It says in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity." I think this can apply to cousins as well. This just melts my heart.
Ephraim and Buirlen...Buds!
"A true friend is the greatest of all blessings." ~Unknown
2 years ago today, Luke and I were out for a drive when we spotted a tiny baby painted turtle crossing the road. We rescued it, I named him Norbert, and we decided to keep it at least for the weekend. Hahahahahaha! 2 years later and we now have a huge tank, 2 turtles(We found a second baby last spring and named him Chester), and a handful of fish.
Also two years ago i had decided to try growing a lemon tree. So far so good!
This week my Grandparents came for a visit and got to meet Buirlen, their first great grandbaby.
Grandpa and Grandma Kinney, myself, Buirlen and Babe the Blue Ox
When my siblings and I were kids we referred to our grandparents as Up the Hill Grandpa and Grandma(The Kinneys) and Baby Grandpa and Grandma(the Shearers). Up the Hill Grandpa and Grandma obviously lived and still do at the top of a very large hill. I've heard two lines of reasoning as to why the Shearers were Baby Grandpa and Grandma. As far as I was concerned it was because they are short, I take after them. However, I've also heard that they were dubbed that because they had a well stocked play closet full of baby dolls and other fun stuff. I don't remember how old we were when we grew out of these names and simply referred to them as the Kinneys and the Shearers, but I will never forget the nicknames.
This visit was with Up the Hill Grandpa and Grandma, and I was so glad that they got to come. Both sets of my Grandparents live in the same small, rural farming town and I grew up about 2 hours away so I got to see them a lot. Living up North now, I don't get to see them nearly as often.
Up the Hill Grandma with Jordan(age: infant) and myself(age 2)
Grandma and Buirlen
Up the Hill Grandpa with Lydia(age 1 1/2ish) and me(somewhere around a year)
Grandpa and Buirlen having a chat.
Grandma and me when I was about 6 or 7
This just makes me happy!
"Love is the greatest gift that one generation can leave another." ~Richard Garnett
Today was special. Buirlen and I got up, got ready and went on a field trip. Every spring since I started teaching at Heartland, I have taken my class on a field trip to the Williams family farm. Baby goats and 40 acres have proved to be a hit time and again. Though I am done teaching now, I still wanted to do one last trip with my class. Looking back, this is what I wrote about that first field trip.
I love being an elementary school teacher and the other day, I had the opportunity to take my class on a field trip to the Williams' farm. As I drove up the lane I thought about the first time I ever made that drive. It was before I knew that I would move to this wonderful town, before I was a teacher, it was the day I met my husband. It's crazy to think about, because that day, almost 4 years ago, I would never have guessed that I would be making this trip now, With a new name and a classroom of kids in tow. As I make this trip I wonder what I will think in 4 more years or 10 or 20. What changes await in the future? What adventures?
And today, as I drove up that lane, life is different once again. Since that first field trip, Luke and I have become home owners and parents. I've had that new name for almost 6 years now and have learned a lot. So now the question remains, what will be new in 4 more years or 10 or 20? What changes await in the future? What adventures?
Happy Friday!
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” ~Heraclitus
This past weekend Luke loaded up the bobcat and took it to his sister Abbi's house to help them out with some dirt work as they prepared to landscape. Buirlen and I went for moral support. The weather was sheer delight.
Learning all about the bobcat!
Moving rocks.
Me and my little kangaroo.
The Lovely Keren Ruth just so happens to live a half a mile down the road from Abbi. So Buirlen and I walked over for a little visit while the boys worked.
Mr. Ephraim helping his mamma do the laundry.
It is so sweet to watch Ephraim with his cousin, he really loves him. I am excited to watch their friendship grow and develop.
Chilling with cousin Mara. This little boy is so loved and he hasn't even met all the people who love him yet!
Abbi was planting some raspberries.
Sunday after Church we had lunch at the Williams' farm. Buirlen and Brody got some socializing in.
This little boy continues to fill my heart. Life is good!
"Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life."
It's Friday and it has been one of those happy, sunshine in your soul, kind of days. The temperature was in the 70's, there was a warm breeze, and the sun was out in all its glory. Buirlen and I had kind of a slow start to our day but once we got going, we filled it to the brim with goodness. A walk in the sunshine by the sparkling lake, lunch with Grandpa, Grandma, Keren and cousins, and coffee with a good friend from work.
Sometimes it's just hard to get yourself going in the morning. Today was just such a day.
Walking on sunshine!
Cousins that just happened to coordinate.
He likes to sit upright and observe the world.
At the beginning of the year, I decided that I needed to make some changes to my perspective. I needed to shake up my faith and start living a life that was not dictated by fear. It is certainly still a challenge for me, but I feel like I am making progress in the right direction. I still struggle with fear, but in some ways I feel like its grip on me is not quite as strong. I feel like I can rest in peace more easily these days. I desire to see this progress continue to move forward. I am so ready to live in the complete freedom that Jesus Christ has given me and you. Freedom to walk in the sunshine of life knowing that The One who created your soul wants to walk with you.
So as we head into the weekend, I hope that your heart is full to the brim with sunshine. I hope that you seek truth and stand firmly in it and that the joy of Jesus overwhelms you in a wonderful way. Happy Friday!
Here is a happy little song for your weekend.
"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."
Mr. Buirlen Elder is 2 months old today. It is a little bit crazy how fast that went. Life is oh so good with this little man in it. He is really smiley and has started cooing, which is a lot of fun. He likes to be held most of the time and if I put him down, he prefers that we stay within sight. He still thinks bath time is the best time and has recently discovered the joy of showers.
We've been experiencing some typical Minnesota Springiness with snow one day and beautiful sunshine the next. I must say I wan't terribly pleased when it decided to snow last week. It has been nice for so long that I kind of thought the good weather was here to stay. Silly me, I have lived here my whole life, so I should have known better. Oh well. Though I did notice one morning that despite the wintery snow, the robins where out in force. There was a whole flock of them in the tree outside my kitchen window. Robins are a sure sign of spring so there is hope that spring will come to stay soon. Also Luke tilled up my garden spot for me, so garden planning can begin. I'm hoping for veggies and lots of flowers!
The Robin Tree
I am continually in awe of how wonderful it is to have these two in my life. God has blessed me above and beyond.
My Lumberjacks relaxing on a Sunday afternoon.
This past weekend my parents came up for a visit. It was nice.
Buirlen was getting pretty sleepy sitting in the sunshine with Poppy
Sometimes a sneeze just takes over your whole face.
Here is another good song by Ben Rector. I love the message of this one. "Go on, leave your worries too. Not a bit of good they do...Leave all your troubles, leave all your sorrow." Enjoy!
And so my friends, I hope that you fully enjoy the rest of your day, regardless of the weather. Look for the adventures, they are everywhere!
"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."~Proverb
