Xanga

 

But let me run loose and free

celebrating God‘s great work

every bone in my body laughing, singing,

“God, there’s no one like you.”

Psalm 35:9 MSG

 

 

 

Monday’s Play

Part 1 – Chuck-E-Cheese’s

 

 

The horse was a favorite place to be – especially for Gloria.  She was here most of the time we were there – unless someone else wanted to ride.

 

 

We were celebrating her half-birthday (seven-and-a-half yesterday).

 

 s

Ian

 

 

Jared

We were celebrating his fourth birthday – a bit late – May 21.

 

 

Jesse settled for a smaller ride. 

We were celebrating his first birthday – coming up in two weeks.

 

 

 

 

Josh helping little brother Jesse

 

  

 

 

Some serious competition between brothers.

 

 

Grandma.  Look how many tickets I got!

 

 

I am not sure that I would want these three driving my car – especially with me in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder where this goes?

 

 

This is a tough climb.

 

 

Almost at the top.

 

 

Wow, that was fun.  I think I’ll come down now.

~~~

I left my camera behind to make sure he didn’t fall!

 

 

 

By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this,

but I’ve got my eye on the goal,

where God is beckoning us onward

to Jesus.

I’m off and running

and I’m not turning back.

Philippians 3:13 & 14 MSG

 

 

 

Sunday’s Rest

 

 

Ian, Jared, Gloria, and Jana enjoyed popcicles while watching Cerwin, Josiah, and Josh shooting target.

 

Following a very busy Saturday, I determined that Sunday would truly be a day of rest.  After church we went to Two Cousins for lunch so neither of us would have to deal with a meal.

 

 

You may have noticed a new name in the lineup.  Gloria (second from right) came home with us after church to celebrate her half-birthday.  However, Jordan and Nate went home, so there are only seven grandchildren here at the moment. 

 

 

The evening chefs were Jared and Ian.  They like making pizza with the rolls and pizza sauce their mom brought along on Friday evening.  These rolls, sauce, and cheese made a nice Sunday supper.

My day of rest also meant that I rested from taking many pictures.

 

 

 

God, your God, is striding ahead of you.

He’s right there with you.

He won’t let you down;

he won’t leave you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG

 

 

 

Saturday’s Work

 

 

We began the day by mulching flower beds.

 

 

Cerwin said later that we never got so much muching done is such a short period of time.  It is good to have a house full of grandchildren for days like this. 

 

 

\

 Jana

 

 

 

 

 

Jared and Ian wanted to “cut something” – so I gave them small scissors and a grey tub, and showed them how to cut tea.

 

 

Jessie happily watched from his “pen.”

 

 

Jana caught me pulling weeds in “Elijah’s Garden” 

Elijah is a grandson who died at the age of five months – fifteen years ago.

 

 

Jesse

 

 

Josiah and Josh

 

 

Jared and Ian are making good progress.

 

 

Jared asking me if he should keep these few leaves of mint.

 

 

Jared, Josiah, and Ian burning sticks and branches.

 

 

Jesse

 

 

Trimming stems of tea. 

I made five gallon of mint tea with our harvest today.

 

 

Ian and Jared enjoying mint tea – that I made earlier in the week – while waiting for lunch.

 

 

 

 

Jana watches as Josiah, Josh, and Cerwin roast hot dogs and brats.

 

 

A Johnsonville Brat.

 

 

It felt good to take a break.

My feet quickly turned black – from the black mulch – after taking my shoes off during lunch.

 

 

Jana walking on the stepping stone path in our large memory garden.

 

 

It was a warm day, so I thought the boys and plants would enjoy water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesse kept a close eye on the water.

 

 

Filling the birdbath.

 

 

Getting a wheelbarrow ride.

 

 

After I was finished doing my part in the flowerbeds, I set Jesse free from his pen.

 

 

He needs close supervision when left on his own, or he will eat bugs and dirt.

 

 

 

 

Whoa, that is a tall tree!

 

 

Josh stopped by to let me know he was leaving for work.  He helps a neighboring dairy farmer with evening chores – 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

 

A Fuller House!

 

 

The “big” guys needed something to do, so invited Nate and Jordan to go to a steakhouse for supper.  It didn’t suit Jordan, but Nate was happy to go along.

 

~~~

By the time they came back, they decided to all spend the night here!

~~~

 

 

Jordan got here before the other three, and read one of grandpa’s hunting magazines while he waited.

Now, instead of having six grandchildren here – there are eight!  We moved the four big guys to air mattresses in the room in back of the garage, and Jana, Ian, and Jared to the guest room. 

~~~

After getting that gang to bed, I was ready to prop up my feet.

 

 

 

 God makes his people strong.  

God gives his people peace.

Psalm 29:11 MSG

 

 

 

Full House

 Jere and Kristen are on a business trip for several days, so we have their five children – plus, Josiah is here from Maine

 

 

Ian, Josiah, and Jared setting up dominos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesse wasn’t appreciated, so they found something else for him to do.  The foot in the background is Josiah’s – protecting their fragile line of dominos from little hands.

 

 

Jana came after our supper, but wanted something to eat – preferably waffles.

 

 

 

 

Then it was bedtime for Jesse.  That is big brother Josh feeding him.

 

 

I think these six will keep our life interesting for the next five days.

 

 

 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep

for You, Lord, alone

make me dwell in safety and confident trust.

Psalm 4:8 AMP

 

 

 

Barefoot-Kind-of-Day

 

 

Now and then a day comes along when the weather is perfect, and everything else seems to fall in place. 

I can’t say that for every day this week.

 

 

Last night Cerwin planted some of the flowers we purchased at Saturday’s auction, and I “pressure-washed” the patio with a garden hose.

 

 

It was a perfect morning to sit on our newly-cleaned patio and reflect on something nice that happened to me at the restaurant on Monday evening.

~~~

While waiting for the hostess to seat us, I noticed a man who I thought I recognized as one of my tenth grade school teachers.  I summoned up some courage and walked over to his table and said, “I think I recognize you as one of my high school teachers.”

He looked at me and said, “You are Doris Jean Hershey.” 

That was my maiden name!

I don’t remember talking to him since high school – and tenth grade for me was forty-nine years ago.

Can you imagine my surprise – and I couldn’t remember his name.  He even seemed to have some kind of dementia, because the couple who were with him answered some of my questions – when he seemed confused.  They told me he taught school for thirty-eight years – and he remembered me! 

To the locals who went to my school – and are curious – it was Mr. Flick.

That was a real “warm fuzzy” for someone who is slowly getting used to being called “an older woman.”  Our grandchildren don’t even think my high school pictures look like me – but he recognized me, and remembered my name. 

~~~

 

Okay, back to reality – and my very nice day.

 

To my friend, Arlene.  Look what has happened to the Creeping Jenny you gave me a few years ago.

 

 

It is about to take over the flower bed.  I love how it covers the area under the tree, because it was difficult to grow anything else there.

Notice our garden tea in the background.

 

 

I decided it was time to make a gallon of this wonderful, minty drink.

 

 

It tasted so good while I relaxed on the patio after supper.

 

 

Still barefooted.

 

 

 About the time the moon was rising, I decided to check out my Shasta daisies. 

 

 

I have hundreds, and they are all ready to bloom.

 

 

I determined that this will be the first one to open.

 

 

The daylilies are also beginning to bloom.

 

 

 

 

It was definitely a barefoot-kind-of-day.