March First???

Since spring eludes us for now,

I'll share a few photos of the JEMs.

Jack and Eli spent the weekend with us, and we had lots of great boy time!

Jack loves to draw, so grandpa got him a doodle notepad...

One evening, we repeated an old tradition we used

to do with their mom and aunt, watching a movie

picnic-style, with popcorn, fruit, and veggies...

Today, Maya started a game of Hide and Seek,

and I had to giggle at her choice of hiding places,

so I grabbed the camera...

 Dear March ~ Come In

by Emily Dickinson

Dear March -- Come in --

How glad I am --

I hoped for you before --

Put down your Hat --

You must have walked --

How out of Breath you are --

Dear March, Come right up the stairs with me --

I have so much to tell --

I got your Letter, and the Birds --

The Maples never knew that you were coming -- till I called

I declare -- how Red their Faces grew --

But March, forgive me -- and

All those Hills you left for me to Hue --

There was no Purple suitable --

You took it all with you --

Who knocks? That April.

Lock the Door --

I will not be pursued --

He stayed away a Year to call

When I am occupied --

But trifles look so trivial

As soon as you have come

That Blame is just as dear as Praise

And Praise as mere as Blame --



Sing to the Lord!

(photo)

You Say ~ God Says

I am so thankful that God is who He says He is.

I came across this little chart on tumblr,

and I recalled seeing it before but didn't

have a copy of it. I hope it lifts your spirits

as it does mine, for God will always

remain the same, and in this life on earth,

that is so comforting.

Why God Made Moms

My daughter sent this to me in an email and I thought it was worth posting!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.


How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.


Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.


Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine..
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.


What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.


If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND AUNTS.... and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good laugh!!!

A Hint of Spring!

We had a lovely day today, with temperatures in the low 60s. It is a temporary respite from winter,

 and the weatherman says we'll be getting colder temps and snow soon.

 But with the mild temps today, I was able to mop floors and do this:

Open windows!

The floors dried quickly and the fresh air was

wonderful coming into the house!

All of the paw prints and dust and dirt are gone

until the next snowstorm!

Happy Valentine's Day

(photo)

A Billion Reasons Why

A Billion Reasons Why

by Kristin Billerbeck

Thomas Nelson Publisher

Katie McKenna is the main character of this chick-lit fiction book, where she must face her feelings for Dexter, whom she expects to soon be engaged to, and her feelings for Luc DeForges, her ex-boyfriend who comes back into her life after eight years.  Katie is a teacher of autistic children and she wants a life that is safe and predictable, a life she believes she can have with Dexter.  Luc has become a multi-millionaire, and when he reappears, she must search her heart to find out what God's plan is for her future; is it with the steadiness of Dexter or the love she had with Luc?

This is the first book I have read by Kristin Billerbeck, and I found it to be a light-hearted read with likeable characters. I usually like Christian fiction that has a strong message about a relationship with Christ, and that is not the case with this book, leaving me somewhat disappointed. I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars, but perhaps others will enjoy it for its romantic side.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .

An Iowa Farm Wife

On February 1, 1954, an Iowa farm wife gave birth to a daughter. She was 26 years old and already had 3 other children, 2 boys and another daughter. She had grown up in the city, so being a farm wife had its own share of challenges,and eventually she would have a 5th child, a boy, finishing their family of seven. She worked hard inside and outside, teaching her daughters how to cook and sew, serving as their 4-H leader for many years. She raised a very large vegetable garden, full of tomatoes that she canned, beans and peas that she put up, and acres of sweet corn that she froze for her large family. She also had several flower gardens that she tended and a large yard that she mowed. Their daughters helped with the housework and the sons helped their dad in the fields. As the kids got older they all learned how to have a good work ethic, helping wherever needed on the farm.

It was a very active, full life, and eventually she and her husband moved to Arizona where they were semiretired for several years and then fully retired. Her husband of over 50 years passed away, and she moved to Wisconsin to live by her oldest daughter, where she remains today.

This Iowa farm wife is my mom, and she gave birth to me 57 years ago today.  I visited with her on the phone this morning, and it is hard to hear how much more the Alzheimer's has taken from her, although she still remembers her children and likes to hear about her great grandchildren. She was having a sad day today, as winter there has been cold with lots of snow, and she doesn't get out much. But we had a nice visit, talking about what it was like to raise 5 kids on the farm, and I thanked her for giving birth to me. I don't get to see her very often, and I am so thankful that my dear sister and her husband take such good care of her.

So today I like to say "Happy Birth Day" to my mom, Doris, for giving birth to

 me and for the life she and my dad provided for me and my siblings.

Ours was a complex family relationship, as many families are, with many happy and

many difficult times together, but God saw fit to put us all together,

 and I am very thankful for that. I am also thankful for the past few years that

He has allowed grace in our relationships,so that we may have these

 years together with love, forgiveness and gratefulness for each other.

 Alzheimer's may steal memories, but it cannot rob us of family and love.