Una Vida Bonita

My Baby is 1!

2009-11-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Baby!

I am truly amazed that a year has already passed by! It's hard to believe that just over a year ago I saw my little girl for the first time. She has become so etched into my heart that I could never imagine life without her. She is truly a gift from God. I look back at the last year of joy, pain, laughter and tears.. It's been such an adventure and I await the next many years that we can enjoy together.

Hannah Isabel Farnsworth, I love you more than you'll ever know! May we have many more years together!

Happy 1st Daddy's Day!

2009-06-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day, Daddy! Love,

Your little HH

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

It amazes me to think how fast these past 6 months have gone..and amazes me even more to think how fast the next 17 1/2 years will go. My little Hannah has brought me so much joy and has brought out a side of me that had been cooped up for so long. I absolutely LOVE being a mother and I can only hope and pray that I will be half the mother to my kids as my mother has been to me. What an inspiration she has been! Here are a few photos...reminding me of where motherhood started for me and what it is today. Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers and those without children who have been motherly to so many in so many ways! God bless you!

It's amazing how fast you forget the pain and agony of labor and delivery when you see that precious miracle before your eyes. It's worth every bout of nausea, every vomit, everything that had to be changed (ie, diet & activity, etc.) or eliminated (ie, caffeine), every piece of clothing that became too tight, every phase of feeling or looking a bit awkward, every ache & pain, every contraction, and the many hours of waiting, hoping, praying, struggling, and hurting.. even the sleepless nights. I have forgotten about it all... When I see a miracle smiling back at me or hear that little miracle laugh, I have a glimpse of what God must see/hear when He sees/hears us doing that which pleases Him. What an amazing thing it is to be a mother!

Easter pics

2009-04-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Daddy

2009-03-17T12:01:00.001-07:00

This is what we do all day...

We laugh & play. I strike a pose...

I hang out in my pink chair and watch Mama..

Oh...and I eat a lot, but we don't need pictures of that.

And sometimes I take a couple of naps, but you've already seen pictures of that.

Love you, Daddy! Have a good day at work. See you soon!

Love, HH (aka, Hannah, Holler-head, Munchkin, Turkey, and all those other silly names you & Mama call me)

Hannah's First Trip

2009-03-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

What a great mom I am... Hannah took her first trip, we visited good friends, and this is all I have to show for it! Oops! I think this was in the hotel in Red Wing our last day.

What more could I ask for?

2009-02-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Anniversary, my Love!

My Little Prayer Warrior

2009-02-10T14:08:00.001-08:00

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep..."

Dreaming...

2009-01-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

About this time every year, I start dreaming of warm, tropical places. The best thing about getting married in winter is that your anniversary is in winter. And since a vacation is probably the best anniversary gift, it's worth trudging through the snow in high heels for a day.

The only downside is...not every year can you celebrate in 80 degree weather. Unfortunately, this is one of those below zero years. I guess we'll have to celebrate inside!

We can always dream of somewhere warmer!

My New Year's Resolutions by Hannah

2009-01-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

1. Smile a lot more.
2. Cry a lot less.
3. Do my business while Daddy is at home watching me so he's forced to change it...Haha!
4. Move into my very own room (which I accomplished last night).
5. Learn a few words (instead of just coo-ing).
6. Roll over by myself.
7. Learn to walk.
8. Start eating something other than just milk.
9. Experience Summer. (It's been cold since I was born, and just keeps getting colder!)
10. Find my daddy a new job and help my mama find a way to stay home with me!

A Thank You Note

2008-12-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dear "Santa,"

I'm writing again to thank you for all of the great presents!

As you can see, I enjoyed them.

But most of all....

Thank you for making my Christmas so special... And giving me lots of time to laugh and play with Mama & Daddy. Thank you for reading my letter & making my wishes come true. However, I think I've already figured out who you are... Only Jesus could make such wishes come true! Thank you, Jesus. Talk to you again real soon!

Love, Hannah

Ho,Ho,Ho....

2008-12-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa...

2008-12-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,
I've taken over my mama's blog...but it's for a good cause. I didn't know how else to get a hold of you (especially since Mama doesn't believe in you). I'm writing to let you know my Christmas wishes. I wish for $1,000,000 so Mama & Papa don't ever have to work again and can stay home with me. I wish for world peace & no more hunger. I wish that I could start to talk so people wouldn't just stare at me when I want something (and therefore have to cry to get it). I wish for a new job for Papa cuz he doesn't seem very happy with his (that is, if he has to work). I wish I could have my own room so I don't have to hear Papa snore. One last thing...I wish that I could spend more time with my Papa...cuz I've seen enough of this Mama lady....and I miss my Papa! Thanks Santa! I hope that I don't ask for too much.
Much love,
Hannah Isabel

A Letter to My Daddy

2008-12-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Daddy,
I just wanted you to know that I've been a very good girl. I even let Mama sleep until 9:00 and take a shower before I got up. Since I've been such a good girl, would you come home now? I haven't seen you since last night and I sure miss you! I even wore this cute little outfit for you. I helped pick it out before I was born. I love you, Daddy. See you soon.
Love,
Hannah Isabel (aka, "Hannah Mae" like you and Mama like to call me)
XOXOXO

You give and take away...

2008-11-22T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hannah Farnsworth

Born: Oct. 25, 2008

Robert Westlund, Sr.

Born: Dec. 12, 1921

Died: Nov. 22, 2008

One of the greatest things anyone ever told me was when my grandpa said that I was a lot like him. Anyone who ever knew him would appreciate this comment. Grandpa, I love you. I miss you already, but I'll see you again someday in a much better place. Enjoy your mansion up there. I'm sure it's beautiful!!

Here's a good question...

2008-11-17T12:31:00.001-08:00

Why do babies smile when they have gas???

Happy 2nd Birthday, Miss Mae Belle!!

2008-11-06T15:25:00.000-08:00

Depression Hurts

2008-11-03T10:40:00.001-08:00

Is that all they do?

2008-10-31T16:09:00.001-07:00

Announcement

2008-10-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

And weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces (and training for the heavy-weight championship of the world)...21 inches long...2 weeks and a day early...after enduring 32 hours of labor and minimal sleep...

HANNAH ISABEL FARNSWORTH AKA "DADDY'S GIRL"

Or maybe "MAMA'S GIRL"

Ok, maybe we'll share her!!! But it's not my fault she's crying... We'll say she's "DADDY'S GIRL" cuz I think it's his turn.

Growing Belly (by request)

2008-10-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

One day....I found out I was pregnant.... (12 weeks)

And I just kept growing...

(18 weeks)

And growing...

(24 weeks)

And growing...

(30 weeks)

And growing...

(32 weeks)

And growing some more...

(35 weeks)

And hoping for it to all be over.....

And then one day...(hopefully soon) it will.

The end.

More to come...when it actually is all over and instead of pictures of me growing, you can look at pictures of a beautiful little baby girl!!!!

Getting prepared...

2008-10-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here's our little take-home from the hospital outfit....all ready to go (just in case she decides to come early). I've been getting prepared (and excited) since I found out I was pregnant!

Something New on the Horizon..

2008-09-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

There is definitely something new on the horizon. The crib and changing table are finally set up (thanks to my wonderful husband and his brother). Things are falling into place. I finally feel like I can relax about preparing for the baby. She's in God's hands and we all know, those are the best hands to be in!

Now that the Lord knows I'm ready (and not in a panic)... He has blessed us with another life-changing thing... Yesterday, as I stopped by the hospital to pick up another application to apply for yet another job.. I was informed that I was going to be offered a position. So, I went to the HR lady to ask and she said, "Your ears must have been ringing because I just called your home phone and was about to call your cell." Then and there, she offered me a part time position in the ICU where I would be working 12 hour shifts. I started the paper work, did my drug screen, and got signed up for orientation that starts in 1 week. Just when we were starting to wonder what in the world the Lord had for us...He dropped this right into my lap.

So, YEAH!!....I'm not un-employed anymore! I'll work for 1 1/2 months, have 2 off, and go back for 2-3 shifts a week! God is good.

Did you know that "Hannah" means "Grace"...and we all know that God's grace is sufficient!

Roller Coasters of Life

2008-08-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like your life is a roller coaster? You start out going slow... You go up the incline slowly and down you descend so fast you can hardly even tell the best part is already over. Soon you're going up and down and round and round, wondering when the ride will just mellow out for a while so you can enjoy the scenery around you.

Isn't it ironic that the funnest part (the decline) goes by so quick and that the most painful part of climbing takes the longest? It's like climbing a mountain...It takes forever to get to the top and once you're there, you don't spend half the time on the top as you do climbing.

It's too bad that the thrill part of a roller coaster ride couldn't last a little longer and the painful incline (wondering if something's going to go wrong or you're going to fall out or whatever people wonder when they're way up there in the sky) would be a little less.

I guess it is what it is...and life is full of roller coasters, so hold on for dear life. Hopefully the Lord will be gracious and help us to trust in Him instead of allowing our minds to envision the worst possible outcome.

In Awe

2008-08-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

I am ecstatic that my Amazon.com order arrived today! This is a sample picture of the "Jungle Babies" set that I ordered. I absolutely love it..it's even cuter and more creative in person than in the pictures.
You know, it's amazing how one could get so excited for someone who is not even born yet. It's also amazing how much love a person can have stored up and welling up inside of him/her for one who has never even seen the light of day. I feel this baby moving around inside my belly and I have a minute sense of what God must feel for His children. There is definately a love that goes beyond words. It's amazing that we can go on faith and not sight when it comes to a small being that will soon share our world and so often we lack faith of the One who has created it.

A Day to Remember

2008-08-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time...3 years ago to be exact... there was a guy who thought today would be a good day to begin the rest of his life. However, that life was not meant to be spent alone... Therefore, he would select a helpmate to begin his journey alongside of him. So without informing his bride-to-be, he drove 4 hours to a beloved place called Rustproof (the place they met). Once he got there, he had to hide so no one else would see him. He had a special surprise in mind. His clever friends helped him set up the theme for the night. It was all about discerning God's voice. Our wonderful friend, Jenny, decided to see who would volunteer for a little example. Even though the soon-to-be helpmate didn't volunteer, she was elected to wear the blindfold. A little nervous because she had just been gone for 9 months...she knew she had to make an attempt to try and discern whose voice she was about to hear. With her blindfold on she heard an ever-so-familiar voice declaring his love for her. Her heart was a pitter-pattering... As he knelt in front of her, wooing her with his words and ring in hand, he asked her to marry him.

That was the beginning of the rest of our lives! It's amazing to think that it's already been 3 years since that day! I sure am glad we were able to discern the voice of God!

The Little Things In Life

2008-07-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today I went to check out the little raspberry patch we have hidden behind our garage. To my surprise, it was filled with juicy, red raspberries. So, I clipped and pruned this little raspberry jungle and found not just a few but many of these little treasures.

Sometimes we have to take the time to enjoy the little things in life and not just let them pass by. When we bought the house, there was still snow on the ground. I thought that there was just a jungle of weeds growing behind the garage until one day the neighbor informed us that someday that jungle would bear fruit.

When all we have to hold onto are the little things, we can't take them for granted. God is gracious.

Wondering What We've Been Up To???

2008-07-19T10:59:00.001-07:00

The risks are high, but the rewards.... (well, what of them?)...

If you can flip that house!

So, here's to flippin'!

A classic red door.

My handy-man husband put in some brand new ceramic tile. Looks good, huh!?

Curb appeal.

A little more curb appeal.

Well, being laid off has it's benefits and downfalls. The downfall being no job= no money. However, no job also means you have lots of time to do whatever you want. For me, that means fixing up our house (painting, planting flowers, cleaning, and so on). My loving husband even took a couple of days off this week to help make-over the house.

There it is... now you know what we've been up.

For Sale

2008-07-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, beloved 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom colonial home.

It's been a blessing while we've had it, but now it's time to part. And miss it, I will.

Desperado!

2008-07-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Remember this post?....

Well, now it's serious...

It's a.......

2008-06-28T07:29:00.001-07:00

We had a rather entertaining time yesterday watching our little one flip around while being pushed and prodded by the Ultrasound Tech. Rob seems to think that she must have missed a certain appendage, but she actually got a pretty clear view. Now it's time to prepare (to continue to outnumber the only man in the house)!

And Running...And Running...

2008-06-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Somebody's gotta stop this guy! He's outta control! I've even heard him talk about next year's marathon already....

I've Seen Better Days...

2008-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Looks like I may need a new job.

A Black Belt in Karate???

2008-05-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Often people don't feel their first baby kicking until around 18-20 weeks. Well, mine is already practicing to be a black belt at 16 1/2 weeks (although realistically I don't think he/she will be in karate). As I sit here with my hand on my growing belly, I feel occasional little pieces of popcorn popping against my hand. Hmmm...must be the baby! Haven't had popcorn for a while. :)

FREEDOM!

2008-05-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

Dogs are strange. Here I thought Mae Belle liked her new fenced-in backyard, but I found out today that she is trying to dig her way to freedom (or China, whichever comes first). Why is it that we are never satisfied?

A Pre-Mother's Day Gift

2008-05-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

At 7:00 on Sunday morning, as I was getting some quality sleep in our newly refurbished Master bedroom... I heard some noise coming from the other side of the house...It was then that I realized that my thoughtful husband was busy working on my pre-Mother's Day gift. Now all we have to do is set up the crib and furniture and we'll be ready for baby. (Ok, so maybe there's a ton more we have to do to prepare and many diapers, etc. to buy...but atleast the majority of the nursery is done!)

You Guessed It!

2008-04-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

I think the baby looks like his/her daddy. However, the daddy thinks it's not his since there's a bit of an alien-like appearance.
Needless to say, this is probably the best picture (head on the left if you couldn't figure it out) of our newest addition. We await his/her arrival on November 9th (hopefully sooner, I am a bit anxious to meet him/her).

SURPRISE!

2008-04-29T19:14:00.001-07:00

One day at a time...

2008-04-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

We've been busy working, painting, and making this house our home. Rob took a week off from work and got a lot of the painting done. Here's the new entry-way color in our house. We went from an olive color to a cranberry. It sure makes a big difference!
Living room wasn't such a big change from yellow to green, but we did finally get a sofa and loveseat. It will be finalized once I put up our new window treatments. We also finally got our t.v. set up! Go Twins!
Out of all the bathrooms we have, we tend to like to share this one (probably because it's the only one that's mostly done). The other bathrooms are still all white, this one is green.
We finally brought Mae Belle home! She really likes it here. She walks around and sniffs every little inch of the house. This is her favorite part.....
We got pounded with snow yesterday. Since our backyard is fenced-in, Mae Belle can run and play. She loves it!
It's beginning to feel a lot more like home (even if we're still sleeping on a futon). One day at a time!

Not Much to Blog About...

2008-03-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been over a month and I'm finally writing something new on my blog. However, there's not much to say.
Since the Ask, Seek, Knock post, we've been asking, seeking, and knocking.... The door has been opened a few times, but we have yet to actually close on our house and finally move in. Hopefully the closing date will be early next week. It's pretty funny that we go over there just to look at the house, awaiting the day that it's actually ours. I've got my paint colors and furniture all picked out. All we need is the final "Ok" and we're off to making the house our home.
To be continued....

Ask, Seek, Knock...

2008-02-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

"Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be open unto you." Ok, ok... Please call first.. And you may have to wait a few weeks, cuz we aren't moved in yet. But the good news is, for those of you who don't know.... We got the house!

Good things come to those who wait. This is living proof.

For those of you who live so far away and won't get to see our new abode for a while, here are a few pictures for you to see what it looks like. The first one is the balcony in the foyer. Then, our new living room with a gas fireplace. Third is our dining room. And lastly, our master bedroom. A little (ok a lot) of paint and a few renovations....and we can sit back and enjoy our new home.

Say a little prayer...

2008-02-04T16:17:00.003-08:00

Do you believe in the power of prayer? I do. That's why I'm writing this post. Please, be in prayer with us as we go tomorrow to not only look at this house in detail, but possibly put an offer in. May we find favor! Amen!

Dream a little dream...

2008-01-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

When the temperature gets down to 20 below zero, the only way to escape it is.... by dreaming of somewhere warm. And by questioning, "Why God, did you call us to Northern MN?"

So, I'll dream a little dream of relaxing on a hammock somewhere where the temp. is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a slight breeze. Hmm...we can even skip the slight breeze (the thought of it makes me cold again.).

Happy dreamin'!

The Secret Sauce

2008-01-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

After spending all morning and part of the afternoon making spaghetti sauce with my Grandparents yesterday, I had a revelation... I may have to preface this with the fact that Grandma's memory isn't what it used to be and when it comes to cooking, we need to give her a little assistance these days (and keep an eye on her to see what and how much spices she's adding). Well, yesterday we weren't quite sure if she actually doubled the spices (as she was supposed to) or just doubled some, possibly even forgetting one or two. After it had simmered for quite a while, we tasted it. Hmmm...a bit sweet. Maybe I'll add some more salt, and some more Italian seasoning...maybe a little more red pepper and another teaspoon of oregano. Still not right. What's missing? As Gram and I pondered, Grandpa knew what the problem was. He just didn't say. He knows that Gram forgets a thing or two...and maybe even accidentally dumps a little too much sugar in, but that doesn't mean he has to make a big deal of it.
After doing what we could to make an almost overflowing pot taste better, we canned the sauce. It wasn't until after supper (spaghetti, of course) that Grandpa whispered to me that he knew what had happened.
So maybe the secret to 59 years of marriage is to keep your mouth shut when it really doesn't need to be opened. Or maybe it's just smiling, despite the other's faults, and thanking God that they're still around.
I'll never forget when my Grandma was in the hospital the year I was down in Guatemala. I came home in December to be with my family. Grandpa admitted to me that he had spent a good part of the night on his knees because he's just not ready to let her go yet. It's no surprise to me that God answered his prayer that night. Here Grandma is doing well, 3 years later. Next year they'll celebrate their 60th anniversary, God willing.

A New House

2007-12-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

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"

2007-12-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

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....

2007-11-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-09-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-15T09:51:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-08-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-23T17:47:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-07-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-07-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

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

Real Estate Business

2007-06-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-06-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

And running...

Until one day, he stopped.

My Hero

2007-06-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

He went, he ran, he conquered!

Questions???

2007-06-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

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

Finally a day to relax, or was it?

2007-05-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

"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

2007-05-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-05-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-05-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

A Different World

2007-04-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-04-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

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..

2007-04-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

Here Daddy, this one's for you.

CHEEEEEZZZE.....

When life gives you bad strawberries, make Pannekoeken!

2007-04-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-04-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-03-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-03-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

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

My Pride and Joy

2007-03-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-03-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2007-03-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

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!