The Love Dare

We just finished a series of sermons on marriage. Who can't use a little help there?

Marriage is like the spiritual journey....you continuously work at growing to maturity,

but it ain't over til it's all over. This book is linked to the movie "Fireproof". I am

still waiting for Netflix to send it. This book is a 40 day, usually fun, journey of learning and doing to grow your marriage. Love is a verb, ya know!

Sunday Music

I was filled up with great music on Sunday. The worship music at the morning service made me feel that I was looking into Heaven. That evening we went to hear the Coulee Region Gospel Choir. They did a music program based on the "Experiencing God" study. Since I just finished that study, it was fun to hear. The head in the forefront belongs to Matt's Grandma. Afterwards we had a bite(or more) to eat with Matt's parents and Grandma.

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!

Yesterday Tessa brought me a new camera! Mine was 4 years old and the shutter wouldn't open on its own. She loaned me her camera like this when we went to Florida and I loved it. Fits in the pocket nicely and takes great pictures. How sweet of them to thrill me like this!

Nursery is open

We were discussing whether or not we should raise calves again this year.....this morning twin calves arrived from the farm where Tessa milks. Since she breeds the cows there too, she probably had a hand(and arm) in bringing them into existance. So I guess we're going to do calves again. The only thing I don't like is how tied down we are because they have to eat twice a day. The income may come in handy as I see our government tanking our economic system.

Shmu's 19

We celebrated Tanner's birthday a week late. It's always good to just hang out with family....and eat. Birthdays are always done at Grandma's. The kids want to do them there and then Jane gets to be a part of it all. We just swoop in, party, clean up, and swoop out.
That's hair on his chinny chin chin. Looks a little Amish, but what do I know. His girlfriend Penny is delightful and has hair the color of a penny.

Shopping

On Monday I was fabric shopping for the baby quilt and found a few extras. Some apron fabrics and cookie cutters. The tulip and shoe are large--enough cookie to make one sick. The green fabric with old fashioned kids playing was on the clearance table. It would make a cute little girl's dress. I'm going to have to find a little girl to sew for!





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Baby quilt

I made a baby quilt this week for Jesse to give to her friend. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. Above the sheep was a satin piece with the baby's name on it. It was fun to make.

Grandma Jane

John's mom has been such a great grandma to my kids! And she's been a great mother-in-law! The last few months have been kind of rough for her. She's had swelling in her legs and was falling down(or tipping over). She had a 2 week stay at an assisted living place in LaCrosse while we went to Florida. Tessa took great care of her while we were away. She and Matt spoiled her. Matt even tucked her in one night and read her a bedtime story ;) Since coming home, she seems to be doing much better at getting around and hasn't tipped over for quite awhile. We love her!

Pressed flowers

These lovely flowers were laying in a parking lot in Florida and I thot, "A new take on pressed flowers." When Tessa and her twin cousins were younger, they made flower pressers out of wood, screws, and layers of cardboard. It was a craft project I have fond memories of. I hope I'm still into craft projects when I have grandchildren.

Back to Reality

I felt back to real life today. We went to church which was uplifting and revitalizing again! Then we went and picked up John's mom from the assisted living place she was dwelling in for the last 2 weeks. She got to go home, which she was very happy about. Now we will wait and see how she does.
It is a beautiful day! I was so tempted to wear my flip flops to church today. It was horrid putting my feet back in shoes after 2 weeks of bare feet.
Yesterday was my last born child's birthday. He is 19. I spent the day remembering. We called him Shmu from early on because he was a big baby--born at 10 lbs. He was such a happy little guy and had the biggest smile. He was always crawling up in my lap and wrapping his chubby little arms around my neck. Then his siblings started teasing him about it so he stopped. From about the age of about 12 on, anytime I would ask him what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas, he would say, "A job". Tessa and Tyler were milking cows and he wanted to work too. Finally at 15 or 16 he got to milk cows at the same place. And the boy has been hard working ever since. He now does construction work with his brother, Tyler.
Life goes on..... Boy, the ocean was nice!!!!

Wednesday

We are staying near Tuscaloosa with relatives of Tim's.
They gave us a nice tour of the town. This is the Bryant/Denny Stadium.
Since I don't know much about football........

Tim knows football and here he is with Bear Bryant.

I held his hand.

Had real gumbo for lunch at a nice place on the river.
Tom and Lolly are on the left. They have real southern
accents and are delightful. We also toured an old house.





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More atrocious bathrooms

These amazing features were all in one bathroom at a gas station.
I am yearning for Kwik Trips! This was an interesting toilet paper
holder.

And some fancy mosiac work for when you can't
figure out how to cut a hole in tile for the drain.

Cracked seat and I didn't do it.

And just in case you wanted to hang out a while after your
business was concluded......this chair

Tuesday

Practically on every corner we saw little Waffle Houses.
Curiosity finally got the best of Becky and I so we had
had lunch there, Tim had lunch at McDonalds next door,
and frugal John ate leftover Chinese in the van.

We went to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.

I made Becky do all the goofy photo shots since she
has no shame.

This is the home of the Blue Angels. John pretending

Monday

Sister feet

Our last ocean sunset. Becky holding up the sun.

Waiting for the sunset

We have seen some pretty disgusting bathrooms in Florida.

I've taken to photographing disgusting bathrooms.

Repeat. Somebody needs to lose weight!

Monday

After sleeping in Apalachicola, we went to Eden Gardens State Park
And toured this big old house and gardens. This tree is 6oo yrs. old.

The house. OLD furniture which seemed to be the theme of the

tour. I would rather hear about the people who lived there.

Yesterday we found another fine beach on our drive

and spent a couple hours.

Friday

This morning there was a farmers market 1/2 block from our motel. We got radishes, tomatoes, peppers, rye bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, bars, and strawberries. So breakfast on the deck was rolls and strawberries and coffee. The temperature was perfect.












We stopped to see Venice Beach and had a picnic there. Beautiful beach and it was so quiet even tho there were lots of people there. We may do our beach time there tomorrow.














We are staying 2 nights in Osprey. Becky and I had a few games of Upwords by the pool. We've been playing for many years and keep a running score. She is at minus 71 at this time :)

Our Boys!

Yesterday while Becky and I sat right down by the water, we
looked back and there were our boys fully clothed with their
hats over their faces.