Like I mentioned in my last post, today was my day off work. A Monday with no regular work. Of course, I had to do something special to celebrate! I even got so much done today that I have time left over to post about it! Only 3 days after my last post! Can you believe it?! Im pretty sure I just set a record that I wont be able to beat. =)

This morning began with a phone call from JJ reminding me of my 8:00 meeting at Faith (it was 7:44 when he called). After my meeting (a very, very good one that lasted about 2 hours), I drove to Big Creek and spent another 2 hours or so just praying, reading my Bible, writing out my thoughts, singing, etc. I can't tell you when the last time was that I had that opportunity..or that I had that opportunity and chose to spend my time communicating with my Creator. It was awesome. I had zero distractions. The only thing I had to fight was keeping my mind from wandering and wanting to fall asleep. Even though my 2 hour meeting was fantastic, the 2 hours alone with God were so much better. I must do that more often.

Once I got back from Big Creek (oh yah, I found this very pretty place to sit while I studied the Bible and the walk to get there was over a grass path that was filled with fallen leaves and there was this perfect photo spot that I want to take JJ back to sometime!)..anyways, after I got back from Big Creek (around 1:30pm) I took a nap, ate, and then JJ and I decided to go to the Goodwill outlet store in Des Moines. We had tried to go before, but it was closed by time we got there. (For those of you who don't know, the Outlet store is very similar to a regular store except everything is paid for my the pound and there really isn't clothing, its just all the other nick-nacks.) On the way there, we stopped at a regular Goodwill store and looked through it, then went to the Outlet store, then Harbor Freight (where JJ bought me a hammer!!! its cute Ill have to post a picture some time), the Payless (where we saw a discarded cigarrett about ready to start a fire..JJ put it out), then Salvation Army, and then Aldis (bought a bunch of groceries for $29!). Each place was fun and JJ and I had a good time talking with each other. After Aldis, we went to the China Buffet using a gift certificate that was given to us from a friend. The food was fantastic and there weren't very many people there which provided more time for JJ and I to talk. The restaurant was located inside this little strip mall thingy and we decided to explore a bit after we ate. Turns out, there really wasn't anything else in the mall except a Fareway store and there was only one other person walking around the empty building so JJ and I had a little (ok, a lot) of fun. We went down the escalator, walked to the other end of the building ran up the steps, realized that the upstairs doesn't connect to the other side of the building so we went down the elevator and then decided to run up the "down" escalator (the "up" one was broken). That was seriously one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time! Naturally, I recorded him walking up the stairs (although, I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep the camera still!). After that...hmm...oh yes, we left with the intention of heading back to Ankeny and passed yet another Goodwill and decided to run in =) What a fun day. JJ is working on his homework and im doing this. I think I only got that video and one picture from today, but who cares?! I know itll be a day I won't soon forget. =)

Oh yah, in the mall, there was this one hair cutting place and this sign was in the window. =)

You can see the pretty, yet empty mall in the background

Remember last post when I mentioned that Ashlee enjoys learning and writing?

Yup, these are the words she randomly wants to spell

Those little door stops still entertain kids for long periods of time =)

His Ankeny Hawks hoodie is SO cute on him!

And this concludes Berta's ramblings...for tonight :)  Already have ideas for the next post forming in my mind!