These lines are from "The Gate of the Year," a poem written in 1908 by Minnie Louise Haskins:

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied, "Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

A Few of Our Christmas Decorations (for Rachel)

Luke 1:38 & 45

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

What We Were Doing a Year Ago The Friday Before Christmas

(Those are the Hawaiian Islands the little plane diagram is flying to.)

And what the deck looks like today:

Well, at least we have great memories from last year.

Isaiah 52

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,

"Your God Reigns!"

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted His people.

Northerners Are Crazy

In my previous post I moaned about the cold. And a fellow blogger who lives a lot farther south, commented that she thought she would never survive living this far north.

I want to post a picture and tell her about a quite ridiculous tradition these Northerners have. It's called the Holidazzle Parade.

Yes, it's a parade. Yes, it's outside. Yes, people actually go and voluntarily sit outside in COLD weather to watch. No, we have never gone to see it. Don't plan to either.

Last weekend I heard the weather man say that it was going to be a nice night for the parade because the temperature was going to be 10 degrees!

I found these pictures on the web:


Northerners Are Crazy

It's Cold

I went out to run some errands today. It involved a 15 minute warm-up of my car. The "high" was about -6.

Yes, that's a negative sign in front of the 6. That's what they call cold. I heard a weather man say it's chilly. A slight understatement, I think.

I learned something too. Even though I got all nice and warm in the grocery store, it's still a good idea to zip up my coat and put my gloves on when I head out to the parking lot. Despite how cozy I was in the store, -6 is still cold.

**sigh**

Silly me. My fingers hurt by the time I got the grocery bags put in the car.

You'd never know this is my eighth (yes, 8th) winter in The Great White North.

FYI: The temp is currently -9. The flannel sheets are on the bed. My bed heater is getting ready for bed (my husband). It's supposed to get down to -16. Yesterday the low for tonight was forecasted as -26. But really, when it gets this cold what difference does the numbers make?

Stay warm!!

Help With What to Get the Woman In Your Life For Christmas

This is so funny. Watch the whole thing it's worth it and oh so helpful! **Never has happened to my husband**

Xmas Q&A

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper, but I do use both. A couple of years ago I went shopping the morning of the 26th and bought LOTS of paper for 50% off. I think I won't need to buy any wrapping paper for years.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, because I hate crawling around on the floor trying to water a real one.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving. We did it just last weekend this year. (It sucked to put it up without the kids here.)

4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after New Year's Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yummm! I looked at some at the grocery store the other day. I think I'll get some soon.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Easy Bake Oven. I still have it. I had so much fun with that when I was little.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Brother-in-law. This year we are doing a gift card exchange so no agonizing over that.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My children.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have eight! I have a piece of furniture called a step chest and have a nativity scene on each step, and one on the living room coffee table.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. We write a Christmas letter every year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The year I was missing my two front teeth, my uncle decided I needed two teeth. So he wrapped in a tiny box two PIGS TEETH! I was so disgusted I "lost" them so I didn't have to bring them home. My uncle still talks about it to this day (he's 88). My aunt always told me that she boiled the teeth before they wrapped them. (I found out a few years ago that my uncle took them out of a pig's head the dogs had been chewing on! Ewww!)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life. It always makes me wonder what kind of a difference I have made in other's lives.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Sometime in the fall. But this year I am really behind!

14 . Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe I have, maybe I haven't. I'll never tell.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's Spritz cookies and Swedish Potato Bologna.

16. Lights on the tree? We have always had white lights, but I'd like to try colored ones sometime.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and Joy to the World.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I prefer to stay home, but we are traveling to see extended family. I have enjoyed traveling to "fun" places for Christmas. We've gone to New Zealand, Australia and last year was a cruise around the Hawaiian islands.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Doubt it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Different every year. It all depends on when we go to be with extended families. Most of the time it's not even on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Now that both kids have significant others, that's getting even more complicated. This year it will be the 29th.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowds.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? This year I put mostly clear/iridescent ornaments on and filled in with the kids' ornaments. They'll be taking them with them to their new homes sooner than I think. Then I'll have to come up with some new ideas.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? To spend time with my family. I am so looking forward to my kids being home and to having their girlfriend and boyfriend here.

Moldy the Snowman

When we got the plastic containers full of Christmas decorations out....

you know the ones that are supposed to keep stuff dry....

A couple of the containers had some water in them.

We think that some moisture condensed on the pipes in the storage room and dripped on the containers and got through the cracks where the handles are. One had a few inches of water in it and boy did it smell nasty. Just had to throw out a few things.

But I decided to not be bummed because it really is just stuff. And stuff that has nothing to do with God sending Jesus to earth to be the Savior of Mankind.

Here's a picture of the yuckiest item. I named him Moldy the Snowman.
He is headed to the landfill this week. Poor Moldy.

Thanksgiving Family Reunion

We attended a family reunion on my husband's side over the the Thanksgiving week. It was such a great time. We were fortunate to be able to have it at a Bible camp that some of the relatives live and work at.

The following are some of the pictures I took throughout the reunion.

Here is Pete's cousin who was amazing in the kitchen and organizing the weekend. Why is she wearing the goofy hat? She had just come back from a hike and had to help in the kitchen and didn't have a hair clip so she left the hat on. Such a goof!





Here are 5 of the reason we had the reunion. This is my father-in-law and 4 of his siblings. Do they look like they are related or what?



We brought pictures to help figure out who belonged with who. This was supposed to be a family tree, but some thought it looked more like a shrub than a tree.


Megan looking like a turkey. Hair by Zach.


Caleb looking tough with a paint ball gun.


Megan and her boyfriend Zach waiting to go shoot people with little balls of paint.



Pete's cousin in the kitchen again. She saw me sneaking around with my camera and posed for this picture. Looks serious doesn't she? :)


There was a stack of old National Geographic magazines to look through. I saw some dated in the 19teens and 1920s.

My Entertaining Father-In-Law Showing His School Spirit

Click on the arrow

The Thankfulness Post

We had an amazing Thanksgiving week complete with a once-in-a-lifetime family reunion. I will write more about that and post pictures later this week. But today I wanted to write about what I am thankful for.

I am feeling tremendously thankful for my sweet family.

Pete: I will be forever humbled and grateful that God blessed me with you as my partner in this life. What fun it is to travel through life with you by my side. When I was a little girl I longed for someone to love me. I remember as a teenager longing for a boy to love me for who I am. I remember reading about love and wondered if I would ever have that. God has gone overtime with you! Thank you ALWAYS for your unconditional love. Your name means rock and you are My rock. I love you.

Caleb: Every time I see you I realize how much I miss you. Thank you for being my first-born, my little boy. It's so fun to talk with you and hear your ideas. You are growing into an amazing man. Thank you for your love for God. Thank you for using your musical talent to serve the Kingdom. I love you.

Amanda: I have loved getting to know you this year. Thank you for your love for God, and for Caleb. Thank you for comforting Caleb when his friend was killed. Thank you for your terrific sense of humor. Thank you for your kindness and graciousness. Pete and I have both commented that the more we get to know you, the more we love you.

Megan: You are always my little girl. I miss you. I miss going for treats at the Coffee Company with you. You are so beautiful and talented and smart. You have a great sense of style. I am loving watching you spread your wings and making good choices. Thank you for always being a serious student, a terrific friend and for your love for God. Thanks for being my friend. I love you.

Zach: I am thankful that God brought you to this town and our church. You have brought so much to our family. Thank you for being a man of integrity and for your love for God and your desire to serve God. Thank you for your love for Megan and for treating her like the princess she is. I love you.

The Villain and the Cowgirl

Otherwise known as my kids. Aren't they adorable? They went to a Barn Dance and Caleb won "Best Villain" and Megan won "Best Cowgirl." (...and yes I totally "borrowed" this picture from Megan's Facebook. Isn't it great?)

We didn't even let them play with guns when they were little. Oh where did we go wrong? **SIGH**

I just love my kids! I can't wait to see them tomorrow!

Terrible Photography

When I choose pictures to put on my blog I usually pick out the best pictures I can. This time I thought I'd add a little variety. I found these "examples" of the photography skills in the family. And by skills, I mean a lack of...



Even if my son looks really goofy, I learned that it doesn't work very well to take a picture through the window .... at night .... with a flash.

Caleb took this picture of me on the cruise ship. Not only do I have a stupid look on my face, but I have a HUGE foot. (and notice the bruise on the arch of the foot - no idea where I got that!) I think that foot is bigger than your hand, Zach!

Um, I don't know.
Why was this picture taken.
Why was this picture SAVED?

Here is a freaky picture of Megan with two heads.
Hmmm...
(Ignore the strange person actually looking at the camera)





And here is previous strange person with horns.
Hmm... two headed and horned people.
This is a strange town we live in.




This is what happens when my son gets a hold of my camera. I just love his face.

Now this could be my favorite one. I must admit that I am the photographer on this one. What is it? Why it's the blue sky of Nantucket! I was actually trying to take a picture of a seagull in flight. I think I missed it. It's just off to the right... I think. Oops!

This is one of those self-portrait kind of pictures. I picked the person with the longest arm to take the picture. Didn't work so well. But we are all happy! You can barely see Pete in the corner and poor Megan is all squished! And what's with that face, Mr. Photographer?

God's Painting

Marriage is Cool

The other night I was sleeping quite soundly. Then I started having a dream. I don't remember a lot about it other than I was in a car with some other people. I was trying to drive, but I couldn't move. I got quite distraught. I guess I yelled out and next thing I knew Pete was waking me up and asking, "What do you mean you can't move? Are you dreaming?" I guess I said, "I can't move" in my sleep.

He hugged me and rubbed my back and calmed me down and I went back to sleep.

I love marriage.

Christmas Gift Idea

I'm thinking of getting this for my husband for Christmas. What do you think? Shh!!! Don't tell! ;)

Mondays...

Ever been in a Monday Funk? Me too...

Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.

Megan's Shopping

Our daughter is trying to find a church home to fit into in the college town she has moved to. She thought she had found one, but decided she didn't think everything that was said from the pulpit was biblical, so she is looking some more. I think she is doing a terrific job of looking at churches through what the Bible says.

I came across this list when I was reading another blog. (I don't know the person, so I won't put a link here to her blog.)

Hallmarks of a Healthy Church

1) Stresses authority of Scripture, not special revelations

2) Leads by strong and gentle example, gentle encouragement

3) Teaches Godly relationship with larger society

4) Keeps the focus on Jesus, not on the leader

5) Maintains high standards of purity

6) No additional requirements for salvation

7) Allows members to hear from God for themselves

8) Teaches biblical principles allowing individuals to grow and make decisions for themselves

9) Fosters relationships with the larger community that are more than self-serving.

We are praying for wisdom for Megan as she makes this big decision on her own.

Iowa Countryside

I took this pictures when we were in Iowa recently and driving to my parent's house. The sky was full of dark clouds except along the horizon where the sun was shining through. The lighting was so cool I pulled out my camera to snap some pictures. I was happy that several turned out since we were zipping down the highway. (Well with-in the speed limit I'm sure! None of those auto-bahn speeds!) In the first one you can see the shadow of our car. I just love how the unharvested corn seems to glow in the sunlight.

Stayed Upon Jehovah Hearts Are Fully Blest

So we are now into the second week of November. Every year at this time I am taken back to the beginning of November 1991.

On Tuesday of that week, 20 month old Megan started acting sick. That morning Pete changed Megan's diaper and said it looked funny to him. The stuff (#2) in there was black. Didn't know what to think. My mom had come for a visit. I remember shopping and Megan throwing-up in the store. She didn't want much for supper that night.

That Wednesday morning I was getting ready for Community Bible Study. I would have stayed home, but I was scheduled to share about what the study had meant to me and what Caleb had gotten out of the children's program. Megan was so lethargic that morning she just wanted to sit in my lap. Not a normal thing for a 20 month old. I called and made an appointment at the pediatrician's for after Bible Study. My mom agreed to stay home with Megan and would meet us at the doctor's office.

So Caleb and I went to Bible study. We met my mom and Megan at the pediatrician's office as planned.

When I described Megan's symptoms, including the funky colored diaper, the doctor quickly ordered a couple of tests, including a blood work-up. That blood work showed that Megan had lost a large amount of blood. She was immediately referred to a Pediatric Gastroenterology specialist at the university hospital. I remember being hesitant to call Pete because he was having a very busy day at work installing a whole new phone system throughout the whole plant. The receptionist just looked at me and sternly told me to call him.

So my mom took Caleb home to feed him lunch and I went to the hospital with Megan and Pete met us there.

The next three days were a blur of tests. Endoscopy, colonascopy, Mekel's scan and a series of x-rays. All with inconclusive or negative answers. Followed by tears and kicking the wall out of frustration.

I spent the first night in the hospital in the hospital with her. They gave her a couple of units of blood. It was such a blessing to see her pink up and become more alert. The night nurse played peek-a-boo with her and she giggled. What music that was to my ears!

The second night Pete spent with her. When I was home I tried to catch up on laundry. I went into Megan's room to get her dirty clothes and fell apart. I sat in the rocking chair and cried. Caleb (who was 4) came in, crawled into my lap, and starting crying too.

I remember: hearing her cry "get down!" when she was having an IV put in; Megan screaming every time someone new walked in the room; crying as she feel asleep in my arms from the anesthesia given her for one of the tests; clinging to my husband; dear friends coming to see us and them crying as they prayed for Megan; going for a walk with Megan in the halls of the hospital and her getting excited at the babies; God speaking peace to me. (see below)

We were discharged from the hospital that Saturday morning. The doctor thought she had some sort of a massive internal bleed that had originated in the small bowel. The black #2 in her diaper was probably blood. She probably lost about half her blood. Praise God it has never happened again and she is healthy.

Here is a picture of sweet little Megan the day after she came home from the hospital. You can see the mark on her hand from an IV.



It was an agonizing week. God spoke to me in a couple of really clear ways. One was the first Bible verse that Caleb memorized at age three:

Hebrews 13:6 The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

It was an assurance of God's presence.

Another way God spoke to me was this hymn:

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every time we sing this song I end in a puddle of tears. Megan even chose it last summer for a worship service that she played the piano for. I was a mess by the end. And every time we hear that song Pete and I are ever thankful for sparing Megan's life and the blessing she is to this family.


Seventeen years later... me and my girl. She's a beauty.

Lesson of the Day

When you live in Minnesota and it's the 11th of November, pay attention to the weather before you head out to the grocery store.

32 degrees and sleet definitely call for a coat and socks.

Lesson learned (the hard way).

You'd never know this is my 8th winter here.

::SIGH::

How to Tackle (Avoid) My Least Favorite Household Chore

I thought I would share how I get my favorite **cough**cough** household job done. That job would be ironing. So here is how my day went yesterday:

1. Tell my husband Sunday night that I hope to get the ironing done on Monday. He is impressed with the fact that I hoped to get it done.

2. Monday morning. Start laundry.

3. Check email and read blogs.

4. Watch "Gilmore Girls."

5. Get water ready for the iron.

6. Eat lunch.

7. Fold clean laundry.

8. Watch "One Life to Live."

9. Move pile of ironing from chair to bed.

10. Set up iPod to play in the bedroom.

11. Fold some more laundry.

12. Start listening to Michael W. Smith Worship.

13. Sing at the top of my lungs.

14. Set up ironing board.

15. Fill iron with water.

16. Plug iron in!

17. Force myself to iron for the whole Worship CD.

18. Take a break and watch another episode of "Gilmore Girls."

19. Back to the ironing.

20. Listen to Michael W. Smith Worship Again.

21. Husband calls to say he has a late meeting.

22. Still ironing.

23. On last shirt when husband calls to say he's on his way home.

24. Put everything away with 2 minutes to spare before husband walks in the door.

No wonder I hate ironing .... it takes me all day to get it done!

::Smile::

I am a master at avoiding the least favorite chore.

For Caleb

This was sent to Caleb's Facebook. I wanted to post it here in honor of him. It's a tribute to his favorite composer. John Williams. It made me laugh. Watch it!

Let's Start At The Very Beginning, A Very Good Place To Start...

I had a good week with my husband. A good first business trip.

On our way to see my parents we took a slight detour through the town where I was born. My parents lived in a little town called Montezuma. So little, in fact, there was no hospital. So they drove 25 miles to Grinnell for me to be born.

As we drove into town, my husband and I just followed those blue hospital signs and found the hospital I was born in. I think I have seen it only one other time in my life. There is a postcard picture of it in my baby book. This didn't look like the postcard, but the hospital has been added on to in the last forty**ahem**cough** some years.

This is where I took my first breath:

A few days before, while Pete was in meetings, I took myself on a little road trip to the little town of Montezuma. I only have a few memories of living there. (We moved away when I was four.) Some of my memories are from the home movies (8mm) my parents have. I also remember my Rocking Horse birthday cake when I was four, not liking to go down the basement steps because there were no backs on them, sitting on the giant gas tank in the yard. Here is the house I lived in with my family for the first four years of my life: (brace yourself)
Yuck. I think it looks horrible. My daughter's boyfriend says it looks like one of those places where illegal substances are made. I have a picture from when I was about 2 with my two sisters, my brother, my grandparents and me on the end of the porch. It looked so much better those forty**ahem**cough** some years ago.

When I drove through downtown and saw the town square, I remembered it being all decorated for Christmas and Santa Claus was set up in a little booth on one of the corners. Even then I remember my mom telling me that Santa was just some man dressed up.

Here is a picture of the church we went to. This is where, as a little tiny girl, I first began to hear about God and His love for me. It kind of struck me and I had to take a picture of it.

That was just the beginning of an amazing life with God.

Empty Nest Fun

I found a perk of having an empty nest.

I get to travel with my husband.

He actually doesn't travel much at all. When he told me a few weeks ago that he had to go to a plant in Iowa, I asked him if I could come along. It all worked out fine for me to do so. Last night we arrived at our hotel in Dutch Town, USA. I enjoyed looking around town today. Even visited a bakery and bought only ONE Dutch Letter -- well for today. :)

(A Dutch Letter is a yummy almond-flavored pastry.)

I drove to the town I lived in when I was born. I took some pictures of the (awful looking) house we lived in. I hope to take a few more pictures tomorrow and write about some of the memories I have from visiting here when the kids were 18 months old and 4 years old.

We will have a quick visit with my parents at the end of the week. It's quick because THEY are traipsing off to Florida. Hmph.

Well, I think I will head into town and see if I can find a place for supper. The husband has a business dinner tonight. It's okay, I don't mind eating alone if I have a good book. Let's see, maybe "el mexicano foodo?" :)

A Privilege

Tuesday is a big day in this country. I consider it a huge privilege to be able to vote for who I want and to have a say in how my country is run.

I try to remember to pray for those in leadership. Such a big job I would not want to have. While I am concerned with the direction our country is headed I remember what is said in the book of Daniel chapter 2 verse 21:

He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

See that? It says that God sets up the kings and deposes them. He is in control of who is the leader and when that leader's time is up. So no matter who is elected president tomorrow, God is in control. He has a purpose.

Consider these verses from Isaiah 10:

1 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.

3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?

4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives
or fall among the slain.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.

Laughter + Daughter Home Visiting = Music

I picked Megan up from the airport this afternoon.

(Her flight was even 25 minutes EARLY! And! Gas was only $2.11! Will wonders never cease?)

She came home to see the musical at the high school. Right now she is in the family room with a high school friend and catching up on all the drama.

I am so loving listening to the music of her laughter drifting through the house.

Sure have missed that.

Over-Flowing Wednesday

I had lunch yesterday with a friend I don't get to see often enough. Our lunch ended up being 4 hours long. We had a lot to talk about. Barb demonstrated to me such great love. She shared wisdom from her experiences and challenged me. How great to be able to benefit from her experience as someone who has gone before me. I pray I will be able to do the same for others.

On the way home from lunch I got to talk with another of those don't get to see often enough great friends. We caught up on news. (She always has fun news about her grandbabies.) Then as I was able to share some of the struggles I have had (and how her daughters have encouraged me) she spoke truth of encouragement to me. She has told me this list of things to be thankful for despite my frustration many times before, but each time she does, I see the truth and embrace them. Yesterday I thanked God for the reminder.

We ended the day with our small group Bible study. Oh how I love this group of people. We are so diverse. From a 19 year old new Christian, to a newly married couple (she is a new Christian), to a couple we prayed for two years to come to our small group, to a few of us who grew up in the church. Tonight as we spent more than a half an hour sharing prayer requests, I was struck with the bond/love we all have for each other.

I love the body of Christ.

God is good. These two verses came to mind as I reflected on the day:

John 1:16
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.

1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

I Have A Pet Peeve

I am not a fan of public bathrooms. I have been known to come home to use my own bathroom even though I am still in the middle of running errands around town. Don't even get me started on the stalls that are so small that I have to about crawl to the other side of the toilet to get the door shut. HATE that! Another thing that bugs me even more is where the toilet paper dispenser is mounted. Like this one:
It is so low that you practically have to kneel on the floor to get anything out.

Same as this one:

Here is an example of a properly mounted toilet paper dispenser:

(And yes, I did get my camera out to take theses in a public restroom, but I made sure there wasn't anyone else in the bathroom. It would be weird to see a flash coming from the stall next to you, wouldn't it?)

This arrangement of toilet paper is what inspired this whole post:

I do believe that is the most ingenious way to have lots of toilet paper dispensed. Hats off to the people at Shakepeare's Pizza. I think I counted 14 rolls. Awesome.

So after all that ranting (and yes, I feel better) I leave you with this:

Details? Ewww

I saw this picture on a website for a discount store. Is it just me, or does this lady's eyebrow need a little grooming? And does no one know how to edit pictures? I'm just saying.
Ewww!

I Do Like These List Things

Got this one from Life at 7000 Feet

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Oooo. Good Carole King song. Wait, I don't think that's what this is asking. Uh-em... My favorite season is definitely Spring. I love seeing everything come back to life. After living 80 miles north of the equator for three years and no changes in the seasons, I came to realize that I do like the changes of seasons.

Who is your favorite Disney princess? Belle. My daughter's best friend played her in their high school musical last fall.

What's the last book you read? The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson. I thought this was a stand alone novel, but it turns out to be first of a series of seven. Grr. The rest are already on my Christmas list

What book are you reading right now? I Second That Emotion: Untangling Our Zany Feelings by Patsy Clairmont

Name one "presidential" memory (an election you remember as a child, voting for the first time, etc.) The first presidential election I remember is Nixon vs. Humphrey. I remember talking about it during our Brownies meetings.

What are 3 things that scare you/freak you out?
1. Winding, mountain hugging roads
2. Snakes or any reptiles
3. A spider on the dashboard when I'm driving 70 mph down the interstate

If you were running for office, what would your campaign slogan be? The bigger question is WHY would I run for office. I hate politics.

What is your favorite football team? None. Hate football. But I will cheer for my Alma Mater, Iowa State University. (and for my kids' school Kansas University)

How are they doing this season? Ummm... I'm supposed to know this? Well I do know Iowa State isn't doing too hot. That's all I know.

Do you have anything particular that you're looking forward to this Fall? Yep. We are going to a family reunion over Thanksgiving. It will involve many family members that are rarely seen. There are two cousins on that side of the family that I have never met and I hope to meet one of them. (The other one lives in South America and she's not making the trip.)

Are you craving anything right now? Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies. Darn. I should have made those for Bible study tonight instead of the lemon/zucchini pound cake that's in the oven right now. I should make those cookies for next week.

What's the last thing that really made you laugh out loud? My son. I so love hanging out with him and being goofy. I can be goofy with him like no one else. (Love you buddy!)

Can You Guess Who Was Home?

Check out the stack of piano books on the floor! Can you guess who was home last weekend? Megan! (and Caleb & Amanda) It was great to hear Megan playing the piano again. I have missed that.

It was a fun weekend. Complete with a big shopping trip to the Biggest Mall In The Country. We also got to meet our former pastor and his wife (and our dear friends) for supper after the shopping excursion.

LOVED having them all home!