Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Saturday

Seven of us rellies of Jessie (left) road-tripped up to Fergus Falls, MN for the afternoon to help her celebrate her high school graduation. It was all great fun and my dad didn't even get stopped for speeding on the way home (inside joke from when they went up to Nicole's (right) graduation party a couple of years ago.) They live on Swan Lake and we had a special treat of watching a bald eagle fly around while we were there.
My soon-to-be 91 year old grandpa telling some of his World War II stories at the party.
My soon-to-be 9 year old nephew, Adam, loves legos. He reminds me a lot of Brady at that age.
A little rain (just sprinkles, really) passed through after we'd gotten back to the farm that night. The humidity skyrocketed like crazy.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

South Dakota

Springtime on the Prairie



A handful of "Johnny Jump-ups" by the creek.
Toad-catching season!

My aunt presented this beautiful (store bought) bouquet to us when we landed in Fargo, ND. She remembered we had them at our wedding.

(photos by Sherry and Erin)

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Things I haven't blogged about

I haven't blogged about:
  • the happy and then saddest Kentucky Derby ever. (Don't miss the Preakness today.)
  • Brady's latest product creation for 3-D artists, which has been a terrific seller.
  • Erin's landing of her biggest musical theatre role yet. Rehearsals begin end of July.
  • Brady's rebuilding of his new computer a second and then a third (and I think there was a fourth) time. I'm happy to report it is finally working great.
  • our purchase of a water ionizer.
  • our upcoming trip to South Dakota and Iowa. The kids and I will be at my parents' home by this Thursday evening, with Brent joining us a week or so later.
  • our summer weather (upper 80s) the last few days. Yes, our bodies are in shock.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Real Strength

"You know what most people don't get about CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)? That the hardest part is not doing all the stuff that you really want to do because you know it'll make you feel worse later. That requires real strength." (A statement made by a husband of a wife and two children with chronic fatigue.)

Please go here
to read the whole post. This is another family of four with 3 of their 4 family members chronically ill. We've been following each other's blogs for a couple of years now.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

This picture makes me smile.
Cheers to my super mom!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Mere Happiness Is Not the Song I'm Singing
Mere happiness is not the song I'm singing:
Of mothers' joy a jagged piece is pain.
To love is to be amply burdened, bringing
Hearts with gifts to an uncharted plain.
Even so, one longs to be a mother,
Remembering a richness unreserved
'Ere one could barely recognize another,
Sustained by love unsought and undeserved.
Deeper than oneself is one's communion,
A revelation reached alone by union
Yet yearned for, though through years of love well served.

-Nicholas Gordon -

Friday, May 09, 2008

"A magic time of year," Caddie called it herself. She loved both spring and fall. At the turning of year things seemed to stir in her that were lost sight of in the commonplace stretches of winter and summer." Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink