Living Forever

Thanks to all who shared their wedding story!
Today is the last day of the year. We look back to where we were, but we also look ahead to where we are going! My destination is not of this world. I used to be scared to talk about it, that maybe it would happen too soon if I did. But my Lord has it all planned out from the beginning, it will happen at the right time! I look forward to no more pain, sorrow, no more ___________ - you fill in the blank. I think my destination is too wonderful to imagine. One thing I know is that I will be with my God and Savior, living forever!
You can too.
Let me tell you a little story about my son. Several years ago, I felt I needed to share salvation with him. But I couldn't tell him, "You have to do this!" Because my son always does the opposite of what I tell him, just in his nature. So I was praying that God would give me the opportunity to share with him. God did. We were talking and the subject came up of death. I said, "There is a way that you can live forever."
"There's a way I can live forever?"
"Yes, there is a way to live with God forever. Your body on earth will die but you, the part that laughs and thinks can live forever with God. Do you want to know how?" Head nod.
"You just ask God to forgive your sins and ask Him to come into your heart."
"What do I have to say?"
"Please forgive my sins, Jesus and come into my heart." He repeats that.
He was so happy, he runs to Glenn in the next room and says, "I'm going to live forever!"

May you be blessed, and "live forever" too!

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Happy Anniversary Honey!

It's my 19th anniversary today! I met Glenn when I was 19! Wow, it's been a long time! It's been a wonderful, happy and crazy 19 years! I love you more than I did when we got married (and I thought that was a lot)! You are my rock that I need, God has been so good to me. Happy Anniversary, Glenn, I love you!
19 years ago, we had a wedding at my home town church. We had illuminaries lighting the sidewalk and it iced the day before so they glowed! We had a reception after the wedding at the church, no dance :( Glenn and I left for our honeymoon. We stayed in Sioux Falls. I in my corsage and Glenn in his. The key went into the lock(they didn't have the credit card kind back then) and it broke off! Glenn went to find help, I stood with all the bags surrounding me. He came back with a security guard. He was trying to remove the key from the lock and said, "There's nothing special about this room, is there?" He winked at Glenn. I am stammering and sputtering, "No, no, not at all." We laugh about the incident to this day!
Hey, what is your "wedding story". You can blog about it or post in comments - just post a link....

Christmas from the Lazy Boy

Well it all started on Dec 16, when I went in for a simple procedure. I was having trouble with a cyst on an ovary. They would remove the cyst and ovary through a simple procedure, with two small incisions. There was a chance the surgeon would have to open me up but it was only a chance. If that happened we discussed the possibilities and if anything looked funny they would take everything out, rather than chance another surgery in a few years.
I came out of surgery with everything out. There was endometriosis again. The cyst was two large to take out with the laparoscope, so they had to open me up. So instead of the oophorectomy, I had a hysterical-ectomy(LOL). Thus the 3 night hospital stay. I came home on the 19th.
We were to have Christmas with my family on Sunday. So we moved Christmas to my house, I viewed it all from the Lazy Boy. We didn't know if Christmas was to be held that day because my brother's family was snowed in. My folks made it to my house but sustained $5,000 damage to their vehicle on the way to my house. They were just so thankful that they did not get hurt. At 4 pm, Steve called and said someone broke through the snow by their neighbor, so they could come. My parents and Glenn rushed into action because nothing was done! They cut the 10 lb. ham into three pieces and cooked it in 1/3 the time! I laughed so hard at my nephew that my stomach hurt. My sister-in-law was telling the story of the BB gun he got for Christmas! It was a great evening.
My parents stayed overnight and they made my potatoes for Christmas eve and Glenn's family's Christmas. This too was moved to my sister-in-law's house, 10 minutes away rather than an hour away, so that I could attend. My first outing -- I was tireder than I thought could be possible after I got home.
Christmas day my folks came down again, my brother and family went to California. We grilled steaks and had baked potatoes. We played games and opened presents with the kids. What a fun day.
I am a little tired of viewing life from the lazy boy. I try to accomplish some stuff around the house and just end up tired! I am gaining, I can see progress, patience is not one of my better qualities. But I have been blessed this Christmas Season, because I have seen and felt the hands and feet of Jesus through this time:
---through flowers sent to me in the hospital
---through elves that came to clean my house while in the hospital
---through surprise visitors in the hospital
---through the outpouring of food for me and my family
---through the moving of parties
---through prayers that went up on my behalf for healing
---through my mom coming to stay with my family when I couldn't
---through the patience of my husband

Lord, you have blessed me so. You have slowed me down through this season and have blessed me so. I thank you for all that you have shown me and done for me. I thank you for a patient husband, who is putting up with all the hormones. I thank you for my friends and family, who have helped me so much. I thank you for caring for each hair on our heads. I ask for complete healing, Lord. Thank you, In your Son's Name. Amen.

The Zoo in December!

Friday I went to the zoo! Yes the Talking Animal Zoo at our school. The first graders study an animal, write a report, learn about the habitat and then make costumes for their animal (or the parents do). Cole choose a rhinoceros. I didn't think know how we were going to make the costume but it all came together. It is fun for the first graders. Then they put on a zoo. They make the habitat that their animal lives in and wear a button. The visitors of the zoo press the button and the animals tell a fact about their animal. It is super fun for the kids and all who go through the zoo. Oh, and you take small treats to "feed" the animals! Here are some pictures!

Rhino's have three toes on each foot.

The name Rhinoceros means "nose horn."

They weigh about 3,000lbs. Cole also liked to say, "Rhinos are high- tempered." Not sure if he knew what that meant but it sounded good to him - that he was fierce!

Cole John is 7

Happy Birthday Cole! You are a sunshine in my day. You love the Lord and you have a gift of intercession that is so very evident in your prayers. Cole always choose to love God and never lose your passionate heart or your ability to have fun! I love you and Happy 7th Birthday!

10 Thanksgivings

I'm not sure how this will work--- but I would like to pose a challenge to all readers of this blog and I am hoping you will post the challenge on your blog and so on. I would challenge you to make a list of ten blessings, or ten thanksgivings. (I'm just thinking if 10 people to do this, we will have 100 thanksgivings, then if each person gets ten more people ...... I'm not so good at math.)

So here are my 10 Thanksgivings:
1. My God is a big God and can do anything!
2. My husband, my best friend and partner.
3. My kids - they are a blessing - sometimes it's hard to remember when they are fighting!
4. My extended family - they inspire me, and make me laugh
5. My friends - they keep me honest
6. My home - it's very warm, and 'sheltery' on cold, rainy days.
7. My part-time jobs - they keep me busy and my mind active
8. My mom teaching me to cook - I like doing it, especially if I know what I am making.
9. My health
10. My blueprint for life - my Bible

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

Big 10

Tomorrow is Grant's birthday. He will be into the double digits! I can't believe that 10 years ago he was born! He was so tiny - 6 lbs. 3 oz. He was so cute the very first time we saw him. We were invited to the hospital and got to spend some time with him. The next day was a snow storm so we were worried about getting him on placement day. But we took the pick up which was 4 wheel drive to bring him home. Nothing was going to stop us from getting him! Happy Birthday Grant! I pray for God's richest blessing to fall on you and that you will always love Him! I love being your mom!

Election

I pray for our nation. I see so many whose views are contrary to the Bible. I will pray for our new leader, especially for discernment and wisdom. So many freedoms we take for granted. I pray that those freedoms are always preserved.
The kids had an election at school on Monday. The vote was 100% for John McCain. Cole wanted to come with us to vote. I picked him up yesterday and he 'helped' me vote. We had to fill out the ballot by hand and he actually did mine. I want to show my kids that even though the election did not go the way we voted, God is ultimately in control. He has us in the palm of His hand.

Fall

Fall is in the air, not winter but fall. How do you describe it? I love this time of year. The trees show off their brilliance before they lose their leaves. It seems like they sleep all of winter before they wake up again in the spring. Fields proudly give up their bounty to the combines. The patchwork quilt of the landscape changes once again.
For me, foods change too. I make more soups, and I pull out my pumpkin recipes. I would like to share with you a hot fruit salad made with apples. It is so yummy, I can't keep it to myself.
1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
4 apples, sliced
1 can chunk or crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. grated cheddar cheese

Layer fruit, cheese, nuts, and flour mixture. Top with 1/4 c. melted butter and 3/4 c. pineapple juice. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Hope you like it -- Happy Fall!

Cats and Learnin'

It was such a beautiful day today, the boys thought it would be fun to let their indoor cats outside. The cats love being outside but don't know how to act! They slink way down in the grass and try to take cover, looking around for places to go. Fluff ran to the window well, an easy place to get him out. Dash ran into the drainage pipe that runs underneath our driveway! We called and called, but he would not come out. Finally, he was close enough to the edge of the pipe that I reached in to drag him out. He needed to have his paws washed as they were wet from walking in the soggy pipe bottom.
When we started to do homework, Grant was trying to memorize Psalm 27:1-9 this week. There is a verse that I thought was so applicable, "Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me." Ps 27:7 We may ask the Lord to hear our voice but are we listening to His. We may sometimes think, 'the Lord does not listen to me,' but are we listening to Him? Are we in the drainage pipe, stuck by fear, in the muck from the last storm? Do we go to His voice when He calls or do we run away?
I have a friend that is listening. Even though she is not excited to hear what the message is telling her, she is listening. She is not stuck in the drainage pipe, but taking bold steps in Him.
I am learning....only by grace.

Get Out of That Pit

I've just finished the book, Get Out of That Pit, by Beth Moore. She is one of my favorite Bible study authors, but ohh, is that book good! I encourage anyone who is struggling with issues, struggling with life, struggling period, to read it! But even if you are not struggling it opens your eyes to so much and is so helpful in understanding life in general. At one point in the book, I had tears streaming down my face because it just spoke to me. I don't know where you are at -- if you are in a pit and it feels like the walls are too big - don't set up residence and hang up your photos. God wants so much more for you! Read this book.

Genesis Revelations

My Coffee Break is studying Genesis. There have been many interesting revelations to me. We studied Noah last week and the flood. Gen. 8:22 stuck out to me, "As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night." This word is active and alive today especially during this harvest season. My God is amazing.
Just a side note - did you know that Methuselah died the year of the flood? Not sure if he died in the flood or before but I thought that was interesting.
Also, God poses two questions in the first few chapters of Genesis. First to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" Gen 3:9 Then to Cain, "Where is your brother?"Gen 4:9. God knew the answer to both of those questions, but he asked and waited for them to answer. But I think that God may be asking each of us the same questions today --- Where are you in your spiritual walk? and Where is your brother(friend, co-worker, spouse, child)? What would our answer be? A new thought to ponder.
"Where are you?"
"Where is your brother?"

a challenge!

I am taking a challenge -- it's been so long since I have posted, as I am dry for words~! But this challenge comes from blog that I love to follow One families Journey http://journeytojaden.blogspot.com/2008/10/challenge.html Here's the challenge - go to My pictures, the 6th folder and the 6th picture. Here is my picture:

This is a picture that I took on vacation. It is a picture of a friend's dad. I took it because I have a simular picture of my grandpa in a boat that I just love. My grandpa is gone but the picture of him in the boat - just his profile is one that I love so much!

Whatcha been up to?

What have we been up too? We are losing our
first teeth!
We are also going on tree walks and field trips. This was at Heritage Village. Grant's class had a field trip last Friday and I was fortunate enough to be asked along! It was fun and very interesting! We saw a log home, made a rope, saw blacksmithes at work, and shelled corn by hand. There were animals to pet and we collected leaves for the 4th grade leaf collection.
This little goat was 3 weeks old - very cute!

Feed My Starving Children

Feed My Starving Children food packing event was so good. We packaged about 10,000 meals in the an hour. You have an assembly line where you add chicken boullion with vitamins in, dehydrated veggies, a cup of soy and a cup of rice. Then you weigh it and seal the bag. They come down with all the rice, vegs., and soy on pallets. The boxes go out on pallets too. We saw a picture of an 8 year old boy who weighed 19 pounds after being on the program that gave him a cup of food every day for 6 months, he looked like our kids and weighed 60 pounds(I think that was the weight-I'm terrible with numbers.) They work with missionaries and World Vision to get the food to places - maybe Haiti because of the hurricane that went through. They do not work with any governments - they did once and that was the one shipment that they lost :( ! It is very cool organization. Grant's class was going today to package food, so I am anxious to hear his perspective. So if you want them to come to your town, just give them a call! All their food is packaged by volunteers! It's great way for a community to come together.

Busy with food and work

Hey - I am here, I am not eating bon bons (hee, hee - Brenda ), I have been busy! I was called into sub in our preschool as the teacher's aide's dad was hospitalized last week. I scrapbooked with a friend on Thursday last week - haven't done that since forever. I cleaned and made food for the weekend on Friday and Saturday, because it was Glenn's birthday on Sunday! He invited a few guys over for Monday night football. He made ribs on the grill and I just had to make the sides. The Vikings lost but the food was great! He set up the TV in the garage and all the guys were out there which was really nice.
Monday I got called in to teach again as well as today and Tuesday, I worked at D & L Designs. I help make T-shirts and do some of the art work. I wanted to be busy but I didn't know I would be filling up my days with so much!
Tomorrow I am going to help at Feed My Starving Children. This is a community event in our town and they package food for kids and can feed a child for 17 cents a day! Our church has placed buckets all around town and in the schools. This Thursday and Friday they will be packing up to 100,000 meals. The schools are getting their kids involved, too. Grant's class will be helping package food on Friday morning. Cole even wanted to do it but his class is too young so we encouraged him to give some of his money. It was fun to help them figure out how many meals they would be buying. The website for this organization is http://www.fmsc.org/ . I will let you know how it goes in another post.

Labor Day Weekend

We went camping this weekend. We went to the campground in town and the boys had fun catching toads and frogs. They had a bucket full of frogs within the first hour we were there. We had to laugh at the kids when the frogs jumped out of the bucket. They would come up behind the frog and just as they tried to pounce on it the frog jumped to another spot. It was hilarious watching them with the frogs.
Saturday night we went to the races. Glenn's nephew races stock cars, he is a junior. This year he went up a couple classes from the Hornets he's driven since he was in 8th grade. It was a tough night for him but I guess that's racing. His first race he spun out and the second race he got a flat tire. But the boys were excited to see him race.

Questions -- waiting for answers

Do you ever just want to find yourself? Do you ever want to ask God - OK God, I am listening and I want to know what you want me to do, and then get an answer on the spot? Do you ever wonder what is next? What God wants you to do or go? I know that God speaks in whispers but do you ever want that fish hook from the sky with a sign on it? God is good, all the time. I know in His time He will show me the what, why, when and who.
Is. 65:24 "I will answer them before they even call to me."
Ps. 138:8 "The Lord will work out his plans for my life."
Ps. 27:8 "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'"
Any scripture verses welcome....

4 1/2 Days

I am so excited! I just want to praise God! I want to thank Him for his goodness! I am just so excited!!!! We are on day 41/2 of school and both my kids have been saying they have had a good day! This has rarely happened in 5 years -- that we have had 4 consecutive good days at school! Grant does not really care for school and we were not allowed to even bring it up before school started. We were not suppose to talk about school, much less mention the word. He had an OK year last year, the year before wasn't the best, first grade was great but kindergarten wasn't. When your child does not like school, it is a tough year as a parent, too. So I just want to sing God's praises that it is going so well!!!! I know that there may be bumps in the road this year but I am just revelling in the 4 1/2 good ones we have going for us!!! Thanks God!

School Starts

Wow, we start school tomorrow! The summer has gone so fast. I look back to May and it seemed like it was stretched out before us but now here we are! I am not sure where it went. The last few days have been filled with swimming, playing with friends, eye doctor, eating at McDonald's, slip 'n slidin' and relaxing. We have open house at school tonight, which is new, usually we would have an open house after the first week of school. I think that this will be better - it will give the kids a chance to see the room and put away their school supplies. Praying this is a good year and that God will bless my kids.

Olympics 08

We have been watching the Olympics with the boys. Watching Micheal Phelps has been fun for Glenn because he remembers watching Spitz when he was about Cole's age with his dad! I like watching Shawn Johnson, too. I think because she is from Iowa and she just has a cute smile. I remember as a kid wanting to be in the Olympics too. I wanted to be a gymnast - even when I wasn't even in gymnastics! Grant wants to do it - swimming. We told him to go for it!

Routine?

I am trying to get back into a routine of things, but I am not having much luck. I froze corn last week, which is out of routine. The boys are begging to have friends over to play. They seem to be fighting with each other more. And in nine days they start school.... I remember from last year that they started to fight more, too, in August. It's time for the school routine. I am not sure that I am ready for that either. So how are your August days being filled?

Vacation #2

We are back from vacation! It was a great time, now I am up to my eyeballs in freezing corn! Well, I am done with it now so I am resting and thought I would record some vacation pictures. It was such a relaxing week. Grant fished and fished and fished some more, swam and swam and swam some more! We often wonder what he would do if we actually lived by a lake. Cole had fun with his friend who was also at the same resort the same week. He likes it but not as much as Grant. Cole tubed and fished and played with his friend, Dyson. One time all the kids were tubing on the same tube and Grant fell off. Cole and friends stayed on but the rope broke and Cole got caught under the tube for a second. He was definitely done with tubing for a couple days until he went with Glenn. Grant learned to ski. I have a short video but I'm not sure I know how to upload that on here. Glenn and I relaxed. It was great! We also took our turtle along on vacation --Why you ask? We entered it in the International Turtle Races at Perham. Grant was able to win his heat. Then competed in another heat but the turtle did not win that heat. We then let the turtle go at Big McDonald Lake. He was happy! Grant was pretty excited to that a turtle from Iowa won!

Vacation #1

We are home! We made it home safely and had so much fun. We were in the car a lot! That was good for our family -- we had to get along and we had fun! We got the decking all on before we left, so that project was put out of our minds for a while. Glenn finished the last of the pieces on Friday night before we left. We just have the rails and the steps left.

Then we started out on Saturday morning. The vehicle was pretty much stocked up. We had told the boys that they needed to drink a lot so that they didn't get sick with high altitude - so they wanted to start within the hour we were on the road. We needed to explain they could slow down or we were going to have to stop for bathroom breaks every 60 miles! We went through Kansas. Grant was so excited because no one in his class has ever been to Kansas. He wanted a picture of Kansas. Not sure what he wanted, but this was not it---

We stayed overnight in Kolby, Kansas and then got up bright and early to drive to Colorado Springs. We had "church" on the road, talking about our favorite Bible stories. We passed the time listening to books on tape. They are wonderful! If you have to travel anywhere - my suggestion to you. We had earphones for the kids but a couple of times we all listened to "Hank the Cowdog" and his adventures -- hilarious!

Our plan was to drive up Pike's Peak. They close Pike's Peak one time a year for an auto race up the mountain, Sunday was that day! Oh, well, change of plans -- we went to Royal Gorge. Here are some pictures of our time there.

They had an old Western backdrop there that the Jail picture was taken. We told the boys if they didn't behave they would end up there! LOL Every one in our family was a little nervous of the height but it was so gorgeous there!

This one is looking down from the bridge -- do you see the little rafters at the bottom?

This picture didn't turn out so good - but just a reminder - God's got the whole world in his hands

What handsome little men!

This was from the bottom, looking up.

We then met at Glenn's sister. She lives in Colorado Springs with her family. Glenn's dad and younger brother and family were there. We all had supper at a park. It was good to connect with them again. On Monday morning we went up Pike's Peak. I think I had a touch of altitude sickness or it was all the winding roads up to the top, because I just wanted to get down!

This was at the top of Pike's Peak.

We then took a tour of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek. We went down 1,000 feet underground in a little steel cage with 8 people in the cage. Grant got a kick out of this sign! If you can't read it -- Bureau of Mines Regulation 93-3 (B) Farting on the Miners Cage is Strictly Forbidden. LOL

We did find gold - They purple in the rock is an indication that there is gold near. When the mine closed this passageway was opened to make for better tours. This vein was found but never harvested. It was very interesting tour because a miner who worked there before it closed actually gave the tour! Now any gold mining done in the US is done by using Cyanide. This eats away the rock and leaves the gold. The only companies that do it are foreign so they can't be sued if the Cyanide happens to leak into the environment. OH - My picture is upside down!

We then went to Winter Park where our reunion was to be held. We stayed there Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday, we rented four-wheelers and went up into the mountains. Here are a few pictures of that experience! I really liked it!

Aren't they cute!!!!

I would definitely do the 4-wheeling thing again! I got a bit dirty but I had so much fun. Neither one of the boys really wanted to ride with me --- not sure why... We had every kind of terrain-gravel road, very bumpy gravel, streams, and rocks! I didn't like that so much but we couldn't turn around! I did it though and would do it again!

So that is our trip in a nutshell. I should be cleaning and packing for our next adventure - but this is too fun. We had a passenger on the way home. One of Glenn's cousin's dad was hospitalized on Tuesday. So I was very close to my boys, in the back seat, for 12 hours -- I was getting benought-sp?- and needed to get out!!!

Car Activities

Yes, I am procrastinating again. But I am doing something of value -- I am finding some car games that we can play off the Internet. I found car bingo and some other games. I just wanted to share a couple of the web sites. So if you are planning a trip you too can find some activities to play. http://www.momsminivan.com/index.html has a lot of printable games, great for the car. The other site is http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/index.html, it also is a fun site for kids. Happy vacationing to you too!

Vacation...Vacation

We are busy! We are building a deck, painting the house and getting ready to go on vacation and then vacation! Last year after we decided to return to Big McDonald Lake in Minnesota for a week, Glenn's mom's side of the family decided to have a family reunion in Colorado. It so happens that it's the direct week before we leave for the lake. Because his dad is going, we felt we needed to support him and go. We are only going to be there for one night when everyone else is there because we have to hurry home so we can pack again and leave for the lake! Glenn's sister lives out there. We decided to leave Sat. and drive most of Nebraska into Kansas. On Sunday, we hope to take the kids to Pike's Peak and have supper with his sister and his brother from here and dad. Then on Monday we go to Winter Park. Tuesday night we will see all the relation and Wed. we are driving home! Thurs and Friday I can wash and repack for the lake! Crazy!!!!! Well that's what our next week entails. I wonder what I can pack for the lake already and not forget that I packed it?!? Well, I better go -- I think I am procrastinating.....

Remembering

365 days. 12 months. 1 year. Today, one year ago, Glenn's mom died. It went so fast and yet it seems like a lifetime ago. She loved birds and flowers. She walked with a hitch, better after she had her hip replaced. She smiled and laughed, and when she laughed really hard tears came out of her eyes (Glenn does that too). She was soft spoken and had a tender heart. She loved gardening and at one time had 3 gardens! She always sent you home with some tomatoes, or cucumbers from her garden or corn if the time was right. She grew watermelon and cantaloupe. She liked to sew but never found time for it. I can't believe it's been a year. Glenn's dad is doing better than I could have ever imagined. He is getting out which I thought would not happen. But he says the house is too quiet and he does not like to stay there. We miss you mom!

Home

We are home from camping! My camper is not home but we are. It is so windy that I could not handle it anymore -- I'd use a Dutch word but I don't think I can spell it! We had a beautiful day yesterday but the wind is blowing like ever out there today that it just wasn't much fun to even be outside! So Glenn is getting the camper and the boys are vegging in front of a movie. I really enjoy camping - yes I do, but I so love to come home!
Well, I'm off to clean out a camper, start laundry and plan for supper --- did I say that I love to come home??? Have a great day!

Camping

Yes, I am still around. We pulled our camper to the campground in town on Sunday night. We have been camping with several trips back home! Last night we even slept at home and I am kind of glad we did as at 5:45 am a thunderstorm rolled in! We probably would have stayed dry in the camper but the kids most definitely would not have slept through it! They needed to sleep in -- yesterday Grant was up at 6:30! The day before they slept in. You just never can tell when you are camping.
I am listening to the thunder rattle the house and I love it. When I know that my family and I am in a safe place I love to listen to the power of thunder. We need the rain -- I can't believe I just said that after all the rain we got earlier this spring and I was complaining that it would never stop! But I planted some plants around my house and they need some moisture.
Not sure when I will check in again - Our camper will stay our through the 4th of July -- it is fun!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! Our passage for our service this morning was Heb 12:1-13. I needed to hear the following:

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.



Sometimes as a parent, discipline is the hardest thing. We torture ourselves with guilt or even may let our children get away with things that we know we shouldn't. This passage is for us -- even if discipline is painful there will be a harvest of peaceful living. Then it goes on to say (in my words)-- So be courageous! Take heart and stop doubting but trust in God to lead your path of parenting -- For then you will lead your children who are not yet strong but they will become strong! Wow, what a promise to persevere even when it's tough!

This week

We are surviving -- Glenn is gone fishing this week, up north, near Canada but still in Minnesota. There is not any cell phone service there! The boys are missing him already, but it has just been one day! I am trying to think of activities we can do, just to stay busy. So I painted in the morning, Cole had summer rec, we met friends at the campground to swim, and then Grant had a ballgame. We were busy yesterday. It's raining this morning, but may clear up, not sure on that. Sometimes it is just nice to talk to your hubby on the phone when he is on a trip, you can get another perspective, so it's not so nice when they are out of cell phone range. What did we do before the cell phone? I'm old and I can remember when we didn't have them. We are spoiled today with modern conveniences. Wonder what technology our kids will have when they get our age. I can hear them now -- "Yeh, when my parents were born, they didn't even have cell phones or ___________! How did they ever get along without it."

First week of June

We had our church retreat this morning at Inspiration Hills. The church retreat is actually Friday, Saturday and Sunday but we only made it out there for the service today. All the rain cancelled the canoeing that was suppose to take place on Saturday and we got busy around the house that we didn't make it to the supper and talent show Saturday night. We have to paint our house this summer as it never had two coats of paint, so between rain showers we are trying to paint one side at a time. I did find time to take the boys to the new campground to swim at the beach. Glenn even came out and took a little nap on the beach there.
The pastor today challenged us to look at each other with Grace, Encouragement and Resolution. He had as all growling GERrrrrr to remember his point. He suggested that we look at everything with grace. He then asked what kind of person are you? When you walk into a room are you one that says, "OK here I am" -- or are you the person that says, "oh, there you are." We need to encourage one another to stay strong in the faith and keep on toward the goal. It was a great message!
VBS is over, it ran from last Sunday evening to Thursday. I helped out with skits which was very fun. Over 200 kids went to Sonworld Adventure Park all week and learned about choices. I was a pirate, an animatronic figure that came to life after the park closed. I wanted to be a teapot - "what's better'n a teapot, eh mateys!" But in the end I choose to be a good pirate. All the figures had to make good choices to help find our pal, Dusty, a cowboy.
The boys started summer rec this week. Grant is in golf and baseball and Cole is taking mixed activities and teeball. Summer is off and running. It is the second week of June this week. Summer seems to go so fast. Well, that's the recap of our week! Have a great one!

New Pet

We have a new guest in our home. A painted turtle is being housed in an aquarium. We are not sure how the cats are going to take to him but they seemed to be welcoming him to the family!

Wii got a Mother's Day Gift

For Mother's day, Wii got a Wii Fit. I thought that it would be a great game for our family to use and me to exercise with. It is very fun for the kids and me too. I have been exercising daily and my muscles hurt! I can't believe after a short while how much my legs ache - I am so out of shape! It is suppose to strengthen you core muscles which both Grant and I need. I am just happy to be exercising again, I needed some encouragement. I had been trying to walk before the kids got out of school but I also need to do some toning exercises as that was just not enough. So I am excited to exercise! Hope I can keep that enthusiasm.

Our Weekend

We did go camping and it was cold, rainy, sunny and windy! How's that for a weekend all wrapped up! It was very windy Friday but we got to sit by the fire and visit with friends - what a great thing!
Saturday it rained early morning - nothing like sleeping in and hearing the rain on the top of your camper. We went to Walmart and found my Mother's Day gift(more about that in another post). We then had a good evening and a rousing game of kick ball. Glenn was pitcher because he can't run because of his heel, but during the game he must of twisted his back as he ended up with a back ache Sat night and Sunday.
Sunday: We went to church with his dad and to the cemetery. Then back to the camp ground. Glenn's back ache was so severe that I thought I was going to have to take him to the ER but we had our doctor friend on the phone order a prescription in and that eased some of the pain. We didn't see much of him on Sunday. I took the boys to the beach on Sunday.
There was a guy who was wind surfing and he asked the boys for help to get his sail out. Grant helped him and he gave Grant permission to take his board out to surf on. Grant did actually stand up on the board and ride the board in -- it was that windy! Grant said afterward, "That was actually a dream come true!" He was so excited about it. Grant caught a couple of fish, too.
Monday we left bright and early, so Glenn could take his pain med at home. So we got home around 9:30am. We unpacked the camper, mowed, ate a big breakfast and lazed around.
(Glenn's back is feeling a little better today.)

Memorial Day Changes and Sameness

We are heading out camping. We usually camp Memorial Day, but it's a toss up. The weather can be really nice or really yucky. As I look out at the grey clouds heading in, I think the later could be true. I remember one time when just the moms were out at the campground on Friday - the dads ran back into go to work, it was so windy that we went to play land at McDonalds to get out of the wind! Yeah, we do not tent, we have a camper. I am not a backwoods-survivor-camper- girl! I like my own place to go, get away, and read my book if I chose. I commend all who camp au natural, but that's not my style
Always on Memorial Day, Glenn's mom's family gets together for a picnic. It will be really strange this year without Glenn's mom. Last year she was there. She went for a walk with her sister and sister-in-laws. It will be different. The firsts are always strange, because you remember the past but it will never be like that again.
Last Saturday, we took Glenn's dad out fishing in the boat. This was a first for us as we had never asked his parents along. He didn't fish but seemed to enjoy the time in the boat and the weather. We took his lawn chair in the boat as he has a bad back. We were out there a couple hours and he said it was pretty relaxing. When Glenn's mom was alive, I don't think we would have asked! We asked him to come out for supper when we are camping - now it will probably depend on the weather if he comes but they rarely came out when his mom was alive. It's funny how things change.
When we were fishing I was the only one to catch a fish! We said when we started that the first one to catch a fish would be the "rotten egg"! - Guess that was me. We had to throw him back as he wasn't quite big enough. I was laying down on the back of the boat when I caught it! My dad laughed, because that was how I used to fish growing up -- I had a book in one hand, my pole in the other, placed between my toes for support! - and I would catch fish!
So on this Memorial Day weekend, I am reminiscing about changes and sameness. Hoping you have a chance to do the same!

Laminin

I found this video. It's about 8 minutes long but worth it! Enjoy!

Dandelions

Lord, I want to be like a dandelion.
I want to close up at night to pray.
I then want to open up to your Son each day.
I want to stand out for you in a sea of green.
Bright yellow, with a sun-shiny face, not mean.
Lord, I want to be like a dandelion.
And when I get old and grey,
I want to plant seeds everywhere, if I may.
Seeds that tell of Your sacrafice and You,
And Lord, let it be many and not a few!
Lord, I want to be like a dandelion.

I know that dandelions are weeds, but I saw this beautiful field that was filled with yellow flowers today and it reminded me of how I want to be.

Coleyisms

We call them "Coleyisms", words that Cole uses that just don't quite mean what he thinks they mean.
Today at lunch there was a black bird on our bird feeder eating the suet we have out there. Glenn said that if he doesn't leave it alone he would get his pellet gun out. Cole says, "Maybe we should "distinct" them, dad." He meant extinct.
This morning before church he was waving a rope in front of the cat's face. He told Glenn he was "magnetizing" the cat. He meant hypnotizing! LOL Gotta love those Coleyisms!

Kindergarten Field Trip

These are some pictures from the Washington "Pazillion" as Cole says! It was great fun. I asked Cole what he liked best of the whole day, he said both - the "Pazillion" and the zoo.

Watch out Cole -- there's a dinosaur behind you!

Future Space Explorer

We hit the zoo after dinner and most of the animals were sleeping! Except the bears - two of them almost started fighting! This one played King of the Mountain.

Everyday Happenings!

I am so excited the sun was actually warm outside today! I planted some flowers and cleaned my camper. I hope that it will be decent tomorrow. Tomorrow is Cole's field trip to the zoo and the Pavilion. I am looking forward to it. I hope to post pictures tomorrow. Last night we had our annual Jog-a-thon for our school. It was 48 degrees! We had to wear gloves and winter hats! It is much better today! Just got invited by my neighbor to come over for Chai - not sure what that is but will try it! Talk to you soon!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Dayto all mothers and everyone else! How are you celebrating? My family is coming for dinner and we are also celebrating my nephew's birthday! We are having birthday cake and icecream for dessert! Hope you have a great day!

Bible verses

Cole and I were practicing his Bible verse for school - Matt 7:7
after we went over it two times, I asked him to say it without my help.

Me "Ask..."
Cole "Ask and the door is open"
Me, "No, Ask and it will be given to you"
Cole, "Oh, Ask and it will be given to you"
Me, "seek..."
Cole, "seek and you will find"
Me, "Knock..."
Cole, "Knock and you can come in." (generally that's how it is at our house!)
Me, "no it's Knock and the door will be opened to you."
Cole, "ohh....Knock and the door will be opened to you. Song 6..(Cole thinks everything is found in Psalms)

Video of Tornado

I found this video of the tornado -- check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gbIcMwbX2k

Wow!

Praise God in the Tornado

The song, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" has just come to the for front of my mind lately. Last night again, coming home early from soccer because of lightning and thunder. I noticed a policeman drive through a stop sign, chasing no one. I thought that was odd. I knew we were under a tornado watch. I noticed he went up the hill on the highway toward our house. I was half way up the hill when I heard the tornado siren. Then I saw a dark ominous cloud like thing in the distance. I informed the boys when we got home they were to go directly into the house down the basement. I explained that the sirens were for a tornado that was spotted. I sped home! I parked the vehicle, shut the garage door, making sure that our basset was still in the garage and followed the boys who were already in the basement. We sat there a minute, then I went to get Grant's clock/radio. The boys were scared. I was too. I knew Glenn had stopped by the nursing home to talk to the staff - not about the tornado but other stuff, so I knew he would not be coming home. We prayed. Cole's prayer was God, keep us safe, Amen. Grant then jumped to I don't want to die. Cole says, but we will go to heaven. So we talked about heaven and the streets of gold and who they could meet like David, Moses and Grant added, Elijah. I then wondered if the electricity got shut off, what was I going to do with two boys, two cats in a dark basement bathroom? So I dashed upstairs to get a flashlight. Then I saw it moving about a half mile away from the house! I ran downstairs, twisting my ankle and skidding down the last 6 steps. The electricity did go out, so I was glad we had the flashlight. We sat there for what seemed to be a long time, but then I ventured out. I couldn't here the siren anymore. There were some neighbors in the street talking. Grant and I went out, but I think it hit Cole more after it was over than during. Our neighbor said that he saw it move around our houses, then over another house and then he saw sparks and our electricity went out. We could see a tornado in the clouds in the distance. We went back in the house, the boys took showers by candle light. Glenn came home and he watched it, said it was like the finger of God just move the tornado all around our town. We couldn't reach each other because the cell phone service was down as was the electricity. The electricity came on when the kids went to bed. Cole needed reassurance from Dad before he went down to sleep.
Wow - praise God that no one was hurt, we are safe.
Thank you Lord.

Parenting and Piano

The mom's tip for the day talks about "Choose your battles wisely ~ give patience where patience is due, and continually ask God for wisdom in discipline." I think that piano lessons is a battle that I want to pick now. I know that it is good for sensory integration(each song goes from right hand to left hand), I know that doing the lessons will promote a healthy sense of accomplishment when they are completed(a sense of "I know it was hard and I didn't want to do it, but I got it done and I did it!") and that in the long run they will help with homework and chores. So why does it have to be so hard. As you can tell this morning was a rough morning. I did not blow my cool but I sure wanted to. I asked God for help and this Mom tip is for the day... coincidence? I think not. Raising kids is tough, tougher than I realized before I had kids. I admit that I did not know what I was getting myself into -- maybe that's good or we would never have kids! I love my kids so much but it's hard. This song has been going through my mind today:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." (Lord, I thank you for my children. They are so much your blessings, help me to remember that.)

Gophers

I just love to watch Glenn with the boys and especially when he is teaching them something new. In a vacant lot next to ours, there is a pocket gopher. Now pocket gophers are not nice-they dig up your lawn and then sometimes badgers go after them and then the badger is worse for the lawn! So Glenn and the boys decided to set a trap -- it is legal to trap pocket gophers!


I looked on through the window and caught these pictures of them, catching their first gopher.

Our dog Ziggi, is trying to get in on the action in this shot.

Glenn is showing the boys the teeth of the gopher and the claws. According to the boys the teeth are orange!

I am not sure why there is the thing with boys that they have to touch things. But here they are touching the creature -- We found out later that they can carry lice! yuck!!! Hopefully this will not be the case and we will escape lice free!

Yep these are the men I love so much! --Adventurers and Explorers

Snow Again!!

Soccer is cancelled this morning-- not due to rain but snow!!! It's April 26 and there is snow on the ground!!! At least we did not get 12 inches like some places up north! Thursday soccer was cancelled due to thunderstorms. I guess you just cannot count on Iowa weather!

What does the future hold?

Pondering what God wants in my life. Where does he want me to be, in my family, in my job and in my spiritual walk.
A friend had recently heard a speaker say, "Before time began, before the world began, God had it planned out who you would meet tomorrow. Will you take the challenge of this divine appointment or will you walk away?"
Wow, I have never looked at each face, each person that I come into contact with is a divine appointment. How many times have I walked away to God's disappointment?
What is it that God wants me to do tomorrow, next fall, next year? I can be reassured that before He set the heaven's in it's place, He had my future planned. I need not worry.

Time waster

In what way do you waste time? I sometimes think that if I wouldn't waste so much time...I would accomplish more. I am a spider-solitaire player, TV watcher, email checker, time- waster. I wish I wasn't. I think that I could be doing much better things than that but I like the challenge of the spider-solitaire. Sometimes I feel my mind is going to mush and I just have to have that challenge. I know I should challenge myself in other ways, I know I should. I think my motivation is messed up. So why am I telling you all this. I am trying to change. I am confessing my weaknesses and starting anew. I am not promising that I won't mess up but I will see what I can accomplish with the time I am not going to waste! Wish me luck!

God's Love

You may have seen this video but I cry everytime I watch it. It's a about a dad and the love that he has for his son -- like God's love for us!

Living in a house of men!

I was reading the paper this morning and was commenting to Glenn that Microsoft was going to get rid of XP and only sell Vista. Glenn commented that Vista was not very good and he couldn't believe they were going no longer sell XP or service it. Vista has a lot of problems. I handed the paper to him as the article said by June 30 they were to get rid of it. Cole saw the paper and glancing at the page, says, "Did the woman do it?" (There was a big picture of a lady on the page but it related to another article.) I told him no - that women don't do everything bad! Glenn just laughed! I tell you living in a house of men is not easy! ;) LOL

Farm Tour Field Trip

Hey the farm tours went well! I was secretly hoping that it would rain but it didn't and it was ok. I learned some stuff and it was fun to see "town kids" react to the farm. That includes my son! One little guy called the cows utter - "I see a vein on the cow's gutter." "Do girl cows get eaten?"
Did you know that 70% of the world population has eaten goat's meat? Did you know that marshmallows are made out of cow's hooves? - that was one that really surprised me - I think when I eat my Smore - I will choose to block that from my mind!!! :)

Checking in....

Boy, we have been flying around! We had a garage sale, work today, field trip tomorrow. I am not looking forward to this one - a tour of farms in the area. Other moms who have gone say that it can be very muddy! I'll let you know how it turns out! Have a wonderful day! Gotta love the sun that's shining!

The Invisible Woman

My friend Miriam had this written on her website, but I found the video of it - hope you enjoy! This is Nicole Johnson from Women of Faith - Her Website is a www.freshbrewedlife.com

Opening Day!

It was opening Season yesterday for the Twins. We celebrated by playing paper baseball in the living room, taking pictures and having root beer floats! Oh, yeah, the Twins won!

"Cat"-ching Snowflakes

It snowed today -more than what we thought would come. The kids did not have school today. They had their coats on and were waiting for the bus, but it was called off and the buses turned around. The cats were going bonkers trying to "catch" the snow flakes. Here are two pictures of them! They are ferocious! LOL