Sunrise

Sunrise from our back deck...

I don't often stop to think about what a gift a new day is... a new week...

It is not something to be wasted.

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Ee

Ephesians 4:12 …Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.



For the complete list of ABC's of Bible Memorization just click here.  Remember, anyone who lets me know they've memorized the complete list will receive a handmade gift from me.

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Singing With Thousands

Wow!  I am having a lovely week-end already!

I went to the orientation and training time Friday evening so that I would know what my volunteer duties were to be at the Living Proof Beth Moore event.  Friends of our's, Mary and Jim, are friends of Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell.  When I arrived Mary told me that there were seats with our names on them, literally.  She'd reserved seats for both Mike and me.  They were absolutely the best seats in the house!  We were  in the second row, front and center.  The first row was for the Worship Team but most of them stayed backstage so no one was in front of us.

Before the event my assigned duties were to assist folks with special needs.  My nurse background came in handy as I am a highly skilled professional when it comes to pushing wheelchairs.  OK, so it didn't require any high skills at all but I enjoyed myself.

5 minutes before the event began the volunteers were released to take a seat.  Travis Cottrell and the Worship Team led us in singing and it was really uplifting to me.  I'd been looking forward to thousands of people singing together and I was not disappointed.

At one point, a lady in the row in front of us and a little ways down turned our way and started clapping big and leaning kind of toward us, you know, how someone would do to get you to join in.  I just kind of looked at her and it took me a minute to realize it was Beth Moore. 

I wanted to explain to her that I am a Lutheran and as such, I really couldn't clap big like that.  Lutherans are really quite dainty at that whole clapping thing.  And yes, I realize this is a terrible photo.  I think I must have been moving with the music.  check this one out...

One of the highlights was when Beth Moore was walking down in the crowd a bit, kind of having a little fun.  She went to my friend, Mary, and had her give the call to worship.  Mary didn't know this was going to happen but Beth had her give a "loud whistle", the kind that require you to put your fingers in your mouth.  Luckily, Mary's mouth was not dry and she was able to perform. 

Anyway, it was a fun evening. 

And afterward, our friend, Jim, took me to meet Travis Cottrell.

Cool.

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Beth Moore, Travis Cottrell and Marriage Encounter

What are your plans for the week-end?   Anything fun?

We have a busy one ahead for us.  Tonight and tomorrow we are going to be at a Beth Moore event.  If you don't know who that is, check here and here.  It will be fun.  I enjoy her speaking style.  She can be earnest and funny at the same time.  I've not heard her live but I've attended many of her video Bible study sessions.  Tonight I am a helper and will be assisting people to their seats or something like that.  My responsibilities end when the program begins so I won't miss any of it. 

Travelling with Beth is Travis Cottrell.  Do you know him?  If you listen to KLOVE you've heard his music.  Our worship team sings some of his songs as well.  Travis stopped in at our church yesterday and Mike got to meet him.  I'd tried earlier in the afternoon to just "happen" to drop by but my timing was off so I didn't get to meet him.  I'm really looking forward to the music part of the evening.  Thousands of people singing worship songs together is quite an experience I expect!

Also this week-end Mike and I will be attending a closing service at a Marriage Encounter Week-end.  Have any of you been to a Marriage Encounter Week-end?  Mike and I think highly of Marriage Encounter.  It is a great organization that makes these week-ends available for couples as a way to strengthen their marriage. 

I was kind of nervous the first time I heard about a Marriage Encounter Week-end.  Working on marriage issues in a crowd seemed like an intimidating thing.  As it turned out, privacy is greatly respected.  The basic format was simple.  You all stay at a hotel for the week-end, leaving the world behind.  It is advised to leave the tv off, leave watches behind and just focus on your marriage.  Our week-end was in 1988 in Denver, CO.  The St. Louis Cardinals were in the World Series that week-end!  It is possible that our tv came on a bit, but what happens in Denver stays in Denver ok?

During the week-end they had sessions where speakers introduced topics and told their stories.  Couples attending are never put on the spot to tell their own stories, though.  Instead, we were all given questions to answer by writing in our own notebooks.  One member of the couple would do this up in the room while the other sat in the conference room or another quiet spot.  After a certain amount of time the couple is reunited in their own room to discuss answers.  That basic format was repeated all week-end, covering various topics.  We were given lots of good information to help develop great communication skills. 

After attending a Marriage Encounter Week-end couples are encouraged to join a small group of local couples.  We had so much fun with our couple friends!   I think the first time we were in a group of 4 or 5 couples and we met monthly to do small exercises similiar to the ones done at the week-end.  We had so much fun, though, and made some great friendships as a couple.  I fondly remember a lot of laughter.

We are not attendees for this week-end but we've been given the names of a couple that are attending.  Mike and I will be praying for them this week-end.  Every great marriage has an influence on others around them.  We will be praying for this couple to develop a great marriage, to learn skills to help them stay close to each other and to always, always keep God in the center of their marriage.  We have a candle that we will be burning this week-end, helping us remember to pray. 

On Sunday afternoon we will meet this couple and give them the candle.  Cool, huh?

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Linked

Do you ever feel like you have an especially strong link with someone?  I am talking about things like frequently saying the same thing at the same time, wearing the same color more days than not or even buying matching clothes when shopping separately.

Maybe you feel you have an even stronger, more unexplainable link.  You've all heard about identical twins sharing things like that, haven't you?  I once had a friendship with an identical twin.  He told me about a lot of times like that.  One example I remember was when he got a sharp pain in his leg or foot, I don't remember which.  He said he had to call his brother, who was then overseas.  Sure enough, his brother had broken his leg (or foot)!

I remember a similiar experience I had in the early 1980's.  We were living in the Seattle area while Mike was going to college.  We had very little money and I rarely made a long distance phone call.  That was, of course, before cell phones.  Long distance calls were a costly luxury!  One day, while at work, I kept having this pesky feeling that I needed to call my youngest sister.  That feeling grew to a near panic level and I finally got out a credit card and figured out how to charge a phone call.  I had never done that before but I couldn't even wait until I got home.  When I called, my Mom told me that my little sister had just had emergency surgery to remove her apendix!  That was weird.

One time I was browsing on Etsy and found a necklace I really loved.  There are literally thousands of necklaces on Etsy but it turns out that Maria had chosen that same necklace and had purchased it.  I recognized it when she came to visit (that was before they moved here).  As it turned out, she purchased one for me as well.

This last week-end something kind of funny happened.  Remember that we went to our friend's farm for a hayride?  At one point during the afternoon Maria was roaming around taking photos while I was off having fun with Cordelia.  I was unaware of all the things Maria found to photograph.  Later, after Maria and Cordelia went home, I wandered around the farm taking photos of things that caught my eye.  We did not discuss all these photos but check out some of her's here.  I laughed when I saw the third one.  I'd found those same pipes on the edge of the property and also photographed them!  At the time I remember thinking pipes were a strange thing to photograph but I just thought they looked cool.  Here's the view I captured...

I am sure you all have similiar stories.  I'd like to hear them! 

Update:   Right after I finished this post and published it I clicked over to Maria's blog to see if she'd posted yet today.  I laughed!  It is a funny post with several quaint things that are funny but the part that caught me off guard was that in her post she'd made a reference and a link back to my blog.  Funny that she did that the same day that I made a reference and a link back to her blog!  Hmmmm....  Things to ponder.

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Happy Birthday Carol!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday and I want to wish her a lovely day.  She is a generous and caring woman with an elegence all her own.  And because I know she most likes it when my blog has pictures of Cordelia, that will be a gift from me to her today. 

(Photo by Nicole Z.)

 OK, so it was like a present to myself as well.  We grandmas know what we like!

Happy Birthday Grandma Carol!

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A Last Look at October

I have more October photos I just need to share.  I so wish October could have lasted longer!

Here's wishing a Happy November to you all!

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Week-end of Fun!

What a beautiful week-end we enjoyed! 

First of all, our carpet installation was completed on Friday!  Yay!  Considering that it took about 4 months, I'm pretty excited.  It looks great, feels great and best of all it is not pluckable.  The fibers remain attached to the carpet!  Yay!  They do not pull out like tiny weeds in soft dirt.  That is something I now know is important in a carpet!  It took 3 tries but we finally have our new carpet.

Then of course we enjoy the St. Louis Cardinals winning  the World Series.  I guess I've probably mentioned that enough for now. 

We were quite the social butterflies, attending 5 or 6 separate gatherings over Saturday and Sunday, in addition to church.  I took my camera to the last event.  A couple from our church invited us all to their farm for a hayride and weiner roast.  There was a pumpkin pinata, horses, apple-bobbing and lots of other fun things.  I was especially delighted because Maria and Cordelia joined.  Cordy had a lot of fun and we enjoyed watching her.  I am pretty sure Maria will be posting some great photos so please check out Little Things are Big.  I have a just a few I must share.

Cordelia and Maria were looking at the cows when Cordy spotted me and came running.  The whole time she was running she kept saying, "Look out for the poop!  Look out for the poop!"

It was sweet of her to warn me.

My man and our little descendent just enjoying a hayride on a lovely October Sunday.

Our daughter, beautiful inside and out...

This little face absolutely melts my heart.

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Dd

Are you still following along and memorizing the Bible ABC's?  We are on D this week.  It is a good one for uncertain times.

John 14:1, 2 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you…?

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The Little Boy Within is Very Happy

There once was a little boy who lived on a Montana farm, about 10 miles from the Canadian Border.  He was 8 years old when he started to be interested in baseball.  In 1967 it was not easy to watch baseball on TV when you lived in such an isolated location as did he.  Only a few channels were received there and the reception was always iffy.  Radio reception was not always dependable either.  Nevertheless, this little boy was hooked.

Just before the 1967 season began he chose "his team".  It all began in March as he was reading an article in the "Weekly Reader" that talked about baseball.  He'd also been reading about St. Louis.  Around that time he'd been looking through the encyclopedia and saw cardinals (the birds).  Red birds are not something seen in Northern Montana.  He was very impressed and thought they were really cool.  And so, just like that, he made his choice.  It turns out that decision, made at age 8, was to be a lifetime choice.That little boy's name was Mike.

That first year was a great season!  The St. Louis Cardinals became World Series Champions!  Mike said he was the nerdy boy with his little transistor radio out on the playground during recess.  He had to battle wind and coal dust (the school was heated by coal and it was near the coal that he found the best signal) as he struggled to find a scratchy signal so that he could hear what was going on with his Cardinals at the World Series. 

Mike told me his first baseball card was Julian Javier.  Of course, you know that the J's in that name are pronounced as H's, right?  Well, the little boy of Norwegian/Dane/German descent did not know that so he pronounced it as it is written.  Cute, huh?

I took this photo a few years ago when we were back visiting the farm.  When Mike's Dad was doing some cement work around a granary building, Mike left his mark.

In 1982 we were married and living on the farm.  It was another great year for the Cardinals and they made it to the World Series.  Our TV reception was still pitiful.  What did we do?  We packed up baby Maria and drove about 80 miles to rent a room at Super 8 in Havre, MT.  Why?  They had cable TV!  The next day we drove on down to Great Falls, MT to stay with Mike's Mom.  Yes, she had cable as well.  Mike was a happy guy, watching his Cardinals win that World Series.  His Mom was very gracious as I don't think she cared much about baseball.  It didn't matter; she cared much about Mike.

Fast forward to 1988.  Mike was in his last year of seminary.   Our friends, Bill and Cindy, had moved to Chicago.  Although they were Cubs fans, they knew of Mike's obsession, I mean interest, in the Cardinals.  They invited us down to stay with them when the Cardinals came to Chicago to play.  What a thrill!  It was the first time Mike actually got to see his Cardinals play!  We had such a fun week-end with Bill and Cindy and to top it off with a live Cardinals-Cubs game was just priceless.  This morning I had this Facebook message from Cindy, "Bill came home and said, "Mike Struck must be in heaven," I was shocked and asked him, "did Mike die?" No, silly, the Cardinals just won the world series!!!! Congrats to Mike!" 

In 2003 we were approaching our 25th wedding anniversary and wanted to do something special.  Mike was talking about different trips we might take when I said, "I am not going anywhere with you again until you get to see St. Louis."  That was one of my best "wife" moments if I do say so myself.  He tried to resist but I was stubborn.  We had tickets for 4 games but the night we arrived we'd not planned to go as we didn't think we'd have time to get to the game.  I remember looking down into the full stadium as our plane circled to land.  I took this photo from the airplane.

Actually, we saw that view twice as our first landing attempt was suddenly aborted.  Our plane quickly rose up.  We were told we were in some other plane's path.  EEEEK!  That was scary but it was fun to look down into the stadium again.

Anyway, we got downtown to our hotel and were told that since we'd booked 5 nights they were upgrading us to a suite.  Wowza!  It was beautiful!  We'd lived in smaller apartments!  We looked around and then both agreed we should run over to the stadium and see if we could get in.  We got there and bought tickets in the cheap section.  As we entered, I looked at Mike's face.  He was seeing Busch Stadium for the first time.  He was 45 years old and had been dreaming of that moment since he was 8.  I wish I'd taken a picture of his face!  I swear I could see 8 yr old Mike!  The Cardinals hadn't been doing well in that game but right after we entered they made hit after hit.  Can you image?  It was magical.  I treasure that memory of watching Mike watch his Cardinals!

The next day in St. Louis we toured the stadium and even got to go into the dugout!  He was so happy to be there!  In case you are wondering, that is NOT Mike's purse in the background. 

We also toured the Cardinals Museum. I doubt that little kid listening to the 1967 World Series on the scratchy radio didn't dream he'd ever be this close to that 1967 World Series Trophy!  He's trying to look casual but on the inside he was doing cartwheels.

We enjoyed 5 games while we were there.  It was a lot of fun, except for maybe when they lost.  Nevertheless, we made some big memories.

We had so much fun we repeated that trip for our 27th anniversary.  At that time we were able to watch as they were building the new Busch Stadium.  I think it is time for us to go back to see the completed stadium, don't you?

If you ask Mike today who was in the line-up of that 1967 Cardinals Team, he could spout them all off to you.  Is that weird?  Maybe.  The way I see this, though, is fierce loyalty is a nice trait in a man.  Don't you agree? 

I'd probably not otherwise care one diddly about the World Series.  If I did care, I would likely always cheer for the underdogs, no matter who they were.  However, I love Mike so I care about the St. Louis Cardinals.  I care if Albert Pujols stays with the team because he is an amazing athlete.  I care that David Freese got to be a hero in his hometown.  I know who Stan the Man is, I like red, I know who Whitey Herzog is and I think Tony La Russa is amazing.  I am happy today because the man I love is happy.  You see, I have some fierce loyalty of my own.

                               



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Tired Buddies

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Seeing Double

Yesterday, while Dan the Carpet Man was working, I picked up Maria and Cordelia and we met Mike and Sam at the mall for lunch.  Before we left their house, though, we let Bumblebee and Bode play.  They hadn't been together for a couple of weeks while Bumblebee recovered from a little surgery.  They were SO happy to see each other.  It was sweet.

The trip to the mall was fun.  We just kicked around awhile, enjoying time together.  While in Target, I used my cell phone to snap pictures of Cordelia.  She was trying on hats and having fun with a full length mirror.  She couldn't be cuter, could she?

It was just lovely to watch her entertain herself.

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New Carpet - AGAIN!

It is new carpet day.... AGAIN! 

Our house has been in some form of disarray since late June.  In case you don't remember, our first new carpet was installed in July.  Just before the last room was to be completed we discovered the carpet was VERY faulty.  The fibers just plucked right out.  So, we lived with half done carpeting while the replacement carpet was being shipped.  That took several weeks.  When it arrived I went in to the store to see it and it was just as faulty.  SO, that was returned and I ordered a totally new carpet.  That took several more weeks.  When it came in I went in and approved it (yay!) but our carpet-layer friend was tied up for a few weeks.  Last week his calendar cleared but I was in training for my first weekat hospice and so we had to postpone to today.  So, here's how we are living today:

The living room furniture has been smooshed into the dining area.

Our bedroom furniture is mostly in the guestroom...

And Dan, our carpet-installer, has already put down the pad in our bedroom this morning.  That was the room that never got finished last time.

So, a busy day but at least we are making some progress!

I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday!

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Caring Hearts and Gentle Hands

I was having trouble with my computer so this post is 1 day late....my apologies.




I am working 3 long shifts in a row so my blogging time is greatly diminished.  I did want to share this with you.  It is a photo I took at work today.  It is over the main entrance to the patient area at the hospice home where I am training.  I hope that I read it everyday as I try to fulfill what it says.  I am training with an awesome nurse that is truly remarkable with the patients.  I am learning a lot.

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I took this photo Saturday morning with my cell phone when I was walking Bode.  One of my favorite things is to go to the river.  It is only about a 15 minute walk for me to get there.  I'm not sure why but just seeing a body of water makes me feel refreshed and new.  Does anyone else feel that way when they see water? 

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Cc

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
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One day this week, shortly after Mike left for work, he called me at home and told me to look out the window.  I did and then I ran outside to capture the moment.  We'd had a hard frost during the night and our cottonless cottonwood tree was letting go of most all of its leaves in one morning.  It was incredible!  It was noisy!  It felt like it was raining gold.  The picture doesn't do it justice but if you look closely, many of the leaves are much larger than the others, or so it seems.  They were actually much closer than the others as they fell.  Some even hit my camera as I tried to photograph it.  I would guess 30-50 leaves were in the air at all times for quite a long time.  I've never experienced such a shower before!

I love Fall!

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SUGGESTIONS?

Well, Bode has moved on from cell phones to tv remotes.  We try to keep them out of reach but sometimes one gets left on the end table...

And just so you know, he has LOTS of things to chew on.  These are the toys/bones I found in just one room this morning...

Suggestions? 

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Hello? Hello? The Final Hang Up

 Bode is still chewing and eating anything he can reach.  It is still driving me CrAzY!  However, some good has come of it...

Yes, that is my phone.  Yes, I said this was a good thing.  If you are confused, please click here.

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A Windy Day at Hobby Lobby

Recently my aunt and cousin, Michelle and Anne Marie, were in town for an event.  They gave me a call and we got together for a bit.  I also got to visit briefly with Anne Marie's husband and daughter.  First we met at the mall but we quickly migrated to our REAL destination... Hobby Lobby.

Are any of you Hobby Lobbiers?  I LOVE that store!  My mom always wants to go there as well when she is in town.  As she put it, "It is a lovely store full of things that no one really needs."  Well, it is true that it doesn't carry the necessities of life, but sometimes I really think I NEED a certain color of yarn or some new beads for earrings or fabric for a dress or ......  They have SO many things I really, really need... ok, things I WANT. 

My Aunt Michelle was a pretty important person during my elementary school years.  My family moved to the same town in Nebraska where she taught at a college.  I remember lots of times spent following her and my Mom around doing exciting things like touring through new mobile homes for a Sunday outing.  When we'd drive to Wyoming for Christmas or something, Michelle sometimes rode along with us.  For some reason I often had leg aches as a kid and they were especially bad when we were in the car too long.  I remember Michelle massaging my legs to help me feel better. 

Anne Marie is a lot younger than I am so I can remember back to her infancy.  I remember her as being very smart and very spirited.  Our two families did not live close together by then so I only saw her occasionally.

For many years, though, I've mostly only seen Michelle and Anne Marie at my Grandma Rose's house.   Grandma's house was really the gathering place for extended family.  Grandma Rose died just before Christmas last year and since then so much has changed.  We don't have that center to our extended family anymore.  It seemed kind of odd to get together with Michelle and Anne Marie somewhere else, but I mean odd in a nice way.

I'm so very grateful that Michelle and Ann Marie made the effort to call me so that I could see them.  Oddly, it made me feel a little closer to Grandma Rose again.  There is something comforting about being with people who have known you your whole life.  That feeling of connectedness is something I've come to value.

I brought my camera to document the occasion but had left the SD card in my computer.  Duh.  Luckily, Michelle had her camera along and has shared some pictures with me.   Thanks, Michelle!  As she noted, we have the Wyoming Wind hairdos!

Anne Marie and me...

Michelle and me...

Michelle and Anne Marie

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