Foiled again

Alas, the wintry weather of NE Iowa has once again foiled my plans of spending Christmas with my family. Tuesday we had planned to visit my hubby's family near Des Moines but stayed home due to threatening weather. Now today, a long awaited trip to my sister's cabin to visit with family once again was thwarted by freezing rain, sleet and the possibility of snow. More time to spend with my children and husband which I don't get enough of. We have all had the week off but we thought with all the traveling we would be doing we would feel like we were on the run. God must have heard my worries since we got shut down in every attempt. Oh well, I can't say I mind. I love to be home and I feel like I'm getting some things done.

a sink with a view

A fellow blogging buddy, Little Sister, asked us to post a picture of what we see when we are at the kitchen sink. My hubby took this picture this morning as the sun was rising. Isn't it beautiful? It is not uncommon to see deer back there among other forms of wildlife. That's why I keep a pair of binoculars close by.

I've been tagged

OOOOOOOOO!! I'm so excited! My first tag! Thanks Mikey!! Here goes.....

1. Five names you go by
a) Janice
b) Jan
c) Mrs. H....
d) "Insert my kid's names here" 's mom
e) Mom

2. Three things you are wearing right now
a) black patent leather shoes
b) black quilted vest
c) long sleeved T shirt (this isn't all I'm wearing though)

3. Two things you want very badly right now
a) Resolution to some family drama
b) Lose some weight

4) Three people who will probably fill this out
Can't answer this one. No one reads my blog

5) Two things I did last night
a) Went to bed early
b) Did some Sudoku puzzles

6) Two things I ate today
a) Cheerios
b) Ham/cheese/mushroom omelette

7) Two people I last talked to on the phone
a) My son, Lucas
b) My friend, Kristi

8) Two things I am going to do tomorrow
a) Work
b) Attend 2 orchestra concerts, one at 7 pm one at 8 pm

9) Two longest car rides
a) Iowa to New Jersey
b) Iowa to California

10) My two favorite beverages
a) a good cup of strong, black coffee
b) diet pepsi

That was fun!!

I'm thankful for.....

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving which, to me, hails in the busyness of the Christmas season. It is after tomorrow that I shudder to think of even driving close to the mall or Super Target. It scares me.
Each Thanksgiving I hand out simple Thank You notes to my husband and kids and we all write 5 things we are grateful for. I don't allow the older ones to write simple, one word things. I want them to work at this, to quiet down for a minute and be specific about the blessings they have.
This is what I think I will write this year.

(1) I'm thankful that I was able to spend time with my dad just the weekend before he died. I hadn't planned to go there, it was just a spur of the moment thing. I'm glad I hugged him when I left.
(2) On the way home that day my sister and I drove through the storm that generated the F5 tornado that hit communities just 20 miles from my house killing, 8 people. I'm thankful for God's protection that evening.
(3) Just 2 weeks after the tornado struck, our community was hit with an unprecedented flood. Many, many people lost their homes and belongings and their sense of security. I lost nothing in the flood except for a few days of work. For that, I am thankful.
(4) I'm thankful for God's mercy and comfort as I heal from the sudden loss of my dad. I can't explain how difficult it has been. I miss him terribly.
(5) Finally, I can't not include these goofy, loud, precious children the Lord has entrusted to me and my husband. It is an honor to be their mother and I love (almost) everything about them. I cannot talk about them without mentioning their amazing father. My husband has put up with me for nearly 19 years and I'm sure there have been many times he would have loved to bail on me but toughed it out instead. He is a man of unquestionable integrity and faith. He is my biggest earthly blessing.

I want to encourage any one reading this (if anyone does read this:)) to slow down and be thankful, at least for tomorrow.

Has it started already?

Here it is, November 14th and dare I say that the holiday rush has started already? All is crazy in this part of Iowa, in this little house on the prairie.
Last Friday night we hosted about 11 couples from our Sunday School class for a game night. We lit a fire and justed enjoyed good conversation and, of course, LOTS of food.
Tonight I have signed up to participate in a progressive dinner given for the college students that attend our church. While I LOVE hosting people in our home and I love making desserts I failed to remember the "time change" that exists between college students and "real people". I should have figured this out when the college gal organizing all this called to talk to me at 10:15 PM. I am NOT a night person. I am in bed or wanting to be in bed by 9 pm and my productivity decreases steadily from about 4 pm on. I figured the kids would arrive here around 8 pm and I envisioned myself snug in my bed by 10. NOT. Turns out they aren't even planning to get here until 10:15 pm. I should have thought this whole thing through and volunteered for appetizers.
Tomorrow my daughter marches in the Veterans Day Parade. That evening Bob and I will be going to a steak house with a few other couples to get fat and greasy.
Sunday evening we are providing snacks for 40 high school kids from our Youth Group.
Monday evening we are headed to the UNIDOME to cheer on our hometown Vikings in the state playoffs. I am hoping to run into the Cheesecake Maven if I'm lucky.
Next Thursday the children of some dear friends of ours are spending the night at our place. They are 1 and 3. I'm scared. Every time the 1 year old has been here, he's cried the entire time. I will be spending ALL DAY Friday alone with them. Why does that scare me? I've raised 4 children of my own. I work with convicted felons on a daily basis. How bad will it be to tackle these two angels. I'll have to get back with you on that one.
I am looking forward to hosting my inlaws and some friends for Thanksgiving. Bob grills a turkey on the Weber grill. It is THE BEST. I don't know why we only do it once per year.
As you can see, I'm busy, just like all of you, and I'm fearing December will not be much better.

Leaving Home

Last Friday morning I dropped my youngest off at school and took a drive to my hometown, about an hour and a half away. I was facing a task that I dreaded yet knew had to be done. It was there that I would meet 3 of my siblings to go through our parents home, take what we wanted, seperate the things to donate, and throw out the things that had no use. It was our goal to empty the house out completely as it was to be painted and put on the market to be sold.
I had been trying everything I could think of to keep from going. I wanted to be there, yet didn't. I knew it would be agonizing for me but couldn't avoid it. In a way, I felt it was one last way I could honor my parents so I knew it was one of those things in life that would be so difficult but had to be done.
I had lost so much sleep over this. I had prayed constantly for God to give me the grace to do this; to enable me to complete this task. As usual, He was faithful to me and gave me the strength when I have been so weak.
The actual job of cleaning out the house wasn't as difficult as I had expected. I think we were all in "work mode"; we had a job to do and we did it with a good degree of efficiency. In the midst of all the "stuff" were unexpected treasures and hidden memories. Some brought sweet smiles, some, agonizing tears.
As our work progressed, and as each room echoed with emptiness, my mind took me back to a time, nearly 50 years ago, when a young couple, not married 5 years yet but already with 3 children, made this their home. I imagined how excited and happy Mom was to finally have a place of her own. How she must have smiled as she planned each child's room, as she put away her household items, how she made it her home. I think of my dad; how proud he was to be able to pay cash for their first home and his plans for caring for his family. They had no idea at that time what life had in store for them; that they would have 3 more children. They didn't know the joys and the heartache that marriage and family life would bring them. Yet, they met each struggle with determination to stick it out together, no matter what. I love them for that.
I can't remember a time in my life when my tears have been so frequent and so difficult to hold. Just a simple look from a friend or a question of, "How are you doing?" will open the flood gates. I am NOT handling this very well. But I have a Savior who is walking closely with me and who loves me and who promises He will never leave me nor forsake me. I lean into Him to get me through this and I know I am in good hands.

I'm coming up for air

Hey! Its me. Popping in to say to hello to anyone who may be reading my blog (although from the looks of it, my audience is teeny tiny). Anyway, along with the cooler weather has come an onslaught of countless activities my children; i.e. piano lessons for 3, ballet/tap for 1, soccer for 1, some type of computer thing for 1, marching band for 1, Greek classes for 1 etc. You know what I'm talking about because you're probably doing it too. Comes with the territory and I will miss it when they're gone I'm sure.
I do have to share something unusual about myself...I have taken up the cello!! I LOVE the deep, rich tone of a beautiful cello and its one of the things I wanted to do when my children got older. Well, they're older and so am I. After Mom and Dad died, it dawned on me that I will too and there are some interests I have that have gone unattended to and I don't want to live a life of regrets so here I am... a cellist.
I'm so excited AND I can play Jingle Bells so I'm all ready for the holiday season.