Finishing Up Halloween 2010

I can't wait to show you some of the pictures I took this past weekend.  But I have been so busy dealing with the mound of sandy dirty laundry that I haven't even had a chance to pull my pictures off of my camera!  I am hoping in the next few days I can get those pictures loaded and ready to share with all of you.

Today I am going to finish posting pictures from Halloween 2010.  I apologize in advance to my boys, I was with the girls the whole night while the dads were with the boys.  Naturally the camera was with me and therefore the only pictures I really have (after the balloon game) are of the girls.

 The big hit of the night for the girls was the face painter.  They were so excited to have that done.  Jolee went first...

 Jilli waiting for her turn.

 Then it was her turn...

 She had to have her picture taken with Aunt Laurie once her face was on.

 So that is about all the pictures I have of the night except for the last thing we do before we go home... If all the sugar of the candy wasn't enough, there is always cotton candy.  Daddy's favorite.  So he always takes a few dollars to spend on the pink fluffy stuff.

 And he enjoys it...

Down to the very last piece...

He is going to LOVE me for putting these up for you all see :) He is probably going to tell me that I am "Something Else" and then I am going to tell him that he is just so "A M A Z I N G" that I had to share these pictures ;)

Alrighty, back to the laundry.... a never ending job...

Blessings!!

Halloween 2010

Happy Friday Morning to you!!

Thought I would share some fun pictures from Halloween 2010.  Every year instead of going trick-or-treating, we go to a local church.  They put on a carnival type atmosphere.  You play games to win prizes, but no matter if you win or lose, you always get at least one piece of candy at every game.  It's really great, since we don't have to worry about weather (it's all inside except for the elephant ride).  The costumes have to be kid friendly, which is wonderful, it's seems like every year the costumes kids wear get scarier and scarier (or sluttier..is that even a word?).  Best part of all, Kev and I can both participate in the activities, one of us isn't stuck home handing out candy while the other one walks around with the kids.  It's a win, win, in our book.

This year we had a little mouse and both Micah and Tyler were Star Wars guys...I just can never keep straight which ones.  And our best friends (we go together every year) Jolee was a duck and Eli, Iron Man (I think).

 Jolee and Jilli were waiting to go on a blow up slide when I snapped this picture of them holding hands with their cute little backsides.

 This year there was a new game.  You had to pump air into a balloon and when it got big enough it would hit the needles and pop.  This picture you can see Aunt Laurie was giving Micah specific instructions.

 Daddy was helping Jilli, and obviously Jilli was concentrating pretty hard on blowing up her balloon.

Three kids, three adults... Poor Tyler was left with me to help him and...well...I'm not very good in that department when I have a camera in my hands.  So he was kind of left to himself, but Tyler really didn't need any help.  This picture was taken right before the balloon popped.  His face kind of tells the story... he was anticipating the explosion!

That's all I got for today.  Hope these pictures put a smile on your face!!

Blessings!!

Schedule Cleared

This week was/is packed full.  Three cleaning jobs, babysitting, karate, haircut (in Kalamazoo), and getting ready for this weekend, on top of just the everyday stuff.  I had also promised the kids that I would take them back to see my Grandma at least one more time before she passed.  There was absolutely no time in this crazy week for a visit.  I added it onto next weeks list of things to do.

Then a God thing happened.  My cleaning job for today was rescheduled, and the babysitting job this afternoon was cancelled and all of a sudden I had an hour early this afternoon for a visit with my Grandma.

My parents had told me this morning when they stopped by that she wasn't doing well, that they question whether she will make it through the weekend.  It suddenly became very clear why God worked out my schedule the way He did.

The kids and I headed out to the nursing home.  They know that she is closing in on her last days.  They understand what will happen when she passes on.  Jilli says, "Grandpa will be waiting for her in Heaven."  Tyler says "he hopes it isn't as cold for Grandma's funeral as it was for Grandpa's." And Micah, my sweet Micah just gives me a look.

We make it to Grandma's room, she is sleeping, I wake her up.  She sees me and smiles, then she sees the kids behind me and her face lights right up.  She latched onto Jilli's hand and didn't let it go for a long time.  She kept telling me how beautiful the kids were, she kept thanking me for bringing them in to see her.  At one point the kids were getting a little restless and she just smiled and said that they were fine, they could bounce on her bed, they wouldn't get hurt.  Now if you knew my Grandma, you would know how absurd that sounded to me.

After a little while, I told my Grandma that we needed to get going.  She looked at me with sad eyes, looked at the kids and said "oh, I am the most selfish person in the world, but you just got here, can't you stay a little longer?"  How my heart broke.  How I wished I could have just sat back down and stayed another 3 hours with her.

Emotionally I wasn't prepared for our visit today.  How do you go knowing this could be the last time you see her on this earth?  How do you prepare for that?  How do you prepare your kids for that?

The time came that we had to leave, I couldn't hold it off any longer.  She struggled to get up.  I asked her to stay in her chair, but she was so worried about us and that elevator again.  She slowly walked us down the hall.  She was so worried... It breaks my heart that if I never see my Grandma this side of Heaven again, the last picture I will have of her in my head, is her standing in the hall while we are waiting for the elevator doors to close and she has a look of utter fear on her face.

But it's the picture of pure joy when she saw the kids walk into her room that I will keep tucked into my heart.  That's the face that I want to hold onto... Thank you God for clearing my schedule today, so that I could spend some precious time with my very precious Grandma...

Miracles

I knew today was an important day in my history, but I never knew that today was an important day in the history of America.

On May 17, 1776 George Washington went off alone to pray.  Here was just a farmer, who was leading a mismatched group of men against the superpower of the world at that time, Britain.  He walked off into the woods, got down on one knee and looked up to God (how he always prayed).  He made a covenant with God on that day for this baby nation that was forming.  Unbeknownst to him a man fighting for Britain overheard him, he went home and told his wife that they were switching sides.  He said that he came upon George Washington praying, he felt the spirit moving and he said Britain will lose and America will win because General Washington called upon God.

George Washington Fasted and prayed for our Nation 236 years ago today, and from that day on, miracles started happening in the war and obviously we won.  Sadly our country has moved away from that covenant with God.  The men in power don't turn to God for help.  They don't seek wisdom in the scriptures, the seek it amongst the world.  This past Sunday our friend and Pastor stood and cried out to God for our Nation that has turned so against all the principals it was founded on.  He spoke truth, and it I couldn't help but speak an "amen" as he prayed.  I commented to Kevin after the service how grateful I was that Josh had the courage and conviction to pray so powerfully for our Nation and for our leader who  has turned his back to God.  It is a scary time in our nation.  Evil is working so powerfully amongst even the "Christians" that they start to waver and are easily conformed to this world.

There is a movement happening... I have heard that this is the year that will be written about in our history books.  That like 1776 when a lowly farmer committed his leadership and this nation to God, there will be a rising of people who will again, commit their lives and this country to God. I don't know what the future holds.  I don't see Evil releasing it's ugly grasp on the country very easily.  Life in America, I believe, will look very differently than what it does now.  I pray I am wrong, but take a look at history, it repeats itself unless we learn from it, and so far those in power have yet to learn anything from history.

It wasn't my intent to write about this today.  As I stated above today is an important day in my life.  For 15 years ago today I made a vow to God to love, honor, and cherish the man that was standing before me.    15 years... 2 houses... 3 children... 4 dogs... 10 vehicles... later.  Amazing to look back at the young girl I was when I married, to who I am now.  God has really used marriage to grow me and change me.

I have to say that like George Washington, when you commit your plans to God miracles happen.  Am I saying that staying married to Kevin for 15 years is a miracle.  I am... you've never had to live with me!! :)

Personality Test

So I had my friend send me a personality test (she had to take it for work).  It didn't take that long to take, and the results seem pretty close to what I think I am.

Click HERE to link to the test. (Make sure you read the instructions. If you hover your curser over the help you will get more info on the question being asked.)

And for the results...

I am a "Sensitive Doer"

Quiet, serious, sensitive and kind. Do not like conflict and not likely to do things which may generate conflict. Loyal and faithful. Extremely well-developed senses and aesthetic appreciation for beauty. Not interested in leading or controlling others. Flexible and open-minded. Likely to be original and creative. Enjoy the present moment.

Careers

Artists, musicians, composers, designers, child care workers, social workers, counselors, teachers, veterinarians, forest rangers, naturalists, bookkeepers, carpenters, personal service workers, clerical supervisors, secretaries, dental and medical staffers, waiters and waitresses, chefs, nurses, mechanics, physical therapists, x-ray technicians.

Persons I'm like

• Barbra Streisand, singer
• Brooke Shields, actress
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, first lady
• John Travolta, actor
• Kevin Costner, actor
• Marie Antoinette, queen of France
• Millard Fillmore, American president
• Steven Spielberg, filmmaker
• Ulysses S. Grant, American president
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer

Interesting... I have done many of the jobs listed above in some form or another... Not sure how I got "forest ranger", but hey whatever.  There were no questions about Math, so I guess that is why "bookkeepers, carpenters" were among the list of careers for me.  Had there been math questions those two surely would not have made it to the list.

I guess I could pull off the "Forest Ranger" as long as I got to do it on horseback :)

Mother's Day Poem

I received this Poem from my Grandmother on Mother's Day 2006

To Mother For Mother's Day

Others weary of the noise,
Mothers play with girls and boys.
Others scold because we fell,
Mothers "kiss and make it well."
Others work with patient will,
Mothers labor later still.
Others love is more or less,
Mothers love with steadiness.
Others pardon, hating yet,
Mothers pardon and forget.
Others keep the ancient score,
Mothers never shut the door.
Others grow incredulous,
Mothers still believe in us.
Others throw their faith away,
Mothers pray and pray and pray!

~Amos R. Wells


I will treasure this poem hand written by my Grandma always.

The Dangerous Elevator

The phone rings.  I look at the caller ID, smile, and answer the phone.  My "Hello" was met with silence. Then a quiet voice says "Lyn?"

"Hi Grandma"

"Lyn, I've just been sitting here thinking about the other day (it was 3 days ago) when you came for a visit and I was worried that you didn't get off the elevator OK."

"Grandma, the kids and I are safe, we are all at home, we got off the elevator just fine."

"Well, OK, I was just worried, and then Nadia and the two babies and a mom with a stroller and all kinds of stuff came and I am worried they didn't make it off the elevator."

(My Mom had already told me my Grandmother had called her the day before about this and Mom called Nadia to make sure they made it off the the elevator to put my Grandma's fears at rest.)

"Grandma, Mom already called Nadia to make sure she made it home OK.  Nadia, the boys, and her Mom are all home safe.  They made it off the elevator just fine."

"Oh yeah , she did call to tell me that, I forgot."

"It's OK Grandma."

"Well, there are those codes and I get so worried...."

"I know Grandma, you get worried about the elevator.  How about the next time the kids and I come we use the stairs."

"OH NO, THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH WORSE!"

"OK, Grandma, we will use the elevator, if the stairs are worse.  We will come soon to visit you again."

"Oh, don't come too soon."

"Why not Grandma?"

"Well, I will tell you later."

"Well, Grandma, now is a good time to tell me why."

"Well, I am so worried about that elevator, you have codes and buttons and I just don't like it."

"I understand the elevator worries you Grandma, but we still want to come see you soon again."

"Well, OK, but be careful with that elevator."

"We will Grandma, we will see you soon.  Love you Grandma!"

"Thats nice honey, bye"

"Bye Grandma"



Her sweet mind is slowly slipping.  She worries endlessly about the crazy elevator that we have to punch codes into to get to her floor and get off her floor (it keeps the dementia patients from escaping).  But thankfully she isn't drugged up so as not to be able to communicate.  She can still hold a conversation and she can still laugh at my kids when they tell her stories.  She smiles when Jilli asks her if she can have her picture taken with her.

My precious Grandmother.  She hadn't walked in days when the kids and I visited her and after our visit, she got right up and walked us down to the notorious elevator (about 15-20 feet from her room).  She tried to sneak on it with us too.  I don't know if she was that worried that we wouldn't make it down, or that she was trying to escape, but I had to have a nurse hold on to her as we quickly pushed the button to close the door before she could hop on.

The kids are already asking when we can go back and visit her again.  They enjoyed their visit with her and I think even the little excitement when Grandma tried to sneak onto the elevator with us.  So I guess we will have to throw caution to the wind and live life on the wild side and ride the elevator up to see her again soon.

Prayer for My Little Girl

I just got done reading another great book.  In the book there somethings that hit me hard.  It is about a young women finding her way in life.  Leaning on God while figuring out what she wants with her life and who she wants to spend it with.  In the book her Mom tells her that whoever she marries he should pursue her like a dying man looking for water in the desert.  She also tells her that she will know if he is the right man because he will cherish her.

I think there are many reasons this hits home, but one big one is that I have a daughter.  I want a man to pursue her like a dying man looking for water in the desert.  I want a man that is going to love and cherish her, for all her good and her not so good.  I want this man to follow God so passionately, that he will be able to lead my daughter spiritually.  I want her to be the love of his life.  I want to see in his eyes her heart.  I want him to love her all the days of his life.  I want her to be loved completely and without the fear of losing that love.  Is that so much to ask?  That my baby girl has an amazing love that stands the test of time.  I can tell you that is what I am praying for.  I am praying that the right man will come along one day and cherish my little girl for the blessing she is.

I also pray that when she is blessed with that kind of love that she will never take it for granted.  I have seen women who are loved so completely and they don't love and respect their husbands in return.  How tragic to lose these few good men on women that are too selfish to realize the gift they have.

I know this is probably every mothers dream.  What kind of mom wouldn't want this for her little girl?  But I think as mothers of daughters we need to talk to our girls about men, we need to teach them that they are worth more than settling for just any man.  They are God's princess' and as such they deserve the best!  I am so thankful that I have years to talk to Jilli about this, to teach her what to look for.  I pray that when the time comes for her to start courting she will have ears to hear and eyes to see the hearts of men.  I pray that she will be spiritually mature in her faith and that Jesus is her all-in-all.  I pray that she will have a heart that is selfless and a love that shines in her eyes for others.

Somewhere there is a boy, who will be learning how to be a man.  I pray he has a strong loving father that teaches him how to be a man of God so that he can be a Godly husband to my little girl.  I pray he cherishes her and loves her completely...

Because this little girl is worth the very best!

The End of Our 2010 Trip Up North

Saying Goodbye is always hard for me.  I see that in my baby girl too.  This past weekend as we drove away from a weekend with her cousins she cried and asked, "when will I get to see my cousins again."  Saying goodbye to places, or periods of time in certain places, can be just as hard for me.

Recently we (as in our cousins/friends Toni & Paul, Kevin & I) decided that what we do is not really camping, it's RVing, and I am good with that description.  I am not sleeping in a tent under the stars and carrying my food on my back.  I pack my moveable home with all the needs of my family and off we take it to different places.  Although we aren't "camping" per say, we are making memories while we are RVing.  Memories that will last a lifetime with our kids.  I remember my family's camping trips (sleeping in a tent with 6 inches of snow on the ground... yes really).  I remember trips we took, only staying in one place for a night, maybe two, and then moving on.  Kevin is still impressed with my sleeping bag rolling skills. Those skills were learned while on the road with my family, under direct supervision from my father.  Because if you didn't roll your bag tightly it wouldn't fit in the back of our van.

Anyway, I have beautiful memories of being with my family growing up.  And although we don't really "camp" we are still making beautiful memories.  So when we drive away from a place, my nose burns a little, my eyes get a little more wet, and I start taking deep breaths because, our memory making for that particular trip is almost over.  Something that our family has looked forward to is almost done and in the past.  How quickly life slips by without us really realizing it.  Micah said to me just today, "Mom, 5 more years and I will be driving."  How can it be, when I just brought him home from the hospital?!  Ok, I am getting a little sidetracked....

So here are the last of the memories from our trip Up North 2010.

This was the last picture I took before we left Aune Osborn.  The kids were playing on the merry-go-round while Kev and I finished hooking up the trailer.  About 30 min after this picture was taken, we were pulling into a gas station, Micah said, "Mom, I don't feel good."  Then promptly threw up in the back of the truck.  I threw him the only thing I had available to try and catch the puke... Tyler's jacket.  Ty wasn't too happy about that, but hey we are making memories, we still laugh about the "time Mom threw Micah Tyler's jacket to puke in."

As we began our crossing of the Mac, off in the distance we spotted one of our favorite freighters.  The American Century.

 There she goes, back up to the Soo as we cross the bridge to go back home...

 Just off the bridge there is a cute little restaurant that we enjoy eating at.  As you can see Tyler is being funny, by this point Micah was feeling much better and ate his whole lunch without a problem.

And that's it.  On this trip we stopped at a campground that we won two free nights to.  The kids swam in the indoor pool and did some "trick-or-treating" around the campground and then it was off to make it home for Grandma's visitation.  It's been so long since I started this adventure, you probably don't even remember that this was the trip that we received the phone call that Kevin's Grandma had passed away.  

My sister had gone shopping for my kids, picking out outfits that they could wear, we arrived home to a table full of options and within the hour of arriving, we had cleaned up, gotten dressed and left to get to the visitation.

This trip was a year and a half ago already, my kids don't even look the same...

The End of Fayette

I'm back to hopefully finish up something I started back in December of last year.  Yikes, just saying that makes me feel so far behind (which I know I am).

Ok, so do you remember that little historic town I was telling you about (in December).  Fayette.  LOVE this place and today I am going to show you the last of the beautiful little town that captured my heart over a year and a half ago.

Most of the buildings are open for you to go into.  This building was to town's theatre, music hall, source of entertainment.  Back in the day, there would be groups of people that would tour and put on little productions for the town they were visiting.  When one would make it to Fayette, this is the place where they would perform.

 The townsfolk would sit on the wooden benches and enjoy time away from the very hard life they lived.  You could walk behind the stage and there was an area that the performers would change costumes, or wait for their part in the performance.  But it is here that they would sign their names to the walls and the dates that they were there.

 Remembering that this is the pre-electric era, there were gas lights that hung from the ceiling to light the room.  I can only imagine that they were not very bright.  If I remember right there were only 2 or 3 that hung from the ceiling.

 In the butcher shop there was a sign that listed the names of workers, how much they made, how many there were in the family, what they bought, and how much they paid per month for their food.  It was very interesting to see who bought what and how much they spent.  The variety we have now is amazing compared to what they had back then.

 And we come back to the very intriguing Hotel... Why this building fascinates me so...  I looked up some info on the hotel and found out that...  In 1884, hotel keeper James Trembath buried his wife and two children, Lillie (age 13) and Fred (age 4) within weeks of each other—all victims of typhoid fever.

I found the 1880 Census, so 4 years before the deaths, and it shows that James and Grace had at least two older sons.  It also showed 16 other people that were in residence at the hotel at that time.  The next time I spotted James was the 1900 census and he was living with a family by the name of Flynn.  I wish I knew more of his story.  What I know, sounds dreadfully heartbreaking.

Well, that's the end of Fayette.  A town that captured my imagination and heart.  A place that I hope to explore more in the coming years.