I have the most incredible sons...for years, Mother's Day has come and quickly passed, as Ted, their dad, took the lead and MADE them treat mom like "Queen for a Day"...which I have loved, every bit of it...but lately, it isn't their dad who leads them in this. Last year, while I was out of town, the son who GAVE me the privilege of celebrating Mother's Day by being born on that very weekend 23 years ago, secretly came home from college to surprise me...and was waiting for me when I arrived, with a huge smile and a beautiful portrait OF ME, that he had sketched...and, as always, the boys treated me like "Queen"...
This year, I wasn't really expecting much...my "baby" has moved again...only this time much farther away. He has discovered love, as God intended, and has moved to be with her in Washington State (a mere 1,700 miles away). Again, his birthday fell on Mother's Day weekend...which stirs great emotion and memory.
Josiah has moved on his own as well...not quite so far -- about 27 miles away...but nonetheless, I miss him...as much as I do Joe... He, too, has his own life now, and it is presumptuous for me to think that he will continue to include me in his life, let alone make me "Queen for a day" any longer...
Elizabeth Stone said..."Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around on the outside of your body." I could just as easily have written this, because the joy and the pain of having children, loving them, watching them grow, their hurts, their failures, their successes...it is no different than if it were happening to me. I have watched, as my sons have grown, from infancy to toddler-hood to adolescence to teen to adult...from complete dependence and reliance upon us -- to fleeing the nest and spreading their wings to rise and fall on their own. This is the challenge...to continue to love, and ache, and rejoice...without condition. To let go, and hope that all you have tried so hard to teach them has somehow gotten in...or at least some of it.
This year, as I pondered my first Mother's Day WITHOUT one of my sons, I began to look back over his life...and that of the others, and to question...DID I do right by them? DID I set the example and teach them as God had entrusted me? What if I was wrong? Do they KNOW my heart? Do they realize my love?
Today, Josiah came to church and then joined us for a wonderful Mother's Day Buffet and then followed us home..."just because"...he presented me with a card...one of those music cards. It reads ::To the best mom ever! The mother of mothers, the Queen of Queens. You have made my life so wonderful and I thank you for giving me life. I love you so incredibly much.::
Josh blessed me with a status statement saying "Happy Mothers Day to all the moms, but especially MINE" and James put my name in an acronym: L-oving A-mazing U-ndescribable R-elevant I-mportant E-legant and as if that wasn't enough, he turned the page over to make an entire word picture with another hundred words that he felt described me...one of which was "FRIGGEN AWESOME!"
Upon arriving home, I was greeted with the whole bunch of them...it was Julian's turn to present his gift...
Needless to say, I could hardly breathe and just about lost complete control -- which greatly pleased my sons! Apparently, the message has gotten through! I will forever be in love with six men!!!
About Me
- Loving People
- I am a fun loving mom and wife to my wonderful husband, Ted. We were married 25 years ago in 1985. I saw him, and I picked him up. He was wearing a tag that read "AS IS, No Refunds or Returns". I fell in ♥ love and took him home! We have five...count 'em FIVE sons that are going to make some amazing husbands one day! That's because I am trying to teach them the necessities of life and preparing them for the "push" out of the nest when they will learn to fly on their own. Of course, they might not think it's such a great idea to be pushed, until they realize what it is like to SOAR on your own strength! I work at home and maintain my BLOG space as best and regularly as I can! My passion in life is to be a listening ear and gentle answer to those who have been beat up, disillusioned, torn down and tossed away in life. I know the pains that life and other people's choices can bring you, and I also know what you need to "pick you up" when you feel hopeless!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
You Should Be Taking Pictures
It is said, by someone…that women are the “documenters of history” because of their innate sense and need to take pictures and write memoires and journal.
I need to write….my heart is burning to share. As you read this, I pray that you will understand. It is not my intent to bring pain, or anger…but for healing. For me? For you? I don’t know, but please know, as you read this, I am writing it as a tribute. I hope it will help and heal.
My family has always been close. Pretty close…the lines between mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, cousin…there aren’t any. My mother’s sister had two daughters by the time I was 13. These girls very quickly became “MY little girls”…it was all I could do to be with them. I LOVED them more than anything I knew possible. Every chance I got, I would ask to be with them. When I was old enough to have my own place, I still longed to be with them, so we would have sleepovers, but by now, there were more children who were a part of our family and I “adopted” them as well!
These sleepovers would include make up parties, haircuts & stylings, movies, games, baking, we even played “restaurant” to make breakfast fun…which in turn, caused one of the kids to start actually LIKING scrambled eggs!
In 1985 I moved to Minnesota, because I was “in love”. Little did I know, there was more to love and family than I had already been experiencing. Upon entering the home of my husband to be, I was greeted by his family with HUGS…this was new to me, my family was not particularly “touchy-feel-y” and I felt very awkward. Too bad, because they were not going to change just for me – and I am so very glad they didn’t!
My husband then, when visiting MY family, thought nothing of hugging EVERYONE! I watched the awkwardness in each of my family members as he unknowingly penetrated their walls with bear hugs. They were gracious, giving him “room” to “prove himself” before they decided to dis-allow those hugs. Of course, what kind of family member would I be if I did not also hug…? So I followed suit…again, awkwardness. But something happened. I saw it, I felt it…and I am grateful for it. From that point on, I watched as our family began to tear down walls I didn’t even know were there…and we grew even closer! It was a beautiful thing!
My husband graduated from Bible College with a BS in pastoral studies. We eventually were offered a position out of state…very far away. We were there for 7 years…during which time, our team of youth had begun a new outreach ministry. They began to do “human videos” which were deeply moving dramas enacted to beautiful music and song. (PICS will be on my blog site).
Time passed. And while I was away, the kids grew up. As my sister says, we were still sending them packs of gum and kiddie purses when they were thinking about flag team and boyfriends and girlfriends! We did stay in touch, but distance made it hard. Any opportunity we had to all be together, we planned a “deck party” and a sleepover, but now we were ALL grown up…and the relationship was different…It was far more fulfilling because we could share as adults. But we still had our secrets. Those things that we keep deep inside and share with no one…for fear that we will be rejected, or ridiculed, or worse…cast out of “the sisterhood”.
Our youth drama team was practicing for a service they would perform for our congregation. That week, I received a phone call from home. My “little girl, little sis” Anne-Marie had been found, in her room…unconscious. I could not function…do you know how hard it is, to know that something awful is happening and you have no way to “be there” except through prayer?! So I prayed…as hard and as oft as I could. What else was there? When we arrived at church, and the presentation of our kids, guess what they performed… Petra's "Annie’s Song" (VID will be posted soon). How timely it was…and painful, but healing. You “kids” were completely unaware how deeply touched I was by your ministry that day. The doctors were able to “revive” Anne-Marie and bring her back to us…we had another chance to tell her how very much we love her and how much she meant to us!!!
Our ministry in WA ended in late 1995. We knew God was calling us home, but for what? We did not know…so back to MN we went. Good-byes were VERY painful. Back in MN, however, there was newfound pleasure in being near family once again. I was near my biological sister, and we reconnected immediately – as if we’d never been apart!
Again, years passed…It was during this time that I had been carrying a huge burden of my own. After moving back to MN, my marriage was failing…and I felt VERY ALONE. If I share with my friends, what will they say? If I share with my family, how will they respond? I reached out, but the friends I had come to love, were all “busy” in their own lives and had little time for my problems. We had reached out to so many during their moments of pain, now that WE were in NEED, where were they? Would we EVER survive the hell we were in? All I could picture was multiple episodes of “Oprah” and “The Jerry Springer Show” and my friends and family sitting in the audience casting judgment, or worse, insults at me and my husband, for what, to me, was a MESS of life. My “picket fence” had years of wear and was falling apart and peeling from the weathering. So I kept my secret…for a while longer.
I finally “braved” the “deck party” and sleepover, and decided I would make myself vulnerable…I would share, from my heart…of the pain that I had been carrying – alone – for so many years. This was huge risk…maybe I felt “safer” because the deck party was held at night, in the dark…illumined only by the moon in the night sky. Everyone was silent, as I shared, and concluded my “life as I knew it”. I was ready to bolt, through the door and to my car, when my “little sis” (you would say cousin) said… “THANK YOU!!!” “What?!:” I gasped, in shock… she, and the others, shared how they had always thought my life was so “perfect” and they could never live up to the example (or image) I had created for the world to see. They saw the picket fence, but not the way it REALLY WAS! Whew! I had NOT been rejected… they drew me in even closer! They believed WITH me, for our marriage…which God healed and restored!
We, as usual, had our sleepover…it was a glorious event. Just the girls…laughing, playing…doing “spa” things…Anne-Marie was a joy to be with…we all gasped as she stumbled down the stairs and fell into a heap. She quickly jumped up, threw her arms in the air like Molly Shannon in “Superstar” and said “I’m OKAY!” which, in turn, made us all burst out in laughter! I heard a still small voice in my heart… it said, “YOU should be taking pictures!!”
In December of the year of Y2K, we were once again, together as family for the holidays. It was an annual event. We’d rent a GYM at a local school for the big Christmas dinner – we were 50 strong, and no one had a big enough house for all of us to be in one place! That day, as we talked and played, it was decided that the next time we all get together there was to be a theme. We would all come dressed as NERDS…we giggled and laughed as we planned what we would wear and how we would look…I heard that voice again. “You SHOULD be taking pictures!!”
We were blessed to be in town for an entire week…at which time, of course, we planned another sleepover…The last time we had been together, a neighbor apparently noticed how much fun we were having and knew that “the man of the house” was out of town…his response the next day was “So, when is hubby going to be home?!” We giggled…great memory!!! This night, we planned a movie night. “Our movie” was the “Weekend at Bernie’s” movie. We watched and laughed, and loved…and as I went to the kitchen to get more pop and popcorn, I heard the voice.
“…you should be taking pictures…”
I was always taking pictures…this time I didn’t want to. I wanted to be right in the middle of the fun…let someone else take them! So I ignored the voice…and planted myself right in the middle of all the fun!
We left, December 30, to be home for a New Year’s Eve party. Said our goodbyes and hurried back to our life in Minnesota. Back to work, back to school, back to “our life”.
On January 3, 2001, the phone rang…it was very late... the 10:00 news was on and Dave Huddleston was reporting on the breaking news. My other little sis was on the other end of the line…Anne-Marie had gone to visit a friend in a city 2 hours away. The hospital in that town had called and said that she was brought there to emergency and that it didn’t look good. “We’ll be there as soon as we can” I said…it was a five-hour drive. We were told “No, it is not a good night to travel…just wait, we’ll call.” My world stopped…in the dark of my bedroom, illumined only by the television…Dave Huddleston was now speaking, but no sound came from his voice…
What can I do? I cannot sleep…I cannot drive…all I could do was wait… … … until the call came. “It was too late- she’s gone” …and I heard the voice again, “you should have taken pictures.”
I have since realized that voice, is that of my Holy Spirit. He speaks to me often, if I will but listen. His voice becomes clearer, when I hear…and act…on His direction. He never scares me with bad news, only encourages me to enjoy the moment…this moment…and to hope and look forward to the next one! He will prepare me, if I will allow him to.
Our family broke through another wall, that none of us knew was there, when Anne-Marie went “on her trip”. We do not take for granted any moments we are given. “I love you” has become a very important message that we take every opportunity to send when communicating with each other…there are no lines…mother, daughter, aunt, uncle, cousins…it was an expensive lesson that we learned.
“…you should be taking pictures!”
I need to write….my heart is burning to share. As you read this, I pray that you will understand. It is not my intent to bring pain, or anger…but for healing. For me? For you? I don’t know, but please know, as you read this, I am writing it as a tribute. I hope it will help and heal.
My family has always been close. Pretty close…the lines between mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, cousin…there aren’t any. My mother’s sister had two daughters by the time I was 13. These girls very quickly became “MY little girls”…it was all I could do to be with them. I LOVED them more than anything I knew possible. Every chance I got, I would ask to be with them. When I was old enough to have my own place, I still longed to be with them, so we would have sleepovers, but by now, there were more children who were a part of our family and I “adopted” them as well!
These sleepovers would include make up parties, haircuts & stylings, movies, games, baking, we even played “restaurant” to make breakfast fun…which in turn, caused one of the kids to start actually LIKING scrambled eggs!
In 1985 I moved to Minnesota, because I was “in love”. Little did I know, there was more to love and family than I had already been experiencing. Upon entering the home of my husband to be, I was greeted by his family with HUGS…this was new to me, my family was not particularly “touchy-feel-y” and I felt very awkward. Too bad, because they were not going to change just for me – and I am so very glad they didn’t!
My husband then, when visiting MY family, thought nothing of hugging EVERYONE! I watched the awkwardness in each of my family members as he unknowingly penetrated their walls with bear hugs. They were gracious, giving him “room” to “prove himself” before they decided to dis-allow those hugs. Of course, what kind of family member would I be if I did not also hug…? So I followed suit…again, awkwardness. But something happened. I saw it, I felt it…and I am grateful for it. From that point on, I watched as our family began to tear down walls I didn’t even know were there…and we grew even closer! It was a beautiful thing!
My husband graduated from Bible College with a BS in pastoral studies. We eventually were offered a position out of state…very far away. We were there for 7 years…during which time, our team of youth had begun a new outreach ministry. They began to do “human videos” which were deeply moving dramas enacted to beautiful music and song. (PICS will be on my blog site).
Time passed. And while I was away, the kids grew up. As my sister says, we were still sending them packs of gum and kiddie purses when they were thinking about flag team and boyfriends and girlfriends! We did stay in touch, but distance made it hard. Any opportunity we had to all be together, we planned a “deck party” and a sleepover, but now we were ALL grown up…and the relationship was different…It was far more fulfilling because we could share as adults. But we still had our secrets. Those things that we keep deep inside and share with no one…for fear that we will be rejected, or ridiculed, or worse…cast out of “the sisterhood”.
Our youth drama team was practicing for a service they would perform for our congregation. That week, I received a phone call from home. My “little girl, little sis” Anne-Marie had been found, in her room…unconscious. I could not function…do you know how hard it is, to know that something awful is happening and you have no way to “be there” except through prayer?! So I prayed…as hard and as oft as I could. What else was there? When we arrived at church, and the presentation of our kids, guess what they performed… Petra's "Annie’s Song" (VID will be posted soon). How timely it was…and painful, but healing. You “kids” were completely unaware how deeply touched I was by your ministry that day. The doctors were able to “revive” Anne-Marie and bring her back to us…we had another chance to tell her how very much we love her and how much she meant to us!!!
Our ministry in WA ended in late 1995. We knew God was calling us home, but for what? We did not know…so back to MN we went. Good-byes were VERY painful. Back in MN, however, there was newfound pleasure in being near family once again. I was near my biological sister, and we reconnected immediately – as if we’d never been apart!
Again, years passed…It was during this time that I had been carrying a huge burden of my own. After moving back to MN, my marriage was failing…and I felt VERY ALONE. If I share with my friends, what will they say? If I share with my family, how will they respond? I reached out, but the friends I had come to love, were all “busy” in their own lives and had little time for my problems. We had reached out to so many during their moments of pain, now that WE were in NEED, where were they? Would we EVER survive the hell we were in? All I could picture was multiple episodes of “Oprah” and “The Jerry Springer Show” and my friends and family sitting in the audience casting judgment, or worse, insults at me and my husband, for what, to me, was a MESS of life. My “picket fence” had years of wear and was falling apart and peeling from the weathering. So I kept my secret…for a while longer.
I finally “braved” the “deck party” and sleepover, and decided I would make myself vulnerable…I would share, from my heart…of the pain that I had been carrying – alone – for so many years. This was huge risk…maybe I felt “safer” because the deck party was held at night, in the dark…illumined only by the moon in the night sky. Everyone was silent, as I shared, and concluded my “life as I knew it”. I was ready to bolt, through the door and to my car, when my “little sis” (you would say cousin) said… “THANK YOU!!!” “What?!:” I gasped, in shock… she, and the others, shared how they had always thought my life was so “perfect” and they could never live up to the example (or image) I had created for the world to see. They saw the picket fence, but not the way it REALLY WAS! Whew! I had NOT been rejected… they drew me in even closer! They believed WITH me, for our marriage…which God healed and restored!
We, as usual, had our sleepover…it was a glorious event. Just the girls…laughing, playing…doing “spa” things…Anne-Marie was a joy to be with…we all gasped as she stumbled down the stairs and fell into a heap. She quickly jumped up, threw her arms in the air like Molly Shannon in “Superstar” and said “I’m OKAY!” which, in turn, made us all burst out in laughter! I heard a still small voice in my heart… it said, “YOU should be taking pictures!!”
In December of the year of Y2K, we were once again, together as family for the holidays. It was an annual event. We’d rent a GYM at a local school for the big Christmas dinner – we were 50 strong, and no one had a big enough house for all of us to be in one place! That day, as we talked and played, it was decided that the next time we all get together there was to be a theme. We would all come dressed as NERDS…we giggled and laughed as we planned what we would wear and how we would look…I heard that voice again. “You SHOULD be taking pictures!!”
We were blessed to be in town for an entire week…at which time, of course, we planned another sleepover…The last time we had been together, a neighbor apparently noticed how much fun we were having and knew that “the man of the house” was out of town…his response the next day was “So, when is hubby going to be home?!” We giggled…great memory!!! This night, we planned a movie night. “Our movie” was the “Weekend at Bernie’s” movie. We watched and laughed, and loved…and as I went to the kitchen to get more pop and popcorn, I heard the voice.
“…you should be taking pictures…”
I was always taking pictures…this time I didn’t want to. I wanted to be right in the middle of the fun…let someone else take them! So I ignored the voice…and planted myself right in the middle of all the fun!
We left, December 30, to be home for a New Year’s Eve party. Said our goodbyes and hurried back to our life in Minnesota. Back to work, back to school, back to “our life”.
On January 3, 2001, the phone rang…it was very late... the 10:00 news was on and Dave Huddleston was reporting on the breaking news. My other little sis was on the other end of the line…Anne-Marie had gone to visit a friend in a city 2 hours away. The hospital in that town had called and said that she was brought there to emergency and that it didn’t look good. “We’ll be there as soon as we can” I said…it was a five-hour drive. We were told “No, it is not a good night to travel…just wait, we’ll call.” My world stopped…in the dark of my bedroom, illumined only by the television…Dave Huddleston was now speaking, but no sound came from his voice…
What can I do? I cannot sleep…I cannot drive…all I could do was wait… … … until the call came. “It was too late- she’s gone” …and I heard the voice again, “you should have taken pictures.”
I have since realized that voice, is that of my Holy Spirit. He speaks to me often, if I will but listen. His voice becomes clearer, when I hear…and act…on His direction. He never scares me with bad news, only encourages me to enjoy the moment…this moment…and to hope and look forward to the next one! He will prepare me, if I will allow him to.
Our family broke through another wall, that none of us knew was there, when Anne-Marie went “on her trip”. We do not take for granted any moments we are given. “I love you” has become a very important message that we take every opportunity to send when communicating with each other…there are no lines…mother, daughter, aunt, uncle, cousins…it was an expensive lesson that we learned.
“…you should be taking pictures!”
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Williams Update 2008
Wow! Another year gone by already!!!
So much has happened this year that I have decided to resort to a “Newsletter Format” to reconnect with so many of you, our family and friends. It’s a LONG one, this was a year of re-connecting and brave new steps of faith into the “unknown” for us!
In January, we reconnected with Minnesota friends in the not so distant past. It was a GREAT time having “TPACC” and “Life Stream” friends out to our ShowHomes in Elk River, MN. Like a “class reunion” of sorts, seeing many friends and how they have changed (and not!) over the years. We were able to see (and share) how our kids have grown as well.
February, we saw a need. Ted felt a strong desire in his heart to help Gina get her 2nd bathroom finished. His heart was that she would not have to make the painful trek up two flights of stairs in the middle of the night. He contacted many of you, and you responded…to the tune of $750! Thank you’s are NOT ENOUGH to express what was contributed. Not only monetary, but the incredible (and sometimes late into the night) LABOR hours that were given out of generous hearts. It has taken a very long time, but considering how MUCH was able to be done for what we had, an amazing task was accomplished! THANK YOU ALL!!! (Pictures are below).
Julian turned 16, February 3rd and is already nearing the END of his High School year. He will likely graduate before the end of this “public school” year! Way to go Julian!!! During this summer, Julian met Cati…his girlfriend, surprising ALL of us that he would set aside his skateboard for something such as a “relationship” with a GIRL!!! She is a sweetheart who loves her parents and loves the Lord!
Also in February, on Valentine’s Day, Joe opened his MySpace “one last time” to cancel his account….but he was surprised to find an email/comment from a friend in his past… Jessie had found him and this began what we all know as “a new beginning” for them.
March, brought Josiah’s 18th birthday. He graduated last Winter, but has taken the year to consider his future. He is still dating Melissa. They just celebrated 3 years together. He is eager to get into full time work, hopefully with computers – he’s such a “techie” – and move out into the big world where he can spread his wings and soar in his dreams!
May, Joe turned 22… May brought Joe home from Stout for the summer, and COUNTING the days, awaiting Jessica’s arrival. June 3rd she moved to Minnesota to get a “fresh start” in life, as they grow and plan their future together. She wasn’t here long, though, as we immediately left for Des Moines to help my mom (Sherry) as she prepared for her second hip replacement surgery on June 5th. It was a HOT summer, but the kids were troopers and a GREAT HELP in getting Gramma (Nana) Sherry set up for her return home to recuperate. What an amazing recoup it was, too!!!
For two weeks in June, Ted, Laurie, Joe (Jessie) and Josiah (and Melissa) ventured to Tampa, FL for a convention/vacation. Julian, Josh and James stayed in MN. It was quite an adventure for all of us. The kids surprised and blessed Ted and I with a very special Anniversary Dinner in an incredible restaurant. We then, all ventured over to the warm sandy beach to swim in the ocean…what a wonderful time we had!
July was Josh’s 13th birthday…GOSH, they are growing! July brought more HOT weather, and a missions trip to Mississippi for Julian and Josiah. It was a life changing experience for them to see there is still so much after affect from Hurricane Katrina. They spent 10 days in rebuilding and helping hurricane victims while God did a work in their hearts!
As many of you know, we planned a trip to WA state in August to help Jessie with the final steps to complete her move. We were having a wonderful time together, exploring a new National Park each day – Josiah even stated “THIS is the BEST vacation we have ever had” while in Rapid City to see the Badlands and Mt Rushmore! What a great thing to hear from your kids! He is such an outdoorsman…cooking over the fire…gathering wood from the forest…UNFORTUNATELY, at Cody, WY our newly rebuilt transmission BLEW!!! Ted had made SURE to “take care” that we would NOT have problems on this trip, and lo and behold….2 weeks later it happened ANYWAY!!! From Cody, we were told to “limp” the van up to Billings, where the AAMCO dealer would “take care of (us)”… We found “the first KOA campground” where we pitched a tent (thankfully we HAD ONE!) for what became the LONGEST CAMPOUT EVER!!! We were STUCK, because the new owner of the AAMCO shop had a little “ATTITUDE” going on...no comment! We spent S E V E N D A Y S and NIGHTS…. W A I T I N G for SOME kind of communication. (This guy was something else!).
While “camping” in Billings, we found we were “nowhere” and the nearest ANYTHING was like 5 miles away….when asking if there was a bus route, we were told, “no, you could call a cab!” (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!). We walked, on a couple of occasions, to just get out…and on one of those walks, we got a phone call that our house in Elk River was going to be bought and we would have to move!!!! WHAT ELSE?? We LAUGHED at the thought of how this might ruffle some people…but we were intrigued and unmoved.
Once our NEW TRANSMISSION was in, and not a moment too soon, we were off again….back on track and on the road…this time, for an EXPEDITED VACATION to get to our destination: Lacey, WA…where we had been scheduled for a 14 year reunion with our “kids” and church friends from Cathedral of Praise.
It was SO MUCH FUN to see everyone and how they have grown and changed….and some not!!! Sadly, we were not able to see everyone, because of the change in schedule…but we did reconnect and get updated with those we could see! If we missed you, it was not intentional…please, PLEASE… send us an email at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com . If you happen to be coming OUR way, let us know…we’d love to catch up with you in OUR neck of the woods too!
So, back home we went….readying ourselves for the big move when we got home. The day AFTER we returned, we started to pack. We had found a new home…in Independence, MN… on 40 acres at the highest point in Hennepin County! This was NOT ShowHomes, we were not going to have to keep things SHOW READY all the time!!! We were so excited! We had BIG PLANS for this place!!! We rented a truck for the 1 hour drive to the new place. Labor Day weekend. All was in by September 4th. September 5th, someone came up the long ¼ mile driveway to hand some papers to Ted… A SUMMONS OF EVICTION!!!! (did we LAUGH this time???) We were now to appear in COURT in 2 weeks to plead for time so that we could find another place to house our family of NINE!!! Needless to say, any UNPACKING stopped and we lived out of boxes…and, of course, did not connect utilities and internet only to have to change them in a few days! We made DAILY trips to the local coffee shop where we could get email and where I could get Josh and James placement testing done for educating at home. (THIS was a challenge!!!). We alerted ShowHomes of our need to “come back” and everyone was on the hunt for a house that would be big enough and available ASAP!
We went to the court hearing where we were given until October 1st to find another place and get moved OUT! October 1st…was a WEDNESDAY! Once again, we were moving…ALONE…who was available in the middle of the week? We waited, and looked, and waited and looked….no house was available! A walk of faith…for SURE! ON October 1, we rented a truck (AGAIN) and began to fill it…not knowing where the heck we were going to end up!!! Would we be sleeping in our cars that night? It is very hard to keep cheerful and motivated when you don’t know where your children will sleep! We’d spread the word, but who has room for THAT group!?!
At 5:15, we got a call from ShowHomes. Cindy had gotten a house under contract THAT VERY HOUR which we could move our things into. It was an hour and 15 minutes away! We were ELATED! It was dark, but we made the long trek and planned for how we would stage THIS house…even BIGGER than the last one – 6,300 fsf! We made 4 trips for this move….and were EXHAUSTED by then. But we had only FIVE DAYS to get the new house STAGED and READY for the realtor. (Did I mention that they called for a showing WHILE we were moving in?!). Thanks to Gina and Ted’s cousins Amy, Brian and Keith…as well as Greg (the kids’ youth leader) we were not alone that weekend. Staged and ready….AND ON TIME!!!! We can finally BREATHE!!! Well, almost…we have been told that we may only have until December in this one…never a dull moment… GOOD GRIEF!!! (I am ready to move to a beach house!)
Finally in our “home” in Ham Lake, MN…we were able to “settle” and get back to some sense of normalcy. Ted got a job with a small mom and pop company driving truck…and helping to empty foreclosed homes of their content. Joe was quickly hired as well, temporarily, to help with the emptying part. Jessie has been hired by U.S. Bank and is happy as ever! I have settled in and am learning about the Minnesota Virtual Academy and how the routine has to be set with James and Josh. It is a huge commitment, but we are figuring it out!
Jessie’s 23rd birthday is in November. We will have Thanksgiving in our new house (as usual) this year, December will bring Ted, James’ and my birthdays…and we hope and plan to have everyone here for Christmas as well. New Year’s? Who knows?!?! I am just glad we have a place to go where we can close the door, take a deep breath…and be THANKFUL!
Happy Holidays Everyone! We LOVE you…and are so thankful for our relationships with you!
LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com (Laurie), InvestToEnrich@gmail.com (Ted), CoolCars_1@hotmail.com (Joe), xxJGracexx@aol.com (Jessie), HesNarratingOurLives@gmail.com (Josiah), Skate_Obsessor@hotmail.com (Julian), SkaterBoy.1211@yahoo.com (Josh), CrazySk8er12@hotmail.com (James)
So much has happened this year that I have decided to resort to a “Newsletter Format” to reconnect with so many of you, our family and friends. It’s a LONG one, this was a year of re-connecting and brave new steps of faith into the “unknown” for us!
In January, we reconnected with Minnesota friends in the not so distant past. It was a GREAT time having “TPACC” and “Life Stream” friends out to our ShowHomes in Elk River, MN. Like a “class reunion” of sorts, seeing many friends and how they have changed (and not!) over the years. We were able to see (and share) how our kids have grown as well.
February, we saw a need. Ted felt a strong desire in his heart to help Gina get her 2nd bathroom finished. His heart was that she would not have to make the painful trek up two flights of stairs in the middle of the night. He contacted many of you, and you responded…to the tune of $750! Thank you’s are NOT ENOUGH to express what was contributed. Not only monetary, but the incredible (and sometimes late into the night) LABOR hours that were given out of generous hearts. It has taken a very long time, but considering how MUCH was able to be done for what we had, an amazing task was accomplished! THANK YOU ALL!!! (Pictures are below).
Julian turned 16, February 3rd and is already nearing the END of his High School year. He will likely graduate before the end of this “public school” year! Way to go Julian!!! During this summer, Julian met Cati…his girlfriend, surprising ALL of us that he would set aside his skateboard for something such as a “relationship” with a GIRL!!! She is a sweetheart who loves her parents and loves the Lord!
Also in February, on Valentine’s Day, Joe opened his MySpace “one last time” to cancel his account….but he was surprised to find an email/comment from a friend in his past… Jessie had found him and this began what we all know as “a new beginning” for them.
March, brought Josiah’s 18th birthday. He graduated last Winter, but has taken the year to consider his future. He is still dating Melissa. They just celebrated 3 years together. He is eager to get into full time work, hopefully with computers – he’s such a “techie” – and move out into the big world where he can spread his wings and soar in his dreams!
May, Joe turned 22… May brought Joe home from Stout for the summer, and COUNTING the days, awaiting Jessica’s arrival. June 3rd she moved to Minnesota to get a “fresh start” in life, as they grow and plan their future together. She wasn’t here long, though, as we immediately left for Des Moines to help my mom (Sherry) as she prepared for her second hip replacement surgery on June 5th. It was a HOT summer, but the kids were troopers and a GREAT HELP in getting Gramma (Nana) Sherry set up for her return home to recuperate. What an amazing recoup it was, too!!!
For two weeks in June, Ted, Laurie, Joe (Jessie) and Josiah (and Melissa) ventured to Tampa, FL for a convention/vacation. Julian, Josh and James stayed in MN. It was quite an adventure for all of us. The kids surprised and blessed Ted and I with a very special Anniversary Dinner in an incredible restaurant. We then, all ventured over to the warm sandy beach to swim in the ocean…what a wonderful time we had!
July was Josh’s 13th birthday…GOSH, they are growing! July brought more HOT weather, and a missions trip to Mississippi for Julian and Josiah. It was a life changing experience for them to see there is still so much after affect from Hurricane Katrina. They spent 10 days in rebuilding and helping hurricane victims while God did a work in their hearts!
As many of you know, we planned a trip to WA state in August to help Jessie with the final steps to complete her move. We were having a wonderful time together, exploring a new National Park each day – Josiah even stated “THIS is the BEST vacation we have ever had” while in Rapid City to see the Badlands and Mt Rushmore! What a great thing to hear from your kids! He is such an outdoorsman…cooking over the fire…gathering wood from the forest…UNFORTUNATELY, at Cody, WY our newly rebuilt transmission BLEW!!! Ted had made SURE to “take care” that we would NOT have problems on this trip, and lo and behold….2 weeks later it happened ANYWAY!!! From Cody, we were told to “limp” the van up to Billings, where the AAMCO dealer would “take care of (us)”… We found “the first KOA campground” where we pitched a tent (thankfully we HAD ONE!) for what became the LONGEST CAMPOUT EVER!!! We were STUCK, because the new owner of the AAMCO shop had a little “ATTITUDE” going on...no comment! We spent S E V E N D A Y S and NIGHTS…. W A I T I N G for SOME kind of communication. (This guy was something else!).
While “camping” in Billings, we found we were “nowhere” and the nearest ANYTHING was like 5 miles away….when asking if there was a bus route, we were told, “no, you could call a cab!” (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!). We walked, on a couple of occasions, to just get out…and on one of those walks, we got a phone call that our house in Elk River was going to be bought and we would have to move!!!! WHAT ELSE?? We LAUGHED at the thought of how this might ruffle some people…but we were intrigued and unmoved.
Once our NEW TRANSMISSION was in, and not a moment too soon, we were off again….back on track and on the road…this time, for an EXPEDITED VACATION to get to our destination: Lacey, WA…where we had been scheduled for a 14 year reunion with our “kids” and church friends from Cathedral of Praise.
It was SO MUCH FUN to see everyone and how they have grown and changed….and some not!!! Sadly, we were not able to see everyone, because of the change in schedule…but we did reconnect and get updated with those we could see! If we missed you, it was not intentional…please, PLEASE… send us an email at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com . If you happen to be coming OUR way, let us know…we’d love to catch up with you in OUR neck of the woods too!
So, back home we went….readying ourselves for the big move when we got home. The day AFTER we returned, we started to pack. We had found a new home…in Independence, MN… on 40 acres at the highest point in Hennepin County! This was NOT ShowHomes, we were not going to have to keep things SHOW READY all the time!!! We were so excited! We had BIG PLANS for this place!!! We rented a truck for the 1 hour drive to the new place. Labor Day weekend. All was in by September 4th. September 5th, someone came up the long ¼ mile driveway to hand some papers to Ted… A SUMMONS OF EVICTION!!!! (did we LAUGH this time???) We were now to appear in COURT in 2 weeks to plead for time so that we could find another place to house our family of NINE!!! Needless to say, any UNPACKING stopped and we lived out of boxes…and, of course, did not connect utilities and internet only to have to change them in a few days! We made DAILY trips to the local coffee shop where we could get email and where I could get Josh and James placement testing done for educating at home. (THIS was a challenge!!!). We alerted ShowHomes of our need to “come back” and everyone was on the hunt for a house that would be big enough and available ASAP!
We went to the court hearing where we were given until October 1st to find another place and get moved OUT! October 1st…was a WEDNESDAY! Once again, we were moving…ALONE…who was available in the middle of the week? We waited, and looked, and waited and looked….no house was available! A walk of faith…for SURE! ON October 1, we rented a truck (AGAIN) and began to fill it…not knowing where the heck we were going to end up!!! Would we be sleeping in our cars that night? It is very hard to keep cheerful and motivated when you don’t know where your children will sleep! We’d spread the word, but who has room for THAT group!?!
At 5:15, we got a call from ShowHomes. Cindy had gotten a house under contract THAT VERY HOUR which we could move our things into. It was an hour and 15 minutes away! We were ELATED! It was dark, but we made the long trek and planned for how we would stage THIS house…even BIGGER than the last one – 6,300 fsf! We made 4 trips for this move….and were EXHAUSTED by then. But we had only FIVE DAYS to get the new house STAGED and READY for the realtor. (Did I mention that they called for a showing WHILE we were moving in?!). Thanks to Gina and Ted’s cousins Amy, Brian and Keith…as well as Greg (the kids’ youth leader) we were not alone that weekend. Staged and ready….AND ON TIME!!!! We can finally BREATHE!!! Well, almost…we have been told that we may only have until December in this one…never a dull moment… GOOD GRIEF!!! (I am ready to move to a beach house!)
Finally in our “home” in Ham Lake, MN…we were able to “settle” and get back to some sense of normalcy. Ted got a job with a small mom and pop company driving truck…and helping to empty foreclosed homes of their content. Joe was quickly hired as well, temporarily, to help with the emptying part. Jessie has been hired by U.S. Bank and is happy as ever! I have settled in and am learning about the Minnesota Virtual Academy and how the routine has to be set with James and Josh. It is a huge commitment, but we are figuring it out!
Jessie’s 23rd birthday is in November. We will have Thanksgiving in our new house (as usual) this year, December will bring Ted, James’ and my birthdays…and we hope and plan to have everyone here for Christmas as well. New Year’s? Who knows?!?! I am just glad we have a place to go where we can close the door, take a deep breath…and be THANKFUL!
Happy Holidays Everyone! We LOVE you…and are so thankful for our relationships with you!
LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com (Laurie), InvestToEnrich@gmail.com (Ted), CoolCars_1@hotmail.com (Joe), xxJGracexx@aol.com (Jessie), HesNarratingOurLives@gmail.com (Josiah), Skate_Obsessor@hotmail.com (Julian), SkaterBoy.1211@yahoo.com (Josh), CrazySk8er12@hotmail.com (James)
http://www.pctattletale.com/scripts/cbprotect.php?id=37psalm4
Long ago, I posted this link on here for anyone who might be interested in protecting their kids online. It has been a very good tool for us to help keep the boys safe from predators as well as keeping them accountable.
Unfortunately, the friends of some of the kids are none too happy, because I have also helped their parents to get and install the software on their computers as well.
You may download the FREE TRIAL and use it for 7 days. Once the 7 days has expired, if you like it, you can purchase the full version for $49.95. This may or may not seem like much, but it is a GREAT VALUE when you realize that it is a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP and you can use it on TWO computers!!!
I recommend that you at least try it out. I think you'll be happy with it. If you have questions, they have plenty of answers. This is an EASY program to use. You can even set it to take pictures of the sites your kids are viewing.
I did this with my kids' full knowledge. They were not happy, at first, but realized it was not going to change my mind, and they better just make a few changes in their own choices!!! Now, we are all happy!
If you have questions you would like to ask me about this product, please feel free to email me at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer what I can.
Unfortunately, the friends of some of the kids are none too happy, because I have also helped their parents to get and install the software on their computers as well.
You may download the FREE TRIAL and use it for 7 days. Once the 7 days has expired, if you like it, you can purchase the full version for $49.95. This may or may not seem like much, but it is a GREAT VALUE when you realize that it is a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP and you can use it on TWO computers!!!
I recommend that you at least try it out. I think you'll be happy with it. If you have questions, they have plenty of answers. This is an EASY program to use. You can even set it to take pictures of the sites your kids are viewing.
I did this with my kids' full knowledge. They were not happy, at first, but realized it was not going to change my mind, and they better just make a few changes in their own choices!!! Now, we are all happy!
If you have questions you would like to ask me about this product, please feel free to email me at LovingPeopleToLife@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer what I can.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Waaaayyy Too Long
Hello!!! And thanks for coming back! It has been way toooooo long since I have updated my blog. So long, in fact, that there is apparently a "New Blogger" program and I already am confused! Sure wish there were another way to blog that was simple.
We moved from our home in January of 2007. Three days later, my stepdad, Wayne, died. It was sad, but beautiful. He has been restoring an old tractor that he wanted to ride in the summer, and had just completed it that night. He called my mom to let her hear the "purring" of the engine and said that he'd just driven it down the road and back. He was so pleased! I imagine, it was then that God said, "you think that's great, Wayne, just wait until you see what I have waiting for you!" Mom said goodbye and I love you, at which time Wayne laid down to sleep and awoke with his heavenly Father whom he'd spent years learning about and loving. Now Wayne gets to have breakfast with Jesus every morning!
We miss him, but smile knowing he is where we want to be!
Our new home is in Elk River. We have decided to become "Home Managers". This is a new (not so new) idea for us, in that we "rent" a home that is on the market to sell. During that time, we are "staging" the home with our furniture and decor items so that it has an appeal and draw to buyers who might not otherwise be able to "imagine" what it would look like with their things here. Suffice to say, we are LOVING our new home. Many of you know it is a very expensive home that will likely be on the market for awhile. This price ranged homes take upwards of a year and a half to sell. The kids each have their own rooms (and bathrooms) and we have a wonderful view from the window of our living room...got a picture of a Snowy Barred Owl sitting in the tree, maybe you saw it!
The neigbors are wonderful and are showing us how to stay YOUNG! Ted and I who are normally in bed by 8:30 or 9 are now spending our freetime camping in the backyard, bonfires every week as well as jet skiing and 4 wheeling (on ATV's) on the weekends. They have become fast friends and even family in the short time that we have known them. They're even talking now about skydiving! YIKES! Think I might hold back for that one! SOMEONE has to stay on the ground and take pictures, right???
Ted is faithfully prodding along at his commercial pipe insulation, although gas prices are gouging us more and more making it tough to make that commute every day! Can anyone else relate?
Joe has been accepted to UW Stout thanks to the prayers and letters of recommendation from all of you! We will be going to the first orientation in the middle of June. He is so excited he can hardly stay focused on working to raise the money to pay for school! He just wants to be THERE!!! We are excied and very proud of his persistence in this opportunity. He could have given up and not even tried to go to college (oh NO!! Not a pizza delivery boy!!) but he pressed on and now he is headed for the prize of his DREAM! He starts September 2007.
Josiah is about to receive his High School Diploma...only a couple of weeks to go! He is so excited. He will take the test to get his driver's license on May 30. Uh oh, another teenage driver...don't know how long I can keep up with the emotions that go along with that one! He started working at Taco John's last week and is still seeking a lifeguard position where he can make more money (it's all about money when you're a teen!) and use the credentials he completed in March for Water Safety Instruction, CPR and the likes. Doesn't he just LOOK the part of a lifeguard?!
Julian, too, is moving along rather quickly in his High School education. In the time that his classmates who began 9th grade this year, he has completed TWO grades and is beginning 11th grade as you read this entry. He is very excited to be running to the goal of getting his diploma in 2008-two years before his classmates! He's continuing to improve (as all of the boys are) in his love for skateboarding, and hopes to one day be "sponsored" - mom would LOVE this, so that we could save on the expense of the SHOES he goes through every two months!!
Joshua will graduate from 5th grade and will be entering Middle School in the fall. I can't believe it...it just seems too soon. Can he possibly be ready for Jr. High? I am beginning to see the positive signs that I remember with Joe...what a joy to see your SON take an interest in things like showers and deodorant!!! (could it be "girls"?). He likes to skateboard and has taken a real interest in the approval and acceptance that he has experienced with the new neighbors - did I mention that one of them has FIVE GIRLS!!!? He's becoming the little "mentor" for the boys down the street - pray he keeps a right attitude and is a GOOD influence!
James is his sweet, kind, and gentle self although growing out of the "little boy" stage. I am really going to miss that. He was a surprise for sure when we had him but the blessing of knowing how wonderful children can be. He loves Jesus and has such a servant's heart. You know...I don't even have to explain it here! He will be in 5th grade next year. He greatly misses his old school and all his friends from Monticello, but is making new friends. He will be starting the "PreTeen Youth Group" at our church on June 3. He is SO excited to finally be considered "Youth"!
I continue to meet the demands of day-to day life as a mom, wife, friend and now home manager. Keeping this 6000 square foot house clean and "Realtor Ready" is a full time job! There are often days that I turn around and look and wonder, "what did I do today?" or "Where did my day go?" but I am enjoying the journey until the next adventure in our lives! Happy Summer!!!!
We moved from our home in January of 2007. Three days later, my stepdad, Wayne, died. It was sad, but beautiful. He has been restoring an old tractor that he wanted to ride in the summer, and had just completed it that night. He called my mom to let her hear the "purring" of the engine and said that he'd just driven it down the road and back. He was so pleased! I imagine, it was then that God said, "you think that's great, Wayne, just wait until you see what I have waiting for you!" Mom said goodbye and I love you, at which time Wayne laid down to sleep and awoke with his heavenly Father whom he'd spent years learning about and loving. Now Wayne gets to have breakfast with Jesus every morning!
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We miss him, but smile knowing he is where we want to be!Our new home is in Elk River. We have decided to become "Home Managers". This is a new (not so new) idea for us, in that we "rent" a home that is on the market to sell. During that time, we are "staging" the home with our furniture and decor items so that it has an appeal and draw to buyers who might not otherwise be able to "imagine" what it would look like with their things here. Suffice to say, we are LOVING our new home. Many of you know it is a very expensive home that will likely be on the market for awhile. This price ranged homes take upwards of a year and a half to sell. The kids each have their own rooms (and bathrooms) and we have a wonderful view from the window of our living room...got a picture of a Snowy Barred Owl sitting in the tree, maybe you saw it!
The neigbors are wonderful and are showing us how to stay YOUNG! Ted and I who are normally in bed by 8:30 or 9 are now spending our freetime camping in the backyard, bonfires every week as well as jet skiing and 4 wheeling (on ATV's) on the weekends. They have become fast friends and even family in the short time that we have known them. They're even talking now about skydiving! YIKES! Think I might hold back for that one! SOMEONE has to stay on the ground and take pictures, right???
Ted is faithfully prodding along at his commercial pipe insulation, although gas prices are gouging us more and more making it tough to make that commute every day! Can anyone else relate?
Joe has been accepted to UW Stout thanks to the prayers and letters of recommendation from all of you! We will be going to the first orientation in the middle of June. He is so excited he can hardly stay focused on working to raise the money to pay for school! He just wants to be THERE!!! We are excied and very proud of his persistence in this opportunity. He could have given up and not even tried to go to college (oh NO!! Not a pizza delivery boy!!) but he pressed on and now he is headed for the prize of his DREAM! He starts September 2007.
Josiah is about to receive his High School Diploma...only a couple of weeks to go! He is so excited. He will take the test to get his driver's license on May 30. Uh oh, another teenage driver...don't know how long I can keep up with the emotions that go along with that one! He started working at Taco John's last week and is still seeking a lifeguard position where he can make more money (it's all about money when you're a teen!) and use the credentials he completed in March for Water Safety Instruction, CPR and the likes. Doesn't he just LOOK the part of a lifeguard?!
Julian, too, is moving along rather quickly in his High School education. In the time that his classmates who began 9th grade this year, he has completed TWO grades and is beginning 11th grade as you read this entry. He is very excited to be running to the goal of getting his diploma in 2008-two years before his classmates! He's continuing to improve (as all of the boys are) in his love for skateboarding, and hopes to one day be "sponsored" - mom would LOVE this, so that we could save on the expense of the SHOES he goes through every two months!!
Joshua will graduate from 5th grade and will be entering Middle School in the fall. I can't believe it...it just seems too soon. Can he possibly be ready for Jr. High? I am beginning to see the positive signs that I remember with Joe...what a joy to see your SON take an interest in things like showers and deodorant!!! (could it be "girls"?). He likes to skateboard and has taken a real interest in the approval and acceptance that he has experienced with the new neighbors - did I mention that one of them has FIVE GIRLS!!!? He's becoming the little "mentor" for the boys down the street - pray he keeps a right attitude and is a GOOD influence!
James is his sweet, kind, and gentle self although growing out of the "little boy" stage. I am really going to miss that. He was a surprise for sure when we had him but the blessing of knowing how wonderful children can be. He loves Jesus and has such a servant's heart. You know...I don't even have to explain it here! He will be in 5th grade next year. He greatly misses his old school and all his friends from Monticello, but is making new friends. He will be starting the "PreTeen Youth Group" at our church on June 3. He is SO excited to finally be considered "Youth"!
I continue to meet the demands of day-to day life as a mom, wife, friend and now home manager. Keeping this 6000 square foot house clean and "Realtor Ready" is a full time job! There are often days that I turn around and look and wonder, "what did I do today?" or "Where did my day go?" but I am enjoying the journey until the next adventure in our lives! Happy Summer!!!!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
House for sale!!! ANY offer will be considered!!!
Well, here we go!!!
We have decided, as mentioned before, to sell our home. We are having our first Open House on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 & 10 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. If you know of anyone who is interested, we are drastically reducing the asking price to make it INSTANT EQUITY and someone will have an incredible blessing by buying this house! I have created a slideshow tour and will post it here for viewing.
Keep us in your prayers...and help spread the word!
We have decided, as mentioned before, to sell our home. We are having our first Open House on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 & 10 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. If you know of anyone who is interested, we are drastically reducing the asking price to make it INSTANT EQUITY and someone will have an incredible blessing by buying this house! I have created a slideshow tour and will post it here for viewing.
Keep us in your prayers...and help spread the word!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
BUSY Summer!!
OH MY! I just went to a friend's blog and realized that I have been falling behind...now, as I check, I see that I have fallen HORRIBLY behind!
Well, it has been a VERY BUSY SUMMER!!! We have had an out of town activity EVERY weekend since school got out and there seems to be no end until the end of AUGUST! YIKES!
Mom (yes, me) almost fell off the emotional cliff last week with all that has been happening around us. Alas, we have decided to put our dream home up for sale. Since losing my job in September, we have been limping along to just make ends meet. We are tired...we miss being able to participate in some of the "blessings" that we were so used to and also not enjoying all the energy that is being zapped just trying to keep up. Ted has been working overtime (thank the Lord He has blessed us with this option!) nearly every weekend, even missing his own annual family reunion. He was really bummed about that!
Last week, just before considering a ride to the local hospital for a "visit", I decided to call my wonderful mommy and "vent" about my stresses (you know, 6 boys and a niece living in the same house can add just a bit of stress!). Mom graciously agreed to let James come and stay with her for his own little vacation in Iowa. Ted's mom took Josh for the weekend, Josiah left Saturday for his CHIC (Covenant High In Christ) adventure in Tennessee for a week and the older boys; Joe, Brandon, Julian (and two friends) headed for Willmar, MN to the Sonshine festival in spite of the looming predicted heat advisories. Ted and I decided that this might just be a good opportunity for us to "get away" for some "alone" time. Uncle Roger and Aunt Carla were not going to be at the Lake home and graciously offered to let us have it for the weekend. What a GREAT time to have it! We hardly knew it was 100 degrees and above because we were enjoying being IN the water and airing dry in the warm breeze! Thanks Roger and Carla!!!
Now we are back, as are the Sonshine Boys (:-D) and the real world will come in again. I really appreciate ALL your prayers and encouragement during this emotional time. Selling is a tough decision, but we feel good about it. We are just praying that if this IS the direction God wants us to go, HE will sell our house without a lot of stress and time!
Well, it has been a VERY BUSY SUMMER!!! We have had an out of town activity EVERY weekend since school got out and there seems to be no end until the end of AUGUST! YIKES!
Mom (yes, me) almost fell off the emotional cliff last week with all that has been happening around us. Alas, we have decided to put our dream home up for sale. Since losing my job in September, we have been limping along to just make ends meet. We are tired...we miss being able to participate in some of the "blessings" that we were so used to and also not enjoying all the energy that is being zapped just trying to keep up. Ted has been working overtime (thank the Lord He has blessed us with this option!) nearly every weekend, even missing his own annual family reunion. He was really bummed about that!
Last week, just before considering a ride to the local hospital for a "visit", I decided to call my wonderful mommy and "vent" about my stresses (you know, 6 boys and a niece living in the same house can add just a bit of stress!). Mom graciously agreed to let James come and stay with her for his own little vacation in Iowa. Ted's mom took Josh for the weekend, Josiah left Saturday for his CHIC (Covenant High In Christ) adventure in Tennessee for a week and the older boys; Joe, Brandon, Julian (and two friends) headed for Willmar, MN to the Sonshine festival in spite of the looming predicted heat advisories. Ted and I decided that this might just be a good opportunity for us to "get away" for some "alone" time. Uncle Roger and Aunt Carla were not going to be at the Lake home and graciously offered to let us have it for the weekend. What a GREAT time to have it! We hardly knew it was 100 degrees and above because we were enjoying being IN the water and airing dry in the warm breeze! Thanks Roger and Carla!!!
Now we are back, as are the Sonshine Boys (:-D) and the real world will come in again. I really appreciate ALL your prayers and encouragement during this emotional time. Selling is a tough decision, but we feel good about it. We are just praying that if this IS the direction God wants us to go, HE will sell our house without a lot of stress and time!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
A new slide show...
Bear with me, I am learning by trial and error, but I have just found a really great place to create slideshows to put on different websites. I haven't figured out how to put them on here, but I CAN put the link in here.... if you want to see how things have changed over the past year, click on this link -->
http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?instanceid=26019279
http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?instanceid=26019279
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
We're BAAAACCKK!!!
Well, yes, we are back...it was a great 10 or so days! Thank you for your support of my walk. I was blessed with the emails I got when your donations were recorded!!! Can you tell which one of us has MS??? That's because MS is an "invisible" disease, affecting each of it's victims uniquely, but she is there, and she is VERY grateful for your support as am I!
We had a GREAT time connecting with family and Brandon found his long lost father...you can really see the family resemblance (see picture below). Needless to say, Josiah and Julian were very excited to learn they had an "uncle Ronald"!
Everyone was there to join in and support the cause...we are SO proud of all of them! Maybe next year you can join us when once again, we'll be "On the trail for Bambi!"
Our journey began on Thursday morning as we ventured to Rochester, MN to meet with Ted (at work)...it was well planned out, we had even researched the GREAT indoor sk8park that the kids were going to hang out at...until we arrived. As soon as we got to town, we headed for the local mall where Zumiez put together Brandon's KEWL new sk8board...purple with green and black plaid! It was then, that we were told the sk8park had closed....by the way, did I mention that the weather had turned? It was COLD and RAINY and WINDY...but determined as they are, they went to the outdoor skatepark and had a pretty good time...albeit short! I, however, spent two LONNNNNNG days sitting in the van with a dog and cold kids...only to have Ted end up working longer and being unable to leave with us for the trip to Iowa....he had to follow later.
Following the MS walk we spent a very special day with Scott and Amber in the baptism of their beautiful daughter Elizabeth Anne Marie. Ted and I were honored as Godparents once again. Then, on Sunday, Ted loaded up all the boys and took them home so that I could have a much needed retreat for the next several days. "Retreat" ..err...uh... change of battleground!
I returned home to surprise my brood on Friday afternoon. As Ted pulled up and opened the garage to park his van, a smile spread across his face to see that I had parked in HIS place! We had a couple of days together and then off he went to work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN again...for the week.
School is out next week, then we plan on spending a fun filled summer running here and there, leaping from lake to lake (hahaha!) and enjoying our FAMILY! Our anniversary will be spent in Osakis at "the Osakis Hilton" during the 2nd week of June. Then, up to loveless lake for a girls getaway...back to Monticello for a bridal shower, then to Osakis for the annual Iverson Family Reunion, then Josiah leaves for CHIC (Covenant High in Christ) as we all load up and head for Wilmar, MN to the Sonshine Festival...a christian "Woodstock" of sorts...and on it goes!!! If you wanna catch us, you'll just have to check on the blog and just MAYBE you can catch us in between on the phones. ...anyone want to join us at Sonshine????
Well, I am off...baseball tonight...and then, to enjoy a long awaited thunderstorm!!! MMMmmmm can you smell it in the air!!! Wish you were here! Love you.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
FIRE!
Well, as most of you have now heard, there was a fire last week in the Monticello Middle School.
It was quite a surprise. I was just leaving for work when my neighbor came over and said, "did you hear? There's been a fire at the middle school and the kids are coming home"...this was at only 8:00am!
Yes, a fire. It appears that there will be a change in the school schedule that has upset my Julian greatly (yeah RIGHT!). The high schoolers and middle schoolers are now "sharing" the high school building by alternating weeks. M, W, F and then T, Th...must be rough!!! I would have loved to have that "dilemma" when I was their age! Nothing exciting ever happened to US!
Today we went to pick up the contents of their school and gym lockers...MY GOSH!!! No wonder Julian never does any laundry!!! The teacher could hardly carry out the bags of his stuff, they were so full of clothes! Guess what Julian is doing on his days OFF?!
My "baby" turned 20 on Monday! Joe had his 20th birthday, I can't believe it! Finally, we cut his hair...no more black and it's back to "normal"...but, don't tell him you like it, or he will change it! (just kidding).
Julian got his long locks chopped today. He wasn't too thrilled, but I don't want him getting too used to the really long stuff! I told him that it was my mother's day gift (just like Siah did last mother's day--at church--remember?) I'll post pictures later!
We are going to IOWA this weekend to walk in the MS walk to find a cure for my sister...please consider a donation to sponsor me or my kids in the walk. You can pledge for me by clicking this link https://www.nationalmssociety.org//NTH/personal/default.asp?pa=54366020&pd=NTH0EWLK20060513DSM Thanks so much!
It was quite a surprise. I was just leaving for work when my neighbor came over and said, "did you hear? There's been a fire at the middle school and the kids are coming home"...this was at only 8:00am!
Yes, a fire. It appears that there will be a change in the school schedule that has upset my Julian greatly (yeah RIGHT!). The high schoolers and middle schoolers are now "sharing" the high school building by alternating weeks. M, W, F and then T, Th...must be rough!!! I would have loved to have that "dilemma" when I was their age! Nothing exciting ever happened to US!
Today we went to pick up the contents of their school and gym lockers...MY GOSH!!! No wonder Julian never does any laundry!!! The teacher could hardly carry out the bags of his stuff, they were so full of clothes! Guess what Julian is doing on his days OFF?!
My "baby" turned 20 on Monday! Joe had his 20th birthday, I can't believe it! Finally, we cut his hair...no more black and it's back to "normal"...but, don't tell him you like it, or he will change it! (just kidding).
Julian got his long locks chopped today. He wasn't too thrilled, but I don't want him getting too used to the really long stuff! I told him that it was my mother's day gift (just like Siah did last mother's day--at church--remember?) I'll post pictures later!
We are going to IOWA this weekend to walk in the MS walk to find a cure for my sister...please consider a donation to sponsor me or my kids in the walk. You can pledge for me by clicking this link https://www.nationalmssociety.org//NTH/personal/default.asp?pa=54366020&pd=NTH0EWLK20060513DSM Thanks so much!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Photos I Want To Share
Here's a few new photos I thought you might enjoy seeing...
Easter Sunday, Gina & the kids came out. They had a blast using Justin's potato gun to shoot russetts across the pond to the fields behind our house. Joe and Justin have really grown up, haven't they?
Me and James and Josh taking a quick photo while we were all together! They all grow up so fast!
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Easter Sunday, Gina & the kids came out. They had a blast using Justin's potato gun to shoot russetts across the pond to the fields behind our house. Joe and Justin have really grown up, haven't they?
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Me and James and Josh taking a quick photo while we were all together! They all grow up so fast!
So Busy
Well, the weather has been very nice. But I have yet to get out there and enjoy it! My former boss asked me to help him do some work. Turns out, his partner (whom I always had suspicions about) has been lying, which, in turn equates to stealing in the business they were in. More detail than I really wish to put in here. Suffice it to say, we are "building a case" for the dissolution of the company/partnership that was. ~ So, I have been keeping busy.
Ted is working in Faribault this weekend for overtime. The refi that I mentioned before, turned out to be no better than what we already have, sooooo, back to the drawing board. I don't know, I kind of feel like God is getting us ready for a change...but what? He hasn't revealed that to us yet!
Nothing really exciting to share this week... same 'ol - same 'ol! We are LONGING to get away on a vacation...of course, we would love for it to be so
mewhere WARMER than here!
Mother's Day will be spent with family in Iowa. Scott and Amber (The little brother I always wanted ;-)) are having their new daughter Elizabeth Anne Marie dedicated/baptized on Mother's Day! How special for Amber to have her 1st mommy's day be the same day!
We will all be walking in the MS Walk as a team "On the trail for Bambi" for my sister on Saturday. If you want to donate to the cause for a cure, please visit the MS website and make a contribution to our team! Just click on this link --> https://www.nationalmssociety.org//NTH/personal/default.asp?pa=54366020&pd=NTH0EWLK20060513DSM Thanks!
Ted is working in Faribault this weekend for overtime. The refi that I mentioned before, turned out to be no better than what we already have, sooooo, back to the drawing board. I don't know, I kind of feel like God is getting us ready for a change...but what? He hasn't revealed that to us yet!
Nothing really exciting to share this week... same 'ol - same 'ol! We are LONGING to get away on a vacation...of course, we would love for it to be so
.jpg)
mewhere WARMER than here!Mother's Day will be spent with family in Iowa. Scott and Amber (The little brother I always wanted ;-)) are having their new daughter Elizabeth Anne Marie dedicated/baptized on Mother's Day! How special for Amber to have her 1st mommy's day be the same day!
We will all be walking in the MS Walk as a team "On the trail for Bambi" for my sister on Saturday. If you want to donate to the cause for a cure, please visit the MS website and make a contribution to our team! Just click on this link --> https://www.nationalmssociety.org//NTH/personal/default.asp?pa=54366020&pd=NTH0EWLK20060513DSM Thanks!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Ahhh SPRING!!!
I know, it has been a LONG time since my last post... Sorry! I had my brand new computer CRASH and had to do a complete restore and recover...Anyone who has done it before knows that it takes FOREVER to get it back up and running! Took me LITERALLY 3 days on the phone with tech support, and I still have issues!
-Nuff said! IT'S SPRING!!!! How blessed we have been to have 9 days of 70 or above! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and all the windows are open sending a refreshing breeze in my stale closed up house! Albeit even windy some days, whistling through the side windows, I have enjoyed it! I am, however, ready for the spring rains and even storms!
This weekend we were able to fertilize and recharge our sprinkler system. The empty field across the street from us is like a busy ant farm. There are plows, tractors, and trailers readying the open area for new roads to weave in and out of our development. Maybe it will ease some of the frustrating stress of cars passing WAY TOO FAST! Too many times I have seen small children almost get hit!
Easter was nice. Quiet this year, and very enjoyable. Gina, Justin, Brandon & Taylor were here. The Easter bunny came and went...he's so sneaky! Marilynn & Earl were here, after having dealt with walking pneumonia, she managed to cook a complete dinner and cater it to our house! Amazing, I don't think she realized how tired and weak she would feel being so soon after being bedridden. Thank you Marilynn!
Kids are skateboarding, listening to music, and now, the plan to graffiti the room above the garage is taking shape! Brandon is moving in with Josiah for a while and they are plotting and planning the details of decor...and pretty excited!
Looks like we will finally be able to refi our house! Yeayyy! Keep praying, it's not over until the papers are signed!
Selah, our Malt-Tzu, is going to be a-sexual after tomorrow morning. Yippee! Maybe that will calm him down some more. Surgery starts at 8:30 am...The kids are having fun teasing him about the events to come...as he runs for a stuffed bear, or ape...sheesh!!!
One last beautiful day...Time to make my "To Do" list...
-Nuff said! IT'S SPRING!!!! How blessed we have been to have 9 days of 70 or above! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and all the windows are open sending a refreshing breeze in my stale closed up house! Albeit even windy some days, whistling through the side windows, I have enjoyed it! I am, however, ready for the spring rains and even storms!
This weekend we were able to fertilize and recharge our sprinkler system. The empty field across the street from us is like a busy ant farm. There are plows, tractors, and trailers readying the open area for new roads to weave in and out of our development. Maybe it will ease some of the frustrating stress of cars passing WAY TOO FAST! Too many times I have seen small children almost get hit!
Easter was nice. Quiet this year, and very enjoyable. Gina, Justin, Brandon & Taylor were here. The Easter bunny came and went...he's so sneaky! Marilynn & Earl were here, after having dealt with walking pneumonia, she managed to cook a complete dinner and cater it to our house! Amazing, I don't think she realized how tired and weak she would feel being so soon after being bedridden. Thank you Marilynn!
Kids are skateboarding, listening to music, and now, the plan to graffiti the room above the garage is taking shape! Brandon is moving in with Josiah for a while and they are plotting and planning the details of decor...and pretty excited!
Looks like we will finally be able to refi our house! Yeayyy! Keep praying, it's not over until the papers are signed!
Selah, our Malt-Tzu, is going to be a-sexual after tomorrow morning. Yippee! Maybe that will calm him down some more. Surgery starts at 8:30 am...The kids are having fun teasing him about the events to come...as he runs for a stuffed bear, or ape...sheesh!!!
One last beautiful day...Time to make my "To Do" list...
Friday, March 31, 2006
www.myspace.com/lovingpeopletolife
I did it, I jumped into the virtual world of My Space. WOW! What a cultural experience. I am amazed at how freely the kids talk to each other...and so disrespectful! Also surprising, is how many of the kids are actually asking ME to be their friend!
Maybe if more of us parents bond together in these places, we can help our kids to realize the danger of what they post or the damage they can do to others by posting a frivilous comment which degrades the self esteem of others and themselves.
I am totally in shock! How do you get the message of hope and encouragement to so many hurting kids? One kid at a time...I'm starting with mine and those they bring to our home!
http://www.pctattletale.com/cmd.php?af=375012
Not too long ago, I mentioned that I had set my kids up with their own online identities. I think, I also mentioned that I have a really great program that WATCHES and records everything they do! I can SEE screenshots on a video recording of everything they do. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to give their kids the freedom to go online, but has the healthy fear of what the kids may be doing (because, let’s face it, you just CAN’T sit with them every minute of the day!). I am going to post a link in the column on the side of this page that you can go to check it out. They offer a FREE TRIAL so that you can be sure that you want to keep and use that program. Just what I love, a trial BEFORE the purchase!!!
Check it out at http://www.pctattletale.com/cmd.php?af=375012 (place your mouse over this address and it becomes a link that will take you right to it). It’s only $49.95 and you can put it on TWO computers with one license! ($25 per computer is a GREAT deal if you ask me!) If you have any questions about it, ask me! It’s pretty user friendly, but I know how intimidating this stuff can be when you get started.
Check it out at http://www.pctattletale.com/cmd.php?af=375012 (place your mouse over this address and it becomes a link that will take you right to it). It’s only $49.95 and you can put it on TWO computers with one license! ($25 per computer is a GREAT deal if you ask me!) If you have any questions about it, ask me! It’s pretty user friendly, but I know how intimidating this stuff can be when you get started.
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