Brian and His Adventure

Don't tell Brian that it is December.

This is the time of year when most people settle in and begin to hibernate for the winter. There are also exceptions to every rule and some are ramping it up instead of settling down. One such person is my son, Brian. He and his friend, Greg are leaving tonight to hike the Superior Trail. They have prepared 16 different food packages and tomorrow will be spent hanging them along the trail in strategic locations. Starting Monday they will begin at the north end of the trail and plan to hike the whole 200 miles and then turn around and hike back to where they began, completing the hike by December 20.

Traveling light is what it is all about. Not counting food, their packs are weighing no more than 16 pounds and that includes everything a hiker would need for the journey. I am wondering how many pounds my pack might weigh if I were taking off for a 20 day hike? I suppose the essentials of life would take on a new meaning but since I kind of like the comforts of home I guess I will never know.

As a mom, you can know for sure that I will be trusting the Lord to give me peace and will be praying for God to watch over and care for my hiker son.

Reflecting

It is the beginning of the Thanksgiving week and traditionally this is a time to reflect on the blessings we have recieved. God has been good to provide abundantly for our daily needs but how he has provided for our spiritual needs is even more awesome.

• He knew and loved me before creation and desires a relationship with me. Ephesians 1:4
• He planned my redemption by sending His son to be the satisfactory payment for my sins. Ephesians 1:7
• He has promised to never leave or forsake me. Hebrews 13:5
• He has promised to work all things together for good in my life. Romans 8:28
• He will complete the work that has begun in my life. Philipians 1:6
• He has promised to supply my needs. Philipians 4:19
• He has given me everything I need for life and Godliness. 2 Peter 1:3
• He has promised me a mansion in heaven with Him. John 14:2
• He has promised victory. 1 John 5:4-6
• He has sealed me with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

These and many more are the great and precious promises that have been given to those who believe. If you know Christ I hope that you will rejoice with me in all of God's goodness. If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I pray that God will work in your heart and bring you to a knowledge of Him. There is nothing greater than to know God.

Shoe Box Shopping

Tonight Mikaela and I went shopping for a shoe box of treasures to send to a child that lives in a third world country for Christmas. Operation Christmas child is an organization that heads this endeavor and thousands of boxes are sent every year to needy children. We shopped together last year as well and had a really fun time together.

Before starting out on our shopping endeavor we stopped by our favorite restuarant, Valentinos, and ordered our favorite meal, lasagna so that we would be ready to shop.
After having a delicious supper of lasagna and garlic rolls we headed out to the perfect store to buy lots of treasures that a young girl might want.

This Dollar Store is really big and has almost anything you could want.

We took the shoe box into the store with us. Last year we just put things in the basket and we ended up not being able to fit everything in the box.

This is our treasure stash. We got note cards, play dough, band aids, tooth brush and toothpaste, hair brush, wash cloth, small towel, daily planner, a squishy toy, some pencils, tape, a craft kit, and a slinky toy. The total came to $19. That is a pretty good bargain I would say. I pray that it will be a blessing to the child who receives it.

Getting Started

This past weekend my sister Mary came up to Rochester and we had a shopping/baking weekend. There was no school on Friday so she took a day off work too and we enjoyed a "sisters weekend" together.

Arriving mid day on Friday we refueled our bodies at Valentino's before starting out on our trek through several stores. Our main purpose was to have fun and in the process we both got started on our Christmas shopping. We finally slowed down about 9:30 that night after hitting quite a few stores.

Checking out some cool journals from Hobby Lobby.

These are the fruits of our shopping endeavor. We of course, had to leave everything concealed in packages, beacuse as you know "it is the time of year for secrets."

Saturday was our baking day. We made cinnamon rolls and tea rings. Our men came to the rescue for us when we rolled them out and realized we didn't have any cinammon. Off to the store they went and came home with the necessary ingredient for cinammon rolls.

These were actually our ginger bread boys, they just got made into stars instead.

My niece who lives in the cities came down for the afternoon and there was time for a game of "Settlers" with her family.

Mary brought her mixer along too. We ended up with a nice supply of goodies.

Saturday was a rather cold and snowy day. We looked out at the little pond in our backyard to find a whole flock of geese taking a little rest on the migration south. We counted over 30 geese. It was cool to watch them swoop in for the landing. Normally we only see ducks on the pond except at this time of the year.

We Are Truly Empty Nesters

Yesterday was a big day in Kathryn's life as she closed on her first home and moved in on the same day. She bought a cute house in Albert Lea with a view of the lake. With a couple of pick-up loads and our van she was able to get her things moved in.

Kathryn found a piano on Craiglist and was able to purchase it with money she had received as a graduation gift. The cost of the piano and the amount of the gift were exaclty the same.

Her dining room has two of these built in hutches.

We got her pots and pans unpacked and put away on these pull outs in her cupboard.Her living room has some nice built ins for entertainment enjoyment. When you look out these windows there is a nice view of the lake.

After a long day having a made up bed is very comforting.

Dan was checking out the "relaxing factor"of her new home.

When I got up this morning it was still a little dusky outside but the snow was falling and I caught a few pictures. It was very still and so pretty.

A beautiful morning. Thank you God for your creative beauty!