The "S" Word

Look what we woke up to this morning.  Once the sun came out, it was gone very quickly. 

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Picking Corn

Last Saturday Glen and Ben picked their "field" of corn out back.  They used a two-row cornpicker that was a pull-behind, not even a mounted picker.  Grandma and I went to watch for a while.  It was fun watching the whole corn cobs coming out the end.  It was a beautiful, sunshine-filled day for a  little farm work.

 

 Dad's sitting on the fender while Ben's driving.  Gotta make sure he's doing it correctly.

 Glen had some Indian corn mixed in with the regular field corn - this was his largest ear - it was over a foot long.

 

 

Even took a little video.
It'll be interesting to see what Glen decides to do with his big "field of dreams" next spring.
Hope you're having a good week.
Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Katie at Gymnastics

I took all videos except one picture of Katie - it was so fun watching her.  She was so serious.  Her biggest problem is shown in this picture - her tongue sticking out.  She concentrates so hard on doing the right thing that she sticks her tongue out.  Funny girl!! 

That's it for today.  Dad and I are off on a "Senior Adventure" for the next two days so don't look for any blogs for a while.  Have a great, relaxing weekend.

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Slight interruption

My daughter borrowed my camera this past weekend when they went to Kevin and Andrea's wedding by Duluth.  When the camera came back, this was on it - scary, isn't it?

I'm not sure what the caption should be - any suggestions?  A prize (a good prize) will be awarded to the best slogan!!

Til tomorrow - will pick up again with Katie's gymnastics until this alien invades my home.

Love,
Gramma and MOM

The Jog-a-Thon

 

Every other year, Lynden Christian School has a jog-a-thon to raise money for computers and something else but I can't remember what.  They also give 10% to a charity of some kind.   After breakfast, DeAnn and I headed to the high school football field/track field.  Sam said it would be OK if it rained because I could sit under the overhang and I wouldn't get wet. 

Aunt Sally also came and brought me a phoo-phoo coffee - lucky me!!  It was wonderful.

 

Miss Katie was first - she did 2 1/2 miles.  They get a punch on the paper on their backs every half round and it takes 4 rounds to make a mile.  She had 20 punches.  Her mom walked several rounds with her but had a real difficult time keeping up with our "sprinter".  Katie would take off running for a short distance and then slow up and end with a walk and then start all over.  Gramma even walked a complete round with her.

 

Fortunately for Katie, it did not rain during her time on the track.

 See the 20 punches on my paper.

 Unfortunately just as Sam was starting his time on the track, it began raining.  He did a super job - 30 punches and he pretty much jogged the entire time.  His mom didn't even attempt to keep up with him.  He's pretty fast.

I had a hard time getting a good picture of him because he would just whiz by me. 

 

 

After the jog-a-thon, Aunt Sally, DeAnn and I decided to forgo lunch and just have ice cream at Eddelyn - can you believe it's the only ice cream I had the whole 10 days.  We didn't even make it over there with the kids - will have to make up for it in December.

Friday night John & DeAnn picked up pizza and we went to Auntie Grace's for supper.  Only time I've had pizza on china - she is a classy lady.  We played cards afterward and have a wonderful time. 

We're still "sheep sitting" and today they are behaving - not like yesterday when they decided the grass was greener in the pasture next door.

Have a great week ahead.  Next post is Miss Katie's first gymnastics class.  What a hoot!!

Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Dying flowers



One day DeAnn decided she needed to get the lawn mowed.  I didn't think it looked all that long but she also wanted to pick up the leaves that were beginning to fall.

 There are two beautiful baskets of flowers hanging on her front porch - they're actually called "Lynden baskets".  John was lucky enough to win one of them in a drawing and then bought his lovely wife another to match.
As I looked at them, I noticed a LOT of dead "stuff" in each of the baskets.  DeAnn said summer was over so she had stopped watering and was just going to toss them.  I told her that they were still very nice and needed to start watering again and cleaning all the crap of them.  She said if you want the crap out, you prune them.  So I did.

Before:

 After:

 Before:

 After:

They look much better, don't they?  Now she just needs to keep watering them for at least another month.

Sheep feeding went very well this morning.  Peter worked on the outside cellar door today and I laid on the couch and read a book and did the laundry.  Now, we're getting ready to go to Pipestone for some dinner.  Sure wish the sun would come out - maybe tomorrow.

Tomorrow's blog is the jog-a-thon - what an exciting day for all of us.
That's it for today.  Have a GREAT weekend.
Love to all,
Gramma and MOM

Boyfriend Bears

When I first thought I might go to Washington for a little "Gramma fix", DeAnn told me that she thought I would enjoy a Boyfriend Bears Session that Holly would be participating in on Sept. 21st.  She said it was a special session for parents, family and friends.  So, of course, I jumped at the chance to see my girl "in action".  John and I went along with five friends of Holly's and it was inspiring and challenging.  The theme the girls have chosen is "Purity is a Battle" and their program encourages young girls to remain sexually pure until marriage.  At the end of their sessions with girls from 12--whatever, the girls are given a white bear with an opening in the back and they are encouraged to write a letter to their future husband.  The opening has velcro on it and they can add additional notes as time goes on.  It is a wonderful endeavor for these young girls and you can read a lot more about it on their website:  boyfriendbears.org - check it out.

 

My very favorite teenage young lady with one of their boyfriend bears.  Love you forever, Miss Holly!!  Isn't she the most beautiful 16-year old around?  Both inside and out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Grammas are always allowed to brag.  In fact, I think it's their job.)

 

 

 

 This is a very, very dear lady who has become an important part of the Hiemstra family and a dear friend of mine.  Auntie Denise is "one of a kind" - an amazing lady who supports our family in Washington with lots of love and prayers.  Denise, I hope you know how much you are loved!!  Plus she makes an amazing pot of potato soup.

 

 This is the group of young ladies who make up the boyfriend bears board and give the sessions.  Next week they will be going to Prescott, AZ to give a session at a school for girls who have had some problems in their lives.  The head of the school read about them in a magazine and contacted them to see if they would be willing to come down.

The first priority in their sessions is to help girls to have a personal, on-going relationship with the Lord Jesus and purity will flow from that.  I wish everyone could hear what these young ladies have to share.  There are so many areas in our lives where we all need to be on guard to stay pure in today's world.

 

Up until this time, almost all of their financing has come from a private source.  They are now needing to do some fund raising.  They have these cute little bracelets that have their theme on it.  If anyone would like to order one, let me know and I'll send in one big order to Miss Holly.  There are also other items for sale on their website.  Bracelets are $5.00 each.

Well, that was my first event.  I did not take many pictures while I was there but I have at least another 3 days worth.  If I can get connected while we are "sheep sitting", I'll see you all tomorrow.  Otherwise it will be Monday.

Have a GREAT weekend!!!!!

 

Love to all

Gramma and MOM