Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year! Welcome 2010!

Lets see; in my last entry I told you what Brad & I have been up to. So this time I will try and recap what they girls have been doing this past year. Unfortunately this may prove to be some-what difficult since I don't believe I can remember everything from this past year. It kinda scares me because I can't tell if it's because I've been too busy or because I'm gettin' way too old.
(Lets hope its because of the first one).



Courtney is in the 10th grade and will be turning 16 on the 29th of January. She enjoys reading, drawing, sketching, writing and photography. She is very gifted in the artistic area. She began dance lessons this year and I think she likes it as well. Christmas break was over a couple of days ago, and she said she wanted to go back to school looking some-what different; so she asked for a haircut. Bangs, straight across the forehead is what she asked for, and so she got it. We both agreed that we liked her side bang better. She hopes to get her driving permit in the next week or two. That's scary! Just ask my dad!


Brooke's in the 5th grade and will be 11 this year. Where does the time go? She is becoming quite the young lady. She will soon be as tall as Courtney. (Courtney is in denial about it). Brooke's interests are playing with her Christmas dolls, her horses, her barn and her sister's depending on the day. She also loves to play the Wii with her Daddy and to color.



Taylor is in the 3rd grade and will be 9 in February. Taylor is quite the attentive one. She cooks, cleans, and always wants to help me in whatever I'm doing. She will be ready to run and maintain her own home soon! She will definitely hit the floor running! Taylor also likes playing with her horses, dolls and likes coloring.

Ashley is in the 1st grade and will be 7 in April. Ashley's smile lights up the room and her laughter fills the house. Literally! Sometimes I needto ask her to stop laughing. I am laughing right now just thinking about it, but sometimes it's just too much! She likes playing with other things, but her first resort is always coloring. Or tracing pictures that she will color later.


Katrina, our baby, is going to be 5 in February. Its very different not having any actual babies in the house! (She refuses to be called that anymore). Courtney tells me that I spoil her-but what baby isn't? :) Katrina is learning to read and can write almost all of her letters. She knows all of her sounds and now we're working on blending them together. She's getting so big! Katrina loves to play with her sisters, but she also likes to go and play by herself. She enjoys playing with her barbies, her farm animals, her bunny and her dolls.

All of our girls are growing up so fast. Of course I don't feel any older, but I come to the realization that I am. (And Courtney's constant teasing of seeing gray hairs). When I look upon our children and see how big they're getting I can see it. We have been blessed and I look forward to the challenges of 2010 will bring in hopes that we will respond rightly and honor God by our actions, words and deeds! May He bless you richly in 2010!


(*publishing & writing by Courtney)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas from the Mehmen's 2009!
Another year has flown by; another year older, another year wiser, and hopefully stronger through the challenges of the years past. It has been quite a while since we've put out a Christmas letter so I thought I would attempt this one. Now, since the date today is the 15th, ok, 20th, it is highly unlikely that you will receive this by Christmas! What is the purpose of a Christmas letter anyway? I enjoy reading Christmas letters to read about friends/family's busy year, what the year has brought them, the fun times, the "special" memories, and of course the family photo's so that I can see everyone and how they have grown! (Well, the younger ones anyhow... the older ones are just sweet to see with their children.) I don't care for the pictures of just the kids, and not the parents because it is normally the parents that I know, not so much the children, and so I want to see my friends, with their families, so if you are receiving this, note to self, *send Stephanie a picture of the "grown-ups" with the kids!* So, back to the purpose of a Christmas letter... this year, I thought it ought to be about how Jesus has worked in our lives this past year and share with you the blessings He has bestowed upon our family, and share different reasons why we are so excited to celebrate this Christmas season. I pray that during this Christmas season, you will give glory to God for sending His perfect son to this imperfect world full of sin, to live among us, to be treated as we are treated...sometimes fairly, sometimes unjustly, to be beaten, spat upon, found guilty although innocent and crucified. For us. For my sin. For your sin. I know that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus birth not death, although, God already knew as well as Jesus what the miraculous game plan was, and what His future beheld, yet He choose to descend to this unworthy earth anyway. Praise God! What a perfect example of the depth of HIS love that He has for us. There is nothing that He would not do for us this year, next year, or any other year to come.
Our year has been full of ups and downs. The ups have been blessed with a wonderful husband who loves me with all his heart, and has been blessed with a wonderful job that fits his skills and talents best. He has been employed there for over a year now, and has the opportunity to work overtime when so many have no job at all. We have been blessed with 5 healthy and happy daughters. Fortunately I have been blessed to be able to stay at home with our daughters and disciple them as well as educate them. We have been blessed with a place to lay our heads, a heater to keep us warm, food in the cupboards to keep our tummies full, and a show so that we can bathe with hot water to boot! What a bonus! I think of all of the things that others do not have here in Iowa, or anywhere in the US, as well as in other countries that may not have any of the things that we are blessed with and I am thankful. We are truly blessed. We have been blessed with wonderful and supportive friends/family to encourage us on despite our times of despair. The downs have been trying, although wonderful for us to see what God had in mind for us, which we were not aware of. Sometimes these things are difficult because you have a plan, your on a path, and you are mentally prepared for the journey. HA! So you think! So, when He reveals to you what HIS plan is for you and it doesn't match up to what your plan was, then it really throws you for a loop. Your handy little navigator, or GPS doesn't help at all! On the contrary, it really confuses you! So, with that admission, we have had much clarity presented to us this year, which of course by Gods grace has been yet another blessing to our family. I cannot list all of the reasons why our family is excited to celebrate this Christmas season, for there is not enough room to list them all. I pray that our Christmas letter has been enjoyable for you to read, as yours are to us. What a blessing you all are to our family!
Sending all our love to you and your family and wishing you a very blessed Christmas. Until next time, at the end of another year that has flown by.... take care of one another.
Love the Mehmen Family

Monday, August 31, 2009

Size Difference






OK, so here is Brooke in Katrina's pj's, and then there is Katrina in Katrina's pj's. Noticeable size difference???




Humm......

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

1 Week Down

Well, it has been one week today that we have closed the doors. It has been pretty ok. God has been faithful to keep me strong, and to not have the desire to go and open the doors for the day or something. Although, my mind still continues to think of different possibilities that we can pursue, that may or may not work out. Who knows? Certainly not me. Although, we are not going to be doing anything until the building gets finished, so that's good for me to know, because I can put all of my thoughts to rest!

The hardest part for me is when I am home and can see people come up and then leave. That's pretty hard. I take that as I am to be too busy to notice, so that's what I keep telling myself, so I leave that room and go do something! Good idea, yes???

So dinner is on, BBQ meatballs in crock pot, 1 minute rice will only take 1 minute, and then some sweet corn with garlic bread. Dinner, check.

We have a really busy week this week actually, so that's good. Tuesday night is back to school night for our 2 elementary girls, and then Thursday is Brooke's, and then we have a dinner date with some friends on Friday night, and then were invited to some "new friends" house for a pot luck on Saturday night, and then (yes I know) church on Sunday, and Sunday night have a "get together" meeting with our new small group at the park so all the kids can meet and play while us grown ups talk and visit.

I am very excited about this week, and pray that it all goes well. Thanks for your continues prayers, support and emails. They really mean a lot!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Clarification!!!

Yes, my dear friends, it is true, it is for sure a "closed" cafe. Sorry that I did not clarify that in the last post.... I was just so caught up in the story of it all I guess! (yea, that's it!)

I have LOVED hearing from you all. Thank you for emailing & calling with words of encouragement and love. I love you all!!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Life's Up's and Down's

As some of you may know, Brad and I opened up a new store in another town on June 1st. It's not been too terribly busy, and I've been having a hard time finding good dependable help.

For a while now things have been in disarray at home, well, since we opened the first cafe...two years ago! But things really were coming to a head, in all things during the last couple of months. This cafe thing was fun (when it was busy) and we had a good ride. But my home was falling apart. I was fighting the inward battle of wanting to be successful outside the home and needing to be at home with my children and husband. I was clearly losing BOTH battles. The more it seemed I fought to keep this 'business' alive and well, my most important assets (hubby & kids) were dwindling, falling apart & failing. It took me a while to FINALLY figure this out.

I was angry, bitter, extremely agitated, frustrated & feeling like a caged animal that could not get out!! Within the cafe, funds were limited. We didn't have extra $$ to move forward, couldn't go backwards, couldn't turn to the right, or left. I was miserable, truly miserable. Miserable with the cafe, miserable with my home, family, my walk with Christ. Oh wait, what walk with Christ? I was too busy to have a relationship with Him, or anyone else for that matter. So no friends, no time with Him, unless I needed something of course, and then I wanted it/needed it NOW! Give me, give me, give me. I talked to my husband about what I was feeling, and he listened, and consoled me. It didn't help. I tried to talk to one of my sisters in Christ, just for her to tell me she'd "pray for me." That was it? If you're a girl, you know that if you're finally at the stage/level of actually trying to talk to someone about something important/personal, you're at a pretty high level (or low level if you're sinking!). I got really mad at her. Are we not supposed to share our struggles, to have someone encourage, rebuke and come along side one another? That's what I thought I heard a pastor tell us one day in church. What was this? "Hey, I'm too busy for you and your problems?" That really chapped my hide.
Another week or two passes and I decide to send an email to my pastor. I waited...for a week and a day. Are you kidding me?! So I sent another email, wondering why he hadn't responded to my first email...did he not get it? Did he not hear the urgency in my voice? He responds, “I’m on vacation and I haven't gotten any email from you, so I don't know what you're talking about." I resent my first email and got a response very quickly. Not only by him but also by another dear sister in Christ, to follow up with me. A couple days after that I met with her and shared with her all of my struggles, my thoughts, and what was going on in my home, as well as the cafe. She listened, she shared some of her own experiences, she encouraged me, and she listened some more. The encouragement she gave me was just what I needed (of course). As well as the advice she offered. We prayed together and went on our way. (was that asking for much??) BTW, thank you for taking the time to meet with me and for caring my dear sister and friend. Our time together was exactly what I needed & I appreciate all of your words.

The next day I talked with my husband again. We talked about all of the things that I had said before, but asked him what he thought the priorities of his wife ought to be..... He agreed that being at home, taking care of him, his children, as well as the home is where I am supposed to be. At the end of that conversation we decided that lunch was going ok at our restaurant and that we should stick with that and cut out dinner; except for Friday and Saturday nights. We continued to move forward with what seems to be slower and slower days. (do you see my continual grip.... not letting go?)
A week later, I am feeling the exact same way I was feeling before. So I lay in my bed, sick to my stomach, unable to sleep. So I start to pray. Just crying out, asking for his help. Asking for specific, obvious guidance. Something!! I can't do it anymore and I need His help. I journal to my husband and go to bed. The next morning my one and only cook doesn't show up for work (a no show is voluntary termination). So for a minute I was really agitated, knowing that my two other front staff members would be starting school on Monday; leaving me, myself and I to run the front and back of the store. Then it dawns on me... (you know, a light switch) Is no one going to show up for their shift today? That would be so totally awesome! :-)
Well, those two did show up for their shift but I still got the message; loud and clear. I sold out of almost my entire inventory that day and decided that that was it. No more. I couldn't wait to talk to my husband when he got home to tell him about the dawn of my day. Before I could get to my story, I asked how his day was and he proceeded to tell me that it was good. His boss told him he is doing a great job and wants to sit down with him to go over his review so that he could give him a raise (his review is not due until November!). How cool is that, that God closes one door, yet still provides for us, but in a different way. Yes, I know, to some of you that's normal, you may see it all the time, but it is still awesome to me to see, especially in my own life, and especially when I am asking!

I love God, and all of His stories. And I wish that I would just trust Him more. I can't imagine what all he would do in our life if I were to just trust.
So that is (another one of) my cool God stories, and I just wanted to share.

On a side note.... it is VERY hard for me to let go, as well as Brad, but more for me. If I just did this, if I just did that, oh, if I tweaked this, oh yes, if I just added that. Please pray for me, and Brad, that we will just let go. For good. I am holding on so tight.... even today, I was thinking, ok, just one more day.... NO! No more, yesterday (Tuesday) was the last day, and I just need prayer to keep me strong. Another good thing was already seeing that need (or weakness) and praying about it, and asking Him to make me strong, to just let it go..... and so far, so good. Today was the girls first day at school, and so Katrina and I did some errands, and baked a lot if yummy stuff, and I got dinner ready, and it was just a great day. I pray for many more fun days ahead!
Thanks to all of my friends that have been praying for me, and for my family. And praise be to God, for He deserves all the glory! I love you all!

Life

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

HURRAY!

We passed our first inspection! We'll be open and serving coffee (only) on Monday morning. The inspector will come back when we're ready to open the kitchen. That should only be in another week or two. Kitchen will be open no later than the 1st of June, but most likely before that! Hurray! Praise God!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

CRAZINESS!!!

It's pure ciaos for us right now. If you didn't know, we have closed down our little cafe that we had in Nevada, IA, and are opening up a full restaurant in Story City, IA, and I start training on Thursday April 30th, and I hope we're ready! It's pure craziness, and I'm tired, and Brads tired, and we're both tired and just ready to be up and going to be bringing in some income. To be honest, once we're up and going, it will be like vacation. All the menus will be done, construction done, and planning done! We will actually just be working, doing the easy part, serving the customers and making the food! Piece of cake! I can't wait! Please pray for us..... pray that we get open quickly, pray that we get everything done and finished in a timely manner, pray that we don't get short tempered with one another, and pray that we always look for Gods wisdom, and guidance in all things. Take a look at all the work we've been doing; www.theoldoperacafe.com under 'our journey'. It's pix of our new building from start to now. Continue to check back often to see the new pix, and all the other fun stuff. A huge shout out of thanks to my brother-in-law and his employee Peter for coming all the way to Iowa, to run all the electrical in our building in 3 days! Talk about work horses!
THANK YOU JIM! THANK YOU PETER! We would not have been able to open without you guys!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Courtney on Helium....

Let me translate for you;
Hey guys, it's Courtney and um, I'm not quite sure what's wrong with my voice, but oh my gosh....
(inhale, inhale)
I don't know what's wrong with my voice, but I really like this song, let's start dancing, aaahhhhh.....

Hilarious. Though, she said the Helium made her sick. I don't know if she'll try that again!

Crystal Ball

Well, Brad & I finally let Courtney go to her first dance, It was called Crystal Ball (just a winter dance) and a friend asked her to go. She tells me he's only a friend, and that the boy she likes had already asked someone about a month prior (talk about being organized!). So, she went with Ryan just as friends. He came over before the dance for us to take pictures, and for Brad to clarify that if in fact he tried to make any moves on her, or his hands went further down on the slow dances than they should, he would suffer the consequences of Brad, the dad!! LOL
By looking at the pictures, Courtney could have taken him down herself!! (don't tell her I said that!) No, really, she is beautiful, and had a really fun time. She didn't know that her mom used to work for Glamour Shots...... hence all the pix. No, just kidding. I never worked there.

Awkward...

Should I have asked him to show me some muscle?





I told them to give me some attitude. Pure craziness don't you think?!?!



















This would be her showing me how'd she fall on her face at some point in the evening.




























She told me she looked Amish with the Daisies! I love it.




















Big daddy, little date!!!









Cute hair, right??



















Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays #3

Taylor's turn. 8 & growing. I think all of my kids have had a growth spurt this winter. Every ones pants are short!! Anyhow, as if our own 5 girls aren't enough, we invited over 6 more. PERFECT! Now we're up to 11 females (not including myself or my M.I.L. That would be 13). What a man I have! "What's a few more women in the house?" he says. The girls came home with Taylor right after school, and played hard all afternoon and night, until they finally went to bed (not sleep) at 10pm! I didn't hear them too much after that though. They had to be tired! You could have mistaken me for a Taco Bell worker with how fast and efficient I was whipping out those tacos on our assembly line! Thank goodness for bedtime!!!!!!!!!
















Monday, February 16, 2009

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays #2

Mommy's bday. As you can see by the candle, I turned one year older than I was last year! I received beautiful flowers from my hubby & a new perfume from my girls. The yummy chocolate cake was made by my lovely husband, who knows the way to my heart! It was delish.







Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays #1

Courtney's party. First sledding, then a basketball game, then the sleepover, which why do they call it a "sleep over" when there is little to no sleep?? Pizza, cake, ice cream, and the Wii was had by all and everyone had fun fun fun.










Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Christmas Day

What a wonderful day we had together rejoicing in our Saviors birth. I had thought that if the weather was good, we would all go sledding after opening presents. Well, I didn't even make it out of my pajamas nevertheless out of the house. Any opportunity the girls have to dress up in dresses and tights; their all over it (excluding Courtney of course!) They were already dressed before we were even out of bed! Aunt Bobbi gave us our beautiful dresses and shoes to match! THANK YOU AUNT BOBBI! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and our dresses!)

What a great time when your able to stay still with your loved ones, and not have to worry about life outside your home. We hope you all were able to spend time with your families and loved ones as well. And by the way.... Happy New Year! 2009, I'm getting old. Wasn't Stallone in a movie where he was a cop (with Sandra Bullock) in the future? Wasn't the year 2010? If so, be prepared for robocop next year & new police uniforms! Scary.
Well happy picture viewing.




The big family gift was the Wii. What a hit that was from the teenager all the way to a 3 year old! It was the perfect gift! I do believe that we all have been sore from playing the wii. How fun is that?
BTW, Ashley is the best boxer in our house! She is still #1!

Family.... if you'd like to see all of our pix from Christmas Eve & day, go here:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=o7a5351.bgaeym21&x=0&h=1&y=myn5o1&localeid=en_US

If you have any problems, let me know. Love to you all!

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