Game Time

The pitcher is ready,

Watching for signs and signals,

The batter is up,

She swings,

She's safe!

We need more runs.

Batter up!

Strike one!

He's ready to throw her out. We need a hit.

 Game on!

We're making progress.

 Let's not get discouraged!

We have some goofy players.

The opposing team is up

We need some assistance.

We're all in this together.

Even the dogs.

The game is close.

Strike!

We need a win.

We need a homerun.

 The hour is late.

Time to rally for the final play.

 We need everyone's help.

 I believe we are ready!

 Looks like we might have some new players.

 Maybe some interest in new players?

 It's the bottom of the 9th.

 We need a Babe Ruth, or maybe just a babe.

Our next draft pick is due in less than a week.  

Hoping for any day now. Come on baby, we're waiting!

Truthfully,

Joanne

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12.1)

Happenings

Last week was Sarabeth's birthday. One of her gifts was an engagement to be wed.

Congratulations Sarabeth & Travis.

"A man’s greatest treasure is his wife—
    she is a gift from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22)

What Does An Amazing Mom Look Like?

What does an amazing mom look like? Let's see, she brings adventure to her family. She allows them to invite friends along, drives them 45 minutes to the next town in order for them to go ice skating. Just for fun. An amazing mom goes hiking, in order to explore Indian Ruins with her kids.  An amazing mom takes her family on picnics in the mountains, and doesn't get upset when she forgets the buns for the hotdogs.  Afterall, it is an adventure. On an adventure one never knows what unexpected surprises await.

What does a fearless mom look like? She hops on a homemade go-cart with her son, riding it all of the way down the street, skinning her knees when she lands, yet laughs the entire ride and walk home. A fearless mom allows her kids the freedom to create and make mistakes. Her children develop imaginations as they build forts in the backyard & tents in the house. They find scorpions, tarantulas, and bring home stray animals. Sometimes they come home with ringworm. She never gets mad but embraces the moment. A fearless mom takes her entire family hot air ballooning to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary.

What does a giving mom look like?  She is a brownie troop leader.  Every Saturday she types up the church bulletin on mimeograph paper, which means one typing error and she has to redo the entire process.  She takes this to the church and stands in front of the mimeograph machine, hand cranking the big barrel apparatus.  Each crank produces a single copy, and all the while she takes her kids on imaginary bear hunts. As her kids become older, she volunteers her time for Make-A-Wish, designs and sews pastoral robes and altar cloths.  She takes part in various other church projects like being on the school board, painting murals on classroom walls...basically creating beauty and love in everything she endeavors.

What does an intelligent mom look like? She graduates from college while raising 4 kids.  She gets her Master's Degree while raising 4 kids and working full time. She spends 2 years in Germany teaching.  She spends several summers volunteering to put together a library at a glass-blowing school in another state, so she can learn the art of glass blowing. She continues teaching and taking classes after she retires.  She takes her grandkids to Europe, on Alaskan & Mexican Cruises to expand their appreciation for culture. She is forever learning new technology and utilizes it in her every day life.

What does a creative mom look like? Besides her quilting, scuplting, painting, glass blowing, sewing, designing, pottery, and so much more, she gives art lessons to her curious grandkids.  She teaches her daughters and granddaughters how to dye silk scarves in her back yard. She takes those interested to art galleries, museums, concerts, plays, ballets.  She is forever expanding her abilities to create and weave art into every area of her life and the lives of those around her.

Thank-you Mom for all you've given, all you've taught, all that you are.  Happy Birthday!

Love,
Joanne

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

¹³ She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
¹⁷ She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 

 ³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Best Husband Ever

 On May 25th, we had a wedding shower to attend.  Not only Michael and I, but all of our kids were invited to a couple's shower for my daughter-in-law's  brother and fiance.  We were excited, as it meant we would get to see Lauren and her blossoming pregnant belly.

That Saturday, I was up early. I was surprised to see Michael was already out running errands before I'd even had my coffee. When he isn't mowing the lawn, he often makes a run to Home Depot or the car wash. I was a little perplexed though, when his normal errand running time had passed and he still hadn't returned.  Still browsing the web, drinking my coffee and wearing pajamas, I finally heard the front door open.  I thought I heard a second set of footsteps and wondered if maybe this hadn't been a typical Saturday morning for errands. Maybe he and Elisabeth had something to take care of.

I was caught off guard when I found my son, Christopher, standing behind my chair.  Michael thought it would be a fun surprise for everyone, including Lauren, if he bought him a plane ticket and flew him home for the weekend.  Christopher is currently living in Texas for a 6 week internship, while his lovely wife holds down her job, and takes care of their unborn baby in New Orleans.

We had a great weekend.  Wish it had been longer, but what an awesome husband I have,

And family too! Only Travis was missing for the photo.  I have more pictures of the next day,with him, but Christina and Danny are absent from those.  But hey, 12 of us....err...13 are together.

Truthfully,

Joanne

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—For your love is better than wine." (Song of Solomon 1:2)

I Hate It When...

my internet is down.

I get in the shortest checkout line, but as soon as I get there, it doesn't move.  At all.  The manager opens 3 additional lanes, but doesn't take anyone in particular, so even if I ran, I'd still be 3 carts back.  I stay put for 15 minutes and nothing happens.  The line still doesn't move.

the load of laundry I put in to wash last night is still sitting in the machine wet.

I'm on a diet.

it's 90 degrees outside.

there is construction on the only main road out of my neighborhood...for months.

my doctor's office calls with my results, but I miss the call.  Instead of leaving the information they say, "your doctor would like you to make an appointment to follow up with your results."

Truthfully,

Joanne

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing...." (James 1:2-8)

Happy 86th Birthday~!

Happy Birthday Dear Mom-In-Law!  Thank-you for the courage it took to move to Colorado 6 years ago, and for sharing our home the past 3. You've given nothing but love and encouragement to me the past 30 years.

Thank-you for raising your only son to become the perfect husband for me. He has so many of the same wonderful qualities you possess, kindness, gentleness, a great sense of humor with a penchant for fun and family.

Missing you today, but hope you are having a wonderful time in Arizona, celebrating with family there. We've loved being able to celebrate the past 6 with you.

80th Birthday

81st Birthday

82nd Birthday

83th Birthday

84th Birthday

85th Birthday

Happy, Happy Birthday.  You are loved and missed.

Truthfully,

Joanne

"Since the day you were born, I have carried you along. I will still be the same
when you are old and gray, and I will take care of you. I created you. I will carry you and always keep you safe." Is. 46:3-4

I'd Say I Was Frugal

As I await the birth of my second grandbaby, flashbacks of being a young mom bombard my brain.  Some memories make me laugh. Others cause me to cringe. Was I overly health conscious when it came to food, or merely a penny-pinching, frugal mom?  Did I follow my own instincts and personal likes/dislikes with some of my choices? I'm thinking specifically about treats and desserts.

Sometimes I purchased pre-packaged desserts to pack in my children's lunches.  I could never figure out why Swiss Cake Rolls, Ding Dongs, Twinkies, and the likes came in packs of two.  Were most kids allowed to eat two at one sitting?  At night, as I'd prepare as much of their lunch as I could, I would open up the desserts and rewrap them in single portions. I could have saved a lot of time by just giving each kid 2.  With the extra wrapping, did I truly save any money. Did my son's (or daughters') friends laugh that they only received a half of a dessert. Wouldn't two Twinkies have been way too much fat, calories, and sugar?

On occasion, I would treat my children to donuts on the way to church.  In order for this to happen, I had to get up extra early.  You would think that not having to make breakfast and stopping at the local donut shop would save time.  Nope.  Knowing they would be having sugar, I'd fix them an extra big breakfast with plenty of protein to help balance out their diet.  It wasn't until I met up with a friend and her kids for donuts did I realize that the donuts WERE breakfast.  My kids were shocked when they watched their friends indulge in two donuts a piece.  With 5 kids, including me, I would have had to purchase an entire dozen.  Imagine 12 glazed, sprinkled, and sugared delights devoured in minutes. That seemed like a huge expenditure, but maybe not so bad had I not already prepared them eggs and bacon. Besides, eating just one donut (sometimes they couldn't even finish it) reduced the possibility of chocolate smears on their Sunday Best.

I made a lot of brownies for lunchbox desserts, as these gooey treats were a favorite.  Or did I make them, knowing that since I didn't like them, they'd last longer and I wouldn't be tempted to partake myself?  With so much dessert talk, I suppose I can rule out that I was overly health conscious, but at the time I did try to provide balanced, nutritious meals, with a bit of dessert added.  It's just too bad I didn't realize that I had at least one daughter with Celiac Disease.  I shudder to think of how much gluten I fed them.

Truthfully,

Joanne

 "So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.  Make the best use of your time." (Eph. 5:16)

A Boy, A Bike, A Dog

Honestly, the dog is not attached or forced to follow behind the bicycle.  Ethan finally stopped and put her inside the basket.  Two happy campers.

Truthfully,
Joanne

"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." 1 Timothy 6:6