Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, August 13, 2010
Left or Right Brained?
Found this very interesting!
Click here to take this test for yourself:
Left or Right Brained?
Thank you for taking the Creativity Test. The results show your brain dominance as being:
Left Brain Right Brain
50% 51%
You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.
Your complete evaluation follows below:
Your left brain/right brain percentage was calculated by combining the individual scores of each half's sub-categories. They are as follows:
Your Left Brain Percentages
54% Reality-based (Your most dominant characteristic)
44% Sequential
27% Verbal
25% Symbolic
11% Linear
9% Logical (Your least dominant characteristic)
Your Right Brain Percentages
37% Concrete (Your most dominant characteristic)
30% Holistic
28% Random
25% Nonverbal
24% Intuitive
24% Fantasy-oriented (Your least dominant characteristic)
What Do These Percentages Mean?
Low percentages are common in the Brain Type Test and are not indicative of intelligence. Instead, medium to high scores (30 - 50%) are desireable, as they show an ability to utilize a processing method without an abnormal reliance on it. Special focus should be paid to highly dominant (50% or above) or highly recessive (0 - 30%) methods, as they tend to limit your approach when learning, memorizing, or solving problems.
If you have Highly Dominant characteristics, your normal thinking patterns will naturally utilize these methods. Conscious effort is required to recognize the benefits of other techniques. Using multiple forms of information processing is the best way to fully understand complex issues and become a balanced thinker.
If you have Highly Recessive characteristics, your normal thinking patterns naturally ignore these methods. You may only consider these under-utilized techniques when "all else fails," or possibly not at all. It is important to recognize the benefits of all of your brain's capabilities in order to become a balanced thinker.
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Left Brain Categories
Reality-based Processing
Reality-based processing is used by the left hemisphere as a method for processing information with a basis on reality. This processing tool focuses on rules and regulations. An example of this would be how a left-brained person would completely understand the repercussions of turning in a late assignment or failing a test. A left-brained person also usually easily adjusts to changes in their environment.
Your Reality-based Analysis
You process information with a firm basis on reality, but because of this, may lack creativity. You are able to easily create or adapt to rules and regulations. For example, you understand the repercussion of your actions. You easily adjust to change in the environment and probably do not become emotionally involved in many tasks.
Sequential Processing
Sequential processing is a method used by the left hemisphere for processing information. The information that is received is processed in order from first to last. Information is processed in a systematic, logical manner. Through sequential processing, you can interpret and produce symbolic information such as language, mathematics, abstraction, and reasoning. This process is used to store memory in a language format. Activities that require sequential processing include spelling, making a "to-do" list, and many aspects of organization.
Your Sequential Analysis
You show moderate ability to organize information sequentially. You are capable of processing information you receive in a systematic, logical order from first to last. However, at times you will process information you receive quite randomly, or may give it only a semblance of order. You are probably an average mathematician and speller, and may or may not enjoy tasks such as making "to-do" lists.
Verbal Processing
Verbal processing is a method used by the left hemisphere to process our thoughts and ideas with words. For example, through verbal processing, a left-brained person giving directions may say, "From this point continue east for two miles and turn north onto Bellevue Road. Continue north on Bellevue Road for seven miles and turn west on Main Street". With verbal processing, exact, logical directions are given in a very sequential manner compared to a right-brained person who, in giving the same directions, would use more visual landmarks.
Your Verbal Analysis
You have a moderate verbal ability. Using this method you process your thoughts and ideas with words. You tend to combine technical details with illustrations, depending on whatever strikes you. For instance, if giving directions, you might say, "Continue two miles east on Court Street and take a left at the McDonalds," combining the exact details of street names and mileage with prominent landmarks.
Symbolic Processing
Symbolic processing is a method associated with the left hemisphere that is used for processing the information of pictures and symbols. The majority of functions associated with academics involve symbols such as letters, words, and mathematical notations. This process is what aids you to excel in tasks such as linguistics, mathematics, and memorizing vocabulary words and mathematical formulas.
Your Symbolic Analysis
You have the ability to process the information of symbols at times, but you may need to first view the real object before you can understand what you are trying to process. For example, in solving math problems it occasionally helps you to "draw out" the problem, which allows you to better understand it through visualization. At other times you do not need visualization to aid you in forming your answers.
Linear Processing
Linear processing is a method by the left hemisphere to process information. In this process, the left brain takes pieces of information, lines them up, and proceeds to arrange them into an order from which it may draw a conclusion. The information is processed from parts to a whole in a straight, forward, and logical progression.
Your Linear Analysis
You tend to have difficulty in processing data in a linear manner. When processing information you tend see the whole picture first and work your way backwards, filling in the pieces as you go. The information you process is not done in a straight, progressive manner, but may take different paths as you start with an assumption and take different paths to discover the threads that lead you to that assumption. Seeing the big picture at the beginning of the process is a necessity for you if you are to understand additional information. When given a task, instead of naturally following directions in a linear fashion, you tend to feel the need to know "why" you are doing something or else you may have difficulty with it.
Logical Processing
Logical processing is a method that is used by the left hemisphere to take information piece by piece and put it all together to form a logical answer. When information is received through reading or listening, the left hemisphere will look for different bits of information that will allow it to produce a logical conclusion. This aspect of the left hemisphere is what aids you in solving math problems and science experiments.
Your Logical Analysis
Logical processing is not one of your strengths, so you may tend to rely on a "gut" feeling to help you make your decisions from the information you have received. For example, you will often choose an answer on a test because it "feels" right, and you may be correct. This is due to the fact of your tendency to look for the whole picture but not the details that create it. You can often start with the answer and work your way back to allow yourself to see the process and parts that create the whole. You may find math problems and science experiments difficult because of this.
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Right Brain Categories
Concrete Processing
Concrete processing is a method associated with the right hemisphere that is used for processing things that can be seen or touched. It processes much of the information you receive from real objects. For example, a right-brained person is not just satisfied that a mathematical formula may work, but will want to know why it works. A strongly concrete person often finds it easier to solve a mathematical problem by "drawing it out" because it allows them to visualize it. The more a concrete person can visualize something the easier it is for them to understand it.
Your Concrete Analysis
At times, you feel the need to see a real object in order to understand it. At other times, you are able to understand a problem on a symbolic level. For example, you may find that in solving math problems, it occasionally helps you to "draw out" the problem in order to understand and solve it.
Holistic Processing
Holistic processing is a method used by the right hemisphere to process information. The information is processed from whole to parts. A right-brained person, through holistic processing, is able to see the big picture first, but not the details that accompany it. A strongly holistic person may often find that prior to listening to a lecture given by an instructor, they must first read the chapter so that they better understand what the lecture is about. This function is also what provides to you your visual spatial skills. It also aids in tasks such as dancing and gymnastics. Through holistic processing, memory is stored in auditory, visual, and spatial modalities.
Your Holistic Analysis
You show some ability to process data holistically, starting with the whole and working backwards to find the parts, which inform the whole, to form your conclusion. When you process information in a linear manner you are able to start with the parts and work up to form the whole. It is important to be comfortable with both methods, as both are equally necessary in the learning process.
Random Processing
Random processing is a method used by the right hemisphere for processing information. The information that is received is processed without priority. A right-brained person will usually jump from one task to another due to the random processing by their dominant right hemisphere. Random processing is, of course, the opposite of sequential processing therefore making it difficult for right-brained individuals to choose to learn in sequence. In order to overcome this, a right-brained person may want to attempt to learn sequence by using colors since the right hemisphere is sensitive to color. For example, you may want to associate the first step with green, the second step with blue, and the last step with red. Consistently using the same sequence will allow you to see that this strategy can be applied to many tasks involving sequence.
Your Random Analysis
You have some ability to process data randomly. You are at times able to make "leaps of logic" and discover unique things by thinking "outside of the box." However, you may tend to ignore your random processing thoughts unless you are desperate for a solution. It is important you recognize this skill as not grasping at straws, but a viable way to discover new ways of approaching a problem.
Nonverbal Processing
Nonverbal processing is a method used by the right hemisphere to process our thoughts with illustrations. Reliance on this method is why it is occasionally difficult for right-brained people to "find the right words" in certain situations. A right-brained person cannot just read or hear information and process it, but first must make a mental video to better understand the information they have received. For example, through nonverbal processing, a person giving directions may say, "Continue going straight until you see a big, red-brick courthouse. At the courthouse turn right, and go down that street for a couple of miles until you se a gray stone church which will be on your right. Straight across from the church is the road to the left you need to take." With nonverbal processing, the directions that are given are extremely visual compared to the exact, sequential directions that would be given by a left-brained person.
Your Nonverbal Analysis
When processing your thoughts and ideas, you use tend to use both illustrations and words. When giving directions, you probably use both visual illustrations such as, "keep going until you see a McDonalds on your right; then turn left at the Home Depot", and technical terms such as, "travel for two miles and turn east onto First Street."
Intuitive Processing
Intuitive processing is a method that is used by the right hemisphere to process information based on if it "feels" right or not. For example, a right-brained person may choose an answer on a test because they had a "gut" feeling and often they will be correct. Another example of this is how a right-brained person will know the correct answer to a math problem but will not understand the procedure of how they arrived at the correct answer. A right-brained person will usually have to start with the answer and work their way backwards in order to be able to see and understand the parts and process that create the whole.
Your Intuitive Analysis
When processing information, at times you are able to go with your "gut" instincts. At other times you may doubt your instincts, or prefer to put information together piece by piece to form your conclusion. You should be careful not to ignore your intuition, but at the same time do not solely rely on it.
Fantasy-oriented Processing
Fantasy-oriented processing is used by the right hemisphere as a method for processing information with creativity. It focuses much less on rules and regulations than the processing method of a left-brained person. Due to the fantasy-oriented processing mechanism of a right-brained person, they do not adjust well to change. Instead of adapting to the change in the environment, a right-brained person attempts to change it back to the way they liked it. But fantasy-oriented processing also provides the advantage of creativity to right-brained individuals, and since emotion is integral of the right side of the brain, anything a fantasy-oriented person becomes involved in emotionally will aid their ability to learn.
Your Fantasy-oriented Analysis
You have the ability to use both creativity and reality to process the information you receive. This is a unique gift that allows you to both focus on rules and regulations but to also act with creativity. You are able to adjusting to change, even though you might not like it, and you can become emotionally involved in your work if it interests you.
Click here to take this test for yourself:
Left or Right Brained?
Thank you for taking the Creativity Test. The results show your brain dominance as being:
Left Brain Right Brain
50% 51%
You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.
Your complete evaluation follows below:
Your left brain/right brain percentage was calculated by combining the individual scores of each half's sub-categories. They are as follows:
Your Left Brain Percentages
54% Reality-based (Your most dominant characteristic)
44% Sequential
27% Verbal
25% Symbolic
11% Linear
9% Logical (Your least dominant characteristic)
Your Right Brain Percentages
37% Concrete (Your most dominant characteristic)
30% Holistic
28% Random
25% Nonverbal
24% Intuitive
24% Fantasy-oriented (Your least dominant characteristic)
What Do These Percentages Mean?
Low percentages are common in the Brain Type Test and are not indicative of intelligence. Instead, medium to high scores (30 - 50%) are desireable, as they show an ability to utilize a processing method without an abnormal reliance on it. Special focus should be paid to highly dominant (50% or above) or highly recessive (0 - 30%) methods, as they tend to limit your approach when learning, memorizing, or solving problems.
If you have Highly Dominant characteristics, your normal thinking patterns will naturally utilize these methods. Conscious effort is required to recognize the benefits of other techniques. Using multiple forms of information processing is the best way to fully understand complex issues and become a balanced thinker.
If you have Highly Recessive characteristics, your normal thinking patterns naturally ignore these methods. You may only consider these under-utilized techniques when "all else fails," or possibly not at all. It is important to recognize the benefits of all of your brain's capabilities in order to become a balanced thinker.
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Left Brain Categories
Reality-based Processing
Reality-based processing is used by the left hemisphere as a method for processing information with a basis on reality. This processing tool focuses on rules and regulations. An example of this would be how a left-brained person would completely understand the repercussions of turning in a late assignment or failing a test. A left-brained person also usually easily adjusts to changes in their environment.
Your Reality-based Analysis
You process information with a firm basis on reality, but because of this, may lack creativity. You are able to easily create or adapt to rules and regulations. For example, you understand the repercussion of your actions. You easily adjust to change in the environment and probably do not become emotionally involved in many tasks.
Sequential Processing
Sequential processing is a method used by the left hemisphere for processing information. The information that is received is processed in order from first to last. Information is processed in a systematic, logical manner. Through sequential processing, you can interpret and produce symbolic information such as language, mathematics, abstraction, and reasoning. This process is used to store memory in a language format. Activities that require sequential processing include spelling, making a "to-do" list, and many aspects of organization.
Your Sequential Analysis
You show moderate ability to organize information sequentially. You are capable of processing information you receive in a systematic, logical order from first to last. However, at times you will process information you receive quite randomly, or may give it only a semblance of order. You are probably an average mathematician and speller, and may or may not enjoy tasks such as making "to-do" lists.
Verbal Processing
Verbal processing is a method used by the left hemisphere to process our thoughts and ideas with words. For example, through verbal processing, a left-brained person giving directions may say, "From this point continue east for two miles and turn north onto Bellevue Road. Continue north on Bellevue Road for seven miles and turn west on Main Street". With verbal processing, exact, logical directions are given in a very sequential manner compared to a right-brained person who, in giving the same directions, would use more visual landmarks.
Your Verbal Analysis
You have a moderate verbal ability. Using this method you process your thoughts and ideas with words. You tend to combine technical details with illustrations, depending on whatever strikes you. For instance, if giving directions, you might say, "Continue two miles east on Court Street and take a left at the McDonalds," combining the exact details of street names and mileage with prominent landmarks.
Symbolic Processing
Symbolic processing is a method associated with the left hemisphere that is used for processing the information of pictures and symbols. The majority of functions associated with academics involve symbols such as letters, words, and mathematical notations. This process is what aids you to excel in tasks such as linguistics, mathematics, and memorizing vocabulary words and mathematical formulas.
Your Symbolic Analysis
You have the ability to process the information of symbols at times, but you may need to first view the real object before you can understand what you are trying to process. For example, in solving math problems it occasionally helps you to "draw out" the problem, which allows you to better understand it through visualization. At other times you do not need visualization to aid you in forming your answers.
Linear Processing
Linear processing is a method by the left hemisphere to process information. In this process, the left brain takes pieces of information, lines them up, and proceeds to arrange them into an order from which it may draw a conclusion. The information is processed from parts to a whole in a straight, forward, and logical progression.
Your Linear Analysis
You tend to have difficulty in processing data in a linear manner. When processing information you tend see the whole picture first and work your way backwards, filling in the pieces as you go. The information you process is not done in a straight, progressive manner, but may take different paths as you start with an assumption and take different paths to discover the threads that lead you to that assumption. Seeing the big picture at the beginning of the process is a necessity for you if you are to understand additional information. When given a task, instead of naturally following directions in a linear fashion, you tend to feel the need to know "why" you are doing something or else you may have difficulty with it.
Logical Processing
Logical processing is a method that is used by the left hemisphere to take information piece by piece and put it all together to form a logical answer. When information is received through reading or listening, the left hemisphere will look for different bits of information that will allow it to produce a logical conclusion. This aspect of the left hemisphere is what aids you in solving math problems and science experiments.
Your Logical Analysis
Logical processing is not one of your strengths, so you may tend to rely on a "gut" feeling to help you make your decisions from the information you have received. For example, you will often choose an answer on a test because it "feels" right, and you may be correct. This is due to the fact of your tendency to look for the whole picture but not the details that create it. You can often start with the answer and work your way back to allow yourself to see the process and parts that create the whole. You may find math problems and science experiments difficult because of this.
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Right Brain Categories
Concrete Processing
Concrete processing is a method associated with the right hemisphere that is used for processing things that can be seen or touched. It processes much of the information you receive from real objects. For example, a right-brained person is not just satisfied that a mathematical formula may work, but will want to know why it works. A strongly concrete person often finds it easier to solve a mathematical problem by "drawing it out" because it allows them to visualize it. The more a concrete person can visualize something the easier it is for them to understand it.
Your Concrete Analysis
At times, you feel the need to see a real object in order to understand it. At other times, you are able to understand a problem on a symbolic level. For example, you may find that in solving math problems, it occasionally helps you to "draw out" the problem in order to understand and solve it.
Holistic Processing
Holistic processing is a method used by the right hemisphere to process information. The information is processed from whole to parts. A right-brained person, through holistic processing, is able to see the big picture first, but not the details that accompany it. A strongly holistic person may often find that prior to listening to a lecture given by an instructor, they must first read the chapter so that they better understand what the lecture is about. This function is also what provides to you your visual spatial skills. It also aids in tasks such as dancing and gymnastics. Through holistic processing, memory is stored in auditory, visual, and spatial modalities.
Your Holistic Analysis
You show some ability to process data holistically, starting with the whole and working backwards to find the parts, which inform the whole, to form your conclusion. When you process information in a linear manner you are able to start with the parts and work up to form the whole. It is important to be comfortable with both methods, as both are equally necessary in the learning process.
Random Processing
Random processing is a method used by the right hemisphere for processing information. The information that is received is processed without priority. A right-brained person will usually jump from one task to another due to the random processing by their dominant right hemisphere. Random processing is, of course, the opposite of sequential processing therefore making it difficult for right-brained individuals to choose to learn in sequence. In order to overcome this, a right-brained person may want to attempt to learn sequence by using colors since the right hemisphere is sensitive to color. For example, you may want to associate the first step with green, the second step with blue, and the last step with red. Consistently using the same sequence will allow you to see that this strategy can be applied to many tasks involving sequence.
Your Random Analysis
You have some ability to process data randomly. You are at times able to make "leaps of logic" and discover unique things by thinking "outside of the box." However, you may tend to ignore your random processing thoughts unless you are desperate for a solution. It is important you recognize this skill as not grasping at straws, but a viable way to discover new ways of approaching a problem.
Nonverbal Processing
Nonverbal processing is a method used by the right hemisphere to process our thoughts with illustrations. Reliance on this method is why it is occasionally difficult for right-brained people to "find the right words" in certain situations. A right-brained person cannot just read or hear information and process it, but first must make a mental video to better understand the information they have received. For example, through nonverbal processing, a person giving directions may say, "Continue going straight until you see a big, red-brick courthouse. At the courthouse turn right, and go down that street for a couple of miles until you se a gray stone church which will be on your right. Straight across from the church is the road to the left you need to take." With nonverbal processing, the directions that are given are extremely visual compared to the exact, sequential directions that would be given by a left-brained person.
Your Nonverbal Analysis
When processing your thoughts and ideas, you use tend to use both illustrations and words. When giving directions, you probably use both visual illustrations such as, "keep going until you see a McDonalds on your right; then turn left at the Home Depot", and technical terms such as, "travel for two miles and turn east onto First Street."
Intuitive Processing
Intuitive processing is a method that is used by the right hemisphere to process information based on if it "feels" right or not. For example, a right-brained person may choose an answer on a test because they had a "gut" feeling and often they will be correct. Another example of this is how a right-brained person will know the correct answer to a math problem but will not understand the procedure of how they arrived at the correct answer. A right-brained person will usually have to start with the answer and work their way backwards in order to be able to see and understand the parts and process that create the whole.
Your Intuitive Analysis
When processing information, at times you are able to go with your "gut" instincts. At other times you may doubt your instincts, or prefer to put information together piece by piece to form your conclusion. You should be careful not to ignore your intuition, but at the same time do not solely rely on it.
Fantasy-oriented Processing
Fantasy-oriented processing is used by the right hemisphere as a method for processing information with creativity. It focuses much less on rules and regulations than the processing method of a left-brained person. Due to the fantasy-oriented processing mechanism of a right-brained person, they do not adjust well to change. Instead of adapting to the change in the environment, a right-brained person attempts to change it back to the way they liked it. But fantasy-oriented processing also provides the advantage of creativity to right-brained individuals, and since emotion is integral of the right side of the brain, anything a fantasy-oriented person becomes involved in emotionally will aid their ability to learn.
Your Fantasy-oriented Analysis
You have the ability to use both creativity and reality to process the information you receive. This is a unique gift that allows you to both focus on rules and regulations but to also act with creativity. You are able to adjusting to change, even though you might not like it, and you can become emotionally involved in your work if it interests you.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy!!
As summer comes every year, I always think that THIS summer I will have more time to do things....take picnics, relax, just enjoy the summer, but every summer it is just busy, busy, busy and it seems like there is no laid back summer time.
So a recap...
June 14-25th- Jared had drama camp each morning and then at the end of the 2 weeks, they performed, "Horror High: The Musical".
June 23rd- We had a VERY BAD storm in the evening. Jared had gone with Sarah to Dairy Queen because it looked like it would be a while before the storm got to our area, but it moved in fast and by the time they could get back home it got really bad. Just as they turned into our addition, a large part of a tree came down across DeCamp taking the power lines with it. God obviously was watching out for them because of they had been just a few minutes sooner the tree may have fallen on Sarah’s car! She had to park her car in a drive way on the other side of the tree and then they had to run home in the rain. Mark went out to pick them up, but they were nearly home by the time he got to them. By this time it was raining and storming so badly we decided we needed to go to the basement…and of course thanks to that tree, we had no electricity! Sarah stayed until the worst of the storm passed and then we drove her back down to the tree so she could get to her car. Our power ended up being out until nearly 10:00 Thursday night and what a pain it was! You can no idea how much you use electricity until you no longer have it. I felt like I was Amish and I didn’t like it very much! I thought I would just go into work early Thursday so at least I could use the electricity there, but power was out in the church neighborhood too! A tree had also fallen there and taken out power for several homes! So….Jared went off to drama camp and Mark and Adam went t work and since I couldn’t do anything at home I went and spend some time at Panera and took my laptop. I guess there were several 1000s in Elkhart County without power!
June 27th- Jared I were on worship team, and since there was no power we practiced without mics and lights! ;) At least it was a sunny evening and there was quite a bit of light coming in through the windows.
June 28th- Well, here it is Friday and still no power at the office and we were wondering if it would come back on before Sunday. What would it be like to have church without a bulletin or maybe even church without power at all??? However, the power came back on around noon on Friday. So I worked late on Friday and came back in for a while on Saturday to get things finished up with the bulletin! What a week!
June 28th- Jared & I went to Pottawatomi Zoo.
June 30th- Jared had gone sailing with Larry & Judy Miller and in the evening they invited Mark, Adam & I to come and join them. Judy came up and brought dinner for us. Jared had gone sailing with Larry a few times before, but this was the first time the rest of us had been sailing and it was a lot of fun!
July 1st- July 11th - Friday morning….left for Word of Life Camp- Schroon Lake, NY! I have an album of photos for each day uploaded to Facebook about our adventures at camp. We had a great day trip this year to Lake Placid where they Olympics were held in 1980 and 1934. We got to go to the Olympic Center where all of the ice skating took place and it was SO, SO neat to be there where those awesome skaters had skated. This is also where the Miracle on Ice took place the US Hockey team defeated Russia. Another fun thing was the pile of SNOW they had outside of the Olympic Center! This was one of the hottest weeks on record in the Adirondacks, but there was still snow there as they make a pile to bring in every day! I even got a great photo of Jared and Lori having a snowball fight!
The boys did excellent in Teens’ Involved and all but 2 placed on the top 5….which is awesome!
On the way home from camp we stopped on Niagara Falls!
July 12th-16th- Vacation Bible School at MMBC…where I was the photographer and Mark did games with Shawn. Jared was part of the nightly drama team.
July 17th- Jared & Adam went to Cedar Point with RUSH and Mark and I went to Don & Michele’s 25th Wedding vow renewal ceremony. Afterwards we went out to dinner with Shawn and veronica to Papa Vino’s in South Bend.
July 19th- Hosted a Lia Sophia Jewelry party.
July 23rd- 31st- Elkhart County 4-H Fair. Jared took 2 herbs and received a blue on his Oregano and an Honor on his Tarragon. We went to the fair Friday night as a family, but it was an extremely HOT HOT night so we didn’t stay long.
Tuesday- Mark, Jared and I went to see Huey Lewis & the News. It was a great concert! Mark and I had seen them back in ’85 and Huey still sounded great!
Wednesday- after another bad storm came through Elkhart County, Jared and I decided to go back to the fair again…just the two of us.
Thursday- Mark and I went back to the fair and ended up spending some time with Glenn & Mary as well as Shawn & Veronica later in the evening.
July 25th- Jared & I were on worship team again.
Mark had a youth group reunion at Harrison Center. It was really nice to see John & Karen and lot of others back from Harrison Center Church
July 26th- Aric came over last night and spent the night and then spent the day with us. Later in the afternoon Braden come over too. It seemed funny to have them both here for that time because we used to babysit each of them regularly, but neither one had been here for a long time.
July 29th – Ethan Quiram is home to stay for a few weeks, with Grandma and Grandpa Miller and so today Jared and some of the other MMBC kids all went sailing with Larry again.
August 1st-6th- Jared left for Checkpoint Bible Camp in Buffalo, IN to be a councilor.
August 1st- We had our first WOL meeting of the year to plan our kick off party. Shawn and Veronica are joining us this year as WOL leaders and I know it is going to be a great year! The big news at MMBC is that we are making a switch this year and are taking on the WOL Olympian & Gopher Buddies program instead of AWANA! It think it is going to be a very positive change for our church in general!
That evening Adam took me out to eat at CiCi’s…Mark didn’t want to go so it was just Adam and I which was kind of nice!
August 6th- Jared got back late in the afternoon and then we went down to Kim’s for a cookout. Tracy came up with Ashlyn, Trey and Lynnea for a long weekend so it was nice to be able to see them and the family for an evening.
August 7th- Jared went with RUSH for a lake day at Perry’s
And that brings us up to date!! Wheww!!
So a recap...
June 14-25th- Jared had drama camp each morning and then at the end of the 2 weeks, they performed, "Horror High: The Musical".
June 23rd- We had a VERY BAD storm in the evening. Jared had gone with Sarah to Dairy Queen because it looked like it would be a while before the storm got to our area, but it moved in fast and by the time they could get back home it got really bad. Just as they turned into our addition, a large part of a tree came down across DeCamp taking the power lines with it. God obviously was watching out for them because of they had been just a few minutes sooner the tree may have fallen on Sarah’s car! She had to park her car in a drive way on the other side of the tree and then they had to run home in the rain. Mark went out to pick them up, but they were nearly home by the time he got to them. By this time it was raining and storming so badly we decided we needed to go to the basement…and of course thanks to that tree, we had no electricity! Sarah stayed until the worst of the storm passed and then we drove her back down to the tree so she could get to her car. Our power ended up being out until nearly 10:00 Thursday night and what a pain it was! You can no idea how much you use electricity until you no longer have it. I felt like I was Amish and I didn’t like it very much! I thought I would just go into work early Thursday so at least I could use the electricity there, but power was out in the church neighborhood too! A tree had also fallen there and taken out power for several homes! So….Jared went off to drama camp and Mark and Adam went t work and since I couldn’t do anything at home I went and spend some time at Panera and took my laptop. I guess there were several 1000s in Elkhart County without power!
June 27th- Jared I were on worship team, and since there was no power we practiced without mics and lights! ;) At least it was a sunny evening and there was quite a bit of light coming in through the windows.
June 28th- Well, here it is Friday and still no power at the office and we were wondering if it would come back on before Sunday. What would it be like to have church without a bulletin or maybe even church without power at all??? However, the power came back on around noon on Friday. So I worked late on Friday and came back in for a while on Saturday to get things finished up with the bulletin! What a week!
June 28th- Jared & I went to Pottawatomi Zoo.
June 30th- Jared had gone sailing with Larry & Judy Miller and in the evening they invited Mark, Adam & I to come and join them. Judy came up and brought dinner for us. Jared had gone sailing with Larry a few times before, but this was the first time the rest of us had been sailing and it was a lot of fun!
July 1st- July 11th - Friday morning….left for Word of Life Camp- Schroon Lake, NY! I have an album of photos for each day uploaded to Facebook about our adventures at camp. We had a great day trip this year to Lake Placid where they Olympics were held in 1980 and 1934. We got to go to the Olympic Center where all of the ice skating took place and it was SO, SO neat to be there where those awesome skaters had skated. This is also where the Miracle on Ice took place the US Hockey team defeated Russia. Another fun thing was the pile of SNOW they had outside of the Olympic Center! This was one of the hottest weeks on record in the Adirondacks, but there was still snow there as they make a pile to bring in every day! I even got a great photo of Jared and Lori having a snowball fight!
The boys did excellent in Teens’ Involved and all but 2 placed on the top 5….which is awesome!
On the way home from camp we stopped on Niagara Falls!
July 12th-16th- Vacation Bible School at MMBC…where I was the photographer and Mark did games with Shawn. Jared was part of the nightly drama team.
July 17th- Jared & Adam went to Cedar Point with RUSH and Mark and I went to Don & Michele’s 25th Wedding vow renewal ceremony. Afterwards we went out to dinner with Shawn and veronica to Papa Vino’s in South Bend.
July 19th- Hosted a Lia Sophia Jewelry party.
July 23rd- 31st- Elkhart County 4-H Fair. Jared took 2 herbs and received a blue on his Oregano and an Honor on his Tarragon. We went to the fair Friday night as a family, but it was an extremely HOT HOT night so we didn’t stay long.
Tuesday- Mark, Jared and I went to see Huey Lewis & the News. It was a great concert! Mark and I had seen them back in ’85 and Huey still sounded great!
Wednesday- after another bad storm came through Elkhart County, Jared and I decided to go back to the fair again…just the two of us.
Thursday- Mark and I went back to the fair and ended up spending some time with Glenn & Mary as well as Shawn & Veronica later in the evening.
July 25th- Jared & I were on worship team again.
Mark had a youth group reunion at Harrison Center. It was really nice to see John & Karen and lot of others back from Harrison Center Church
July 26th- Aric came over last night and spent the night and then spent the day with us. Later in the afternoon Braden come over too. It seemed funny to have them both here for that time because we used to babysit each of them regularly, but neither one had been here for a long time.
July 29th – Ethan Quiram is home to stay for a few weeks, with Grandma and Grandpa Miller and so today Jared and some of the other MMBC kids all went sailing with Larry again.
August 1st-6th- Jared left for Checkpoint Bible Camp in Buffalo, IN to be a councilor.
August 1st- We had our first WOL meeting of the year to plan our kick off party. Shawn and Veronica are joining us this year as WOL leaders and I know it is going to be a great year! The big news at MMBC is that we are making a switch this year and are taking on the WOL Olympian & Gopher Buddies program instead of AWANA! It think it is going to be a very positive change for our church in general!
That evening Adam took me out to eat at CiCi’s…Mark didn’t want to go so it was just Adam and I which was kind of nice!
August 6th- Jared got back late in the afternoon and then we went down to Kim’s for a cookout. Tracy came up with Ashlyn, Trey and Lynnea for a long weekend so it was nice to be able to see them and the family for an evening.
August 7th- Jared went with RUSH for a lake day at Perry’s
And that brings us up to date!! Wheww!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Catching up a bit more….
Life has been kinda quiet around here since Nicole has gone back to Korea, but we are easily falling back into a regular routine, which is a as busy as usual. Jared has been going to Drama camp all last week and this week to prepare for a production this weekend. It is a brand new play that Mary worked with the writer on to make it work for drama camp. It is called Horror High School: The Musical. We have tickets for Friday night and I think Mark and I are going to help usher on Saturday.
They told us that we had to leave due to insurance reasons. {They did finish making our sandwiches which we paid for!} By this time it was POURING down rain and so we all had to run across the street and ended up SOAKING wet and eating dinner in the corner of the lobby at the Opera House! So much for Subway caring for their customers...you would have thought that they would have allowed us to stay instead of sending us out in the midst of what they said was a tornado. {And there never were any tornadoes...just BAD storms!}. Anyway... "Millie" was great....Jill & Mary both did a great job, as did everyone else, and I really enjoyed it even though I felt a bit soggy through most of it! ;)
June 19th- Saturday night was our end of year party for WOL. We did a digital scavenger hunt and send the kids and the parent off with a long list of things they had to take photos of and then we ate pizza and tallied up the points for each team when they returned. I think everyone, including the parents, had a lot of fun!
June 20th- Sunday was Father’s Day and after church we went down and spend the day at Mark and Linda’s. It was a very nice afternoon and we spend a lot of the time sitting out on their front porch. That morning in church our new pastoral intern, Christopher and Heather Kocher were with us. They will be her for a year starting in August, and this was a nice day to meet them and Christopher gave the sermon. They have the cutest little boy named Aiden! Since the weather was so nice, Jared and I slept in the tent….I don’t think we slept in the tent at all last summer so it was kind of nice to be able to do it again. I had thought we would keep it up and sleep in again on Monday night, but storms were heading our way so the tent had to come down Monday morning.
June 21st- I took Joanna out to lunch at Panera. We had a nice time just sitting and talking with each other!
Now backing up a bit….
Saturday, June 12th- We went to Rachel’s wedding….she married Tim Brandli. It was a beautiful wedding and Rachel looks so pretty in her wedding dress. The reception was outside in the parking lot next to the Laborde’s and it was a hot and humid afternoon, but thankfully there was a breeze to that helped a lot. That evening we left the reception a bit early and went to Goshen to see Morgan and Brock in a Glee Club concert.
Sunday, June 13th, we spend the afternoon with the Jordans and went up to Grand Rapids and spend the day at Frederick Meijer Gardens. What a beautiful place! They had so many wonderful flowers and some interesting sculptures as well. http://meijergardens.org/index.php
Everyone took a ton of photos that day! Here is a link to my Facebook album with all of the photos that I took.
Monday, June 14th, Lori, Jill and I went to Hacienda for dinner and then afterwards went to the movies to see “Letters from Juliet”. I really enjoyed the movie. It is definitely a chick-flick and it made me cry at the end! ;)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Busy Weeks
The last few weeks have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog....even just to do my week in review, so will catch up here with the highlights!
Friday, May 28th- Nicole cooked a Korean meal for us! It was sirloin marinated in a Korean marinade, with some different kind of mushrooms. I made Jasmine rice to go with it and we even bought some fortune cookies for dessert. {Even though Nicole says they don't eat fortune cookies in Korea.} The meal was very good!
Saturday, May 29th- Mom and Dad came up and we went to Martin's Pet and Garden so Adam could help them pick out some plants for their pond of their deck. We then went to Chelsey Bayes open house and the onto to a double header church softball game. It was very hot and mom and I found nice shade on the side of the dug out instead of sitting right out in the sun! {Photos take by Veronica!}
Sunday, May 30th- Memorial Day Sunday: We went to Potato Creek as always. I can't even remember how long we have been going our annual picnic at Potato Creek, but I am pretty sure we were even doing it before Mark and I were married, but maybe not every year until after the boys were born. The weather was very warm, but there was enough of a breeze and we had low humidity so that helped a lot!
Monday May 31st- Memorial Day: One week from today, Nicole will be heading back to Korea...we have a busy wee ahead of us! Today we went to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. We ended up getting caught in the middle of a heavy rain storm while back in the tiger area and Adam & I got separated from Mark, Jared & Nicole. Adam and I also found out that trying to hide under a thatched room to keep dry doesn't work very well...the rain does get through! But...thankfully we were able to keep moving to around to find dry spots so our cameras didn't get wet. Thankfully, it didn't rain long and we were able to meet up with the rest of the family and enjoy the rest of the day at the zoo. After leaving the zoo we went to the mall for a while and then ate dinner at Chipotle.
Thursday, June 3rd- Nicole's Graduation Ceremony from Concord High School.
When I got home from work this afternoon before heading off to Nicole's graduation, I went to the basement and noticed that our bunny, Twix, was not looking right and went right away to get Adam. We were pretty sure that he was very sick and probably dying! L I called Veronica since she has had rabbits for a long time and she said to make him comfortable by adding a towel to his cage and see if he would eat anything. He wouldn't eat, breathing was very shallow and he felt so cold. He barely was even moving. We went off to Nicole's graduation, (the boys stayed home), and Adam kept an eye on Twix while we were gone and he wasn't doing any better. I went down and spent some time petting him and trying to making him feel better, but just before I went to bed that evening, Twix died. Adam already had a box ready for him and a hole dug under the pine trees and so went out right then and buried him. We had Twix for at least years and he was getting old for a bunny, but it was still sad for Adam & I. Jared and Mark really didn't care much about him though. I will miss our sweet, little bunny!
Friday, June 4th- Jared went out to dinner with Sarah and the rest of us went to dinner at CiCis and then went shopping for all of the food and other things that we needed for Nicole's open house which was the next day.
Saturday, June 5th- Nicole's Open House!
It rained in the morning and continued to rain for most of the open house, but at least we knew ahead of time so we could just plan to have it inside instead of having to rush and pull things inside in the middle of the rain like we did with Adam's! J It ended up a very nice day; lots of people from church came as well as some of Nicole's friends from school. As tradition stands….both Nicole and Yve got thrown into the pool near the end of the open house. That tradition got started back with Marica and it has to go on, so Mark took on Yve and Shawn pushed in Nicole. Yve put up a bit more a fight, but Nicole was resigned to the fact and didn't really give Shawn too much trouble, though they both made a point to give everyone nice wet hugs afterwards!
Sunday, June 6th- Nicole's last day with us and last Sunday at church!
Nicole spend most of the day packing and getting thing around and later that evening the Springers came over for dinner. Lori was out of town for Nicole's open house, so we invited them to come over for Sunday dinner so she, along with the rest of the family, could say goodbye to her. One of Nicole's favorite meals while here in the USA was spaghetti, so we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner that evening.
Monday, June 7th- Today is the day….Nicole heads back to Korea!
Nicole's flight left today shortly after 9AM and it was hard to see her go! She wrote each of us a very sweet letter which she gave to use right before she left. It seems very strange for her not be here with us any longer. L That evening I kept expecting her to come out of her room and plop down on the couch and pet Tucker! She left lots of thing behind and so her room doesn't even look like she is gone. She and her Dad are coming back in August to visit New York City and Washington DC and will come here for a day to visit with us before heading to Cincinatti where she will go to school at a private school for the next year.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Week in Review: 5/17
Monday, May 17th: Jared and I went to Shipshewana for the afternoon. The main reason that we went was to find something for Mark for his birthday. Last year we bought him a ball made out of barbed wire to put in the flower beds. It sounds really strange, but it is actually a unique decoration and he really liked it. We had also bought another barbed wire thing to hang on the fence. We went back to the same store in hopes we could find something similar. We didn't find anything new made from the barbed wire, but we did find a neat trellis that was rusted and had a similar style. We also went to the cheese place and a couple of other places.
Tuesday, May 18th: C.E. Meeting
Wednesday, May 19th: After work, Jared and I went to Kohl's since we had a 30% off coupon and I found a new pair of Capris, which I really love! Tongiht was our last night of WOL for the year. It is hard to believe that this WOL has come and gone already! We still have a end of year party that we are planning for June, but all of the regular club nights are done now.
Thursday, May 20th: Worship team practice
Friday, May 21st: Today we had a pretty bad storm....thankfully not much wind, but it poured down rain so hard I could barely see to drive home. Mark even drove through quite a bit of hail on the way home. It cleared up for a while and we did a bit of work in the yard and then another storm came through later on.
Saturday, May 22nd: Mark, Jared, Tucker, and I participated in a walk for Ribbon of Hope at Island Park in the morning. Several people from McCoy went too including the Jordans. Veronica, Tucker and I walked together and we were some of the last ones done. They had a nice path marked out for us to walk....around the island and down the river walk and back around the YMCA. After we were done with the walk Shawn paid for our lunch at McDs. The weather wasn't very nice in the morning, in fact, it misted through much of our walking time. Thankfully, later in the day the weather turned very nice, which was perfect since that evening Jared went to the Northridge prom with Sarah Griffin. I went to drop him off and of course we took several photos.
Sunday, May 23rd: Worship Team at church then in the afternoon, we opened up the pool. It is going to be a while before it is warm enough to swim, but today was our first hot day, (high 80s) and it is supposed to be that warm all week so it may warm up sooner than we think! That evening, Jared & Nicole had their end of year RUSH party at the Hanson's.
Tuesday, May 18th: C.E. Meeting
Wednesday, May 19th: After work, Jared and I went to Kohl's since we had a 30% off coupon and I found a new pair of Capris, which I really love! Tongiht was our last night of WOL for the year. It is hard to believe that this WOL has come and gone already! We still have a end of year party that we are planning for June, but all of the regular club nights are done now.
Thursday, May 20th: Worship team practice
Friday, May 21st: Today we had a pretty bad storm....thankfully not much wind, but it poured down rain so hard I could barely see to drive home. Mark even drove through quite a bit of hail on the way home. It cleared up for a while and we did a bit of work in the yard and then another storm came through later on.
Saturday, May 22nd: Mark, Jared, Tucker, and I participated in a walk for Ribbon of Hope at Island Park in the morning. Several people from McCoy went too including the Jordans. Veronica, Tucker and I walked together and we were some of the last ones done. They had a nice path marked out for us to walk....around the island and down the river walk and back around the YMCA. After we were done with the walk Shawn paid for our lunch at McDs. The weather wasn't very nice in the morning, in fact, it misted through much of our walking time. Thankfully, later in the day the weather turned very nice, which was perfect since that evening Jared went to the Northridge prom with Sarah Griffin. I went to drop him off and of course we took several photos.
Sunday, May 23rd: Worship Team at church then in the afternoon, we opened up the pool. It is going to be a while before it is warm enough to swim, but today was our first hot day, (high 80s) and it is supposed to be that warm all week so it may warm up sooner than we think! That evening, Jared & Nicole had their end of year RUSH party at the Hanson's.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Week in Review 5/9
May 9th- Mothers Day- Spent the day at Mom & Dad's house. Grandma, Kim and Kassie were also there and Mom and I went with Kim to see her new apartment since she and Joe have split up. :(
May 10th- Went to the dentist to have my very first root canal. YUCK!!! Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, but it was terribly uncomfortable keeping my mouth open that long.
Tucker had an appointment with Amanda that afternoon, but since Adam is done with school and had Monday's off he took Tucker to get his hair cut.
May 11th- Took that van to Naquins for an oil change and to have them fix the driver's side window since for some reason on Sunday it stopped going down!
May 12th- Birthday!- Since we had WOL, we didn't do anything to celebrate our birthdays on Wednesday. It was so nice to see how many birthday wishes that I received on Facebook! I have no idea how many, but it was A LOT!!
May 14th- Mom's birthday: We called her and all sang Happy Birthday to her! For dinner we all went to Ryan's for our belated birthday dinner.
May 15th- Worked in the yard some...planting flowers and cleaning up flower beds. In the afternoon we walked over to the fire station since they were having an open house and then Jared had a church softball game in the evening. {They lost!}
May 16th- Mark and Linda came up for dinner and we all went to Lintons in the afternoon. Jared and Nicole had the RUSH senior banquet that evening and the Jordan's came to pick them up and then came back and joined us for dinner that evening. We had hamburgers, Griller and sausages on the grill!
Here are a couple of photos that Veronica took of Tucker that evening:
And a couple of pics of our flowers that she also took:
May 10th- Went to the dentist to have my very first root canal. YUCK!!! Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, but it was terribly uncomfortable keeping my mouth open that long.
Tucker had an appointment with Amanda that afternoon, but since Adam is done with school and had Monday's off he took Tucker to get his hair cut.
May 11th- Took that van to Naquins for an oil change and to have them fix the driver's side window since for some reason on Sunday it stopped going down!
May 12th- Birthday!- Since we had WOL, we didn't do anything to celebrate our birthdays on Wednesday. It was so nice to see how many birthday wishes that I received on Facebook! I have no idea how many, but it was A LOT!!
May 14th- Mom's birthday: We called her and all sang Happy Birthday to her! For dinner we all went to Ryan's for our belated birthday dinner.
May 15th- Worked in the yard some...planting flowers and cleaning up flower beds. In the afternoon we walked over to the fire station since they were having an open house and then Jared had a church softball game in the evening. {They lost!}
May 16th- Mark and Linda came up for dinner and we all went to Lintons in the afternoon. Jared and Nicole had the RUSH senior banquet that evening and the Jordan's came to pick them up and then came back and joined us for dinner that evening. We had hamburgers, Griller and sausages on the grill!
Here are a couple of photos that Veronica took of Tucker that evening:
And a couple of pics of our flowers that she also took:
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