Easter weekend

with my sister home from colorado we had a jamped-packed weeknd. two trips to red wing to play games...eat bj goods.....laugh.....etc. the g8 fundraising has begun for our 2nd annual mex. missions trip in aug....BAKE SALE at church for the play/services. we raised great mula. andy and i went over to batzlaffs (used to live with them) for dutch blitz with jordan/chelcy and sara/kyle... it was awesome. andy and i have been on a animal cracker kick..so he thought since he was the oldest and all, to throw them everywhere, put them in shoes, on the driveway, and cars.....hilarious!!!! another pix is of andy and I with the arnolds....dear friends of ours....with their son, coop-digity....at church. it was a great wknd, ending at the finches on sund. night for qt with my youth girls and amzing family friends!

paybacks

so everytime andy gets my camera, he thinks he needs to be creative with his many hair styles. first up, pony tail. all i know is i am married to a fashion icon! wow!!!!! he is on is way to dreads. scary folks. love it. so this is a payback to my husband for taking 20 pix in a row on sat night of himself......

Spring brings NEW

I love this time of year! why? not for the leaf-less trees, brown grass, ugg boots yet..but I love change. longer daylight! inspiration across the board! I have been painting a lot, here is a simple piece I did last week.... also, I love being in the hair/fashion industry in the spring!!!! more blonde! more new styles. here are some beauties.......Mrs. Saxton herself, and Mandi/Mikayla....love it. good times with my blondes......

Other than those changes, Andy and I are doing great. We are going to take the step for 2008 with our finances, and jump on board with all the other extreme peeps out there and do it the "david ramsey way" hollar. Cheers for living sacrifically and going against the grain....prayers from my fellow bloggers for encouragement when Christy sees the deals. I am going to need it!

jenpachi

we had a great bday for andy this year. we went to dinner with a great crew....amazing friends! thanks for coming everyone. timms ended up getting sick, we missed them....celebrated with them the following week! andy had some great gifts. and was positive we were going to kallies' i actually successfully SURPRISED him. it was great! i cant' believe this was our 6th bday celebration....it seems like way more......life without andy would be rather lonely and dull. love you apie. thanks for the support and laughter on a daily basis.

josie/laura and i at retreat.

29 in 08

Quelf is the new fav for the cass home and G8. random and fun!

Retreat ladies. at lake geneva.

andy is 29! what a story....lets just say here is andys cake! happy birthday babe!

candles and friends.

liz + amy = beautiful souls. recently, my two great friends came down to rochester to experience some amazingness. we of course did some hair at tres francoise...shopped...grabbed starbux....church(mn teen challenge was there)AMAZING! we also dined at a local fav: SONTES' it is tapas style food. the atmosphere, food (all organic) service etc is exceptional! we were there for over 3 hours sharing conversations, stories, and LIFE! it was much needed. thanks girls for coming! love you both.


Candle Light Dinner is my FAVORITE. every yr our women's ministry puts on one amzing event.....it was held in the gathering area this yr! i had the opportunity to be on the planning team, which for me meant organizing the layout of the room, and designing the stage. with the assistance of my good pal, marilyn we made one awesome set! our theme for the event was "CHOCOLATE". 250 women came this yr. i had a blast...i also hosted a table! it was a blast....one of the pix is with my table ladies. osborns, shel/colleen, rosemary and lori! good peeps.

g8

some gate shots......we recently had to say goodbye to another student...RUSS. he and his fam moved to kentucky...the students, leaders are missing him much. he made a big difference at the g8 and rochester as a whole...and we believe that he will continue to do so! another pix. of katie, willingly volunteering herself to be apart of a very serious game...jk. its amazing what a couple pair of nylons can do. love it. just a plug for all of you to check out our newly designed site: http://tg8.org

been awhile

lots of change. memories....it has been an awesome month for a and I.......retreat. new job...birthday...the g8 here are some pix of retreat at Lake Geneva Switzerland....here is the business card andy and I designed for the salon. love it.. check out the web: http://tresfrancoisesalon.com

windchill

ok for all of you who have never corrected me....i am offically mad at you!
last night, i stopped at trés francoise to drop something off...i was sharing how crazy cold it was this wknd in alex. you know " -47 below WINDSHIELD" after stating this...my friend mary was having a hay day ... laughing.... "christy, its windchill!" "what" i said.... while Traci and I realized after 26+ yrs of living saying windshield......with no grammar challenges......no laughing at cass...no asking, "what did you just say?" it is not our fault...it is everyone who has let me sound like a hick, hearing impared news/weather listener.....

Feb. 12 2008, mark it in your cal....christy learned something lucas fagan will learn and be corrected at the amazing age of 4!

peace. c

identity

life is been crazy good lately! i am pushing through...tearing down excuses..and running full. i want 2008 to be different. andy and i have been on a "phase", as most know this term is used much in roch/cass home..but our phase is staying strong..focused and i am excited.

2008 brings new stories. new people to connect with...impact!
2008 brings me to a content spot in life! learning..growing...and seeking GOD.
2008 is going to be the year I actually really READ and Grow, SEEK God on a daily basis...CONSISTENCY.
2008 is a year where I nurture and invest in my relationships with those I love......and care for.....
2008--B.A.L.A.N.C.E.
2008 is a year for netflicks...my escape..ha
2008 is new endevoures for career, hair....dreaming big. taking steps....so close!!!!
2008 is another year for holding Dulce' and other L.H. children....their soft hearts...and big eyes
2008 is a year for more long wknds with andy.......

i am excited. heart heavy.....and looking past judgement and expectations of the world......

caio!

Sweet 16

10 years ago, I turned 16.....10 years ago i got my license...10 years ago i experienced God for the 1st time at camp.....10 years ago, my sisters were the ages of the youth girls I work with, 10 years ago my favorite band was mariah Carey..and sad to say i loved "jock jam" ha. 10 years ago, I was a cheerleader..scary....10 years ago, I didn't see the beauty in me, I didn't have many people that were showing me a positive influence...I thought I was the only one that struggled with a lot of issues..10 years ago i went through a crazy year........learning..growing...and facing huge obstacles!

everytime one of the G8 kids turn 16...i go back. isn't funny how we associate age with so many things in life? we have our flash back moments.......

well, last night my loyal HTALLS turned sweet 16 (as mtv puts it)..so we lived it up! playing apples to apples and catchphrase, ate some amazing cookies, and celebrated! looking at HTALLS life, i am so excited to see what she is doing for GOD, pushing through the crowd! being in youth ministry we often overlook, or forget sometimes the wins! but heather, you are a rockstar, and we are so proud of you and your life being a reflection of Christ!

To my small group- CONTRAST gals.....I love you!!! It has been a blessing to have you crazies over week after week! HOLLER! thanks for throwing the cellular devices in the cell basket! Ha. You guys are the reason I keep going..moving forward..praying and fighting for you!

C3

kicking bats

Yesterday, like any other day was the usual....but two things happened that made me laugh...a lot! the FS bldg where i work, there have been some encounters with the species called the "bat".....not the prettiest thing around. actually, scares the crap out of me....like mice. anyways, we were hanging lights on the ceiling beams the other day, joking about the bat....no sighting that day. well, low and behold, yesterday, the mailman got my attention, stating, "there was a dead bat on your sidewalk"...he then said, "isn't that coo(l)?" talked like my dad..ha i said, "NO!" later in the afternoon we decided to see joan's reaction at work, she jumped. it was hilarious.....all in all...this is a sign...it is too flippin' cold here...bats are frozen. nast!
2nd....as i was drivin home, i observed an old man, ticked at the world, because this chevy truck was an inch on the crosswalk...he started KICKING the man's truck, cussing, and yelling. i could hear this from across the intersection, in my car, with my heat on level 4..which is loud....i was laughing literally out LOUD, then realizing someone needs to do something, and the light went on in my head, K-9 police in front of me...he got on the scene in seconds. those are the times where we wish our light would stay red, so we can observe.....

random, yet funny....those are the moments in my life where i laugh.....cheers to blizzards killing species and making people crazy. ha. c3

a new fav

one of my favorite things about this time of year...is being home more. Andy and I love having people over for dinner. one of my new fav. cookbooks that is the modern day betty crocker......thanks to rowans for showing me this essential item for cooking! i have made many recipes from it! we try to have people over for dinner at least once a week! it is a blast, cooking, baking (we have a bread machine/ kitchen aide), decorating the table (I enjoy this side), and playing games/ listening to amazing music..from reggae, norah jones, blues, to jon foreman ep. if only we had a fireplace!

lots of laughter...we found that mrs saxton can't handle certain subjects......