Toenails- Who Needs 'Em?

I believe that God is a wonderful creator. I also believe that He made each part of us in a loving, purposeful way. But lately I've been wondering... why did He give us toenails? Random, I know. But, here is what prompeted it. About 4-6 weeks ago I managed to jam my big toe on my right foot under the fridge. All I was doing was walking across the kitchen- so it is still beyond me how this really happened- but it did. And it hurt like crazy. It wasn't bleeding- and I couldn't tell until I took a good look at it- but I actually cracked my toenail way down at the bottom. And in the weeks since the whole toenail has been slowly dying (too much trauma apparently). Well, I should have cut it off a few weeks ago (the toenail, not the toe)- but I just didn't- maybe a small part of me was hoping that it might somehow reattatch itself (I don't think this can really happen- but I guess I was hoping). Well, the other night we went to the YMCA pool with some friends and after a good hour long soak in the chlorine I knew my poor little toenail wasn't going to survive the night. And it didn't. I cut it all off- literally the only thing left is a tiny sliver of healthy newly grown nail. And I have to tell you-my nail was as dead as a doornail- it didn't hurt one bit removing it! So, I am one of those people who hates cutting their nails too short- the sensation just bothers me. So I spent that whole first night without socks on- just to let my toe breath a little. I'll admit it- I was scared of what it would feel like to have something on it. But apparently the dying process over the last few weeks made the skin underneath tougher. Which leads me to my question- why do we need toenails anyway? Without them wouldn't our toe skin become a little rougher just like the rest of our skin? Is seems that way to me- since I'm really not much worse off without my toenail (ok, it hurt just a little bit when Lily stepped on it with her shoes on- but that could have been the case regardless). I do have to tell you that our feet are much prettier with toenails than without. In fact I'm a little worried that I may never be able to have another peticure again without totally grossing someone out (because I have to tell you- it's not pretty)!:) Ok, that is probably more rambling about toenails than anyone else has ever done. But those are my thoughts for today...!

UW- LaCrosse

A few days after Christmas Joe and I headed to Minneapolis to attend a Campus Crusade winter conference there. Our goal was to recruit for Lifelines (staff and students). Since I grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from UW-LaCrosse I knew that this area would be great for a Lifelines ministry (we don't have any Lifelines ministries in the MidWest). The two days we were there far exceeded our expectations! We were able to meet with the Regional Director and Regional HR Director there and they seemed very supportive of what we are trying to do (which is very important). We had close to 80 students attend a meeting to learn more about the Lifelines ministry and our summer project! And Joe also had an opportunity to introduce Lifelines to all of the staff at the conference! We were also able to speak to all of the 120 students there from UW-LaCrosse- which was especially fun for me! And one of the most exciting parts is that one of the Campus Crusade staff guys from LaCrosse is very interested in Lifelines and starting it there! I would be excited to see Lifelines start on any campus in that region- but I have to admit that it would be especially meaningful to me if our first Lifelines campus there was LaCrosse!

Old Friends

While we were home for Christmas I was able to visit with some of my closest, oldest friends. Visiting with Kate, my long-time best friend, was wonderful (this is a picture of Kate and I from her wedding). It had been a year and a half since we saw each other last- which is crazy. There were many years that I would barely go a day without seeing her. But Colorado and Maine are just too far apart. I loved watching her with Lily (who was only a few months old the last time Kate saw her). Lily even gave Kate a hug- which is amazing since Lily doesn't really hug people she doesn't know. I do tell her about "Aunt Kate" so maybe she just knew. And Kate and I were even able go out to dinner- just us- and enjoy some great food and time together. Oh man, Kate, I miss you girl. You know Maine needs lawyers too!

During our time home we went to Minnesota for a very short period of time to recruit for Lifelines at a Campus Crusade conference there. And to my delight I was able to sneak some time in to have a long lunch with Robin, one of my closest friends from college (this is a very random picture of Robin and I, both in red aprons, in a food fight during our summer together working at a dude ranch)! Due to committments to our summer project in May I wasn't able to be at Robin's wedding- so it felt even more special to see her and to finally meet her husband. I sort of forget how much I laugh and how much fun I have when I'm with Robin. So now I'm trying to convince her and Ernie to come vacation in Maine- I have no doubt that Robin and I would have a blast and that the guys would love being out in the woods together shooting things!

And finally I was also able to visit with my oldest friend, Sarah. Sarah and I have been friends since we were about 2 or 3 years old so I literally can't remember not having her in my life. The picture above is Sarah and I as little girls (I'm on the right)- it's one of my favorites! It had been exactly two years since Sarah and I saw each other last- and in that time I had Lily and she had a little boy named Aaron (about 5 months younger than Lily). So this was the first time meeting each others children- so fun! It's too bad that our children won't grow up together like we did.

I was really lucky to be able to see so many of my friends and family while home (especially since many of them live out of state now as well)! I have to admit that it's been great being home- but that I've been feeling a little lonely- and missing many of these old friends and family. How can I get them all to move closer to me?:)

M & M's...Yummmmm

I tried very hard to get a good family picture in front of the tree on Christmas day- but no success- Lily was just not in the mood to have her picture taken!

But... Lily loves M & M's- and my Aunt Pam got her some mini ones for Christmas- and thus I was able to snap these cute shots while she enjoyed her treat! Thanks Aunt Pam!

A Smith Family Christmas

One of the necklaces my mom made for Lily

I have no idea what they are laughing at, but I love this picture!

Putting stickers on G-Pa

Scary glasses

Opening Presents

Santa?

This year we were with my family in Wisconsin for Christmas

Loved it!

Here are some of my highlights:

Opening presents and stockings Christmas morning

Lily running around putting stickers on everyone as we opened our stockings

Lily being rather afraid of the goofy glasses my dad got in his stocking

Getting a GPS unit for my car from my parents

Joe getting a wonderful, safe tent heater for us to use during camping and ice fishing

The beautiful necklaces my mom made for Lily

The absolutly adorable puppet theatre my mom made for Lily

My mom serving the most perfectly laid out Christmas meal ever

Having almost all of my mom's family with us Christmas day

Having my Aunt Kris and her family meet Lily for the first time

Having many of my cousins meet Lily for the first time

Sitting around the table and having a real conversation with my cousins Melissa and Allison

Testing out Lily's twilight turtle in the basement hallway

All the wonderful gifts Lily recieved from my family- they are too sweet

My mom loosing baby Jesus (who doesn't usually get placed in the manger until Christmas)

Seeing how much my family loves Lily (which makes me feel incredibly loved)

It was a wonderful Christmas!

Our Staff Christmas Party!

Isaiah

Elijah


Our intern, Tessa, and her boyfriend, Drew

White Elephant Gift Exchange!

Flying through the air into the bean bag!

Sledding!

Lily & Ali

We work with a great group of people (who also happen to be some of our closest friends)! Having been on our own for the first few months of the fall have made us appreciate them even more! Even though we have been through so much transition this year we still had a lot to celebrate at our annual staff Christmas party! The Winslows (who used to be on our team, but left staff with Campus Crusade this summer) even joined us for the fun! Us and the Winslows did a little sledding with the kids before the party and then everyone got together at our house for a delicious traditional turkey dinner! We also did our annual white elephant gift exchange (you know, where you wrap up something you have lying around your house as a gift)! Every year it's quite entertaining- and this year was no exception. My favorite was the gift that Joe chose (this very large, gaudy piece of art you see in the picture). He traded it rather quickly to our friend Ryan- who was lucky enough to take it home at the end of the evening! Good times!

Home Sweet Home!

We got home this afternoon after two weeks of traveling! It was so good seeing many of our friends and families over the holidays! And even though it's a little sad leaving them all- it's great to be home! There is just something wonderful about being in your own home.

So, I am really far behind on our blog. There have been so many fun things we have done over the last 3 weeks that I want to share. So, hopefully over the next few days I'll get everything updated!