Another trip to "Jenny's Place"

We met up with one of my Grandmother's friends while we were there this time. He says he still thinks of the place as "Jenny's Place". It sounds nice. Not sure what we'll end up calling it. It's always "Gramma's House" to me, but Jenny's Place is good.

                   
                                      Grass is green, green, green-And LONG!

                                                 White birch in the green now

                                                    Nelsons' farm bursting lilacs!

                                                   Nothing like spring green!

                                                     Down to the picnic place at Roger's

                                                  Jessica getting that hotdog just right

                                                     Lanae and Melanie chillin'

                                               Farmers thankful for Sunday rest!

                                              Monday Melinda, Joel and Mom came to keep me company. We loved our evening bonfires!

                         Joel rode his bike 57 miles from Finlayson to Duluth. He's finished here and getting a much-enjoyed burger from the Sunshine Cafe!

                                          Lake Superior!

                                                Looking down on Duluth and over to Lake Superior

                                     Just don't get enough lilacs! Spring went backwards the farther north we went!

                                     First iris to bloom at "Jenny's Place"!

Minnesota May

When all three kids were home we decided to make a quick trip up to Minnesota to visit "our" house, our family and our Johnson friends.

 Pale green of spring touches trees and grass.

 Lilacs were just beginning to bloom!

                                                                  Symmetry

                                         Linnea got to the top! Yikes! It was turned in the original.

                                           Gracie found a kitten!

                                             Linnea and Corinne glad to catch up again!

                                            Two old sailors picking up where they left off.

                                               Great smile from Will!

                                              Our military boys. Andrew and Avery.

For dinner that day we met up with Drew in Des Moines! Old friends are sweet!

Homecoming!

 On Tuesday, May 17th, Andrew flew home from Norfolk, Virginia, where the day before, his ship, the USS Ponce, had just returned from a nearly nine month cruise to the Middle East.

A few friends made it to the airport. Two other friends from church came too, but I forgot I had a camera then. Thanks, friends!

I was hoping there could have been a bigger welcoming committee since no one met the ship the day before, but as you can see, he wasn't too upset about it!

It is nice to hear his man-voice around the house again!

Opening Day!

We don't usually open our pool this early in May, but with the gorgeous weather yesterday and company coming for dinner a couple times this week, as well as Andrew coming next week, we thought it would at least look prettier to have blue water rather than black, stinky, dirty tarp covering the pool.
The lilacs are in full bloom this week, and I absolutely love it!

 When I got these lilacs, I didn't know they were white, but they are so pretty all fluffy next to the purple bushes.

 I love the robin sitting on the fence!

 The vinca that was on one of the hosta when I transplanted it has taken over the south side of the tree!

 The man at work. He loves this pool stuff!

 Rinsing off the tarp

 The tarp is off, and it's time to add more water.

 By evening, it was full and getting all vacuumed out.

What a beautiful evening!! Summer is nearly here!

A Day with Helen

Flower sunshine

Ah, if we can't have the real sun at least we can bring it inside with these forsythia blooms!

Fear Not, Stand Firm, And See

That's how I started off our memory work for my class last week. It gave my students three pretty "visual" phrases to help them memorize their verse. And they did a good job! Our lesson that week was on the crossing of the Red Sea. The Egyptian army behind, the deep waters of the Red Sea in front, what to do? And then Moses says to the people in Exodus 14:13:

Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord which he will work for you today.

In yesterday's lesson, which finally came together by afternoon, we wandered around the desert for awhile. At each of our "stops" we were reminded of this verse. No water. No food. Enemy army. Absentee leader. Grumbling. Complaining. An impossible conquest... "Fear not, stand firm...."

We never stop learning those lessons. And hopefully my students are set on a life course to remember what God promises. Fear not. Stand firm. I have one boy who is shall we say very lively. Some weeks I become VERY exasperated! However, this week when I asked who remembered the verse from last week, he whipped the whole thing off WORD PERFECT. His background is pretty rough and he only comes to church on Wednesday night for class. I pray that the Word will transform his life!

And we are seeing God work for our family as well. Linnea phoned yesterday to say that she got her "dream job" at the school where she's wanted to work! We are so happy for her! So she will be moving this summer and beginning a "real" full-time job! Praise the Lord!

Our "Gramma's House" project is moving ahead as well. We had a WONDERFUL trip to Minnesota the beginning of the month. Entertained the neighbors for dinner one evening and my cousins for Sunday dinner. Hopefully, the beginning of many more meals together!

AND Will got a job in California, and Andrew comes home for the last two weeks in May!