Saturday, September 30, 2006

Friends

I went to a friends house this afternoon and I felt loved! My friend had a lot of company but that didn't matter, I went in any way. Oh my goodness! I got so many hugs, even from young men that I had known as boys. Have you guessed where I went? My friend whose house I went to is Hmong. I don't think hugging goes along with their culture, I guess they have become Americanized. The children I had taught English to are grown up and married and have children of their own! Oh, where have the years gone? A lot of my former students and their parents were there. I couldn't stay very long but I'm not kidding you, I left there feeling very loved! I am richer for having Hmong friends. God loves them and so do I!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Visitors

The other day a van pulled into our drive and two women came to our door. One of the women I recognized. Several other people were sitting in the van. The woman I recognized has been here many times. She always brings a different person in with her because she says she loves our house and wants to show her friends. Then she tells me she has some booklets for me to read. I take them. This time she said there were some good articles about the end times. She asked if I think the end is near. "Well," I said, "It could be." She told me to read in the third chapter of II Timothy and just see if it's isn't near. So I said okay I would and then I said to her, "And I'd like to suggest to you that you read the third chapter of the Gospel of John where Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again. I'm a born again Christian and Jesus is alive within me!" Her answer was that I'd better be careful because Satan is going to and fro seeking whom he can devour. I said I know that and that's why I'm glad I have Jesus living in me! Then she began to try argue with me but I didn't say any more. I don't have to argue with anyone about Jesus. I know what I know. I do pray for her because she is being deceived and I know she'll be back. I always try to say something about Jesus and my relationship with God through Him every time she comes and she still comes back. God's Word will not return to Him void. I do admire her and the rest of the people waiting in the van for their courage and persistance in going to houses trying to convince people that they have the answer to all of our questions about life after death. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:11-13.

Nature

I'm a nature lover but even I cross the line once in a while and say, "okay, we can do without that!" Living in the country we have all kinds of nature: deer, turkeys, foxes, coyotes, racoons, possoms, rabbits, etc. But last evening sitting in our living room I began to smell something that I have smelled before outside. I asked Jerry if he smelled a skunk and he said yes he did. All our windows and doors were closed and yet we could faintly detect a skunk! It had to be close by for the odor to invade our house! I turned on the porch light to see if it was on our porch! I didn't see anything. I opened the door just a crack and realized that was a stupid thing to do and quickly closed it again. I sprayed room deodorizer all over our house. This morning the odor was completely gone outside and inside. No trace of a skunk anywhere. I asked Rob if they smelled a skunk last evening and he said they did too. Well, like I said, We can do without that!!! Thank you very much!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Dentist

Good morning! Today is a rainy day. Yesterday Jerry and I both had dentist appointments at the same time. I got done first, but I have to go back next week. I'm going to have a crown put on a molar. It's tempting to just have it pulled but I don't want to lose too many and someday need false teeth! Crowns are very expensive! Our dentist's mother was in my class at Spring Arbor College! He is close to the same age as our youngest daughter and they were friends as teenagers. He didn't live here but they were in the same choir made up of teenagers from all over the eastern side of Michigan. He also knew our middle son. I'm not sure how he ended up here in our town. But we always have a nice visit when he doesn't have his fingers in my mouth!

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Tree cutting


A big job done. Yesterday Jerry cut a large tree down and cut up and split the logs. I stacked them on the log cart on the front porch. It completely filled the cart. My part wasn't much but I think it helped a little. The tree was dead and should be just right for burning this year. I tried taking a picture of him cutting the tree but my camera didn't take so I put in new batteries and got this picture. It was a full days work.

Another big job is done!


Another big job is done! We've got the camper all cleaned up and put away for the winter. This picture shows Jerry using his new power washer rinsing off the soapy wash. We didn't use our camper very much this year. Tim & Shauna stayed in it when the whole family was here and we took it to family camp. And that's all. But we've used it alot over the years as you can see by the map on the side. Maybe next year we'll take it some where far. I want to take it to Alaska! But we have to both want to go!!!

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Haleigh and Brandi



Here are Haleigh and our friend and kind-of-new neighbor, Brandi, with my goose. The girls just helped me change her clothes. She'll be a little warmer now with a turtle neck shirt on and a denim cap. I actually made this shirt for Tim when he was a boy! We tie the sleeves in front of the goose. Notice Brandi is holding a pop sickle. It's quite a cool day but that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy eating a pop sickle! Thanks for your help, girls! Come again soon!

Happy Birthday, Max!

Happy Birthday, Max! I will never forget twelve years ago today. We had driven down to Alabama because you were expected to be born any day. We had taken our 5th wheel and had also taken our time driving down, staying an extra day here and there. When we finally arrived at your parents house there was a note on the front door: We're in labor, come to the hospital! Here are directions:-------. We set up the 5th wheel and then found our way to the hospital. Yup, your Mom was in labor! You were born several hours later! We got there just in time!!!

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Autumn


Autumn has arrived! My favorite season! This is what I look at out my computer room window. I'll take another picture when the colors reach their peak. Time to change the clothes on my goose on the front porch. I need my Annie to help me! Jerry has put our stone water fall away for the winter (before the water freezes some night) and it won't be long before he'll put the MG away for the winter, also the 5th wheel. This is all kind of sad. How can this be my favorite season? Well...the air has a different feel, the leaves change to brilliant colors, it's harvest time, time to make some wardrobe changes, time to get back to a regular routine with school starting. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 2:1

Friday, September 22, 2006

Work and fun!

Today is a cloudy sprinkly day. I think we'll get more rain tonight. Jerry washed the house down yesterday afternoon, it was so nice out. So now I've got to get the windows washed because they all have water spots on them left from yesterday. Actually I've been waiting for him to do this big job so I can get my fall work done. So now I can. We watched two fawns today in our woods. It was so fun. Now we're wondering if we have deer quite often and just don't see them! These two fawns wandered around and then finally walked down our driveway, ran across the road, and jumped the fence into the field across from us. Thank goodness no cars were coming. I'm very worried about hunting season this fall. I hope the buck that we see will stay out of view. Hunters will be active farther back in the woods and even have blinds built. They won't even care that we now claim these deer as our own!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Experimenting

Oh boy, now what have I done? Well, we'll see. I'm just hoping I can get black ink for printing!

Print color

I am trying to change the color of the print from gray to black. Please be patient with me because I'm getting frustrated. Lorraine, please comment on this so I'll know how it came through. When I print out Shauna's blogs they have black ink so I should be able to get black too, but I don't know what I'm doing!!!

Autumn

Autumn isn't supposed to begin until this Saturday, however, here in Michigan autumn is here. It's so cool mornings that we have had a fire in our wood stove every morning so far this week. This morning I made oat meal for breakfast just to warm us inside and I'm thinking I'll make chili for supper!

Lorraine

I had a nice, long chat with my sister, Lorraine, last night. She's been home from Japan several days now but I wanted to give her time to get beyond the jet lag before I called her. She's getting rested up. I know how jet lag takes all the get-up-and-go right out of a person. I've been there and done that! :) She had a good time in Japan, saw lots and even got worn out, but she said it was all good and she's glad she went. There were some interesting cultural differences that she noticed. For one: Japan is the cleanest country, not a piece of litter anywhere. Two: Her daughter was singing in a concert and afterward the people clapped and clapped and clapped...Lorraine wanted to say stand up and get it over with! But no, there were no standing ovations, just clapping, clapping, clapping... Then when they were leaving the concert hall out the stage door, to their surprise, was a long line of people waiting to greet Christine and get her autograph! I'm sure Joe, Lorraine's grandson, has some interesting stories to tell his classmates. He had to keep a journal while he was there, as homework. I wonder what he wrote! He's about 8 years old. What an experience for a little boy!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Good Old Days Magazine

My brother, Richard, called me yesterday to tell me he has an article coming out in the Good Old Days Magazine, November special issue, which he just received in the mail. It's something about our family when we were kids. Our family photo is in it taken in 1950. There is also an article by my dad about World War I in the Good Old Days Magazine, Nov. (regular) issue. There is a difference in the regular issue and the special issue in case you're interested in checking it out. (I tried posting the photo that is with the article with this blog but it won't post.) The November issues are not in our book store yet, only Oct, I just checked. So I'll keep checking.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Club 56

Wednesday evenings are tough now because I'm no longer a part of Club 56. I was the teacher ever since it's beginning. Before that I taught the 4th & 5th grade class. Now I walk past their new room, peek inside and see all the kids and all the activity, and walk away. It hurts a little not to be a part of their lives anymore. But...last week something special happened! As I was leaving church one of the girls in Club 56 came to me, her eyes twinkling, and said, "Guess what?" Well, I had no idea so she told me. "I tried out for our play at school and I'M ANNIE!" I was very excited for her, but maybe even more for me because she sought me out to tell me her exciting news. I miss those kids and all their excitment and zest for life but she came to share with me! If we're here when the play is put on you can believe I'll be there for her!

Monday, September 18, 2006

National Thank you Day!

According to the calendar that my brother, Richard, made and gave to our family, today is National Thank You Day! So thank you, God, for giving your Son for me so I can have eternal life. Thank you, Jerry, for loving me. Thank you, Mother, for giving me life. Thank you, Richard, Lorraine, & Bill for putting up with me all these years. Thank you, Pam, Ted, Tim, Christy, & Rob for being my loving children. Thank you, my daughters and sons in law for putting up with all my idiosyncrasies. Thank you, Andrew, Matthew, Kaleb, Tyler, Annie, Max, Megan, Haleigh, Miller, Sydney, Isabella, and Mason, and the one who is yet to be, for being my wonderful, precious, unique grandchildren! And thank you to all the rest of you relatives and friends who make up the circle of my world. I love you all and thank you.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, Christy and Sean! How time flies...1993! We love you!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

As the deer pants...

This morning as Jerry and I were eating breakfast in our sun room deer appeared in our back woods again! We watched and counted five. The buck with antlers was one of them and atleast two fawns and one or two doe's. We watched them wander over to the side of our woods and then across the front. Spring and fall we have a stream that wanders across the front of our yard and they walked right down that stream bed. It's only about fifty feet or less from our house. What a wonderful way to begin our day, seeing another part of God's creation. "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1

Saturday, September 16, 2006

For Kaleb!



This is for Kaleb! This balloon landed in the field right across the road from our house! There was another one that landed in the same field. They went right over our house! There were probably about 30 or more again today. It was foggy this morning so they couldn't go up but it was perfect this evening.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Balloon Festival




This weekend is the Remax Hot Air Balloon Festival. We watched this evening and plan to get up in the morning and have our coffee while watching the silent colorful balloons go soaring above us again. The weather has turned out perfect for such an event.

Fall colors


Good morning! I'm sitting in my computer room looking out the window. The leaves are quickly changing color. I've said on here before that autumn is my favorite season of the year but of course it's also a reminder that winter is coming. I'd better quickly add that I'm the sort of person who likes all four seasons. It's just that winter always seems to be the lonnngest season. I've been sick and am still coughing so I haven't been able to ride my bike for about a week now. I think I might go today. The weather is warming up a bit after a cool rainy streak and I've got to get back into the groove. Jerry is out walking as I'm writing this. We were so hopeful of getting city water soon but now it's going to be a while, probably quite a while because there is a law suit against the township by some folks who don't want city water. It's being put in right down Sturgeon Road, (very close to us) because it's been promised to the next township and they all want it. We think Rob & Jessica can hook up because it goes right past their house but we can't. Well, I'm happy for those who can get it.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Haleigh


Haleigh came over last evening and we thought it'd be fun for her to post a blog. Well, this picture is of Haleigh and Sydney in Sydney's jeep. You should see these girls drive that jeep in our long driveway! Look out! Here they come...there they go! It's battery operated. Here's her message to you: My name is Haleigh. My favorite color is pink. I have 3 pets. I have a cat named lucy and one named fred. My brother has a pet that is a gerbil. The gerbil's name is hugs.

Monday, September 11, 2006

3 Generations!

We have three generations of bloggers in our family! I'm the grandma, one of my daughters-in-law, and two of my grandchildren are bloggers. Are there any more bloggers in the family that I'm not aware of? Join the fun!

Class lessons

I'm working hard on my class lessons for The Dilemma of Young Mothers. It's moving right along and giving me a good feeling. What I mean is I feel God leading me! I was asked what book I'm using and that was a problem for me. I just couldn't seem to find the right book. I prayed for the Lord's guidence and one day I felt Him say, "Use the Bible." So that's what I'm using mainly, along with some other books, Spirit-Controlled Temperaments by Tim LaHaye, is one. I'm writing up my own lessons. The lessons are: week 1: Me...Who Am I? "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jere. 1:5 week 2: Me...As A Wife. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Prov. 31:10, 11. week 3: Me...as a Mother. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Prov 31:28. week 4: My Children. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colo 3:20. week 5: My Family. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Josh 24:15. week 6: All of the Above. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jere 29:11. So you can see I have my work cut out for me. Even some of these verses may change as I go along but for right now they are the ones I've got down for my Table of Contents. So I'll keep plugging along with my lesson plans, who knows maybe I'll become a better wife, mother, and grandmother! There's plenty of room for improvement!

Sunday, September 10, 2006

First Fire


Here is our first fire of the near end of the summer season! It was chilly this morning so Jerry built our first fire. It makes it very cozy in our log home.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Sydney



This is Sydney, Ted's oldest daughter. Ted and Sydney came for the weekend. Sydney and Haleigh, Rob's daughter, have gone with Haleigh's Aunt Hannah to a fashion show. They love to pose, maybe they can pick up some new tricks of the trade at this show! I know they'll come home all excited and ready to become models!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Sudoku


Jerry working the latest Sudoku in the newspaper! I have to wait because the crossword and the sudoku are on the same page! I blame our son, Tim, for getting him hooked on sudoku but it doesn't do me much good to play the blame game since Tim is clear off in Malaysia! Jerry and I are both addicted but thank goodness not to the same puzzle!

Flowers


Here is my old wheel barrow that was headed for the trash man until I begged to keep it and plant flowers in it! Impatiens don't need sun so they are perfect for this spot. Just see how well they did! Actually there were lots more flowers but it's getting near the end of the season so there aren't as many now but it's still pretty and I still love it!

Deer Tracks!

Okay here's proof! These deer tracks are in the dirt Jerry leveled off yesterday! There are lots more too. And they come in all sizes!

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Happy Birthday, Richard! Every little girl needs a big brother and I'm glad you were mine! I'm glad you're still mine, even though the years have come and gone.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Little red tractor



Hey! I did it! Here is Jerry on his little red tractor playing, I mean working on the dirt pile!

Sleepless night

I just had another of my sleepless nights. It's a good thing Jerry slept all night because he's already had a dump truck load of dirt delivered and dumped, waiting for him to level it out. That should keep him busy most of the day! Maybe I can get some house work done with him outside all day. If I can get this picture to post you'll see it's actually fun for him with his little red tractor! I heard the pack of coyotes in the night. They weren't as close as sometimes but still within hearing distance. We've only seen one, thank goodness. During the night I worked on my lesson plans for the class I'll be teaching starting in Oct. I've been kind of stuck but I got a new idea last night, I'm sure it was from the Lord because I've been praying for guidence. So I started over! And it just fell into place! Thank you, Lord! Lesson one: Myself. Lesson two: My Marriage. Lesson three: Me as a Mom. Lesson four: My children. Lesson five: My family. Lesson six: Review.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

September

Here we are in September, I can hardly believe it! Autumn is my favorite season of the year but where did the summer go? I've heard the older we get the faster the time goes. I don't understand why but I believe that is true. I started reading the Book of James today. Oh my, such practical instruction. Well, I'm having trouble with my computer for some reason so I'm going to quit writing and get back at it tomorrow.

Beautiful days

We went for a long ride in the MG yesterday. Well, not as long as up to the lake but still a nice long ride. It was such a beautiful day. Before we know it it'll be time to put the MG away for hibernation! As we rode past Dahlia Hill we came to a red light so I got my camera and snapped a picture of the beautiful dahlias. I tried to post the picture last evening but I forgot how so I'm going to try again. Wish me luck!

Lorraine

My mom called last night. She had just gotten a call from Lorraine from Japan! Mother was quite excited and wanted me to know she had a good flight and they were going to go to visit a shrine. They ate dinner in the hotel but it was quite expensive so would probably eat out from now on. I'm glad Lorraine thought to call Mother, her mind was relieved to know they were there safely.

Monday, September 04, 2006

My Mom

I called my mom last night. She's fine. Lorraine, my sister, left for Japan yesterday at 1:00 PDT with Christine, my niece, and Joe, my grandnephew. My brother, Richard, is driving to Washington from Colorado and will arrive sometime Wednesday. In the meantime a friend is looking in on Mom each day. Is this necessary? We don't know but it makes us feel better! Mother and I had a very nice visit. We always reminisce
and that's fun and interesting and gives our minds a good workout!

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Dinner at the Lake


This morning at church the news that we were invited back up to the lake for dinner at 1:00 spread like wild fire! There was so much food left from yesterday so why not?! About a dozen or so couples or families showed up. It was such a nice sun shiny day we decided to drive up in the MG. Our friend, Harold, took this picture on my digital camera. We had a really nice relaxing afternoon with great food and great fellowship. About three o'clock the sky began to get dark clouds so we headed for home. The closer we came the more clouds there were and also darker, but no rain. We made it home and now the sun is back out!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Refocus

Last Wednesday evening we went to a refocus service. It was so good. There were four different stations set up around the sanctuary for folks to go to. They were: How to pray for my growth, How to pray for a miracle, How to pray for the body, and How to pray for the lost. At each station we were given five ways to pray. It's interesting that number one at all four stations was Cleanse My Heart! The evening ended with Communion. "Search me, Oh God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts..." Psm 139:23 & 24

Pig Roast

Jerry and I just came home from the annual pig roast at the lake. It was a beautiful day and we had a really good time. Kids played and went swimming, men played horse shoe, lots of folks just sat outside, watched the boats and skiers and skidoos and visited. We all ate. What a good dinner! Richard doesn't roast a whole pig any more. He says since he turned 70 he just can't do all that work any more so he buys pork and cooks it in the big roaster burner. It's very good. Actually I liked it better than the pig he used to roast. There were three birthdays to celebrate: Cherilyn's was yesterday, Jim's 93rd is today, and Marilyn's is tomorrow. We sang Happy Birthday and ate cake and ice cream. It was a great way to begin Labor Day Weekend.

Country Living

I don't intend to write something everytime I ride my bike but yesterday was rather eventful! First of all when I was walking out to our pole barn to get my bike I scared a couple of deer right in our side yard! They went bounding off into the woods! The second thing that happened was rather scary to me, not deer. Just as I rode past a driveway several miles from home I heard a gun shot very close! I had a sudden burst of energy and rode on away from there! It's not deer season or turkey season so who or what were they shooting at? Me? Hopefully, it was target practice. I did hear another shot after I was far away. During hunting season we only ride or walk where there are plenty of houses. Just one of the joys of country living!

Large print!

I asked if you liked large print better than normal and four readers let me know they prefer the large print! So, large it is. Thanks for your vote of confidence.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Print

Last evening I was checking out different settings and discovered that I like the large print better than the normal print. Okay, another sign that I'm getting up in years! Oh well, it's bound to come to everyone sooner or later. Lorraine mentioned that she might print my blogs off so our mom could read them and the normal print would be too small for her to read so I could say I'm doing it for my mom! Well, I'll keep it this way for a few days and then we'll see, maybe I'll go back to normal. Which way do you prefer? You're the one who's reading this!