Merry Christmas!

Hello friends and family!
Merry Christmas!
Mark and I are enjoying our holiday in the good ole' south! I'm drinking so much sweet tea . . . and boy is it good!
Baby Stenberg is doing just fine too - we saw the doctor on Wednesday before we left and got a great report.
We'll post photos and more updates when we return home to Iowa.
Until then . . . have a WONDERFULLY special Christmas.

Correction

Too many comments about my forgetfulness . . .

Yes, there were 10 shows of "Christmas Came One Night" - not eight as misspoken in the previous post.

Busy week

It is a busy week. Cornerstone Church is putting on EIGHT shows for the Christmas production this week. It is an amazing production - don't miss it if you are in or around the area.

But it makes for a very busy week. And no major blog news.

Check back soon.

Weird things . . .

So there are some weird things going on these days. I'll explain:

1) I think I'm about to save about $30 per month in my budgeted blow fund. I just can't seem to get excited about coffee. Usually, I stop by a local shop at least once a week for a Praline Delight Latte and drive through starbucks at least once a week for some sweet delight there . . . but the last week or so, those just don't seem appealing.

2) Strange food aversions - (see coffee listed above) as well as the smell of cheerios (who knew they smelled so strong?)

3) An odd metallic taste in my mouth - all the time. Makes stuff taste weird - except sweet stuff. I don't have any problem with sweet stuff.

4) I'm SUPER tired.

If you haven't guessed by now . . . . . Mark and I are going to be parents! I hear that all these things going on are quite normal for pregnancy. Normal is good. I'm thankful for normal!
Baby Stenberg will make his or her appearance sometime around July 1.

Some of the suggested names so far: Deranne, Nathan (Lubinus), Mikaela - all kinds of friends suggesting that the baby should carry their names! Too funny. We are not even close to thinking seriously about names! But we enjoy the suggestions.

You can keep us in your prayers as we are still early on in the pregnancy. We did have an early ultrasound about a week ago and heard a nice strong heartbeat and heard that everything looks "fantastic." So we are happy with that.

God is good and faithful!
Read Psalm 145!
He is faithful! He opens His hand and satisfies the desires of all things!

Owen's Dinner Party

We had a fun gathering last night for some old Turkey friends to meet Owen Hammett! Tara and Owen are in Iowa this week visiting, so we made some plans to meet them for dinner. Mark, Marie, Ben and I hopped in the car and headed East to Coralville to meet Amy Jo, Holly, Tara, Gail (Tara's mom) and Owen for dinner. It was really fun to see old friend and to meet sweet Owen.

Here's the Turkey crew with Owen:

Here's Amy Jo and Owen:

Ryan, we didn't miss you one bit.

OK, so we did a little.

But we enjoyed catching up with each other and what a fun reason to do it -

that Owen is a cutie pie!

Update: soreness from TRX

Well, finally on day three after TRX training, I could walk normally down steps. But oh no! Tuesday is coming again soon. And I'll be sore all over again!

TRX fitness training

So yeah, I am taking a new class at Ames Parks and Rec. It uses the TRX fitness training system. And yeah, we do that move shown above. CRAZY. It is only one month. Will I be able to make it? We started today. I was wobbly on my legs for about an hour after class was finished! Oh my word.

Married One Year!

On September 15, Mark and I celebrated ONE YEAR of wedded bliss! OK, so as you all know, the first year is rarely bliss. BUT, we can truly say that God has been faithful to us, giving us more grace and more patience and more love for one another than we ever knew imaginable. We're still learning how to serve one another. We're still learning how to communicate our frustrations and hurts. But most importantly, we are learning to love each other more and more and more. We have always believed that God did this - brought us together for His glory and purpose. As we sat together over a wonderful dinner and "debriefed" this past year, we came to the same conclusion - our story is God's story. He has given us to one another to love, to encourage, to grow, and above all to honor Him. It has been a wild ride! And we can't wait to see what this next year holds!

Mike and Angie Mowery

It has been a really busy wedding season here in Iowa. Here are a few sneak peeks for Mike and Angie Mowery . . . married Saturday, August, 11.

Brad and Tara

I'm a bit behind on pictures . . . . but here's a sneak peek for Brad and Tara Hofer.

The groom sees his bride for the first time . . .

They were so happy and excited! Truly . . . full of joy and the knowledge of God's sweet gift!

I love this picture!

She was so excited to say that Brad was going to be all hers!

Beautiful bride, beautiful decorations . . . . a wonderful day!

More to come Mr. and Mrs. Hofer. Soon!

Tagged

My sister tagged me. Here we go!

The Rules:
1. Post the rules
2. List 8 random facts or habits about yourself
3. If you are tagged, then you must Post the rules and list 8 random facts or habits about yourself.
4. After you post, tag 8 people and let them know they must read your blog for the rules.

My Eight

1. I am afraid of birds.

2. I also lock doors when I close them. (My sis and I share this habit.)

3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to eat a peppermint while drinking Sonic Dr. Peppers. Not just any Dr. Pepper will do. It must be from Sonic.

4. I have a red strawberry mark on the underside of my left forearm. My mom says it used to be behind my ear when I was a baby.

5. I just got back from Kids Camp today and these random facts might not be making much sense.

6. In just one month and 6 days it will be my ONE YEAR wedding anniversary!

7. I love to blog.

Tagging: Christi Harper, Marci Harper, Elizabeth Johnson, Jodi Pribyl, Angie Shepherd (no blog, but tagging her anyway!), Catie Blunt, Mark Seekins, and Christi Ramares

A preview for Courtney

I had a fun family shoot on Wednesday evening with Courtney, Joel, and Katie. Courtney and Katie are surprising their mom with photos for her birthday! It was fun!

Family visit

My sister and Dad were here in between the two weeks of VBS. It was a fun weekend. We went to Clear Lake and had a nice relaxing weekend there. We also celebrated (a few times) Angie B's 31st birthday. It was great to see them.


Here are a few pics from their time in Iowa.
We took the boat over to downtown Clear Lake for lunch on Saturday and passed the sail boat races.

Sweet husband

Angie B

Dad

Angie had a nickname growing up AND a horse named after that nickname . . . Angelina! So I made her stop and take a picture in front of this restaurant!

Sunset on Clear Lake

TWO Weeks of VBS

First ends today (July 18).

Next one begins on Sunday.

Hence the lack of blogging and non-returned phone calls.

Be back soon.

Gladys and Harold

On Wednesday, July 4th, I had the honor to be a part of a very fun and special wedding. My friend Marcia's mom married her sweetheart Harold. It was such a sweet wedding for two people who have found love again! How cute are they?

Crazy Squirrel

The other day Mark said, "Mandy, come look at this crazy squirrel. It is up on the bird feeder (yes we have a bird feeder) hanging upside down." Of course I grabbed my camera. Look at this! Click on the photo to see the album.

Crazy Squirrel

Mike and Angie

I had such a fun time on Saturday shooting these engagement shots for Mike and Angie! Enjoy.

The Stenbergs
The Stenbergs and The newlyweds
The Bradley Brothers

Outdoor Wedding

Yukiko and Mitchell Ho were married on Saturday, May 5 at Reiman Gardens. It was a beautiful wedding!

Marie Nesbitt - one of my most favorite ladies in all the world.














Reiman Gardens in Ames set up for the wedding.
































the wedding

Things I Like . . . .

I borrowed this post idea from Catie Blunt! Thanks Catie for the inspiration.

I LIKE . . .


Mark Stenberg

pajamas

eating a peppermint while drinking a SONIC Dr. Pepper

calling my sister to talk about nothing

a lazy Saturday

taking pictures

praline and cream lattes

mcdonald's ice cream

daffodils

puppies

planting flowers

working in the yard with Mark

things to be nice and tidy

the smell of rain (especially after a spring rain)

text messages from my dad

snail mail cards and letters

reconnecting with old friends

softball

shopping at old navy

hanging out with friends

playing games and cards

traveling

visits from my mom and Jerry (they were in Iowa this week!)

I'm sure there is more. But that's a good start.

maybe I inspired someone else to make a list. It is fun!

Latest Photo Shoot

Here's some pics from the latest MandyBee Photography photo shoot.

Darcy and Drew (twins) and Ashton

My absolutely incredible sacrificing husband

So, here's the story.

Mark has a cat. He's had Lewis for seven years. Lewis is a good cat really. He doesn't require a lot of attention from me at least. But he does like to be wherever Mark is in the house. Early on in marriage, I did set a boundry that Lewis could not sleep in or on our bed. So, he didn't and got over that relatively quickly.

I've had cats my whole life. There was Snowball, Frisky, the one that had kittens on my bed in the middle of the night (can't remember its name), Tasha (born on my bed in the middle of the night), Angie's cat Sissy, a few others that I can't remember thier names, and last but not least Callie. The cats have lived both inside and outside. They have slept in my bed.

BUT, when I left to live in Turkey, I had to give away my kitty. Callie went to live with the Smiths in Ruston. What a sweet family to take my kitty. So, I've been pet free (and thus pet hair over everything free) for six years now. I never recognized the fact that my pets might bother other people. I never thought any of them shed hair at all, to be truthful.

Then I married this incredible man who happened to have a cat.
And that cat sheds hair.
And that makes me nearly insane.

We've talked for months now about how much I can't stand the cat hair. I'm constantly rolling the carpet and my clothes and furniture with lint rollers. All the while, I'm wishing I could just relax and not let it bother me so much. But I just can't.

A few months back Mark said, "Do you think we should try to find another home for Lewis?"

WHAT????????

I could not even imagine being the reason that someone would give up a pet. I did not want that to happen. (Mostly, I didn't want it.)

But fast forward to discussions about kids in our home one day in the future and those kids learning to crawl and them getting cat hair all over their hands and then putting their hands in their mouth . . .

And it became MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE. AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

STILL, I could not imagine asking Mark to give up the cat. But he decided that it would be the right thing to do. He began asking around, "interviewing" really to see if anyone would be a good fit for Lewis.

Enter our friend Ben.

Ben is a single guy. He doesn't mind cats and even already "knows" Lewis.

So, last night after dinner, on our date night, Mark and I loaded up Lewis and all the paraphanalia that goes along with a pet, and took Lewis to his new home.

It was slightly traumatic.

For Lewis. For Mark. For me.

Afterwards I said to my incredible husband:
"I'm pretty sure that besides Jesus and my parents, I cannot think of anyone ever making a sacrifice for me on this level solely out of love. Thank you."

He is a good man.

I am a clean freak.

We only make it work because of love and all the sacrifice that Jesus shows us.

We are all sinners. We all have hang ups that must just make God so frustrated with us. But He still chose to sacrifice His Son, His true love, for us.

Thank you Mark for showing me Jesus.

A work in progress . . .

So, I did it. I made a MandyBee Photography website! It is a work in progress. And I am by no means a professional . . . Apologies to all those "real" photographers out there (Kelly Moore and Linda Spratt and Josiah Kennedy to name a few), but this is just my little attempt to see what happens.

I'll be happy to take comments and input. But remember, this is a template that I do not have full control over. Some things can't change. Others can and should!

Give it a look!
www.mandybeephotography.com

Otherwise, all is well in Iowa. Spring is beginning here - finally. Looks like we'll get rain this week - bring on the flowers! My tulips and daffodils are peeking out of the ground and that sure is fun.

Would love to hear from you. Drop me a comment or two!

Miss Bailey

So, while Mark and I were visiting in Turkey, I got to do a photo shoot! These are some of Miss Bailey's "one year" photos!


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

FUN FUN FUN