It's a Wonderful Life

The classic movie is a Christmas favorite, and after this Christmas I have an idea how George Bailey must have felt. I received four wonderful photo books from the kids and a grandma sweatshirt that make me feel like my life has counted by contributing to some pretty awesome people...namely the best husband, three beautiful daughters, three great sons-in-law, and five amazing grandkids. What could possibly be better than to be a part of their lives? I have been truly blessed.
Now it's back to the daily grind, which is fine. We will have more family time this next weekend over New Years...looking forward to it!!

Thought for the day

"The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation." Psalm 33:11 NASB "Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect Him, the ones who are looking for His love." Psalm 33:18 The Message
God has plans for me and for my family, and those plans stand from generation to generation. I'm counting on it. And in the meantime I want to walk with Him, honor and respect Him, and look everywhere for evidences of His love. His eye is on me, and the plans and counsel of His heart stand forever. I plan to focus on the people God has already put in my life, do my best there and watch Him keep His word.

Doors and Window

More done...wrapping is done (except for one I can't finish), made caramel corn and cheese ball tonight. Tomorrow Kelli will be on the road, and I'll make oyster cracker snack tomorrow night. I need to go get more groceries tomorrow, too. I work on Thursday, but have Friday off. That is the day I'll make soup, salad, birthday cake, and maybe rice pudding so I have it ready ahead of time.
We're looking at some weather moving through on Thursday, so hopefully will be done by Friday when more people will be on the road.
Good news at the house today...we got three doors and the big window in the entryway. It looks so nice. We can begin to see what the end will look like even though we have a LONG way to go!

Thought for the day

"What are you waiting for? Return to your God! Commit yourself in love, in justice! Wait for your God, and don't give up on Him--ever!" Hosea 12:6 The Message
...ever...ever...ever...ever...not just till it seems too long...ever...ever...ever...not just till you can't stand to wait any longer...ever...ever...ever

More Getting Ready

After going out for supper on Friday night, I did a lot of work getting ready for Christmas this weekend. Besides the usual laundry and cleaning, I baked cinnamon rolls, dinner buns, made chocolate bark, wrapped more gifts, got a ton of groceries, went to church, went to a visitation, went to 2 basketball games, and supper at Village Inn. Now we're just sitting around...perhaps comatose (while doing more laundry).
Plans are coming together for the weekend...Kelli and girls coming on Wednesday, Jon getting in on Friday. Saturday Culver's and Melby's will come for the whole day. Culver's staying till sometime Sunday. Holthe's going to another Christmas on Sunday then returning before going east for a few days. I'm excited to have everyone together...always the best part.
I hope your Christmas will be as wonderful...and I hope that you find some perfect moments to turn your heart to Christ and worship Him.

Blizzard

Okay, I'm here again. This weekend was supposed to be really busy. We were going to go to Tre's basketball game on Saturday morning and to my work Christmas party that evening. We were also planning to drive to Muscatine on Sunday. With only two weeks till Christmas I REALLY had a lot to get done. A blizzard all day Saturday and high winds through the night till Sunday morning cancelled all those plans, so I put up the tree, wrote and addressed the Christmas letters, made pretzels, made peanut blossoms, and put up a few other decorations. I went to see my mom for a short visit today, but that was my only venture outside except for breakfast on Saturday morning before the snow started. So I've been able to listen to some Christmas music, watch "It's a Wonderful Life", and generally get ready. Not so many decorations this year since I'm not sure whether construction will begin to invade before the day comes.

Bruce got almost all the shingles on Friday before the storm and wrapped all the north side with tyvek...it was a very good thing. All our doors are in the garage now and I got to peak at them today...can't wait to see it all come together!

Still praying for the sale of Jon and Kelli's house and the purchase of a new one. We know that God has the best plan, but He also tells us to ask, so ASK WE DO!!!! Emmy had a rough couple of weeks at school, but is thankfully doing much better. We keep praying for her, as well. Megan had a bout of infection, but is doing well now, too.

So many things going on...so many things to pray for...Thank You, Jesus, that You hold all things in Your hand. We trust You.

Cutest Grandkids

I have the cutest grandkids!!! No arguments allowed!!! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving...all the kids were here for supper Thursday night and we had a great time. The Holthe's, Culver's and Tre and Tru stayed overnight. Holthe's and Culver's left on Friday morning, and the boys stayed till Tabbi got back from black Friday shopping. Construction was resumed on Friday on our entryway. They've worked all day today (Saturday) and plan to work some tomorrow, too.

Jon starts his new job in Muscatine on Monday and it is a wonderful opportunity for their whole family. Kelli and girls are coming here tonight before heading home in the morning. Thank You, Jesus, for this move!! We are so grateful that they will be so much closer!

Thought for the day

There is much to be learned by watching the lives around us. Some display courage, faith, and a growing walk with the Lord. Others seem to demonstrate what happens when faith is a set of doctrines believed more than a relationship deepened over time. This life carries its challenges, and we must let them stretch us and grow us. If we do not, we will not finish well...guaranteed. We must already have our life and walk firmly established on the bedrock of trust and intimacy with God when older age comes because our hearts and minds will revert to their most ingrained habits. If depending on God has been our pattern, we have good ground to work from. However, if we have only ascribed to a doctrinal set of truths, we will not have a living faith that can sustain us and carry us to a good finish. Let the unimportant things fall away and focus on that which will last.

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for???? We have much to celebrate this year. We have our new grandson, Oz, Jon's new job in Muscatine which will bring Kelli's family back to Iowa very soon, a started building project, health, provision, and lots of growing pains this year. It seems to have been a year of learning about having NO control over things that we may desperately want to control. We've been challenged with hard questions about God's sovereignty in the face of tragedy. We've stood beside the suffering knowing that only God can truly comfort. We've learned that we have limitations we had not acknowledged previously. And in all these things we have found God faithful. He is sovereign. He does reign. He does comfort and come alongside us in our need. For all these things and many more thank You, God, for this past year with all its challenges and blessings!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and take a little time to really thank the Lord for some very specific things!!

Thanksgiving Preparations

Now my back is tired. We slept in a little bit today, then went to Hy-Vee for breakfast and ran a couple of errands. Found boxes of Christmas cards at Bomgaar's 25 for $1.99--YAY! We came back home and I cleaned the oven, did laundry, cleaned house, mixed up dinner rolls, went to see my mom, then baked the rolls. I still need to give Logan a bath this weekend if Jon doesn't get to it. I was hoping to make cinnamon rolls this weekend, too, but we'll see. I sure hope I can pull off the full meal with desserts and all the rest. I feel a little overwhelmed by it all right now. I think I may have a stress fracture in my left foot. It's bothered me a long time, but seem worse now than it has been. Rats. Okay, so this doesn't seem very inspiring....moving on.

Thought for the day

"We seem to consider that divine love is hard and self-seeking and distant, concerned about its own glory, and indifferent to the fate of others...But divine love is tender and self-sacrificing and devoted, and glad to bear and forbear and suffer, and eager to lavish its best of gifts and blessings upon the objects of its love...The slightest barrier between your soul and Christ may cause you to dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar or under a bushel. Keep the sky clear. Open wide every avenue of your being to receive the blessed influences your divine husbandman may bring to bear upon you. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Drink of the waters of His goodness. Keep your face upturned to Him as the flower do to the sun. Look, and your soul shall live and grow."
"He is able to turn any soil into the soil of grace the moment we put our growing into His hands. He does not need to transplant us into a different field, but right where we are, with just the circumstances that surround us, He makes His sun to shine and His dew to fall upon us and transforms the very things that were before our greatest hindrances into the chiefest and most blessed means of growth. I care not what the circumstances may be, His wonder-working power can accomplish this; and we must trust Him with it all."
From "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith

Okay, so I accept with joy all that I face in this moment....better now! :)

Catch Up News

Wow, where have I been? These last weeks (or months?) have been crazy. I got to spend a week at Megan and Greg's when Greg went back to work. I helped around the house and ran a couple of errands, and GREATLY enjoyed my time there! I think the last time I spent Monday thru Friday daytime with just Megan was probably the spring before she started kindergarten. That was a crazy thought! So glad we still get along! Oz is such a good little baby, and Greg and Megan are doing a GREAT job!
Our garage has walls and a roof with a partial tie in to our old roof. Still no entryway and I can't tell you how tired I am of parking at the church and hauling everything back and forth. I think I'm done with my morning swims until I have dry ground out back and maybe a garage I can get to. I'm thinking it could be a while....
I other completely AWESOME news, Kelli, Jon, and the girls are MOVING BACK TO IOWA!!!! We are SO excited! They'll be living in Muscatine where Jon will be working as head of the trust department at Central State Bank. He's worked very hard to get to this point, and we're very happy for him. Of course, we may be even happier for us!!! So looking forward to being able to see them any weekend we want...and with Megan and Greg in the middle the possibilities are multiplied!
Well it was early when I started, but it's late now...going to bed!!

Oskar Henry Culver

HE'S HERE!!!! His name is Oskar Henry Culver, or Oz. His parents are Greg and Megan Culver, and he was born on Saturday October 23, 2010 at 6:48 p.m. He was 7 lbs 10 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. He has lots of dark hair, beautiful skin, and, so far, dark blue eyes. We've all been excitedly waiting his arrival. It was time and, apparently, he thought so, too. His timing was perfect. Jon, Kelli, and the girls were here from Thursday till Sunday morning. Jon and Kelli went to eastern Iowa overnight and had supper with Greg and Megan on Friday evening. Oskar must have heard aunt Kelli saying they had to leave Sunday morning and he made sure to arrive in time to see them all. They, along with Tabbi and her boys were all at the hospital just before he arrived. Jon and I and Alex and Corriene were there all afternoon waiting patiently...sort of. Within a couple of hours of entering the world he had met all his grandparents, two aunts, and four cousins! Very cool, indeed!!!! They went home from the hospital on Monday, and Greg is home from work this week. Next week I will go and help her since Greg will be going back to work.
Jon is off work this week and next so he's catching up around here...getting our new computer running the way we want, grinding dies, odds and ends, but NO CRADLE WORK since it is complete and occupied by a sweet little man.
We're just so glad Oskar and Megan are healthy and well. God has been so gracious...again...

Thought for the day

Guess what I started reading again today..."The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" Can't help it, it's a wonderful book. On fb today one of my friends had a quote by Hannah Whitall Smith..."It is of vital importance for us to understand that the Bible is a statement, not of theories, but of actual facts. Things are not true because they are in the Bible, but they are in the Bible only because they are true." One of my favorites!

Joy

I'm making progress on my cat in the hat cross-stitch for Soybean. I'm about half done with the tie then all I have left is the hat (which is really tall).

Thought for the day

I've been thinking a lot lately about joy. It has seemed elusive lately. I think that's due, in part, to all the tough news we've had this summer. What is it that brings joy? What is joy, really? I believe joy is different from happiness. Happiness may be more the result of circumstances while joy comes from a deeper place. Joy can abide and survive in spite of circumstances, but it may require some action on our part. I heard (or read) that in order to have joy we may have to rejoice. Being thankful, renewing the mind in the truth, and offering a sacrifice of praise are actions that we have to choose. So we need to actively rejoice in the face of our troubles. It is not only the right path to follow, it is a powerful weapon against the enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He is completely overthrown and left powerless when we rejoice and trust the Lord.

Perry the Peacock

I miss my garage. And my driveway. And access to my vehicle. It's only been a few days and I'm whining, I know. It will be great...eventually. By the time we get it done, I will REALLY appreciate it...almost as much as Jon!
Tabbi and I took the boys to the zoo on Sunday. The weather was completely perfect. It wasn't very crowded. We saw some of the animals we didn't see when we went last time. It was a great day. It think it seemed especially good just because I needed it. There have been so many sad and hard things this summer that it was time for fun. The most memorable moment may have been Tru's outburst while chasing a peacock..."Curse you, Perry the peacock!!!" Hysterical!!

Thought for the day

"When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love." Galatians 5:4-6 The Message
And I love this list of the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. In NASB it reads "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." In The Message it reads..."He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."

Hope

"Chuck" came back last night, and tonight I got to see the new "NCIS" and "Parenthood". Such fun!! Really have to get to bed earlier, though. Skipped swimming this morning...just could NOT get up.

Thought for the day

Thinking a lot about hope these last few days. As humans we have a great need for hope. We NEED to believe that the good is coming. And, truth is, we have legitimate cause to have hope. We belong to the creator and sustainer of the universe, and He loves us with a love that is so much greater than any we can imagine. He is on our side. How's that for hope???

Full Week

Okay, three funerals in one week is a little over the top. We did have the chance to be with Jon's family who we hadn't seen in a long time, and that was wonderful. We also got a chance to celebrate some lives that have been lived in the light of God's grace, and it was good.

In better news, our builder is planning on starting demo work on our concrete tomorrow. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

Wishing you all a great week...I'm going to try to stay in touch better...

The Need to be Thankful

We are planning on traveling to Jennifer's funeral next week. My feelings are a mixture of sadness and excitement. It will be so good to see everyone, but such a sad time. Tabbi is planning on riding with us...almost like old times. I'm sure we'll need to be aware of all the possible pit stops along the way :)


Thought for the day

We have so many friends who are going through such hard things right now...Dan's family, Marcus and Crissy, Erika, and all the Lukes. All we can do for them is pray. It reminds me that I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. And so do you. There is a quote in one of my devotionals that I like..."If your cup is sweet, drink it with grace." Don't look for trouble; don't worry about what if; don't flaunt your blessings. Receive what the Lord gives you thankfully, humbly, and with a hand that holds all things loosely. All we have is His; it is simply put into our hands for a little while to be used for His glory. It is His to do with as He sees best. Lord, have Your way, do Your will, and rule and reign in all things.

Jennifer

It seems I was just starting to get to know her. I knew Jennifer when she was a child, but never got to spend much time with her. She became a woman, a wife, and a mother while I was busy with my own family. Thanks to facebook, I was getting the opportunity to connect with her in little ways again...a note, some pictures, fun news about the family. I wish I'd made a greater effort. She was a bright, energetic woman with a wonderful smile. And though our lives were not intersecting much at all, I will miss knowing that she is there raising her twin girls and enjoying her life. She will be missed by so many... We will offer comfort and a listening ear to her family, but that won't fill the emptiness. Only Jesus. Lord, hold them close and make Yourself known to them in ways that touch them deeply and profoundly. Hold us all...that You may receive the glory in every situation.

Garage

We are really going to build a garage! Jon is pretty darn excited! I'll keep you up on the progress with pictures. I hope we don't get too overwhelmed! :) More to come.....

Basement Bathroom

Those of you who know...know that our basement bathroom was in need of some TLC. A major pipe leak proved to be the agent of change. The old floor and cabinet were torn out to do repair and never to return! These are some pictures of what we ended up with.

The floor is actually a much better color in person...grays, blues, and tans. Anyway, Jon's been working very hard and did an awesome job. Thanks, honey!!!

My Last Shower

My last shower was Saturday. Don't worry, I will still smell great. It was the last time there was a shower for one of my daughters...Megan's baby shower. Lots of people were out of town, but we had a really nice group of ladies and Megan, Greg, and Soybean got many wonderful gifts. Showers are really a great idea...such a nice way to help people get started with the new chapter of life. They also make us smell better :)

Thought for the day

There are so many things in life that make no sense to us. I was talking with Joanne Monday evening...Scott's death is one of those things. And yet...but God... We talked a long time about God. Her faith is an inspiration and so brutally honest and uncompromising. In Christian circles today so much is explained away by the view that we live in a fallen world and there are consequences. This view says the very best we can hope for is that somehow God will bring good out of the senselessness. But brutally honest faith says more. It stands in the midst of its pain and tears wanting with all its heart to undo what has happened and says, "My God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His control. No matter what has come my way, my God who loves me has allowed it. He saw it coming and did not stop it. It passed through Him before it touched me, therefore, it will be for my good." Courageous faith does not deny the pain or grief, but refuses to credit God with anything less than complete control of the situation.

Big Weekend Coming

Big weekend ahead! All the Holthe's, some Melby's, and one Culver (with extras) are coming for Megan's baby shower on Saturday. Greg will be home recovering, Trever working, and Jon and Jon will go visit Ron in the hospital. But we girls and children will be partying! Short but sweet...will be quiet again on Sunday.

July 2010

Culver's new house

A family reunion

A trip to the zoo

Megan at her shower

July was a VERY busy month. I haven't posted since early in the month and now it's August. These are some pictures of some of the things that kept us busy last month. Not pictured is a major repair job in our basement that is still in the process of getting finished off. Jon is working on the walls while we wait for the new vanity, cupboard, and floor. I will post pics when we are done.

August is looking just as busy, but I'll try to keep up better! Hopefully, you haven't given up on me and will still check in!!

Bless you all!!!!