Weekend Memories!

Hey!

How's your Memorial weekend?

I am so SO thankful for the many people who served and are serving our country!

Did you or are you doing anything awesome?!?!?!
Cool!
Me too!

Here's a few things that happened or will happen over the weekend!

1. Jo and I had a shopping day!
It was awesome!
On that shopping trip, as we were attempting to leave the store, I had trouble pulling the door open.... I kept pulling and pulling.
I looked over and saw Jo doing the same thing.
Right when I was going to say that they were locked in, we both pushed.
Wa-la!
They opened.
We both glanced around to make sure no one had seen.
As we shamefully proceeded out, Jo stated, "Well. They didn't have a "Push" sign!"

Times like that make me thankful I am not the only one....

2. There are some moments that I wish I could stash away forever.
Simple moments.
Moments that truly melt your heart.
Moments that overwhelm you with thankfulness.
Moments that take your breath away.
Moments that God gives.

I had a moment like that with a little sibling.
It meant the world to me.
More than the world.
More than anything.

3. SUNSHINE IS BACK!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. I ate chocolate pudding for breakfast two days in a row.
I didn't feel guilty in the least bit.
It was eggs, milk, stevia... and it was amazing.
It's not something I would offer to my brothers.... but I have been craving chocolate like you wouldn't believe, and it hit the spot!
Speaking of chocolate cravings..... you should mix some pure cocoa powder with vanilla Greek Yogurt, put it over frozen, sliced bananas, and glaze/toast some chopped almonds to go on top.
It is heavenly!
Believe me.
I know this.

5. I'm going to go get some dates and try out matrimony.

In other words.
I am going to attempt to make "Matrimonial Cake" with dates.
I've never made it before.
I've never tasted t before.
Dad loves it.
He has memories of it.
I shall make it!
He shall eat it.
Everyone else thinks it sounds disgusting.

6. I am going to take advantage of this last week of "teenager-hood."
I am SO ready to leave it.
BUT..... if I only have a week left, I might as well be as immature and annoying as possible....

7. A lady thought I was twelve.
She was a nice lady.... but I didn't think that was a bit uncalled for!
Ugg! I thought I was done with that "looking way younger than I am" stuff!!
Please. Don't tell me, "Someday you'll appreciate it!!"
It doesn't help.
I am almost twenty. I don't want to look twelve!

8. The boys + me + laptop + ice Cream + Chuck Norris = The BEST of times!!!
Wow.
I am SO good at math!

9. My brothers are 100 times cooler and more awesome than Chuck Norris!
Just saying.

10. The B's and us played in a tournament on Saturday.
Yesterday, we set up a net after church and, though everyone else left, we played all afternoon.
Today, we are going to Coeur D' Alene.
Guess what we are going to do?????
Guess who might come join us??????

Wrong!

We are going to play VOLLEYBALL and the B's might come!

Got you

I love throwing curve-balls!

Between the B's and us.... we maybe labeled as a bit obsessed with this sport.... but that doesn't stop us!

We won most of our games Saturday!

Took first in our pool.

Played for first in the whole tournament but lost.

It wasn't a shameful loss.

We played our best, etc.

Em, of course, was adorable.

Her dad was, er.... Jeffreyish! :)

I believe I can fly..... :)

Marian played on a team and did AWESOME!!!!!!!!

I'm so proud of her!!!

11. Marian and I went on a walk and found five snails. 

Whoot whoot!

Just for my conscience sake I must say.... one of them may or may not have been dead. We can't be sure. 

I haven't seen a snail since California.... I was little. 

This was a crazy find!

Beth and I used to love them 

I remember bathing them, taking off their shell, kissing them, etc. 

This time, we just named them. 

Showed mom.

Let them go away. 

On our walk, Marian and I also saw this....

I decided that I like donkeys. 

EVERY girl and her best friend LOVES horses....

So I don't.

But not everyone likes Donkeys. 

So I like them....

On that same walk, Marian rode on my back for at least a quarter of the way.

She forgot to put on proper shoes.

It was an experience. 

An experience that made me wonder what would happen if I was hiking and my friend got mauled by a bear. 

If they weigh more than eighty pounds.... just know, I can't do it.

Well, Johnny wants me to try his grilled watermelon and  people are loading into the car.

Have an awemazing day!!!!!!

Post Script:

Warning!

Don't waste your watermelon. 

(It isn't as cool as it sounds. It is warm and soggy and nasty.)

Words from the Wise

Psalm 37: 3-7

Trust in the Lord, and do good....

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him....

There are some passages of scriptures that seem to impact me over and over.... and over, again! 


Psalms 37:3-7 is one of those passages.


Trust. Delight. Commit. Rest. Wait Patiently.

Truly, there hasn't ever been a time in life when I haven't needed to be reminded of those words.


The resting and waiting patiently is something that doesn't come all that naturally for me. 
I like to do things in a very "fast and furious" manner. 
The Lord is having to remind me to slow down and let Him have it all.
Let Him take control.
Let my will be lost in His.
Calm down.....
Relax....
Chill....
Etc....


My Bible naturally flips open to that passage.... I think it is mainly because God knows how much I need to be reminded of those words, but it may also have something to do with the way it folds from being opened there so often!

Anyhow.... I love quotes..
Lots.
There are so many wise old people... their words bless me.
Lots.
I thought I would share a few that blessed me today!

"Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord."

A.W. Pink

"The cure for impatience with the fulfillment of God's timetable is to believe His promises, obey His will, and leave the results to Him."

Jerry Bridges

"I lay my "whys?" before Your cross in worship kneeling, my mind beyond all hope, my heart beyond all feeling; and worshiping, realize that I, in knowing You, don't need a "why?""

Ruth Graham

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else."

Bernadette Delvin 

"Until the will and the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let alone to accept, His lordship."

Elisabeth Elliot

Merry Wednesday and a happy weekend to all! 

Austin.

Two crazy things are happening today.

1. Jo and I are going to write this post together.
2. Our childhood friend is getting married.

Crazy!

Austin is a pretty one of a kind guy...
From the day he said, "So what do you want to do, play dolls?"

Oh wait, it was before that....

It was the burping occasion.
That "first Pastor's visit" where Ryan and Austin left an unique impression with their own rendition of "Ol Dan Tucker" complete with belches and all.

Anyhow, he has continued to.... well,... life with Austin as your friend is an adventure, to say the least.

We've known Austin for a while now....
Almost eleven years.
It's probably a good thing we don't know his fiance that well, or we may have felt it our duty to warn her.

Not really.
Austin is a great guy.

He is someone who puts 100 percent into everything he does.
That being the Lord, sports, studies, Amanda.... or just being taller than Beth/Lizzy. (It took him a while on that one.... but He succeeded eventually.)

We know that Lizzy would agree in saying that over the years, Austin has become a brother to us.

As twelve year olds, we would sometimes see him everyday of the week, between writing and science classes, music lessons, singing at the nursing home, church, sports, and then there was even Jewish dancing.... now that was an experience to remember!

As teens, we went on mission tips, had deep conversations about the Lord, and challenged each other in many areas of life.
We had "good peer pressure," in that we would discuss what you read in your Bible today.... so you better have read it!
There was also lots of healthy (????) competition about.... everything. Height, grades, weight (Yes, we all knew how much everyone weighed during those teen years. "I'm heavier!" "No, I am!!!!"), and anything else that could possibly be debated.
We were nice to each other... and would have stood up for one another in a heart beat.
We just enjoyed having something to "do" (talk/argue...) about all the time.

Austin has been away at college for the last three years.
In that time, he met, wooed, and as we speak (or type) is marrying a wonderful girl named Amanda.

He came for a visit a couple of months ago.
He was still our brother....

After all these years.... you can understand our dismay over the fact that he is having his wedding in FLORIDA!!!!

We wish so very much we could be there....
But.... even so, we are so excited and happy for Austin and Amanda!

We love you, Austin....

Your Sisters, Jo and Helen

Road Trip Happenings!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Oh.... You noticed that it is a bit late? 

Bummer.

We were out of town.....

And then Monday, Wednesday, and Tuesday, I didn't have the "blogging mood" on.

Thursday I started on this post, but didn't have enough "mood" to finish.

So, I made sure to put "the mood" on this morning.... and here I am!

Mom, Jo, Marian, and I went to visit Oma for that very special holiday called Mothers Day.

Remember her?

It was such fun......

I love road trips SO MUCH!

It was super last minute but SO wonderful!

A few happenings from this trip!

1. We ate.
A ton.
I mean.....
I had food by my feet, a cooler by my side, stuff on my lap....
Then we got to Oma's house and she fed us TONS!!!!!
I repeat.
We ate, a lot!

2. I got a tan through the window..... actually a sunburn.
For around three hours, I twisted and turned to get my face in the sunshine.
I really wanted a tan.... or a burn, either would work!

After three miserable hours.... I had a brilliant thought.
" Um, mom, can you get a sunburn through the window?"
She answered so wisely....
"Sure.... if it's down."

Oops.
I looked over at my window and it had a little sticker stating that it blocked the sun.
I gave up my hope of a tan or burn.

BUT!
The next day, I woke up and looked in the mirror....
I had my sunburn.

So.... who knows whether or not the rest of the human population can get a sunburn through a tinted window....But I can!

3. There is a house near Oma's.
We walked by it... and memories flooded back.
When we were kids, Johnny and I always walked from Oma's house to downtown near by.
We felt so grown up because we were allowed to go all by ourselves.
As we walked by each of the houses we would kneel down to see if the grass was "fake" or not.
You know how people roll out a layer of grass when they plant it?
Well.... we thought it was fake, because you could see the difference in the ground.
We were not what some call... "genius."

There was one house that scared us to DEATH!
On the gate there was a sign that read, "Forget the Dog.... Beware of Owner!"
AHHHHH!!! Run for your life!!!!!!!

We never walked by that house.
We talked quiet whenever we were near it.
We  threw little rocks in the yard.... you know, to see what would happen.
When Beth and Jo told us we were being silly..... we kept being scared.

Well, we saw the owner this trip.
I have to admit... my heart did skip a beat.
He looked like a pretty ordinary old man.... I know better than to believe that!

4. On the way home, we saw this....

And this....

AND this...

Yes, that is a boat with wheels.

And craziest of all....

;)

4. It was SO nice spending time with the girls!
We talked, Jo read us Sherlock Homes, shopped, went to Grand Coulee Dam....

Marian and I shared the backseat.

We had a great time.
By the time we were on our way home, I think that small thread that kept us sane, snapped.

Poor Jo.
Poor Mom.

5. The boys were SO very miserable without us.
Poor dears!
I think I saw tears in Peter's eyes as he hugged me on our return.
JUST KIDDING!!!!

After raving on and on and on and on and on about ALL the fun they had without us, Jimmy summarized it by saying....
"Basically, it was heaven on earth!"

Thanks, Fred!
I love you, too!

6. On the way home, we went out to eat..... and Guess who has two thumbs and forgot their purse?
Johanna!
You know... who never forgets anything!

Guess who else....
MOM!!
No way!

Oh.... and Someone else did, too.
Me....

Yes.
All three of us.
How crazy is that?

It was an embarrassing walk back to pick them all up.

7. We went to a great church up in Canada.
There was a  older man sitting behind me who sang monotone the whole time.
It blessed me.
For real.
It blessed me to hear his voice praising the Lord without thought to anyone else!

8. They sang this song at church on Sunday.

Wow.... God knew how much I have been needing that!

I wish so much that I could say I've got this whole "surrender thing" down pat.... but I don't.
Not a bit.

Actually.... surrendering and letting go has never been harder.

Jesus is so very faithful.
"I am weak but He is strong!"
How true He has proved those words.
I would be a basket case without that promise!

"I'm giving You my heart, and all this is within
I lay it all down, for the sake of You my King
I'm giving You my dreams, Laying down my rights"


"And I surrender, all to you...All to you"

I am so thankful that the Lord keeps teaching, keeps molding, keeps loving, keeps holding....


Oh,  by the way, I bought a one way, non-refundable plane ticket to Indiana.
42 days, 13 hours, 27 seconds, 26, 25, 24....
Time is going so fast.
Too fast.
Here I am, pretty much drinking in every moment as my last.... and the days are flying by without regard to my pleas.

If ever I have "lived like I was dying," it is now.
Every homemade meal.
Every hug.
Every long talk.
Every crazy moment.....
Every smile Emily gives.

We went on a walk the other day... my heart still hasn't stopped fluttering! 

Every "little sibling time."
Every Java Bear coffee.
They all mean more than ever when you know your leaving them....

But.
I'm also looking forward to many adventures in Indiana.


Toodles.... :)

Post Script: Were you offended because I did two fours?
I apologize.
I didn't think anyone would notice.... but then I had a guilt trip.
It was only because I am too lazy to switch all the numbers..... :(

Post Post Script: Are you super impressed with my use of "Post Script" rather than P.S?!?

Blue Skies......

"Bang, bang, bang!!!!!"  

Visit our house on this gorgeous day and you will surely hear, "guns a blazin!"

I was cracking up while watching our boys and girl, sneak around...so, I thought I would go into stealth-mode and snap some pictures of the kids in action.

It didn't go over just as planned, but I did get a few pictures!

Marian didn't get the whole "look natural!" thing....

"Helen.... I'm hiding!"

Even Johnny and Jimmy got in on the fun!

I got a gun.... But then everyone kept yelling, "Helen, I shot you!!!!"

"Helen, YOU'RE DEAD!!!!!"

Only Mom can kick back while war rages all around.

Ahhhhhh.... It's pretty much a gorgeous day!

"Blue Skies, Shining on Me, Nothing but Blue Skies, Do I See...."

I love days like this.

I love watching the kids be kids.

I love sun!

I love my family!

I love the Creator of all this beauty.

Side Note/Story:

So yesterday I made this cake I like to call, "The Bomb Inside the Bomb....."

It was an explosion... I mean smash!

We finished it up, but I had put aside a nice piece for later.

Today, I offered Johnny that piece.

He declined it with a guilty look....

I couldn't understand!

Why would Johnny say no to food, especially my cake!

I thought he was sick, didn't like the cake, was a ghost....

Until I found this.....

He has his own stash!
I knew declining cake wasn't like Johnny!
:)