Saturday, May 31, 2008

Tagged

I'm not good at this, I'm sure, but here goes . . . Six quirky things about me!

1. I don't appreciate people who say they will do something for you and then not follow through.

2. I don't like to see people do anything that might cause them to be hurt.

3. When I'm a passenger in a car, it makes me very nervous if they speed. I don't want them to get a ticket. But, it doesn't bother me to speed (just a little).

4. It annoys me for people to arrive late for church. If you were going to the airport or to work, I bet you'd get there on time.

5. It also annoys me when a meeting is suppose to start, and just because everyone hasn't arrived, they wait and start 15-30 minutes later. Isn't my time worth anything?

6. I'm vegetarian, and the thought of eating meat just makes me sick. I don't mind if other people eat meat at the table that I'm eating at though.

Sorry I can't tag anyone else because everyone I know has already been tagged!

Our Sabbath Afternoon Walk

This afternoon when we arrived back home after Bob's meeting in Syracuse, we decided to go for a walk and thought it would be fun to take the dogs with us, but we weren't going to go walking on the property, so we had to get the leashes out. Bob thought he knew where they were, but Punkin's collar was missing and Lola has never had a collar or lease on since we have owned her but we had Myra's collar and leash that would work just fine for her. Bob figured out how to use the leash as a combination collar and leash for Punkin so we were ready to call the dogs and load them in the car to drive over and park where we would begin our walk. We called the dogs and they came running from the side porch to the garage and when Punkin saw the leash, she started wiggling all over and whining. She was so excited!! Lola took one look at the leash and ran into the slammer and would not come out. She just sat there. She was not going to budge. So we left her and only took Punkin. We had walked less than a mile and noticed dark clouds rolling over head. Bob thought we would be fine so we continued walking. The clouds started getting darker and then we heard thunder, and decided we should head back to the car. We had just turned around and started walking back to the car when the rain began. Big drops. We walked as fast as we could. We were so thankful that a man called to us from his home and asked if he could take us home. We accepted the offer and Bob, Punkin, and I got in his car and he drove us to our car. It was a down pour! When we got home we let Lola out of the slammer and the dogs and Bob and I watched the rain from inside the garage.
After the rain stopped and we had had some supper, we decided to go back and take our walk. So we got out the leashes and Punkin wiggled all over and whined with excitement, and Lola, once again, took one look at the leash and ran for the slammer. We had a wonderful walk. We walked a little over four miles. Punkin loves to walk, so I'm going to be taking her with me every evening. As for Lola, she'll probably prefer to just stay home in the slammer.
Lola ran inside the slammer when she saw the leashes.

Punkin and I at the beginning of our walk.



These are Poppy's that we saw on our walk.


We don't know what these flowers are, but we thought they were very pretty.

This is home for Bank Swallows


On our way back to the car.

We arrived back at the car just at sunset.

Feeling Guilty

Right now I'm sitting in an afternoon meeting that Bob has to present and the meeting will last for four hours. I didn't want to go with him, but I felt bad for him when we left for church this morning and told him I would go with him. While on our way to church, we noticed that we didn't have enough gas to go to the church, go to the meeting in Syracuse, and get back home without purchasing more gasoline (we don't buy or sell on the Sabbath if it can be avoided). So I was kinda pleased that we would have to go home after potluck and switch cars and then go to Syracuse. Yeah!! I would just stay home and take a nap and let Bob go. But, one of the deacons at the church said, "you can take our car". I told him not to be so generous, and then Bob told him that he thought I was going to stay home and take a nap. Well, I felt guilty when we got home and guess what? I came with him for the meeting, but I brought my laptop hoping to work on my sermon that I will be giving in two weeks in Rochester. My wireless internet works here, so I'm . . .

Monday, May 26, 2008

It Was A Busy Weekend



Friday afternoon Ryan and the boys came out to help grandpa in the garden. Bob sure appreciated all the help. I, of course had enjoyed having the Hannah and Gracie for a couple of days and getting to spoil them. They are such good little girls and so kissable.

Gracie didn't want to be outdone by her big sister, so she climbed up on the flat-bed trailer all by herself.

Ryan and Lisa gave Bob Irises for his birthday and Bob got to go to the Iris farm and select the Irises he wanted. They are really beautiful. Then Ryan helped plant them.

Sunday morning Shannon and Madeline came out and we had a great time just hanging out together. On Monday we went to the zoo and did a little shopping at the mall before coming home. It was a great l-o-n-g weekend.


Sunday, May 25, 2008

Happy Birthday Lori

A new baby daughter ... so beautiful ... so sweet ... so cherished ... and you loved to sleep!!! Your older sisters and brother were all born in the fall and I must say that you being a spring baby, made for a much more pleasant pregnancy. Your two sisters that followed you made their appearance in late July and September, so I must say that being pregnant with you was definitely the easiest. We had only picked out one name and that name was for a girl. Although we had no idea that you would be a girl. We both loved the name Lori and I can't remember ever considering anything else. While we were still in the hospital, you began sucking your left thumb and you loved that thumb for years to come.

Just a few hours old.


My new baby daughter, Lori.


Your brother and sisters were so excited to meet you. They took turns holding you and feeding you your bottle.



So content . . .


Four months old.



You loved playing in the water.

At Myrtle beach when you were two years old.

Three years old.

You and your older sister, Rachael, look so much alike.



Your fourth birthday.

Four years old.

When you were four years old you were the little flower girl in cousin DeAnn's wedding. DeAnn made your little dress to look just like hers. You even had a garter to match.
You were so cute. And you did just what they told you to do.


This is a picture of you four kids inside of "Fat man Squeeze". You all fit just fine, but I had a little trouble getting through since I was pregnant with Francie and she was due in one week.


On your fifth birthday, Grandma Nan came out for your birthday party. She kept your present hidden in the trunk of her car and then after you had opened all your presents she took you outside and opened the trunk. You were so excited. She had bought you a new bright red bicycle with training wheels.

You took your new bicycle for a ride down the street.

First grade. I just love those braids!!


You loved playing at the park. Notice the Strawberry Shortcake shirt . . . it was one of your favorites.
It's amazing that you never had a broken bone, because you were always climbing, running, and playing.


You and your great grandpa Orval. He and great grandma spent many hours watching you children while I worked. Actually, I think grandpa spent more time sleeping on the couch while great grandma cooked in the kitchen and you kids just had a great time playing.


Your first time at modeling. This was at a Pathfinder Mother - Daughter Banquet. You loved the dress and purse. You picked it out yourself at the store that sponsored the event.

You and your brother and sisters when we lived in Illinois.


When you were a new born baby, Pastor Knight was our pastor in Okla. City and he was the pastor that did the dedication service for you. When we moved to Pennsylvania, he and his wife had moved there and he studied the Bible with you and baptized you along with Rachael, Ryan, and Shannon. I love this picture.


When we lived in Pennsylvania, you became the chief cook and you enjoyed trying new recipes. Many of the recipes that we have in our family cookbook are ones that you discovered. This is a fruit pizza that you made. It was delicious!


You played in the bell choir.
You played oboe and clarinet in the Academy band. This is a quartet ensemble you played in.


You also took piano lessons and this is you practicing to play for your eighth grade graduation.

Your high school graduation. When you were in the tenth grade you asked me if you could skip eleventh grade, so I checked into it, and you had enough credits, so you graduated a year early which didn't make your sister, Shannon too happy, because you graduated before she did, because your name started with "L" and hers started with "S". You also got your drivers license when Shannon got hers. During the driving part, you were instructed to parallel park. You commented, "Oh, good! That's my specialty!" Wrong!! But you did get your license. And, then I remember your first accident. You ran into someone, and then told the police officer, "I was stopping, she just stopped faster than I did."

This is one of your senior pictures. You are beautiful.


You decided to take nursing and I was able to get you into the nursing program in Texas (I had a few connections in the office where I worked). I had to buy you a car and the car we found that I could afford, was a stick-shift. You were sure you could learn to drive it, so I bought it for you. I was worried about you driving to college all by yourself, so I drove down with you and helped you set-up your dorm room. Remember how I made curtains for your room at the local Walmart store? The manager let me set up a sewing machine in the fabric department. And, then do you remember when you had to park on a hill and you kept rolling back, and back, and, back, until you ended up in the flower bed of the campus and had to ask the maintenance man to help you get out of the flower bed? You never let anything stop you if you had your mind made up to do something. You finished your nursing in Seattle and you amazed me with your skill in driving and parking on the streets of Seattle. You had to drive me around because there was no way I could start at a stop light without rolling down the hill, and I certainly couldn't parallel park.


You are a very special auntie. And you spoil all your nieces and nephews.


Bridesmaid in Rachael's wedding.


Bridesmaid at Natalie's wedding.
I have the fondest memories of you and I driving from Seattle to Walla Walla for four years in a row to attend a special Mother's Day Brunch at Francie and Natalie's college. We would take Brewster and we made numerous stops along the way. We had such a fun time together.



Lori and her sisters in Jamaica.


Your wedding in Jamaica was perfect.
Gorgeous Bride!!!


New mom.


You are a wonderful mother to Anthony.


I am so very proud of you. You have always been there for your family and able to solve problems and make things happen. I remember when you came to be with me when I had my surgery and it was so nice to have you caring for me at the hospital, although at the time I wasn't so happy. You insisted that I get up and walk, and it seemed that I would no longer get situated back in bed and you would tell me, "let's go for another walk". I left the hospital several days earlier than the doctor had told me I would, and I know it was because of your loving me enough to make me do what I didn't want to do. I love you so much and I hope this birthday is very special for you.

Happy Birthday!!

Love,

Mom