Friday is October 1 which means lots of different things. Fall is well underway, and the temps are dropping nicely to warrant sweaters and light jackets, coffee and hot chocolate, and more rain. Iowa has such beautiful weather in the fall. The colors are striking and the crispness in the air is a fresh relief from those hot summer days.
October 1 is also Lorien's and Uncle Max's birthdays. I won't mention Max's age, but Lorien will be 16! Wow. She will be able to drive and work. Kayren took Lorien out for dinner at the Olive Garden, and they stayed in to watch a movie together tonight. Sisters celebrating! It is so sweet to my heart to watch our children love and care for each other.
My fall/winter cold is settling in. Bummer.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Satisfying Saturday
This is the first Saturday in ages when we didn't have very urgent and important matters to attend to. We rose lazily after sleeping in (yea!!!) which is a favorite "activity" of mine. We read things, drank coffee and tea, and mused about the day. We ended up accomplishing quite a bit, for which I am thankful, and I didn't crack a math book today. What a wonderful break!
I did get to experience the laundromat. What an interesting place! It's a whirlwind of activity, with special understood rules about who goes first, and which machines are off limits. Of course, I didn't know any of these rules, so Tom had to instruct me in laundromat etiquette. We were able to get 10 loads done in 3 hours, which was great, but I was just exhausted from the experience! Our washer is in need of a special gasket that won't be arriving for a couple of weeks. So, we will get to do the laundromat a couple more times.
Tonight, we grabbed a couple of the girls and wandered around the mall looking at things. It was such a nice family day. I missed our college girls, and Jathan was attending drill. Kayren was working too, but it was nice to have some time together with those who were home.
Tomorrow is the Lord's Day, and we are so looking forward to it! We are praying for Adam and Mary Kathryn this weekend! They are candidating in Iowa. I can hardly believe it. I can't tell you how excited I would be if they were able to move back!
Well, off to bed.
I did get to experience the laundromat. What an interesting place! It's a whirlwind of activity, with special understood rules about who goes first, and which machines are off limits. Of course, I didn't know any of these rules, so Tom had to instruct me in laundromat etiquette. We were able to get 10 loads done in 3 hours, which was great, but I was just exhausted from the experience! Our washer is in need of a special gasket that won't be arriving for a couple of weeks. So, we will get to do the laundromat a couple more times.
Tonight, we grabbed a couple of the girls and wandered around the mall looking at things. It was such a nice family day. I missed our college girls, and Jathan was attending drill. Kayren was working too, but it was nice to have some time together with those who were home.
Tomorrow is the Lord's Day, and we are so looking forward to it! We are praying for Adam and Mary Kathryn this weekend! They are candidating in Iowa. I can hardly believe it. I can't tell you how excited I would be if they were able to move back!
Well, off to bed.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Blessings of babies
This afternoon I had the beautiful honor of holding a very sweet, tiny little baby boy, born less than 24 hours ago. He was sleepy, but was making lots of very cute faces - pouts, smiles, kisses, and raised eyebrows. He was trying so very hard at one point to open his eyes, but just couldn't bring himself to get them open. What a precious and sweet reminder of God's goodness to us! I was remembering the days when my children were so small. There are some things in life that God has given us that fill our hearts so full that we cannot even begin to explain it.
How I have loved watching my own children grow and change and by God's grace become what they are today. I will pray for little Xander Lynch to know Christ and live for Him.
What a blessing!
How I have loved watching my own children grow and change and by God's grace become what they are today. I will pray for little Xander Lynch to know Christ and live for Him.
What a blessing!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Rebuked by my daughter
I have been rebuked by one of my daughters. She claims that I no longer blog. I would try to defend myself, but the evidence is overwhelming. So, here I am - finally. Sorry girls!
We have been frantically working on our house in getting it ready for an appraisal. The interest rates dropped again, and they are so low that it was worth it to try and get our home loan refinanced at the lower rate. The misery of course is that we have to get the house in tip top shape first, and our basement just recently flooded again! We had ten days. I am sure that my college girls are VERY glad that they weren't here. However, the basement is beautiful now! We hired a friend to come and cut the trim. He is a professional and he was able to trim the basement in about half a day. It would have taken me weeks! Anyway, we have doors and trim, painted rooms, new floors, and light fixtures instead of light bulbs sticking out of the walls. It looks finished and lovely. Lorien and Aleya are excited that they get to live down there now. It is really nice.
Appraisals are opportunities to fix all those little things that have been hanging over your head for a long time. I painted endlessly. Whew. Anyway, the appraisal was today and we won't hear anything about it for a couple of days.
I started my ten-week algebra class today. It is such a difficult class to teach. It is way too much information in such a short period of time. The students get frustrated quickly because they don't have the time to assimilate the information. I will do my best, but it is a very fast class.
Lorien and Aleya are enjoying school very much. They have good classes and lots of hard work. Aleya gets to start band tomorrow and she is very excited about that. She will be learning to play the flute. She was inspired by my cousin Rene and her daughter Jenna who played this past summer at the 50th anniversary party for my parents.
We are so thankful for God's goodness and mercy to us these days. We are thankful for our church family, and for Jody's preaching. You can hear him online at our church website - providenceurc.org.
We have been frantically working on our house in getting it ready for an appraisal. The interest rates dropped again, and they are so low that it was worth it to try and get our home loan refinanced at the lower rate. The misery of course is that we have to get the house in tip top shape first, and our basement just recently flooded again! We had ten days. I am sure that my college girls are VERY glad that they weren't here. However, the basement is beautiful now! We hired a friend to come and cut the trim. He is a professional and he was able to trim the basement in about half a day. It would have taken me weeks! Anyway, we have doors and trim, painted rooms, new floors, and light fixtures instead of light bulbs sticking out of the walls. It looks finished and lovely. Lorien and Aleya are excited that they get to live down there now. It is really nice.
Appraisals are opportunities to fix all those little things that have been hanging over your head for a long time. I painted endlessly. Whew. Anyway, the appraisal was today and we won't hear anything about it for a couple of days.
I started my ten-week algebra class today. It is such a difficult class to teach. It is way too much information in such a short period of time. The students get frustrated quickly because they don't have the time to assimilate the information. I will do my best, but it is a very fast class.
Lorien and Aleya are enjoying school very much. They have good classes and lots of hard work. Aleya gets to start band tomorrow and she is very excited about that. She will be learning to play the flute. She was inspired by my cousin Rene and her daughter Jenna who played this past summer at the 50th anniversary party for my parents.
We are so thankful for God's goodness and mercy to us these days. We are thankful for our church family, and for Jody's preaching. You can hear him online at our church website - providenceurc.org.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Summer Vacation
This year we were able to travel east across the country and visit family. These trips always seem to go too fast.
We stopped at Arne and Debbie's first. They are our hotel along the way. They welcome us at all hours, feed us, give us a wonderful place to sleep, and don't get mad when we are only there for a very short time. We love going to worship with them. Dave's sermon was really good.
We did get to see Mama and Papa Robinson in Brevard, which is always a blessing. We got to sit and chat for a bit and catch up on what they have been doing, as well as talk about the wedding. Papa is already making plans! :)
Adam and Mary Kathryn were getting ready for their trip to MS, but graciously took us in for a few days. Adam cooked - which is always interesting, complicated and yummy. He cooks all those things that I bypass because it takes too long, or needs constant interaction. We sang around the piano, and enjoyed Peter and Philip's bass and tenor voices and Mary Kathryn's beautiful soprano! We relaxed and solved the world's problems on the couch or outside in lawn chairs. We love going to their house!
Then we went to Max and Anne's in Renick, WV. They have a beautiful blueberry farm there with lots of animals. It has the peacefulness of a farm with all the commotion of 13 cousins. Faith and cousins and Marshall and cousins all came to visit as well. So, we also gathered around the piano and sang. Max and Marshall sing parts, and all the kids love to sing. Some of them sing parts as well. So, from the living room of a farmhouse rang out praises (in parts) to our Lord. You can just imagine the music floating over the countryside. Everything we ate had been grown on the farm - meat, milk, cheese, veggies, fruit. Aleya got to milk the cow and feed the calf from a bottle. The girls fed the chickens and picked berries and tomatoes. One night all the cousins slept in the barn with a strange cat and bats (hmmm). The next night they all slept in the field under what would have been stars had it not been overcast. They woke up drenched! It was great!
Then we got to go back to Arne and Debbie's and stayed a little bit longer this time. We were able to worship with them again. Dave's sermon was good (I hear), but I accidentally took a sleep aid instead of Motrin in the morning, so I was really fighting sleep all day. They knock me right out, so I can't believe that I wasn't lying down in the pew, but Tom managed to keep me upright. We are hoping that Arne and Debbie can come for Thanksgiving this year!
Vacation is about seeing our wonderful family, singing and eating with them, and enjoying the beautiful scenery in all the wonderful places we get to go. We are so thankful for all that the Lord has given us. Don't forget guys - you can always make the trip to Des Moines too! You are welcome anytime!
We stopped at Arne and Debbie's first. They are our hotel along the way. They welcome us at all hours, feed us, give us a wonderful place to sleep, and don't get mad when we are only there for a very short time. We love going to worship with them. Dave's sermon was really good.
We did get to see Mama and Papa Robinson in Brevard, which is always a blessing. We got to sit and chat for a bit and catch up on what they have been doing, as well as talk about the wedding. Papa is already making plans! :)
Adam and Mary Kathryn were getting ready for their trip to MS, but graciously took us in for a few days. Adam cooked - which is always interesting, complicated and yummy. He cooks all those things that I bypass because it takes too long, or needs constant interaction. We sang around the piano, and enjoyed Peter and Philip's bass and tenor voices and Mary Kathryn's beautiful soprano! We relaxed and solved the world's problems on the couch or outside in lawn chairs. We love going to their house!
Then we went to Max and Anne's in Renick, WV. They have a beautiful blueberry farm there with lots of animals. It has the peacefulness of a farm with all the commotion of 13 cousins. Faith and cousins and Marshall and cousins all came to visit as well. So, we also gathered around the piano and sang. Max and Marshall sing parts, and all the kids love to sing. Some of them sing parts as well. So, from the living room of a farmhouse rang out praises (in parts) to our Lord. You can just imagine the music floating over the countryside. Everything we ate had been grown on the farm - meat, milk, cheese, veggies, fruit. Aleya got to milk the cow and feed the calf from a bottle. The girls fed the chickens and picked berries and tomatoes. One night all the cousins slept in the barn with a strange cat and bats (hmmm). The next night they all slept in the field under what would have been stars had it not been overcast. They woke up drenched! It was great!
Then we got to go back to Arne and Debbie's and stayed a little bit longer this time. We were able to worship with them again. Dave's sermon was good (I hear), but I accidentally took a sleep aid instead of Motrin in the morning, so I was really fighting sleep all day. They knock me right out, so I can't believe that I wasn't lying down in the pew, but Tom managed to keep me upright. We are hoping that Arne and Debbie can come for Thanksgiving this year!
Vacation is about seeing our wonderful family, singing and eating with them, and enjoying the beautiful scenery in all the wonderful places we get to go. We are so thankful for all that the Lord has given us. Don't forget guys - you can always make the trip to Des Moines too! You are welcome anytime!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Reformed Youth Conference
Kayren and Lorien left last night to go to Oregon. Oregon - wow! They get to go out to the beautiful state of Oregon with 700 other teenagers, and attend a Reformed Christian Conference out there. I have to admit a little bit of jealousy. Tom and I really enjoy going to conferences and I hope that they will have as much fun as we do when we go.
Kayren called last night from Kansas City. While she was taking a shower at the hotel, the bathtub overflowed, as well as the sink and toilet (yuck). So, they had to move to a different room. Exciting adventures await, I am sure.
They called today to say that they had made it safely. Now they will give up their phones and electronic toys and spend the week listening to godly men teach them from God's Word. How exciting!
Kayren called last night from Kansas City. While she was taking a shower at the hotel, the bathtub overflowed, as well as the sink and toilet (yuck). So, they had to move to a different room. Exciting adventures await, I am sure.
They called today to say that they had made it safely. Now they will give up their phones and electronic toys and spend the week listening to godly men teach them from God's Word. How exciting!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Mid-Summer Rest
Ahh. The 50th's are over. What a joy and blessing it was to participate in those celebrations, but it is nice not to be so busy for a moment. We have some tremendous photos of both, taken by our good friend Amanda, who very kindly gave up lots of time to make these special occasions last on paper.
I have three more weeks of school, and then we are hoping to get back over to the east coast and visit family there. I do need to call and see if they are going to be home when we can come :)!!
Aleya turned 10 yesterday, and Kesse turned 21 today. The twins will be 32 on July 12th too, and Johanna, my niece has a birthday on the 8th ( I think). Busy month of birthdays!
The Lord has indeed been gracious to our families!
I have three more weeks of school, and then we are hoping to get back over to the east coast and visit family there. I do need to call and see if they are going to be home when we can come :)!!
Aleya turned 10 yesterday, and Kesse turned 21 today. The twins will be 32 on July 12th too, and Johanna, my niece has a birthday on the 8th ( I think). Busy month of birthdays!
The Lord has indeed been gracious to our families!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)