tis the season

Well I cannot believe it's December 2010! As I was writing the date several times at work my pen kept wanting to write "11" (november) I still cannot get over it.
John and I are going to be celebrating our 6 month anniversary on the 18th - also my birthday! Yay I love my sweetie.
I made a couple of my presents this year for my family. Using iron-on stuff for fabric and I just made some yummy cinnamon rolls! I however did not make John's gift as I have in the past. We have a small tree from Michael's and hope to have a big tree when we live in Dayton next year.
We are also excited to go with our church TCC to a mission trip in March 2011! Yay John and I both haven't been together overseas yet. I'm really looking forward to it. As are our friends Julie and Travis Williams. I love the idea of keeping our heart focused on Christ's coming this season and looking forward to being with my family in 4 days! What a time of celebration this will be as we haven't been united since our wedding in June. I think Andrea just said she's putting up the tree and lights on the house. I cannot wait to be back. And I'm definitely going to La Casita once!
And 'tis the season to Live for Him.

Lately

Tomorrow I'll be attempting to cook my first turkey. I'm going to try several ideas, I'll be using an oven bag and suggestions from the Trader Joe's website on roasting a turkey and combine them we'll see what happens. I heard it's harder than it looks.
I've been happily making plans to prepare a meal with my friend Lindsey Davis. She also has amazing talents of cooking! We already know we'll have plenty of food and leftovers. I made really cute invitations with a turkey on them and the back states "Turkey fellowship at the Popes'" when and where etc - who needs Martha Stewart when I have my own creative ideas right? Well, I still like her websites on scrap-booking and her other inventive crafts.
John and I purchased a table today from Lowe's it's a folding six foot table. Yay for more celebrations and hospitality in our near future.
John and I recently traveled to Dayton in a four seater plane. It was really amazing. I love seeing the states this way. And by far love by passing the terminal, security and traffic at RDU. We just pop ourselves in our seats. Jack and his wife Ashley are so generous in helping our church plant from the very start. God has blessed us beyond measure. John preached on Sunday at Kionos, he stated that God has one mission not missions and we get to be part of that!
John and I went to Harry Potter last night. I was actually pretty scared at the scenes especially when the snake pops out. John is so sweet at any movie he'll let me hold his hand through the entire movie. I feel like his one and only princess.

TWO THANKSGIVINGS!

I went to Arizona for a week. Mike invited me to join him at his U of A classes he had still coming up that day, so I went to his pharmacology and pathophysiology class. Oh boy, I don't want to be taking tests right now. I'm so proud of him! I even met some of his fellow classmates.
My mommy is making me a quilt! So we went to the quilt shops, in New Mexico, Pima and Safford - she works so hard to piece together a masterpiece thanks mommy :D
I went with dad to the theology class, I baked breakfast once, some cookies, had dinner with the Smiths'. I ate with my friend Kim Denault - fellow nursing classmate again you get really close. For fun Andrea and I went to our favorite scrapbooking store. Then my friend Emily came for a visit. It's so good to hang out with her! She's engaged I can't believe how much God is working out in her life for her good.
Well I did say I had two thanksgivings...I was so happy to have an early thanksgiving with the Sommitz family, my family, and Grandpa. I love spending time with them. And no visit was complete without some card game called pinnacle!
I don't know how to insert pictures any more on my blog so I'll post them on my FB (Facebook).
For my second thanksgiving I went with John to his mother's house in Covington Ky. We had another dinner with his sister, Tracy, her husband Brent, John's dad, Mitch, and Granny (Shirley). John took me to Dayton for the first time my first impression - I like it. And there's big hospitals there. *wink
Okay so that's how I got to be so blessed with two thanksgivings.

On Michael's birthday (April 29th) we traveled to the Chiricahua National Monument. I enjoyed God's creation during our walk-about. The desert scenery was amazing a smaller-version of the Grand Canyon but more rock formations. I didn't lug my camera up there so here's one from the wonderful google-image search. We had a picnic with the Bohlings (Leah, her mother and Kris) and then drove to the Sugarloaf trail. (0.9 mile hike and the trip back.) Michael was eagerly awaiting a phone call from his possible summer employment and his cellphone service was very unreliable on the drive to the Chiricahua's. Happy 18th Birthday Michael.


John is in Turkey for 10 days. His church, Treasuring Christ Church, has been there since leaving Raleigh airport on Friday, April 24th. They are called Team 10. One of his friends is blogging their daily adventures. The country is heavily populated with Muslims. They are praying for God's direction, will and guidance for living there among the people and share the good new of Christ!

Amy Shelly loves John Pope

I visited John in Raleigh on his Easter break. I enjoyed every minute. It was hard to part at the airport we started to get used to being able to talk face-to-face every day.
Here we are at the Atlantic ocean - Topsail Island. (We bought navy tee-shirts too.) The beach was so peaceful and such a sunny day to relax. I even was nice and played football with him! (it turned out to be fun)
We ate out at Molli's seafood, and took our time taking pictures, finding seashells, people watching, and taking in some memories. I decided which pizza place I liked the most in Raleigh - Lilly's!! Not to say we didn't have any conflict but God really blesses us with restoration with each other. Understanding. And teachability. I really love him so much.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Christmas 2008 was spent with John Pope's family: Brent, Tressa, their two cats and three dogs, Granny, and Mom in LA California. (and it rained!) Our meal was excellent!
John and I went with Brent and Tressa to purchase their Christmas tree, and then the girls decorated it together with ornaments and bows. We looked at Christmas lights on Candy Cane Lane, sang karaoke, watched some movies, played card games, and volunteered at their church with meal making and gift giving for the homeless, went to a Pigeon John concert, visited Heather and Nathan's house. (We Ate Out a Lot!) Then we drove to Tucson's Amtrek for Granny & mom for their return home. Got home to Safford/Thatcher and it was snowing! Then at my house mom made us an excellent dinner the next day. (John loves pinnacle now...) The Lord blessed me with safe travels, and has allowed me to get to know John's family more. Now I pray He will help me in my new career field as a nurse.