My Minnesota Trip

This post is taken from parts of my journal while I was in Minnesota. I LOVED BEING HOME! I loved being able to spend time with my family and friends back there. I forgot just how much I loved the beauty of Minnesota. Some things I didn't miss too much, like HUMIDITY! But, it was worth it to be with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson :o)

Friday, June 28^th

 

Michael brought me to the airport at 3:00 this afternoon. My flight was scheduled to leave at 5:05 but when we arrived at the airport, they said there would be a 15 minute delay. We figured no big deal. So we sat and talked for a bit then it was time for me to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes! We hugged and kissed and both cried. I went through security and found a place to sit as I waited to board. There was some lightening and a little rain which made our flight be delayed until almost 6:30! We were finally able to board our plane and I was on my way. Thankfully, I had a nice lady to chat with on the way to Phoenix.  We landed safely in Phoenix. I didn’t have to change planes so I just stayed on the plane while almost everyone left. Then people began boarding for the flight to Minneapolis. We had another delay because of a problem with some of the landing gear. I was feeling a bit anxious because I did NOT want to miss this trip! We were finally cleared and on our way to Minnesota. My plane was originally supposed to land at 12:25 a.m. but I didn’t actually arrive until 3:00 a.m. Kelli was at the airport waiting for me with a big smile and a hug! We had a 45 minute trip home to her house where we proceeded to go straight to bed. I have the guest room directly below Quade’s room. About 7:00 a.m. I was awakened to the sound of his sweet baby voice. I immediately got up and went upstairs to see him. Chet was up with him so Kelli could sleep in a bit. Quade looked very surprised to see me in person instead of on face time.

Saturday, June 29^th

We stayed home and visited most of the day. Kelli and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few groceries. It was so nice spending time with her and just seeing her face to face. We laughed and talked and enjoyed each other’s company.

Sunday, June 30^th

I woke up a little late this morning. When I got up, everyone was already up and dressed for church. Kelli had made wonderful homemade blueberry muffins.  We left the house and drove to church. I had never been to Chet and Kelli’s church before and I was really looking forward to it. They introduced me to their pastor and some of their friends. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. The worship team was amazing and the message was great. I must say, it was so sweet worshipping our Lord with our oldest daughter, her husband, and son. It brought tears to my eyes. After church, we went to Panera for lunch. We then went to Shane Company so I could drop off my wedding ring to be cleaned and have a ring that belonged to my mother re-sized so I could wear it. We then headed home. We took a family walk together and that was nice, but it about did me in. I think I have been trying to do too much too soon after just having surgery a few weeks ago and the H*U*M*I*D*I*T*Y. The rest of the evening we spent enjoying each other’s company and watching Quade and all the fun things he does.

Monday, July 1^st

Kelli, Quade, and Me left the house about 9:15 this morning. We drove to Litchfield (about an hour away) where we used to live. We drove around the Lake and looked at different places we used to go. It brought back a lot of good memories. We stopped at Lake Ripley so Quade could play at the new playground that was recently built. It was fun watching him swing and go down the slide with his momma. He even got to put his little tootsies in the water J We headed into town to one of our favorite places “Cricket Meadow Tea” We had Panini’s for lunch and of course we had to have scones with lemon curd and Devonshire cream, YUMMY! While we were there, we ran into some old friends, Ann Jones, and Jeanne Peterson. It was nice to catch up with them and say hello. After lunch, Kelli dropped me off at where I used to get my haircut. I was so excited to get a *GOOD* haircut again. Kelli and Quade went home and my dearest friend, Anna picked me and brought me to her house. This woman is so dear to me. She knows me like no other friend I have ever had! As soon as I got in her car, she offered to take me to McDonald's for a coke. Now granted, we both know that it’s bad for us, but every now and again, one must give into their weakness and indulge! Anna got a Latte’ and I got my coke. Let me tell you, it was quite tasty!!  Since I moved to Nevada, her family has moved too, but just a few miles from where they used to live. They have a lovely home out in the country with a pond, huge trees and green grass everywhere. I felt so at home. I missed them all so much. We spent hours and hours talking and laughing. Oh how I have missed that. We finally went to bed after midnight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday July 2^nd

Anna & I had breakfast on her deck overlooking their acreage. It was so relaxing with all the wonderful birds singing. I miss that so much. After breakfast we headed to St. Cloud. We had lunch at Chipotle. It was so good and I miss that too! We stopped at Sam’s Club for a few things and then she brought me to Kelli’s house. She stayed a short while and then headed home. I so enjoyed our time together. I miss being able to share my heart with my friend. We can be real and honest with one another and still be friends. I also miss laughing with her! Kelli made a nice dinner and I treated us to DQ after Quade went to bed.

Doing what we do best.......LAUGH!

~Chicken Burrito Bowl :o)~

Wednesday, July 3^rd

Kelli, Quade, and me went to lunch at Emma Krombee’s and then to Old Navy at the Albertville Outlet Mall. I bought Q a couple of shirts and a pair of jeans for his birthday. I bought myself a Red Tee-shirt for the 4^th of July. We stopped at Target and picked up a few things, then headed home. I was super tired so I lay down and tried to take a nap. I actually ended up sleeping for 2 hours! I obviously needed it. Quade had some fun in his little pool on the deck. He loves water! Kelli made homemade Chicken Pot pie for supper. It was really good! Today at 5:00 Michael and I FINALLY closed on our house in Minnesota. PRAISE GOD!! I am so happy to finally have that behind us. Now we can look to the future, whatever that may be.

 

 

 

Thursday, July 4^th

Chet, Kelli, Quade and me went out to lunch at Applebee’s in Elk River and then onto the Splash Pad in St. Cloud. It’s a small water park. They had an area just for toddlers. Quade seemed to like it pretty well. After that we went to some friends for a BBQ. They bought a new house on 20 acres. We visited there awhile and came home. Quade had a full day but he did very well. He’s such a good boy. We watched fireworks on TV and also could see some from the family room window.

 

Sweet Baby Toes <3

Chubby Baby Hand

 

Watching a funny video on mommy's phone

Giving Mommy kisses

 

Friday, July 5

Kelli, Quade, and me went to Shane Co. and picked up my rings. It was so nice having my wedding ring back on and also being able to wear my momma’s ring.
After that we went to a French Bakery called “Rustica” in Minneapolis. I had a Vanilla Bean Scone and Kelli had a Chocolate Croissant. We picked Chet up from work and then headed home. We played some games, watched TV and went to bed.

Saturday, July 6^th

We spent the day getting decorations and food ready for Quade’s birthday party tomorrow. Kelli made cake pops, special dips, and Quade’s birthday banner. It turned out so cute. We met Tom (my step-dad) at Big Lake Pizza Factory for supper. We had a Taco pizza and a Top of the Line pizza. They were so good! I love their pizza!!

 

Sunday, July 7^th

This morning just Kelli and I went to church. Chet stayed home with Quade so he could have a good morning nap. The worship at their church is so good. I had tears streaming down my face. After church we came home and got last minute things done for Q’s party. There were 27 people that came. Quade got so many nice gifts. Thank you Lord for this wonderful year watching Quade grow into such a sweet little boy. What a blessing he is to our family. I only wish we could live closer so we wouldn’t have to miss out on such a huge part of his life.

Newborn Q

 

 

A very tired 1 year old after his BIG party!

 

Monday, July 8^th

We took Quade to his 1 year well baby appointment. He weighed 22.5 pounds. He is 30 3/4inches tall. Long & Lean like his Daddy and super healthy :o) We spent the afternoon and evening just talking and visiting. Quade had a bath. I read the book we got him for his birthday before he went to bed. He smelled like heaven.  He just gazed at me as I read to him. Talk about melting this Grams heart!

Tuesday, July 9^th

Kelli brought Quade into my room this morning to wake me up. He crawled right up next to me with a big grin on his face. What a lovely way to wake up! After I got up I went to visit my step dad. Even though I have been there several times since Mom has passed away, today it felt so empty without her. Tom and I had a good visit for about an hour and a half. After lunch we drove to the airport and were saying our goodbyes. I opened the door to tell Quade goodbye and he just smiled and smiled at me and put both his hands on my cheeks. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Leaving him was so hard. Spending these past 11 days with him (and Chet and Kelli) was so wonderful. I love them so much. I hate having kids in different states. It just tears at my heart. I loved being back in Minnesota. Everything was so green and lush and FAMILIAR. It felt like HOME! Below is just a bunch of random shots of Quade and places we went to and drove by while I was there.

Sleepy Boy

Kelli & Me being silly!

A very happy Gram with her sweet grandson

Quade giving Gram kisses <3

Gram & Quade Dancing

Quade on his airplane

Trying on Gram's shades

Taking a walk on the deck

Water table from Mommy & Daddy for his b-day

One of his favorite gifts, a hanger! :o)

Silly Mommy

Too cute for words!

 

Minnesota has some of the most beautiful old churches

WATER!! Something you don't see much of on Nevada

The Mississippi River

 

~My little heart stealer~

 

 

Minnesota Bound

This afternoon I'm off to Minnesota for 11 days! I will be staying with our oldest daughter, son-in-law, and our grandson. I am so excited to be able to spend all this time with them. While I'm there, we will be celebrating someone's first birthday too!

While I am thrilled to be going to see them and some sweet friends, I'm really going to miss this guy!

The Little Things

Since Kaitlyn has gotten pregnant, she hasn't been feeling very well. She doesn't have morning sickness. She has ALL DAY sickness. I know it's hard to do things when you aren't feeling well, especially cooking. Being pregnant magnifies those feelings and senses. Since it's been hard for Kaitlyn, I decided to offer my *assistance*. I made her and Leighton some home made muffins and brought them over to their house today. I also brought them some Stroganoff for supper. While I was there, I made Kaitlyn lunch and did her dishes. I'm not writing this for a pat on the back or for recognition in any way. I am writing this because I am blessed that she wants me there to help in her time of need. I am blessed because I am available to her when she needs me. Our children grow up, marry, and start families of their own. But, it's always nice when we can be there for each other when we're needed. I want our grown children to know that their Dad and I are always there for them, no matter what. Whether we are near or far apart, our hearts are close and you're ALWAYS in our prayers!

Babies, Boo-Boo's, & Birthdays

It's been awhile since I've written, sorry about that. After you read what's been going on, you'll understand why.

Let's start with the good news........A week ago Sunday, we went out to lunch with Leighton & Kaitlyn, Wade & Kristina, Leighton and Wade's parents and siblings and both sets of grandparents. After we ordered our food, Leighton and Kaitlyn passed out cards to everyone and had us open them all at the same time. I had a very good idea what was enclosed :o)

This is what our card said:

 

 

Needless to say, we are all super excited. Baby is due to arrive around February 8th. What a lovely early birthday present that would be for me since my birthday is the 18th! Kaitlyn has been experiencing *Morning Sickness* ALL DAY! Poor girl. I went out to visit her and Kristina last Thursday and brought her this..........

 

We are so blessed to be welcoming another grandbaby into our family. In our opinion, there is no such thing as too many grandbabies!!

Speaking of a week ago Sunday, Around 9:00 p.m. that evening, Michael and I were sitting here watching TV when all of a sudden I began to experience terrible abdominal pain. My stomach got all swollen and hard, almost like having a major contraction. It lasted for several minutes and then I threw up. At first we thought maybe it was food poisoning, only the pain didn't go away so Michael took me into the ER. We sat there 3 HOURS and were never seen!! The pain lessened a great deal so we came back home around 1:30 in the morning. The next day, Michael brought me into Urgent care. They did a bunch of blood work and sent me to get a CT scan of my abdomen. All the tests came back fine except that I was pretty anemic. My iron level was 8.5 and should be around 12. So they suggested taking iron supplements.

The pain would come and go but never left completely. When I went out to visit the girls on Thursday, the pain began again so I cut our visit short. As I was driving, the pain was getting pretty intense. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to drive home. We live an hour away from the girls and there is NOTHING between us and them but mountains. I text Michael and asked him to pray for me. I made it home and immediately threw up. Michael left work and took me back to the ER. This time we went to a different hospital and we were seen immediately. The Dr did a bunch of blood work and some X-Rays of my abdomen. Again, everything came back fine. The Dr was puzzled, but since he couldn't find anything and I was feeling better, he sent me home.


Friday (the 14th) we were back in the ER. Thankfully the same nurse and Dr were there from Thursday night and remembered us. The Dr said he was not sending me home until we found out what was wrong with me. So, he admitted me. Here is a picture of me that Michael took of me in the ER.

 

They sent me back for more X-Rays and blood work. This time my blood work showed my iron levels were lower, 7.9, my bilirubin was 2.5 and should be under 1 and my liver enzymes were elevated in the 400's and should be under 30. At first the Dr thought possible hepatitis. Since I was feeling a bit better, he decided to let me go to sleep and scheduled an MRI for the next morning. The MRI revealed I had a large stone (the size of my thumb), lodged in my main bile duct. Even though I had my gallbladder out 19 years ago, you can still get stones.

 

The ER Dr. transferred me to a different hospital on Saturday afternoon because he wanted the best surgeon to do the surgery. Wade, Kristina, and Kaitlyn came to visit me Saturday night. They brought Michael his Father's Day cards and gifts since they wouldn't be together on Father's Day. It was nice to see them.

 

For some reason, I was pretty fearful of having this surgery. I have had had many surgeries before and have never been fearful. Michael prayed with me and I was in continuous prayer for the Lord to take away my fear. The morning of surgery (Sunday), all my fear was gone. The Dr's told us the surgery would last 2 1/2 hours. Thankfully, everything went better than expected and I was out of surgery and in recovery in 45 minutes. Praise the LORD!

 

Monday afternoon the Dr's came in and were concerned because my hemoglobin levels went down to 6.7 which is dangerously low. I had to have a blood transfusion and received two units of blood. They took blood tests again on Tuesday morning and my levels came up to 9.5 so I was released to come home. Michael picked me up after work and brought me home.

I have three incisions. One is right above my belly button and the other two are located on the left of my belly button. One under my rib cage and the other a couple inches below that. I'm sore and bruised but healing well. I am extremely grateful the Lord brought me through the surgery and all is well.

Kristina's 19th birthday was on Monday, the 17th. This is the first time we have not been with her on her birthday. I have to admit it left me weepy. While we are happy our girls are married, we are still trying to adjust to them being gone and things being different. Maybe next year we call all be togther to celebrate? Here is our beautiful girl.....

 

Hard to belive our *baby* is 19 already. Time really does go by way too fast! We love you bunches and bunches, Kristina <3

South Lake Tahoe

This morning Michael and I headed out to South Lake Tahoe, which is 65 miles from our home. The drive there is so pretty and simply beautiful once you arrive. It was so hot at home, 102 degrees. Up at the Lake it was a cool 85 and sunny.

 

I had found a VERY affordable, coffee table on Craig's List that I wanted to get and re-do and it just so happened to be located in Tahoe........oh darn! :) Michael also found some FREE sheets of wood, some pallets, & 2x4's on Craig's List so we picked them up as well.
 

Here are some pictures on our way up to Tahoe.

~Heavenly~ So true!

 

Some beautiful rose bushes

 

Once we picked up our treasures, we went to lunch at The Zephyer Cove. We sat outside on the deck over looking Tahoe. Michael had a French Dip, and I had a Chipotle Bacon Cheeseburger. Our lunch came with some really yummy garlic french fries. After lunch, we walked down to the beach and took some pictures.

 

These bikes were 12 ft high!
 

This dog was so cute. He's a 14 year old Golden Retriever. His little face is all white because of his age. He loved swimming in the water. He even posed for a picture for me. The water was a little chilly, but felt soooooooo good! The last picture is of the Zephyer Resort.

The water was super clear and clean. They say you can see all the way to the bottom even at 65 feet deep!! As you look across the lake you see 4 different shades of blue. It's just gorgeous!

 

The pine cones are HUGE in California compared to what we have in Minnesota. We gathered some to bring back home with us.

 

After some sight seeing, we decided it was time to leave. The following pictures are taken on our way back home.

The Spooner Summit is at 7146 elevation

 

Going through a tunnel in the side of a mountain

 

Someone put an American flag on the top of a mountain. Carson City is Nevada's Capital. There are some really neat sculptures made of metal. There are of horses, cowboys, and some little tents.

 

This eagle is also made of metal and is located off the side of the freeway.

Harley's were out in all their glory :) We both love them! Michael also spotted this cool little sports car at a stop light. We had a lot of fun on our trip. I think for our next trip, we'll check out North Tahoe!

 

Creative Hospitality.... It's Not Just About Dinner

If you’re anything like me, sometimes the idea of inviting someone over for a meal is a wee bit stressful. I want my home to be a pleasant refuge when others enter. I want them to feel *at home*.
 

Hospitality was originally God’s idea, and Christians are called to be hospitable. “Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13b) is about as straight-forward as it gets. Peter echoes this command when he writes: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). Both elders and deacons are required to be hospitable, and it appears like hospitality is expected of all Christians – stay-at-home moms, working women, empty-nesters, you name it – regardless of whether or not they have the spiritual gift of hospitality.

When most of us think of fulfilling God’s command to show hospitality, we imagine inviting someone over to a nice prepared dinner. But sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough usable time in the day to do that. The Bible never limits hospitality to an evening meal. There are many other creative ways to show hospitality that don’t necessarily involve a four-course dinner served on china!

Afternoon or morning tea is a great way to get to know another woman. Having a girlfriend over during the day can allow for much more intimate conversation than you might have if her entire family and your entire family were all around the table together. I’m a huge tea drinker myself, so I make it a point to keep several nice varieties of tea in the cupboard so that I can invite another woman over for a cup at the last minute. The other benefit of having tea is that you don’t need to cook a whole meal. Muffins or quick bread, or even something as simple as a selection of fresh fruit, is more than adequate.  

Sometimes taking a meal to someone else is a great way to help out in a very practical way. One benefit of this type of hospitality is that you can prepare the meal ahead of time and keep it in your fridge or freezer until it is needed. They’ll enjoy the kindness you showed them.

Sometimes it’s fun to have not just one person or one family over. Sometimes it’s fun to have a whole group of friends over! When the Lord prompted us to have *Cottage Prayer Meetings* in our home once a week, I was hesitant at first. I felt a little intimidated, to say the least.

The Bible never says that we can’t be creative when we show hospitality. We invited several couples over for the prayer meetings. I made a couple different desserts and served hot tea and coffee. We had a wonderful time of prayer, worship, and fellowship

Hospitality is so much more than having people over for a meal. It’s an attitude of the heart. A hospitable heart is one that gives generally of its time and energy. A hospital heart serves so that others can be blessed. There are many blessings that come from inviting others over for dinner. But hospitality doesn’t have to be limited to an evening meal. By being creative, you can find ways to be hospitable that fit into your lifestyle and your schedule. The Bible doesn’t give us many details on how to do it. The Bible just tells us to show hospitality. Trust God to give you creative ways to do just that.

What Guys Think About Modesty

Raising three daughters, we know all about modesty and immodesty and it's effects both good and bad. We raised our girls to be modest not only in their dress, but their walk, their actions, and their speech. We know many girls who dress modestly but are not modest in their hearts. Modesty is truly a heart issue. When our girls bought clothes, they usually tried them on for their dad to seek his approval. If they passed through him, they were okay to wear. It's not just about showing too much skin, it's also about too tight, and too revealing also. I'm not saying you must dress frumpy and unattractive, but you must be careful not to dress in a way that would cause men to stumble or grieve God. Listen to this video from a young mans perspective.