Acreage Update & House Painting!!!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

This past week/weekend has been very busy and exciting for Charlie & I.  On Wednesday evening we met with the owner of the acreage we have been looking at purchasing.  We had a nice chat with each other, agreed on a purchase price & signed a contract!  We are very excited and looking forward to moving as soon as our house in town sells.

On Friday, my parents, Charlie's mom, Jasmyn, and my friend Bethany all came over and helped us get the inside of our house ready to sell.  We touched up paint in the house, put up remaining trim, painted two doors, and did some cleaning. 

Then on Saturday, we had quite the crew come over and help us paint the exterior of our house: My parents, Charlie's parents, Kasondra & Jeff, Kelsie, Jasmyn, Jamaica, Ryan, Jacob, and our friends Josh & Jennifer!  We had a great time working together, and boy did we get a lot done.  From scrapping paint off the garage, to spraying the house, to brushing the trim, to spraying the gutters, and other misc. jobs we had a very busy day.  Anyways, I'll quit jibber jabbering and get to the fun part...the PICTURES!!! Oh and by the way if you happen to know someone who may be looking to purchase a home in Sioux Center, our house is now FOR SALE!

Our House BEFORE (all taped up & ready for painting)

Kelsie & Jamaica (with her silly goggles) scrapping the garage

Mom, Kels & Jazz working on scrapping the side of the garage

Dad & Kels scrapping away some more

Kasondra, Jeff, Jazz & Char getting the paint sprayer ready to go

Charlie running the sprayer & his dad and mom following up to brush in any runs

 Dad Z. & Jeff working on painting the front of the house

Sisters...we always have a good time together

The moms painting the side of the garage

Jazz & I working on the garage

Charlie on top of the peak getting the high parts (no fear of heights)

Charlie & Dad checking out the changes so far (they look pretty happy)

Jeff busy painting up front

Checking out all the hard work to the front of the house so far

Jeff manning the sprayer with dad in the back following up

On to the shed & garage...Boe kept pretty entertained all day

Our friend Josh working on trim of whatever you call that part of the house

Josh's wife Jennifer trimming the windows

It does not look too safe with Jeff on top of that peak

(I just had to walk away)

Charlie & his dad getting a game plan for spraying the gutters

Everyone busy at work

Kasondra also working on trimming the windows

Jamaica found some neighbor friends she kept busy with all day

Jamaica & her neighbor friends

Jorja & Jamaica playing out back

Yes I did paint too :)

Jazz & dad painting the garage

Josh & Charlie

Again...

Our good friends Josh & Jennifer

Kelsie busy at work painting the garage door (I love it)

And the final product...the AFTER PICTURE!!!

Up Close...

Grillin' out after a long busy day

Kasondra & Jeff

Bonfire after Supper

Sydney & Jorja (cousins)

End of another school year...

Wow I was just realizing that it has been quite awhile since I have blogged.  Life has been busy for us as I'm sure it has been for many of you with the school year coming to an end and the start of summer right around the corner.

Charlie just got back from being in Esterville all week where he attended training on Active Shooting.  It seemed like he really enjoyed himself and learned a lot from the week.  I kept myself plenty busy while he was gone so that I didn't get too lonely.  I spent a lot of time with my family, was able to attend 2 of my little sisters school concerts (singing & orchestra), got to go on some nice long runs with my sister Kelsie (to get ready for the Tulip Festival Road Race), got the lawn mowed with the help of my sisters (who had to come over and start it for me since I couldn't get the dang thing going-thanks Kasondra & Jazz!) lol, I was also able to get some school work done and much, much more.  So,  needless to say we've both been keeping plenty busy.

This coming Friday we anticipate painting the outside of our house.  We are looking to put our home on the market in the upcoming month or so as we have found an acreage we are looking to purchase.  We have made several updates to the inside of our home, but the outside is kind of ugly (in my opinion).  Our house is a yellowish color with a brown trim (it just looks kind of old).  So, we thought maybe by painting the outside of our house there would be a better road appeal and potentially more people interested in taking a look.   We are going to be painting the house a shade of green (kind of a sage color), and then we're thinking about doing a tan colored trim with burgundy colored doors (I was actually able to get the doors painted this past week while Charlie was gone and they already look better).  But other than painting the exterior of our house, I think we'll be pretty close to putting our house on the market.  We have some smaller jobs to take care of like putting some final pieces of trim up that i recently painted, fixing up paint on some of the walls that got dinked inside and some other minor cosmetic stuff.  We are looking forward to spending some time with our family while we work on painting and if the weather is nice we are hoping to grill at our house Saturday with those that were able to come and help us.

Well, I hope you all have great week ahead, and Congratulations to my sisters Jasmyn on her high school graduation this coming Thursday!

Friday!!!

Yeah...it's finally Friday.  I've been so ready for Friday all week, and now it's finally here and almost already half way over.  Anyways, Charlie laid down to take a quick hour nap before he has to work the night shift tonight, and I just got done packing for my trip to Hampton, IA this weekend so I thought I'd blog real quick. 

We once again had a busy, but nice day together.  Charlie worked until 3:00 this morning and then woke up at about 8 to head over and help a buddy's dad out in the field.  Since I really wanted to spend time with him being that we had opposite schedules once again this week, and since I am going to be gone singing all weekend, I knew the only way I'd get to spend some time with him is if I'd go ride along.  So, that is what I did :)  I really don't mind riding along in the tractor with him, I actually enjoy it.  It's kind of nice because you're stuck in one tiny place and all you really have to do is..."talk"  my favorite lol ;)  Let me tell you though, they really do not make tractors very comfortable for a second rider.  I think I was sitting on an arm rest or something which was very hard and I couldn't keep my but on the dang thing for the life of me.  I kept bouncing around and sliding down.  Oh well what do you do right? 

Then after helping disc/field cultivate for awhile, we quick ran some errands around town, and then came home so I could get packed, and so Charlie could get a quick nap in.  I'm looking forward to this weekend but at the same time I'm a little nervous.  Tomorrow afternoon I will be speaking with a room full or girls along with two of my other sisters (Kelsie & Jasmyn) on the topic of "purity" (Kansas & Kasondra are going to be leading another session).  I have never felt like I was blessed with the ability of public speaking, but when the people putting the event on asked if we would speak, we couldn't say no.  When God asks you to do something, you don't argue, you don't question Him,  you just listen right?  Anyways that's the way I feel about it.  So, please keep me/us in your prayers as we share what God lays on our hearts this weekend.  Then later tomorrow evening we will be sharing in concert with the community.  I am looking forward to this concert as we will be sharing some of the new songs of our our newest album which is releasing in THREE DAYS!!!   And then on Sunday morning, we will also be sharing a praise and worship set with a church down there.  I am excited for the weekend and to be used by God.  I have learned to put my trust in Him and just know that if I am faithful He will use me and work through me in ways I can't even imagine. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week-enjoy the beautiful weather!

~Jamie~

CD RELEASE...May 9, 2011!!!

I am excited to share with all of you that...Our CD's ARRIVED in the mail today!!! 

We have been working on putting these CD's together for some time now, so it is very exciting to finally see and hear the final project.  I am so happy with how things turned out and sound.  I truly feel that God has blessed this project and I hope you will see that this is evident as you listen to the songs.  It is our hope and prayer that if you know Christ and have a personal relationship with him that you will be encouraged in your walk with Him through the music, and if you may not know who Christ is or have a personal relationship with Him, we pray that these songs will touch you in such a way that you would like to know more about who He is and how you too can have a one-on-one relationship with Him.

We thank you all for your love, support & prayers over the past years and we ask that you please continue to pray for us as we follow His calling in our lives. 

You can purchase our CD's online at our website:  http://www.trueemotionmusic.com/ (Store Page) starting May 9, 2011!  We hope you truly feel blessed by the music and lyrics that you hear and we would love to hear what you think. 

"Change That Heart"

-CD with Tracks/A Band-

"Be Still"

-Acapella CD-



~Jamie~

Eventful Weekend...

Wow, I feel like so much has happened since I last updated our blog , and my sisters so kindly reminded me tonight that I don't post often (geesh I just started give me a break) so I thought I better get on that.

This past Thursday evening, Charlie and I headed to West Des Moines for the weekend.  I had to attend an IALA (Iowa Association of Legal Assistants) Seminar there all day on Friday, and I was able to talk Charlie to coming with me for the weekend.  It was so nice how his three days off landed so perfectly! 

So anyways, I woke up Thursday morning, got ready for work, ran around the house like a crazy women trying to get ready for work, eat breakfast quickly and pack for the weekend all at the same time.  I was pretty successful, but before I knew it, it was 7:55 a.m. and I had to be at work by 8:00 a.m.  I already felt late as I am usually at work by 7:50 a.m., but oh well at least I only live a couple blocks away from work.  So I hop in my vehicle, and yep...go figure...the car won't start.  Seriously...the lights weren't left on, there was enough gas in the vehicle, and everything seemed normal to me.  Well, I didn't have time to kill so I called my Mom right away and asked if she could pick me up from my house right to drop me off at work.  Of course she did (She's Super Mom-you're great mom thanks for always helping me out last minute).  So anyways, I made it to work.  My boss so kindly offered to drop me off at the clinic that afternoon as I had to receive allergy shots that day, and then my mom (once again saved my day) and picked me up from the clinic and dropped me back off at the office.  I got home at 4:30 p.m. that day, Charlie and I pack some last minute things, and then off we headed.  Well not exactly, we made it to the stop sign only a couple feet away from the end of our driveway before I said, "Umnm Hunny...something is not right here.  I don't have any breaks."  By this time it is 5:20.  We pull back on the driveway, pull the front tire off, I pump the breaks a couple of times and sure enough Charlie sees brake fluid flying everywhere.  We quick call Arnold Motor (who advises they close at 5:30) and pick up a new brake line.  My wonderful so handy husband fixes the line and off we go.  We arrived in Des Moines around 10:00 p.m., unpacked our bags, grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to bed.

The next morning I got up bright and early, headed to my seminar and attended several courses until 4:30 p.m.  Boy did these classes make me feel like I need to go to school.  Everything just seemed so over my head, but they're supposed to be learning opportunities right?  Oh and guess what else also happened?  At our luncheon during the seminar, I was presented the Scholarship Award winner.  This was a $500 scholarship and I am also to attend the NALA (National Association of Legal Assistance) Seminar this July in Dallas, TX.  I was shocked to have won this Award.  Then after the seminar that day, I met up with Charlie and we headed over to his/our aunt and uncle's house (who live in Polk City).  From there we hit the golf course.  Charlie and his uncle Garald had fun playing a round of golf (even though it was awfully windy) and his aunt Karen and I enjoyed chatting and catching up while watching the guys play.  After golf, we all went to "The Machine Shed" which is a restaurant in Des Moines, and we enjoyed some dinner while catching up with each other a little more.  They were so sweet and gave us a bouquet of flowers and a card that evening as we were celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversary.

After supper Charlie and I headed to our hotel for the night.  We got to the hotel, I opened the door, and there inside our room were some beautiful roses from my wonderful husband.  While I was at the seminar, I guess he checked into the hotel early (we switched hotels) and bought some flowers that were sitting in the room when we got there.  We just enjoyed the rest of the night together watching a movie and relaxing in the hot tub.  It was a nice break away from home and work and just time to relax and enjoy each other's company.

We left Des Moines at about noon the next day and went straight to Sioux Falls, SD as my/our nephew Kedren was celebrating his 2nd birthday that evening.  We just couldn't miss his party, so we hurried back in made it in time to celebrate with family and friends.  It sure seemed like he had a fun birthday...between all the candy, cake, pizza and presents he was a happy boy. 

So needless to say, between the car troubles, keeping busy at my seminar all day Friday, winning the scholarship award, spending time with our aunt & uncle and celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversary, we had a very eventful busy/fun/and special weekend!

The flowers my husband surprised me with when we arrived at our hotel

The flowers & card from our Uncle & Aunt (Garald & Karen)