Skully!

Along with the dress shopping girls week-end... came the "guys" fish fry at our house... ...First, we all got to go out to a farm and see Chris Lillenthals "Exotic Animals" after the dress shopping. He had Emu's, llamas (llama llama red pajamas!), kangaroo's, wallaby's and different kinds of birds. I was very thank-ful to Chris for sharing his knowledge and love for these animals with us all!
...Second, Mr. Tim Berger brought Skully over for a little visit. Skully is Tim's parrot, his friend! All the girls were skirmish not quite wanting Skully to be to close, they wanted Tim to just hold him so they could look. And then came Conner D...
...He would be brave and let Skully set on his shoulder! It lasted for about 5 seconds so thank-goodness someone had the camera ready! There was lots of laughter as he let the bird on his shoulder and then suddenly needed his mother!
...Third, came the frying of the fish! Curt was the main fryer and WOW! was it ever good! Curt, myself, mom, Jeff,Ann, Emily, Chris, JaciAnna, Conner D, Lindsey, Lacey, Krzysztof, NolaJean, Robin, Al, Brittany, Dylan, Miranda (Carol and Du were at a wedding, Jeremy was hunting) and Tim came to help us eat up all of Curts great fall fishing! We had lettuce salad, potato salad, raspberry brownies, banana bars, fresh bakery buns, beans, and did I mention FISH?
...First, I give thanks to our God for all of His many Blessings! For being with friends and family and enjoying the Love between us all.
...Second, I give thanks for people like Tim B., and Chris L., for sharing their animals with those of us that love them, but not for very long periods of time!
...Third, I give thanks for little boys willing to try something new even when all of those around him are afraid...
......and for momma's ready to be there when the braveness turns to fear. And that momma holds you until everything is well with your soul!
Thank You Jesus for this wonderful week-end!

Angels Dancing

My whole family came home on October 23rd for a day of dress shopping. Lindsey is getting married in April. Emily, JaciAnna, Lacey and Anna are in the wedding. Everyone gathered in the car and went to NewUlm to the store "Sisters" (which I thought was quite fitting). We were treated like Royalty and everyone found a dress they liked! JaciAnna was a wonderfully behaved flower girl who chose not to try on anything. It was jokingly asked if they had a white jogging suite she could wear! What a fun time everyone had! All dresses ordered and down payments made by 11:00! - We loaded up the girls and drove to the Dairy Queen in Winthrop and had a bite to eat together... all of us were laughing and reminiscing. These moments come so far and few between that you must grab a hold of them and remember the details. I remember...
girls, laughing and talking
dresses, beautiful dresses for a wonderful day!
JaciAnna, my first born grandchild - perfectly content being with all of us girls.
polite workers at "Sisters" and the "Dairy Queen"...
and most of all... LOVE. There was so much love in the air that I could feel the Angels Dancing!

A circle of love.

My favorite Aunt on my mothers side is by far Shirley. My wonderful mom has one sister and her name is Shirley! I have many fond memories through the years of the "ranch" in Willow Lake South Dakota. It is where my mom and Shirley were born and raised. My mom ventured off to Sioux falls, SD to work and Shirley stayed on and married her high school sweetheart. They made their home on a peaceful little acreage right outside the Willow Lake (population 321 - before mom left) city limits. I remember them having horses and always some kind of animals outside and fore sure a dog in the house! The house being full of hospitality and love.
...My Aunt cared for my grandma allowing her 9 more years to live independently in an apartment - even though eye disease had taken almost all of grams site. Shirley was a big part of grams life... taking her meals, setting up house cleaning, taking her to buy groceries, to church, to Minnesota, and assisting her in daily living. It was as if Shirley and Grams came full circle, Shirley being able to help grams as grams had helped her. Grams just moved into a nursing home in Bryant in 2008. She is doing well there also but I am thank-ful she had all those years on her own.... ....As of lately anytime you venture to the Ranch you will usually find Shirley nursing some stray cat and her kittens. On September 26th, 2010 we went to Willow Lake to celebrate my gram-mas 97th birthday... Shirley was again busy with a new litter of kitties that they found under a shed... their momma had left them and they were cold and hungry. Every day she takes a dropper and some kitten milk (that she get from the veterinary clinic) and goes out and sits with the kitties feeding each one by hand. She also lovingly built them an incubator so they would be warm and feel at home when she wasn't there. Before she backs out the car the kittens are safe....
....I wonder if that momma kitty knew that Shirley would find her kitties and take care of them? Knew that she would get them food, find them a warm home, and help them to grow? Until they were able to come full circle and have a life of their own.
It seems my Aunt Shirley's life has a common thread....
....helping people (and animals) close the ends of their circle!