Walking Toy Was A Hit!

This past weekend Tom, Denise and the girls came over for supper. We grilled and the supper was really good. Afterward Ellie demonstrated her developing skills at walking, she is actually taking her sweet time about it too. I had saved a toy that Mikaela had that you can walk behind and she was quite excited when I got it out for her. It was a little slippery on the hard wood floors so we took it downstairs and she trotted back and forth several times before deciding it was more fun to climb on the stairs.

It is Hard to Say Goodbye!

This weekend has been a mix of emotions for me. Karen, one of my best and longest friends here in Rochester is now on her way to Georgia. God has provided a job for them there and I know He will make them a blessing to many but I will miss her a ton. Through the years we have had many a laugh - sometimes to the point of hysteria. We helped each other through graduations, showers, weddings, funerals; worked on many a special music numbers , Patch programs, cantatas, as well as canning corn and making apple pies. One of our favorite memories is making chili for the weekend retreat at camp. Oh yes, we have enjoyed a good laugh from time to time. I have included a few pictures that I have of some good times together. I thank God for such good friends and will be praying for you, Jim and Karen, as you make your home in Georgia.

Jim and Karen at our cabin in norther MN.

One of my able helpers at Brian's graduation party.

Our kiddos all dressed up for Halloween.

Karen directing and prompting during a Patch the Pirate production that we worked on together. It looks like she is having fun doing this awesome ministry.

Sunflower Success - Do Wonders Ever Cease?

After all the hoopla of trying to grow sunflowers this summer and discovering we had a nice crop of ragweed I noticed something unique growing in my flowerbed. I had to go outside special to investigate what it was and could hardly believe there was a sunflower blooming in amongst my lilies and petunias. I figured it deserved a place on my blog since it was destined that we would have at least one sunflower this summer. Actually there is another growing as well though it still hasn't bloomed. Do wonders every cease?

A Busy Week!

Dan's Week of Projects

This week has gone by so fast and we have experienced many of God's blessings on us. Dan scheduled this past week as vacation in order to work on some projects around home and to do a few personal projects as well. Last spring he wanted to do some hiking but was unable to so he attempted to fit it in this week. On Monday Kathryn dropped him off in Pine Island and he walked the Douglas Trail all the way back to Rochester. It is not quite like hiking the Appalachian Trail but it is a whole lot further than he would have ever thought he could do a year ago. He also has wanted to try out some biking so spent a day at Lanesboro trying out a couple different kinds of bikes and enjoying the trails. There were also several projects that he wanted to do at home and was able to get some of that accomplished as well. I think he is probably more exhausted now that at the beginning of his "vacation".

Thankful for Good Friends

The highlight of the week was Thursday evening when we were able to get together with Bob and Marilyn. I have missed them so much since they moved to MO. a year ago. Thankfully their son is still in the area so they came back to visit him and we got to see them too. Jane graciously invited us all to their home for dinner. We had a great meal and a great time of laughing and having a good time. Friday night was a beautiful night and we went to the football game. The band was great and the touchdown treats were awesome. Is it too bad that we had to celebrate the opponents touchdowns in order to have a treat. Our own team didn't give nearly enough opportunities. Going to football games with the Kalwat's has been a long standing tradition. At first we went to watch Brian (Arms) play on the team and then in later years watch Ashleigh and Brian (Kalwat) march in the band. It was fun to pretend for just a moment that this was just another one of those games.

Too Cute!

Denise and Ellie came to visit me at work on Friday afternoon. My decoration basket of apples turns into a great toy for Elise. It is always fun to have a "little library patron" come to check out our library or at least to see the librarian.

Weekend Fun

This past weekend we celebrated the completion of a full week of school. That is a mile marker for those who work in the school setting. Friday evening Denise and Tom came over with the girls, Mikaela, Elise, Katelyn and Maggie: (Katelyn is one of Mikaela's neighborhood friends). They stopped at Chipotle and picked up food which was enjoyed by all

Kathryn was babysitting for her friends that evening, so we got to enjoy Hannah who is almost four month old for the evening. She seemed so tiny compared to Elise. We enjoyed her cute little smiles.



We got the bouncy seat out for Hannah to sit in and she rather enjoyed it. Elise loved sitting in that seat as an infant so when Hannah had her fill of it Elise decided to try it out again. She still liked it.




Saturday I was busy doing chores and shopping. In the morning there was a ladies event at church which was very enjoyable. I got to meet Susie Larsen, author and speaker, it was a great time and we were challenged to be "An Uncommon Woman" which is the title of her book. I got my own autographed copy.

This week is now underway and it looks like it might get a little busy. I am looking forward to meeting with my birthday bunch tomorrow evening. It will be a special dinner as Karen will be moving away within the next month and won't be able to join us at least on a regular basis for a while. God has been so good to give me good times with these friends. Before I know it the weekend will roll around again.

Domino Tower - How high can you build it?

We started out to play Trash Train - we couldn't quite remember all the rules so we made some up. At the same time we were trying to keep Elise occupied but with all those cool looking objects sitting right there on the table it was a challenge. She kept thowing my pieces down on the ground which made it a little hard to see what I had. Our game came to an end pretty quickly as most of the tiles were ending up on the floor so Grandpa and Mikaela decided to build towers and see how high they could make them. It took a little trial and error but a design was developed.

The walls were quivering as this last tile was placed on top.

Start with a good solid foundation - Always a good idea.

Carefully add each new tier.

Don't get anxious - take it nice and slow.


Those walls of Jericho came a tumblin down!

End of Summer

It is with mixed feelings that the last week of summer break has come and gone. It was a wonderful summer for me. One of the biggest blessing was doing a Bible study on the book of Ephesians. I had been wanting to learn and understand that book a little better and found an on-line study that started the first Monday of summer vacation. I do not feel at all that it was a coincidence. The last lesson in that study takes place on Friday of this week. Wow - it was 65 lessons on a book which has six chapters packed with amazing truths for the child of God. I have been tremendously blessed as a result.

Other things that I especially enjoy about summer is the relaxed schedule - sleeping in a little longer, eating lunch on the deck, reading, sewing, practicing piano, flower gardening, lunch with friends, going for evening walks, to name some. I am thankful to have this time to enjoy.

On the other hand I do enjoy my job so when the summer was winding down I felt OK about going back to school. The week so far, (only two days), has been good. I enjoy seeing my friends from school and it has been fun to see the students again. I pray that I will be a blessing to those I come in contact with and God will use me there.