Fall is Here

I don't know what the weather is where you are, but here in the midwest Fall is definitely here.  The leaves are starting to turn those beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges.  AppleFest was a couple weekends ago and cider is starting to pop up for sale all over.

Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the cool crisp weather.  The smell of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and apples in the air.   I actually enjoy wearing sweatshirts and fall coats.  Every year my family takes a trip an hour north to a small town simply full of of apple orchards.

We pick up a supply of apples. 

 Eat apple cider doughtnuts *yummy!* 

 visit Dudley

attempt a corn/sunflower maze

and all around have a glorious time!

Right now

I'm sitting at my computer doing magazine work and watching Road to Avonlea,
I'm wearing a long skirt and a sweater. 
My chilly feet are now tucked inside fuzzy socks. 
Next to me on the desk the lamp is giving off a warm homely glow and steam is rising from a fall green tea cup perched next to an appetizing piece of shortbread. 

I love cool weather.

So, here's the deal

I have an itch. 

I've never had it before.

It's a writer's itch.  The itching in my fingers to write, to type something worthwhile and enjoyable.  Even just blogging would do the trick, the only thing is, I have nothing to write about....

I don't care what people think, homeschoolers are smart!

Every Tuesday and Thursday mornings Joe comes down to DQ and cleans the ice cream machines for me.  And he usually talks my ear off the whole time.  This morning he said, "Without Googling it, can you name all of the 7 Dwarfs?" 
I got all 7 after a hint on the last one.  Which got me thinking, why are we quizzing each other on the Seven Dwarfs?  So, I asked can you name the 13 Canadian Provicences? 
He can now :-) 
So, we started into the 50 States, 43 Presidents, he can also quote most of the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution (which half-way through turned into the Declaration :)) But he knows most of it :-) And that's just the beginning, we could have gone on for hours!

And who says homeschoolers aren't smart!

Sarah B isms

I just came home from M&D's.  Sarah B was walking around singing "Battle Axe is fallen, that great city is fallen"...  Took me a few minutes to figure out where she came up with Battle Axe...  It gave me a good laugh!


You probably have to know the two songs to entirely get it.... The song she was trying to sing was "Babylon is fallen..."  but instead of Babylon, she was inserting Battle Axe from the song Ye Are God's Battle Axe.

License Plate Fee

Wisconsin raised the price on their license plate renewal... I believe they raised it $25.  Anyway, it now costs $75. I hate money.

I love it!

 

Courtesy of http://www.mccainblogette.com

What about Katie?

This is being posted on the IDD Blog so I might as well post it here too :)

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
~Victor Hugo

Sadly, I don't know a piece of music that will aptly describe my life.  So, I will attempt to do it with words instead....


I was born, to my parents delight, not on Halloween but on November 1st, 1984.  I was born the 3rd of what would eventually be 9 children.  (Rebecca "Dr. Jak" is my oldest sister, she gave a good family overview earlier so check it for more info).  Ever since I was little I've been one of those people who throws themselves 110% in everything.  By the time I was 8, my parents were asking God what they needed to do for me.  Asking Him to show them how He needed my to funnel my intense nature.  And God spoke that they were to get me a violin.  Now, we weren't rich, so it was a big deal that I got a violin and lessons and all.   And just like any normal child, I didn't appreciate it then, I didn't want to practice, take time out of play for work.  So, my mom informed me that if I didn't start practicing and earn the privilege of lessons that I would lose the privilege.  Well, I didn't want to lose that privilege, mostly I didn't want to lose the one thing I had that my sisters didn't so I went to work and faithfully practiced.  And I have never regretted it.

The winter of 97 we moved from Colorado to Dad's hometown in Iowa. It was strange in the beginning moving to a smaller town.  Driving to the grocery story in less that 10 minutes was a novelty and I soon realized that I was a country girl at heart.  The move brought about what is one of the best things to ever happen to me music-wise.  I started taking lessons from a woman in town who really helped me develop a love for music.Since that time there were 2 things that I knew I wanted to do.  I wanted to be a violin teacher and I wanted to play in a symphony.  Be able to impart the beauty of music to others.  I tell my students that music is like a story book, and the musician is the one telling the story.  For the past 4 years I have been teaching violin lessons.  I started with one student and now have a grand total of 10.

You might remember Rebecca (my sister) mentioning that our parents own the local DQ.  Well... that has been my one and only job.  I started there the week after we bought it and here I am eight and a half years later I'm still plugging along.  I started out as an employee and am now a shift leader and cake decorator. 

I took one year of college at the local state university.  I was going for a degree in music performance. God told me to stop going full time a couple of years ago and since then I have only taken a few classes.  My work schedule and time conflicts with the classes I need to take have inhibited my from finishing my degree.  I'm hoping to some day be able to finish it over the internet or by correspondence.

Besides work and teaching, I keep my schedule full with work for a children's magazine, doing odd tech support job for my family and volunteering for more than I have time to do.

In my occasional spare time I enjoy:
Sewing
Quilting
eating chocolate
doing nothing
playing with my baby brother and sister
hanging with the rest of my family
and enjoying meaningful and hilarious conversations with my sister

And if I really have spare time!
reading
cross-stitching
history
photography

Hope I didn't bore you all too much ;-)

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Did you know?

Luke can mimic the batting stance of approx 15 major league baseball players.  He showed them all to us during the boring half of football game on Saturday.  It's quite entertaining!

Sarah Beth and Me in the Dells

Today

I am going on a mini vacation.  Dad and Mom are taking us all to the Dells with them for the Country Kitchen Convention.  Except we don't have to attend the meetings.  So, we are going on a boat, probably going to the water park, and hopefully sleeping in :) but I'm not counting on that one, especially considering Luke and Sarah will be sleeping in the adjoining room :)  Then tomorrow night Grandma and Grandpa are taking Rebecca and me to the Fireside Dinner Theater to see the Collingsworth Family.  All in all it appears to be an interesting and eventful 2 days.

I want to travel the world

Lately I've been missing Washington D.C. seeing everything new.  Learning so much about so many different aspects of life, history, science.  I want to go back.  But not just to D.C.  I want to go to Virginia and see Mount Vernon, Boston to see where the Declaration of Independence was signed.  To fly the ocean and see England, Chatsworth, Buckingham, and Big Ben from closer than an airplane window.   I want to see the Berlin wall and the Louvre in Paris.  Ireland and it's beauty.  The music houses of Viennam the Parthenon in Rome, to glide the streets of Venice in a gondola. To walk the streets of Jerusalem and see the Sydney Opera House.  I want to take a buggy across Prince Edward Island and see the beauty of Canada.  I want to see how the rest of the world lives, to see the universe God created.  Hey, I'd even go to the moon, I'd love to be gravity less!  But, since that's not exactly a possibilty I would settle for parachuting!  I suppose I shall just have to settle for a day and a half in Wisconsin Dells... maybe I can save money and take a bigger trip later.  I wonder, if I saved all my teaching money at $10 a lesson, how many lessons would I have to teach to actually make the trip worthwhile..... at least 300..... maybe I should settle down with a couple of history books....

What is economic fairness??  I'm just curious....

So, I made Steph do something for me

Take some pics of me so I could get a new profile picture.

Which do you like better?

1

2

3

 

4

No official word yet

But after a talk with a symphony member yesterday I have it on good authority that I did not get a spot in the symphony.  I'm still hoping that maybe I made the substitute list.
Yes, I am sad, no I'm not going to stop playing.  I'm a little upset in that I don't think that I was given a fair audition.  I'm going to talk to my teacher about it.  I'll never say anything to the symphony officials about it.  But, maybe that's how auditions go.... we'll see.... otherwise, I'll just keep working, there's always next year.

9/11/2001

Forget?

Never.

The moment I saw the pictures on the television is forever etched in my memory.  And with that memory is the memory of the immediate fear that gripped my soul.  Which was followed by a complete peace that can only come from God.  The world was gripped with terror, but I was not afraid.  Words like war, bombs, hijacking, had little effect on me, whatever was to come couldn't faze me, my God is real.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 

~ Philippians 4:7

New Look

What do you think??

New background

New profile picture

Yesterday I auditioned for the Dubuque Symphony.  I won't know for a few days whether or not I made it.  Waiting is VERY difficult!!  I played o.k.  they were running behind and I had to wait over an hour past my audition time to actually audition.  They stopped me before I got to the end of my solo, and the best part was coming up :(  Both of the rooms I was in were COLD! I don't play well when I'm cold. My heart was thumping very loudly.  That's all.  I'm kinda in zombi mode.....

Memories

On August 6th my Great Grandma went to be with the Lord. She was 88 years old, and the last of my Great Grandparents.  You see, I am one blessed person.  I, up until 10 years ago, had 4 sets of grandparents.  My dad's parents, my mom parents, and both sets of my mom's grandparents.  Some people never meet their grandparents let alone great grandparents.  I did.  The thing is, when I heard that my grandma had died, I was at work.  I went right back to work, hoping it would keep me from crying and my mind off my grandma.  It worked, kinda.  You see, I didn't cry, but I certainly thought about grandma a lot. In fact, I thought about all my grandparents.  Memories of them came flooding in.  The last time I say each of them.  Special moments we spent together.  I kept remembering the smile my dad's dad gave me only days before he died.

A few days later, I was at my Gr. Grandparents house, going through her things.   They lived by a river, and there was water in the basement earlier this year.  They were still working on cleaning things out and we needed to get it finished.  We laughed and cried, memories abound in that house, they lived there for 45 years.  The house abounds with memories of them.

A few Saturdays ago all the family was supposed to meet at the house, to help clean up and then divvy up possessions.  There were so many things that meant something to one or the other, or all of us. It's amazing how one of the many unique toys they collected would bring back a score a happy memories.

The funny thing about all of it, was that after the fact, it got me to thinking.  Thinking about all the material things that exist in a person's life. The things that, before they are a person's possession, they are meaningless.  But once they become an owned possession they are important.  They become priceless, and to friends and families a door to memory lane.  What things do I own that will someday be a priceless treasure to someone else?  Make the most of today, and treasure the memories of yesterday.

Did you know?

They card you when you buy bottled air?  I've decided that  I don't want to know what they do with it.

Should I get one???

So, right now

sitting in my refrigerator are 3 very delicious looking chocolate cakes!!!!

Too bad they're styrofoam, cause I would LOVE a piece of one!

Today in my life

Can you successfully blow up and tie a balloon?
Yep

What was your last purchase?
violin strings

Does anyone like you?
Sure my family and friends

Have you made anyone laugh while they were crying lately?
Yep, Sarah, it's easiest when she's fake crying.

Are you easily amused?
Definitely

Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back?
umm... back mostly, I think, I don't know, I don't watch myself, I'm sleeping!

Have you ever liked somebody and never told them?
my lips are sealed ;)

What did you do Saturday?
Today, I did a million things.  I finished the K4K comic, typed up music for the wedding,  drove to Leadmine, played in a wedding, drove to DBQ, helped make food for Stephi's bachelorette party, participated in the party,  drove home, when to Mom and Dad's, checked my email, wrote a blog post, put my laundry, went to bed.

Do you trust all of your friends?
ummm... most of them.

Morning or night person?
night person, I could be a morning person if I had to be.

Are you taller than 5'5''?
yes

Would you rather have love or money?
love

Do you have a best friend that knows you inside and out?
no

Last person you watched movies with?
Stephanie and Rebecca

Do you hide your emotions?
yes

 Do you prefer to take showers at night or in the morning?
Whenever I had time.

If you could either float on the moon, or snorkel in the ocean, which?
Both!! Probably the moon, I'm not a big water person.

Do you think you'll be married in 5 years?
I should hope so!

Third text in your inbox? from who?
no one, I don't have a text package

Have you been to New York City?
I was across the river from NYC at the Statue of Liberty.  I was in JFK airport, does that count.

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Rebecca

Do you need to say anything to anyone?
probably

What were you doing at 7am?
Sleeping!! YAY!

What do you think of your number 3 on your top friends?
I don't have Top Friends

Can you legally drink?
yes, but I don't.

When is the last time you saw your mom?
10 minutes ago

Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Whatever

Have you ever been in an ambulance?
No

Do you hold grudges?
yes, but I shouldn't

Do you sing obnoxiously in the car?
I sing in the car, but I hope it's not obnoxious.

When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
couple days ago

Are you watching TV?
No, we only get 2 channels, fuzzy and blue

In the next 10 days I will be or need to

• play in 2 weddings
• set up the music for the first wedding
• 2 rehearsals 
• teach 7 violin lessons
• set up wireless internet at Country Kitchen
• make and decorate the cake for the 2nd wedding
• finish 1 K4K article about camp
• put together the Polly Wally and Billy Bean comic for the next K4K
• work 6 days
• Bachelorette party
• find shoes to wear with my dress to the wedding
• my violin lesson
• duet rehearsal
• prepare for symphony audition
• write 2 IDD blog posts
• and a thousand other things that I can't squish into my brain at the moment
  

The Pledge of Allegiance

Red Skelton tells the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who explained the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance, word by word.

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"

~I~
me, an individual, a committee of one.

~Pledge~
dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.

~ Allegiance~
my love and my devotion.

~To the flag~
our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!

~United ~
that means that we have all come together.

~States~
individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.

~And to the republic~
a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

~For which it stands, one nation~
one nation, meaning "so blessed by God"

~Indivisible~
incapable of being divided.

~With liberty~
which is freedom; the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.

~And Justice~
the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.

~For all~
which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the
Pledge of Allegiance...

UNDER GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?

God Bless America!

We interrupt this busy life to bring you an annoucement

I'm auditioning for the Symphony!

*aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*

Prayers would be appreciated.  I have 3 weeks to prepare and the first 2 are going to be VERY busy doing this other than getting ready.  I'm also getting nervous already, and that bad.  I don't do well when I'm nervous.  It could be good in the fact that it will push me to practice more and be more efficient in my practicing, but it could also mess me up good.

So, anyway, back to your regularly scheduled busy life.

Little Friends

Sarah Beth absolutely LOVES her people! And she has lots of friends.  At camp she had quite a lot of fun playing with Josh and Elisa.  At some point she decided that Josh was younger than her and she needed to take care of him.  She's just being her normal motherly self :)  These pictures are all courtesy of Kristi.

                                 

Come to Jesus

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

What's new in my life

I actually have time to breath!!!!!!!!!

And I am sitting here uploading pictures from camp.  That's about it. 

Oh!  We have our first ripe tomato!  Grown by yours truly!!

This is me today

Sorry, not exactly interesting....

Today I am

Exhausted

Because Dave asked

and I'm obligatory, sometimes.

This is how I feel today.

Hot and Sweaty

and Thoughtful

What do you do?

When you have 13 flowergirls all dolled up and ready to go. 

And the wedding doesn't start for another 45 minutes????

Why send in the troops of course!

 

 

I'm home!!!!

Did you miss me??

Today, this is how I feel

Well, minus the hat and the army uniform.

I need some advice

I would really like a book to read that I could sink my teeth into.   I've tried several books.  But, they've all been unsuccessful.  Any ideas are welcome!

What the flag means to me.

A couple of times a week we drive 22 miles to the nearest town, to attend church.  About halfway there the highway cuts straight through a hill.  And on top of that hill, right where everyone can see it flies an American flag, Old Glory, the symbol of our nation's freedom.

It wasn't until a couple weeks ago, when the flag was suddenly gone, I realized that I loved the flag, more specifically that particular flag, flying majestically on top of that particular hill, where it reminds thousands of people every day of their freedom and the great country we live in.  I still involuntarily glance up expecting the flag to still be there.  It's not.  Instead I remind myself that I live in a great country and that the flag still waves from my heart.  I thank God for the country I live in, the foundation on which it was laid and the men and women who work and fight to keep America free.  Keep the flag flying! And may God Bless the U.S.A.

The Name of Old Glory

I 

Old Glory! say, who,

By the ships and the crew,

And the long, blended ranks of the gray and the blue,

Who gave you, Old Glory, the name that you bear

With such pride everywhere

As you cast yourself free to the rapturous air

And leap out full-length, as we're wanting you to?

Who gave you that name, with the ring of the same,

And the honor and fame so becoming to you?

Your stripes stroked in ripples of white and of red,

With your stars at their glittering best overhead

By day or by night

Their delightfulest light

Laughing down from their little square heaven of blue!

Who gave you the name of Old Glory? - say, who

Who gave you the name of Old Glory?

The old banner lifted, and altering then

In vague lisps and whispers fell silent again.

II

Old Glory,--speak out!--we are asking about

How you happened to "favor" a name, so to say,

That sounds so familiar and careless and gay

As we cheer it and shout in our wild breezy way

We-the crowd, every man of us, calling you that

We-Tom, Dick, and Harry-each swinging his hat

And hurrahing "Old Glory!" like you were our kin,

When-Lord!-we all know we're as common as sin!

And yet it just seems like you humor us all

And waft us your thanks, as we hail you and fall

Into line, with you over us, waving us on

Where our glorified, sanctified betters have gone,

And this is the reason we're wanting to know

(And we're wanting it so!

Where our own fathers went we are willing to go.)

Who gave you the name of Old Glory O-ho!

Who gave you the name of Old Glory?

The old flag unfurled with a billowy thrill

For an instant, then wistfully sighed and was still.

III

Old Glory: the story we're wanting to hear

Is what the plain facts of your christening were,

For your name--just to hear it.

Repeat it, and cheer it, 's a tang to the spirit

As salty as a tear;

And seeing you fly, and the boys marching by,

There's a shout in the throat and a blur in the eye

And an aching to live for you always-or die,

If, dying, we still keep you waving on high.

And so, by our love

For you, floating above,

And the sears of all wars and the sorrows thereof,

Who gave you the name of Old Glory, and why

Are we thrilled at the name of Old Glory?

Then the old banner leaped, like a sail in the blast,

And fluttered an audible answer at last.

IV

And it spake, with a shake of the voice, and it said:

By the driven snow-white and the living blood-red

Of my bars, and their heaven of stars overhead

By the symbol conjoined of them all, skyward cast,

As I float from the steeple, or flap at the mast,

Or droop o'er the sod where the long grasses nod,

My name is as old as the glory of God.

...So I came by the name of Old Glory.

by James Whitcomb Riley 

On this day

• 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg begins 
• 1870 - The United Stated Department of Justice formally comes into existence
• 1881 - World's first international telephone call takes place between St. Stephen, New Brunswick (Canada), and Calais, Maine.
• 1898 - The Battle of San Juan Hill (Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt) was fought in  Santiago de Cuba
• 1921 - Communist Party of China was founded
• 1931 - United Airlines begins service as Boeing Air Transport
• 1963 - Zip Codes are introduced for United States Mail.
• 1979 - Sony introduces the Walkman
• 1980 - O Canada offically becomes the national anthem of Canada

Astounded!

He can't possibly think that he's going to get away with this! 

Tonight

I'm cold.  It's raining, that straight, cold, steady rain.  I usually associate that rain with early Spring. Maybe summer is finally coming....

So, I have a question.

How can we miss things that we never had???

I made a most startling discovery...

I'm turning into an old maid. And I'm only 23 years old. Now, before you start into the whole, "don't worry you'll still get married" talk let me save you the trouble. I don't mean and old maid as in relationship wise. I was referring to attitude and the way I live my life. I realized this morning that I do the same things every day. I get up at the same time, I wear my hair the same way. I even wear the same clothes. (o.k. I have a uniform, but even after I come home from work I put on the same type of clothes that I always wear.) I eat dinner, watch a movie and go to bed. Then get up the next morning and do the same. Of course there are the ritual Tuesday night camp meetings, Thursday night Bible Study, Sunday morning meeting and the scheduled out violin lessons. I am a clothes horse. I have no social life, the only people I come in contact with, besides customers are co-workers and my family. I don't even talk on the phone to the few friends I actually do have. I'm a hermit. I live a very scheduled out, precise life. And I'm content. I mean, I decided quite a while ago that I needed to be content with the place and position God had placed me in. But I wonder... can you become overly content? Too content in the place you are and the life you lead? What about God?? Did I make myself into an old maid???

I think this is going to turn into an IDD blog post.....

What do you think??

Do I look good in Camo?? Should I join the army ;)

Interesting Fact

Remember this guy.

The legendary Frank Sinatra (sometimes known as "The Voice")

Well, I'll bet you didn't know that in 1969 he wanted to play Tevye, in the grand film remake of the Broadway hit musical Fiddler on the Roof.


Yep, Frank Sinatra instead of Topol. Just doesn't quite click, does it?

YAY!

My baby is finally home safe and sound!!! I missed her so much!

Prayer request

I talked to Mr. Reck (the guy who saved my violin :)) and he said my violin was safe and he is shipping it too me, since I can't get down to Iowa City. Anyway I asked him about his business and if he got everything out. He said no, he only had 4 1/2 hours to evacuate in. So, he took all the important stuff and that half of his business was still there. So, I would appreciate it if you could pray for him and his family and business. I cannot imagine functioning day to day knowing that my business was underwater. And I don't know for sure, but I'm praying there aren't still instruments there. It makes me sick thinking about it. Anyway, that's all.

So, I had the scare of my life!!

A few weeks ago, Mary S. dropped my violin off Iowa City/Coralville on her way to Des Monies. The violin was open and needed to be fixed, and my bow was in desperate need of rehair. It was done and ready to be picked up last Thursday. But, things have been crazy around here and we haven't had time. When I began to hear about the flooding in Cedar Rapids I got a little worried, but consoled myself with the fact that my violin was in Iowa City. Then yesterday I decided to ask Mom if she and Dad could take a detour on the way home from Champaign and pick my violin up. With all the crazy weather and flooding, I would feel better if I had it with me. Mom said "Sure, call Mr. Reck and make sue he's open tomorrow." Well.... all I got was a busy signal. Talk about starting to freak. Then Mary called, she had seen Mr. Reck's shop on the news, it was surrounded in water!
You can almost see it starting at 3:08, it's behind the green building, a few doors down from Subway.


So, I really started freaking out, in fact, I was about ready to cry! And I was at work, so there wasn't anything I could do, and I couldn't very well burst into tears at work! I resorted to, it's o.k. everything is fine, he wouldn't leave all the instruments in the shop at the mercy of the water, I trust him, everything is fine, AHH!!!!!!!!!

Then I had an idea, maybe my violin teacher had Mr. Reck's home phone number, granted, she is hard to get ahold of, but I thought, just maybe she would be home, school was out for the summer.... thankfully she was home. And she had called Reck's yesterday to check on the stuff she had down there. Everything was safe and had been moved to his house. *breathes sigh of relief* I can't imagine life without my violin, I mean, it is my life!!! So, anyway I'm breathing again :)

Tearing my heart out

So, mom got really sick at camp meeting tonight... she was miserable. We had to help her to the car and into the house. She was so weak it was scary...
Luke is very tenderhearted and worrisome. When he heard mom was sick, he got worried, and then when he saw her pale face he couldn't handle it, he ran to his room crying. I followed him. I got him to calm down quickly and I climbed in bed with him, to comfort him until he fell asleep. The poor kid, the devil's always hits me with a fear that something bad is going to happen to one of us. I had to promise him that mom was o.k. and nothing bad was going to happen, to get him to calm down.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Mom told us to go home. And well... that put Luke over the edge, he started crying and sobbing that he didn't want me to leave him. To "please stay with me Katie, I just need you!" No one else was acceptable. Debbie volunteered to climb in bed with him, until he fell asleep, but even that wasn't o.k. He wanted me to stay with him, to sleep with him so that he wouldn't be alone. I was "my favorite sister right now and I just NEED you!" It was tearing my heart out!! I knew I had to leave and that he would be o.k. But, I'm telling you, leaving a little boy, who's scared because his mom is sick, and needs the comfort of one consistent individual is heart breaking. I could feel his pain and fears... Each tear just tore me up... I told him to sleep with his teddy bear and I would sleep with mine. I would hold my teddy bear and pretend it was him, and he could pretend his was me...

When I got home, this was running through my head.

I head you in my arms last night,
Asleep in my own bed.
I felt your pain and fears,
Each tear that you had shed.

I wished that I could take,
It all upon myself.
That you could never know,
The pain the world does sow.

Amazing Grace

Last weekend, Susie and I were in Indiana for a wedding. This particular area of Indiana has a large Amish/Mennonite population. We went to a large Amish Restaurant/Gift Shop/Furniture Store/Quilt Shop/etc. It was definitely worth the stop. We were walking up the steps to the 2nd floor when I saw this hanging on the wall. It stopped me in my tracks, it might possibly be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! 46x34, carved wood, beautifully finished. If I had $640 (which happens to be a good price) I would have brought it home with me. As it happens I found on online from the maker for only $165 with free shipping. Granted this one is only 17x14. But, it's definitely more affordable *sigh* it's beautiful!! Let me put it this way, I was speechless :)

15 things to keep in mind when going through the Drive-Thru

1. You don't need to specify that your order is 'To-Go'. We don't usually hand food out the window on a tray.
   
   
2. Just because I work at a fast-food restaurant doesn't mean I am stupid.
   
   
3. Don't shout it distorts your voice.
   
   
4. We don't repeat your order to hear ourselves talk, we honestly want to make sure we have it correct. Please listen, if you pull up to the window and complain when your food is wrong, it's not our fault, you're the one who didn't correct the mistake when we repeated the order.
   
   
5. Please order by size, it helps a LOT!!
   
   
6. Hollering "hello" the second you pull up to the menu board is just plain rude.
   
   
7. Please roll your window down. I can't hear through glass.
   
   
8. Driving through DT in reverse because the driver is too lazy to order is just plain confusing.
   
   
9. Please have the person sitting in the drivers seat order, it's very difficult to hear anyone else.
   
   
10. Please don't talk on your cell phone, I can't see you and it's hard to know if you are talking to me or not.
    
    
11. Please don't let all your frustration out on the DT person, chances are you're not the only one who's having a bad day. Some days every other person through the DT is having a bad day and they let it all out on the DT person. It gets really discouraging! Especially when you are doing your job right.
    
    
12. If you order a Medium Pepsi. That means you want a Pepsi to drink. It doesn't mean Root Beer or Mountain Dew, or any other beverage.
    
    
13. I am not a computer therefore I do not function like one. I promise.
    
    
14. Please don't pull ahead while I am still talking to you. You wouldn't walk away if we were talking face to face, would you?
    
    
15. Just FYI, I'm not fluent in Daffy Duck Language.
    

Memorial Day and what it means to me

August 2nd, 2007, I walked through the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, walked up the hill and stood under a tree to watch the changing on the guard at The Tomb of the Unknowns I've wanted to watch go to Arlington for years. I've wanted to see the men who are given the great honor of guarding the tomb, their dedication and precision.

299 days later and 878 miles away I stood at work watching President Bush lay a wreath at the tomb. I've watched the President lay the wreath many, many times, but this time it was different. I had seen what President Bush saw. I felt the feeling that you get when you are at Arlington. I watched him walk up the steps to the Amphitheater to get an address. Then same steps I have stood on, and walked up only months earlier. And even more than ever I had an appreciation for the men and women who fight/fought/and gave their lives for our country.

I'm really not fond of this song, but I wanted to stand up and sing. "I'm proud to be an American for at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died and gave that right to me..."

I'M BACK TO HYJACKING BLOGS!!!

Katie came to pick me up and take me shopping with her, but I was still eating breakfast. So, she sat down to update her blog but I asked for more yogurt so she got up to get me more, and I took over the keyboard!!!!!

Now, if you will all excuse me Katie's coming back.

Oh, and just in case you didn't know, Katie's my favorite :)

I'm a physical mess!

So... here's the deal. Mother's day I almost fell out of a tree and slightly twisted my ankle. It was sore for 2 maybe 3 days.

Monday I woke up with a terrible pain in the middle of my upper back. Kinda like a pinched nerve. Mom has done the vibrator massager thing on my back twice it's a little better. But because of it, my back is tender sometimes I'm in pain and get weak so I can't lift much of anything.

I realized last night that my left arm has been falling asleep almost every night when I am relaxing at home. I'm assuming it has something to do with my back.

I woke up at 6:45 this morning because the muscle in the back of my lower left leg cramped up. I couldn't move. Steph got me the heating pad and I applied heat for about 2 hours. It's still really tight. I took calcium tablets this morning and have been eating almonds all day. I'm going to put more heat on before I go to bed. Hopefully the cramping will go away soon.

So, yeah... I think that's it. I'm going to the Chiropractor at 8:15 Saturday morning. We are hoping that will solve the back and arm problem. As for my leg, well I think I need to slow down, drink more milk and eat consistent full meals........

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My good morning greeting!

Yes they are dark purple!


And we have 2 bushes of them!!!

And then, well... I was experimenting with a camera trick I had heard about.. It actually (almost) worked!

The Baby Touch

You know how people say that you can see a woman's touch around the house. Well, I noticed this morning that our house has a bit of a baby touch right now :) Sarah B, came to visit us twice this week. And this morning there were still reminders of her presence around.

Diapers and a single sock

A doll, not in her usual place.

Tagged

Rebecca tagged me!

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2.Post it on your blog, and include a visual illustration if you so desire.
3.Link to the person who tagged you in their post.
4.Tag five more blogs with links.
5.Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs inviting them to play.

My six word memoir:

I am going to bed now. ;)I tag no one :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers, grandmas, and great-grandmas that I know!

Grandma and Me - Fall 2005

Ready? 1, 2,3!

Happy Birthday Miss Kristi!!

We love you!!

Held In His Arms

It’s almost midnight, and I am wide awake. I climbed into bed over an hour ago, to do a little reading and then go to sleep. Tomorrow is Sunday, so it’s up and at-‘em right away so we can be at church on time. But instead I lay in bed staring up at the darkened ceiling with no sign of slumber on the horizon. Why? I don’t know. I know I should be asleep, yet what keeps me awake? I start going through things in my head: am I worried about something? No. Am I unhappy? No. Stressed? Preoccupied? Lonely maybe; like so many nights of recent? No, it’s not even that. Then suddenly, in the stillness there is a knowing. Nothing changed, no voice from above, no crash of lightning, in fact everything is very quiet. But yet I know what. God is just wanting to talk to me. To be with me, commune with me and me with Him. That’s what it is. It’s that thing we call having a relationship with God. It’s like with your friends, you know when they need you, when they just want to talk, or share, or just be with you. It was like that, I knew that God just wanted to talk, to tell me that He loved me and that I am His child. That He is with me. So, I turned over and just said “Yes Lord.” That’s all He needed, an open heart, a willing vessel. I love that feeling, the one you get when you can feel God working inside of you. Cleaning out rooms of your soul that you have allowed to be dirtied by the world, but it doesn’t hurt, in fact, it feels wonderful, like stepping out of the shower after being covered in mud. That wonderful feeling of oneness with God, that compares to nothing else. Everything else dims in comparison. Do I still feel lonely? Sure, part of me does, the part that God created to be and want love. But, I don’t care. At this moment in time I am so full of the love of God for me that I don’t care! God loves me and cares about me and wants only what is perfect for me. He is holding me in his arms with His cheek next to mine saying “My child, I love you, and I am here to hold you, to listen to you, and to perform the very best for you. So be at peace my child, trust me, place your hand in mine and I will lead you and guide you forever.” My eyes are getting heavy so it’s off to bed again. But this time I have a smile on my face and the love of God overflowing in my heart.

Remembering

Last night I was laying in bed, thinking about this documentary I had seen on Isaac Stern. In the film, he talked about the Jewish Holocaust Museum he had visited in Berlin. I believe he said that it was completely silent there. By request or by the thought of what the museum stands for I don't know. But it's really quite interesting.

When I came home from teaching today, I found out that it's National Holocaust Remembrance Day. It's also the National Day of Prayer. So, pray, for our country, for our fellow people. And remember, those who went on before, what they suffered, and what we now have because of them.

Remember