Life in Nebraska ....

.....that life is full of beauty and the dark times are gone.  And then you hear about a tragic death of someone you don't even know but it hits you hard anyhow.  And  you realize again that these beautiful slow moments in life are only a gift.  And you wonder why?  Why didn't I hold on to them in the moment?  And you resolve that from here on you're going to hug that husband longer.  You're going to notice those moments with the kids.  And all the weird non important hills you were battling on aren't even there.  We have only this time to live.  To live out our relationship with God.  To love.  To be kind.  Lets notice.  Right now. 

.......left and then it's back to the little room in the basement.   Back to the books. The DVD players.  The scrambling to GET DOWN to the school room cuz It's Getting Late and we don't want to be doing school till 6 pm.   And coming upstairs at noon and wondering what to make for lunch that's fast.   And it's time to figure out a story time book.   And the yard and garden are just fabulous and I can't.   I just can't make my heart move down to that little school room.   It feels like a crime for us to be getting back to the books already!  And it is early.   But we have some vacation days planned in the very near future and we're still smarting over having to go too deeply into May to finish school.   So that's why we're kicking in early.   AND harvest always comes along and we want some days to enjoy some of those events too.  So here we go.   This ye...

We usually take our camping trip in August or September.  Well, this year it was July.  And the very hottest time of the summer ever.  100* kind of hot.  And our camper was in the shop.  So we tented.  I had forgotten how much more work is involved without a camper.  Spoiled American that I am. Instead of a relaxing time away and it being super refreshing it was more like a lot of work and a break away from regular work.  But it was good.  The boys got to fish and we spent long hours in the 52* water and we tubed down the little stretch of water over and over and over again.  And Jeanie got a little more confidence and experience with water.  She's such a big wimp about water.    Zerrick actually caught a fish from the bridge.  When one is reeling in a fish from way down there one can only hope the hook doesn't slip and that they don't lose their precious trophy.   These two got to spend more time in the ...

We have been very crazy busy ever since July 4.  It's amazing the things you pack into a summer month.  So I'm catching up on pictures and documenting of our life.  The pictures are completely mixed up but very well.   At least it's documented.  On Wednesday my friend from days gone by arrived for a three day visit.  She brought with her, her four beautiful daughters and baby boy.  Here we are on a Nebraska evening ride.  She drove the other four wheeler....of which there is a picture of further down.  Last Sunday we took Rebecca Schlabauch over to Des Moines for her to meet up with her exclusive agriculture class at her Sheraton.  We stopped at a little fountain pond and checked out the geese and tried to get the kids some of their energy worn off.   While Valita was here she and her girls helped me redecorate my front entry porch.  Her twelve year old daughter sewed the pillow covers for me in a little bit...