Psalm 63

God - you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath;
MY ARMS WAVE LIKE BANNERS OF PRAISE TO YOU!!

Big and Strong!

I wanted to write this blog tonight so you could all see a picture of our Conner D when he was young... before he went off to Malaska to search for polar bears. As you can see by his position here - he has always been quite a content little fellow. He was a thumb sucker from the get go. I imagine that when you get big and you have that 1/2 birthday at your preschool class, you magically grow up. You see, our Conner D turned 4 on his 1/2 birthday(instead of 3 1/2) and he is stating his facts when he says he will be 5 on June 21st. He doesn't really care what year he was born, his main goal is to grow up and be strong... to be older and bigger than his sister JaciAnna and his cousin Paige. I am not sure how he will accomplish this, but I do know a young lad that can leave his home and head to Malaska - look for a wife, have a few kids and then bring polar bears back to Minnesota...
well, he must be 4!!
And I noticed he doesn't suck his thumb anymore!!

Be still and know that I am God

Lord, is that you?
Can you see me down here?
Thank-you for the snow... but I am having trouble finding my way...
I feel like the path that was there has been covered
Will You help me?
Could you just walk through the snow in front of me so that I could
Walk in Your ways?
I feel Your sunshine warming my skin...
And I thank-you sweet Jesus
For this moment of peace in the wilderness.

JOY

When Lacey took this picture of my NolaJean, I thought it was a familiar smile. Then I remembered my JaciAnna having a picture that was real similar. So I dug around and I found it.
...and as I am looking
I can see that they each have the same kind of smile...
and their hats are bending their ears...
and I have the same kind of smile I always have when I see them -
a big ole gramma smile, a smile overflowing with joy.
Jesus,
Can I tell you about today?
Can I tell you that there is just nothing better than the family and friends that I have? Will you listen when I tell you how wonderful each one is? Will you hold each one of them tight through the night and give them a kiss in the morning when I can't be there? Protect them and give them peace, the peace that passes all understanding - be real to each one of them so that they would know that they are never alone... You are there with them...
and so am I...
loving them through my prayers to You.
and I know You understand - that sometimes when I think of them
I can barely contain my JOY! -
and when I think about You,how you picked me up, turned me around and set my feet on solid ground...
It makes me want to SHOUT!

Butterfly kisses

And soon another one will go down the Isle. Can you hardly believe it Curt? How about you grams? It was just eight years ago that Emily walked down the Isle to meet Chris Harren. Walking to the song Butterfly kisses. And now on April 16th 2011 our Linsey Kay will marry Josh Johnson, and she will walk down the Isle to meet her husband. Walking to Butterfly kisses...
seems like just yesterday she was "spitting" on the side walk -
oh that's right - she was just spitting yesterday!
(see blog "dirty stories")
BUTTERFLY KISSES

There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and
I thank God for all the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
In all that I've done wrong I know I must
have done something right to deserve a hug
every morning and butterfly kisses at night.

Sweet 16 today
She's looking like her momma a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.

But I remember
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer: sticking
little whit flowers all up in her hair.
"You know how much I love you, Daddy, But if you
don't mind I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."
With all that I've done wrong I must have done
something right to deserve her love every morning
and butterfly kisses at night.

All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly.
Spread your wings and fly.

She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.
STanding in the bride-room just staring at her.
She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not
sure - I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."

She leaned over...gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk me down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry!"

Oh with all that I've done wrong I must have
done something right.
To deserve your love every morning and butterfly
kisses-I coldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is.

I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses.

I pray that this day will be as wonderful as we have all imagined.
That the Lord will prepare you for your life together and that He will always
Bless and keep you. That your wedding day will be the beginning of a wonderful
life together with Christ as the head of your household.
I pray that He will be with your dad and I
As we let yet another one go...
To start a life of your own...
When you fall - know that we will always be here - praying for you both and loving you so very much and that when you get back up again you will be a stronger person - stronger couple.
But no matter what you will always be
Our little girl
This is what love is!!!

Luna

I have an obsession with "Bear in the Big Blue House". I have now shared this problem with Carol, and she is busy using her skills on the internet to order us (and our grand-kids) up new videos. She got a great deal recently... five Bear videos for $14.99! WOW!! There is something about this bear...
he has a gentle voice and yet he is big...
he has big feet and yet he can dance!!!
When he first comes on the screen you see his big nose and he is sniffing... he says "Hey everyone... (sniff, sniff, sniff), is that you?"
He right away starts things out with something good, letting you know that you are going to have a good time, dancing with shadow, and learning how to clean with tuttle, and how to go potty. Hey, everyone goes potty, there's no-pressure, when-you're ready... everybody does it! It is all a part of the adventure of growing up!
And after you spend some time learning, and having fun...
It is time to end your day together - bear shuts off the lights in the Big Blue House and goes out onto the porch to meet with Luna...
"Is that you Luna"
"Well hello Big Bear, did you have fun in the Big Blue House today?"
and then Bear goes over the day with Luna
and they sing together the "Good Bye" song...
as Luna
dances and smiles in the sky.
Good night Big Bear
Good night Luna!
See you again when Carol gets her $14.99 plus shipping internet order!

Heaven, another moment

Today she died. I came to work at 8:00 am to see the Hurst outside of LTC. They came to pick up her body and move it to the final resting place. Her name tag was taken off the wall, her pictures removed and all of her belongings packed up and moved out by 10:30 am. Her files with her weight, height, meds she took, health problems she had... all wrapped up in a neat little binder - marked with a red sticker that says deceased. If you were to come in here and not know... you would have no idea that she was just alive. She was just smiling, ringing her green bell, walking the halls for exercise, visiting with family, playing bingo, listening to the 4:00 devotion. Working in the Loving Tender Care facility, it is hard for me to see the cemetery as your final resting place. I don't believe it for a minuet. I have come to see death as the beginning for God's people. The beginning of what they were preparing for here on earth. Each life is so important, so fragile here. The way your blood pumps through your system, causing your heart to beat, your organs to function. And then something happens, you slow down, you get tired, you come to stay at LTC. They say that when you come to a nursing home, you pretty much know it is your final home here on earth. Not to many of the people get to go back to their homes, back to the life they had before things started slowing down.
If I had my way... I would make this phase in life the most important! Kind of like the LAST HARRAH!(Which is the name of the nursing home that Carol and I are planning on starting some day) Leave them laughing, full of joy...
so that when the mortician comes to pick me up I have a smile on my face.
And,
instead of people thinking this is their final home... they think of LTC as their resting place. The place to stop off and get your things in order before you head off to your new life. The place where you can still make a difference. Those that care for you need to know what you know...
I don't want to forget
before they pack up all my stuff in a box...
I want to let everyone
know just what this life here has meant to me! If they don't know what I know... I want to pass it on
tell them
hold them
love them
so that when it is their turn to come to rest - they will know what to do.
I want everyone to know that their life is so much more important than that box of stuff that follows them...so much more important than the ink on the paper. If it would have been just you, or just me on that day in Calvary... He would have done the same thing.
He would have reached out His arms as far as the east is from the west...
and He would tell you...
"I love you so much, that I died for you, so that you may have life eternal... I have conquered death, I have overcome the grave... you are mine...
WELCOME... to the place I have prepared for you!
I know your there Maggie...
I hear bells ringing!
"Well done my good and faithful servant"

(Names and places have been changed, these stories are true only in my mind)

White Elephant Gifts

I just can't help myself about these white elephant gifts from our crazy foot wear party! So I am thinking maybe if I write it up it will help me to get over it and to quit laughing! When you wake up at 2:00am, your headed to the bathroom to pee, and you start laughing... you know that maybe you are enjoying your self to much?

It just made me so happy the effort that all the "young yellow boots" put into the party this year. They all brought their own gifts, crazy foot wear and orderve! I think they had more fun planning out the stuff than the yellow boots do, now this is what I call passing on traditions!

We had everything being passed around that day, from left to right, right to left and back again! There was nice things, fun things, non-practical things and CRAZY things! The one that has kept me in stitches the most was the box of candy that Du ended up with. So, he goes to open his gift and here is this pretty box of chocolates. It was the day before Valentines, say, that was a good idea!
THEN
he goes to open the box, maybe pass us all a piece of chocolate...
and inside the box
is a bunch of half eaten chocolates, some pieces totally gone...
and a picture of Miranda and Jeremy with chocolate all over their faces...
WELL
who would have thought of this?
No getting around it it was just plain ole' funny!
Even a week later...
at 2:00 am in the morning!
Thank you to everyone for all the fun!!

Daddy's girls

I always used to tease Curt about having a son. All of the dogs we had were male! We started out with Banjo, then Tippy and Molly who were short lived, we got Ebony from grandpa Moose when the girls were all small... and then came the one with the most male testosterone... MOCHA. But, deep in my heart I always knew how happy he was with all his girls. He loved each of them the same only in a different way! I pray that when we are gone from this place that Daddy's girls will always know how much he loved them and how much they completed who he was. On April 16th he will be giving his second baby "away". Giving her to marriage and letting go of that bond... but as he lets each one go...
something even stronger seems to happen...
as they grow up and realize they will always be daddy's little girls!

Nola Jean gets her "wig on"

Tonight I write this blog in honor of babies. They are usually born with this beautiful set of hair and then through the first month or so of their life it all falls out... this way the world can see what a beautiful shaped head they have. Emily Jo was born with a mound full of black curly hair. She did not loose much of her hair and the curls stayed... until she was about 3 and I had to cut her hair as it was getting in the way of potty training! The curls were gone... I put them in her baby book. Now she has beautiful, thick, straight, brown hair (at least I think it is brown - she dyes it in blond shades). Emi's little JaciAnna was born with a beautiful set of black hair, which soon gave way to what she described as "male pattern baldness". She never lost all of her hair though, and it grew long and beautiful. She had trouble with snarling though and not wanting it brushed so she went to short hair at approximately 5 years old. It is very cute and stylin'! Conner was born with lots of black hair also, which rather than loosing most of his it just seemed to turn blonde. Now, Ms. Jordyn Noel has come into the picture and she had more black hair than I have seen sense our girls were born! Her momma informed me that she is getting the same "male pattern baldness that JaciAnna had"!

When Lindsey Kay was born, the baby doctor came in to my room and he said "I will tell you one thing - that baby has a great head of hair!" She had lots and lots of black thick hair and it stuck up all over the place! She lost some of her hair but not all of it. When she was about in 1st grade - we had to cut her hair. She wouldn't let me comb it and would have such a fit when I went to put pony tails in, her scalp was so tender. I had always said my girls would have long hair until they were 13 and then they could decide if they wanted to cut it. Lindsey changed all of that... we went and got her a hair cut! Best thing I ever did! She now has long straight, brown hair. I am not sure her natural color anymore as she has dyed it for along time. She says she has a gray spot on the right side.

When Lacey Lynn was born, she had a bunch of reddish blond hair. She did loose most of her hair and it came in when she was about 8 months old. She had long hair until she decided to have short hair in 7th grade. When she went through puberty and let her hair grow back out again it came in curly. She now has a auburn colored hair with just the perfect amount of curl. She dyed her hair black one time when she was younger and sense then I think she has left her hair its natural color. The curls come from her dad. The longer Curt's hair gets, the more you see his curls.
Well, now that I have explained that all (Whew!) I will tell you about our NolaJean. She had dark hair when she was born... then Lacey told me she was getting "male pattern baldness" - I laughed as I had never heard it explained like this until my girls had their girls! She did loose most of her hair and under it was this perfectly shaped head with these perfect little ears. From the back I think she looks exactly like her daddy. She is 7 months now and it is coming in real nice and it looks as though it will be a light brown. It will be interesting to see... I know Lacey said to me "it is hard to imagine what she will look like with hair!". For Harvest Fest Lacey dressed up as a ventriloquist and Nola Jean as the ventriloquist doll. I found a wig for Nola at a place in Mankato and we sewed it on to one of Conner's hats. Then for Christmas she also got two hats that fit her perfect little head just right.
I wonder what Nola Jean will look like when all her hair starts to fill in? For now we will just look at these pictures and dream.

The best friend

Chris is a fireman in Foley. Whenever Jeff goes to Foley or hears Chris's name he will ask him about his "pager", and he will ask him if he has had any "calls". Chis will give the pager a little turn on the switch and make it sound and then Jeff is happy until the next time he see's him or hears his name. Chris also works at Coborns grocery as a "Meat Man". He has been there for about 8 years now and has made a good name for himself in Foley. Lots of people like him.

There just happens to be a family from Foley that has a handicapped son around the age of 22, his name is Fred. He lives in an old run down house with his mom, dad and siblings. Almost everyday Fred comes into the store and goes back to the meat counter looking for Chris. He shows Chris his badge (that he makes sure to pin on his shirt before seeing Chris), and asks him if he has had any "medicals" lately. Chris takes the time to say yes, and then lets him listen to the pager a bit. Fred is happy and continues on his way until the next day when they will repeat the whole process again.
In January shortly after Jordyn Noels birth, Chris got the flu and needed to stay home form his job.
Fred called...
he asked to talk to Chris. When he found out Chris wasn't there he left this message...
"Will you tell Chris that his best friend Fred called? Will you tell him that my daddy died, he had a medical and he died and I wanted Chris to know because I am his best friend"
...and so
Chris and his family took Fred and his family out to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
And Freds family will hopefully get the county help they need.
And Chris will continue to answer the call for "medicals"
...and he will always remember
when he sees Fred with his badge on each day...
just how important his job is!

The Badge

Ever sense I can remember Jeff has taken a special liking to Nick. It began to escalate when Nick started working for the Sheriffs Department. Each time I talk to Jeff he will ask me "what is Nick doing? Does he work today? Does he have a Sheriffs car?"...
...and then we added Lila to the mix... she took a special liking to Nick also?!
always giving him a big hug and smiling saying "hey, Nickey!" Any gathering where Nick is going to be - we need to make sure that Jeff and Lila are a part of it.
Nick works in Grand Marias right now. The Shags have taken 4 summer trips up there to see him over the "Fisherman's week-end". We have had such fun there, just being with friends and family. Jeff got to have his picture taken by Nicks Sheriff's car. You can just see the pride in his smile as he is standing there. I need to find that picture and I will post it on here so you can all see what I mean. Now, our Nickey is engaged... looking for a new job closer to home and it looks as though he has found one in Lamberton. We are all excited about this prospect of him and his family moving closer to home.
I wonder if he will have a sheriffs car? When he will be working?
I also wondered this past month...
Why do the mentally handicapped tend to bend their love towards Nick?
And it came to me...
because he has always had an ear bent towards them, he has listened to them without judgment as they ask the same questions over and over again. He has taken their pictures by his car, brought the Sheriff's car to our house, let them see his badge and even his gun.
But most of all I believe he has been truly happy when Lila grabs him for a hug and Jeff says...
"So, do you have to work today?"
This is KVR961 to Base...
Nick? Do you have your ears on? We love you!!
Over and out!

The SHAG reunion!

For the 3rd year in a row the SHAG's(Schmidt, Hacker and Giesen's) were able to come together to celebrate our families! The first year we had a ugly sweater get together, then a crazy hat party and this year it was crazy footwear. Everyone was able to be there except for Brielle who is in college in Orange City, Iowa - without a car, Nate who is a lead at his job up in the cities, and wasn't able to take off,and Tim Berger who was very sick. The names of all those in attendance: The Schmidts: Curt, Pam, Emi, Chris, JaciAnna, Conner D, Jordyn Noel, Lindsey, Josh, Lacey, K, NolaJean, Gramma Dorius, and Jeff.
The Hackers: Duane, Carol, Nick, Heather, Addison, Miranda and Jeremy.
The Giesens: Al, Robin, Dylan, Brittany and Buddy.
Ann and Lila.
We gathered at the Schmidt house at around 3:00pm. Everyone brought crazy footwear, an orderve and a white elephant gift. We ate around 4:00, with of course, food galore. Starting with BBQ's and Ringos famous oriental chicken salad, moms salmon loaf with sauce or creamed peas, mashed potato's, scalloped corn, 2 warm dips, 1 cold dip, chips and pretzels, wonton cream cheese, cream cheese grape salad, banana bars, dill oyster crackers and pop!
After eating everyone was in the family room and we tried to get a picture of everyone's crazy footwear. All took part in this except Al and Curt who couldn't find any thing! We had everything from peacock feather tights. pig slippers,purple figured socks, red 1960's slippers, tennis shoes with green ties and matching argyle socks, argyle knee socks over tights, strips, checks, to small, to big, hospital slippers, 2 different socks on one person, holes in the toes, crazy tights, pig socks and bowling shoes. Getting all these feet together in one place is not an easy task!
Making a big circle we handed everyone a white elephant gift. Lindsey read a right left game and we passed the presents from right to left left to right and back again. We opened each gift up one at a time and this was so much fun. To see what people had come up with for their crazy gift. I do need to give a little example here as I was so impressed with all the good ideas! Miranda and Jeremy bought a beautiful gift of Russel Stover chocolate! Inside the box were a bunch of 1/2 eaten candies, some missing and a picture of them eating the candies with chocolate all over their faces... this was my favorite and we laughed a lot, they also took a picture of themselves and signed and framed it- Conner D got the picture and he thought it was a hoot... he figured if everyone was laughing it must be a good thing! Nick and Heather got the "baby stash" for the ones who would be having the next baby! Let's give them time to get moved and settled in and of course married before that happens!! K got a book on "How to get pregnant"! There was a cotton candy machine, a hot seat, easter tree's, coffee cups, shrimp chips, fur hats... it brought a lot of smiles and fun!
It was after this we brought out the birthday cake for Jaci Anna and sang happy birthday to her. The kids, and their better halves congregated in the tv room, while the yellow boots (the older half) gathered in the family room. We talked and reminisced... but the best part was hearing the laughter from our children and their children... they were in no hurry to leave... all just hanging out and catching up on each others lives.
Sometimes I wish moments like these would never have to end - but then how would we get ready for the next party!!
Which reminds me - Carol, and Robin... we need to gather the ideas for next year and take a vote - get the date set and plan the next...
SHAG REUNION!!

"Dirty Stories"

It has been a hard month for my momma. She went from getting the flu, to feeling a little better for a few days, to getting flu symptoms again, to ending up in the hospital, to being diagnosed with a kidney, bladder, and blood infection, to having her coumadin levels unreadable, to a yeast infection!! She spent from Sunday January 23rd to Tuesday February 2nd in the Arlington Hospital. All the girls came home on Saturday January 29th and went up to see gramma and just be with her. It was nice to have them all home - even though better circumstances would have been more fun - we still had a good time. On Saturday night just the three of them went up to the hospital and they were telling "dirty stories" (as stated by grams when I called the hospital on the phone to see how things were going). One thing they discussed is their mothers capability to turn her hand and scratch her head. For the life of them they can't understand why I don't just take my hand and scratch it if it itches! I was called on the carpet... someone has noticed my bad habit of head scratching! Even more funny than this is the fact that Emily texted me after she went home and wrote...
"HEY MOM, DOES YOUR HEAD ITCH?" - needless to say I laughed even more. It seems quite peculiar that we notice these things about others doesn't it?
Well it opened up a can of worms for my "blogging mind" and I have a little habit that I remember from each on of them! I will share it here with in the writings of my daily life and memories of my youth!

Emily: One of my favorite stories about her is that she had this "favorite" gray shiny shirt... it was very pretty and she looked like a princess in it. There was one small problem - every where she went - every time she went there - she put on the gray shiny shirt. I'll be if one day that shirt wasn't just gone... missing in action so to speak. I never did remember where I put it and I never told her until years later... so actually I wasn't lying...
she said "mom do you know where my gray shiny shirt is?"
and I said "no, I don't know where that went I haven't seen it for awhile"!

Lindsey: Lindsey was quite a lady from the time she was a little girl. She liked ruffled panties, white cowboy boots, perms in her hair, and dressing up. You can imagine a little girl in her dress up cloths, all dolled up ready to play and then she would all of a sudden find this incredible urge to spit. She would just turn her head to the side and give a good ole spit and keep walking! The funniest part about this little habit is that today - about 22 years later - we were walking across the street together and she turned her head to the side and took a good ole spit... and kept walking!!

Lacey: Lacey has a shoe problem. It is not the typical problem of shopping and buying to many shoes. It is more like she has in her mind what she wants and she can't find it. You would think this would maybe be a good problem as most girls are thought of as having to many shoes. But, it has caused her feet some problems over the years. So, when she finds a pair, she wear them until she has literally walked them right to death!! Maybe she should become a shoe designer? (she did design a pair of shoes in about 7th grade... we still have them somewhere!) Remember??

Yes, what fun I have in my mind going back and looking in those cans...
and once in awhile you find a few worms in the dirt!!

Be Having

Conner has gotten to spend quite a bit of time with his momma lately as she is on maternity leave. Once in awhile he has what we would maybe describe as a "bad day"... where his behaviors escalate and he has trouble being the good little guy that he usually is. On Thursday he was having "one of those bad days". Momma told him that he would need to behave himself or there would be some consequences! It seemed the consequences weren't really bothering him to much and he was having a hard time concentrating on being a good boy.
AFTER HIS NAP...
Conner asked his mom "I am behaving myself now aren't I mom?"
She told him "yes, Conner, you are really behaving and I am very proud of you"
"Mom, is behave one word or two?"
(mom just looks at him in amazement)
"Mom, if it is two words, be and have, what does have mean?"
"Ummm... Conner, I am not sure - I think it is all one word, where in the world do you come up with this stuff?"
"Well, from www.myownbrain.com!!
I guess momma didn't have an answer for that one either!!!

A new pail

Mom and I went to St.Cloud to see Jordyn Noel for the first time on 1/11/11. We got a picture of her on my cell phone as we were driving - she was here!! Soon we would be up to the hospital to meet our newest little bundle of joy. We got up there around 11:30am. Everyone got to take her and hold her in their arms, feeling the baby warmth and giving her that first love outside the womb. She was so peaceful, so very beautiful.

Chris, mom and I went to eat about 2:30 at the Chinese Buffet restaurant. It is our favorite place to go with our favorite son-in-law... ( soon that place will be shared with Josh! and K!). After that Chris went to pick up JaciAnna and Conner D and mom and I went back to the hospital. ( I must add here that I was following Chris in his truck to the restaurant. He called Curt and said "yes, your wife is following me through St.Cloud, I am going 5 miles per hour and leaving her in the dust! - apparently they think it is quite funny that grammie pammie drives slow and careful!)

Soon JaciAnna and Conner D were up at the hospital to see their newest family member. They seemed a little leery, touching her very careful and being ever so quiet. I wish I could have been an angel at that moment and known what they were thinking about their mommas flat tummy and a new baby in her arms. These are moments that you can take pictures of, blog about, and talk about - but, you only get to live them once and I am so happy I was there!

Conner D. came home with us to Arlington. He fell sound asleep on the way home and I just brought him in and took off his little shoes and laid him in bed with his papa. When he woke up in the morning papa was gone to work - he never even knew he got to sleep with him! Gramma Dorius came to stay with the little guy on Wednesday as I had to work. Lacey and Nola were also here to help her with the days activities. Conner D came down with the flu at about 3:00 that afternoon. When I came home from work - he was cleaned up, and had a pail sitting by him. I went and got him some pedialight - he was so thirsty but nothing was staying down. He would ask papa for a drink, then ask for the pail. This went on until about 12:00 am when he finally took a drink and it stayed down. The next day he slept most of the day, snuggling with his gramma on the recliner. I had called Missy... not seeing a sick little one for so long I was afraid he would get dehydrated and I wouldn't know it. She made me feel better, said to have him eat lightly and drink when he could but we knew the flu was going around at his day care and he had probably picked it up there. By Friday he was feeling a little better but still not totally himself. He snuggled, watched Big Bear in the Big Blue House (20X), and a little bit of Annabelles Wish, he read a few books with gramma and he also told a few of his own stories about the 3 bears!! It was a very loving week - even though our little guy was sick.

On Saturday I had Bingo at work and then Curt, Conner and Jeff came into get me. They listened to a little music and a few people got to meet my little guy with the big brown eyes. We then loaded up the car and headed for Foley. He said to me "You know that you can't keep me gramma, I have to go home." I told him I understood completely but I was glad that we got to take him home and be with him one more day!
Gramma Dorius was sick now, so she didn't get to come along. BUT - she had made us some supper so I heated that up and got stuff ready - in between starting a little laundry at the Harren household. Conner opened his presents that he had gotten from people for being a big brother. The first thing he opened was a little red pail with some m&m's in it. He looked at his mom with such enthusiasm and said "LOOK MOM IT IS A NEW PUKE PAIL!!" I am not making this up - he was genuinely excited about receiving what he thought to be a new shiny red puke pail! Well, we laughed along time, and many times over this comment! Chris and Curt went uptown a little after supper to celebrate yet another birth. Emi went to bed with the kids and I went downstairs and did laundry and then turned on the electric blanket and went to sleep!

Sunday morning Chris, JaciAnna, Conner D and myself got ready and went to 10:00 church. It was a wonderful service of recommitting to prayer and Jesus, He talked about how each prayer you say is like laying a foundation... one prayer, one brick... the more you pray - the bigger your foundation!

I could not have planned out a more perfect week. Starting with the trip to St.Cloud to see Jordyn Noel and her family... and ending with an "I love you all so very much!"

After a week like this I feel such a lonesomeness when I come back to my home. The quiet isn't what it used to be - it takes me awhile to get used to it. I take all the blankets and towels to the laundromat to wash away all the flu germs... and when I come back home I find the "old pail"...
I pick it up
Throw it in the trash
And I smile.