March madness

It has been a busy month. The problem is i can't remember what it has been busy with! Work, of course. A couple weekends ago, Len and Annie, Brian, Kris and their kids and Vern and I went to Becky's. We painted her kitchen, living room and dining room. Brian and Kris mudded and sanded the entry. And, of course, we ate! It was a lot of fun!
The 21st was our 39th anniversary. I took Friday off and we drove the Wisconsin side down to Wabasha. Eagles were everywhere on the ice and in the trees. On Saturday morning we went to the National Eagle Center. AWESOME. They have four eagles that have been injured and rehabilitated, but are not able to be released. They are tethered to perches in the building so you can get very close to them. Their enclosure is glass and they look out across the Mississippi River. We learned they have excellent eyesight and can see a rabbit or a squirrel on the bluffs across the river, about 3 miles. They also have polarized vision and can see all the colors we can and even in ultraviolet. Their eyes do not move, but they turn their heads 180 degrees.
We learned they can fly 30-40 miles an hour, but when they dive it can be up to speeds of 100 mph. That is just a wee bit of info to tweak your interest. They are open all year. Go if you can.
Last weekend I went again! I took Becky and Kaylee along. (Miranda is in Montana with Brian and Kris) Vern painted Becky's entry. We came home Saturday night.
Today I got the afternoon off! The clinic closed because we got 12 inches of wet snow and the visibility was terrible. It hasn't snowed all afternoon and has been melting. But I think more is on the way and March is going out like a lion. I think it came in that way too!

Life's a puzzle

Life is a fascinating puzzle. We don't put in the last piece until we take our last breath. Only then is the puzzle complete. How incredibly disappointing to find a piece or two missing.

When we are little there aren't so many pieces, but each day there are more. Every day life gives us new experiences, thoughts and feelings. Each piece must be examined, gently handled and put in its proper place. When we learn to put a jigsaw puzzle together, we start with 10 or 25 pieces. Then we try a 50 and a 100. Eventually we can manage a 500. And then 1000. As the years pass we get more pieces in our puzzle. The more pieces put together the more we see the picture.

The older we get the harder it is to get the loose pieces from earlier days attached. And if we don't work on it every day the unattached pieces increase. Sometimes the puzzle becomes boring or too difficult and we go for days or months or years without putting in a piece. Occasionally a puzzle even gets put back in the box for a time, but usually when it becomes that difficult there are pieces that have been put together that remain attached. Eventually, it all has to be sorted out and put in the proper place.

Another fascinating aspect of our life puzzle is that the pieces change. Experiences that were ten pieces when we were younger become only one piece later in life. The colors keep changing. Pieces that we thought were brightly colored become muted and grayed. Pieces that we thought were the center of the puzzle become edge pieces.

But no piece can be discarded. No matter if it is a color we don't like. No matter if it is a shape that is weird, with odd protuberances on each side. Each piece has a place.

Did you put any pieces in your puzzle today?

Grandpa's toys

Sometimes we wonder where our kids got the know how to figure out things like they can. I give credit to Dad. He could fix anything in the shop, resole his shoes, build something with wood or make something from nothing. I haven't run across a picture of the ferris wheel but I'll add that to this entry when I find it. When we went to Mom and Dad's, no matter if it was 10:30 at night when we got there, the kids had to get out the marble game and roll a few marbles before they went to bed. The train got pulled around, hooked up differently and pulled around some more. What great entertainment he made for our children. And it brought great pleasure to him to sit in his chair and watch them. Now, who entertained who?

Reflections

For some time now I have been contemplating this question. "What kind of Mother was I?"
As the saying goes, its a deep subject. I remember in great detail the birth of each one. If you want the details, just ask! They were all relatively easy births, only a little Novocaine to put in a few stitches. From there on the days begin to blur. Yes, I remember being up nights. One time when Brian was a baby and I was rocking and nursing him in the middle of the night next to the old oil burner in the back bedroom, I heard a noise and found the collie dog at my elbow. She had laid up against the porch door and it had come open. She heard me and came to find me. That is about the most i remember about being up in the night with the children. (the bats? thats another story.)
As they got older there were lots of stressful days, i suppose. Vern reminds me once in a while that I would call him in the barn and ask him to come get the kids for a while. I suppose that was in the wintertime. In the summer time he didn't spend so much time in the barn, but he was always willing to have them outside to follow him around for a while.
They always helped us on the farm. Melissa had a little plastic wheelbarrow that Vern would put a dab of silage in and she'd wheel it up and dump it for a cow. Brian always like to help on the greasiest dirty job. One of my favorite pictures of him is on all fours trying to see under a lawn mower parked in front of the shop. Joel, well, he was the opposite. He never liked the dirt of farming. But, again he always helped. i remember once he and Annie helped us pick rocks in a hayfield. He discovered he had disturbed a ant farm under a rock. The ants were frantically trying to move their eggs to a different location. He laid on his belly and with a stiff alfalfa stem carefully helped them. Annie says feeding cows is how she learned fractions. Patty got 3 3/4 pounds of corn, Lucy 1/2 pound, etc.
Did we work our kids too hard? I don't know. We did what we had to to to make a living. Melissa did a little babysitting when she was older. Brian worked for some of the neighbors on occasion, I suppose Joel did too, I don't remember. I can't remember if Annie did or not. But I don't think they ever lacked for spending money. From the time they turned 16 we provided them a car and gas money. And the car was theirs when they left home.
Emotionally. That is the harder one. The longer I work in the medical field the more I think every one has emotional problems. We all have issues with our parents and the way we were treated. No one's parents were perfect. And in the case of raising our children we only did what we knew to do or were capable of processing. Yes, some of this was passed down from our ancestors and now that we are older I realize not all of it was good, but its all we knew. How true is the saying that babies don't come with manuals. And even if they did, each child is so different there would have to be a specific manual for each one.
I wish, in hindsight, I would have been more conscious that the only manual is the Bible. I wish I would have had the wisdom to read and understand the times that Jesus interacted with children. I wish I would have understood better how to love one another even as He loved us. I wish I would never have said an unkind word or done an unkind deed.
But now that time of my life is past. I cannot undo it. I can weep for my mistakes and ask forgiveness but only God can truly forgive and forget. My dear children that I love so much can forgive, but unfortunately, they will never forget.
Our own lives as children was maybe not all it could have been. (you have all heard Dad tell the story about getting a licking for throwing the rock through the machine shed roof and later being told he had it coming anyway.) I suppose that is part of the struggle of becoming a better person as an adult. If we had all been raised by "perfect" parents, what would we be like? If there was no struggle in our lives we wouldn't seek something better and in seeking something better we find God, the only "perfect" parent, and Jesus, the only perfect older brother.
My only hope is they will learn from my mistakes. That the errors I made will inspire them to be better husbands, better wives, better parents.
And that in the process they will grow in wisdom and love.

Alayna, this is adorable! Thank you so much! I had heard you had a new craft and seen the adorable needle punch blue birds you made for Gramma Mote, but what a treat to get one from you in the mail yesterday! Dad said, we were looking for something to warm up our guest room and maybe this will have to be part of it! Hey, I think you have given me an idea for a theme there! Joel do you remember when we had sheep?
We missed you this weekend. Lets see, two years ago since you brought Alayna home to meet us? This family is gradually growing in rook players. Aedan is very good at it and Miranda is learning, too. I will still watch. Wish you were coming home again soon!

January 3, 2009

How about a picnic and a nice relaxing afternoon on the lawn chair! Oh, well, too much work, methinks! Four months. Just give us four months and we'll be sitting out there in the gorgeous sunshine with the fresh spring air sipping on a glass of cold iced tea. Right now i want a cup of steaming latte and a fireplace. I don't even care if its the fake electric one. Just so it looks warm! Actually, today has been in the 20's above ZERO. Much nicer than the 30 below we had a few weeks ago. However, it has started to snow again and we are expected to get 6 to 8 inches. Vern and I are so thankful we live on the edge of Alex. We no longer worry about the roads, or any of the other complications that came with winter out on the farm. We love it here!

January 1, 2009

We celebrated January 1, 2009. Brian and Kris, Aedan, Emmett and Amara were coming. Kris's dad was coming down from Fargo. Melissa and Daryl, Miranda and Kaylee were coming over.
I opened the refrigerator to get something out for breakfast and almost stepped in a puddle of water. After mopping, pulling out the fridge and mopping some more Vern tried to take the valve apart only to discover the fitting below the valve, that was attached to the copper pipe, was leaking. So in order to fix it we needed torches and whatever else it takes to work on copper plumbing. On happy day!
So, the very first thing Brian and Daryl did when the came was to go with Vern to Menards to get the kit needed to fix it. After much frustration because the torch would not burn when Brian turned it upside down (it had to, it was the only way to work in the wall) the guys discovered Roy's entire copper plumbing kit in the garage! It didn't take long to get it fixed then. Needless to say the faulty kit went back to Menards today. Roy stopped in on his way up north and when we told him his kit came to the rescue he was quite pleased!
The rest of the day went FINE. We ate, played games, played games, ate, played games and ate until finally Melissa and Daryl decided they better leave. Wasn't long and we were all in bed.
Friday: Kris, Emmett and Amara went to Fergus Falls to visit a friend and do some post-holiday shopping at Target. I went to a funeral for a co-workers husband. (he was 54). Brian, Aedan and Dad chipped hard packed snow off the driveway and blew it clean. When I came home they were in the basement contemplating rearranging it. They did too. But that's another story.
By 5:30 or so we all were at Melissa and Daryl's for supper and more games. Emmett has studied Native American children's games and is going to do a report for his classmates. He IS in 1st grade. One is called "keeper of the fire". He learned their games were serious stuff. This one is about listening skills and stealth. He also learned that EVERY game they played, even children's games, was accompanied by betting. No wonder they own the casinos. So they practiced keeper of the fire for his class project. Eventually Brian and Kris left to go back to the cities and we came home by 11 PM.. Pretty late for this old girl!

Brian and Emmet chopping mushrooms for the sausage and cheese omelets they made to accompany the butter milk pancakes they made for breakfast!!!


Kaylee and Amara dancing to Gramma playing a very slow sugar plum fairy dance and a couple of waltzes. Don't you just love that flying hair!!!

December snowman

Annie and Len came Dec 26. Seems like we just bummed on Saturday. Sunday we went to St Cloud Special Meeting. We had a "special" day and nice weather too! I have one picture of Len and Annie from the weekend, but not one I am willing to publish to the world! So instead, I will share with you the snowman Vern made ON OUR DECK the day they came. When they came he had slumped against the railing and Len proceeded to smash his head back into place. The next morning he had slumped the other direction and frozen solid. I don't know if that was annoying to Len or what but he proceeded to use the snowman's head as a golf ball..and snowman soon was history. Made for a great laugh tho as Len was barefoot.

We have had the snowiest December since 1968.

More snow, blowing snow and now the temperatures are starting to drop. We had 14 this morning. its down to 5 below and still going down.

Wikopedia says "Sundogs typically, but not exclusively, appear when the is low, e.g. at sunrise and sunset, and the atmosphere is filled with ice crystal forming cirrus clouds, but diamond dust and ice fog can also produce them. They are often bright white patches of light looking much like the sun or a comet, and occasionally are confused with those phenomena. Sometimes they exhibit a spectrum of colours, ranging from red closest to the sun to a pale bluish tail stretching away from the sun.[1] White sundogs are caused by light reflected off of atmospheric ice crystals, while coloured sundogs are caused by light refracted through them. White sundogs are also thought to be caused by the light from the sun reflecting off of water on the ground and focusing the reflected light on the clouds above."

I never remember seeing them as a child, but once I married and moved "up north" they were an every winter occurance.

Weather

The forecast for several days has been 3-6 inches on snow this weekend. We had planned to have weekend company but that got cancelled. Yesterday it snowed lightly, last evening a little heavier. We heard the wind pick up in the night and this morning it was snowing and blowing. Shortly before we were to leave for meeting it started really coming down. We decided to try it anyway but roads had 6-8 inches and visibility was about 20 feet so we turned around and were glad to put the 4 wheel truck back in the garage.

It has continued to snow off and on and blow off and on. How do you explain a snow storm to someone from southern California? It's not dark, but you can't see. The snow is not so deep in most places, but you never can tell how deep a drift will be. You can't see the ditches, you can't see the road markings, and if the wind is blowing you can't see a vehicle ahead of you. And if you are "lucky" enough to come upon a snow plow you certainly can't see.

But Christmas vacation with snow was one of my favorite memories growing up. And along with snow days one of my favorite memories with our children.

Mom

Vern and I made a trip to Mom's on November 21. On Saturday, we stopped at Brian and Kris' for split pea soup for lunch then were home by suppertime. She was hoarse and by Sunday did not have a voice. On Tuesday, I insisted she go to see my nurse practitioner, who put her on rx for sinus infection and pink eye. She just didn't feel good the whole week and I was glad she was here otherwise I would have been worrying about her.
We had Melissa and Daryl and the girls here for ham dinner on Thursday. By Friday, I had a sore throat but went to work and Saturday Brian and Kris and family and Melissa and Daryl were here for the turkey and trimmings.
Mom continued to get better and I continued to get worse. Thursday I came home at one and haven't been to work since. My throat is so sore it hurts when I talk or breath, no congestion anywhere else and my provider thinks it is probably a virus, however she did put me on my second dose of antibiotics.
I hope none of my family comes down with it as I have been around Mom, Vernon and Gwen, Melissa's family and Brian's family as well as to Sunday and Gospel meeting and Roy and Zach have been here twice. And Vern, of course. If this stuff spreads I'm not going to be a very popular person.
Today, I am "home alone". Vern went to walk at the mall a couple hours ago and probably has run into someone to have coffee with.

Sam

Sam was conceived about the time Joel grew out of a cute little red and blue jogging suit. It was one outfit he loved and wore a lot. So, Sam came into being. And he has been a favorite ever since. I've had to tear him apart and run him thru the wash several times. But, tear him apart and put him in the garbage?? NEVER. He is a permanent part of our family.
Last Friday night Len and Annie came home. After visiting for a while we all went to bed. Wasn't long and they were back upstairs in the kitchen. I thought they must have decided they needed a snack as they were in the cupboards and running water and ice cubes. (The water and ice was legit)
The next morning there sat Sam by the table, banana on his plate, spoon in his cup, a napkin, (can you believe that?) his Bible open and his head bowed saying grace. It was very obvious who he was representing. Next place he showed up, of course, was on the toilet. And later in the day he was driving the car and taking a nap.
Can't say those kids don't have a sense of humor. It apparently was prompted by a cat on a bed frame, and later Cat in the Hat in their bed along with an electric cord. You figure out what that meant.
Cat in the Hat shortly came flying through the door into our bed and the next morning was found sitting on the top step with his eyes covered.
Wonder where they picked up their sense of humor.

MY NEW CAR!

It's a 2008 Mazda 5. Anybody want a ride?? Come on up! Its a 6 passenger!

Weather! Earlier this week we had 75 degrees. yesterday it started to cool down a little and this morning there was rain on the windows. When I came home for lunch it was pouring rain. The water was running down the the sideds of the streets 4-6 inches deep, And there were several lines of geese in the sky. About 3:30 someone at work said, "IT'S SNOWING." And when I came home from work it was still snowing. Of course it is all melting on impact. But, first snow of the season! Vern says he hasn't seen or heard a swan yet. Maybe this snow will bring them.

Marlon

Its a sad day. Well, in a way. Our dear brother, Marlon, passed away in the early hours of this morning. He had been very ill and hospitalized in St Louis MO. After several days of quickly deteriorating health he was diagnosed with lupus. But, by that time the severe complications had caused shut downs of his major organs. They were able to slow some of the sedatives and near the end he was able to hear and acknowledge those with him and several on the phone. He was only 53.
He spent 6 years in our area when Melissa and Brian were teenagers. When I read the words of David "thy gentleness has made me great" I always think of Marlon. He was a gracious, kind, tender, loving brother. We will miss him.

Fall Beauty

October

October has got to be my favorite month even if it rains. I love the beauty of the changing leaves and the odor of them. I love the smell of campfires in the neighborhood (pollution? do people have to make you feel guilty about everything?) I love the cool mornings, the nice evenings. I suppose what really makes us love October, though, is convention.

Now our conventions are over and I still love October. One's spirit is refreshed and one truly feels like a new person!

We had a new experience this year! We camped! In our cargo trailer! It went surprisingly well. The first two nights I spent with Miranda and Kaylee. Since Shannon and family were just a few trailers down we had a little gtg at our camper...

Annie and Len's Vows

Before our friends and family so special to us here, I Annie, take you Len, to be my husband. You are the love of my life, my best friend, and you make my dreams come true. Today, I say my vows with purpose to keep them in my heart. I promise to keep God in our daily life, and to encourage spiritual growth, that we may have a home of peace and happiness. I promise to love, respect and honor you in good times and bad. I promise to laugh with you, inspire you, and cherish you for ever.
Len, I give you this ring as a symbol of the promises I made to you today. May we live happily ever after.

Annie and Len's wedding

Now, that was quite a weekend. There is no way to describe what is like to see your daughter walk down the aisle to marry her prince! Someone asked Len Saturday what it felt like to be married. He said, "the same, only better." That was the way I felt, too. Congratulations on your marriage Annie and Len!
It was a busy weekend.
Thursday evening our family and Len's family all arrived around 5 PM. Len's dad bbq'd hamburgers, hot dogs and tri-tip roast! We had some salads and extras. Was a fun time getting to know each other. We had invited Bud and Ruth Anderson. Buddy entertained us with his humor and musical talent! After that we all got down to business and rehearsed! So Annie's first several walks down the aisle were from our bedroom to the garage door!
Friday morning was a flurry of eating, getting dressed, picking up Annie's dress, forgetting the flowers, going to Arrowwood, going back downtown Alex for the flowers, getting dressed, pictures and suddenly it was time for line up. The wedding went with "only one hitch" and that was Len and Annie's! Their vows were so nice, the music was great! Very sweet wedding!
The reception was great too! Tyler and Heath had fun pumping the root beer, the meal was tasty, the castle was a hit with the little kids and everyone had a good time!
Saturday morning Vernon and Gwen came to pick up Mom and stayed for a while. Terry, Marleen and Jerry and Anita stopped too for a while. Around 1 Len's family came and we had leftovers from grooms supper and then Annie and Len opened gifts!
Sunday after meeting Melissa and Daryl and girls joined Len and Annie, his family and Vern and I at D Michael B's for lunch. I think there were 24 of us. We had asked 3 young friends from our meeting to join us also.
We came back to our place and they guys loaded our guest bed, frame and all, into our cargo trailer. we added a card table, some folding chairs, the clothes rack from the laundry room and a lamp. Then all of Len's family went with us up to Eagle Bend convention grounds where we dropped off the trailer.
Annie and Len are going to EBI and Vern and I to EBII. Since we went to all the work to load it we are planning to camp in in the weekend afterwards at Carlos State Park!
And so, Annie and Len are married. Joel and Alayna were her on a fast trip. All my siblings and some of their children and grandchildren were here also. It was a very busy but happy weekend!

CRUNCH TIME

THREE DAYS FROM NOW we will be in the middle of groom's dinner and rehearsal. I asked Alayna how she did all this stuff on her own. She said she had Joel and 7 months and every night they worked on wedding stuff. I think Annie has done really well! She has had mostly Tuesday and Thursday evening to do anything on the computer and weekends to do anything else. Right now we have ALMOST everything ready! Look forward to seeing everyone!