creativity

Okay I am using a recipe to make an ice cream cake --- but my child whose having the birthday is allergic to dairy - so I am substituting and recreating the recipe ---- I will let you all know how it turns out.

America's history is being lost

It seems that Americans are no longer being taught our own history. Only Grandpa got it right!

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

I like the way Kristin Hannah writes. She has alot of depth to her characters.

This story is about how broken the lives of two children (now adults) have become due to the Mother leaving them when they were in their teens. One of the (now adult) children, Ruby, carried the belief that if my mother couldn't love me, then no one would love me. So most of her relationships were dysfunctional. Her mother becomes injured and needs care. Ruby comes to take care of her mother. It is a time of healing for both of them. Mom helps Ruby to really see all the facets of people - specifically her but also others. Ruby tended to be very black and white about people - they were either all bad or all good. And most in her life were all bad. She never viewed them as 'human' where they weren't perfect but trying to do their best under difficult situations. Once they became not perfect they were 'bad' in her eyes. And she would walk away from the relationship.

The book talks to forgiveness and to the importance of family relationships. Specifically she speaks to the importance of the mother / daughter relationship.

other son

My other son is camping with the older scouts. They are working at Country Thunder. We have had so much rain --- so much. 8 inches in less than 1 1/2 hours the other night. Lots of lightening. Thankfully the scouts did well. The leader made sure to get word back that all the scouts survived the night. We had more storms last night again and into this morning. More rain!! They must be just floating away. The mosquitoes are fierce.

On the positive side, the scouts will be earning money by working Country Thunder. It goes into their scout account to help pay for scouting events they participate in --- like summer camp. They have had some serious weather to contend with though. Very wet, humid and hot.

Uncle Steve ROCKS!!

My husband's brother, Steve, is just simply the best.

Since my husband is still on crutches it would be very difficult to spend a day out in the woods, walking on uneven ground and camping overnight with the scouts.

So dearest Uncle Steve came to take our youngest to Cub Scout Parent and Me overnight. Isn't that awesome! No words can even come close to explaining how much this means to us. He is simply the best uncle! My husband was to do this and physically couldn't --- I am scheduled to work all weekend at the ball park. We were concerned JJ wouldn't get to go - and he would have been so disappointed. Uncle Steve came to the rescue.

He is so wonderful. JJ was just thrilled to be able to still go. He caught two toads as he was setting up the tent. My husband went along with our middle child to be sure Uncle Steve knew how to set up the tent. He got to see the joy on JJ's face as he got to the campsite and started setting up. JJ couldn't wait to get to go do the bow and arrow shooting and the bb guns. He was off to go do that as my husband left.

computer issues

Today my son turned his laptop computer on and we realized that the computer and the screen is going, going, not yet gone! If you hold the top and push on it - the connection is there but otherwise there is no picture on the screen.

The laptop is 7 months old. Yep, how is that for fine American technology. It made is a whole 7 months. It is covered under warrantee - (and my comment is that since it is a lemon because the part should not have broken in 7 months - they should forget their warrantee and just replace the computer - it is a lemon). So it will take 5 days for them to fix it and return it. Thankfully, it happened now and not once school gets rolling. Still, it is only 7 months old and should be made better to last longer than 7 months.

God's word

I always find so much meaning in God's word and it is amazing to me how His word that was written years and years ago - still applies so well today.

Colossians 2:8

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Great Song

A friend of mine sent me a link to this song - and it was very good. I decided to share it with all of you. Enjoy - it is K Love My Help Comes From the Lord

Prisoner of Tehran A Memoir by Marina Nemat

This book is a far different book from the lighthearted books I have been reading. It is a true story and a very good, insightful book. Marina lived in Tehran during the brutal time of the Islamic Revolution. She was a Christian and spoke out against the government's brutal activities. At the age of 16, she becomes a political prisoner at Evin. Two guards interrogate her and being whipped is part of interrogations. She is brutally whipped on her feet. One of the guards, Ali, admires her courage and falls in love with her. She is tried in a court where she is not allowed to be present and found guilty. She is sentenced to be executed. Ali gets her sentenced reduced to life in prison. She does not find this comforting as death seems preferable to living a life in Evin.

At one point, she is forced to convert to Islam. She felt like she was turning her back on Christ and wondered if she was acting like Judas, who had also betrayed Jesus. She wondered if she was walking the same path and would she be forgiven. I admire her courage and in her heart she was still a Christian - she even spoke of Mary to others. I can't imagine the guilt that went with this and yet she was forced into this. It didn't change her faith or her heart but a step she had to take to survive. We are so fortunate to not have to make this kind of choice.

The book really speaks loudly to what conditions are like when living under a government where freedom is not allowed and where women are not treated well. I really gained a better insight into some of the political factions in Iran.

The book is extremely well written and quite an eye opener. I highly recommend reading this one. On this site you can listen to her tell her story from her own words --- listen and then read this book. Click here

scouts

My two oldest sons are camping with the boy scouts and they had some pretty rough weather in the last day. Thankfully we have heard from one of the leaders - he called his wife and let us know that all the scouts are okay. They spent some time in the shelter due to lightening.

Please pray that this is the end of the bad weather and that they all make it home safely on Saturday.

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah

Wow - I just really enjoy reading Kristin Hannah's books. She really writes with a depth and really develops her characters to be full and robust.

In this book, the main character, Annie, just found out her husband is cheating and wants a divorce. Annie had defined herself by her roles - she was a mother and a wife. Her daughter is now 18 and moving on to college and her husband dumped her. She is rather lost and decides to head home to where she grew up. She evaluates everything about her life and what she wants for her future.

In this book, (while I don't feel divorce is to be celebrated), I do feel like Annie picks the right guy (vs. in Claire's book I was rooting for the other guy to win!).

There are some interesting twists and turns in the books. I like that - it adds interest. Kept me wanting to read on - couldn't put the book down as I had to know how it all turned out. I really recommend this book. She is just a great writer.

Book review - Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

I do like Claire Cook's books but I also read Kristin Hannah --- and in comparison Kristin just writes with a great depth and her characters are less flat - have more depth to them.

Still, Clarie's books are good - but more lighthearted type of reading. This one is funny in parts. Ginger is 41 years old and has moved back home to live in the furnished room over the garage. She has no real direction and is trying to find her way. She is single but dating a guy that seems kind of distant. My only thoughts were that I was rooting for her to pick the other guy.

Claire seems to pick a moment in time and write about the character -- but you don't really get a sense that anything was resolved, that the character learned anything, etc.

update

What a difference a day makes!

Tom saw the physical therapist yesterday and she was fabulous. Plus she was honest and told him that she doubts he will be walking for at least a month. He was getting depressed because he was told by his doctor to start walking and he couldn't do it. And he didn't know what to do to get over the hurdle. The physical therapist is what he needed. He came back much happier and now feels like there is a plan - and healing is moving forward. Thank God!

She did say that he still has a lot of swelling on the foot but that he has incredible movement for a foot that swollen. He had been moving his foot around alot and that has helped. She was impressed with his flexibility. Now they have to work on breaking up the scare tissue and she worked on that yesterday. He did say that was painful (but necessary).

He will go to see her every week on Monday and Wednesday. Things are looking up!

Tom update

Tom has been rather down about his progress. He doesn't have the mobility in his foot. He had pain in his foot for 9 months prior to diagnosis and now hasn't walked on it for 3 months. He just feels he hasn't walked normal for about a year and isn't sure his body knows how to do it at this point.

So he called his doctor and asked to be sent to a physical therapist. His doctor agreed but didn't suggest anyone in particular. We called a friend who recently had knee surgery and had to go through physical therapy. She really liked who she went to. Tom called that therapist and has an apt. for tomorrow afternoon. He is looking forward to having a plan and help in his healing. He feels like he has been just stuck lately and not progressing at all.

Tom also has been rather down as he doesn't feel like mobility is happening as fast as he wants. He gets alot of anxiety when he just sits in a chair. It has just been a hard recovery and he needs something positive to show him he is moving forward. Please pray that the physical therapist gives him hope and gives his a plan with goals (short term and long term) so he can see progress as he meets the various goals. Just pray for his spirits to be lifted. (Thank you!)

Blessed is the nation whose God is

the Lord

Psalm 33:12

Bummer

The two oldest left for boy scout camp and we were looking to spend some quality time with our youngest. And the youngest came down with a fever and has not been feeling well for two days now.

Bummer!!!

Hopefully he will be on the mend soon. It is just a touch of a cold but with a fairly good fever. Please pray for quick healing for him.

The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook

I liked this book even better than the other one I read by Claire Cook. Still, it is more of a sit at the beach and read kind of book --- not a profound life changer. She writes well though.

I think I could relate to the women though. Each of the 3 were very different but they found they enjoyed walking together. They then end up developing a friendship as they walk, talk and share about their lives. It did inspire me to want to start walking again. The book centers on Noreen who in one day lost her job and her boyfriend. She now has to make some life changes but just can't get it together. She decides to start walking --- it becomes a way for her to mentally heal and stop being depressed over the changes. In the process she meets her two neighbors and they join her every morning. They challenge themselves with a goal of walking every day and decide to reward themselves with a vacation. It is kind of a fun book. Not a real serious book. Not a Christian book but nothing overly bad. I don't agree with the morals of the main character but it also isn't the main subject the book is dealing with.

Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook

This book was very different from what I have been ready lately. It is by the author that wrote Must Love Dogs. It is definitely a girls' book. This is the kind of book you can read while at the beach because if you miss a line or two - it really isn't anything earth shattering.

I kind of like the book. I couldn't put it down as I wanted to find out what she ends up doing but in the end it just kind of leaves you hanging. Nothing is really solved except that she find out her husband is a creep --- but we knew that in the beginning of the book.

The husband ducks out of her life and the life of their daughter for 7 years. He wanted to be free and not tied down. He doesn't send child support, write or call at all. Then after 7 years shows up in person - just there he is. He wants back in. And the book centers around whether or not Jill can forgive him and trust him again. I guess I was looking for something more profoundly stated about the human condition. I like light-hearted reading but still want some sort of a moral lesson. This one just didn't have it. So I found it slightly lacking.

Thankful Fridays

I haven't been keeping up with this as I would like but realized that today is Friday!

Thankful Fridays

1) I am thankful it is Friday! I had a very busy week and am grateful to have the weekend here. My husband is around on the weekend and it is nice to have his help!

2) I am thankful for the fact my husband is more mobile - still on crutches but more mobile. He is able to help out more and it is so appreciated. He volunteered to take the two oldest tomorrow morning early and drop them off for scout camp. I am staying here with JJ - who doesn't get up well in the early mornings. I am thankful for the opportunity to sleep in tomorrow!

3) I am thankful for the fantastic leaders and parent volunteers we have with our boys' scout troop. I am also thankful for the older high school boys that are in the scout troop - they are wonderfully, good Christian boys that lead by example. The adult leaders are just wonderful and great Christians that are willing to share their time and love of Christ with the kids.

4) I am thankful for the summer. It is a nice break for the routine of the school year. And since we got behind due to Dad's illness --- it is a time to catch up on the school work we haven't finished.

5) I am thankful for my oldest who is always willing to help his Dad. I am going to miss him greatly this coming week. He has so much patience with my husband. My husband gets upset when we kindly let him know he is demanding - but here is an example - when he wants a glass of water - it has to be in a certain glass, - sometimes with no ice, - sometimes he wants ice and then he needs a napkin to set the glass on. It isn't just a simple glass of water. My son is so accommodating and is willing to find out all my husband's little quirks and cater to them. He is so dear and sweet. It is going to be rough as I will now have a week of having to fill the needs. I am not quite as patient as my son is and after a week of him being gone --- I might have this as another thing I am thankful for next week - thankful he is almost home as I will need his help.

6) I am thankful for the boys who mowed the lawn and weed-wacked. They did that today so that hopefully it won't need to be done while they are gone this next week. I am so thankful to not have to do this task while they are gone!

7) I am thankful for all the adults that donated their time and talents to help make our Youth Toastmasters Showcase a success! What a blessing they all are and we so appreciate them. Thank you.

8) I am thankful for the fact it is less humid - we have had really unbearably hot, humid weather lately. It is nice that today and the next few days will be slightly cooler and less humid. I love warm weather but not the humidity.

9) I am thankful for the 4th of July as it is a reminder of the sacrifice that others gave for our freedoms. May we always remember that and not take it lightly.

10) I am thankful for God and for His forgiveness - something I seem to need on a daily basis! Isn't He amazing! I am thankful we live in a country where we can worship Him as we see fit and I pray that never changes!

Parade

In the red chairs - my husband and oldest son. Notice in this picture you can see two of the flock of Me Generation standing in front - pink dress and black shirt/white pants. Notice everyone else sitting!

Still, it was a great day. Good family time. We really enjoyed ourselves.

4th of July Parade

My two youngest were in the parade with Scouts. They really enjoyed it --- but it was very, very hot. Thankfully, we brought spray bottles filled with water. It helped to cool the kids down.

Here is JJ with one of the spray bottles. That was a fun job to do!! Every kid wanted to volunteer to be the spray guy!

Wheew - they made it to the end! Each received a cookie, bottle of water and a coupon for free ice cream from the local custard stand. We stopped there on the way home!

"The Me Generation"

We went to a local parade on the 4th of July. My two younger ones were in the parade. It was more challenging because of my husband being on crutches. In order to make this work, I went to a spot close to the end of the parade where I knew there was shade - and dropped off my husband and oldest son (to help Dad). We got there way early. There was hardly anyone there yet. My husband sat back from the road a bit so he would stay in the shade. We knew we would then not be in the 'front row' but we had lawn chairs. Therefore, we felt that if someone sat in front of us we would still be able to see. And Tom would feel better sitting in the shade on a 90 degree hot, humid day.

Well, we didn't plan on the "ME Generation"!!! Several of them moved right in front of us. Now we KNEW we would be in the second row and we were expecting people to SIT in front of us. The problem is that the "ME Generation" stood in front. They showed up just as the parade was starting - they were not early. So they saw us there first. They moved in with strollers and stood in front of everyone behind them. No consideration at all of others. I had to pick up my chair and move way down so I could see my own kids when they came by.

I was upset and was going to say something but decided instead to just document the incident ---and blog about them. Here they are!!! The ME Generation!!! One of their more finer moments!

Notice that they are half way out into the street ---- this is not before the parade mind you --- but while the parade is going on --- in between the various parade participants they would wander out. At one point, a march band came by --- and they did NOT move off the road --- but the marching band had to side step around them!! I kid you not. One just can't make this stuff up!

Here is the whole flock of them - standing in front of us and another family!

See all the people sitting --- and the flock standing in front. It is one thing if it were children - children get excited and stand up - but children are short. Adults in chairs can see around that. And well, children are just forgiven. They are young and excited! We had a flock of inconsiderate adults that saw us sitting there, moved in after the fact and proceeded to stand in front of us. Seriously!! I cannot even imagine doing that to others. We had no problems with them going in front of us but we did expect the front row to sit. We also understood and expected that if they had someone in the parade - they might stand up and wave at that point. Makes sense!! But to stand through the whole parade when you know people are behind you?!

All I can say is 'welcome to the Me Generation'! Isn't it fun!

Toastmasters Showcase

The students had their Showcase for Toastmasters last night and it was wonderful. I highly recommend that if you have a local chapter of Toastmasters - contact them and ask about their Youth Leadership classes. It was simply wonderful. It taught the kids how to run a meeting, Robert's Rules of Order, elements of a good speech and a setting to practice. The final Showcase was an opportunity to invite the parents, Grandparents and family friends to show what was learned.

Below are all our students along with the Toastmaster adults that sponsored the program and led the students - we really want to thank them for taking time out of their schedule to teach and encourage our children. They were so wonderful!!! Thank you, thank you.

Swim class

My youngest has swim class all week and he insisted I blog about it. He is just a riot --- he has to have his goggles and they have to be 'just right'. Below he is 'getting them on' and 'adjusting them'.

This blob in the water is him! Go JJ!!

What a view!

We went out today to get in the car and this was the sight we were greeted with! Our neighbor's boyfriend was cleaning her deck. Very nice of him to help out but seriously get a belt for them there pants!!! This is what happened when standing - imagine if he actually bent over! (Oh dear! Shield the eyes!)

Day trip -more pictures

We also got to go miniature golfing. My youngest is still willing to pose for Mom - the two older ones wouldn't have any part of it. Isn't this just cute!

My middle one just can't leave any water alone! He spent most of the day trying to figure out the river, waterfalls and walking around on the rocks that bordered it. He never 'fell in' but always looked like he could!

The view from the course was just fabulous!

The winner got to get a free ice cream at the ice cream shop next door. One of mine is allergic to dairy so he got some candy. The other two shared the ice cream!

Day trip - fantastic fun!

Last week we unexpectedly got FREE tickets to a bunch of Dells attractions. So the kids and I decided to make use of them. Tom was invited but after having time off work for his healing he didn't want to take more time off. Plus the idea of walking around the for the entire day did not sound fun to him. Whereas the kids and I were thrilled! We started the day off with a boat tour of the Wisconsin River. Below is the boat. We did get seats on the top which was the best! Weather was great. Not too hot but hot enough to enjoy the water activities.

Below is the damn that separates the upper Dells from the lower Dells. Our boat trip was on the lower Dells.

The Dells is known for the beautiful rock formations. You can get a glimpse of them here in the picture below. My two youngest are sitting right in front.

If you aren't from around this area the next two pictures might not mean much to you. To us the two pictures below are a big deal. The first one shows a bank of the river that was rebuilt (all the rocks were added for fortification.) On the top you can see a car - there is a road on top. What you can't see is that on the other side of this bank is Lake Delton. In June of 2008, Lake Delton spilled over its banks and poured into the river here. It caused great destruction as the Lake was then drained of its water. It was a mud puddle. That was all that was left.

If you are interested in seeing more about this click here and click here.

Be sure to watch the video. It is rather amazing. But below is the rebuilt road and bank.

This is the opposite side from the picture above --- you can see how high the river rose with the spilling over of the Lake into the river. The roots are exposed all the way up to where the water rose. It is kind of amazing for us to take thiss boat trip and see it all in person. It was kind of surreal. Sure is awesome to see the power of water. Make one really think about how if the spilling over of water from a Lake can cause the amount of destruction it did - what about a world wide flood - couldn't it have carved out the Grand Canyon?! Water is just such a powerful force.

A Perfect Day by Richard Paul Evans

Wow another powerful book by Richard Paul Evans.

This one is one of his older books that I just hadn't read yet!

I loved it. Great story. Well written and a fabulous ending.

Robert Harlan is the main character in the story and it begins with a flashback to show you what led up to his downfall. The downfall is the story that we hear in the news alot lately. He hit the big time, became famous but in the process lost his way, forgot his values. Forgot what in life is really important, who is really important. There is just a wonderful twist at the end that makes the whole book worth reading. In the end he learns that "each day is a miracle unearned." p. 273

Tom update

Tom saw the doctor yesterday and had x-rays.

The great news is that the bone is growing at an amazing rate. Whoooo hooo.

While he is not to try running or anything, the doctor did release him to try to start walking without crutches. And even though the doctor is a 'man' he forgot he was talking to a 'man'.

Women would have heard this and heard it translated as such -

I can now start weight bearing so with the use and aid of the crutches I will start taking a few steps here and there. Then I will using the crutches so the leg can rest a bit since the leg hasn't walked for 3 months. I know the leg has not been used and I will need to build up my strength and endurance. It is a process and not an immediate type of thing.

My husband heard ---

Walk unaided by crutches starting now. I am good to go.

Therefore he proceeded to ----

Walking down the alley unaided (no crutches in sight - after all he said walk without crutches) and meet wife at the end of the alley.

Then he went to work and proceeded to go to his meeting on the 8th floor - he is on the 7th floor. Again, unaided without crutches. It is at this point, he realized that a leg that has not been used for 3 months can't just start walking (no kidding!). One of his co-workers volunteered to go get the crutches but nope (pride got in the way) and he was going to make it back to his desk if it killed him. By the time he got home his foot was REALLY sore. (Who would have seen that coming!) And now today he is really paying for it -- and he hasn't tried to walk unaided at all today! He sheepishly admitted he 'might' have overdone it. (Ya think?!)