Asia and she made me promise to update my blog. Here's a picture of us from days gone by. I don't really have too much to say, but I am true to my word, so here goes.

Elizabeth and Billy are expecting their first baby in a few weeks. Well, we all hope it is quicker than a few weeks, but none of us more than Liz! It is very exciting to know that Billy James Johnson will be a dad. And believe me, that baby girl has him wrapped already! You'll do a great job Billy and Elizabeth. Your little princess is already loved by lots of people!

I'm getting over a cold this week. It took me off guard and put me down for several days. (See how I'm reaching for stuff to blog . . . . )

We have our second game day for Upward Basketball tomorrow. There are 224 players involved this year. It is so much fun. Last week went really well. It is neat to see so many families from outside our church community involved in Upward. It is a cool ministry for our church.

Mark and I are doing great. He is really a gift from God in my life. We've been "dating" now for three months and each day is better than the last!

So, there you go. A little glimpse into my life. Happy Liz?

Perspectives

I am in week three of the fifteen week course Perspectives, being offered here at Cornerstone this semester. It is a great class so far. Jeff Lewis and Mike Stroope have both been guest speakers and have both taken me back to the days when God first introduced me to the idea of His plan for the nations. I have been challenged again to think about God's passion for His name to be known in all the earth. I've been challenged to think about the part God has laid out for me to play. Yesterday, Mike Stroope challenged us to think about the kingdom and this King we choose to follow. Wow. Do I daily put my "yes" on the table for whatever He has in store? Nope, I don't. I want to. I want to believe that I want to. So much of my time with God is retro-active - thanking Him for a good day or blessing, asking Him to fix something I've screwed up, asking Him to forgive an attitude or wipe away worry. I felt challenged yesterday to reconsider my daily walk with Christ, the King. He deserves my first, my best, not my leftovers. He is worthy of my concentration and all my efforts.

Good stuff. Good challenges. Oh I want to follow this King and please Him!

Finally, the bride and groom

Here you go friends . . . . BIG thanks to Kelly Moore for sharing these photos from Tiff's wedding! Here they are . . . . Mr. and Mrs. Chris Kinnison.

Birthday Flowers

One dozen yellow roses . . . . . NICE! Score one for Stenberg!

Seriously . . . .

Check out my sister's blog. She is a great story teller!

www.angjoyb.blogspot.com

Yeah, if you'll notice, this is my second blog for today. I really am working. It is just hard to concentrate cause it is my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let the celebration begin!

Woo hoo! I love my birthday! Really, I do. Before I ever left home this morning I had text messages and phone calls wishing me a happy day. When I got to my coffee shop, the workers said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY." My sweet friend Jen had stopped in and purchased my morning coffee for me and left a card. There have been well wishers, gifts, an overseas phone call, flowers AND a cake - all before 11:00AM. And there's more to come!

Thanks to those who have called, messaged, blogged, and thought about me so far! Bring it on!

MY BIRTHDAY

Just fair warning to everyone out there in blogger land . . . .

My birthday is Friday, January 13.

Tiffany's wedding

So, somehow I ended up without any pictures of the bride and groom! But these photos were taken at Tiffany Webb and Chris Kinnison's wedding on December 30 in Alexandria. It was so much fun to see old friends - Chris and Karen, Angie S, Luke and Donna, Kelly Moore, and Mike and Mary. The wedding was WONDERFUL and sweet, just like our gal Tiffany. Mike performed the ceremony and of course let me know that he was "running a special" that day on weddings. He said he would certainly consider "two for one." I told him that would just have to wait a bit longer . . . . I'll get some photos from Kelly M and add them to the site for you guys to see the beautiful bride. It was a really fun night. Wish you could have all been there.

With all due respect . . . . . here is the front of Angie's gingerbread house. Please notice the artful tree in the front, the pretzel fence around the house, and the other whimsical amenities! Way to go Angie B. By the way, she's begun her own blog . . . . angjoyb.blogspot.com

Gingerbread house or personality test?

So, on the eve of Christmas Eve, mom, Jerry, Angie B and I had a competition. We designed, baked, and decorated gingerbread houses. It was really fun. But the houses REALLY showed our individuality.

Here's one photo of my house and Angie's house. Any guesses as to whose house is whose???

Suffice it to say I took a lot of ribbing for my "perfect little house." I think it looks mighty fine.



Here's Jerry's OUThouse! He did a great job!
Can you see the moon cut out of the front door?

And here's mom's adobe/pueblo/log cabin. See how our personalities came out? We have laughed and laughed at these houses. Well, mostly they have all laughed at mine. I know, I am completely insane in my perfectionist dysfunction. But come on, isn't that why you all love me???????????????

Merry Christmas!

Christmas PJs

Here's my sis and I in our Christmas pjs - a traditional gift from our mom. Merry Christmas!

Home for Christmas

Hello friends! I'm enjoying this whole blog thing. I've tried others, but it seems like this one is best . . . . so, hopefully I'll learn more as we go and keep it up to date.

I made it home yesterday after WAY too many hours in the Atlanta airport. My dad, Angie B and I had our traditional day together shopping and eating at Red Lobster. Dad saves all his shopping till Angie and I get home to help. It is a fun thing we started after I got home from overseas.

It is nearly 1:30 now and I have not even bothered to get dressed today. I love that about Christmas - sitting around in pjs, wrapping presents, eating mom's cooking . . . . . mmmmmmmmmmmm. Home for the holidays.

So, I'm here till December 31. There are some family events scheduled, but mostly the plan includes lots of down time. I'm looking forward to it!

I'm also looking forward to Mark's arrival next Wednesday. I know, there are lots of days between now and then, Christmas Day included. But hey, I can still look ahead to next week!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Mark and I took this photo at Lake Robbins Ballroom - the finest dance floor in Iowa!