The 12 Days of Christmas...INDY STYLE!

If you're near Indianapolis, check out the 12 FREE Days of Christmas in Indy. Sounds fun!

Playing the Part

The coming weekend will be a busy one for us. Veedersburg's Christmas Parade is Saturday, and Veedersburg UMC is going to have a float in the parade. I'm excited about attending this event, if only for the chance to get out of the house and maybe meet some people in our new town. Sunday our other church, Hillsboro UMC, will be having their Live Nativity and Chili Supper. Again, this is going to be an opportunity for us to meet some people in Hillsboro (and to have some yummy chili).

I wouldn't be lying if I told you I wasn't 100% comfortable about Matt and I playing Mary and Joseph in the Live Nativity. When the biggest struggle in our life the past few years has been conceiving a child, I imagine I might have some difficulty playing a new mother. Then again, maybe it will all be just fine, and I won't be bothered by it at all.

I think I've dealt with a lot of this transition by operating in "autopilot." There are days when I push my emotions to the back burner, and just work at checking things off my to-do list. Every now and then my emotions boil over as if to remind me that they're still there. Someday soon I think I'll address this pot of emotions, but right now I'm praying that God will allow me to keep them pushed back for this Live Nativity...

I want to be a winner too...

Okay - just trying to win some computers here. You should too! Check it out here: http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q408-hp-magic-giveaway-enter-our-contest-to-win-over-6000-in-electronics/

Black Friday (and presents for me too!)

I'm exhausted from shopping all this morning. Mom and I were at Kohl's by 6:00, then went to Target and Bath and Body Works. I spent $400 today (YIKES!), and I'm almost totally done with my Christmas shopping!

Also, I ordered this new toy for myself, and can't wait to get it in the mail soon!:























I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We did!

Heavy Heart

Sigh...I want to write something meaningful and heartfelt, but I'm spent. My heart has been heavy the past couple of days, because my boss' wife is dying. It's only a matter of days...

She's had pancreatic cancer for just over a year now, and that is not a good cancer to have (not than any cancer is "good"). There is just nothing more the doctors can do. My boss is usually emotionally stable, so it was pretty hard to watch him cry at my desk this afternoon telling me all that has happened in the past few days. I didn't know what else to do...I just sat there and cried with him. I feel so helpless. It's my job to make things easier for him, but this time there is nothing I can do.

Sometimes I just don't understand this life we live. It's filled with so much pain and despair, and it's hard to see the good things peeking through the black cloud that's created by that sadness we feel. I'm praying hard tonight that God helps me understand just a little more about the chaos that we live in. And I'm praying even harder for a miracle...

Reusable Bags anyone?

I know I'm not a mother, but I still love to read Simple Mom. She always has something interesting to read, and today is no exception! Check out today's blog to hear about the best in reusable tote bags.

What? You say you don't use those at your house? WHATAREYOUWAITINGFOR? Sit. Let me convince you.

1. They're so much cuter than those nasty plastic bags you get from the grocery.
2. They hold so much more! I am amazed at how I can consistently get a week's worth of groceries into two bags. TWO BAGS!
3. It's way better for the environment. Seriously people. Do you know how many gazillion plastic bags are used every year? Those things aren't biodegradable!

Now, get over to Simple Mom and learn all you needed to about these awesome bags. AND you can enter to win some too!

Twitterpated...

I'm giving in to the hype. I'm weak that way. I'm tweeting now at twitter.com. Come on over and we'll be twits together!

https://twitter.com/kdswisher

My husband is funny...

I tried cracking a joke today as Matt and I were putting together our new dining room furniture. He looked at me and said something like, "Why don't you just let me be the funny one, okay?" Psh...turns out, he is pretty funny. This post on his blog cracks me up! Funny is so incredibly sexy, isn't it?

"Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat."
-Joanne Woodward (married to Paul Newman)

Update

It has been 16 days since my last post. I'm so sorry to have been gone for so long! It has been a hectic time for us lately. We moved to Veedersburg on October 28th, and have been trying to get settled ever since.

Our last day at Emmanuel was very emotional. It hurts so badly to say goodbye to so many people that we love. I know we will see each other time and again, but I'm still sad to leave. One week later, we enjoyed a wonderful first Sunday at Veedersburg and Hillsboro churches. These congregations are so different from Emmanuel, but we're thankful to be here for the next chapter in our ministry.

Moving day went very well. In 7/12 hours our movers packed our old house, drove 90 miles, had lunch and unpacked into the new house. They were SO quick! Also, these guys were polite, respectful, gentle with our belongings, and they really seemed to have fun doing a job I would hate! On top of that, they ended up charging us $500 less than they had originally estimated!!! If you're ever in the market for a moving company, I would highly recommend Two Men and a Truck (www.twomen.com).

We have been living among cardboard boxes ever since, and I am OVER IT! We are slowly getting everything in order, but some days there just too many other things to do besides unpacking. We'll get it done soon. I'm determined to have it totally done by Thanksgiving.

This is my first week working at home part-time. My office days on Monday and Tuesday went well, and the rest of the week I have been working here at home. I've spent a lot of this week getting my office set up, and I think I'm almost comfortable. I have a nice, big desk right under a window that looks into our back yard. I also have a TV in my office that somehow keeps me from stressing out! It's nice to work at home in my PJ's, with my kitties and hubby around. It's also very nice to be able to eat at home three meals a day!

As good as things have been, I do have to admit that I have had a difficult time transitioning to our new town. There is next to NO shopping anywhere near here, so a simple trip to Target take hours because it's 45 minutes away. Last week I was a total pain in the butt to Matt too - don't worry...I apologized. I think I'm starting to realize that when I'm stressed out I get really bossy and crabby. It's something to work on.

It's been a crazy time here, but soon I think things will settle down. Hopefully I'll be regular on the blog again. Peace!

Random Stuff...

1. I filled my gas tank last night for less than $30. First time in YEARS!

2. I am expecting four boxes of Pampered Chef items to be delivered to my house today. I have been checking the FedEx tracking site every 15 minutes since 7:30 this morning to see if they have been delivered. Regardless of when they come, I'm still at work until 5:30. Why am I so stinking excited about this stupid delivery? Geez...

3. We went to Veedersburg to see our new house yesterday. There were some people there painting and cleaning for us when we got there, so we got to meet some new faces. I'm excited about our paint colors, but concerned about the "old person's house" smell that seems to have permeated the entire place. Anyone know how to get rid of these odors?

4. 6 days until the moving truck arrives. Am I done packing? No. Am I excited about the move? A little. Am I sad to leave Noblesville? Yes. Am I ready for this whole thing to be done? Absolutely!

5. We're moving to a land where there is no digital cable, so now we are looking into getting a Tivo. If you have one, please share your thoughts with me. We don't know anyone that owns a Tivo, but really can't live without being able to record our shows. What can I say? We're spoiled...

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's HOME to work I go!!!

As you'll see in this post and this post and this post, Matt and I are moving in 12 days to Veedersburg, Indiana. There is a lot of change wrapped up in this move that I have talked about in these previous posts. One thing that we haven't known a lot about though, is my job. Lots of people have asked what will happen to my job, and I haven't been able to give them an answer...

...until today.

I had a meeting with my boss and my office manager today to discuss my job. In my mind I had imagined a near-perfect situation. I currently work four days every week (I have Tuesdays off). I thought that it would be good to work two days in the office, and the rest of the time I could work from home. The days in the office would (ideally) be consecutive days, so I could make just one round-trip from Veedersburg to Indianapolis (70 miles each way), and stay with my parents over night. There is really so much that I can do remotely. In my mind, I could think of no reason why this wouldn't work.

Apparently, they couldn't think of a reason either, because they APPROVED IT! Starting in November, I will be working Mondays and Tuesdays in the office, and the rest of my work will be done from HOME! I'm so excited! I feel like a HUGE burden has been lifted here. I was SO worried about my job. Now I get to keep the job I have, and I won't have to spend more money on gas than I do right now! I can't help but think that, when we have babies someday, this schedule will come in handy. Just think - we'd probably only need child care for two days every week. That's awesome, isn't it?

I am really thanking God today. He's totally got my back here, and now I can look forward to the move with a LOT less stress. Isn't He so good???

Dreaming of Playa del Carmen

Okay, so I've never been to Playa del Carmen, but I am dreaming of what I think it might be like. Winter is just around the corner here in Indiana, and that means one thing: SOUP'S ON! In the last few years, I have really grown to love cooking soups in the fall and winter. I sometimes follow a recipe, and sometimes do not. The other night, I didn't, and this is the magic that happened:

“Dreaming of Playa del Carmen” Chorizo Soup

1 lb. chorizo (casing removed)

Meat from one whole chicken (I bought a rotisserie chicken, skinned it, and tore the meat off)

1 medium onion, chopped

2-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 bag of frozen corn

2 cans of black beans, drained

2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chilis (Rotel)

4-6 c. chicken stock or chicken broth (to your liking)

Salt and pepper to taste

2-3 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sautee onions in olive oil over medium to medium-high heat and add the garlic when onions are translucent. Add chorizo, and break up into crumbles as it cooks. After chorizo has cooked through, add Rotel (with liquid), black beans (without liquid), corn and chicken. Add salt and pepper and chicken stock. Simmer for about an hour, and enjoy!

Full Speed Ahead

I worked last night at a charge conference meeting of 6 churches in Indy. Everything went really well, and I enjoyed meeting some people I talk to on the phone regularly. It's always good to put names with faces, isn't it?

During the conference, the district superintendent who was running the meeting talked about a conversation he had with one of the pastors in his district. The pastor and his daughter were talking, and came to this conclusion:

When Jesus says, "Follow Me" it means we're going somewhere!

Can I get an AMEN? :)

How many of us answer to Jesus' call to follow Him, and expect to remain right where we are? You can certainly put me in that crowd. Here's what my prayer life has looked like for the past few weeks:

"I love you Jesus, and I want to serve you with my life and my vocation, but I want to do that RIGHT HERE. I don't want to leave my friends, my family, my favorite grocery store, my convenient mall, my church family, etc. So, if you could just reconsider this whole move-across-the-state-to-a-town-where-I-don't-know-anyone-and-the-nearest-shopping-is-in-Illinois thing, that would be AWESOME. Mkay?"

I really am so nervous about this move. I don't know yet if I'll be able to keep my job or not. I'm nervous about making all new friends, about finding my way around, and I have almost convinced myself that the people in our new churches won't like me at all. Oh - and I'm spending more than just a little time wondering what kind of bugs we'll have to deal with at our new house. (Please God - no centipedes again...please?) Oh the anxiety that I am working up in myself...it's really taking its toll! I have had some bad headaches and back pain in the past couple weeks, and I KNOW that it's because I'm stressing out so much.

God met me at church on Sunday. I know I shouldn't be surprised - He's always there. I just don't always look for Him I guess. The songs we sang, the prayers we said, the message that was given - God spoke to me through it all. It's as if He was calming me - calming my nerves and my spirit. He was reminding me that HE is everything I'll ever need.

We sang one of my favorites - You Are My All in All. This song always reminds me of being at SIFAT. I would tell most people that it's because I learned that song there. I will honestly tell you though that I think of SIFAT when I hear this song because that's where God and I first had some grown-up moments together. SIFAT was the first time I left home, and just depended on God. No parents. Not much money. No mall in the time zone (slight exaggeration). Just me and God having some good time together. It was almost like my honeymoon with Jesus, and I don't care if you think that sounds cheesy!

What does it mean for me to sing that Jesus is my "all in all"??? If I believe what I sing, he is the ONLY thing I need. So what if I don't make friends at our new home? God is really the only friend I need. So what if I can't keep my job? God's going to provide. No shopping? Don't need it - I have God. Jesus is ENOUGH. I don't need more things, more money, more friends, more activities, etc. Jesus is ENOUGH. He is my all in all.

So - Jesus has asked us to follow Him, and we're following Him to Veedersburg. We're going somewhere - us and Jesus - and He is going to be everything we need.

You are my strength when I am weak.
You are the treasure that I seek.
You are my all in all.
Seeking you as a precious jewel.
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool.
You are my all in all.

Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is your name!

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
Rising again, I bless your name.
You are my all in all.
When I fall down, you pick me up.
When I am dry, you fill my cup.
You are my all in all.

Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is your name!

To Make You Feel My Love

Matt and I are moving. His job (wait – I hate calling it a “job.” It’s his ministry…) is taking us to western Indiana, and in three weeks we’ll be leaving Noblesville. It’s been a hard few weeks leading up to this point. We knew going into United Methodist ministry that we would be moved, but it’s been hard actually experiencing it.

How do I say goodbye to a congregation that has loved me like family? How do I say goodbye to these teenagers we’ve invested so much of ourselves in? How do we pack up our entire life and move it 90 miles away without going totally insane? Living out our last few weeks here will be hard, but it will be essential for us to stay focused and committed right up to the last minute.

We started packing this weekend. We have packed all our books (45 boxes), DVD’s and games (except for the Wii, because come on – we’re completely addicted to Mario Kart). For some reason as soon as the books were packed, this house I’ve been living in for 16 months stopped feeling like home.

We packed Matt’s office last night – books, decorations, more books, etc. It’s been emotional saying goodbye to Emmanuel box by box. We had music playing on Pandora.com (oh my – you must check out this website if you haven’t already. LOVE!). We’re in the middle of packing all of his stuff, and “our song” came on. He stopped what he was doing, grabbed me, and danced with me right there. We were in his tiny office, both sweaty and dirty and dusty from packing, tired and emotional, but we still danced. We were probably both remembering our wedding day when we danced to this song for the first time as husband and wife. We were probably both remembering the night at SIFAT that made that song “ours.” We were probably both thinking about how God had not only sustained us but BLESSED us up to this point in our life together, and we were probably both remembering that God was definitely going to continue to do so as we move on to our new appointment.

It was exactly what I needed. I needed to remember that we are in this together. I needed to just stand face-to-face with my husband and remember that we are a team – partners in this ministry. And I needed to look on his gentle face, stare into his warm hazel eyes, and remember that I am so in love with him still.

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I would offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

Itinerant...

Hi internets...

How many ways can I apologize for the hiatus I have been on? Here I took so much time and care in writing the 100 Things about myself, and then I left you high and dry. While I am eternally sorry for leaving you hanging for so long, I am finding it hard to believe that anyone is even still waiting around to hear from me again. If anyone is actually out there reading this, I am sorry. I owe you a steak dinner (or at least some fish sticks and shells & cheese).

To get a better understanding of where I have been the past few weeks, I think it's best for me to post an e-mail announcement that was sent to my friends and family. It's the same news, and I don't really want to re-type it anyway.

Here you go...

Hello friends and family,

As some of you know, Matt is an elder in the United Methodist Church. In the UMC, pastors are appointed to their churches by the bishop and a group of district superintendents who make up the bishop's cabinet. Elders make vows when they are ordained and commissioned to be fully itinerant - meaning they travel from place to place. Back in the beginning of Methodism, pastors would travel from church to church (usually on horseback) to minister to congregations far and wide. Thankfully, the days of "circuit riders" are long gone, but we are still bound by our vows to be itinerant, and to go where God and the bishop lead.

Now is when we see those vows in action. The bishop and cabinet (and most of all, GOD) have appointed Matt to a new church, and we will be moved to this new appointment by November 1st.

Matt will be the senior pastor of two small, country churches in the western part of the state: Veedersburg UMC and Hillsboro UMC. A parsonage is provided for us, and the house will be in Veedersburg. Veedersburg is a small town (about 2200 people) one mile south of I-74 on SR 41. (We will be about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Mom and Dad's house on the south side of Indy.) We are sad about leaving our current appointment, but we both are feeling a strong sense of God's peace in this. We both know without a doubt that this is where we are supposed to go.

We met with the leadership at both churches on Monday, and we were able to tour the parsonage as well. It is a bigger house for us, but it can use some updating! :) We look forward to making this house our home. The congregations are really excited about having a young couple in ministry at their church, and we are excited to go. Matt loves to preach and teach and visit with people, and this new appointment gives him the opportunity to do what he loves. My sister said it best when she pointed out that, "Matt will FINALLY be able to do what he was called to do so long ago!"

I am sad to leave friends we have made here in Noblesville. I am VERY sad to move farther away from family. I am nervous about moving from the Indianapolis area to such a small town. I am VERY nervous about making new friends, and finding my place in Veedersburg. I don't know yet what will happen with my job. My boss has mentioned the possibility of me working from home, but we haven't worked out details for sure yet.

We covet your prayers through this transition. We know that the love and prayerful support of our friends and family will carry us far, and that we haven't reached where we are today without them. I hope we will get to see each other soon. Know that you are always welcome in our home, whether it is in Noblesville, Veedersburg or the Moon!

Love you all,
Katie

Still here

I know it's been a while, and I promise I'll be up and blogging again soon. There's some seriously crazy stuff going on at the Swisher house, so once that settles, I'll fill you in and resume blogging as normal. Be praying for us kids...we're on a bumpy ride right now!

100 Things - The Finale

91. Since I was a child, I have wanted to be no less than fifty things when I grow up. Doctor, astronaut, teacher, musician, graphic designer, journalist…the list goes on and on. As I near that “grown up” stage, I realize that what I want to be most in my life are these three things: 1) A woman of faith, 2) A wife and 3) A mother.

92. My parents have been married for 34 years. Their marriage hasn’t always been great, but they love each other. I’m proud that they have stuck together through (most of) the hard times.

93. I am the oldest of three children. My sister, Kelly, is three years younger than me. My brother, Robert, is 6 years younger. We grew up fighting hard, playing harder and loving each other most of all. (I do have an older half-sister, but we haven’t known each other for very long.)

94. I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew (and 1 niece on the way). Tayla and Damon are the oldest, and belong to Matt’s sister. She is having another girl later this year, and we can’t wait to meet Clarissa! Kamryn is my sister’s daughter, and she brings more joy to my life than I ever expected her to. (My half-sister has twin girls that are so lovely and sweet. They don’t know that we’re related though. They’re pretty young, and explaining the whole situation would be rough.)

95. I have had trouble keeping in good touch with some of my best friends from my youth. These people were crucial to my life at one point, and I hate that we don’t see each other more. I think it’s my fault, and that makes me sad.

96. I have lots of great ideas, but have trouble seeing them all through. I know that at the end of my life, I will have lots of projects that I never finished.

97. My husband is my best friend, a great lover, a strong man, always patient with me, supportive, too smart for me, and super-handsome! He is opposite from me in so many ways, but perfect for me in every way. I love his gentle smile, and I love the way he looks at me. He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world (and he might just be love-struck enough to actually think that I am!)

98. All of that being said, it took God smacking me on the side of the head with an epiphany to realize that I needed to marry that man. I was too caught up in myself to really see how much of a gift Matt was. I know – I’m a recovering idiot.

99. I have issues with fear. I fear death, even though I know where I’m going.

100. I believe that God is our creator, our father, our friend, our life. I believe He lives and works and breathes and speaks today – right now. If you don’t know Him, seek Him. He is pursuing us all, and longs to be in relationship with us. That is definitely the most important entry on this long, random list of mine.

100 Things - Part Nine

81. I always think that it would be really great to open a little café/restaurant. I would have a little bookstore area, plenty of comfy seating for people to read and eat and meet. I would even have cooking classes sometimes. I get so excited thinking about it, but then poop out from exhaustion just thinking about all the work I’d have to do.

82. I think I’d be a great graphic designer, but really don’t want to spend the time and money going to art school.

83. I wish I was in better shape, but have trouble motivating myself to work out and eat better.

84. I think I have issues with discipline.

85. My husband and I have the same wedding band. Mine is a man’s ring, but it looks just fine on my huge hands.

86. I don’t iron. If something is wrinkly, I just throw it in the dryer.

87. I chew gum like it’s my job.

88. I love to drink tea. Hot tea, iced tea, black tea, green tea – I love it all. My all time favorite tea is Bigelow’s Constant Comment. I always reminds me of my mother.

89. My favorite flower is the gerber daisy. I also love calla lilies, morning glories, tulips and irises.

90. I hoard pens. It’s shameful, really. I love them!

100 Things - Part Eight

71. I wrote for my high school’s newspaper, and loved it.

72. I don’t really care too much about politics, and usually vote for the person who is cutest, has the best outfits, etc.

73. I love remembering great times gone by with friends and family.

74. I also love to look towards the future.

75. I have trouble living fully in the “now.”

76. I love cookbooks! I have gobs of them, but hardly cook from them.

77. I get most of my food ideas from food blogs (my favorite? Smitten Kitchen)

78. I’m trying really hard to not be one of those people who peaked in high school.

79. Magazines I subscribe to: Real Simple, Everyday Food, Entertainment Weekly

80. I hate folding laundry.

100 Things - Part Seven

61. I have gobs of earrings, but usually only wear hoops.

62. I have a cross necklace my parents got me for my high school graduation that I still wear almost every day.

63. I love music! Everything from classic rock to eighties pop to classical to Christian…I even like a little country!

64. I have an almost uncanny knack for identifying thumb-suckers. There’s something about the way a person’s mouth is shaped that tells me if they sucked their thumb a lot as a child. Maybe it’s my superpower.

65. I’m pretty good at pop-culture trivia…especially music, TV and movies.

66. I’m jealous of all the gals who went to BlogHer, but feel like I would never be part of the “cool club” that is expected to show up!

67. I wish I could get a job daydreaming…I think I’d be really great at it.

68. I have been married for 6 years, and have had at least 6 different bedding ensembles. I’m currently shopping for another set…

69. Shows that I record on my DV-R: American Gladiators, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, House, Top Chef, Shear Genius, The Office, My Name is Earl, Pushing Daisies, Heroes, What Not to Wear, Good Eats, The Soup, House Hunters, My Boys and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

70. It drives me crazy when people say “supposobly.”