Noah's Ark

Seminary has begun and we are now in our 5th week.  Last week we studied Noah's story about the Ark and the animals and the wickedness of the people who were killed in the flood.  As I drove to church that Thursday morning, I noticed the sky.  It was so beautiful!  I was glad I had my camera to capture the beauty I was witnessing.

After we read a bit about how big the Ark measured, we did the math.  450' long x 75' wide and 45' tall.  That makes it as high as our church building, as wide as the parking lot plus the sidewalk and as long as two parking lots.

 While some of the youth did the measuring, others were creating the animals that would come along on the journey.  Syd drawing flamingos, I think.

 The entire group, minus Neal.

 A flurry of activity in creating animals.

 Crista's butterfly.

 Emma's pair of giraffes.

 Mackenzie and Tiana with Alyssa at the unseen end measuring "around the corner" so we could get a visual of just how long this vessel was.

Savana's pig.  Not certain what Meckenzie drew.  I think a pair of bears.

At any rate, it was so much fun having them outside and doing something practical and enjoying the experience.  A classroom is a great way to learn things but at times it is more practical to get off the chair and actually do it.  I think this is a lesson that they will not forget!

Amazing youth whom I am blessed to spend my mornings with.

Time

I've found that time stand still for no one.  My dad has been gone for over a year already.  Where has the time gone?  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were dealing with doctor appointments and wondering what was going on?  Didn't we just get that horrible diagnosis?

Andrew will be home in about nine months from serving a two year mission.  Where has that time gone?  Didn't he just finish high school?  Didn't we just drop him off at the Missionary Training Center? 

Little Butchy is already 6 months old.  Wasn't he just born last month?  How about Cami?  She is in 3rd grade.  THIRD GRADE!!!  Am I old enough to have an eight year old granddaughter? 

I see a few leaves beginning to change their colors.  I see gardens winding down and the bounteous harvests.  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were wishing the snow would melt?

I began teaching my eighth year of seminary.  Eight years!  How can that be?  I am not a morning person!  I can't do that!  It has been a joy and an absolute privilege to be with these marvelous youth in the mornings.  But eight years?

My husband has been the stake president for 8 1/2 years.  What?  Wasn't he just called? 

Time is a precious commodity that there never seems to be enough of.  And yet, for those people who while away the hours because they can't do for themselves any longer, it seems that time is all they have.  Too much time. 

As I think about my loved ones who have passed, there is never enough time.  There's always the wish for one more day or one more hug or one more "I love you." 

With that thought, I am absolutely grateful for the knowledge of eternity.  The knowledge that families can be together forever.  That marriage is not just until death do us part.  God is in control.  Of that I am certain. 

I understand more than ever that LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E.  What greater gift can we give those whom we love than to spend time with them?

Just What We Do

Sammi and Jeff lived in Provo when they first got married.  Following his graduation from BYU, they moved to Muscatine, Iowa so he could attend nursing school.  He graduated last Friday.  He has a job in Oshkosh beginning in a few weeks.  In order to pay down some student loans as well as save money for his next phase of schooling, they have moved in with us.

We've done this before with the Gourleys.  That probably was a little tougher since we had so many people still living at home.  This time, it is just Pat, Tom and I.  It will all work out and we are glad that we can help.

When the day comes that they move into their own place, my husband will say, "I miss my baby."  He loves having the grandkids here.  He has Evelyn here to snuggle and spoil every single day.

People ask about the changing dynamic in a home when adult children move in with their children.  I always say, "Its just what we do."  I'm thankful we can.

Jinny

When I was a young woman, aged 14-17, I made some wonderful friends because of Girl's Camp.  As with most people, we graduated from high school and lose touch with one another. 

Last year, Dave Robertson called me and asked me if I knew a woman named Jinny.  I told him I knew her from my youth.  He was in contact with her as he was the Branch President in Sturgeon Bay and she was living in the area.

In July, Jinny's son came home from his mission.  I really wanted to go along to Wausau when he was being released so I could see her.  She was invited to come back to church and accepted that invitation.  I went to Wausau that Sunday so I could go to church with her.  She felt at home with the saints there. 

Today I attended her baptism.  It was glorious!

Below is a picture of some of those beautiful women whom I knew from my youth.

Happy rebirth Jinny!

Traditions

I love traditions.  When I think about my own, I don't feel like I have very many.  I love having my family around on Christmas but understand that there are other sides of the family that feel the same way.

When my children were young, we lived next door to my aunt and uncle.  She had all her grandchildren over once a year for a camp out.  They would set up the tent and all sleep together. I had the same thought this week.  I love camping and want to share this with my grandchildren.  So, yesterday we set  up our new tent that has never been used and camped out.  I was a bit chilly and Evie doesn't like to stay in her sleeping bag, so I was up a few times in the night to make sure she was covered.  Somewhere before it was light, Brock was stirring.  I checked on him and found him completely outside his bag and huddles under his "blank."  I inserted him back into his sleeping bag and wrapped him in his blankie.

Adam surely didn't get cold.  He is the green blob.  He wraps himself tight even when it's too warm to do so.  Cami and her friend Grace had warm bags and never stirred.  I did hear some sort of howling in the night.  It sounded like a pack of wild critters.  There were dogs barking as well so I know whatever it was, it woke the neighbor's dogs.  That always makes me a little nervous.

We began another tradition this summer and that was taking them all to Bay Beach in the evening. We went out for dinner and then spent $40 on tickets.  We weren't there that long, but we never had to wait in line for any rides either.  It was fun watching the kids enjoy themselves.

I will probably come up with some others in the coming years as the grandchildren get older, but I don't want Cami to miss out so I have to start things now.  Family is Everything!!!

U.P. Tour 2015

 For several years, I have been going with my husband in August to the U.P. as he does some work there.  We spend the night and I help with whatever I am able to do.  We didn't get to go last year due to my father's illness and need for care.  We got to go again this year.  We didn't go to all the buildings like usual though.  There was a lot of work to be accomplished in both Houghton and Iron Mountain so that's where we spent our time.

We try to do some fun things while there and this year we did some new things not done before.  The pictures are not in chronological order.  On Friday night we stayed just outside of Iron Mountain where they have a ski jump.  There are 500 stairs if a person wants to climb to the top of the mountain.  We climbed them all.  Each step is sponsored by someone or dedicated to someone.

The Steve Mariucci Family sponsored this step.  There was another plaque on the other side of this stair with Steve's parents included.

 This is Dave's Falls county park here in Wisconsin.  It is a beautiful park!

 This is a view of the stairs on our way down.  It appears in two separate places that the stairs just fall off into nothingness.  Of course on the way up, it appears that the stairs just end when in all actuality, when you get closer, you can see there are a lot more to go.

 Back to Dave Falls.  This park is dedicated to Dave Frechette who died trying to clear a log jam back in the 1800's.

 On Thursday night we stayed on the shores of Lake Superior at Sunset Bay campground.  At night you can see the ships coming across the lake as they are lit up.  This is really how well you can see them.  I was sitting in my camp chair as I snapped this photo.

 A view of the ski jump from the road.  On the right side are the stairs.  A jumper can get going as fast as 50-60 mph by the time they hit the end of the jump.  I cannot imagine landing on the snow further down that hill going that fast.

I took this photo to show the vastness of Lake Superior.  I believe Pat said he could touch the bottom.  He is just plain nuts to even want to try going into that frigid water.  I recall doing it as a kid, but then I can blame the fact that I was a kid.

 In Iron Mountain there was work to be done.  One of my jobs was to organize and plant some shrubs outside the building as there were two General Authorities coming on Saturday to do some training with the bishops and high councilors of the Green Bay Stake.  I picked out the tall yellow flowers.  Other than that, my husband picked the plants.  I just busted my behind to get them planted and spaced.

While we were standing on the actual ski jump about a quarter of the way up, we took a selfie.  We took one in the opposite direction as well, but we look not so great.  I had a great time and even though my calves are sore today from that climb yesterday, it was fun.  It was also exhausting!  We had to stop a couple of times in order to catch our breath.  My heart was pounding pretty hard.  What a cardio workout!  We met several people on their way down as we were headed up.  Steep, steep stairs for most of the way.  Another fun few days with my sweetheart!

Random Thoughts

I cannot express how much I enjoyed NOT coaching the track team this year.  I was able to go to see them compete and even work at several meets.  I didn't have to endure the cold and wind and whining.

At times I miss my dad.  Mostly his tender touch.  But, I'm happy he isn't trapped in that body that didn't work anymore.

I LOVE my seminary class!  I look forward to another year teaching but wonder how much longer this calling with last.  Old Testament, here we come!

Sometimes I would rather do my own thing.  But I'm obedient.  I guess that's a good thing!

I'm excited for three nieces to get married this fall!

Little Butchy's smile and giggles melts my heart.

I love being Nana.  I still love being Mom too.

I still love playing volleyball.  It was fun to be able to play a few times over the summer.

I've got myself certified to officiate volleyball once again.  Lots of Jr. High games the fall.

I love a clean house!

Girl's camp was so relaxed this year.  I loved the feeling that was there.

Seeing an old friend come back to church after 30+ years warms my heart.

Being the mom of a missionary is so great!  I love Monday emails.  Andrew is really maturing in his testimony.  Perhaps not so much as a person.  He's still the same goofy guy according to the pictures he sends.

I LOVE what we did in our livingroom.  The stairwell and hallway are brightened and I love that too. Our bedroom is absolutely gorgeous as well.  It is amazing what paint can do.

Getting away with my husband it a welcome treat.

I have loved attending the temple monthly for all these years.

Getting the opportunity to meet general authorities has been my pleasure over the past 8+ years.  I will miss it.  They bring such a great spirit with them.

Being able to sustain my bishop, stake president, prophet and apostles is a privilege.

I've come to LOVE the Sabbath Day.  I need to make it even more of a special day in which there is much delight.

Sammi and Jeff and Evie moving here makes my heart happy.

I love paying tithing!

Escorting Erin through the temple was a highlight of my year!  It is an honor to be her mother.

I enjoy sharing the Bat Cave with Cheryl.  I'm blessed to have her as my friend.  I will miss those times if they never happen again.

I am truly blessed in so many ways.  I find joy in the fact that I can love life.  There are many people who are more apt to complain.  My glass is never half full, it is overflowing constantly.  Even with the events of the past year, most especially the death of both of our fathers, we have more than we could ever express gratitude for.  Find joy in the journey of this life!