TIME

I love this picture, so I believe I need to write a little bit about it in order to "post" it to my blog. It was taken in Mankato, Minnesota. I remembered the park when I got there but hadn't been there for many years. Jeff, mom, Ann, Nola Jean and myself went there to meet up with Nola Jean's momma and daddy. They were taking NIck and Heathers Engagement pictures and we were watching our Nola Jean. It was a beautiful fall day, with play ground equipment and animals to look at. Nola Jean was so excited about the whole thing that it made me excited! This is what I love most about children...
1. All they really want is your time, they don't even know if you have money.
2. All you really need is time to spend with them.
3. When you are with them with no other agenda, the time you spend will be given back to you ten fold.
4. They bring a joy to your heart that you can get no where else...except from the Creator who Blessed you with them in the first place.
5. When they grow up - if you took time with them, they will always love you.
6. When they leave your home - they will continue the circle
7. And the moments in time will never end.
...and I love this picture
I am so happy we were given this time!

Jordyn Noel

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY JORDYN NOEL HARREN!

It was one year ago today that our little angel came into the world. A planned C-section for 1/11/11. It is so amazing to me how time just keeps marching on. As our baby girl smiles for all those around her - I drink in the softness of her skin on photo's...
and wish with all that is within me that she were here... I just want to hold her and sing happy birthday to her. I want to see her reach for her dolly and fold it into her arms as she loves it, hear her soft spoken baby words and the sound of her cuddled up in her crib with her warm jammies on...
but then I realize she is here...
she is etched in the very blood that flows through me and gives my heart reason to beat.
They are all a part of who I am. My babies, each and every one of them giving me a reason to live, a purpose in life, and I stop once again and lift my arms to the Heavens and thank the Creator for the beauty of family.

SMILE!

When I look at this picture now it is January 2012. I can almost feel the moment when my mom stood before us with a 60's camera. I bet she was so happy we were sitting still and together. She looks at her two babies through the lens and says "SMILE"!
... he leans forward and beams that smile
... the one that lets her know this is only for a moment and then he will be on to new things.
... and before you know it we are off the chair, living life, and it is 50 years later.

Fen Shway

When the little guy came to stay with us a few days...

It was a cleaning day at the Schmidt's. Although I am sure you remember that grammie pammie got a new knee and should be able to vacuum in the most remote places...
it just seemed to me that one who could stand under the desk should be able to vacuum it with the greatest of ease.

So, I lined up the vacuum in a fen shway sort of way and handed him the nozzle. The little guy was a born pro... he was able to take advantage of his height and weight and get in the corners, amazed by the amount of things he was picking up never to be seen again.

Won't his momma be so proud of him? As although he isn't bringing home a bumble bee - he is bringing home a skill that he will want to show her. Hopefully it will be at an appropriate time and not when everyone is ready to fen shway and hit the hay!

The Voice of an Angel (another moment)

I first met him about a year ago. He is dressed neatly, walking towards me, very handsome, muscle running around every bone, chiseled to a fine form. He is maybe around 78 - I actually am not sure, but, I do know that his only living relative is a daughter and she is about 60. I love to stop by and say hello to him. He is a quiet man and tells me he loves this time he has been given. It has allowed him to slow down and now he can read more. When I ask him what he likes to read (thinking I can pick him up some books of his choice), he tell me that he reads the Bible. There is enough information in there and he is sorry but he never had the time to read it before. It is so rich in knowledge wisdom and hope. By his commercial bed stand and twin bed lays a beautiful Bible.
When I stop by next he is sitting in a wheel-chair, the treatments are making him weak but he believes they are shrinking the tumor that has pushed against his eye, causing blurred vision. He has a beautiful voice that offers strength for the day even though I feel rushed inside I want to sit here forever. He is reading from the only book he needs.

Months have passed and I find him laying in his bed. I ask him if he would like me to put some lotion on his back. I can tell he has lost weight but the handsome man he was shows through and I can see him looking back at me. He thanks me so much for stopping by and tells me to wake him up if he is sleeping.

Yesterday I went into his room. The color of cancer shows on his sleeping face. I gently say his name and ask him if he would like me to put some lotion on his back. He smiles at me and takes the energy he has stored while sleeping to turn to his side. I put the lotion into my hands and rub them together so the coldness sinks into me and when I go to touch the lotion to his skin - the muscle which defined his body is gone, and the bone that keeps his skin in place is next to my touch. I put on lots of lotion and he tells me "my skin is so dry, I don't know what it is, that feels so good, there isn't alot of energy for me to talk, my voice is so dry, I am so weak."

I tell him not to worry, just relax. Not wanting him to feel uncomfortable in the silence and yet I don't want to talk so he feels like he has to talk with me. In the moment of silence the words come to me in the form of a song. I sing to him for what seems like along time. When I leave he is sleeping and yet he says thank-you.

Today he is being pushed in a wheel-chair towards me. He reaches out his hand to me and says "this is the lady who sang to me yesterday, she has such a beautiful voice, it was so beautiful." I smile and touch his hand. (no one has ever told me I have a beautiful voice)

... and when I think about it - I know in my heart that it was not my voice singing to him. It was the voice of many angels bringing comfort to him as he lay in the weakness of life - looking forward to the promises of the Bible that he finally had time to relax and read.

And I lift my eyes to the Heavens and thank the Lord for these moments.


This story is a figment of my imagination. If it sounds like I am writing about someone you know - maybe it is. Take the time to be with those needing your help and love, take the time to let God use your voice to bring comfort to the hurting.

Harvest Fest 2011

For someone who does not believe in Halloween - I sure do love what I call in my mind "Harvest Fest". I enjoy how excited the kids are about getting all dressed up and being able to pretend to be someone or something else for that little space in time. They get to go around with their parents and knock on doors, showing their costumes to the neighbors and receiving a few treats. This year JaciAnna, Conner and Jordyn got to go to a lot of different celebrations, which we were thankful for as during the actual day their mom was very sick and Conner was just getting better. Their dad took them out to some houses after school anyway as they had all been so excited about the evening "Harvest Festing"! Nola Jean went to her Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Josh's house and they went around their neighborhood. Just enough excitement for her and then she also got to share some of her treats with Baxter. I see the pictures from this beautiful day - and I love the idea of celebrating with neighbors and friends, of being able to dress up. I love the innocence of children letting us enjoy them, the excitement of their parents being able to share their children with others, and the simpleness of a grandma who loves to see children enjoying life. So, once again I petition the courts to see if we just can't change the name of this celebration and a few of the rules. Take the goblins, vampires and mummies and change it to fun things - and celebrate together with all the love of Jesus Christ. He takes such joy in His children and I am so glad He choose me to have you.

The sounds of fall

It was a beautiful fall in Minnesota. It seems we waited forever for spring to arrive, when it did we got poured on and when summer finally did come it brought drought conditions. You wonder how this can happen but then the saying has always been "if you don't like the weather in Minnesota wait a day and it is sure to change!" That is truly what we have seen most of the year of 2011. What I loved most about this fall was all the gatherings. It started with meeting at Sibley Park in Mankato for Nick and Heathers engagement pictures. We had watched our Nola Jean so they could go to take some pictures in Mpls first and then grams, Ann, Nola Jean and myself met up with everyone in Mankato. The weather co-operated, it looked like rain - but it never did come... It was a beautiful fall day.

Then it was to Carlson's apple orchard in Winsted. We had the little guy for a few days and then we went to meet up with his momma... It was Ann, Lila, Grams, Lacey, Nola Jean, the little guy and myself that met up with momma, Jaci Anna and Jordyn in Winsted. After enjoying a little nature we went to Howard Lake and ate pizza in this great little private place restaurant. The kids were great, the weather co-operated, it was windy and cold but dressed appropriate... It was a beautiful fall day.

Then it was to Emma Krumbee's in Belle Plaine. We had Chris and Emily and the kids, Curt, Grams and myself. We met up there with Lindsey, Josh and Jeff. It was such a beautiful day outside and we truly took advantage of our $5.00 entry fee. Played in the park, road the train, took a hayride, saw the scarecrows and road a wood horse. Although it was October we were fine with no big coats, the sun was shining the weather co-operated... It was a beautiful fall day.

The girls took some other fall trips on their own also, enjoying all the nature that Minnesota has to offer. Lindsey went to Foley to help the kids make scarecrows and enjoy some leave jumping. Lots of pictures were taken and memories were made. I am so thank-ful to our Lord that I get to live in such a place as this. It is beautiful most of the time and when it isn't -
it seems...
if you listen close...
you can hear the sound of the leaves dancing in the wind, the fresh rain dripping from the hues of the leaves and memories being made.