Life in Nebraska ....

Two very mischievous boys scarfing down fresh warm bread and fresh strawberry jam.   The one who painted the main of the furnace/storage room.   We were frugal and pulled out many cans of leftover paint and dumped them all together to make whatever color we ended up with, to paint the room.  Turned out fabulous.  Kind of a  green color of some sort!   We were out of bread and jam both.  I used my trusty ole bosch and mixed up six loaves.  And then I remembered I had a container of strawberries from my last trip to Sams left in the fridge.  So I did a batch of jam quick.   And having a cleaned up kitchen kitchen with bread baked and jam made all happening in the middle of the day is VERY unusual!  I can clean or I can bake but I NEVER have both at the same time!   Two very important items to notice.   The Pizza Peel and Cutter from Jay  and my new dishwasher.  

     People all over are writing these articles about 10 things  you need to know for...Or 7 unheard facts about something.   One I read yesterday was someting about 10 habits of an organized person.  I've been in a twist ever since. I find it rather annoying to myself that I am not organized.  And then I read this article and confirmed it. I badly want to defend myself.  I would like to write an article called 10 characteristics of a controlling person.  But that's reacting.     In defense of us non organizers......  I say that we are more flexible.  We are more relational.  And we can give and take easier. And the stories not all told.  We might actually get that organization thing down yet.  As long as there is life there's hope right?        I do indeed organize at times though.  And this week I've been working on cleaning.  Corners.  Feels so good.  I dream of...

     We've been very busy.  I suddenly realized how much we've done in the last two months and decided to get it all on here so I would remember.  And alas, my phone or computer does not want to work with me in getting the right pictures off.  So you don't get any pictures this post.  I'm hoping one of these days Matt will have time to help me AND get some of the good ones from his phone at the same time.    So a run down:      January started with Christmas with the Burkeys.       Then a couple weeks of everyone being sick.      Zerrick and Matt got in two hockey games  before it got too warm.      A trip to Denver.  We took in the Denver Nature and Science Museum on a Thursday and explored the whole thing till we left in exhaustion.  We found it to be a splendid field trip place for our age boys.  It was a wonderful day!  If you have the chance, GO! ...

I love Birthdays.  I wish we celebrated them better in this house.  A birthday means we've been given another year!  It means we had 365 more days to live the moments God gave us.  Matt having a birthday means I got to be his wife for another year!  Every moment we have together is a gift from God.  I went back to find pictures of Matt and there just aren't any pictures of JUST Matt.  He is always helping one of the boys or holding Jeanie.  And that's Matt!  Sometimes I wish he'd stop checking weather or always and forever helping people  with something.  But when I look back at the pictures that's really just how it is.  He values people and digs in and puts energy out for everyone.   I am a very honored lady to be his wife!  It's good to stop and remember and be in awe again of God's gift to me.     He takes such good care of us in every way.  Did you know the name Matthew means God's gif...

Here's another post of sentences for you Mom.  Since you support my one sentence thoughts!   After a Big Weekend  and then back to Monday I've come away with many random and floating thoughts in my head.   First observance.  The kids here are good at heart and have pretty solid homes and lives. I don't think one could take them down the wide and crooked too easily.  Not sure how that all came about but it's a good thing.   Therefore our first night of being co youth sponsors was quite nice.  They're a young crowd and good kids.  There.  That's all recorded now for when I get exasperated in the next year!  :)  Second Observance:  Having friends stop by  unannounced is a good thing too!  Good for relationships and good for my pride.  Teaches me to stop procrastinating and get the work done.... you never know who it will be and all that.  But it was encouraging and good to visit with them !  ...

IT has come upon us.   The cold bleak days of January.   The days where I don't see anyone.   The days where I don't go anywhere.   The nights of sleeping beside the sick kid or not sleeping but being there beside her/ him.   The nights where I think of all the uncertainties of life and the scary possibilities.    The days where I poke my nose out the door and suck in a little cold air and tell myself it'll make me feel healthier.  The days where bleach is our friend and my nose burns with it and my hands are cracked and dry from cleaning with it. The days where I walk through the house and see so many many things that still need finished(painting of doors and trim and ect.) And I see all the closets and rooms that need cleared out and organized.    The days where I keep glancing at my chalkboard with a different Bible verse and I try to digest what it really means and wonder how it could apply to...

Keagan turned 7 while we were in Idaho.  Jay and April were so kind to have the birthday cake and ice cream at their house.   Keagan is my silent little boy who goes about the house whistling and building.  Always doing both.  Today I have wood shavings all over....he's carving.  He doesn't tell us what's in his brain too often but he's always digesting the things going on around him in his brain..   He's a scientist/ discoverer.  When he's telling me what he's discovered I had better listen up because usually it's worth knowing.   On the other hand he's quite normal like all seven year old boys.  He takes apart and destroys and can be quite lazy and deceptive.  But we're not giving up.  We think we can channel all his qualities into good productive things and we will always pray he grows up to love God personally.      He's  our prayed for boy.   We love him.