It Looked So Simple

I've been trying to get involved at my new church by volunteering for every opportunity that comes my way. So far it's worked out pretty well for me! However, last week I volunteered to help assemble new preschool toys/equipment for the church's new building, and this...

...this did not go well for me.

Behold the Fisher Price Learning Home:

Intimidating, right? I spent about an hour trying to set this thing up! Just to make one thing clear...it is NOT hard to assemble. There was an instruction sheet with 15 simple steps (with pictures included!). I had to go back and "un-assemble" at times because I didn't properly follow directions. For example...the door is supposed to be one of the first items on, which I realized at about Step 13.

And I expect 24 nine-year-olds to follow directions in my classroom. Little do they know their teacher is a hypocrite...

I suppose I better evaluate my gifts/talents before jumping on the next volunteer bandwagon. Assembling is not my thing!

Pumpkins and Cousins

A couple weekends ago I carved a pumpkin at a birthday party. It was a rather festive thing to do, and it made me feel very autumn-y. Sadly, my pumpkin only lasted a week before it got old and moldy. I came home one day and noticed its upper lip was caving in - it got worse over the next couple days. The poor pumpkin had a massive underbite by the time it went into the trash can! It made me giggle every time I came home, so I thought I'd share a picture of my defeated jack-o-lantern. Poor guy.

In other news, I spent the weekend with my cousins Ashley and Rudy. Their birthday present to me was a photography class so I can better learn how to use my digital SLR camera. Ashley and I took it together this morning, and I learned some super helpful information! I think I finally understand what aperture, f-stop, and shutter speed are. The class was quite challenging for me, and I found myself thinking more than once, "I have no idea what she (the instructor) is talking about". She was very good, but it was a lot of new information and vocabulary!

Speaking of cousins, tomorrow cousin Ashley is moving to College Station. I'm sad about that. I know it's the best decision for her family, and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for them down in Aggieland. At the same time, I will miss her dearly. I'm thankful God graciously placed us in Dallas for the last seven years, and I'm grateful we've had the opportunity to build that relationship. Ashley, you have been such an encouragement to me - know that you and Rudy will be missed by all of us Dallas folk.