Nathan and I had the great privilege of attending a UW Mens Badger hockey game this past week. We were thrilled to see Buckey showboating for us during the period breaks. What a great time with the little man.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Nathan's voice on the radio
Just now Nathan said something that just made me stop and reevaluate life.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Backing up a step to set the stage for you:
I am doing the dinner dishes and we are listening to the local Christian radio station.
In between songs, we hear Nathan's voice. (some time ago a friend, who works at the station, came over and recorded the boys' voices for a few radio spots)
Nathan's radio spot is of him saying the call letters of the station in a happy laughing voice.
Nathan asks:" Mom, why was I laughing when I said that?"
I reply: "Well Nathan, you are always so full of joy you sound like you are laughing."
Here is the kick in the pants. He says: "I wish you were like that" then walks off to kick the soccer ball in the dinning room.
I finish washing the dishes while trying to decide if I am going to laugh or cry over the remark.
I find myself remembering being full of joy. Am I no longer a happy person? Guess Nathan doesn't think so.
This isn't the first time God has used one of my kids to make me look at myself in the mirror.
What a shocker.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Backing up a step to set the stage for you:
I am doing the dinner dishes and we are listening to the local Christian radio station.
In between songs, we hear Nathan's voice. (some time ago a friend, who works at the station, came over and recorded the boys' voices for a few radio spots)
Nathan's radio spot is of him saying the call letters of the station in a happy laughing voice.
Nathan asks:" Mom, why was I laughing when I said that?"
I reply: "Well Nathan, you are always so full of joy you sound like you are laughing."
Here is the kick in the pants. He says: "I wish you were like that" then walks off to kick the soccer ball in the dinning room.
I finish washing the dishes while trying to decide if I am going to laugh or cry over the remark.
I find myself remembering being full of joy. Am I no longer a happy person? Guess Nathan doesn't think so.
This isn't the first time God has used one of my kids to make me look at myself in the mirror.
What a shocker.
Monday, January 28, 2013
What do I want to be when I grow up?
This past week at school, Caleb was allowed to dress up in clothes representing his future career choice.
He is very determined to be a deep sea diver. So 2 days before dress up day he informs me he needs a wet suit with fins and a breathing tank to wear to school.
I think: " Oh Yes let me just find that pesky wetsuit I have in storage." Say what? You have got to be kidding!
So I send him to school in regular clothes and a snorkle mask and snorkle tube. Good enough.
On the way home from dropping him off, Nathan pipes up. "Mom, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I do know what I don't want to be."
I bite his bait and say:"Oh, what don't you want to be Nathan?"
What he says makes me grin ear to ear. He says :" I don't want to be a fool!"
Hmmm guess someone is listening and understanding some of our devotions lately. ("Created for Work" is the book title in case you are interested)
I just loved it. I don't care what my boys do professionally. But, I do care very much about them not choosing the ways of a fool.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas morning
Best Christmas yet since having kids.
The audio didn't really come through at first. Before opening presents, the kids spent a few minutes each praying - thanking God and praying for other people. It was really great.
The audio didn't really come through at first. Before opening presents, the kids spent a few minutes each praying - thanking God and praying for other people. It was really great.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Church Christmas Pageant
David and Caleb performed at the church Christmas pageant / talent show last night - one of their first times doing it in front of an audience.
We are very proud of them!
We are very proud of them!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
David Guitar Christmas Music
It is so nice to hear Christmas music fill the chilly mornings, especially when it is played by your kids.
It is really getting me into the Christmas spirit. :)
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Thanksgiving Memories
I just took out my bird, seasoned the skin and it's cavities and began to stuff the inside with celery.
I am reminded each year of Thanksgivings in the past as I prepare this year's bird.
Today I was reflecting on 3 memorable Thanksgivings from my adulthood.
The first Thanksgiving is one that I always remember. I am certain that this moment will be one of the memories that flash before my eyes at the end of my life.
It was the very first time I ever prepared the holiday meal. John and I lived in Maine and we were unable to return home to Wisconsin. My friend Rasha and I decided it was time to undertake the planning and preparation of the feast ourselves. I was 18 years old (21 years ago!) and we invited an army of Airmen from Loring Air Force Base to fill the large rectangular table. Many of our friends serving in the Air Force at the time were unable to return home and we were blessed to give thanks with them. True to Maine weather, it snowed over 12 inches that Thanksgiving morning, making the scenery beautifully white. Inside Rasha's house we prepared 2 large turkeys and all the fixin's. It took all day and we cheated and made stuffing from a box. The pies were from scratch (Grandma Inga's recipie), the potatoes real and whipped, the cranberries were abscent, but we figured it was not necessary. Boy did it smell wonderful in the kitchen. Rasha and I fretted over how to get all this done with one stove and keep it all warm with 4 burners. After a few minutes of deciding what dish went where, we decided it really didn't matter anyway. Rasha and I layed out a table cloth and place settings from her mom's pretty white dishes, and began to welcome our guests as they slid into the driveway in the snow. After all the GI's arrived, we began to bring out the feast. What I wouldn't give to have a picture of that table and those who sat there. I haven't seen most of them for over 15 years, including Rasha. Now, I have served many guests a meal. I have hosted many Thanksgiving dinners complete with all the fixin's, but never in my life have I ever served a more thankful croud than that first Thanksgiving meal. I don't know if I felt that way because I had never before made the bird myself, or if it was because these men were used to governement prepared chow hall, but it was a day to remember. I don't remember having any leftovers that year. Maybe we did and I don't remember. More likely those guys ate it all gone. Several of them needed to be shoveled out when it was time to leave, but we all agreed it was worth the effort. I wonder where they all are today and who will be sitting next to them this Thursday. Thank you to the men and women who faithfully serve our country!
The next memory I have of Thanksgiving is the first time as a parent. David was an infant and we got a "Happy Turkey Day" bib for him. I fed him sweet potatoes from a jar and he ate it enthusiastically. It was later when changing his diaper,that I laughed and laughed because sweet potatoes make your stool orange. Surprise! Now we have 3 boys, but none are infants any longer. I still have a baby spoon, but I don't have any more babies to serve.This is well with my soul.
The third Thanksgiving memory is unique and I was only reminded of it in an instant due to a distinct sound. The sound of our neighborhood electrical transformer box popping. From time to time an unfortunate squirrel will decided to chew on some of its wires and "boom" fried squirrel! The box that controls our elecriticiy is located in my next door neighbors back yard. The grid for our street separates down the middle of the road. Therefore my neighbors across the street are controled by a sepearte city elecrical box. I just heard theirs blow and watched their lights go out, but ours are fine. I laughed out loud because this happened to me 4 years ago when I had my bird halfway done on thanksgiving day. I had 8 guests coming over and no electricity and a half cooked bird! I never opened the oven. Thankfully it remained hot on its own residual insulated heat and the city got our elecrticity back up on 40 minutes. The turkey was fine and noone skipped a beat. It was a tense 40 minutes though. I thought just maybe we would be eating PBJ. Wouldn't that have been something?!
So this week as I review my list of things from which I am thankful, I will include those Airmen, Rasha, my 3 little men, and my working electrical box. (and many many more blessings!) For this girl is richly blessed and thankful.........
I am reminded each year of Thanksgivings in the past as I prepare this year's bird.
Today I was reflecting on 3 memorable Thanksgivings from my adulthood.
The first Thanksgiving is one that I always remember. I am certain that this moment will be one of the memories that flash before my eyes at the end of my life.
It was the very first time I ever prepared the holiday meal. John and I lived in Maine and we were unable to return home to Wisconsin. My friend Rasha and I decided it was time to undertake the planning and preparation of the feast ourselves. I was 18 years old (21 years ago!) and we invited an army of Airmen from Loring Air Force Base to fill the large rectangular table. Many of our friends serving in the Air Force at the time were unable to return home and we were blessed to give thanks with them. True to Maine weather, it snowed over 12 inches that Thanksgiving morning, making the scenery beautifully white. Inside Rasha's house we prepared 2 large turkeys and all the fixin's. It took all day and we cheated and made stuffing from a box. The pies were from scratch (Grandma Inga's recipie), the potatoes real and whipped, the cranberries were abscent, but we figured it was not necessary. Boy did it smell wonderful in the kitchen. Rasha and I fretted over how to get all this done with one stove and keep it all warm with 4 burners. After a few minutes of deciding what dish went where, we decided it really didn't matter anyway. Rasha and I layed out a table cloth and place settings from her mom's pretty white dishes, and began to welcome our guests as they slid into the driveway in the snow. After all the GI's arrived, we began to bring out the feast. What I wouldn't give to have a picture of that table and those who sat there. I haven't seen most of them for over 15 years, including Rasha. Now, I have served many guests a meal. I have hosted many Thanksgiving dinners complete with all the fixin's, but never in my life have I ever served a more thankful croud than that first Thanksgiving meal. I don't know if I felt that way because I had never before made the bird myself, or if it was because these men were used to governement prepared chow hall, but it was a day to remember. I don't remember having any leftovers that year. Maybe we did and I don't remember. More likely those guys ate it all gone. Several of them needed to be shoveled out when it was time to leave, but we all agreed it was worth the effort. I wonder where they all are today and who will be sitting next to them this Thursday. Thank you to the men and women who faithfully serve our country!
The next memory I have of Thanksgiving is the first time as a parent. David was an infant and we got a "Happy Turkey Day" bib for him. I fed him sweet potatoes from a jar and he ate it enthusiastically. It was later when changing his diaper,that I laughed and laughed because sweet potatoes make your stool orange. Surprise! Now we have 3 boys, but none are infants any longer. I still have a baby spoon, but I don't have any more babies to serve.This is well with my soul.
The third Thanksgiving memory is unique and I was only reminded of it in an instant due to a distinct sound. The sound of our neighborhood electrical transformer box popping. From time to time an unfortunate squirrel will decided to chew on some of its wires and "boom" fried squirrel! The box that controls our elecriticiy is located in my next door neighbors back yard. The grid for our street separates down the middle of the road. Therefore my neighbors across the street are controled by a sepearte city elecrical box. I just heard theirs blow and watched their lights go out, but ours are fine. I laughed out loud because this happened to me 4 years ago when I had my bird halfway done on thanksgiving day. I had 8 guests coming over and no electricity and a half cooked bird! I never opened the oven. Thankfully it remained hot on its own residual insulated heat and the city got our elecrticity back up on 40 minutes. The turkey was fine and noone skipped a beat. It was a tense 40 minutes though. I thought just maybe we would be eating PBJ. Wouldn't that have been something?!
So this week as I review my list of things from which I am thankful, I will include those Airmen, Rasha, my 3 little men, and my working electrical box. (and many many more blessings!) For this girl is richly blessed and thankful.........
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