My Home in Lake Geneva

Finally getting pix taken and blogged to share with those of you who haven't had a chance to visit yet...but you're welcome to visit anytime!

Out on Geneva Lake looking at Covenant Harbor (from Neal & Cyndie's boat...love being out on it) on a beautiful September day when my dear friend Stephanie was here visiting.
Another view of camp, specifically toward the lodge (kitchen, dining, and cabin space)
A different view of the Covenant Harbor lakefront and boat house
Me and Timmy on the boat
My office at Covenant Harbor (taken on my day off when showing Stephanie camp so I'm looking a bit relaxed)
Me in front of my home (taken in May when my dear friends the Welanders were here visiting from Iowa). It's a duplex on a quiet street that's less than 10 minutes from camp and family. My brother and sister-in-law are my landlords. =)
Entryway looking back at the front door
Living room (looking toward the front and the street)
Closeup of my Vikings Christmas tree and other stuff. The purple ornaments on the tree were a Christmas gift from some of my nieces and nephew and have all the kiddos names on them! My slogan this season: Even a bad season with the Vikings is better than a good season with anyone else!
Another view of my living room. The couch is a hide-a-bed so besides my guest room there's even more room for company...and my nieces and nephews love to pull it out for movies and sleepovers!
Close up of some of my "new" wall decorations that I love!
Another view of my living room (front door to right) and down the hall to the bedrooms. First door in the hallway on the right goes down to my basement; second door in the hallway on the right is my bedroom; bathroom is on the left in the hallway; guest room is straight ahead at the end of the hall.
From the living room looking into the dining area. The door on the left goes into the garage. I love that the garages for each of the duplexes are between the units so I don't share a wall with my neighbor (or any sounds/scents).
From the living room looking into the kitchen
From the dining area looking into the kitchen...it's cozy, but it works!
Another view of the kitchen
Closer up of the dining area
Other end of the hallway looking back toward the living room (door into garage ahead too)
Pix in the hallway ("my" kiddos and the Peterson family)
The bathroom:
My bedroom. Loving my new comforter and valances and much needed new bed (wonderful blessing from friends who no longer needed it).
My bedroom...check out my new Vikings lamp (awesome Christmas gift from the Peterson family):
Another view of my bedroom:
Guest room: Always ready for friends and family to come stay! Hint, hint!
"Office" side of the guest roomGuest room bookshelf (closet door to left)
Last but not least the unfinished basement under the whole unit. Lots of room for laundry, storage, and play space for the kids when they're over
This end of the basement is where I keep lots of toys for my nieces and nephews to play with. I've picked up lots of fun stuff at garage sales, etc. and love having space for the toys and playing!
So there you have it...the blog tour of Lake Geneva and my home!

My newest and very precious nephew!!!

The last few days have been a whirlwind of great stuff, and somehow I missed putting the big news on my blog: My newest nephew was born Wednesday (12/21) at 9:45 pm. His name is Henry John Gowan (which has always been my favorite among their top choices cuz it sounds perfect with his big sisters' names which are Sally Jane and Daisy Kate). He is ADORABLE...and I think you'd even say that without my bias! He was 9lb 8 oz and 21.25 inches long so he doesn't even look like a newborn...he's HUGE! Auntie Jane couldn't be prouder or more excited!

It was my privilege to stay with Henry's big sisters overnight on Wednesday and to tell them when they woke up on Thursday that their baby brother had been born. Loved that Sally's response was to say that she was going to marry him! =) I also got to text along the news to lots of family and friends as the official baby news announcer which was great fun! Thursday I took a very early "lunch" break to go to the hospital to meet Henry, and then went back after work to hang out with Laura while Gow picked up his parents and his brother and wife at the airport. Yay!!! I ended up having my first "sleepover" with Henry (and Laura) at the hospital that night as Sally got sick (the stomach flu is everywhere around here) and Gow needed to stay at home with her. I'm not happy about the reason (sickness) for the sleepover, but it was and is truly a joy to be part of this early part of his life in so many ways....after all that's why I moved here. To live daily life with my family! Yay God for my precious new nephew Henry John!

Want to know something crazy? This camera-crazy, scrapbooking auntie was so into my getting to know Henry that I never once took a picture. But here's at least one from my sister's blog:
Another cool thing: My oldest niece Sarah was born exactly 10 years to the day before my new nephew! Love that! Happy Birthday Miss 10-year-old Sarah! Auntie Jane is soooo proud of the beautiful young woman of God that you are! You are also VERY precious to me!

Other fun times this weekend have included a sleepover with Sarah and Ben and Kristi last night at my house and then Christmas Eve day together at their house. If my other niece and nephew weren't in CA for Christmas, I could potentially have sleepovers with all my precious kiddos all in a row! Emma and Timmy, we need to have your turn soon after you're back: I miss you already!

Our Christmas Eve service tonight at church was a big blessing with great music/worship, preaching, and all aspects our worship and celebration of the birth of Jesus. I am thankful for my church family here!

I truly wouldn't trade exactly where God has me for anything! (but I do miss my Iowa family oodles too...especially on Christmas!)

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Mixed emotions at Christmas time

I seem to have fallen off on my blogging...both writing and reading. But I do want to keep in touch.

Tonight has been a perfect example of the extremely mixed emotions that I sometimes feel in my move to Wisconsin. I absolutely LOVE living here! I'm so thankful that God brought me here to live life with my family and be back in camping ministry. However sometimes I miss my Iowa home of many years and all my friends there (including many friends from there who no longer live there).

Tonight was a fun evening of serving supper before church with much of my family. Then during the service the kids (and some adults) did a mini Christmas program that was great fun. I got to help my favorite 3 and 4 year old class (who I teach sometimes and have grown to love quickly) with singing Away in a Manger, and I enjoyed watching several of my nieces and nephews perform superbly including with the bigger kids too. The evening at church ended with me and several others becoming new members of Anchor Covenant. Last night was a fun open house at our pastor's home and a great time hanging out with my church family and friends (some of whom I've know for quite some time). I am so thankful for my new church family as well as my actual family here.

But I am also so thankful for those of you who are my Iowa family too...whether you live there still or not. I could go on forever with listing many specific friends, but will stick with a few friends/groups in particular that relate to the events of my weekend. I have missed my dear friends the Freebergs, both thinking of helping with their Christmas open houses and our doing Christmas programs together...and seeing such an adorable picture of precious Aaron performing in their new church's program. Then tonight I got a text from my youth group in Iowa who were having their Christmas party...and I miss them oodles! I miss being a part of the daily lives of these people and many more. I can't mention all the names of all of you who I miss...but I can say that I'm glad so many friendships will last forever no matter where we live.

I guess the bottom line is I'm super thankful for all the amazing people God has placed in my life!

Next excitement: The arrival of my new nephew (hopefully/prayerfully within the week)!

Photo time

So if a picture speaks a 1000 words, here's a lot of words for you tonight from over the last several months. =)

The whole DeVries clan on Thanksgiving at my sister Amy's in Crystal Lake:
Nothing better than a BBQ at Dolliver Park with the Peterson crew on a trip to Iowa over Memorial Day weekend:
Me and Daisy Kate:
Me and the Caspari kids:Sarah and Emma having their sleepover at Auntie Jane's house. I love that they are bookworms like I was at their age:
Ben and Tim having breakfast on their sleepover at Auntie Jane's house:
I had loaned my camera to a friend the weekend when the younger nieces had a sleepover at my house.

All the kiddos in Grandma & Grandpa's pool:
Trip to the Jelly Belly warehouse with some of the crew:Daisy Kate's 2nd birthday party with all the cousins:
My September vacation to Minnesota when it was a blessing to spend time with LOTS of family and friends (many of whom I didn't get pix with). First at beautiful Lake Superior (Duluth/Superior) with the Freebergs: Campfire at their wonderful new home:Time with my dear college/forever friend Sonya and her family in the Twin Cities:
Lunch with my cousin Christa:
The sculpture garden with Wenells: The "must have" photo of me eating the cherry at the sculpture garden:
The Wenell family at Minnehaha Falls:
A photo of me in my office at camp:
My friend Stephanie came to visit in late September...we never got a photo of the two of us together (on my camera) but here's one of us enjoying the lake with Emma and family on their boat:A gorgeous day at the apple orchard:
Is there any doubt from these pix that I love my family and friends! Yay God!!!