Silo icecream

We started going to Nimrod, Mn. in 1984. It ended up to be the spot where we took our family on Memorial and Labor day. Curt's mom and dad own a trailer house on a lot by the "Big Crow" river. There have been many memories made there. The one that I remember the most is how even when we left for home...
we still had something to look forward to...
an ice cream cone at the "Silo" in Motley. It is a big ole silo on the side of the four lane hiway that has been cleaned out, fixed up, and filled with all different kinds of wonderful ice cream. There is also an antique store and a flea market that take place there all summer long. There has never been a time that we didn't save enough money for the trip home to buy each one a cone!!

Lord, I thank-you that through the years we have been allowed this time together as family. I remember being a young girl - my only prayer was that I wanted to have a family. I didn't ask for any specifics, just a family. I believe that you have blessed me with the best possible family and friends in the world. I am so thank-ful to You that you have given me all these precious memories. Bless the Lord oh my soul!!

The sound of "GOOD BYE"

On Labor Day Monday the whole family was at our house. We had a beautiful day together reminiscing, laughing and enjoying each others company. We also had what we termed a nice "indoor" picnic. When the day was getting close to an end we went outside to enjoy some beautiful weather and get a few pictures of the kids. When it was time for everyone to go to their own homes we were all still outside. It all started innocent enough...
Lindsey was in the van helping Emi get everyone "hooked" in and giving them hugs.
After Emi's van was loaded she started signing this song... "GOOD BYE".
Before you know it...
the kids were singing...
then Lindsey, Lacey and I joined in...
and we were all harmonizing to "GOOD BYE" -
LAUGHING, as Emi and the kids drove away.
We were all starting to calm down some on the front lawn and here came Emi down the street, in here white van, kids loaded, windows down...
singing "GOOD BYE"
So we all joined in again with her singing and laughing...
Then Curt and I continued to share good-bye's with the other family as they left one by one...
and suddenly my heart is lonesome for the sound of "GOOD BYE"

Time, Teaching and Prayers

I remember so well my dads family. He loved them all so very much.

Joy, Pauline, Bob, Betty, Dick, Dorothy, Dallas, Maxine, Gene, Marilyn. They went boy girl right down to the end... ending at 10.

Through the years there have been many stories shared. There were stories of great joy, grief, funny, loving, sweet, but most of all stories of loyalty exchanged in such a large family. When I was feeling quite melancholy one night, missing my dad, I asked if anyone had a story about my dad.

One of my favorite was when my Aunt Marilyn (the baby of the family) shared that she had wanted a new pair of shoes. There was no money for her to have new shoes, so my dad went out and bought them for her. I really see that loyalty show through in my daughter Lindsey. When her sisters are needing her, she is right there for them. She makes sure that she gets to meet with them and to see their kids - she makes sure we all know that she loves us even when there isn't alot of money for material things.

Another is the time he was playing in the horse barn. If your from a family of 10 you all know that when mom and dad leave there is still rules to follow. Well, this fine day the rules were not being followed and their little Dally got kicked in the face by a horse. There were places to be headed and it would include a Dr. visit. They couldn't remember fore sure what the story was about how he got hurt, but we can be sure that they don't think mom and dad ever did find out about the broken rule. I really see this loyalty in Emily, when I remember the "pact" she helped her sisters to form when we would leave home. When mom and dad would leave there were still rules to follow...
but sometimes broken rules help to form a loyalty to each other. She makes sure she is always teaching love even when there is brokenness.

As they talked about their baby boy being born at home, weighing in at just 4 pounds - I thought of his family. Gramps was put in a shoe box and set on the door of the wood cook stove with some blankets, an aunt coming and saying "I don't know if this one is going to make it Viv". But, family comes together in love surrounding his little body with prayers... He survived, ending up to be the "biggest boy" in his family. Going into the army at 160 lbs. coming home at 220. I really see this loyalty in Lacey, when I think of how she prays for all of us. She continues to study her Bible and bring knowledge to us about our Lord as she baths her family in love. She makes sure she is always praying, surrounding us even in our failures.

Who would have thought?

This out fit makes me want to have summer every day...

When I see this picture it brings back a driving memory from her momma,
Lacey Lynn Schmidt.
I remember quite well all the girls going through drivers training and getting their license. I do not remember it because of the "hands on" care that I gave during this time. The driving part was left solely to their father. I just couldn't do it. The first time I tryed with Emi I felt like every time we met a car she would go towards it. Now, whether this was true or not - I can't say - it is just what my "mother eyes" felt. I believe the reason I remember this period of life so well is the feeling you get in your stomach each time they pulled away from the safety of our home.

Emi and Linsdey took their drivers training in Arlington and got their license for driving as soon as they could. They didn't drive a whole lot - but, they were allowed to use the car whenever they needed or had something planned. When it came time for Lacey to take her behind the wheel, she was not ready and she had no intention of getting her license. After some time her mother, despite her "mother eyes", did encourage her to get her license. It seems so important that you get that and have the freedom to go places you need to go when no one else is there to depend on. We did sign her up for drivers training in New Ulm and she took her classes and behind the wheel with Miranda. Before we knew it she had her license but still didn't drive a whole lot. In January of Lacey's senior year, she bought a green Chevy, signed up for classes at Ridgewater College, and that was kind of the last we saw of her.
The little green Chevy hit the road...
Lacey behind the wheel...
and if you need to get anywhere in Minnesota, or for that matter the United States...
just ask Lacey.
Who would have ever thought??

GRACE

The word grace...
When the Lord follows us through our life. He see's our sin and yet loves us so much that He covers us with this amazing Grace.

He takes all of our junk and gives us something in return - and when we look back to see the guilt and shame of all we have done...

it is gone...

and all that remains

is something so beautiful, that you can't put it in to words.

School shoes

This year on labor day week-end we did something different. The week-end before labor day Stapels, Mn. had a big celebration. Emi's family, Curt, I, Lila and Jeff decided we would go to the trailer house on this week-end instead of the actual labor day. We had a wonderful time together (it is where I got to first hear about tentacles"). The work week was then normal, however I had Friday off. I took Thursday and went to Foley and then stayed the night. The next day my Jaci Anna and I went shopping for her school shoes. We were both so excited about the day it was hard to sleep. After some laundry though, I did indeed have a beautiful night sleep in a burnt orange bedroom with a quilted top bed. I thanked God as I lay down on that bed, I thanked Him for everything that I had been given this day.

When we got up in the morning we chatted with the family some and got JaciAnna's things loaded up. You see, she would be staying with us in Arlington until Sunday. On Sunday afternoon her momma, brother and sister would be coming to join her. This was a big time for both Jaci and I. She hadn't stayed alone with us sense she was about 5 years old. (Her and Conner both stayed with us when their momma went to the mayo clinic to have her head checked. Well, that doesn't sound the best - but, hopefully just those words will spark enough memory for us to know this was her last time at our house without mom and dad). We were all excited about the stay and she had done much preparing with mom about it. She was happy, I was happy and off we drove in the little green Chevey with flowers on the door... along with a little more laundry...

We drove to the St.Cloud mall. On this day, in this place, I did what I hadn't done in many many years. I took a little girl shopping to get her school shoes. We had the best time ever and found the perfect pair of shoes for her. We topped it off with a pair of "skinny jeans" and a peach tee shirt with a purple smile face on it. She was happy, I was happy and off we drove in the green chevy with the flowers on the door...

It is now about 1:00pm and we are hungry. It is one of the few times in my life where I didn't really have to be anywhere but with my girl. So, we stopped in Hutch at the McDonalds play land. I just let her play, and play and play... until she was ready to go. It is amazing to me how long she was satisfied just playing with kids she had just met and how perfect the time was, how beautiful moments are when we don't rush through them.

Now it is about 3:00 pm and we are happy. We load up in the car, smiles on our faces, food in our tummies, new shoes in the back seat, flowers on the door -
I look up into the sky...
and I thank God. I thank Him for everything I have been given this day!