Soccer camp

Everyone came down on Sunday June 8th for Darian's graduation at the pow wow grounds in Gaylord.  It was a beautiful, bittersweet day...
knowing that Linda wanted to live to see her oldest grandson graduate.  She was so proud of him.
If it is possible to get glimpse's from Heaven, I believe she was looking down on the party and smiling.
Emily came back to Arlington with her kids and JaciAnna and Conner were packed up to stay with Grammie Pammie, Papa and Gramma D for the week of soccer camp.
This year camp started at 1:00 and ended at 4:00.  It was held from June 9th - 13th at the Glencoe soccer park.   With a little juggling on the driving we were able to get them there and home each day of the camp.  
It was not a problem each day for Gramma D to get them ready for camp - they were excited about their game, excited about Jesus.
Emi came to Arlington with Jordyn on Thursday night and took them to their last day of camp on Friday...
And already we are talking of next year...
What a wonderful way to spend the week with two of my favorite people!

First Steps

Cassandra Grace is walking!  She spent much of her time perfecting her crawl...
she is a master at it - each precise movement taking her quickly to where she wanted to go...
why walk?
And then when she did start walking - she did it perfectly and gracefully...

Isn't that kind of how God leads us?
First we are babies being held by Him with strong arms..
then we crawl, giving our best to learn His ways...
then we perfect the crawl and we figure why should we learn to walk?
This is so comfortable and I can get where I am going safely - no risks needed...
and then He softly whispers and sets us down on solid ground -
walk my child
I need someone to get out the word that I am alive!! I am living and I need you to be my feet
to those who are hurting,
to the hungry,
to the lonely, loveless, childless, abandoned...
Walk my child to the people who need me.  Tell them I love them so...
They are My reason for life.
I will always be with you...
Step by step I will lead you...
just follow Me.
And I'll lead you all in the
dance said He.

Cassie Grace dancing for Jesus

Mourning Doves

Sjogren, Schmidt cousins

At Sjogrens in Lafyette with Nola, Jordyn, Mira and Papa

Lindsey, Nola and Cassie Grace July 27th, 2014

Some of the gang at Sjogren, Schmidt gathering July 27, 2014

Cassie Grace reading to Gracie

Cassie Grace loving on Gracie!

It is 91 degree's and beautiful as I move down the road with Chloe.  The wind is still and the colors all around me are summer.  While walking I am trying to take deep breaths, it was a busy day at work, with a lot of needs to be met.  As I am breathing in through my nose, and out through my mouth my ears open to the melancholy sound of the Mourning Dove.
The sound makes me think of how I am feeling right now at this moment and a lonesomeness set in my bones, traveling to my heart...
We have had a week full of family, now it is just me and the Dove.

The family reunion was beautiful with my whole family there and the Sjogrens.  We got to see our Cassie Grace's new "foot steps" as she wheeled across the floor with the greatest of ease.  We all knew she could walk... I think she just wanted to be sure of herself!   We talked with new family and held the newest member who is just 2 weeks old... Gracie.  The kids all played together as the adults caught up and recaptured the old memories of days gone by.
It was all so wonderful.

Then on Monday I get to go down to Gramma D's to pick up Nola and Jordyn.  The rest of them have gone to Hutch.  They are playing "Santa Claus" and quite oblivious to Gramma and I listening.
"Okay now, you pretend you are sleeping so Santa Claus can come and bring you presents"
The other little one lays behind the chair, quietly...
as the packages (empty little boxes that they have been playing with for most of the afternoon)
are placed by her chimney with care.
Oh the excitement in both of them as they go back and forth, the same story except for taking turns being Santa.
After awhile we load up in  the car seats and head for our house.  We wash up in the sink (both fit on the bathroom sink, little feet in the water, little perfect hands swishing, making bubbles....
the most important part!
We head up to bed.  All three of us on the blow up mattress.  They are so tired and yet they can not seem to quit talking...
about having the same pillow,
the same blanket,
where are their momma's?  How about their brother and JaciAnna?
I feel hot,
I feel cold,
should we keep the light on?
We say our prayers - please know that EVERYONE of you were Blessed by these two little girls.  I don't think we could have possibly missed a name!
Hearing movement downstairs I figure it is probably time that the "momma's" come up as I am enjoying this to much to make them stop and go to sleep.

On Tuesday all of them gathered and went swimming at the Gaylord pool.  They swam the whole afternoon and when they got home at 6:30 - there was no need for anything other than some food and a nice bed...
with matching pillows and blankets for all!

Wednesday morning I woke up and got ready for work, Nola was up and ready for her cereal a 7:15.  Her and Lila held down the fort as I left, and when Jordyn woke up she had a tummy ache.  After some excitement Lacey and Emily spent the morning getting ready to part.  Lacey and Nola would go home for a chiropractor appt. and Emily, Lila, Jaci, Conner Jordyn and I would go to the fair...  (see next blog called SILVER SHIRTS!)

On Thursday morning we slept in until 8:00 am and then Tim and I cut down some tree branches as Brittany and the girls all played and ate cereal.  By 11:00 Emi and her tribe are ready to go home, with a quick (all afternoon) trip to Bunker beach to meet up with Christine and her family.  Missy and I go to judge the "Bake and Taste" at the fair and Brittany traveled around the fair grounds checking things out and talking to friends.  By 5:00 we take Brittany back to Glencoe and we come home to listen to another guy tell us his windows are the best in the world.  He was such a nice guy and had a piece of apple pie with us before he went back to Bloomington....

and now it is Friday...
I hear the other birds start to sing...
and I realize a whole orchestra of beautiful sounds have been added to the mourning doves song...   
My memories are forever hidden in the notes of my heart.
I can take them out whenever I want -
and then it comes to me...
I am not lonesome anymore!

Rootbeer floats...

Lacey came to our house on a Wednesday...
Addison had a birthday party on a Saturday...
Well, it just seemed to make sense that Nola Jean would stay with her Grammy Pammy and Papa when her mom left for home on a Friday...
Nola Jean went to Gramma Dorius's on Friday when Lacey left for Mpls.  I picked her up there after work and she had a little supper that ended with a root beer float...

Saturday we got up and had some organic cereal with Almond milk and then we got ready to go to Lamberton, Mn. for Addison's 5th birthday party.  Nola helped me wrap Addison's little owl purse and then we wrote out a card and put $5.00 in it.  She was so excited about the giving part!
We arrived, it was a beautiful Saturday!  Family all over the yard, swimming pool filled, swing set mounted and ready for fun, and of course lots of food!
Nola Jean was a little overwhelmed by all the friends that were there and it took her awhile to warm up.  She played a long time in the play room all by herself...
having a wonderful time with the "my little ponies" and the kitchen!
When she came out it was time to play on the swing set with Papa, throw beanbags with Hayden, open presents with Addison, and the best part of all...
sharing a root beer float with Papa!
When we got back to Arlington, Hayden also came to Arlington.
We packed up and went out to the Weber ranch.
They looked at all the new baby kitties, played house and then the best thing...
they got out the dancing outfits and made up a few dances for Missy, Jeff and I to watch.
We went home at 9:30 (ouch, it is getting late)
Took a bath, washed the spray out of our hair from the dance recital and went to sleep on Papa's bed.

Sunday excitement started as soon as we got out of bed, again we had organic cereal with almond milk.  Watched a little bit of "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" while Grammy pammy got ready for church.  Got dressed in our Sunday best and walked to church.  Nola played in the play room while I sang and then we headed for home.  Time to get a few groceries for dinner...
mom and dad will be here soon.  We had tamale's and taco salad.
Next we loaded up the twin bed from the basement to go to Mpls.  Mom and dad drove Tim's van to the apartment and picked up her doll house on the way.
Nola and I then met mom and dad in Norwood and exchanged vehicles.
Oh what a wonderful day again!!
Maybe the only thing better would have been if we ended the whole magical, beautiful week-end with a ...
ROOT BEER FLOAT!
(pictures to be added when I get them developed from Gramma D's camera)

Mothers day week-end and some AMAZING GRACE!

We spent it in Foley - Everyone brought something to eat and Chris made the meat!
It was wonderful for everyone to get to be together even if it isn't for a long time.
My favorite part was Emily wrote a poem...
(she is going to send it to me to put on here... that needs to be done soon!)
she read it to us with everyone in the room.
Then she had her sisters and kids sing Amazing Grace for grandma ...
the memory of it still brings a fullness to my heart...
I'll never forget this mothers day!
I also got my silver "Oragami Owl" necklace with my grandkids birthdays in it.  I always tell them not to buy me anything.  I will admit ...
I love it!
And I love my family!!!
Happy mothers day everyone!

This picture is from Boston, however, it shows my three beautiful singing girls... so it is appropriate right here!!!!!!!!!!!!!  AMAZING GRACE!

BOSTON

Please come to Boston in the spring time...
it's so pretty and we have lots of room.
And so,
for Grannie's 80th birthday we decided we would do just that!
Grandma had a party at her apartment for all the people who live there.  She made breakfast bake and muffins, juice and coffee.  Lacey and Nola came to help us set it out and serve it and it ended up to be a great party!  This was on Thursday the 13th of March which is her actual 80th birthday.  It was nice to be together with friends...
but,
even nicer when we flew off in a jet plane to Boston on April ? (gotta get exact dates here)
With lots of planning Lindsey got the rooms and airfare booked.
Emily, Lindsey and Lacey worked on getting places for their kids to go while their momma's were gone.
Emily's three, JaciAnna, Conner D and Jordyn Noel,  stayed their daddy. Mom got lots of activities planned and friends house's for them to stay at too! This way there would be no worries while momma went on her first plane ride to be with her grandma for the celebration!
Lacey's little Nola Jean went with her daddy to Rockport to see her Bubcha and Jadeck.  Momma didn't  have any worries, Nola was with family who loves her and they were so happy to see her again!
Lindsey's baby Cassie Grace stayed with her daddy and her grandma and grandpa Johnson.  It was the first time Cassie was away from her momma, but, she did wonderful too!
Grams and I just had to get everything squared away with her medical blood clot problem - wowser, what a time to end up in the hospital with a clot...
two weeks before we are scheduled to leave on our trip.
She got the okay and we left to go to Lindsey's on Wednesday night.  We stopped to eat at a little restaurant in Blaine and I was up all night with the trots... no eating for me on the plane until we were close to a bathroom!
The flight went without a hitch and we were on our way!
We had a wonderful time together...
it was like old times, me, mom and the three girls.  I don't think we squabbled at all (if we did it has been long forgotten).  We just had a peaceful wonderful time.
Lindsey made a book with all the pictures in it and highlights!  Make sure to stop by and check it out. I will add a few pictures here, just so you know how much fun we had...
next year "Door County"

Our first supper in Boston - with my baby and momma!

The flight to Boston...

The motel lady liked gram's!

Getting ready to hoop it up!

hooping it up!!

Emi without children!

Lindsey hooping it up!

Lindsey and Emi toasting to a great 4 days ahead!

The museum

The birthday lobster!

me and my most beautiful wonderful momma!

It was cold out but we walked to the trolly and stopped for a picture

gazing at all the treats!

We are all home safely now again, the world has gone on and we have delved back into our busy lives... but, it was sure fun to say we went to Boston and it leaves a great memory in our hearts for ever!
Love you Grandma D!  Happy 80th birthday.

EASTER

This year for Easter the girls all came to our house on Saturday with their kids.  Emily and my mom went with Diane E to see Linda in the Mayo hospital.  Emi would be spending the night there with Linda so that her family could spend Easter with their family at home.  Mom drove back with Diane that night.  Lindsey and Cassie Grace stayed down at grandma's apartment with her and at about 11:30 pm we got a TXT from Lindsey...
"It is not a stalker outside your house, it is Cassie and I, she wouldn't sleep so we went for a drive. "
The TXT made us smile but we felt bad that our little girl wouldn't sleep.  The little gal finally did give into sleep and was ready to go the next morning!  JaciAnna stayed with Grams and Cassie Grace also.  While she was there she got all the eggs ready for hiding on Sunday.
Here in the little brick house was, me, pops, Conner, Nola, Jordyn, Lacey.  After everyone went to sleep I got all the baskets ready for the morning.
Morning arrives...
children are excited!
We went to church and then waited for Emi to come home from Rochester (she drove Doug's car to Arlington and arrived about 12:30)

Cassie Grace and Papa... not quite ready for the Easter egg hunt yet this year... but she has a pretty dress for the day!

All the grandkids looking for the hidden eggs!  Lindsey and JaciAnna were the heads of this fun time!

Nola Jean shows her egg off to the camera

.  All of us had a wonderful dinner together, there was an Easter egg hunt and we went to the park.  Here is a few pictures showing the kids hunting for their hidden treasures! It was a beautiful day and fun was had by all.