THE GREAT DECORATED HALLWAY

Well it is close, Christmas is almost here...
to me it seems everyday is Christmas,
but I so love the spirit of other people during this time...
the giving,
the singing,
the visiting
baking
eating
social gatherings...
I remember how fun it was with the kids at home. 
One of my other favorite memories is the "Great decorated hallway!".
The kids would take decorations I wasn't using...
and make things of their own out of construction paper.
Red and green link chains...
posters declaring the great decorated hallway...
pictures they drew...
things they made at school.
And in the hall was their guest book.
All who came to take in the beautiful sights were to sign that they had been there...
they had seen it with their own eyes,
the "great decorated hallway".
How did I ever get so blessed?

The family singer

I always had a secret dream of being a family singer...
wanting my girls to perform together at different gatherings.
This is a picture, it is one of my favorite memories,
singing with my girls our song "You Say It Best When You Say Nothing at All"
We sang this song together all the time around the house...
here it is being performed on stage at Emily's wedding with "Shady River" playing the background music.
Can't you just imagine us on u-tube?
Thank you to my girls for all the wonderful memories past...
and those yet to come!

The Sunflower

I saw one in 2004, the first of its kind in Arlington.
- and I prayed for you...
   to be different, stand apart from the world.

I noticed the sunflowers face always looked to the sun
- and I prayed for you...
    always keep your face to the SON!

The sunflowers grew heavy with seed, and their heads bowed
- and I prayed for you...
    that you will always be humble and bow to the Lord.

The fields stayed through the storms and into the winter
- and I prayed for you
    strength to winter the storms with your Savior Jesus Christ

Then came spring...
        seeds fell to the ground and new sunflowers then grew
-and I prayed for you
   that you will keep planting seeds for the Kingdom
-never give up
-become all He wants you to be

And remember me when you see the
sunflower fields and know

-that I prayed for you!

Cassandra Grace

October 2012

October 2010

Christmas 1985

April 1985

Winthrop 1985

grandma and grandpa's December 1985

I love carrots... 1986 Winthrop

sunglasses and fort building

another push-up from grandpa!

Sleeping 1989

Christmas 1987

South Dakota 1987

Lindsey's 5th birthday...

The time is soon for our little precious child to be born.  How fitting to write out this prayer for her during this Blessed Christmas season 2012.  On our family Christmas celebration we will all write down our guesses on when she will be born, how much she will weigh and who she will look like... will she have a head full of dark hair?
will she have little square feet?
will she look like her daddy?
will she have his quiet disposition?
It seems that soon we will meet her face to face...
until then this is our prayer,

Father in Heaven, in Jesus name we thank You for this unborn baby girl.  We treasure this child as a gift from You.  Our child was created in Your image, perfectly healthy and complete.  You have known her since conception and know the path she will take with her life.  We come to You and ask Your blessing upon her and we stand together believing in her salvation through Jesus Christ.
When You created man and woman, You called them blessed and crowned them with glory and honor.  It is in You Father, that this baby girl will live and move and have her being.  She is from You and will come to worship and praise You.
Heavenly Father, we take this time and place to come to you humbly and thank-you for this beautiful gift.  We praise You and thank You for what You have done and continue to do.
Thank You that all decisions regarding her pregnancy and delivery will be godly, that the Holy Spirit will intervene, Lord, You are our Dwelling Place and we rest in the knowledge that evil will not come near me and no sickness or infirmity will strike me or our unborn child.  Having accepted Your Son, Jesus, as our SAvior, we confess that Cassandra Grace will be born healthy and completely whole. Thank You, Father, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ AJesus that made me and our child free from the law of sin and death!!  Thank You for protecting us and our baby and for our good health.  Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers.  In Jesus name!!
We stand in awe at the miracle of life!
Praise the Lord!

The babysitting photographer

When Emi was a young girl she started babysitting for just about everyone in the county.
She told me that her first babysitting job was when she was 10 years old.
I remember one time she called me during her first job because the baby was crying and crying.
I went over and held the little guy tight as he cried and kept singing to him...
he quite crying and Emi said "how did you get him to quit crying?"
I told her that most of the time baby's just want to know that you love them even if they cry.
When she was a little older and babysitting for more families, she would get the kids all dressed up and set up a "stage" to photograph them.
I saw this picture of her baby, and saw the stage she had set...
the picture she had taken...
my babysitting photographer with a babe of her own...

and I just wanted to cry knowing how much I loved them!

Lightening in the Winter Sky

On December 15th Curt, I and mom ventured out to Foley.  The weather was to be bad but instead it rained hard this morning... even a little thunder followed by lightening flashes in the winter sky.
We left Arlington about 12:20 arriving in Foley at 2:30.  Chris, JaciAnna and Conner D were in Raunaby seeing Santa Claus.  He arrived back in time that Jordyn would be able to go see him also! So, Chis, JaciAnna, Jordyn Noel and I went back to Raunaby....
Santa was there and JodynNoel sat right on his lap to get her picture taken also.  She also got a gift and a cookie and then on back to Foley we all went.

For supper I bought chicken, coleslaw, potatoes and gramma brought some cookies.
JaciAnna and I made caterpillars out of celery and peanut butter.
We settled in for a long winters nap when looking out side there now was a beautiful snow cover over the drive way that Curt had shoveled clean in the rain.

The next morning everyone got up and got ready for the Children's Christmas program at New Life church.
Emily took JaciAnna (the elf) and Conner D (the child in red pajama's) to get ready for their parts in the Christmas play... "Santa gives back Christmas".  Chris took JordynNoel who would be singing happy birthday to Jesus and rock and roll Jesus.  Lindsey, Lacey and NolaJean came to the program also and Auntie Em got NolaJean a drum so she could go up on stage and be with her conzin Jordyn....
The preschoolers were first, there must have been 30 of them... they had drums made out of ice-cream pails that were painted red and green with Christmas ribbon, some had guitars - and they played and sang their songs to Jesus.  It was heart warming to see them together.  I believe it was their first time on stage!
Then came the best Christmas play I have ever seen... there was this beautiful, smart little elf with a hammer building toys and the sweetest most handsome little boy in red pajamas listening to the Christmas story from Santa.
It ended with a manna meal in the school cafeteria.  Everyone enjoyed fellowship together celebrating the birth of Jesus.

We all ventured back to Emily and Chris's to tie up loose ends.
ConnerD and Chris went to a birthday party.
Lindsey, Lacey and NolaJean headed back home to Mpls.
Emi, JaciAnna and JordynNoel settled in for a nap.
Gramma Dorius sat in the big ole recliner.

Curt and I drove back to Arlington ...

Jordyn - second trip to Raunaby

Conner D in Raunaby

Jaci and I making caterpillars

Nola and Jordyn at church waiting to sing

Jordyn Noel

Saturday afternoon with papa

JaciAnna in Raunaby

as I watched for more lightening in the winter sky.

Smile's

I remember this ...
Emily Jo's first Christmas
Grandma and Grandpa bought her Christmas pajamas's...
I laid her on her baptism blanket from Caroline'
and as she looked at the camera and I pressed the button
I knew that surely there is a God, and

Emily Jo December 1980

certainly He had us in the palm of His hand...

and then 28 years later...
my little baby girl
sits down with her Christmas blessings

Emily Jo, JaciAnna, Conner Dallas 2007

and smiles...

The road to Bethlehem ll

As I search through pictures, looking for memories on Kodak paper...
I take in the colors and textures of each one
and remember so fondly
the little Christmas outfits...
 the stories told...
the programs,
the Christmas eve candle light service,
santa,
the poems,
the songs,
but most of all the spirit of Christmas... when Jesus comes down and dwells with His people
I can see that Santa is a part of those Kodak moments..

Emi Jo 1987 (old community hall)

Lindsey Kay 1987

Lacey Lynn Belle Plaine Apple Barn 1987

Lacy Lynn 1987

Lacey on Mrs. Clause's lap, Linsey on L, Emi R front

Santa at school approx 1991

December 1992, Arlington Community Hall

It seems he may be pointing the way to Bethlehem, teaching us about fellowship and giving, holding the little ones on his lap - giving Christmas back to Jesus and raising his hands to praise the Lord for all the blessings we are  given on our journey.

The Road to Bethlehem

Sometimes it
seems a long way to Bethlehem...  through the years learning about life.  Learning that there really isn't a
Santa... but he lives in our childhood memories.  A beautiful soul with a red hat and white beard.
       You don't remember the day, you were three in July and it is December now.  Your mom dresses you in a little
red dress
and combs your
hair just so - it curls around your little face and you smile at the camera, trusting this gentle guy...
knowing that he will be a part of the full picture as we
learn that Jesus is the reason...
Saint Nick was a good fellow, bringing gifts and putting them in the children's shoes,
he left a lot of room for imagination
the stories changing through the years
but as the story changes
so does our faith grow
as we look at the picture
and imagine our mom and dads
setting us on Santa's lap
and we watch our children sit on his lap

and now our grandchildren...
All of us searching for our way to Bethlehem,
taking detours, sometimes rough and cracked.
There are no wise men to guide us...
Just the beautiful truth in the gentle story of the word,
Just our  need inside our hearts to meet up with the Jesus of the story...
and our memory of the little girl in the red dress.

The Christmas Wreath

                            Sometimes there are not words to say what the heart feels

In the beauty of a snowflake, falling on the black barren land...
It seems to be a mystery, a miracle
The creativity of His hand.

The First Snow

Let your heart be filled with wonder

See the glory of God's beauty fill your eyes

The ageless awe in the Christmas skies

On Sunday December 8th we got our first snow.  It was beautiful there is no denying it.  I wonder if we will feel the same way when we have the second snow?

Such a time as this...

It was the week-end before the Arli-Dazzle parade.  We had been invited to go down to the Hacker farm in Lafayette on Saturday November 23rd.  There was something so special about the evening... I can't quite put my finger on it, so I will share with you some of the facts and maybe you can help me to know what was so very perfect about this perfect night with friends!
We arrived about 4:00p.m.
Carol had the house all decorated for Christmas.
The table was set.
We gathered together talking and then all sat down to eat about 5:30.
The food came out:    Whole green beans sauteed in butter and garlic, sprinkled with parmesan
                                    BBQ'ed ribs
                                    Sauerkraut with dumplings
                                    Pork links
                                    Fruit plate
                                    Water and Wine
There was great conversation as we shared this gourmet meal together.
We cleaned up the kitchen (not a lot of food left to put away)
Then into the "new" room us girls went and the guys watched some foot ball on TV
We talked, laughed, talked, and laughed for almost three hours.
Now we went in to Carol's room and had a style show with some clothes that Carol had under grown.
Robin try ed on shirt after shirt -
We talked, laughed, talked, laughed and talked some more.
Now it was time to go.
It seems during this Christmas Season there are many opportunities to give unselfishly to others.
I am thinking after writing this perfect evening out...
that although I can not relive it...
I can gently discover that I am truly blessed to be living at such a time as this.

I am truly blessed to have family and friends that I call family.
This perfect night we opened our hearts and let blessings flow.  We showed each other love caring, kindness and  we received laughter and enthusiasm. 
Thank you my friends for a perfect evening.

The Blue eyed Santa

As I start feeling Christmas in my heart... I can't help but feel a lonesomeness for my dad.  Christmas memories with him are many but my favorite was of him being Santa Claus.                                When I was  in my 20's  I remembered wondering why no one had ever asked him to be Santa.  He had the perfect personality - the prettiest grey hair and a nice round belly...
When I was in my 30's a friend of my dads (Bulah B.) came up with a great Santa Suit that she thought would fit my dad.   I believe it was 1993.                                              
He put it on one day and him and I delivered cookies to all the older people I worked for at the time. We stopped a few different places and then Santa came to our house.  More than remembering the kids reaction to him I remember the excitement he had in his heart, I remember thinking he was a perfect Santa. I can't recall if the kids knew it was him (I'll have to ask them!) but Curt remembers Lacey crying.  Lindsey remembers that he brought a scooter along for each of them.  Santa must have somehow known the inner wishes of their hearts to know that was the perfect gift!  I never really knew if I believed in Santa or if I wanted my kids to believe in him... but I did know that their grandpa was a gift giver.  Most of all he gave of his time.  He had a Santa heart.
I searched for the pictures, could only find one with him and I.  When I find the others I will add them. 

It is not the things that can be bought
that are life's richest treasure,
It's just the little "heart gifts"
that money cannot measure...
A cheerful smile, a friendly word,
a sympathetic nod
Are priceless little treasures
from the storehouse of our God...
They are the things that can't be bought
with silver or with gold
For thoughtfulness and kindness
and love are never sold...
They are priceless things in life
for which no on can pay,
And the giver finds rich recompense
in giving them away...
I believe him to be a man who did not have a lot of silver or gold...
but what he had
he gave away.

I miss this guy and know he would be so proud of how his family has grown.  If he could be Santa for one more year, put on the red suit and stop by the house...
his lap would be full!

This is the Moose before he put on the suit

Arli-Dazzle

This year on December first Arlington celebrated their 4th annual ARLI-DAZZLE parade.  The first year they had it Carol, mom and I were with the Wiendingers on an overnight trip to Mpls.  The second year it was snowed out (one of the worst storms we had in years!), the third year we gathered at our house and it was an absolutely perfect day.  The weather was warm for December and we went on a sleigh ride.  Carol,Du Robin and Al, mom, Lila,Ann, Jeff Curt and I ate some supper here at the house.  As the parade began - so did the most perfect snow fall you had ever seen.  Us girls walked up town by Morriems pharmacy but soon the wet snow caused dampness on the coats so we walked our cold butts home, watching the beautiful parade the whole time.  At this time we decided that next year we would indeed let everyone know about it and try our hand at the parade for all who could come.
... you never know about Minnesota weather but December 1, 2012 turned out to be one of the most beautiful on record.  Carol, Du, Addison met Lacey, Nola, Lila and I at the community hall to take in a little bit of Santa and some crafts.  Angela took pictures and then we moved on to the Bethlehem express at the Lutheran church.  Mom and Lindsey met us all there.  This was a "train" that took us to 4 different stations through out the church.  There was Christmas Carol's, a craft, a birthday party for Jesus and then it ended in the church with a short film about the birth of Jesus.  From here we went home and then met up with Robin, Al and Curt and went up to Main Street stylists for some order vs and wine.   Leaving this great place of fellowship we walked up to Main Street by the parking lot and saw all the fish houses decorated for their "black top fishing" contest.  They had a huge ring for a bon fire later after the parade where they would make smore's.  Sandy, Durk, Erika, Aaron and 2 of the grandchildren were on mainstreet also...
we headed to the sleigh ride area and waited to get on a wagon with beautiful horses.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect and everyone got a ride around the town.
...now, it is time to walk back to the house. Curt got a beautiful fire going in the pit at the end of our drive way.  Lacey and Timmy came, Lucy, Mom, Lila, Brittany, Dylan, Jack, Carol, Du, Addison, Lindsey, Lacey and Nola = we got out chairs and everyone settled in the driveway for the 99 unit parade.  We can not begin to tell you how impressed we were with the whole day.  The work that everyone put in to their floats and all of the lighted units  displayed were beautiful work against the night black drop.  What a perfect night!
...we then all came in the house and had some chili and ham and cheese sandwiches to top off the very good, excellent perfect day!!
Next year we hope even more people can make it...
we hope for another

Addyson and NolaJean watching the parade

Addyson, Carol with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Addyson with her balloon from Bethlehem Express

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

No one will ever know what is in these bags if we are quiet

Cookie decorating at the Community Hall

very good, excellent perfect day!!

Christmas

I wasn't really feeling Christmas this year, not sure why.
Then a friend emailed me a picture of an old fashioned little girl, dressed in red.
... I got to help decorate a Christmas tree, one of the decorators had a stroke a few years back, her hands shakey - oh, but she loves to help.  He just made a new home with us and wants so much to be needed.  Leaving behind his home that was built to order by he and his wife.
He is tall he says he'll help with the top ones, or, wherever we need him to help.
As she is wheeled up to the tree he stands next to her and notices with his failing eyes that her hand can barely hold the bulb...
as he gently guides her hand to the branch...
together they hang the bulb.
I stand in the back ground my vision failing due to tears in my eyes...
but, I feel in my heart a miracle...

I feel Christmas!

House for sale

How does one go through life growing, expanding, becoming independent
...growing your family, your children - helping them to expand and become independent
to come to that place in your life where your home is sold
it will give you enough money for them to take care of you, your independence is now gone
Who wants to be a part of it?
the part where you loose your home, your bones start to shrink, your legs don't move the way they did and your hand is shakey as your voice quivers out the same words and stories for yet another day...
but really,
as I think - isn't this what it is all about?
To loose your home
To be dependent on the creator of life...
to commune with Him at all times of your life,
ask for help...
as your hand shakes to do the things you used to do
won't He guide your hand with His?

gently leading you back home again.