Audrey's birthday party!

I can't believe I didn't take my camera! Audrey's birthday was actually on the18th, but we got together today for a party. Micah and Adam set up the party in the field next to Adam's grandparent's house. There's a nice fire ring where we had a bonfire and roasted hot dogs and smores. Then we sang the birthday song and Audrey blew out her "2" candle and ate a cupcake. I made the cakes and cupcakes and Audrey pronounced them dee-WISH-us! Then came present opening. She got lots of books (which she tried to read, but everyone hurried her on to the other gifts!) She also got coloring books galore, crayons, markers, a purse, and a plethora of My Little Ponies. Her mom and dad got her a tricycle/Big Wheel type vehicle with Dora the Explorer on it. She and cousin Cali played on the antique playground equipment that grandpa installed in the field. It's such a unique area. There are small patches of lilies, black eyed susans and other pretty flowers scattered here and there, a small playground, the fire pit and odds and ends of decorative metal objects (like an old arbor) placed here and there. It's kind of magical. Micah was apologetic about not thinking up something fancier to do for a party, but I think Audrey had a blast and everyone else really enjoyed the outdoor time.

The weather has cooled off as expected. It's feeling like...FALL! Yikes!

 

I caught Bob out in the pasture visiting with the horses. Before I clicked the shutter they were all gathered around sniffing at him. Pretty cute.

 

Josh once bemoaned the fact that people don't make their own greeting cards with their own words inside. So this is the card I made him for his 29th birthday, which will be on August 2. I hope he likes it. I wrote about a fond memory I had of his younger years when he loved to go fishing. I suspect he loved the solitude and time to think more than actually catching fish. He usually fished off the side of a bridge and he once came home and told me about how a huge loon had swum under the bridge. It looked like a torpedo under the water. I have so many good memories of my kiddos growing up, and I'm so proud of the grown people they've become!

 

Please continue to keep Bob in your prayers. Thursday is the appointment to get the lung checked and biopsied. He's feeling kind of glum and having pain from the ribs he injured on his left side. He's trying not to listen to Satan's whisperings, but when it's quiet his mind thinks on it too much. Thanks!

 

I think I already showed this picture, but I love it, so here it is again!

 

 

 Have a blessed day! Jesus will never leave us or forsake us! The road leads home! :)

Shalom.

Check up day for Bob...

Another beautiful photo just outside our back door! I like the way the clouds pick up on the shape of the tree.

Bob went to Fargo and saw a doctor about his chest x-rays. He now needs to go back next week when they will put a scope down into his lung to see things in more detail. I may go with him then because he will need a driver to get home.

It's hot as a pistol here. We hear promises of cooler weather...I hope it's true! But it is very pretty and sunny outside and I feel a small breeze through the window. I'll have to get some pictures of my garden soon. I see some baby squashes!

Have a wonderful day!
Shalom all!

God's Art...

Kind of beautiful, huh? This was last night just before a storm passed over. God has nicer paints than me, ha, ha. But that's fine!

We have a challenging week ahead. When Bob went in for an exam a couple of weeks ago they found something on his chest x-ray. He went back in for a CAT scan and the doctor here said he needed to see an oncologist to get it checked further. So, Bob has an appointment on Thursday to go to the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo. Prayers are appreciated.

We're believing God for healing and trying not to get in the "cancer fear" mode because Satan operates almost totally by inserting fear into our hearts. It's his only weapon. Bob plans to drive himself to Fargo where daughter Missy has offered a place for him to stay. Wifey (me) will stay home and do chores. At least that's the plan at the moment.

On other fronts, son Jordan just returned from a big event he participated in in Florida. This had to do with his singing and other talents. He didn't "win" anything, but I think he is now more content to minister in his church. He said he was competing against big folks from Los Angeles and such places. I'm glad he's not getting into the slick, professional side of music ministry. God is using him right where he is, but I'm glad he got a chance to see what's going on. I think it was a good experience.

Everyone else is pretty much doing the same old things. It's been hot and steamy here though today is not too bad.

Have a great day! This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Shalom!

A happy birthday song from grandson Nathan to his Uncle Jordan...

Lyrics:

Happy birthday, Jordan.
I love you!
(Or something like that.)

I should say it's from Nathan and Ellie aka Starry. She does make a cameo appearance at the beginning. Too much joy not to share!

Jordan is in Florida as we speak at a big seminar where he will compete in singing and such. It's the culmination of the past year he's spent with a Christian talent organization called Actors, Models and Talent for Christ. As you can tell, I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but he's hoping it will help him in his ministering abilities. Hope he's having an exciting time. (You can find out more about AMTC by clicking the link above.)

It's the 4th! Bob took me to a flea market this morning to browse. Now I'm back home and he and Micah are on their way back to town with the grandgirls to watch the parade. I worked so hard yesterday that I really wanted to stay home today... so I am! :)

Here is what I purchased while "browsing" at the flea market.

Four bucks!

 

 

Another $4! (And it has a basket, Pom!)

 

 

 

Most of the puzzles at the flea market were $1. I thought this one was pretty. Haven't done a puzzle in years, but I thought we could leave it out on the dining table and do it while admiring the garden outside.

 

 



 I bought lots of little frames! Cheap!

I especially like the two frames shown below. They are both heavy metallic frames. I'm not sure if the pictures are of "real" people or advertising, but they're intriguing enough I just might hang onto them!

 

 

 

The lady who sold me the two frames below, for $1, also had many oil paintings for sale. They were painted by her husband and were really pretty good. Since I couldn't afford one of those I bought these! (She lowered the price to 50 cents but, since I was feeling magnanimous, I paid her the full $1!)

 

 

Yay! Peter Rabbit! Audrey will love it!

 

 

Sorry, for 25 cents I just couldn't pass up this ceramic spoon rest thingy!

 

 

That's it! I even had money left over!! :)

 

 



Have a great 4th!
Shalom!

Mini family reunion!

We're expecting a great get-together today. Trev and Rhonda and the four grands from Maryland are coming to spend the day. Also, Missy and great-grand, Hailey, will be coming. Of course, Micah will be bringing Audrey and Hazel. (Trev's family traveled here by van to attend [grandson] Aaron's wedding next Saturday. They're making a full-blown vacation out of it.)

There are plans in place to play with and feed horses and to go swimming  in the lake. I'm sure there will be lots of talking (I do a lot of listening) and laughter.

Micah's little Audrey tried climbing out of her crib for the first time a couple of days ago and fractured her left arm. Poor little tyke! She's adventurous like her mom. She came walking out of her bedroom saying, "My bone hurts." They weren't sure it was serious at first because she wasn't complaining and seemed to be using it, but took her in for an x-ray and it was, indeed, fractured. She got a soft cast over the weekend but today she gets the real deal. I stopped by their place yesterday and she was kind of proud of her achievement. She proclaimed, "I broke my arm!" and held it up for my inspection. Micah called this morning and said that Audrey had removed the soft cast sometime during the night so she's taking her to the doctor a little earlier than planned this morning. Hopefully she will get the hard cast right away and they can join the family reunion very soon!

I'm hoping to post some pictures later! Y'all be good and shalom!

Omigosh! Lisa's wearing...

TRI-focals!

And I LIKE them! Who knew I would? They'll take some getting used to, but it's nice to be able to see well at three different distances. (Please excuse the goofy expression. It's hard to take your own picture...)

We've been having tons of rain the last couple of days. Hope the garden doesn't get too soggy!

Micah had her first day of work today. She got a part-time job cleaning at a motel in Park Rapids. She was sad about leaving her girls with someone else but, actually, her only option is family members since they're the only people who will sit for free. With two girls it would cost her $6/hour for a sitter and she's only making $7. I've offered to babysit on my days off, but that's only one weekday per week. Hope she can make enough arrangements to cover her workdays. She also has jury duty next week. Her life is so complicated! (This job is just for the summer. She's hoping to earn enough to buy dog grooming equipment so she can work from home. Prayers appreciated!)

Bob and I just finished doing chores, so now I'm going to check up on my ATC site. Just mailed a batch off and I'm looking forward to receiving some cards soon. Just like Christmas in June!

Talk to you later! Shalom!

Still enjoying the yard...

Remember that little red flower I took a picture of in the back yard? Here is a similar picture...

They're called geum triflorum or Prairie Smoke! I like the second name best! Here's what they look like when they blossom...

Are they cool or what?!? Many, many years ago, when Bob and I had just moved here, I remember seeing a field full of these and wondering what on earth they were. How one little specimen got to my backyard I can only wonder. One of God's little gifts... I'm going to keep an eye on it so I can see it bloom in person.

Oh, Glenn, I forgot to answer a question in your email. The little red bird in my header photo is a scarlet tanager. I've only seen a couple in the 23 years we've lived here. This little guy was pretty curious about us.

Well, I'm off to water the plants on the deck. I just watered all of the raspberries and the sprinkler is working on the large garden. Bob's mowing and the yard's looking pretty good...for what used to be a pasture! :)  But it's our little slice of paradise on earth.

Thank you, Lord, for this green and peaceful place.

Shalom!