A New House

Every once in a while we take a little drive around Hib-town just to "make sure" there isn't a house for sale that we've been missing. Maybe by some miracle God would tell someone to move out of their lovely house and put it up for sale at a price that we could afford. Well... We drive around (basically coveting other peoples' houses) saying "Oooh that one would be nice." or "Why doesn't that one go for sale?" or something similar. Anyways... in one of our drives of desperation, we saw the perfect house. It was beautiful...and perfect (and a little out of reality for us, but dreaming is ok. Right?). Only one problem (well maybe only one...): it wasn't for sale.

And then yesterday..... It came up for sale! Rob called me with excitement in his voice. When I asked him how much it costs, he hesitated to tell me... instead telling me, "We're gonna buy it!" Yeah right.... $315, 000. Has anybody won the lottery lately that has a couple hundred thousand we can have? You see, it's hard for us to win when we never buy tickets... And you also understand that we are homeless and are in desperate need for a home.

Oh well, I guess no new house for Christmas.

The search continues!

My New "Friend"

I have a new friend. Well, a not so friendly "friend." The doctor calls my friend "Scarletina." We were introduced on Friday (well, with formal names anyway). I actually became acquinted with "Scarlet" on Thursday night. You see, Scarletina comes from a not-so-friendly old friend of mine named Streptococcus. He's not so nice either. As a matter of fact, he gave me Rheumatic Fever in Guatemala. As you can tell, I'm not so fond of this "Strep" guy, but he sure likes me!
As you can also tell, I'm stuck home...bored and sick of being sick. Somewhat of a complainer, and I guess I just needed someone to share my sob story with. Thanks for listening.
No offense, but I hope that you never have to meet this "Strep" guy or this "Scarletina" either! Stay warm, drink lots of fluids, and get lots of rest (and stay away from sick people!!).

Here's to Wishful Thinking....

As we walked through "our" new house last night...I was so excited! I was taking pictures and holding up paint colors. The house was even better than I had remembered! There were more and bigger closets, bigger bedrooms, and all seemed to be just perfect.... And then Rob came up the steps from downstairs and said to me, "You don't want to go down there!" We had known that there was a little mishap with the sump pump...and therefore a little water down there, but little did we realize what damage had been done. I thought he was kidding, but saw the seriousness in his face. Of course, being as curious as I am, I wanted to go down there. My world was shattered as I saw mold growing up the side of the sheet rock. It wasn't just in the utility room....It was throughout the whole basement. In shock and udder disappointment, we walked upstairs only to see a crack in the beam between the living and dining rooms. Under the crack was what appeared to be more mold. None of this was there before. The house was built in 2004... It was (and I emphasize "WAS" because it isn't anymore) beautiful!
Well, there you have it. My wheels kept spinning in my mind to think of what we could do to fix it. But, I think it's too late. After a lot of thinking and a lot of prayer, we decided to back out. Lord willing, we'll find something else soon.
So, here we are, homeless once again.

Miracles still do happen!

Well, good news: we won't be homeless much longer! We put an offer on a house & they accepted! God is good....and I'm very anxious to move in. The first night I found out that there was a good possibility of us getting this house, I could hardly sleep. I was already busy trying to figure out what colors to paint the rooms.
Oh, what greater joy is there (well, until babies come along) to have a home of your very own! As I already said... God is good... And miracles still do happen!
Last year, my husband bought me a puppy for Christmas... And this year, A HOUSE! :)

CLASSIFIED

FOR SALE (better yet, we'll pay you to take her):
Chocolate lab mix (we're not quite sure what she's mixed with...but "mixed" nonetheless). She's about 2 yrs old (or so they told my brother when he so generously picked her out from the pound for my parents). She's very lovable (so "lovable" she'll never give you a moment to yourself, especially when you're eating). If you leave her alone for too long (especially if her owner leaves her for the weekend), she'll leave you BIG presents on the kitchen floor (atleast it's not on the carpet). She will even help you clean off your countertops if you "forget" any food on them (you know, raw hamburger in the sink, a whole loaf of bread, or whatever she may find). She barks incessantly when left outside on her chain (unless, of course, you put her "training collar" on her and give her a zap every now and then). She looks malnourished and doesn't seem to put on any weight even when we sneak her some extra food (it just makes her leave extra piles, I mean presents).
Did I mention...we'll even pay you to take her... Oh, and we'll give you a bag of food for free... and some snacks if you want.... Just let us know what we can do to convince you that you could give her a happy, lovable environment!

Oh and another thing....
Does anyone have a house we can buy??? Soon??? If you'll take the dog, we wouldn't have to move in right away...we'd be willing to wait a little while longer.
Thanks for your consideration.
We hope to hear back from you soon.
1-800-FREE DOG

Real Estate Market

Well, there's something not right with this picture... They say that the market is slow and all... but... Anyone want to buy a house with a garden and two screen porches. It has the original charm with hardwood floors throughout, wood trim, and archways. It's a cute one. Oh wait..

Drum roll please........................

Napping, from my point-of-view

So, my husband thinks the world's his oyster....just becuz he's conquered the art of napping. I say, "Nonsense!" I'd much rather sleep until 8 or 9:00...and be able to stay awake for the rest of the day. Since Rob thinks that everyone should get up at 7 AM (on their day off) and then take a 2-3 hr nap later in the day... I give my rebuttal. Why not sleep later and then be awake while everyone else is?
Now, my rebuttal continues.... Today, I woke up at 8:00. Since my wonderful husband wasn't awake yet, I went back to sleep. Now, as I write this, he continues a nap that started an hour ago (when I went out to work in the yard). I am confused.
Can anyone explain? Maybe it's simply because men are from Mars (sometimes I wonder) and women are from Venus. Where did Mars vs Venus come from anyways???
As I have said before....somethings aren't meant to be understood!

What makes you smile?

Sometimes life can have it's "ups" and "downs." Sometimes there are more "ups" and sometimes vice-versa. There are times you have to remind yourself of the things that make you smile and other times...it just happens naturally.
As I knocked on the door and looked through the window of my sister's house, I saw my nephew smiling and yelling, "Auntie Jamie!" Those are the days that you don't have to remind yourself that you really have it pretty good. There's nothing like having someone to greet you at the door with a smile (even if it's a 73 lb over-sized puppy)! It's like having a husband who feeds your puppy, puts her out to do her business, and even brings her to doggy-daycare when necessary (even when he says that he doesn't like her).
Sometimes we have to put our situation into perspective...and realize that even though things may not be perfect, we have it pretty good!
What makes you smile? Is it the flowers in springtime? The birds singing on a warm, summer day? How about experiencing the miracles happening around us?
You know what makes me smile? The fact that although we don't always realize it...God is smiling down on us in so many different ways. Take the time to notice His presence.

Home, sweet home!

Good news! I have finally made my way back up to God's country (as I've heard it called and prefer to call it the same). It's been quite a process (and no, we haven't sold our house yet). While we are "patiently" waiting for God to make His move, we are staying with my parents. What a good sport my husband is!

I had my first 2 days at the Virginia hospital in the ICU. It's so nice to be "back home." There's nothing like being greeted by so many who are glad to see me back working there. Life is good...even if we are somewhat homeless. And although there are still a few prayers left unanswered, good things come to those who wait!

Fanaticism

If, say, there was a person who went to clean his/her house one more time before moving... And the white dust cloth still looked clean after dusting... Would that make them a fanatic? Keep in mind, this wasn't just dusting the living room, but also the hutch, dining room chairs, and even under the dining room table. Hmm...I think I've lost it! Thank God I don't have to clean again for 2 weeks! Lord, sell our house before I really do become a cleaning fanatic. Please. :)

Our New House!

29.5 ACRES OF OUTSTANDING RECREATIONAL PROPERTY ON BLACK TOP ROAD EAST OF HIBBING. NEWER CONTEMPORARY 3 BDRM 2 BATH HOME WITH 3600 SQ FT TO WORK WITH. PROPERTY HAS 144X60 INDOOR RIDING ARENA, ADJOINS 5 STALL HORSE BARN WITH OFFICE & TACK ROOM. PROPERTY IS MULTI USE FOR THE RIGHT BUYERS-POND WITH LANDSCAPE TRAILS THROUGH THE WOODS FOR RIDING HORSE, SKIING, 4 WHEELING, HUNTING, TRAPPING, HIKING, WHAT EVER YOU DESIRE! A PLACE MOST PEOPLE DREAM OF HAVING!

Can you believe it? What a great buy!

Yeah right...this is more like our DREAM house!

I guess we'll keep looking.

The Brown Bananas of Life

So, here's a little story about my brown bananas....
I saw my bananas browning (and cannot stomach brown bananas), so I decided that I would make some banana bread (you know, making the best out of the situation). I measured everything out just perfectly and followed the recipe by the book. Finally, after everything seemed to go just right and the banana bread was baking in the oven..... The timer stopped working. Oh no, now I don't know how long it's been in there.
Now I wait for the outcome.... Either it'll be undercooked, overcooked, or by the grace of God my banana bread will not be a waste of time and energy.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen.

My Island

Have you ever been surrounded by people and still feel like you're on your own little island? Or have you ever walked through the house and heard the echo of your own footsteps?
A dad plays with his little girl next door. A couple walks with their toddler over to the neighbors' to sit on the patio and enjoy the nice weather. A man and his friend get their boat ready for a day at the lake.... And I sit and wonder why it seems as though the walls of this house echo. I even heard a dog barking outside and wished my puppy was here.
I prayed for the day that we could make the move back up to Hibbing, meanwhile Rob continued to enjoy his job and all of his co-workers down here. When the opportunity finally arose to move, Rob went and I stayed. Maybe I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself...or maybe I just miss my husband so much that I can hardly function.
Lord, sell our house and get me a job I pray!
I guess somethings aren't meant to be understood.

A Few Benefits

Our 1st cuke of the year!

Our 2nd summer squash... and many more to come!


Fried green tomatoes anyone?

A little baby melon (my first time growing them!)

Lots of green beans already! Looks like a healthy lunch!






Well, I guess there are a few benefits to still having our house in Red Wing....

5 Things I Dig about Jesus...

Well, Jenny decided to tag me....and now it's my turn to list 5 things that I "dig" about Jesus..

1. I dig the fact that He would love a sinner like me.

2. I dig that He wasn't ashamed, afraid, or "too good" to reach out to the untouchable. He touched and healed the people with leprosy, those to whom no one else would even come close.

3. I dig that He was so impressed with the sinner woman who washed His feet with her tears that He used her for an example to the spiritual elite of His time.

4. I dig that although He was the Son of God, He waited until the appointed time to begin His ministry.

5. I dig that He died such a crucial death for me and all of the rest of us....knowing that we would so often disappoint Him...but loving us so much that it didn't even matter.

The list is endless. We serve an amazing God!

Now it's my chance....since there are so many more reasons to "dig" our Lord and Saviour, I will take it upon myself to pass the buck to.......

Drum roll please.....

Ok, only Rob and Kranny.... We're running out of people.

Knee high by the 4th of July!

And they say it's only supposed to be knee high! Ha!

Real Estate Business

Ad: 2BR,1BA home with a small 1 stall garage. Over-sized (and at times, over-grown) garden in backyard and multiple other areas (including the back of the garage) to have other flower gardens. Don't worry, they're already planted and weeded.

Many hours of hard labor put into each of them. We will throw them in for free if you buy our house! Please call us as soon as possible (I think most of the garden is weed-free, so it's a good time to come and look!). If you wait, there may be weeds again. Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to let you know how much work the garden is. Like I said before, it's already planted and will be ready for harvest shortly after you move in!

After spending 3 hours in the scorching sun one day (frying my neck and shoulders) and then returning out there again today...to weed once again, I'm beginning to wonder if it's really worth it. I thought that you are supposed to reap what you sow. Well....My beautiful garden (that has mulch in it now for convenience purposes) will be reaped by some lucky person who buys our house. It seems like a waste of time right now, but I sure hope that someone else appreciates all of the sweat and toil put into this oversized-garden-for-a-city-lot!

Run, Robert, Run!

One day, my brilliant husband decided to enter into this mob of people. He just started running...

And running...

And running...

And running...

And running...

Until one day, he stopped.

My Hero

He went, he ran, he conquered!

Questions???

For all of you with questions...
Check out Graceland King's blog.

Finally a day to relax, or was it?

"Finally, a day to relax." I told myself. After driving 4 hours on Friday, going to Rustproof, going to a baptism and party on Saturday, viewing our wedding video on the big screen at Al & Becky's, going to a birthday party at McDonalds, going to another birthday party with my family, going to a movie Sunday night, and finally driving back another 4 hours...only to relax an hour or two and start my 7PM to 7AM shift on Monday... Then, I woke up after about 6 hours of sleep and got ready for another 7PM to 7AM shift (reminder: I'm also in the car for an hour to work and an hour back home). Finally, I came home to relax. Yesterday went by like a flash...and today was my day to rest! About 10:20 this morning, as I was finally able to sit down and enjoy a moment on the computer, my phone rang....and I was reminded of the joy of selling a house. Not only is it like living in a museum, but if it's not in tip-top shape you just might miss out on "the one" that was going to buy it! I was asked if it was ok for some people to stop over from 11:30-12:30 (in less than an hour!) to view our house. They usually give us a day's notice, so we have a little time to prepare. Well, so much for relaxing today and cleaning tomorrow. I think I felt sweat dripping down my brow as I scurried through the house trying to dust, sweep, mop, quickly clean the bathroom, run around the yard and clean up the little reminders that puppies don't use toilets, and of course sanitizing the puppy's kennel. I hurried to get Mae Belle in the back of the car (remembering to grab her dish and a bottle of water for her and I so we didn't die of heat exhaustion). We were out of the house by a quarter after....and playing in the park by 11:30!
Oh, the joy of it all!

Change my heart, oh God

It's amazing how the Lord works. Some may say that He gives and takes away. Yet hopefully all will continue to bless His name.
We sing, "Change my heart, Oh God," but who knew the extent of it? Steve had a heart transplant yesterday. His heart wasn't strong enough to beat on it's own, therefore he had a pump helping it to beat. Well, he no longer needs a pump. God gave him a new heart!
As we hear of such a miracle, may God renew our hearts. May we see the frailty of the human body and realize that without God, we are mere limited beings. With God all things are possible.
God bless the individual and their family who lost a life...but saved another.
May we learn from this!

A Heart's Prayer

Please pray for Steve. He has a chance at a heart transplant...as I write this. They flew him down on a helicoptor to the University today.
Please pray.
Lord, Your will be done. I pray for a perfect match and a quick recovery. Lord, that Steve would be back to 100% in no time!

Thank you all for your prayers!

He has finally come to his senses...

After a weekend with the over-sized t.v., my husband finally came to his senses. He decided that quality is better than quantity. We brought our marvelous purchase back to Sam's Club and, even though it's a bit smaller, got a much better quality t.v. (thank you, Sony). Atleast we got to watch a few movies on our large screen before we traded it in.

So, I guess we'll be able to stay away from the looney bin for a while. Hopefully this new purchase will last a much longer time! Oh, and I can't forget to mention that by getting such a great quality t.v., Rob got over his buyer's remorse much faster. Thanks again, Sony...I owe you one!

I think He overdid it this time...

Well, our t.v. finally drove the husband to the point of no return. It's been doing this black screen thing for a while...and most of the time we wonder if it's going to come back on. Just 2 days ago it went black at the same time as it made a little humming sound... It's gonna go!
Yesterday was the grand finale... I think that if we wouldn't have gone out and bought this oversized, overpriced huge thing (that we may have to return becuz it's so huge) that now sits in our living room... I may have had to drive my dear husband to the hospital for a psych eval!
So, here it sits...a little too big for our little house... Nonetheless.. Here it sits.

Pure Contentment

A Different World

At 4:30 AM, the alarm sounds...I sluggishly slide out of bed to start my day....
I hurry to get out the door on time and drive my car for about an hour to arrive at a place that's so diverse, so amazing that most people wouldn't believe it's in Minnesota....
It's the St. Mary's Hospital which is known world-wide as part of the Mayo Clinic.
As I walk through the halls, I hear English, Spanish, Asian languages, Arabic, African tribal languages, and languages that I definately could not place unless I asked them (then again, they probably don't even speak English so I would have to get an interpreter). What an honor it is to look around at the amazing people that I work with... Nurses from Africa, Europe, many of the 50 states, and all around the world and doctors from South America, Germany, England, the Middle East, Asia and who knows where else. The staff is so diverse, I'd imagine there are people from atleast half of the countries in the world.
Who would have known that in our very own state would be such an amazing place?
As I drive back home, wondering where I've just been.... I thank the Lord for giving me a whole different world within my reach.

A New Weight Loss Program?

After cleaning & painting the window screens, scrubbing the house from top to bottom (ok, I'm not quite done yet), raking and patching the little brown spots in the grass (by the way, I do still love having a puppy!), pulling weeds from my flower garden, and walking the dog (because it's finally warm enough to)....I have realized why I always put on weight in the winter!
My husband seems to think you have to run 13, 21, or even 26 miles a few times a week to lose weight, but I finally know the key to dropping those few extra pounds that always seem to settle in during the winter. Ok, so part of the reason we pack on pounds may be Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter... but when you work full time with rotating holidays...you just don't eat as much as you used to.
So, all I can say is: "Thank God for Spring!"

Where do you stand?

So often we pray that we could be able to hear the voice of God, see the hand of God, or feel His very touch. What I don't understand is what it is within us that causes us to miss so much. God speaks to us in many ways each day and yet we do not hear, or is it that we do not listen? He paints beautiful portraits right in front of our eyes, but instead of admiring His creation...we continue on with our busy day. He gently nudges us to get our attention and yet we don't even notice.
We pray, "Lord give me an opportunity to make a difference today," but when He puts that opportunity right in front of us we don't recognize it. Is it that we don't recognize it or is it our pride which gets in the way and causes our words to be fumbled or even meaningless.
As a nurse, I am often given such opportunities. Why is it that I'd rather offer empty words than what they really need to hear? What is it that makes it easier to talk to some stranger in a foreign country about a God who loves them unconditionally than it is to talk to a co-worker, family member, or friend? Why are we so afraid that people will think we've crossed the line, become finatic, or are invading their personal space? Why do we fear what other people think? Many will go to their death bed and not even know the name of Jesus. Many will go to eternity without Him while we sit and ponder what to say. We might me rejected, disappointed, shot down, or ridiculed...but won't it be worth it?
What is it that causes the Creator of our universe to love a sinner like me? Maybe I'll never quite understand.

Growing up too fast..

Here Daddy, this one's for you.

CHEEEEEZZZE.....

When life gives you bad strawberries, make Pannekoeken!

Ok, so we've all heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonaid!" Today I had a brilliant revelation. It all started last week when I decided to buy some strawberries. I got 2 containers of them since they were 2 for $4.00. I bought one that had ripe and ready-to-eat strawberries and one that wasn't quite yet ready (thinking I was quite intelligent). Well, the first container was good. They were ripe and tasty...whereas the second were still not completely ripe, but starting to go bad. So much for my bright idea!
Today I figured that I better eat them instead of throwing them out (I've become much more frugal since living in a third world country). So, I sauteed them up, threw some sugar in (a lot more than normal), and made Pannekoeken! For those of you who don't know what Pannekoeken is... I must say you are quite deprived and may want to get the recipe. It's one of my favorites! It's a Dutch baked pancake. You can saute your fruit of choice and add flour, milk, and an egg.... and it turns out to be one of the most delicious breakfast foods I've ever had. (It's right up there with Swedish pancakes!)
Sometimes things aren't as we expected. I thought I'd have a plethra of delicious strawberries and almost wasted a whole container of them. Sometimes you go to work with a great attitude and nothing goes your way. Or you wake up ready to take on the world...and after hitting your head 3 times, you realize that you actually got out of bed on the wrong side. Sometimes you go to church thinking that you're going to leave with a better attitude and you walk out the door with the same stinkin' thinkin' that you entered with. We always want more: more of God, more money, more clothes, more friends. We want a bigger house, nicer or newer car, and a better job. When it's cold, we want it hot. When it gets too hot, we want air conditioning. Whatever it may be...we're just not satisfied.
We have to make the best of our situation. We have to be content with what we have and remember that we're just passing through. Our focus should be on heavenly things. We should, as the Bible says, "Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat at the right hand of the throne of God."
So when you're strawberries are bad, don't just toss them out...make Pannekoeken or even strawberry shortcake (you just may need a little extra sugar)!!

Long winter...

The last post was all about "Who's praying for rain?" I understand that the farmers need rain and I'm sure some other people out there...but WHO NEEDS COLD? I must admit, I have no explanation for the cold, even snowy weather (in some parts). But I also must admit, it's times like these that I'm glad I live in southern MN instead of up North (where they got hit with snow in April). 82 degrees one week and 13 the next....I don't get it. My poor daffodils had almost seen the light of day...and then they fell over, limp with the bitter cold.
Maybe I should take up the offer (that my hubby repeatedly extends to me, especially in the winter months) of moving down South...atleast for the winter.
Someone please remind me of why we stay...

Somebody is praying for rain...

I am in awe of a God so omnipotent that He could hear the prayers of His people all over the world. It amazes me that He knows our hearts and fulfills our needs. As I was walking through the pouring rain today, I realized that someone must be praying for rain. I'm sure that there are many people praying for a nice, sunny weekend (for our own selfish reasons)...But think of all the farmers out there who are concerned about their crops. They're praying for rain & I'm convinced that God has not only heard their prayers, but He has answered them. It looks like rain all weekend. So it's true...the fervent prayers of the righteous man avails much!
Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
What truth! Let us hold on to that Scripture...tuck it in our hearts so that when the storms of life come...we will remember His faithfulness! He has heard the cry of the farmers....and He hears ours, too!

Where am I?

Today we left Hibbing after a great visit with friends and family. It was nice to fit so many things in to such a short period of time! As we were leaving, I saw that it was in the 50's (drizzly and foggy).
Hours later, I found myself waking out of my grogginess (too many hours in a car listening to some book on tape that my brilliant husband chose). I realized that it was now 78 degrees and sunny....
"Where am I?" I wondered. It's March and it's 78 degrees. As the day went on, it got as high as 82 degrees!
And then....I saw these bananas.....

The photo is a bit foggy, but it says "Guatemala" on the sticker. Ahhh...now it all makes sense. 82 degrees in March...that's about right....

IN GUATEMALA!

But I'll take it!

Happy Spring!

A Life Remembered

Born in February 1997. Died March 20, 2007. Lucca lived a life that most dogs could only dream of. She had her freedom and she enjoyed every minute of it. Back in 1997, my friend Mella and I got her as a puppy. After seeing how hard it was to have a puppy in town, we realized how much more she loved it out at my parents' house where she could run free. She lived 10 years of her life in the country, and I don't think that she had any regrets.

If Lucca would've been a human, she would have been a friend to many (she was, even as a dog). It's weird to say, but in a way her life inspires me. When she slept, sometimes you could tell that she was running in her dreams (doing what she loved). She did what she wanted and had no fears. She lived within the rules of my father, but she adored him intensely. He was her master. She did whatever she could to please him.

How I long to be such an obedient daughter to my Master! How I long to run in the fields of grace...without a worry in the world!

Lucca died doing what she loved to do. She was running. She was on her daily adventure which usually took her into the woods, down the old railroad tracks, and unfortunately for her...across the highway. She had a good life and will be sincerely missed. She was a good dog! I think that we could all learn a thing or two from her life.

Evidence

And he says that he doesn't like my dog!

My Pride and Joy

Here is my pride and joy, little Miss Mae Belle. What a great Christmas present! At 8 weeks, she weighed 13 pounds. Ahhhh! How cute!
Either we feed her too much or she's just growing too fast. Here's the little porker at 18 weeks old, weighing in at 40 pounds! It sure is a good thing I don't have to pick her up often! It's been quite an experience having a puppy. However, it's all worth it...and ((drum roll please))...She's finally potty trained!!!

Technical difficulties...

As I attempt to write my first real blog, I realize that I am not able to add pictures yet. There are some technical difficulties with new accounts that make it impossible to add them. Even though I had a brilliant idea for a post....I am left with nothing very clever.
Until next time....

It's a miracle!!!

Can you believe it? I finally have a blog. After endless times of saying that I don't need one, I finally gave in. I'm sure that I'll be like the rest of the bloggers who write about once a month... but atleast I officially have a site to say that I'm in the bloggers' community.
2007 is a year of new beginnings...so here we go fellow bloggers...
I'm finally aboard!