Jeff

Here is Jeff and his motorcycle...
the one he will drive into the gates of Heaven.
And I will finally totally understand why life turns out the way it does...
why he stands by it and has his picture taken, perfectly happy...
while the owner, his cousin of the same age

As you can see the motorcycle has "upscaled" through the years!

puts on his black leather chaps and drives.

Sandy's grandpa

While writing the blog "coco" and "pepper clara" I reminisced about this wonderful man.  I talked to my friend Sandy on fb and she confirmed that the picture I was thinking about was real, she had a copy and would "send" it to me.  I waited for awhile and checked the post office daily.  I saw the picture on fb but was not even thinking about "downloading" it, in my mind I was so sure it was coming in the mail!
So,
after a few days I reread Sandy's message and I'll be if this techniowebin the brain...
didn't figure it out all on her own.
So,
I needed Herman to have his own page.
His memory deserves that.
Herman had one daughter and her name was Donna.  When I look at this picture I also remember Donna, I didn't know until now how much she looked like her dad.  Donna had six kids, the youngest is Sandy... we have been friends sense we were 4 years old ...
And Sandy said:  " I can remember sitting on the curb by grandpa Kamps house and saying to you that all the kids call him grandpa Kamps but only I can call him my grandpa."  She talked about when he would turn on the siren for us.  Now, we know that doesn't happen these days.
When I look at this picture, I think of Mayberry,
I think of  small town Arlington
with a wonderful cop
of a simpler time where dogs could run free, cops drove black cars with sirens that were seldom used, except to excite the heart of a child, and grandpa's loved everyone...
and I am so happy he was Sandy's grandpa.

A very fine day

 This picture was taken the week-end that JaciAnna and Jordyn stayed with us and Conner D. stayed with Josh and Lindsey.  We had met up with Emily and the kids in Monticello at the Chinese Big Moon (or New Moon) Buffet.  Loading up kids we all went our separate ways for a few days.  Everyone had a wonderful week-end (Chris and Emily had some alone time).  On Sunday  we all met together  at McDonalds  through Monticello, and across the bridge.  We had a burger together, the three kids went with Emily back to Foley, Lindsey went back to Blaine...
and I headed to Arlington.
All in a very fine day.

AROUND

Where two or more are gathered in His name surely He is with them

Today, November 17th, 2012.  The girls all met at McDonalds in Deer River, Mn.  Jaci Anna will be going to stay with Lacey, K and Nola in Mpls for the night.  Gramma and I went to Mankato to do a little shopping.  As we were driving in opposite directions I couldn't help but feel two emotions inside my heart.
1.  I felt such a happiness that my girls will continue to always get together.  That they enjoy each others company and sisterhood even when we are not around.
2.  I felt such a loneliness that we were not around.

Wildflowers

She sits at my feet as I peck on the computer.  It seems a long time as I peek over my shoulder at her.  She is working on something.
I am not real concerned as it is keeping her busy as I continue to try to write all the words that are popping into my heart like wildflowers... beautiful, and yet scattered like rays of sun showing through a leaded glass window.
She continues quietly as I think about daisies bowing their heads to the wind.
And there it is
all of the paper is now off the crayon...
no more words that say "blue crayon".
In her hand she snaps it quietly in half and is now on her way
And I think back to JaciAnna and remember her snapping all the crayons into little pieces, never really coloring until now that she is older.
Did my girls do this?
Did they snap all the crayons?
I can not remember that they did...
I don't think they had crayons until they were older.
So she touches the chair tells you to sit.
Talks about soccer balls, french fries and friends.
We draw them all, as Conner colors pages from color books that were left behind by some little person that is now grown.
And the daisy suddenly raises its head in the stillness of the wind that is now gone.

note the box of crayons on the left

note the little pieces of paper on the floor

Thanking God for the color of rainbows in a box.

Two's and Three's

"Two are better than one...                                       
if either of them falls down...                          
the other can pick them up...       a cord of three strands is not easily broken."

"Two are better than one... If either of them falls down, one can help the other up...
A cord of three strands is not easily broken."

And so it is...
I look out the window and see the light caught in the tree.  I am standing in the quiet, my will is  to grow into the unknown.  I pray for all my two's and three's and I feel the light warming the wood, all the years sweep under the fallen leaves. And it comes to me
the peace of God -

as I trust the uncertainty of tomorrow to an unchanging God.

BABY STEPS

STEP BY STEP HE WILL LEAD ME AND I WILL FOLLOW HIM ALL
                                 OF MY DAYS!

PEPPER CLARA

After coco's death I was lonely for a dog.  One thing about my dad, he believed that children needed animals.  It wasn't long before we had another dog.  It was a schnauzer, grey and white.  We were at this time now living on Hiway 19.  HighIsland Creek ran behind the property and it was known as "Boerners farm" - it had great sledding hills that were called "Boerners hills".  Clara and Ursie spent a lot of time out at the farm with us, butchering chickens, gardening, canning, coming to confirmations, and family gatherings.  I remember Clara wondering why we wouldn't name our dog after her - so we did.  That is how he got his name "Pepper" because of his color and "Clara" because of Clara!
When we first moved to this farm the people who had lived there before us had a St. Bernard.  He stayed with the place until the owners found a new owner for him.
My dad brought home two "coon hounds" one fine day.  Their names were Sadie and Blue.  They were called Blue Ticks and they were beautiful dogs... only one problem...
they were hounds, they were hunters and they had the ole hound howl...
sometimes late into the night.
Thus they had to be tied up at night in the red shed.  One night it was storming out and we didn't know he would be afraid... he jumped right out the window.  I am not sure exactly what happened to these dogs.  I will have to ask mom if she remembers.
We moved to town in 1975.  I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to be in town after all these years.  Pepper Clara eventually died and Emily was born in 1980.  Linda, Emily's God mother decided she needed a dog.  She got her the cutest little tea cup poodle you ever did see.  We got her from Sandy Reviere. She was the town Avon lady and she watched Jeff when he got home from school until mom got off work.  We named the dog Banjo.  She was a good dog, but, if she would get loose she would run and you would have to go find her in the car, open the door...
and she would jump in.  Banjo ended up to be gramma doris's dog as we couldn't have her in an apartment.  She would always sit on gramma's lap and sleep with her.

Pepper Clara at Michaelis farms

By the time Banjo was in the picture and running around Arlington, it was no longer accepted.  Pets needed to be tied up.  It was probably a good thing as Herman had gone to live with the Lord.  I wonder if he found coco?

COCO

Coco and Pam

This isn't the best picture - it was taken about 1967.  There wasn't much time to take pictures, there wasn't the technology there is today - it does however serve a purpose here to write about a childhood memory.
This picture is of a little girl and her dog.  The dogs name was coco and I remember like yesterday how much I loved him.  We lived in town in a trailer house, back then you could let your dogs outside, they would run around and then return to your doorstep at which time you would let them in.
One of my best friends had a grandpa Herman and he was the town cop.  One day Herman drove down the street with coco in his back seat and returned him to our home safely.  This was the day I remember thinking what a wonderful man he was, I remember thinking he must love me to bring my dog back home.  I believe that this experience has shaped how I feel about police men.  I believe they are good honest men, trying to help people live in harmony with one another, and once in awhile they do something wonderful that makes a difference in the life of a child.

Coco traveled with us also  when we went to see the relatives in Lavern and WillowLake.  Once when my gramma Meyer was in the hospital in Lavern we parked in front and left the window open so the dog would have fresh air.  Well, coco decided it was time to check things out in this neighbor hood and see what he could find. When we came out coco was gone... not to be found, no nice cop bringing him to our door.  I remember driving around looking for him and then my dad drove back to the hospital and I'll be if that little brown dog wasn't sitting right there where the car had been parked, waiting for us, tail wagging!  When we stayed in Lavern we sometimes stayed at my dad's sisters house.  My aunt was a little younger than my dad and her husbands name is Ronnie.  He would always bark like a dog and made it more than clear that he did not like dogs.  One time he scared coco and the dog lifted his leg and peed right there on the carpet of his living room floor. I thought for sure it was the end of the dog, and myself.   As I got older I realized that Ronnie was probably one of the most soft hearted men I would ever know, that he really did love me and dogs!  They would always say about him "his bark is worse than his bite!'.  I realize him letting us stay at his house and bring the dog was his choice.  Ronnie was the town barber, stood up for what he believed in and tried to help people live in harmony with respect for one another.  He grew to be a wonderful grandfather, loving his children in away that I don't see from a lot of men in my generation.  I believe he helped to shape how I felt about family.  I believe he is a good honest man, trying to make a peaceful loving life for his family  and once in awhile he did something so wonderful that it made a difference in the life of a child.

In approximately 1967 we moved from the trailer to a farm out on the brewery road.  I imagine that coco was quite happy roaming the country side as he pleased.    I remember being outside with coco and him never being to far from me, inside it was the same story... he usually sat by me on the couch or chair, and sometimes in bed.  As far as other stories I do not remember a whole lot of him, but I do remember when he died.  He had been very sick and was not coming back into the house.  My mom went outside and found him, carried him back in and made him a bed by the oil burning stove in the living room.  It was here that he died.  It was my very first experience with death, being quite young I am not sure how I handled it.  I do know that I remember sitting on the side of the house and crying my eyes out... I imagine I was wishing that grandpa Herman would bring him home again.

Sandy's Grandpa!

Coco and I at Grandma Meyer's house

Praisin'

Praise God with song, with dancing, with tambourines and harps, with trumpet blasts and loud cymbals...
A single grateful thought toward heaven
is the most complete prayer. (GELessing)
Praying we will always have the freedom to lift
our hands to the Lord and give thanks!

    GIFTs TO GIVE FOR FREE

The gift of listening;
   no interrupting, no daydreaming, no
   planning a response...
        Just listen.

The gift of laughter;
   share stuff that makes you laugh
    make up stories to tell each other

Gifts to Give for free

    make someone laugh from their
    toes

The gift of a compliment; 
    A simple and sincere word
    of praise can make some one's day.

The gift of a favor;
    Everyday, go out of your way to do
    something kind for someone.

The gift of a cheerful disposition;
    You can never smile to much
    You can never be to happy
    You can never give to many kind
       words
     You could be what someone else
        is needing to get through the
        day...
  NEVER doubt that -
     GOD NEEDS YOU!

The gift of prayer;
    Let friends and family know
    that you are praying for them...
    and then pray for them.
  NEVER doubt that your prayer
    makes a difference in some one's
life - Never doubt that He hears
your prayer.
-Anonymous, as added onto by me!

p.s.

I remember when I first met him...
my babies fiance...
I remember when they planned their wedding
my baby and the big guy
I remember when my baby sent out her first Christmas letter as her own family...
It talked about what each one of them was doing...
her teaching
and the big guy was busy moving rocks around from one place to another...
as you can see by this picture...
he is still busy moving rocks...
that along with
being a daddy
a husband
an employee
a boss
a fireman
a friend
a son-in-law
a horseshoe champion
a son
a brother
a Child of God!
Happy 37th birthday big guy!
We love you!
p.s. the rocks are lookin' good!

Thank-You!

November 10, 2012
11:30 pm
United Methodist Church...
Invitations written out and sent by Lacey - 
Please join us for a baby shower for Lindsey Johnson.  Josh and Lindsey are going to be mom and dad, approximate date is January 23rd, 2013.  So, we plan a gathering.  I have come to love gatherings of family and friends - it is such a fun time to be together and just love on each other.  To let people know what they mean to you....
Robin and Carol brought California Blend
Gramma and Juliee brought Cheezie Turkey
Gramma and myself brought peanuts and candy corn for the tables
Juliee, Missy and myself brought Salads
Emi brought the "pumpkin fluff" (pumpkin pie filling, vanilla pudding mix, coolwhip)
Amanda brought Cupcakes and a Cake
Lisa and Lori brought Peanut Butter Cake and Butterscotch drops
We had punch with little yellow duckies that wouldn't float,
Decorations of Gold and Ivory - set out by Lacey,
Trivia and a baby game - set up by Emily.
Gifts gathered and handed out by JaciAnna
Written down by Jenna
People came from all over (Liz had a 3 hour drive)
We gathered in that little church in Arlington
And celebrated life!
Thanks to all that helped in anyway, thanks to all that came to help us celebrate the soon arrival of our little
Cassandra Grace.

Whispers

Our first born grand... holding the hand of her conzin... loving life. Lord I pray for them today. I know how Nola loves them... her little hands reaching as they leave...
"I come too, I come.... I come!!"
crying when they backed out the drive way -
and deep down I know this is the way of life, people must leave, they bless each other with good bye's...
but deep down,
I can't help but feel the pain of the leaving,
knowing that feeling comes from God -
I believe His ultimate plan is for us all to be together one day,
no more hurt, diagnosis, judging, fear, tears...
no more little hands reaching into open air...
He will wrap His loving arms around us and gently carry us home.
The sound of good-bye will be a whisper from earth as we pray.
I thank-you sweet Jesus that I am able to feel Your love,
as sometimes the sound of good-bye fills my heart to overflowing...
waiting for the sound to be a whisper...
I am so Thank full  to You for giving me this time on earth to love Your children. 
For the sound of good-bye
and the promise of whispers...
Praise the Lord for all I have been blessed with!

CAMEL's

This is the camel that we met at "The amazing farm". Something about this picture, something about this day is just staying right in my heart, right in the middle with all my good memories.  I can imagine that he is looking at me... huge dark eyes and long eyelashes
and that his smile is just for us that day...
he knows that we will be thinking about him for years to come...
remembering the little hands reaching for him...
knowing that our prayer for the little ones is for their hands to reach for Him.

Cough Syrup

I found this recipie in a newspaper.  I want to have it down in a place I won't loose it.  It seems with little ones and winter it would be a nice thing to try.  Daddy calls me and says little Jordyn isn't feeling well.  Her ears are hurting and she has a fever.  I try to think of what to do. What did I do? I remember at one time putting warm oil in Emily's ears.  I lift up a prayer for my little one and hope as Jesus holds her through the night that things will look better for this sweat child in the morning light.

                                                 
One lemon, sliced thin
One cup flax seeds
One quart water
1/4 cup of honey

    Simmer the lemon, flax seeds and water for 4 hours.  Do not boil.  Strain and add honey.  If there is less than one pint, add water to make a pint. 

Dose: One T. four times a day or after each fit of coughing.

HOPE ll

When I am looking for my bits of hope... wondering what in the world I am doing...
I find this letter written to me by a lady in our church who turned 100 years old.  We had a little party for her during the childrens sermon...
we made her queen for the day...
princess of the most high King.
Now she lives with the King.
Again I am filled with HOPE.

The Getaway...

They say a picture paints a thousand words.  I can feel the story behind this picture.  She first goes to find the box.  Then you need some cushioning to make it comfortable.  You search around and you find the couch pillows... okay, that should work.  Get yourself a book to read, hop in the box and arrange the pillows for comfort.  Yes, I believe now she has built herself a perfect little get away spot.  A place where mom and dad will let her alone for awhile... a place to call her own.

 

"Country Songs"

This little girl is a singer.  I found this out about two months ago and I wait for each note that she will sing.  Her daddy can usually get her started by starting to sing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" - usally by the time he gets to the next part she is singing "Bible tells me so"...
it is in perfect pitch in her sweet little girl voice.
And I think to myself, if someday she is a world known singer...
singing her heart out for Jesus,
I hope they will use this picture on her title album...
and call it " Country Songs "
by: Jordyn Noel Harren.

Good Night

It is time for bed and he asks me if he can tell me a story...
of course you can sweet child...
There once was a shark named Conner Dallas Harren.
Along came two fishermens in a boat.
They put a big piece of ham on a hook and dropped it over the side of the boat.
The shark bit on the piece of ham.
He pulled the two fishermens into the water with him and they swam off all together.
Happily ever after.
The end.

Then I told him a story about a little boy who's parents let him visit his grandma and papa.
He asks if he can tell me another story...
of course you can sweet child.

There once was a grandma.
She came home one day and she said to papa "WHERE IS CONNER DALLAS HARREN?"
Papa said  "I DON'T KNOW, LET'S GO SEE IF WE CAN FIND HIM."
So, they looked in the bedroom and there was their little boy.
And he said "HERE I AM GRANDMA, I AM TRYING NOT TO BE AFRAID OF MY DREAMS, WILL YOU LAY DOWN BY ME SO THE DREAMS DON'T BOTHER ME?"
And gramma said '"YES, I WILL"
So Conner Dallas Harren and Grandma went to sleep.

And in the real story - his gramma prays with him and kisses him goodnight,

he turns to his side and immediately falls asleep.
The End.

AS IT SHOULD BE

As it was...
Last year our whole family met up at Emma Krumbee's for their fall festival in October of 2011.  It was a beautiful cold fall day... and it worked! Everyone had a wonderful time together.  We talked then and decided it would be a good idea to get together each fall just for a day.  We would try to pick  one of the different areas around Minnesota.  There are many places that have activities going on for this beautiful time of year.   It seems fall is our whole family's favorite season.
As it is...
 It is hard when your children get older, they have homes, have jobs, husbands, husbands families, and now all have children of their own also.  Some work week-ends, some are on the fire department and work always, some have parents far away, some live far away but we decided we would try to make this work and we picked out a date to meet again this year.
So it was...
October 21st or 22nd depending on the weather.  The week-end before was magnificent - couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall.  The 21st was cold and windy, the 22nd was to be a little better with not so much wind.

...

October 22nd we meet in Eden Valley, Mn at the Amazin' Farm.
Emily and her family came for Foley, Mn. they were the first to arrive and had things figured out for the rest of us.
Lindsey and Josh from Blaine, swung through Mpls, Mn and picked up
Lacey and her family.
Curt, mom, Jeff and myself traveled up from Arlington, Mn (my home from almost birth - I started in Gaylord, then to GI, then to Arlington - several short stints to Willmar, Mankato, and Winthrop and then yes, back to Arlington).
So we went...
It ended up to be a kinda cold, a little windy, beautiful, very wonderful day!
I will let the pictures speak for themselves (taken by K photography)

all is well with my soul
as it should be.............