Miracle Suit Info.

I've had several people ask me about the miracle swim suit. The brand name of the miracle suit is Trimshaper. This link will take you to the exact color and style of the suit I bought. I purchased it at Kolh's for $44, which includes tax. The original price was $80. I also bought a pair of swim shorts to wear with it, just because I feel more comfortable with my bum covered completely. Hope this helps!

The Miracle Suit.

The whole family has decided to visit a water park on Sunday. So, I spent 3 hours today trying on swim suits. It's been at least 6 years since I bought a swim suit. And since my last purchase, the swim suits have gotten smaller, and the lighting in the fitting rooms has gotten worse. Has anyone else noticed the poor lighting, or is it just me? Personally, I think the lighting should be on the floor, and light my bum from the ground up. Yes, that's what I said. Ponder that.

Of course I spent two hours trying on swim suits at Wal-Mart. The clearance rack and I became really good friends. It handed me the pink string bikini and we are having coffee together on Friday. My last shopping stop was a department store where the designer suits were on sale 50-60% off, which means they were still expensive. After a long time trying on bikinis, tankinis, two pieces, three pieces (it had a skirt), swim shorts, skirts and tank tops, I found a one-piece. I check the tag. It claimed to hold me in, shrink my body down a size or two, lift my boobs, shrink my butt, make my arms look toned, and make me look 10 years younger. I looked at the price tag. Oh my. Even at 50% off it was almost three times what I had budgeted in my head for a suit. But, with all those promises, I had to try it on. I took the one-piece miracle suit into the fitting room. I stripped down, again making a mental note about designing floor lighting for fitting rooms and making my first million. Right leg. Left leg. Shimmy up. Pull. Tug. Right arm. Left arm. Shimmy, adjust. Oh my. Suddenly, the floor lighting seemed to get better. I looked younger. My butt was smaller. My boobs were bigger. My arms looked toned. I think I even felt it messaging my shoulders.

You can't put a price on that.

Budget. What budget. Suddenly I began to rationalize spending more money than I planned. Then, the corners of my mouth crept into a grin. The grin broke into a full fledged, ear to ear smile. While standing there with my hands on my hips admiring my new body, outloud I said, "Thank you, George W." We had just deposited our economic stimulus check into our account. So, needless to say, that department store miracle went home with me.

Limbo Daze.

Therefore I say to you, ALL things for which you pray and ask, BELIEVE that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
Mark 11:24

The Lord open for you His good storehouse, the HEAVENS, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
Deuteronomy 28:12

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'
Jeremiah 29:11

Behold, I do something new; Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, RIVERS IN THE DESERT. Isaiah 43:19

If you just read those scriptures, read them again. And, then read them again. After about the third time, you will see a pattern. The repetition of God's assurance of prosperity, that He is with us... blesses what we put our hands to... He has a future for us... He is doing something new... AND, He makes RIVERS in the desert! I preface this blog entry by saying all of that first, mainly because I need to be reminded. Sometimes daily.

It feels as if we are in a weird limbo. Here we are living with grandparents, which I thought would only last a month at the most; it's going on 6 weeks now. We are looking for a house to buy. It is a buyer's market, but the sellers have not met with reality, so most houses are over priced. We've found a house, yet again, but it will take time to see if we can even make an offer. (We are making sure that we can rent out the basement apartment with the blessings of the city of Winona Lake. Brandon has to ask for a variance, which he can do before he buys...notify neighbors of possible changes; they don't have to like it, just be notified...The city council does not meet until the end of this month.) It is taking time, much time. Meanwhile back in grandma's basement (which is where our office is), I've been calling about renting apartments. We estimate we would only need to rent an apartment for 4 to 6 months at the most. Hardly anybody wants to rent to people with cats, no matter how much I tell them our cats are well behaved and well cared for. If they do rent short term and allow pets, the cost is outrageous!! The grandparents are great about allowing us to stay here, and they seem to enjoy our company. We are enjoying staying here, but do not want to wear out our welcome.

So, here we are. In this odd limbo daze.

I return to the scriptures and remind myself that God's got us. He goes before us and prepares a way. He makes rivers in the desert. Since he can make rivers in the desert, then I KNOW he can provide a simple house for us.

Back to Chestnut?

Brandon & I went with our realtor to check out this house. From the front it looks really small; however, it has over 3300 square feet!! It is a 3/4 bedroom 1 bath, with a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment in the basement! These pictures do not do it justice, but you can get the general idea.

Chestnut Street is the street we lived on for 5 years. It is in Winona Lake, which is

basically an extension of Warsaw. Grace College is located just a few blocks from this street and the Village at Winona is just around the corner. Check out their websites for more pictures of the area. We like living in Winona Lake, and I've said that if I have to live in town, close to other people, then this is a really nice, safe, quiet place to live. There are hiking/biking trails just down the hill from us and a couple parks in the area.

This house was build in 1950ish and does need some repairs; however, it is a wonderful investment opportunity and has some unique features such as this second story porch, which is accessible through a bedroom upstairs.

The yard is small, which is fine with us. Less to mow.

The basement apartment galley kitchen.

The basement apartment living room with walkout door. The current owners are very creative with their painting. Those trees have been painted on the wall. Also, the picture below is for the upstairs bathroom. It is tropical themed. This picture does not do it justice. There are palm trees painted on the walls and the ceiling feels like it's actually a grass hut.

Main floor living room

Main floor galley kitchen and laundry. There is space in the back of the house to create a laundry room and open up the kitchen.

The main concern about renting out the basement is parking. There is limited parking space on Chestnust Street, but we have a couple plans for that. A big thank you to those who have been praying for us and sending us your thoughts of support and encouragement. I am believing God that we will move in (somewhere!) soon.

Edwards Reunion 2008

Brandon and I had a great time down home in Williamsburg, KY. I really enjoyed seeing cousins I have not seen in so long! Mom & Dad do this reunion at their farm every year; I think this is the third or fourth year in a row. Different family members come each year. Some try to come very year. We had about 160 attending last year, but only about half that this year. Good food and fellowship were had by all, even Peaches, Daddy's loyal yellow lab.

My mom & dad

Peaches, Daddy's loyal yellow lab. I call her Sis.

This is my cousin Toni. Ok, she is not really my cousin. She is my Aunt Betty's caregiver/nurse. Toni is awesome!

My precious Aunt Betty (Edwards) Enz. She has Parkinson's, BUT she has an amazing attitude and very sharp wit and sense of humor! She cracks me up! I love this woman!!

My 2nd cousin Kaylan Kopp Schwarberg.
We both love butterflies in an obsessive way!!

Uncle Carroll Edwards and his granddaughter Kaylan. He is 74!
He gets better lookin' every year!!

Jimmy Bates' tattoos. These are two of my favorites of his many tattoos.

Brandon's tattoo. It says "servant" in Hebrew. I love it.

My husband. He is so hot. I love that man!!

My second cousins:
Tre Bates, Brianna Kay Bates, Emory Edwards, Laney Edwards

My second cousins and Cooper Paul, Luke's girlfriend, Hayley Wilson's son.

First cuz Bill Edwards and 1st cuz-in-law Jimmy Bates, t
he daddies of the cute kids above!

Laney Edwards

Smoked lamb. Yuuuummm!!

Mmmmmm MEAT! Smoked lamb, smoked goat,
and Texas beef brisket.

All this food made me thankful to be an American!!

Desserts!!! A cousin made Orange Deamcicle Fudge! It was a-mazing!

1st cousin Teri Edwards Kopp (Kaylan's mom, Carroll's daughter)
Ms. Toni, 1st cuz-in-law Tanya Edwards

My Aunt Hiroko. She is married to my dad's oldest brother Dean Edwards.
They are Texans. I love this woman. She is in her 70s and is gorgeous!!

Stacey Edwards Wilhite & Kimberly Kay Edwards Bates

Brianna Bates, me & Darby Edwards (Tanya's daughter)

Disclaimer: Yes, Brandon and I broke our "diet"/nutritious eating habits. We totally pigged out. And, it was DEEEE-LISH!!!

On offer I hope they don't refuse...

We made an offer on the Broadway house. It is a really low offer; we plan to get 25% instant equity. From my understanding the current residents/family plan to be missionaries in Germany, have all their support and are waiting on the sale of their house before they head over there. AND, from my understanding the house has been on the market for a very long time with no offers. I have a really good feeling about the house, about living there... I am really praying and believing God for this house. But, if it's not this house... then I know he has something even better!!!