Is this Heaven? No, It's Scotland!

Family time

My sister, Jenny, came for the weekend with her six children. Friday happened to be Nathan's 14th birthday, so we had to have a big party for him! How fast they grow up! Lots of activity, lots of fun! Saturday, disappointingly, happened to be cool and rainy all day. However, we did manage to get in the pool for awhile in the afternoon. The older kids enjoyed the computer(s)! and the younger ones, the pool.

Sunday Will and Andrew came for dinner and took the three boys to the park for baseball while I made dinner. Great bonding time for cousins from 23 to 5!! Wish I had gotten a photo!



Baby cousin gave us lots of laughs at the table.
Aside from the table, he LOVES horses. It's been like a treasure hunt since they left because I'm finding Lego horses in all kinds of places. FUN! "Oh, here's another one!" Nice we have about 30 Lego horses. He never went around without one. And then he would "gallop" around the house making horse noises. It was so cute!

Uncle Denny was the obvious hit of the weekend. Since they were here from Friday night until Sunday afternoon, he was home the whole time. He was great dinnertime entertainment who kept everyone laughing! He even got in the pool with them on Sunday afternoon and PLAYED with them. They should feel honored. *smile*

And to top off the weekend, Jenny and I sang in church. I'm always wanting one of my sisters to be here on the weekend and sing with me. Finally, it happened. We sang the old Cono favorite, "Sometimes a Light Surprises". Jenny has a marvelous voice! And music in church on Sunday was incredible.

This old lady (meaning me) collapsed on Sunday evening, but it was a good tired. Thanks for a great weekend, guys!

First Day of School!

Summer fun

Doin' Corn

Out at the farm they had set up quite a process for freezing corn for the winter. From field, to shucking, to blanching, to cooling, to cutting, to bagging. It was great fun! I picked Linnea up from the airport, took her home for lunch and then brought her out to the farm. She'd never been out there, and what a great Midwest experience to enjoy! It was a perfect day....one of many we've had this summer. And notice I have a summer photo now as my back ground for "the road goes...."

Rid of the truck

Replaced with:
http://images.mjmi.com/new400/HYUNDAI/2009_ELANTRA_BLUE.jpg

Den had had it driving the truck. Andrew bought it last summer to use for odd jobs and winter driving. Then when our van just quit in March, we got the truck back, of course we still owe Andrew, but now we've traded in the truck for something more Denny's speed. He came home with it tonight.

Nice Linnea got in on it, too!

First day of the summer holidays?

The Nebraska summer this year has been brilliant. Moderate temperatures, little wind, regular rainfalls, what more could we ask? Denny and I have sat outside by the pool and eaten dinner every night for a couple of weeks.

I finished working at Lowe's garden center on Thursday after nearly 3 months. I started April 26th, took a couple of weeks off in May to go to Linnea's graduation and sub for the track coach. Started back up the 16th of May and worked Monday - Friday ever since. It was a great job; I worked with fun people, and it kept me busy enough all summer.

The last three weeks I've added helping out at OCA getting it ready for school to start mid-August. I've loved being there talking with
everyone and taking the room from chaos to order. Those of you who know me know that is one of my greatest joys! :) I've taken over one room in particular, and that has made it easier to have specific things to do when I go up there. That room is done, basically, so I'm a "free agent" now! I have helped out other teachers, too, painting bookshelves, desks, unpacking and setting up the teachers' lounge/workroom, and hauling boxes. I've gotten in shape without working out. yippee!


My balcony plants have done well this summer so far. I did learn a little more about plants while I worked, at least some new ones.

Other things on my mind:

• our 30th anniversary trip to Scotland to visit our good friends there
• the Getty's new album!
• the faithfulness and steadfast love of God
• being taught to "let go" of my children and to wait with patience

Hey, no one told me that having 20-somethings was going to be harder on me than having a 2 year old! One is physical exhaustion, the other is emotional. I DO love the promise and energy of my 20-somethings! They are always thinking and always challenging me. It's wonderful to see the different ways God teaches us. And thankfully He helps us to mellow, and some things and beliefs that we thought were so important or uncompromisable, we realize were only our own "quirks". It's all part of letting go.....