Here's What I did in NoDak today.

Today....Drumroll...We painted a barn.
Above you will see Dustin and I in the genie lift. The picture was taken by Dustin's mom.
This is a neighbor's barn and we said we would paint it about 3 summers ago. Yes, I know that is way too long to wait, but it is a project we should not have taken on the summer we were getting married and Dustin was in the midst of a political campaign and going to school. Let's just say, life was full and while life is still full, we have now gotten to finishing the project.
Dustin got called into work at the ambulance in the afternoon, so it was just me on the lift trying to finish. The life started acting funny at about 7:00 and wouldn't go up anymore, so I had to quite.
But at least most of the front of the barn is done.
Now tomorrow we finish in the shade. YAY.
good night.

Check in

I really don't have anything exciting to report.
Sunday was the service in the park and it went really well and it was lots of fun.
My mom and dad came for it and stayed until today. it was a great day and we had a really good visit. Mom helped me with beet pickles yesterday and we also worked on my garden. It was fun and we got a lot done.
We are now eating peas and beans from the garden. The zucchini is just a day or two away from being the right size to use. I like them when they are small and a good size for stir fry and they are still tender. The cucumbers are looking terrible, they just aren't growing. My tomatoes are absolutely beautiful and while they haven't turned yet, they do look like they are going to be wonderful. The roma tomatoes are going to be really nice and my early girls are going to turn fairly soon, I believe.
The corn is tasseling, but it will be a bit of time yet.
I am happy with my garden this year.
It's such a great time of year.

I'm Home!

I've been home since Sunday and it is great to be here. I got home Sunday afternoon, Dustin met me at the airport and he brought the dogs! It was so fun and it was so good to be with Dustin again. I must admit, I missed him.
We got home and it was time to load the pickup and go to the neighbors for the "block party." We put it on with a couple other neighbors, now, mind you, our block is the township, so it is several miles. It was fun to meet all the new families that have moved it. We actually have young neighbors that we have never met before, how fun.
Monday was laid back.
Tuesday, we painted a barn. We still have another day, but it rained today, so we couldn't do anything about it and it will have to dry out before we do any more.
Today, back to work, I lead chapel at the nursing home.
It is good to be home.

Charles E. Cheddar and Why I hate Vegas

We just got back from Chuck E. Cheese with the kids. The kids refuse to eat the food there (I can't blame them) So, we went to play in air conditioned comfort and then take the kids through the Burger King Drive through. Mark and Carol were nice enough on the way to the drive through to drop me off at Chipotle and I went and got my dinner to go and then they picked me up. I just finished my steak burrito and boy was it fabulous.
Carol and Mark are wrestling the kids down for a nap then she and I will retire to the basement to finish some of my cropping so I can start packing.
Anyway. Chuck E. Cheese. I know kids love it, but it is totally sensory overload and I get absolutely dazed and exhausted, add running after children and it is a miracle that any parent comes out alive. I feel the same way about Las Vegas. I like the concept, but all the lights and constant movement and noise is way too much for me. I've gone and since I am not a gambler, I don't feel the need to go again. I would, but I wouldn't go on purpose.
So, I hate both places, but the first I will at least tolerate for the kids. Vegas, well, not so much.
Less than 24 hours and I go home.

Tomorrow is my last day here!

I am leaving Sunday morning, so tomorrow is my last day with Carol, Mark and the kids.
Mark is at his monthly poker game tonight and Carol and I spent the night scrapbooking after we put the kids to bed. I have gotten quite a few pages of the scrapbook done and supplies for my vacation one.
This scrapbooking thing is not something I thought I would enjoy, but it actually has been fun because it's a good excuse to go through pictures and remember stuff and express it.
tomorrow morning I think we are going to some dinosaur wold thing that the kids like. After that lunch, naps, dinner out and then they are going to mass, so I will go with them. After mass, Carol and I will go out for ice cream.
This trip has been wonderful. I realize to most it would have been boring, but I have had the best time spending time with Carol, getting to know her kids. Her oldest kids have the best personalities,they say the funniest things. Her son is very sensitive and loves cars and tractors, her daughter is all attitude and sass and loves playing dressup, being a girly girl and her baby doll. Her newest the baby, really doesn't have a personality yet, at three weeks old, she is still a loaf of bread, but she will get there. She's perfect. I took care of the oldest two while Carol and Mark took the baby to her 3 week checkup and I had the best time taking care of the kids.
This morning and afternoon. Carol, the baby, and I went looking for a dress for Carol for the baptism in her post baby body. We found a great dress for Carol. I found a designer purse at a great price and as a hemmed and hawed, Carol decided to buy it for me as a thank you for coming and helping this last week. She didn't have to do it, but I have to say, I love the new purse and I will switch my stuff so I can use it on the trip home. YAY! New Purse.
This trip has been great. Now, I am excited to go home. I miss Dustin like crazy. I bought his anniversary gift the other day and I can't wait for him to see it. It's hard to be away from him this long.
I can't wait to play with the dogs and go for a long walk in the country.
Life is good. Friends, Family...Life is a blessing.

Everyone is napping!

I'm still at Carol's. I have to admit, I miss home something terrible. I always forget how much I am going to miss Dustin and the dogs and everyone else when I go away. It has been a long time since I went on vacation by myself and while it is great, I also know that when I get home I am going to hug Dustin and tell him how much I love him and remind him every day for a week how glad that I married him.
I talked to Dustin last night and I can tell that he misses me too. He's not himself. He had a crazy day at the ambulance too, so that made it a bit longer too. He got to eat at our neighbor's last night, which I'm sure was wonderful.
Carol is going to help me find some scrapbook stuff today for me to get working on the wedding book, we'll see how it goes.
Right now, the kids are all sleeping, and Carol has fallen asleep too. toooo cute, with baby on her chest.
I just wanted to check in.
Later

Kids! Krazy!

I am at Carol and Mark's. Carol is the best (no offense Mark, you are great too). The kids have been put to bed, Carol is checking laundry, I am posting this.
Today, slept in. Went swimming. Played farmer with Colin. Cuddled baby Tara.
Good day.
Time to relax.

Go! Go! Go! I leave tomorrow!

The dogs woke me at 5:30 this morning and after letting them out, I couldn't get back to sleep, so I stayed up. I'm a bit drowsy, but thought it best to attack some of my list for the day.
I leave tomorrow at 7:AM, airport earlier, for my trip to DC. I'm so excited to see Carol and the kids. Mark too, I guess, sorry, you really are 5th in line after Carol and the kids.
There are things that have to be done today.
4-H pictures are a t 4:00. Dustin has been taking these pictures for years and it's about $300 we get paid. Dustin poses the kids with their 4-H animals (mostly steers), we take the picture and then print it in a document of thanks for the person who buys the animal at the premium auction. The business that does the premium auction gets the picture in a frame. I don't know how it all works, I never had animals while I was in 4-H. Dustin was even his county's "alumni of the year." I had to find a way to secretly get him to the awards ceremony, because he didn't know why we had to go. Luckily, Dustin's family sponsors a 4-H award called the "herdsman." so, I said it had to do with that. Sucker.
Anway. In addition to getting the pictures printed this evening, I have to pack the toys for the kids, pack my clothes, do some laundry (so I can pack my clothes!), email some last worship stuff, and get a bunch of other stuff together.
So, this 6:00 in the morning thing is quite relaxing right now and apparently necessary.
I will try to write while I'm gone and include pics of the kids, but i don't know if i'll have time.
I'll try.

Weekend is over! Ladies start your engines!

It was a nice, but hectic weekend. We thought we would run around, but ended up deciding that being home was best. I worked in the garden, Dustin and his dad did some haying, we ate great meals prepared by either me or my MIL Harriet and relaxed.


Today I had to move my hair appointment until tomorrow, thank goodness there was an opening. We had a family funeral to go to and I forgot about my hair appointment. It wouldn't be a big deal any other week, but I want a fresh cut and color before I go to see the wonderful Carol Aimee (whoopie!).


So tomorrow I run to church, run to town for my hair appointment and then run back to church for a meeting. This is going to add an additional 80 miles of driving to my day, but it can't be helped as far as I can see.


I have to get worship things ready for my time away and then I have to work on some hymnal things in the evening. It will all go, but it takes some work, that is for sure.



I have to be packed by Thursday for the most part because I am helping dustin with fair pictures on Thursday and they have to be printed adn ready to go by the time I leave on Friday. I have a 7:AM flight. I have to make my list tonight so I can conqueor things one at a time so I don't get overwhelmed.



Dustin is making watermelon rind pickels right now. He's got them in the jars and just needs to hot water bath them.



I have laundry to get done for this trip, although I know I can do some at Carol's and will have to so I don't have to pack so much.



it will be nice to have a hair appointment, I'll get to just sit for a couple hours.



Goodnight all,

Must gor for now.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Peace

I fully admit that I am not ready to share in this format what my major decision is. If you want to know, please email me and I will get back to you. I know that some of you who read this know. My family knows, Dustin is great. It's just not for public consumption yet. I don't know teh details yet.
Anyway, I went to my neighbor carolgene's today to talk. Carolgene is a neighbor/dustin's cousin. Her and her late husband were one of our host couples for our wedding reception. He passed away this last year.
Carolgene is very wise. She was an education instructor at the college I attended and she is a rock and one of those peopel you go to when you need to talk things out. She is a great listener, she asks great questions to help you voice your feelings and sort them out, and she is honest and affirming and caring.
so, this morning, after two hours of sleep and much tossing and turning through the night, I called Carolgene and asked if I could come over for coffee.
We talked for two hour, drank coffee, at her increadible rice crispy bars (these are a gift because mine always get hard because I let the marshmallow go to long)
Anyway. After our get together, she asked to pray with me, and she prayed for me, gave me a hug.
Anyway, after the visit, I feel the most peace I have felt in months.
What a blessing. Life will be okay. I know I am finally on the right track. Peace. Wonderful Peace.

Decisions

I will write more as it becomes more clear in my head, but I have made some decisions about my life. I'm not happy and I have figured out the decisions that will make me happy. Dustin listened to me for hours and hours tonight and it was amazing to know that he and my mom had talked about this already and were waiting to see what I would decide. Now I know.
I will sleep well tonight. I have made a decision.

Long Evening at Church and I'm in Trouble with the Post Office

I have council at 8:30 pm tonight. Late, but it works for the farmers who would feel it would be quitting early if we met earlier. It isn't so bad because it is light outside until later.
I didn't come in until after lunch because I knew I would be here late.
I am taking bites out of my worship planning for the next weeks. I want everything ready for the worship committee this weekend for when I am gone.
It will be a bit of work, but worth it if it goes together. I would like to get things put together for the week I get back too, so then the whole month is complete. That would rock
My worship committee is great about leading worship, but they are not big on helping put it together. They'll get involved for Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent...Summer in the long green season, that seems to be my territory.
I think September will be a sermon series to break things up.
I have a plan for Wednesdays in advent, some people will love it. some will hate it. All will think it is fine for the Wed night services. It will be based around the 4 spiritual types and we'll create the service around these and experience advent worship through these lenses. It should be a lot of fun.
On the other side of things. I'm in trouble with the post office because I haven't been good about picking up the church mail this summer. It's mostly because my summer schedule has been so varied and I haven't had my own vehicle. I haven't always been coming in during the regular hours so the post has been closed. I have had a lot of things during the day away from town, visitation has been mostly in the nursing homes and in the country. So, unless we have a plan for picking up the mail, she will not renew our box. So, I have to talk to council tonight because I've been a bad pastor and got reprimanded like a 10 year old by the postmaster.
The council will either be annoyed or amused. Honestly, we just need to get through harvest and then I won't have a problem. It's just this time of year. I would also like to point out that this is another reason I should have a secretary!
We have a couple options, we'll see what they want to do. (Sadly, one will not be a secretary)
My council president is actually going to think this is funny because he was reprimanded by the postmaster too.
This wouldn't be an issue if we didn't get so much stupid junk mail. If the fundamentalist companies would stop sending me weird product catalogs, it would cut down immensely, we get these magazines for each church, so 2 x the junk mail.
Life is weird. Hymns (check), Bulletin (check), Return phone messages (check), get yelled at by the postmaster (check). Just another day in paradise.

The Planner was lost, but now is found, was clueless, but now I see.

I found my planner this morning. I ripped Dustin's messy pickup apart and there it was. Jammed underneath the middle console all the way to the back seat. (hard to explain). Anyway. I found it, including my paycheck. My Soc. Sec. Card was in there, which had me terrified, I needed it for a second form of id for my test on Thursday and since that was the last day I had the planner, I was positive that I was well in my way to id theft and a lot of drama.
In other good news. I brought my 4Runner into the autobody shop today. I will be driving my own vehicle soon.
I am working at home today, worship and phone calls mostly. Since I will be gone for 2 weeks, I need to get worship together as well.
Wish me luck for a productive day.