All the books, talks, mentors, schedules, vacations, and plans will not make up for work.  That old unglamorous notion somehow never loses power.  It's how God made us, I guess.

My life has been a ruckus lately.  Decisions and situations can't stop throwing me curve balls, and I'm not a good aim.  It's been easy to excuse getting behind every day.  And people are so understanding.  Truth is, though, I haven't given good ol' work enough credit.

Well, nature has been too generous to ignore, so even after an errand that stretched three hours too long, I had to get Eddy and me outside.  There was much to be done, and no more snowy excuses!  It was work.  Try keeping a 3.5-year-old boy on task with a good attitude, and you'll know it was work.  But somehow I knew it would turn out right.

Of course, sun, fresh air, and natural beauty played their parts well.  But theirs were not the only parts.  Somewhere in that buckle-down consistency rose a steadiness, which emerged into pleasantness.  That soon became happy determination, and out of nowhere popped grand satisfaction in a job done -- and done well.

Freedom and fun gained their color!  Excitement got new batteries!  And our little team was nicer to each other, having helped each other finish, being on the same side again.  Never has something that looked so stern when approaching, turned out so kind and helpful.  Then again, maybe that has happened before...when I met God.

He made us well.  No matter what mess we've made of this world, turn back to how you were intended, and you'll still see glimpses of how things were...in the beginning.

Spring.  Spring, spring, spring!

I love the sun.  The sun follows the pattern.  The sun is consistent.  Those fickle clouds can hide it when they want, but they can't keep it from angling higher northward in the sky and rising earlier each spring day to vanquish the cold of morning and winter.

Literal tons of snow covered the ground, and lay in mountains not long ago.  I often pondered what it would take to remove one of those piles.  A bulldozer?  A jack hammer?  A crane?  And what damage would the grass and earth suffer?  What repair would it need?  Ah, but the sun!  Leave it to the sun and watch your mountain turn hill turn mound turn bump turn popsicle turn frisbee field, all in a matter of days.  The sun is timely. The sun vanquishes.  The sun stays.  The sun penetrates.  The sun transforms.  It even gardens.

Dawn in spring, my alarm clock from apathy and sleep.  My dreamlike visitor calls my name aloud in the silence of my mind, and beckons me out, out, into the newborn day, come and talk, come weep, come sing, come awaken to new life once again.  In my dreamy haze, I do not see myself donning jeans and tennis shoes.  The woman rushing out has no stained work coat, messy hair or baggy eyes, no.  The voice of the sun creates another picture, of fairy land and princesses.  Long, flowing golden locks swish back on the glowing white night gown and silk-lined cape, as the mysterious someone calls her out to the shadowy mist, for love and everything noble, gentle, and grand.

That soft, piercing pink-orange glow, it somehow forgets all dirt and warts and spring mess.  Instead, the heart, the life, the beauty and curves and lines and contrasts and shadows explode!  Enchantment is reality, and passion beyond measure is everywhere.  The heart of a thing is exposed, and it glows so bright its casing vanishes as the glass of a bulb.  Instantly all people are connected, unhidden, related, helped and hurt, indifferent or zealous, but all flowing together one a river of time.  As the voice of the sun shines in my mind, it does in others, my distant neighbors across the fields, the acquaintances in nearby towns, lost friends a world away.  They seem near, they seem alive and people once again.  Their hearts beat and their days flow as mine, they are one small prayer, one thought, one tear away.

On canvas the sun is hard to recreate.  I think of orange and yellow and the sharp painful light, to which you shield your eyes.  My paints are insufficient.  A bit of yellow mixed with white, the color of lilies, a pale easter yellow, eggshell, then white.  Where is the glow?  Where is the sharpness?  How large must the white be to seem brighter in the center?  It occurs to me that the effect of one's lashes as they shield their eyes plays a part in how brightness appears, but also -- and what I discovered in time to paint it -- was contrast.  The sun's distinguishing characteristic is it's far superior brightness than anything around it.  It's light is the source of all color and shape on the earth.  So the edges of my canvas took on reds and oranges and dark yellows, fading and brightening and reaching straight and unwavering toward one point.  That point, that whiteness had the palest yellow poking into it, reaching, but being extinguished next to the outstretching ball of whiteness.  The effect turned out pretty good, but still nothing compared to the true sun, the cradle and blankets in which God placed this small earth.

This spring (well, I like to pretend it's spring here...or maybe I think I'm still in school and it's "spring" semester...), Eddy and I have not been commuting back and forth from Minnesota, as we had the previous three years.  This has both pros and cons.  One sad thing is that Daniel is still commuting (only 3 days a week, thank goodness!).  I really miss him.  And I'm still trying to iron out the upheaval his coming and going does to Eddy's and my household life.  However, there are plenty of pros, as well.

On top of only one pantry and fridge to stock, only one meal schedule to plan, and only one house to organize and clean, there are also the people!  I am trying hard not to outdo my time, and I may be on the busy side, but it is oh, so rich right now.

My friendships with high schoolers at our church have not only continued, but become deeper and more meaningful.  What an important time of life, and -- I'm not ashamed to say -- an amazing group of girls!  I don't know about you, but I certainly didn't finish a full-length fantasy novel by age 15, act in plays and musicals professionally, create hundreds of paintings well enough to be sold, or make extensive plans for my life in my first couple years of high school!

We have also joined a couples small group, and the women's Bible study to which I belong always continues to be spiritual, deep, and convicting.  The diverse group of high school leaders I've met are both interesting and so inspirational, and the babysitters that have popped up are turning into out-of-nowhere family friends.  I'm learning through these people.  I'm serving these people.  I get to love them, and be accepted.  I don't know what the future holds for our little family, but right at this moment I can say that I have a whole bunch of flesh-and-blood friends.  I feel "in" for the first time in a long time.

When I have my priorities straight with family, and find my source of happiness in God, people suddenly become a lot brighter and more enjoyable.  Thank you, God.

I gotta admit, I put alot of work into this Valentine's Day.  Weeks ahead of time I planned all the dishes for a special Polish dinner for us (No, we're not Polish, but last time we had Polish it was great!).  I researched all the recipes, went on a special shopping trip for good ingredients.  Then yesterday I  cooked nonstop from 10:30am to 7pm, but I did it!  Dan, Eddy and I feasted over candlelight on Pierogies, Golumpkies, boiled potatoes with Dill, and the best Polish pound cake you've never seen! =)

By the end of the day, the end of the meal, the end of dessert, I was beginning to wonder whether Danny had anything in store for me at all.  Right when my anxiety began to rise noticeably, Danny disappeared upstairs and came back with a very large flat package wrapped in brown paper.  "Don't wreck the front," he said.  It was A foot-and-a-half wide and 3 FEET tall.  I carefully removed the paper to reveal a particle board artist's painting of a caricatured blues trumpet player! (pictures to come)

He said when he visited New Orleans on his way home from buying our car, he ran across a whole bunch of artists in progress on very New Orleans style pieces.  This artist sold his paintings for less because he put them on less expensive materials, such as particle board.  But they were just as good or better than half the other paintings for sale!  Wow!  With this, and my uncle's blues painting, I have the makings of the perfect music room!  My husband sure knows what I like!  A perfect surprise for a perfect Valentine's.

I hope your Valentine's was just as special.  Tell me about it!

I sat here in the kitchen of our farm home, fiddling on my computer in the quietness of night.  Suddenly from the quiet I heard, skuttle, scratch...then quiet...then skuttle scratchity, then the tiniest squeery-squeery-squeak-squeak breaking the silence and sending shivers through me.  The mice were back.

Earlier today I'd seen one scamper across the floor and under the dishwasher, but it had been several hours, and I'd all but forgotten about them.  Now they were relentless.  Scratching and squeaking and scratching and squeaking...every few minutes pulling me into the pantry to investigate.  Every time looking and searching thoroughly, I found nothing.  I finally assumed they were in the box of paper bags, tried but failed to find a mousetrap, alerted Dan, and returned to the table.

 Sritchy scratchy...no, no.  It's okay.  Dan will handle it later.  Back to work.  squeaky squeak...oy, I hope they don't find food somewhere.  Then it happened.  Aha!  On the counter a mouse had inwittingly revealed himself -- amid the bread, no less!  Now I'd had it.  Forming a standoff with Mr. Mouse in the corner of the counter, behind the bread basket, I stared him down and would not let him escape.  At the same time I picked up the phone and dialed Dan, upstairs in his office, to come down to help immediately.  He did, and with long thick gloves, a rustle and some awful squeaks, he had caught him in his gloved hands.  I rushed to open the door for him, and way out in the snow the mouse went.  Victory!  Back to work.

Ten minutes later: scritchy scratchy scrawl scrawl.  Oh, no!  Is this another one, or the same mouse! On the counter again.  A stand off, a call, a few strategically placed countertop items, a brave husband and some mouse violence that thankfully did not go through the glove, and out again...or perhaps to keep his friend company.

Ten minutes later yet: more scratchig and a flash of brown and a tail runs behind the toaster.  Really?  This is beginning to be routine.  A call, a tussle, but no!  He slipped behind the stove and we lost him in the pantry.  More waiting.

In the pantry the noise stops, then picks up when all is quiet.  I'll leave him be.  Then, Uh-oh.  I can't believe it!  In the breadbasket, crawling around the bread!  It keeps getting worse!  Another call, another tussle, and way way out this time, halfway down the driveway he went, to find a new home in the woods.

Several hours later and no sounds.  Perhaps we threw three mice brothers out, perhaps one very hungry one.  We'll never know.  But it sure was a rush!  Never underestimate the importance and glee of excitement in marriage and home life...even if it does give you the jitters.

My whole family has come and gone, and Dan's whole family has come and gone -- except one: Dan's mom.  In this breath of calm and back-to-normal, the remainder of one relative actually makes it more relaxing and easy-going around here.  This year Dan's "off-season" is busier than ever, but with Cathy here, there's always someone for Eddy and me to see and talk to.  Eddy keeps bouncing between us for attention, which makes it much easier to get things done in between parenting.  And how great is it to surprise and be surprised by meal making, favors and chores!  There are plenty of things that neither of us like to do, which makes plenty of opportunities to joyfully help each other out, just to see the smile at the other end.  And after four years of householding, I still find myself watching Cathy to see how to do things better.  She is so efficient!

 Ah, the joys of family.  Free babysitting, camaraderie, wisdom, and so many other pleasures.  Now we just need to move to a place that has family all year long...

Mom-in-laws, they're pretty awesome.

Distraction, forgetfulness, and stress themed this December at the Hobbs' house.  Christmas was neither front nor center.  Family things happened, business things happened, personal things happened...and didn't happen.  In summary, our minds were worn out and I didn't even care enough to decorate for Christmas (Dan didn't either, but that's normal for him).  Could it really be only 2 weeks to Christmas?

I decided to take Christmas for what it really is: a celebration of Christ's birth.  Honestly, to relax my mind, body, and soul enough to enjoy my family's company and remember that night would to me be joy realized.

With that resolution I went on with head higher.  My tasks can be done.  My heart can bear what it needs, to love.  I walked into my Bible study of women (all stressed out from Christmas) and received acceptance, understanding, motivation, and prayer.  Now, with hope and camaraderie I moved forward.

And moving forward, Christmas found me.  In my chance meetings of friends at the store, good messages on Christmas cards, letting Eddy give to a man ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, receiving a box of oranges from a relative, and kind words from loved ones. That birth so long ago in the middle east really did revolutionize the world...and continues to change the world as far as Christ is "born" in the hearts of mankind.  Yes, I am beginning to feel the holiday.

As I write this, the snow begins to flutter down.  The house is getting cleaner and prettier and more festive as the day winds down and points to the arrival of Dan's parents.  That's another thing: the arrival of family.

Look and see Christ around you, and have a very merry Christmas.

Looming weather forecasts all week, leading up to Eddy's anticipated weekend at Aunty Lindsey's.  We headed out a bit anxious of what was before us, but the storm held off long enough to get Eddy safely to Rochester, and the two of us safely to our farm home in Afton.  That night was calm, and lovely.  A long snowy walk in a field, talk of carols and sleighs and mice scampering by, a swing on the tire, a snow battle, and a warm fire inside.

The next day was a bit more threatening.  Snow and more snow, until we were worried about our planned drive to Eau Claire for a dinner party and serving at church in the morning.  A bit more time and our worries were put at rest.  No, the storm did not calm down: it got worse!  Our dinner party called to cancel on us, and church emailed throughout the evening to say, 1st) Saturday night service canceled, 2nd) Sunday morning services canceled, 3rd) Sunday night meeting canceled.  Off the hook there!  We had only to stay snuggled inside and wait for the sun.

On TV was only news and weather, and the very important rescheduling of the Vikings game on account of the weather.  A thousand stranded travelers slept at the airport that night.  Plows and trucks and cars lodged themselves into snow banks and ditches all across the state.  The hired plow guy (and every other plow) worked all night, even stopping at our driveway 3 times throughout the night.  But the morning sun brought the biggest surprise.

A veritable sea of white had swallowed the ground we once knew.  Swirls and tide pools and huge crested waves gleamed in the light.  Tables and stairs and benches and anything else outdoors seemed to be sinking.  It was beautiful, and shocking, and awe inspiring, and exciting -- especially when we saw on the news that it was the biggest snowfall around here on record.  When you yourself are safe and warm, you can't help but smile at being part of history like that.  I, personally, have been wanting a little more snow.  Well, I got it.

We surveyed the damage and work and heroic rescue scenes on our way back down to Rochester.  Many roads still harbored a thick layer of snow to be navigated.  Snow so often blew across the highways that there were often hidden ice tracks, from all the previous travelers.  Vehicles of every kind littered the sides of the roads.  We got to Lindsey's and the "snow mountain" the kids liked to slide on had tripled in size.  We greeted the family, gathered Eddy, and headed back toward Eau Claire.  We could only guess what would be in store for us there.

There were wheel tracks through a somewhat plowed end of the driveway, until we got to where it split between our neighbor's house and ours.  There we saw a wall.  The wind chill was so cold Dan didn't want me to even carry Eddy through the snow to our house.  We drove to the neighbors and he walked to find the tractor.  About an hour later he called us home, with only a very narrow tunnel to get the car through.  We got to the house and he stayed out half the night plowing, coming in to warm up, going back out.  The next morning saw him out again on the plow, and Eddy and me with our shovels doing the walks, and porches, and everything else covered in snow.

Now with extra winter insulation, cool snow walls around each path, and gigantic mountains, we can warm up and enjoy the bounty God has given us this year.  I'm pretty sure it will be a white Christmas.

Eddy and I went to Grandpa Peter's and Grandma Linda's house a little while ago.  We had a great time!  (sorry, no pictures.  I had to take them with dad's camera, and haven't retrieved them yet).  We said 'hello' to the horses, tried to find the kitty, played with the dog, ate the ever present grandparent treats, watched some cartoons and looked at old pictures.  In short, we did all the things you'd expect when visiting grandpa.

But I noticed something interesting while I was there.  Their dog, Hoppis, (small grey Scottish terrier, middle aged, but with lots of energy) acts exactly like Eddy!  Actually, I should say it the other way round, since the dog is at least  twice Eddy's age.

I was trying to get a shot of Hoppis.  It was very difficult because once you put Hoppis somewhere, he immediately runs up and sniffs you or licks your face.  So does Eddy (substituting hugs and hair-holding for the sniffs and licking, of course).  I tried to get a decoration out of Eddy's grasp and he immediately pulls it away.  So does Hoppis!  They both love TV.  They both love playing wildly with toys.  They both love running fast outside.  They both love running up and down stairs.  And they both love eating!

Eddy and Hoppis were inseparable almost the entire time.  They stole each other's toys, they chased each other, they hugged and kissed each other, they ventured into the barn together.  They were two peas in a pod.  Often we adults would sit and watch Eddy and Hoppis run round and round in a circle, chasing each other and having a grand time.  Kinda makes me see one reason why people get dogs...

...not that I'm going to get one.  He gets along with Hoppis well enough =)

I never would have believed it when I was a teenager, but it's true.  There is never a dull moment for a parent.  There are many cute moments, some happy moments, frustrating moments, exciting moments, even a few restful moments, but not dull.  Eddy makes certain of that.

For the last 4-5 weeks Eddy (and his cousins when they were here) has wanted to watch one of the favorite kids' movies in the house: Curious George!  But after searching the house over and over again, I gave up trying, and just told Eddy, "It's lost. Sorry, bud."

Today the temperature was in the 40's all morning, so Dan and I decided to start our first fire of the season in the wood stove.  I'm recovering from the flu, and couldn't wait to get it warmed up in here.  We started it late morning and by Eddy's naptime the house was warming nicely.  He went to bed.  Good timing, as it turns out.

A few minutes later Dan noticed some smoke coming from one of the vents in the wood stove.  Maybe it's just dust from over the summer...but, seems like a lot of smoke for a bit of dust.  Peering into the hole with a flashlight he spotted it. "It's Curious George." My heart sank.  If only we had found it sooner.

Well, we set right to work.  First we transported the red hot fire outside, via a metal trash can.  I'm surprised Eddy didn't wake up to that.  Every smoke detector in the house went off. (mental note: don't count on Eddy in a house fire) Then we systematically removed as much of the DVD and case from the vent as we could with Mom's old metal spatula, a bent metal yardstick and a needle nosed pliers.  The plastic that remained we decided to burn off, with the windows open, of course.  Time to bring the that fire back in.

The whole incident just made Dan and me laugh.  There really is "never a dull moment"!  Unfortunately Eddy won't be laughing when he sees what's left of his movie.  Live and learn!

Every year Dan and I are running full speed in lawn care by March, every year we spend our summer weekdays an hour away from our hometown to run the business.  Every year we come back some time in October and start to patch things up with our friends and get involved with church again.  It's a schedule I've become used to.  I don't panic anymore in the rush of things, but remember it'll pass, and it always does.  But there is always pain involved.

Today I was feeling it a little more than usual, until an unexpected visitor walked right through my anxieties, and let me know I wasn't alone.

Jeanne is much older than me, Dan's mom's friend, in fact.  But she's always been a nearby neighbor and friend to the Hobbs, as far as I can remember, and she feels right at home here.  And ever since I moved in, I've benefited from their relationship.  For Jeanne's heart never strays from a person, even if it's been a long time.  She'll pop in and start a conversation on politics or kids or family or schedules just as easy as pie, with no awkwardness or catching up needed.  Today it was as if I had never left, which is what I needed.

I think I'll take a lesson from this openhearted friend, and take her up on her invitation to "Come to our house any time of day."  After all, she's just first right and a left and you're there.

Thanks, Jeanne.

Dan went home to Afton last night.  Eddy and I are staying in Eau Claire for the week.  We have lots to do!  Today we started our projects off with a bang and a rush and a lot of errand-running!  The sun shone and we trekked from store to store, gathering really random supplies for gifts and events and meals and gardening and money-saving adventures.  It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it!

Harvests.  Fairs.  Core aerations.  Visits.  Visitors.  Farmer's markets.  School kids.  Allergies.  Sweaters.  Walks.  Grill outs.  Canning.  Bonfires.  College students.

This is my fall.  One thing falls onto another, pushing yet another back later.  Fun events crowd for importance until I can't remember the last time I cleaned.  Mass vegetable processing is a weekly ritual.  Winter is coming.  I can feel it in my bones.  You can smell the anticipation of rest in the cold wind around our house.  The last services of the season.  Only a few weeks to go. I try to keep my mind in active motion, instead of falling into the fog of suspense.  Here we go.

Music concerts are everywhere.  I was delighted to see a friend, Aaron Spina on his guitar at the farmer's market last month.  Kudos to a town that appreciates local talent.  I've also had many pleasant hellos with long lost acquaintances at the farmer's market.  And the art booths are always worth studying.  Eddy mostly enjoys the free samples and homemade treats.

The Minnesota State Fair is a long time tradition in my family.  I'm very proud of it.  Both my parents grew up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and both went to the fair as kids.  My dad, in a large family on a dairy farm, showed cows and projects with his siblings every year, and set aside the whole week and a half for the fair every year.  My mom, a more recreational fairgoer, tells all about what the fair looked like when she was young.  What it was, how it's changed, and those few booths that have stood the test of time.  Dan, Eddy and I took an evening to visit the fair this year.  We can't lose with tradition.  We always make a point to spend as little money as possible, while enjoying the fair to the fullest.  A $1 never-ending glass of milk from the milk barn, a ride with Eddy down the giant slide, and all else is animals, giant pumpkins, tractors, and people.  It does help to bring tasty snacks along to ward off the mouth watering but overpriced fair delicacies all around.  But just the sight of sky and lights and people at dusk is enough to make us happy.

My vegetables keep producing.  When I'm done here I am off to check the ripeness of the cantaloupes and watermelons.  I'll see if there is still more zucchini.  I've done enough blackberry trimming.  Now to see if I have a crop.  I think some potatoes can be dug as well.  There will be more chopping and boiling and freezing and drying today.  Oh, for a commercial grade dehydrator!

The day after the fair, Eddy and I prepared our house for two extra kids, then traveled to Rochester to see Aunty Lindsey's new house and to pick up the beloved cousins, Emma and Elie.  They greeted us with squeals and hugs and toys and tours, and we all ate together.  They rode home with us to arrive already past bedtime.  Personally I think everyone was too excited for their own good, and would've prevented some hurt feelings if they had relaxed a bit, but, what else do kids do?  I still smile when I think of Eddy's reaction to the two extra beds in his room for the 2 nights.  His head popped off his pillow like a spring every 5 seconds.  He didn't want to miss a bit of fun.  All day and the next, we crafted and cooked and gardened and swung and walked and watched movies and tricycled and scootered and bathed until I wore the kids out silly, as they did to me.  The party moved to Eau Claire where we met their mother for another 2-day round.  Then home and to bed for everyone.

There's a cold wind in the air every day.  Sweatshirts and fleeces are required everywhere, in and out, especially in the mornings.  My slippers and I are enjoying our reunion.  Our church is preparing for all the grade-switching and huge swell of attendance during the first week of school for college and grade schools alike.  This is my fall.

Last night I got to spend two hours with thirty of the greatest people at our church -- the high school group.  Thanks to a precocious ten-year-old, a laid back mom, and a convicting message on Sunday (let's not get into the why), I got to attend a high school group hosted by the pastor's wife, at their house south of town.  High schoolers can be some of the greatest people around, full of dreams and motivation and issues, and ready to take on life.  I really identify with them, and I really wanted to get to know some of them more, maybe I'd even get to help them out in some way.  Unfortunately my schedule doesn't exactly lend itself well to being a small group leader.  But for one night only, I got my chance.

I recognized a couple of the girls in the Berthiaume's backyard when I arrived.  But mostly I was nervous and didn't know how to approach anyone.  Thankfully I wasn't the only "old person" there, and since everyone started out by having to paint letters on their faces, the ice melted quickly.  Next came games.  The theme: FEAR-FACTOR.  I think I was the youngest old person there last night, and I was shocked at the yellow-bellied nature of the other leaders!  Thankfully, they said it was all right for me to jump in with the high schoolers (who, I found out, weren't much better -- I guess it's not an age thing after all).  Everyone got slimed with egg, tasted dog food, got splattered with jello and whipped cream from a bug digging race, and a lucky few even got to bob through red water for pig's feet!  I considered it a privilege to get to do something with this group of people who are usually pretty sectioned off (and yes, I bobbed for pig's feet).

After games there was a short message on fear and super-small group time to pray for each other.  This was my favorite part.  I got to know the four girls in my circle better in those five minutes than in the previous five months of casual conversations after church.  Plus I was able to rest some fears of unknowns about college for them and got to pray with them.

During the service on Sunday, we were told that you can never be too old to reach out to teenagers.  May I add that you can't be too young either?  If high schools set seniors up to help freshmen coming in, certainly no high school graduate should feel ill-equipped to talk to them.  You've been there and made it through.  That's big.

Thanks, high schoolers, for befriending me, and teaching me a lesson on life.  Hopefully I'll see you again soon.

Eddy and I had a very busy day yesterday.  We bustled around the house half the day, then set out for a six-hour town trip, to have fun with Julie ("juwie!"), buy bridal presents, ride in the ever popular Juwie's Jeep, splurge on thrift store clothing, eat out with and say bye to Julie, pick up some items at the mall, stop at the play area, then walk out after dark to see...Wow!  Look at all those lights!  What's going on over there?  "Mommy, let's go see the trucks!"

At this point I was dragged by the hand for the next 40 minutes from one semi truck to another to another, as Eddy's excitement transferred to what next caught his eye.  And I was interested, too.  These show trucks were amazing!  There was everything from gigantic big rig tow trucks, to 50's style long haulers, to trucks with luxury full family sleepers, to a mini go cart semi truck.  All had registration numbers and all were being polished up for the judges, hoping to win one of those big trophies in the corner, I'm sure.

But the lights were the coolest things.  Think of pimped out neon gangster cars only x-times the size and the power.  These drivers knew they controlled the road.  There were grills with jaws on top or neon shining through, side-panels with flames or packers or psychedelic reflective colors, lights on the windshields, lights on the wheels, lights on the bumpers, lights on the exhaust pipes, lights on the engines, lights on the hoods, lights on the lights, colors and flashers and shapes and horns all going at the same time (now you understand why Eddy was so stimulated!)  Even the registration booth was cool.  It was, of course, a semi truck.  The side of the trailer opened up and you could step right in to a full lit office room with desks and chairs and everything.  On the outside it sported in large letters, "National Association of Show Trucks."

It was also fun to talk to the truck drivers themselves.  When Eddy saw a guy putting away ramps on a flatbed or explaining the stats of an engine to someone, he wouldn't hesitate to give them a high five, or a bump, or even a bear hug.  And they were always happy to say hello.

I caught a few pictures, but honestly, they don't do the night justice.  You gotta see it for yourself! And make sure it's at night!

The smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the oven is unparalleled in the happy impressions of my childhood.   It told us that Mom's warm, soft, fluffy, hard crusted bread was about to come out of the oven and be smothered with melty butter for us kids to devour.

I don't know anyone who doesn't have a creative streak.  It is one thing I can somehow find in common with everyone I talk to, though sometimes they don't think so at first =)

Yesterday I had a coffee date with a friend at the McDonald's playplace to catch up.  We have completely different jobs, different family and in-law situations, we are both married, but we have completely different ideas about kids and adventure, and several other things.  But she is a great, compassionate girl that I admire a lot and really appreciate having as a friend (even with all our differences).

She asked me how I was doing, and, in typical Nomie style I talked nonstop for the next 5 minutes.  I told her about the family and work, then went into all the exciting (but not always longlived) crazy plans and ideas I had of things to create -- from painting to woodworking to music to words, etc. Then I asked her what she was doing for fun.  She answered, "Reading."

I love to read, too, but I knew there was more that made her grin than other people's masterpieces.  A few minutes later I found it.  She was talking about their spare room, and she mentioned it was the last one to decorate, then she'd be done with the house.  She was relishing in the idea of choosing the style and decorations, and moving other items from elsewhere into that room.  She was actually sad to be done with the house, "All I'll have to do after this is redecorate.  That's not nearly as fun to think about."

So, the master creator came out at last.  And that's only in the visual sense.  We didn't even get to all the heart transforming conversations, lessons, small group plans, music schedules, and events she plans for the highschoolers!  Now that's something I've never done!

God created us all to be an image of him.  Did you think he'd leave out the creativity aspect in that? Hardly! Celebrate the creator in you, and share God's beauty =D

Today is the day...it's all downhill from here!  We woke up at 'Gramma's' house in Eau Claire, we finished packing the items that we didn't have in Afton.  A couple errands and we're set for the month.

Forrest will come in today and we'll go to dinner with him and Cathy...that's vacationing!
Tomorrow will be filled with Hobbs family fun activities...that's vacationing!
Sunday, July 4th will come, and with it will be happy festive friends at church...vacationing!
Straight from church to Dad's house for a Van Dyke reunion!  Vacation time!
A ride with Aunt Bonnie to the airport and Eddy's loooooooonnnnnngggg awaited airport and airplane time will commence...our vacation!
A packed week in Los Angeles with the siblings...hooray for vacationing!
A train ride with Eddy! Vacationing!
A whole week with brother, silly, and a brand new baby!  What a great vacation!
Siblings all camping together...vacationing!
Reuniting with hubby to see what life brings us next...

vacationing =) here we come.

I met with my friend Connie yesterday.  Every couple weeks my two former Bible study leaders, Connie & Bonnie, and I go walking together and talk about life.  This week Bonnie couldn't make it and Connie didn't feel like walking, so the two of us just sat on her beautiful porch and conversed.

Connie is about twice my age, has grown children and grandchildren, is a skilled flower gardener, and loves birds. (she's even gotten hummingbirds to sit on her finger!)  And the mystery of her godly legacy and journey continues to unfold every time we meet.  (For example, this week I learned she used to be part of a clown ministry and still keeps her homemade 5-foot long Q-tip in her basement for sentimental reasons!)  I feel privileged to spend time with her.  Though I am blessed to have very insightful and gracious parents and in-laws, there's something special about a relationship unbent by biases or relational complications, an outsider who can see clearly in.

We talked of everything from birdhouses to weddings to sickness to God's ultimate plan for the world, and how faith fits into to it all.  We sat there for three hours just talking.  I was astounded when I saw the time, and thankful for this woman who would take out that time for me.

I have a lot of things to think through today, and some steps to take =)

"And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." -Titus 2:4-5