Diamonds in the Rough

I miss blogging. The other day I was reading old entries, and I am really thankful to have those memories written down somewhere. Because if I don't write them down, and sometimes even if I do, I don't remember anything.  Like this morning.  My dear husband told me this morning that he loves me more today than ever before.  I said something sweet back to him, but already I don't remember what it was... I think a brain-eating virus got me, and it is at work in there...  So all the memorable things that have happened in the past year or two, the ones I never recorded here -- they're gone.  I am going to have to keep Betz around forever to be my brain.  She remembers everything.

The above photo is not Minnesota. Minnesota looks like this:

But it's okay, we're expecting above freezing temps all this coming week. We are excited to see the beginning of the melt. Maybe by July we will be able to plant the garden! That other photo is California. The girls and I went to see my parents for a few days. I cherish these times with them, late in their lives, when they are both still healthy and active. Wish we could be there a lot more.  Especially in the winter. *grin*

Where does one begin (or continue) when one has neglected her blog and virtual friends for months on end?  With a summary:




Alison, my favorite daughter, is still at Culver's and is now store trainer and prep cook. She has some 20 violin students. She wants to buy a car, or at least have unlimited use of one of ours. :) Life does get complicated when four or five people all have to be somewhere at the same time.







Amy spends more time with her "kids" than she does at home. She is constantly Instagram-ing herself with various combinations of children. Like this:

 

I've heard this referred to as being "selfie-ish", but at least Amy shares her selfies with other faces. She will be done with school this semester, and then she plans to spend even more time with her kids. She'll add hours as a mom's helper with her three families and more hours as PCA to her sweet little apraxia girl. And spend even less time at home. :(  Good thing we're going to family camp this summer so I can get her for a week. Amy's my favorite, too. Wait. Who am I kidding? We never see our kids at family camp!

Betsy has probably changed the most. She's my favorite. While our homeschool co-op has been a huge challenge for her, Betz has risen to the occasion and met that challenge! She has grown in confidence and maturity. She expects a lot out of herself. She is a good, analytical thinker. And she has made herself indispensable at our local nursing home, serving coffee, delivering mail, leather crafting with the residents, decorating, doing paperwork, etc. Betz is in line for the activities director's job but, sadly for her, she can't be put on the payroll for a couple of years yet.

And Emily. Emily is currently taking piano lessons and doing super duper. I think she has caught up with me now. Ever the hands-on kid, Em always has a project or a book or a pile of papers or a ball of yarn with crochet hook or a bowl of batter somewhere.  (We need a craft room.) Today we have a messy pile of Popsicle sticks and glue and such, for the construction of a doll house and some mini Adirondack chairs. The other day it was a bendy doll.  Tonight it was donuts. This girl won't be lacking for how-to knowledge! My other favorite, Em has a special place in my heart.

So. Can you tell who takes all the photos around here with her iPod?  Yes, it's Amy. This is why it's hard to blog any more.  I had to have her email all these photos to me. Perhaps I'll get my own old-fangled camera out and re-inspire myself to write again.


The man of the house is still a crazy cyclist, riding on studded tires in the icy cold and loving it. He is faithfully plugging away at our little church plant.  We were thrilled to add our first member last summer, and now we are about to add two more. Praise God!! It's a slow work, but by the grace of God and by his leading, it will be a permanent one! May marks our third year. The girls have been so good about being the only young people at church, and I know they would LOVE to have like-minded friends to fellowship with. But God knows what they need, at this time and always. He knows the value of being able to confidently stand alone, and he knows the value of us trusting Jesus Christ intimately when he's the only (and dearest) friend we have. These are things I desire our girls would come to know, though it may require time and hindsight to see it clearly.
 

The Pastor here did a temp job for a few months at a local wire harness factory. It was his worst job ever, but he did it. Without complaining. And he got up very early in the frigid cold and walked home sometimes, and tolerated cursing and vile conversation and brainless, druggie co-workers, and double standards, and then he found out he couldn't afford to be offered a permanent position with the company! To accept their health care plan would have meant he'd be working for $4.10 per hour. Truth. Ridiculous truth! Now the man is hoping to help his brother haul cars. He has his self-promoting sales proposal all ready to present to his new partner, and if Brother agrees to the deal we'll be praising and thanking God for the blessing.

Me, I'm actually doing a pretty good job, I think, teaching my 3rd and 4th graders at co-op. My comfort zone expanded a teeny bit. It has been a totally stretching experience for me, a very good thing for me at age 50. Oh, 50. Everything changed when I turned 50. I am not liking the "new" old person I see in the mirror, but soon enough I'll have a new body and everything will be okay. (And I won't be vain any more, so it won't even matter! If that isn't the ultimate irony.) God is good.

Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:51,52