Dad's Retirement--Round 1

Over this summer, a magical, long-anticipated event happened in our family:
My Dad retired.

Now, this has been particularly anticipated in the last couple of years, since Dad had to go all the way to Canada to finish out his time with his employer when they moved out of our area.  If you haven't read about the adventures of my family while the parents were away, read any of my posts filed under "brother" or "homecomings," and you will be up to date.

So--retirement.  We had a surprise party for Dad.  The surprise was that we were able to keep straight faces while lying through our teeth for weeks in order to get the party together.  And the bonus was that, for once in our lives, Mom told us to lie to Dad.  Fun.

The cake.

Memorabilia from his working years.

My personal favorite:  his lunch box. 

My dad took this small cooler to work every day for many years.  The contents would vary, except for two things:  Tums and ibuprofen.  Tough job.

Shop talk.

 Women folk.  Oh, if you could listen to this particular group of ladies. 

They are too funny.

Brother--remembered his side kick, forgot his shoes.

Priorities, people.

The guest of honor, best father in the world, hardest working man I know.

So, in his retirement, Dad has done the following, so far:

~ Got a dog and developed the most severe case of puppy-love I have ever witnessed.

~ Torn down a shed and built a new one out of the scraps.  Isn't that how we all do it?

~ Repaired vehicles for everyone in a fifteen mile radius.

~ Planted a massive garden, including a crazy amount of corn and pumpkins, which he sees as a perfect background to take more photos of his dog. 

~ Went back to work.  Seriously. 

So, Dad is now semi-retired, semi-OK with that, and completely enamored with his dog, Bruiser. 

But that love is for another post :)



Christmas Recap

See, if I would just sit down and organize my thoughts into blog posts each day, I wouldn't have to do a big recap and spend an hour trying to understand the many intricacies of Picasa Web Albums. 

Resolution 2011:  Blog more often.

Christmas this year was very nice for our family.  It began on a sour note, as the kids reasoned out that Santa is a farce.  This didn't really make me too sad, as Santa (along with the Easter bunny and the Tooth Fairy) just creeps me out.  Come on, parents.  We are always telling the kids not to let strangers in the house, and then we leave cookies out so a creeper in a red suit can come into our house while we sleep to "bring gifts" to our children?  How does this fit with our parenting philosophy?  Plus, Christmas is about JESUS.  Anyway, the truth is out, and the kids called me Santa all week before Christmas....I did not like that, as I kept picturing myself portly with lots of facial hair.  The first gift my children received from us was:

A kitten!  Her name is Stella, and she came to our home complete with an intestinal parasite, which has made us consider changing her name to Smella. 

Then, Christmas morning, our neighbors left the girls a gift on the front porch:

It was pretty much a better surprise than if Santa had brought it.  Our neighbors are better than Santa...and way less creepy, I might add.

God gave us a lovely Christmas gift also:

Snow!  He also gave us Jesus and the hope of eternal salvation, but the pictures people paint of Jesus creep me out almost as much as the pictures of Santa.   Come on, people, Jesus was from the Middle East!  Why is he always white skinned and gazing beseechingly into the distance?  Apparently, I got another rant for Christmas.

The girls opened their gifts,

and we headed out to my parents' house for Christmas Breakfast, the highlight of the season.

Brother and I...by the way, I don't know what my brother-in-law is doing behind us. 

My niece, whom my grandmother refers to as "Beauty," which is obviously befitting.

I don't have many photos from that morning, because everyone was giving me this look:

The "I am in my pj's, put away the camera" look.

Breakfast was fun and delicious, and we spent the day with our family.  We spent Christmas Eve with the Husband's family, but I forgot to take my camera at all there (bad blogger).

I will close by sharing two of the wonderful gifts I received this year:

Hello, dutch oven! 

Be still, my heart...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, full of the hope of Jesus Christ, the love of family and friends, and the blessings of the joy and peace that come with the season...at least they do when that Santa-creeper stays on the other side of the street ;)

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

On this day, 36 years ago, two people pledged to love one another, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, to never part.  They vowed before God to honor and protect one another. 

And they have.

My parents have honored and held to one another through so much.

For example:

• Job changes and financial difficulty
• Moving to another country to support one another
• Difficulties with extended family
• Surviving four teenagers and their sinful choices
• The death of their beloved fathers
• Physical infirmaries
• Differences of opinion
• Loving their grandchildren
• Building AND remodeling houses
• Times of no money and times of plenty

I can't begin to do justice to the challenges they have faced.  In doing so, they gave my siblings and I an example of what it really means to honor your spouse, to love them as Christ loves us.  They showed my through their example how precious marriage is, how important it is to CHOOSE love, choose commitment, choose honor.  To love someone even when the going gets tough, giving up seems easy, and marriage seems pressed on every side...but never crushed.  Never abandoned.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for giving me a godly example of marriage, for loving my when I have been unlovable, and, above all, for loving and honoring Jesus Christ by loving and honoring each other.

What a legacy I get to be a part of.

And all because two people fell in love and chose one another all those years ago.

Ladies' Day of Laughs

Yesterday my sisters and I spent the day at a "Ladies' Day Out" event that was hosted by the WMU.

I fear that most of the hilarity that took place will be lost in translation, so I will just stick to the photos.

The event offered workshops on parenting, scrap booking, and Zumba.

Zumba is dancing.

We were in a Baptist church. 

That alone was enough to lend laughter to the day.

We began with donuts, coffee, and chatting with friends.

Baptists don't do much without donuts and coffee.

In case introduction is necessary, meet The First Born, my sister.

She earns the title of first born by more than position; she is serious, studious, and responsible.  Well, she is until we sisters get together and take a workshop that should have been titled "101 ways to wear a scarf from Salvation Army:  Cover Your Cleavage."

But, I digress.

Meet Baby Sister.  You will know her better as the mother of The Roo, which is her claim to fame.  Well, that and her hilarious personality.  She is funny, outspoken, and hardworking.  I cannot help but have fun when she is around.  Especially in a workshop called "101 Ways to Wear..." 

You get the point.

Baby sister decided to take advantage of the Women's Health booth and get her blood pressure checked. 

After taking her blood pressure three times, with two different devices, the nurse declared that Baby Sister should see her doctor, as her blood pressure is much too high.

Her response?

Mirth and disbelief. 

I think the nurse was afraid that we spiked the coffee.

Workshops and lunch, followed by a wonderful group speaker, and Ladies' Day Out was over.

So we did the natural thing and hit Rural King before heading home.

Because these girls know how to have fun.

Sunday Fun

Yesterday we went to visit the Husband's parents. 

Naturally we toured their yard in a horse-drawn carriage.

Doesn't everyone?

That mammoth beast is Sadie. 

I admit to being a little scared by the carriage ride.  I kept having flashbacks to a certain carriage ride as a child when our feisty pony, Rusty, spooked by the lawn mower, tore the cart up with me in it hanging on for dear life.

Here is some great life advice:

If the carriage ride starts to go awry, JUMP OUT.  Don't hang on.

But Sadie did well. 

I jumped out anyway.

Daisy Dog played with her friends.

Well, they played with her. 

She checked out Sadie.

Whoa.

Then I decided to take a few pictures of the kids, because my mother-in-laws yard is just one big photo opportunity.

Please disregard the jelly stain on her pants. 

Then we went in to have dinner, and I ate meat. 

When my mother-in-law makes turkey breast, I eat it.

Because it is that good.

We had a great visit! 

And some great memories.

Though next time I may skip the carriage ride.

Just to be safe.



Truckin'

Brother (aka, Mr. Responsible) got himself an new truck. 
*insert hillbilly accent, because I know you will*

Yes, he's a grown-up now. 

Complete with truck payment and laundry duties.

With Mom and Dad in Canada, brother was on his own to test drive, haggle the salesperson, and sign the agreement to pay, on time, for this beauty.

In the interest of proving to Dad that he got a good deal, Brother would like me to include the following picture:

Some people want to please Daddy with monetary success or fancy degrees.

Our Dad is far more impressed by getting a good deal on a truck with a low odometer reading.

We all define success a different way.

He is proud.

I am proud of him.

Dad will be very proud.

His son is growing up, taking responsibility for his future.

But, inside, he is still the little boy who wanted to wear his boots to school every day, even when they were way too small.

See?

Congratulations, Brother!

Out Like a Lamb

Our quaint little town has little carnival every year, the Lions Carnival (hosted by the local Lions Club).  It is a carnival only in the sense that there are games, such as "Dunk-your-pastor-in-the-Dunk-Tank" (fun for kids and adults alike); rides, such as "Mini-Ferris-Wheel-located-just-under-the-power-lines;" and local food, such as a Napoleon-Dynamite-esque selection of  Prairie Farms Ice Cream.  It is cheap, the kids love it, and I get to see pretty much every person in our town. 

We began our Lions Carnival fun with the "parade."  Why the quotes?  The parade is only a parade in the sense that a few otherwise strange looking objects follow each other down the street hurling cheap candy at onlookers while cops follow, watching.  Here, see for yourself.

Parade = Tractors

This is the "Bucking Bronco," a trailer with saddles and a messed up axle that simulates a three-legged pony ride.  As a rule, I never ride anything with a saddle, but peer pressure is a pain--even when you are over thirty.  So, last night I "rode" it.  I stood in the middle, holding on tightly to a terrified five-year-old boy, and still managed to get off of the three minute ride with lower back pain. 

Can you say "old?"

Where is the cop when you need to discuss child restraints?

Hey, aren't they supposed to be at a game?  Watch it boys--the only thing we take more seriously than tractors is football.

"Dude, I know. "

He looks how I felt:  resigned.

Here is how The Husband spent the four minutes of the parade:

 

Baby Elyse wanted to come along, but like a good mother, Tiny Love arranged for child care before hurling herself into the street for smashed Tootsie Rolls.

Reactions once the fun was over?  (Wow, that was fast.)

"What was that?  Where is the CHOCOLATE?" 

I tried to explain the word "recession." 

Never miss a teachable moment.

Ever the optimist, Curlyjo just looks at the bright side:  Dots. 

We ended the evening (you know, five minutes after it started) by watching The Husband pose on government property outside "The Million Dollar Courthouse." 

I have been looking for teachable moments with him, too.

Sarcasm aside (no, really?), we had a great time. 

But, like Randy Jackson, "That was just weird for me."

My Two Fathers

I hesitate sometimes to write about things that are highly personal, deeply held.  But, after meditating upon God's Word and praying through my thoughts, I am going to share.  Because anything that causes an increase in one's understanding of who God the Father is, is a good thing to share.  So, here goes.

I have an amazing earthly father.  This side of heaven, they don't come much more devoted and stable.  Still, as a young girl, I didn't always understand him...he was elusive, complicated, so big in my mind that he seemed inaccessible.  Sometimes when I think of the women out there who have had such difficult and horrible relationships with their unstable, abusive fathers, I feel guilty for having the audacity to need to understand my relationship with my Dad.  But, over the years, I have come to recognize that my relationship with my Dad was paramount to my understanding of my Heavenly Father.  I looked at Dad and thought, "God is like that." 

What a heavy weight we parents bear.  What a terrifying weight.

This morning in my Bible study time, I read this:

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong,

and that you, O Lord, are loving."

Psalm 62:11-12

All of this time spent trying to wrap my mind around my earthly father and my Heavenly Father, and this simple concept is all I really needed. 

Is he loving?  Yes. 
Is he strong?  Yes. 

Is HE loving?  Perfectly.
Is HE strong?  All-powerful.

It is best to approach Daddies, earthy or Heavenly, with the mind and heart of a child.  Don't pick it apart.  Don't try to understand them perfectly.

Just rest in the strength and love that is God...that is Father.

In Memory

In honor of the wonderful friend I lost:

We had this lovely rock engraved to mark the place of her burial. 

It was an inexpensive way to make a memorial to the pet we all loved.

Well, love...

I know, Tiny Love.  Me, too.

Changes...

My sisters, my brother-in-law, and my niece are currently in El Salvador on a mission trip.  They travel with an organization that digs wells in impoverished communities, teach health and hygiene information, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people.  It is such a wonderful project!  For more information, see here.
So, with my younger sister out of town, I have been enjoying this face for two days:

Oh, Roo, how I love you.

I have also been in charge of harvesting tomatoes from the Amazon garden.

That just says "summer," no?

All while collecting free stuff from Walgreens.

I don't know how Nivea makes money...I get stuff free from that company all the time!

In my free time, (as if...) I have been packing. 

My family and I will be moving back to our own home at the end of the month.  Brother will be here by himself for about two months until Mom and Dad come home for good!  I will be coming over to clean for him and generally make sure he doesn't die/mold/starve/cry.  This arrangement should make for some interesting blog material.  Please watch for future blog posts titled "Brother, why..."

Meanwhile, I will be happily making a home out of our house again, eagerly anticipating my parents' move back to the good old United States. 

Happy days are yet to come :)