7th Week Before Summer Break

Can you tell that I am looking forward to summer break? The weather is turning nice, the flowers are coming up, the sun is rising early and I have a yearning to grab my coffee, my Bible study and sit on the deck, listen to the birds sing and enjoy the morning. Until that time I am continuing to keep on keeping on.
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I had a wonderful time getting together with my "lunch bunch" for supper one evening last week. We went to Canadian Honker and enjoyed good food and visiting. Teri brought some angel food cake with chocolate fluffy topping for my birthday dessert. The restaurant was so gracious to let us enjoy it at our table.

The week continued on with work, MCA tests, laundry, grocery shopping, Mikaela's piano lesson and supper with the kids. Friday evening and Saturday Denise and I attended the women's conference at Autumn Ridge "Fresh Grounded Faith". It was a fun time and I enjoyed Denise's company.

My birthday was on Sunday but the family celebrated on Saturday night at Buca Di Peppo for supper. I had never been there before but had heard great things and the rumors proved to be true. We ordered a couple different appetizers, entrees and salads. It was all so delicious and we had a lot of fun. I am sorry I don't have pictures of the great food to post but it would just make you hungry.

That pretty much wraps up the 7th week before summer break.

8th Week Before Summer Break

How blessed we were this past week to enjoy some beautiful warm and sunny days. It was such a nice taste of summer which has left me just wanting more. The days this past week just seemed to fly by and the weekend has come and nearly gone. We started out the week on Monday morning going to the clinic to have a visit with Dan's foot surgeon. We got a good report and he was able to shed his crutches and bear weight on his foot. His week also included a couple trips to the lab to have his blood checked due to the blood thinning drugs he is taking to reduce the clot in his leg. It first was too low and then too high so now he is in the process of fine tuning the dosage.

Fast forward to Saturday when I spent some time outside picking up trash that had blown down our way through the winter. I stuck my camera in my pocket and got some pictures of some of the signs of spring that are popping up. It was so delightful to be outside and enjoy the day. We topped off the day with putting some chicken on the grill which was so delicious.

I am checking this particular branch on the Maple tree to monitor bud and leaf growth. Stay tuned to watch as it progresses through the next couple weeks.

We know that when the Minnesota Twins start playing that spring is here. The Moody family went to a game this past weekend and Ellie went decked out in her Twins wear.

9th Week Before Summer Break

This past week was super busy getting back into the groove of going to work and getting ready for Easter. The weather was quite lovely this past week and it feels like spring might actually make an appearance. Just for the fun of it I took some pictures of the trees though at this time they still are bare but will try to track their progress. The tulips are popping up, the crocus are blooming and many other signs of life are happening in nature - Praise God in always being faithful to bring us spring.

To add to the spring aura Dan brought me flowers at work early in the week. It was so refreshing to see the beautiful colors and was very thoughtful of him. Thank you Dan!!!

It was nice enough on Saturday to actually have the first bon fire of the season. Oh, the smell of wood smoke was a delightful fragrance.

We also received some good news regarding Dan's progress in being able to walk on his foot once again. He had an appoinment this morning and Dr. gave him the go ahead to bear weight but he is suppose to wear his boot for another 4 weeks. This surgery is becoming a much longer ordeal than he or I originally thought but we are thankful for the added mobility.

Spring Break

The last week in March rolled around and that meant it was time for spring break. It was nice to get the break in the school year and have a chance to catch up. I enjoyed sleeping in, going out for lunch, having coffee with a friend, spending time with the kids and just generally not having to be somewhere every morning. On Saturday we went to Albert Lea and met Mary, Dee, Kody and Renee at Kathryn's house. We had lunch together and hung out for a couple hours. It was fun. They were exchanging cars with Renee and it was a nice half way place for them to meet.

On Thursday Dan had a Dr. appointment because of some swelling in his leg and it was discovered through an ultra sound that he has a blood clot in his leg. He has to give himself Heparin shots and will be taking coumadin for a few months trying to dissolve the clot. It seems he is going for the record in complications from bunions. Hopefully the end is in sight. He goes back to the Dr. next Monday and we are praying that his foot will be healed enough to bear weight on it and he can get moving again.

Weekend Fun

Weekend Fun Part 1

Wedding Fun - I got my picture with the beautiful bride!

This past weekend was one that was so enjoyable for many reasons. On Saturday the weather was just beautiful, sunny and 60s, for March in Minnesota that is pretty good. I was able to sleep in that day, had time to go for a walk, and relax for most of the day. In the afternoon we got ourselves dressed up and headed out the door to Allison's wedding which was to start at 3:21. The wedding was just beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the happy couple as they said their vows and began their life together. Our good friends Bob and Marilyn came up from Missouri for the occasion and it was so fun to get to spend some time with them as well.

Girlfriends - Jane, mother of the bride and Marilyn my friend from Missouri.

Weekend Part 2

The second part of the weekend was fun too! Mikaela turned nine on Sunday and we got to have lunch with them after church and in the evening went to her birthday party. Denise made yummy enchiladas and rice with chips and homemade salsa. After dinner, Mikaela blew out her candles and opened gifts. It was a really fun time. I can't believe she is getting so big. She is such a blessing to me and I thank God for giving her to us.

She chose Funfetti cake with ice cream and strawberries - She is her Grandma's granddaughter!

Sad News Brings Opportunity

We have been looking forward to this day, counting down the weeks at first then the days. Dan had an appointment to see his surgeon and was fully anticipating a "go" for putting his foot back into service. The good news is that his foot is healing and looks good but the sad news is that it is not ready for full weight bearing and he has to be on crutches for another month, ugh! He has been making plans to do some projects and they have again been placed on the back burner. In the whole scope of life this is nothing to get bothered over but on a day to day basis it is a little disappointing. Our wise and good God tells us to rejoice and give thanks in all things so here is an opportunity to trust the Lord and know that He will work all things out for good.

Where Does the Time Go?

It has been several weeks now since I last posted partly because we haven't done much that is really post worthy and partly because the time has seem to just fly away. I am getting most anxious for some warmer weather and have hunkered down and am just waiting for that to happen. Life does go on even while waiting so I will document some of the random things we have been doing.

Dan's foot has continued to heal and of this day he is still in a boot and on crutches. It has been six weeks since surgery and he sees the doctor on Monday. We are planning that everything will be healed up and he will get to start walking on his foot again. It is hard to believe but he is a little hesitant to walk on that foot now.


Mikaela came one weekend and stayed with us while Denise was out of town and Tommy had class in the cities. She had picked a recipe out of a cookbook and we made some cream cheese bars. We did a little shopping that weekend and had a good time together.

We started out with a chocolate cookie crust. She ground up the cookies and we spread them out in the pan.


We mixed the cream cheese in the mixer with the eggs and sweetened condensed milk.

We reserved some out to make the chocolate part and then swirled them together.

The finished product - they turned out really good and actually got better as the aged a bit.

A perk of being the cook is getting to lick the beater - yum yum.

Rochester Better Chance had their annual gala on March 6th and we watched the girls while Tommy and Denise attended the event. We went over to their house and took Mikaela's favorite meal, Valentino lasagna, and spent the evening playing. Elise entertained us with her antics.

This weekend Brian invited Nichole and Isaac to come to Rochester and we were able to meet them. We have enjoyed their visit and the rest of the family came over this evening for dinner. We had a good meal and enjoyed being together.









That wraps up the last month in a nutshell. God has been good in so many ways to our family and I am grateful for his love and mercy shown everyday. Next weekend we will celebrate Mikaela's 9th birthday. Fun and more fun!