The Many Birthdays of Daniel

Over the past two weeks, our youngest grandson, Daniel, has been getting a lot of attention.  It was his 6th birthday on the 26th, but circumstances stretched his birthday out for over a week.  First, he had a pirate themed birthday party with a dozen of his little friends on the Saturday before his birthday.  Grandpa Bert, Uncle Ryan and I, were on hand to help his parents pull it off, although it was more about seeing it unfold.  They do an awesome job making their children's birthday parties extra fun. 

Each year, the birthday child gets to pick a theme, and  mom creates a cake to match.  They go all out with decorations, and devise games to match the theme.  This year, Daniel chose to go with a pirate theme, and the cake was a treasure chest.  Isn't he about the cutest pirate ever?

 



Uncle Ryan even brought his Lego "Ship in a Bottle" to add to the decorations.  Dad and Mom dressed for the occasion, and party guest were given the opportunity to wear a pirate head scarf, if they so desired.  Daniel's siblings and even Uncle Ryan got into "pirate mode."

 

Games included keeping black balloon cannonballs in the air as long as possible, tossing gold coins into a treasure chest, going on a treasure hunt using various creative means of getting around, (plus even having to walk the plank!)  Water balloons were used to "attack" chalk drawn ships, and everyone got a whack at the pirate chest piñata.

 

 

 

 

Lunch included summer sausage and cheese cubes, and red and green grapes poked on pirate swords, as well as crackers and pirate themed cupcakes.  The treasure chest cake would be saved for a party on his actual birthday a week later.

 

It is tradition for the grandparents to attend a supper on the actual birthday, but this year it was not possible for us to attend.  So Daniel not only got a supper with the other grandparents on his birthday, but another "cake only" party when we were able to come a couple of days later.

 

He is one special boy, and we are so thankful he is part of our lives!  Here he is with the last of his presents, which included some "spiffy clothes" from us, and a new scooter from Uncle Ryan. 

 

 




We also got him a water rocket, which he and his brothers had fun breaking in!

 

"Happy Birthday, Daniel!  All done celebrating until next year!"



Mother's Day Blues

It has been one of those "frumpy" kind of days, and I couldn't quite figure out why.  Part of the reason might be the sun isn't wanting to shine today, but as I contemplated the possible reasons, I settled on the fact I once again have come down with a bad case of the "Mother's Day Blues".

About this time of year, everyone starts posting pictures of their mom, along with memories they have shared.  Today on my Facebook page, the memory which popped up was a picture of me with my mom, grandma, and daughter, likely taken on a Mother's Day in years gone by.  Memories are wonderful, but having them with you in person is an extra sweet blessing.

The little girl in the picture grew up, got married, and now is a mom to four wonderful children who call me grandma.  Hopefully we will be able to spend a little bit of time with them on Sunday, although most of the day will be spend in the car on our return from South Dakota where we are celebrating the college graduation of our nephew.

At the age of 68, my mom passed away from a brain aneurysm. I was 35 at the time.  Grandma lived five years longer, and made it to the age of 100, and was blessed with a clear mind until the end.  Lots of years have passed since then, but I still feel their presence with me, especially on days like today.

Come to think of it, I just might whip together a batch of "Della Bars" as my friend, Charlene calls them.  They are a yummy concoction of graham cracker crumbs, miniature marshmallows, and nuts with a butterscotch/peanut butter frosting.  My mom used to send them to us when we spent our first semester of college together at UND in Grand Forks. 

"Thanks for the recipe, Mom!  Give Grandma a hug, and imagine me there with you!  Looking forward to the day you will both welcome me to my eternal home!"

The Process Continues!

There is one main reason to only tackle a major remodel project once every 40 years or so.  It's called keeping one's sanity!  Actually, things are moving along quite nicely.  The spaces are all now defined.  Half of the perfataping and texturing is completed.  And, as I type, I can hear the washing machine and dryer doing their work in my new dedicated laundry room.  For all the clutter and mess, life is good!

Yesterday, we spent the evening shuffling furniture and "stuff."  It had all been crammed into the new second bedroom, (created from two original, smaller bedrooms) while work was being completed in the expanded master bedroom, office space and sunroom.  To make way for round two of the texturing work, everything was moved into the master bedroom.  Next week, the workers will return to work on the now empty bedroom, and finish up the two bathrooms and laundry room.  This lines up nicely with our upcoming getaway to Arizona to visit Bert's uncle.

 

Soon, the office space I have used over the years will be dismantled, and my computer world will be reduced to the use of the iPad and iPhone for a time.  Since it will be awhile before the new space will be ready, it seemed only fitting to sit here one last time and blog.  Last night, I spent some time looking over the many encouraging words surrounding the computer desk, and realized it had been some time since I actually read them.  Still, they were always there handy, should I need a reminder of God's faithfulness in my life.

 

 

It has also been fun working our way through the layers of wallpaper, and removing the trim to reveal the original colors of the rooms.  It kind of made me think, "What were we thinking??" as I found the "lovely" striped wallpaper in the bathroom, and the very green color which was originally in the smallest bedroom.

 

 

 

The old school clock on the wall is certainly a reminder of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which tells us there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.  Especially fitting for our current situation are the examples of "a time to break down, and a time to build up" in verse 3, and "a time to keep, and a time to cast away" from verse 6.

 

Throughout this crazy remodel time, it is good to look ahead to a time of completion, and the opportunity it will give to offer our home as a place of fellowship in our community.  Until then, we'll endure the process!

 

 



 

Mixed Emotions

Today is a sad day, as we learn of the passing of a powerful man of God, Billy Graham.  At the age of 99, God has called him home, after a lifetime of pointing people to Jesus.  Only eternity will reveal how many lives were changed because of the influence of his life.

Today is also a day to rejoice because Billy Graham is now in the presence of Jesus.  He is free from the challenges this life gave him, and free from the evils which seem to prevail here on earth.  All of heaven is rejoicing over the arrival of a dear saint called home.

Lastly, today is a day to be challenged.  As a fellow believer, I am challenged to step up to the plate, and do a better job of reflecting Christ's love and forgiveness in my life, as Billy Graham did.  I am praying for a new level of boldness in sharing my faith.  It's time to wake up, church.  A hurting world needs what we have to offer!

Giving Hearts are Growing!

From last year, and brought forward to bring attention to the fact it is once again "Giving Hearts Day" in ND!  Take time to be one of this year's givers!! ❤️

It has become a tradition at our house to participate in the annual "Giving Hearts Day" in North Dakota.  Once a year, thanks to three foundations hosting the event, (Dakota Medical Foundation, Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation) donations are matched dollar for dollar, and many charities get a real boost.

In the last three years, donations (and people's generosity) have consistently grown.  In 2016  there were 37,109 donations made to 326 charities and causes, raising $8.3 million.  Last year, the total grew to nearly 10.7 million, and so far this year the total is up to 12.8 million.  Perhaps by midnight we can boost it to 13 million? 

In the eleven year history of "Giving Hearts Day" $41 million dollars has been raised, benefiting nonprofit organizations and charities across North Dakota.  What a blessing to see so many people sharing, and at the same time so many wonderful causes reaping the benefits!

There are over 400 different benefactors listed as options. . .check them out at this website, and join the band of North Dakota "Giving Hearts."  The minimum donation is $10, and you can choose as many different charities as you like.  https://giving.impactgiveback.org/#

These were our picks for the year:

     Williston Trinity Christian School (our grandchildren's school!)
     Adult and Teen Challenge (for recovery from drug and alcohol)
     Anne Carlsen Center (help for handicapped children)
     Gateway to Science (fun "hands on" learning center)
     GiGi's Playhouse (Support for Down's Syndrome)
     First Choice Clinics (Pregnancy Support)
     Upper Missouri Ministries (Bible Camp)

Do What You Can

My husband and I have lived in our home for over 40 years now.  Other than putting in a few new floor coverings, little has changed.  So never have I had to experience a remodel project. . .until now.  It has been an interesting and challenging project, one which is far from over.  It is exciting, but such a mess!

First of all, there is the 40+ years of "stuff" to contend with.  Suddenly rooms and closets are having to be emptied to make way for the changes.  I do believe once it gets out in the open, some kind of internal combustion takes place and it multiplies in size.  Or else we were just very good at "tucking things away!"

One day this week, I walked into my bedroom after breakfast and thought to myself, "Is there any sense in even fixing the bed?"  There are random boxes all over the house, and did I mention there is a mattress and dresser in the middle of my living room?  Yes, things are in disarray, and there is no hope of maintaining any sense of order.

In the end, I did fix the bed, and have been trying to make a point of doing so each morning.  It is the one small thing I can do every day to maintain a piece of "normal" in my crazy, mixed up world.  As I have been doing so, God seemed to whisper a little message to my inner spirit.

"I know how you're feeling," He said.  "I've got my own remodel project going on in the world, trying to make it a better place.  Sometimes it seems for every step of progress made, we're taking two steps back.  But the good thing is, in the end, it will be such a great new world!  So if things are in a mess, just do what you can each day, even if it's just making the bed, and before you know it, in My time, everything will be fresh and new."

It's amazing how beneficial a little conversation with God in your head can be!

Exposed!!

Most of us, at one time or another, have seen an episode or two of the show "Hoarders."  Watching it always makes me feel a little bit better about my own house.  It's certainly not THAT bad!  There have also been times when I have been witness to real life examples of a hoarder's home, and it makes me want to pat myself on the back.  I could never let things get to such extremes!

Having lived in the same house for some 40+ years now, I have often told my husband we should just pretend to move, without actually moving, so we could purge some of our accumulation of "stuff."  With a sunroom addition underway, we reached a point this past week where I was informed we would need to empty out some rooms prior to the point we tear into the existing house to connect it to the new part.  That's when the real truth was exposed. . .we ARE hoarders!

Although not quite yet worthy of an episode of the show, I am finding out there is an overabundance of, shall we say, "unnecessary items" in our home.  But when it comes to weeding through them, and making the hard decisions of whether to keep, throw, or sell, there are far too many things I want to keep.

In the past, I have often called myself a "sentimental saver."  Added to the challenge in our home is the fact my husband and son both fit the category, as well.  An item may have no current purpose, but "It used to be Grandma's" or "I remember when Dad used it," and the next thing you know it has been stashed away in one of the "save it piles." 

Yes, piles.  As in plural.  Lots of piles.  Some of them are orderly, and some not so orderly.  Every once in awhile we get inspired and decide to organize our "keeper places."  The main one is a room we call the "freezer/storage room."  It also houses our electrical box, the water heater, and the workings of our central vacuum system.  Over the years, it has become home to all those items we feel we can't live without, even though they haven't seen the light of day in decades.

It used to be we would store all of our Christmas décor in this room, under the basement stairs.  In later years, however, I learned it was much easier to store some of the totes and boxes in the guest bedroom closet, and leave the rest in a more accessible area of the "freezer/storage" room.  Over time, shelves have been added on all available parts of the walls, and now there are also rows of boxes in front of the filled shelves.

Did I tell you we still have most every toy our children had growing up?  Our daughter will turn 39 tomorrow, and her brother is 36.  But now there are four grandchildren, and it wouldn't be fair to break up the collections of Barbie dolls, GI Joe sets, and miscellaneous odd toys which fill the toy box, which happens to have been build by my carpenter husband.  (Who could part with that??)  There is also a "kitchen set" with stove, oven, sink and cupboard in one unit and refrigerator in another (also built by him).  These are treasures.  But more often than not, they are so buried under the rest of the "stuff" our grandkids don't get a chance to play with them.  Besides, the Lego collection seems to take first place at capturing their attention on most visits lately.

Getting back to the reason I am blogging about our accumulations, our sunroom project is requiring we clear out some areas to make room for the electrician and plumber to work.  This means the Christmas things can't be in either the guest room closet OR the "freezer room."  Because of this, it is currently taking up a huge corner of our TV room.  When it's all piled in one place, you realize how much of it there is! 

Then we move on to the "office" where photo albums and books need to be boxed up for the time being.  Lots of photos, and lots of books.  It was like the "Fibber McGee's Closet" of another era. . . layer after layer of things in need of a new place to hang out. 

It actually has been kind of fun.  I've discovered lots of things I haven't seen in a long time, and lots more I didn't even remember we had.  I've come to the conclusion we have so many memories stashed away, we could live another 40 years and still not get through them all!

Someone recently asked me why, after our kids are grown, we all of a sudden decided to add on to our house.  Truth be told, it was either add more space, or get rid of "stuff."  And you know how I feel about that!