JOY

JaciAnna came to her grandmas house to see her new cousin, baby NolaJean! While she had some down time she took out her "nail kit" and did her greatest grandma Doris's fingernails. She brushed each nail with polish and a little sprinkle of joy. The love that came through her hands was beautiful.
... so, we try to capture the moment in a few words and on a picture - and if I could take this moment and box it up for the future I would.
...... and I would slowly unwrap it one day when I am feeling lonely or sad and suddenly I know I would be filled with a sprinkle of JOY! Thank-you Jesus for
Ms. JaciAnna Harren and nail kits!

shark teeth

Today grams and I got to stop in Foley on the way home from our womens week-end in Duluth. We only got to be there for a couple of hours -
.... oh what you can learn in two hours at the Harrens!
Conner Dallas went to his first dentist appointment. When the dental technician looked at his teeth she was sure she could tell that he sucked his thumb?! Well, Dah - he is a beautiful natured little boy... aren't all thumb suckers?
.....Well, Ms. Technician asked if Conner can open his mouth so she can see all of his baby teeth...
Conner very assuredly tells her:
"These are not baby teeth, they are shark teeth."
What can a grandma say other than if your going to mess with the big boys... make sure they don't have sharks teeth!!!

blueberry curtains

Well, I did it! I turned 50! I can hardly believe it myself and it is strange to think that I really don't feel much different then when I turned 30. How does it happen that I am going to school, graduating and then my 3 girls are all of a sudden graduating from college with masters degrees, getting married, having kids... and my mom - my best friend... is getting a stint in her heart, having her cataracts taken off and yet still baking the best meals in town? If I could BLOG every single minuete of my life I would. I have enjoyed it all now looking back over it.....
.... some things were quite painful and I know there is no way I am doing it again and yet at 50 I have come to realize that God has used those painful things to grow me and to put me in the place where I am now.
....and I love this place
....the walls are made of honey with blueberry curtains - and my life is an open book that I hope others can learn from.
I pray I am growing older in away that when the younger people look at me they will not be afraid of being 50!
I pray that when the younger generation thinks of me they will know that they have been prayed for and that they are loved not only by me but a Holy God!
...and as I go on with my life and head in to the next chapter - I hope things don't have to change to much - but, I know that He goes with me and before me!
Also, as I eat blueberries and look out the window - I know I wouldn't trade one day if I had to be in a different place than I am right now! And I know how fast the chapters go in a great book - so I am going to put on my bifocals, my feet up on the recliner and give the Lord thanks for 50 years of life.

Giraffes in Foley

Emily and her family live in Foley, Mn. Their home is butted up against a state park. Behind their house is 3 acres of woods, plox,prairie grass, weeds, a small winding creek, and of course sitings of wild animals.

.....As he plays outside in the very large yard that has play cars, a swing set, a trampoline, 14 balls of various sizes and shapes, a hammock, and of course the sound of wild animals. After a hard day of serious plays he comes in the house for his 3rd bath and a change into some nice clean pajamas. Is this the same little boy that came in from the land of dirt and play? He looks so clean and sweet. He nestles against his mother and begins to tell her of the stories that he has been dreaming about in his play... when he is outside he can hear the animals talking in the forest... they are giraffes...
he can not understand what they are saying because they are talking in giraffe.

...and so his momma tucks him into his bed and wishes that she could tell him in giraffe that she loves him so very much
...but mommas don't know the language either
...... she will just be satisfied just to listen to his wonderful stories and to hold his clean little body next to hers -
...as when he wakes up he will want to go out to the land of dirt and play again and listen to the giraffes.

Painted Turtles

If you had the time what would you do? Take the time each day to sit with the Lord and give thanks for all of your Blessings. Are you having a hard time, wondering what your blessings today were? First you got up and found out the toothpaste was gone so you stumbled into the kitchen to find out your husband used the last of the milk - so you grab an apple and it slips out of your hand onto the sticky floor, bruising most of the good parts... okay, start on your way to work, you hit a painted turtle with your car (you have been trying to find one for 3 years for the grand kids to see) and as you are feeling bad about that you all of a sudden notice that there is cat prints all over your car window and you drop the full water bottle onto the floor as you reach to kill the mosquito that just bit you... okay, how about your day at work, a coworker is crabby and one of the clients rolls over your foot with her wheelchair not bothering to say she is sorry as she is busy looking for the "other" staff that helped her yesterday and then you are looking at your mangled foot and you trip on the piece of carpet that has an ever so small hole in it and you look around to make sure no one saw it and notice that your bra strap is showing and probably has been most of the day so you go to the bathroom to fix it and the door is locked and suddenly you have to pee like you never have before and the nearest bathroom is at the opposite end of the building and before you know it the day is over and you are on your way home and you see that the painted turtle is still there and you start feeling guilty all over again and notice that the pelicans that have been there all week are still there...
... you slow down to really look at them and how beautiful they are
... you get home and take off your shoes and it feels so good to have your bare feet against the cold floor
... you get to go to the lake to see your grand kids, you have so much you need to do first...
... your husband has supper ready and you tell him about the turtle
... and he tells you that he loves you and touches your tears rolling down your cheeks
... and you realize right then that everything that happened to you today was good if you want it to be
... and there really isn't anything you have to do before you go to see your grand kids...
... and so you take a deep breath and give thanks for your blessings
... and you keep looking for a painted turtles!

hospitals, cell phones, little boys and the zoo

On June 25th 2010 - Nola Jean was getting ready to come into the world. For such an occasion all her aunties would be there at the hospital. It was a Stormie night outside and Emily was driving at night with JaciAnna and Conner. Emily was rounding the bend to Glencoe Regional Health Services and Lindsey called her on the cell phone to tell her that she would meet her in the emergency room and bring them to the lounge to await the birth. Emily gave Conner the phone as she was driving. Auntie Lindsey said to Conner in a very slow precise voice:
"Tell your mom that I will meet you guys in the emergency room."
Emily said to Conner "What did Auntie Lindsey say?"
Conner said to his mother in a very slow precise voice:
"Tell your mom to take you to the zoo!!!"