{ random }

I've been looking back at what all has gone on since my last post, and truly it's been a great week.

We finally got news that our background clearances have come through, and so it's only about a week until our Foster Home License will be complete.  (That's a required step for Illinois home studies...)

That means we just have to get our family profile completed, and we can become active with the agency!

Unfortunately this week is pretty busy, but I'm hoping we can work some on our profile this weekend.

I'd love to get it submitted by the end of September, but that may be a tad unrealistic.

Another big thing I have been "waiting" on was the implementation of our church website, 

a project that I've been working on for the last 5 or so months.  

The actual design work didn't take that long, but for whatever reason the effort just really seemed to drag on.

The design/photos/writing wasn't that difficult, but the technical transition aspect of taking the old site down and launching the new one was pretty crazy for me.  I learned a LOT.  

And, now that I can look back, I am thankful I had the opportunity.  

You can check out the site here:  www.1stu.org

We used a template company for the site, which certainly won't win me any street cred with the web developers I work with at my day job.  I joked with a friend today that the only thing that would have made it more shameful in their eyes would be if I had used site-wide Comic Sans font. :)

But honestly, glad for the opportunity and glad to have it implemented.

On Friday night, Hannah and I took dinner to some neighbors. 

One of the things I love most about our little town is that people help each other here.

We've experienced it a lot, through Brian's cancer, Hannah's very early arrival, Brian's heart trouble....

People here just care about each other and like to reach out when there's someone who could use a hand.
And though I'm generally pretty socially awkward in those situations, 

I can make a darn good peanut butter pie.  So that's what we did.
We fixed a dinner, delivered it via Radio Flyer, and then went to the football game.
I love Fridays.

Saturday was the long awaited Morton Pumpkin Festival.
Our annual trip is one of my very favorite days of the year.
We got there in time for the parade and stayed all day... riding rides, eating pumpkin treats, and browsing crafts.

In the afternoon, our high school performed in the marching band competition in the same town, so we headed over in time to see them compete.  They are small in number, but really do a great job.

That's a credible endorsement coming from a 12 year band nerd.

(All the way through college, baby.)

 

Following the band competition, we decided to make one last stop at the Pumpkin Festival to pick up some treats to go.  Alas, they were sold out of nearly everything by that time, but we still got to sample 

the amazing pumpkin soft serve ice cream.  Wow, was it good.

And, just so you know, this photo is un-retouched.  That is the actual color of Brian's face after 7 hours in the sun.

Finally, I mentioned in my last post that I had some fall recipes to try over the weekend,
and I did get around to two.

Both were great - 

Monster Crunch (Not really "cooking", but here's the recipe nonetheless.  Great for tailgating)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Made these last night for bible study and they were devoured by all).

Have a great week!