All Revved Up

I thought it would be fun to share some thoughts from our son Adam, (pictured above as a cute little fella and now a handsome guy) who is Pastor of a Lutheran Brethren church in a small town in Wisconsin. Adam writes a little column in the local paper and this mom is so proud! (so is Dad, of course..) This is his latest column (the title of his weekly posts is "All Revved Up")

This week I’m all Revved up about The Super Bowl.

There are many reasons to enjoy the Super Bowl, even if your favorite team isn’t playing. You see, Super Bowl Sunday is much more than a football game, right? It is all about the distractions. Usually we gather together with some dear friends, eat some delicious snack food, and are on the edge of our seats watching the commercials. One could argue that the game is the least important part of Super Bowl Sunday.

Funny how the same thing happens at church. It can become all about the distractions and we miss the main event. We get together with dear friends, eat delicious food, and are on the edge of our seats discussing policies and programs. One could argue that the cross of Jesus Christ is the last thing on our minds on Sunday mornings. If so, we just missed the main event of human history!

Ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, we’ve been caught up in distractions. Our sin, the busyness of life, our worry and doubts, have all distracted and separated us from God. However, God still wanted to be our God, even though we messed everything up. So God did something to get our attention and our devotion. He came into our world through Jesus Christ.

But we were distracted so we rejected and killed him. We missed the main event! But God was not finished. He raised Jesus from the dead, and gave Him victory over death, sin, and Satan! This is the main event of human history! Jesus is the Champion! More than that, God wants us on His team. He wants our attention and our devotion. Even if your team doesn’t win the Super Bowl this year, God wants to share His victory over death, sin, and Satan with you – that is the main event.

Oh, why didn't I???

Why didn't I put my idea into production years ago? I always thought someone should come up with an invention like this!!
Can you figure out what it does?

Yup... an automatic stirrer!

How many times do you wish something would keep stirring that sauce as you prepare the final touches of a nice meal?? So many times I have wished that there was such a device; this is practically what my mind had designed years ago!!

And guess what! This $10 investment actually worked! There are batteries in the handle, 3 speeds even... and the whole device vibrates and moves all over the pot stirring everywhere! It was wonderful! But I did have to watch it, because once the sauce thickened, the stirrer didn't move too much... but it was time to take the sauce off the heat anyway.

Another kitchen gadget to add to my collection!

(I had TWO electric potato peelers too - completely different from each other - I'm sorry I didn't keep them, no one believes me when I describe them... they would never pass safety standards today; they were dangerous and useless!)

A new number

The number 9! A new number in the life of our eldest grandchild... and now we have 12 grandchildren under the age of 9. Happy Birthday to this sweetheart!

Early birds

The birds outside our windows this morning were busy flying back and forth from the feeders to the trees. Just perfect for a few pictures. Of course, it was always easy to spot Mr. Cardinal. Mr. Blue Jay was a bit more of a challenge to get a good photograph. This was a pretty decent pose, I thought.

As I was snapping this picture, the cardinal flew by. Sweet.

The finches eat and eat and eat!

One down

First lost tooth! A big deal in the life of a 5 1/2 year old!

I just love this sweet face.

Double exposure

Family stories are often about when things "went wrong"... we rarely sit around and discuss the episode that had no mishaps... but we have great laughs about the days that did have mishaps (as long as it all turned out well in the end, of course!) For my family, one mishap that is part of our "family stories" would be the film that my father used a second time, creating an entire film of double exposures. The horrifying thing about this mistake was that one roll included wonderful pictures of our new baby brother - and my mother was crushed! The other time the film was used was on a hiking trip to the mountains and we have all these scenery pictures superimposed on the baby pictures. I think the one that was all laugh at still is the above picture; the baby carriage going down the moutain! Enjoy!
Yes, this is me about to ride my bike over the cliff...



My older sister and brother holding baby brother. Oh, look, I'm in the picture too! Just off to the lower right of the baby you can see my head and my hand touching my baby brother's leg. But who are the people hiking in the right side of the picture?...

Brothers. and Mountains.

At least this picture had more baby then scenery...

What are your family stories?

Happy Birthday son

Happy Birthday today to our first born. It is amazing to realize that you are now the father with sons! You have been a blessing to us and now we know your sons are a blessing to you and Sara. Have a wonderful birthday today!

Blessings in the New Year

Happy New Year to you all! May your year ahead be filled with many blessings!

Here are our two latest blessings, filling our arms and our hearts!

Funny sign

Over the Christmas holidays we were in a small Wisconsin town and I noticed this sign. It struck me funny!

It was, actually, a laundromat that also had tanning beds. But I don't think they gave it much thought the way they hung their signs! What do you think?

Christmas honey

Today, just before we left for our ride home, this little fella woke up from his little nap - and I'm sure he was saying "grandma, are you sure you want to leave?" It looks like he is motioning with his little finger for me to "come here." Ah... so hard to leave this little face!
And he's not the only cute face in this household!

One last picture, just for fun. John got a gift he just loved: a trebuchet! (google it) It was a kit and he and hubs assembled it and then launched their first "stone." I managed to capture the moment of the maiden launch. They then worked to perfect it - with me, on the couch, as their desired target.

Yes, they were eventually successful!

Christmas Day!

It was this little grandson's first Christmas day, but more important than that, it was his...
baptism day! What a joyful event to have a grandson baptized on Christmas day!

He wore the same baptism outfit that his father wore years before.

What a special morning to be in the house of the Lord, indeed!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve, we joined our eldest son John and family and our daughter-in-law Sara's parents, all together at John & Sara's lovely home.
There was a new ornament on the tree. And another reason to rejoice!

"Big" brother got to open his gifts on Christmas eve.

And he was pretty interested in the gift his grandpa P. was opening too.

The newest member of the family relaxed and let others open his gifts. It will be different next year, I think.

Oh, the fun of opening gifts!

And here is hubs with his new head lamp and winter cap. What a good look, don't you think? Good if you have to shovel snow in the dark....

The evening ended with a lovely meal, after a meaningful candlelight service at church.
I hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas!

Early Christmas #2

Our second early Christmas was in Wisconsin at the home of our son Adam and his family. It was tastefully decorated by Andrea and you would never expect, from the looks of this fancy mantel, that is a house full of children! Lots of activity! Lots of cartwheels!

Here they are, these precious 5 grandchildren, all happy about the opportunity to open some gifts early!



One very special gift was the requested doll house! Oh boy, was I happy to purchase a doll house after all those years of only purchasing "boy" toys...



And this little sweetheart was fascinated by her own little activity table.




This picture completely captures how this grandson feels about Buzz Lightyear. He loves him!

Big boys love their toys too! We gave our son a really cool remote controlled helicopter. Can you find it hovering above the floor in this picture? (I think I'd be a nervous wreck if it was in my house though.)

As soon she saw the camera, she was ready with a smile. Her momma taught her well!

Our oldest grandson got a great electronic kit and did a great job following directions to build circuits. I think I want one myself.
It was another fun early Christmas!

Early Christmas #1

We celebrated many separate Christmas' this year - one celebration with each of our three sons. The first celebration was the Wednesday before Christmas.
Grandchildren make it all so much more fun!

A kiss for a new dolly...

And what could be better then a few smiles too?

A dozen reasons to rejoice!!

Merry Christmas to you!

A 4 year old

Four years ago today this precious boy was born!

Happy Birthday dear grandson! We love you very much!