Pregnant!Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It's Snowing
Yesterday was in the upper 60s, today this. I do have to admit that I love snow and even though it could have been this cold on a different day- looking out and seeing it did make me smile.
Grandpa's Birthday
Monday Grandpa turned 75. Yup, he's an oldee. Good thing we love him anyway. (He would remind you that Grandma is older)
It was a great night as many family members were able to be here along with some great friends.
We decided that putting all the candles on the cake (like we did for grandma's birthday- thank the Lord the house is still standing) might be a little much so this one little candle would have to do- and it did just fine.
I will admit that my emotions are closer to the surface now and yes it was great celebrating his day, but knowing it is the last birthday we will spend together is a bit tough. Exciting for him, sad for us. What a great life to have lived though. I know he has touched many people and what a blessing that is, but he has also had a LOT OF FUN doing alot of CRAZY things. He hasn't missed out on much. I hope when I am 75 I can say the same.
Oh Deer
Before we moved here my dad put out some corn for the deer. He knew that Gramps would love to sit here and watch the deer. However we mostly just see the blue-jays eating all that corn. Marty tells us he has seen deer right on the corner of the house while he is over working at the new house- we just happen to be having a dance party or something at the 
time. Well finally we were able to see and watch a deer for quite awhile. I even opened the door and after looking up at the sound of our voices (you know we can't be quite very long) he went right back to eating. 
time. Well finally we were able to see and watch a deer for quite awhile. I even opened the door and after looking up at the sound of our voices (you know we can't be quite very long) he went right back to eating. Throught the woods to Grandma's house we go
If you head out the door of our new house and head south down the path through the woods you will find yourself at Grandma Shirley's new house.
(and pass Olmer's cottage along the way- our play house) 
The building of Grandma's new house has started and is flying along. It has been fun to watch it and even more fun to take periodic drives over with Grandpa so he can see what is going on as well. This last weekend my uncle Dean was up here with his handicap accessible van so this time we didn't just drive over, we also wheeled Gramps out and gave him an up close view of it all.
Most of the framing is finished and we are now waiting for the roof trusses to arrive. Marty Walker has done all the cement work for the house and it is BEAUTIFUL. We Shermer's all thought we had a very nice new house and now are a bit jealous of Grandma. (though we are thankful for what the good Lord has provided for us- read with truth as well as a little sarcasim) Marty made a beautiful patio that wraps around the front of the house- it is a redish brown color with a black brick stamping around the edge leading up to patio where the screen porch will be. It is amazing and looks great.
Marty had also added a very special suprise for Grandma and Grandpa. He had asked my mom and dad if Grandpa had a favorite verse. He took one of Gramps' and stamped it into the patio. It is so precious and such a gift to know that it will always be there. We know Grandpa will be such a big part of this house as well- now it is just really concrete.
THANK YOU MARTY. We will cherish it always and are so grateful for all you have done. 
So many others have come to help. I know that I will not remember you all and if I forgot you, please know that someone else in my family remembers and we are ALL so thankful to each of you. The ways in which you have touched us goes much deeper than the dirt and cement work. We love and pray for each of you. Thanks Olin, Jessie, John, Dan, Kyler, Roger and... Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Nice Ears
A few weeks ago my uncle Dean and aunt Sharon came to visit after taking a trip to Disney World. Check out the great gifts they brought back for Grandma and Grandpa.
I guess you are never too old.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Football Fans
For those of you who don't know- Amy and I LOVE the Packers. (My mom and dad too.) Love may actually not be strong enough, but it will have to do. As you can probably guess- if you follow football- we are really enjoying this season.
On the other hand, my Grandpa (and other members of my family- Lorie...)TRY to love the Vikings. It is not always easy, but I do give them credit for sticking with it. They are not having so much fun this season.
This last weekend, we each cheered for the others team. (I do think Amy and I cheered harder for the Vikings than they did for us- it wasn't our fault that the Vikings beating the Bears is a good thing for us) I thought it would be appropriate to post a picture of us when we are all happy after wins for both our teams. It may not happen too often. It is a good thing football is not what makes us a family that loves each other.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Congratulations to the Pins Family
I was so blessed to be able to go to Sierra Leone along with the Pins Family- Mike, Nancy and their daughters Jen and Katie. Being able to work and play along side each of them was so great for me, but even more so has been the relationship we have developed because of that time. I love this family and when they decided to adopt children from Jonathan House I knew those children would be walking into one of the most living familes they could hope for. Mike and Nancy have received the call that they can now go over and bring Tenneh, Natoma, and Kabba home to Marshalltown. They will be leaving soon and coming home to a household of 6 after being 3 (Jen is in her freshman year at Bethel).
Congratulations Pins. I love you all and am praying for each of you.
Congratulations Pins. I love you all and am praying for each of you.
Long time, No talk
Wow- we have had trouble with our computer for the past few weeks and then this weekend a storm fried our modem- so I finally came to a friend's house (thanks Sandi) in order to give you all an update (for those of you who have stuck with me and are still checking this thing).
So much has happened, I will just touch on a few things. We were able to celebrate my brother Nick's birthday (Jamie's as well) and Grandma Shirley's birthday at the beginning of this month. It was a lot of fun as Grandpa came and sat at the table with us and we were able to have a special day in order to remind Grandma just how much SHE means to us as well.
Just before we had dinner my mom received a call from our cousin Brenda letting us know that her Dad, Uncle Hartly has gone to be with Jesus. It was hard news to receive and yet I know that he was just as excited to be with his Lord as my Gramps is. It was a great weekend with a lot of laughter and tears- I will cherish it, but was glad for the quiet Monday that followed.
I thought about writing about it, but since I don't have much time I am going to cheat and post my mom's email about it. Thanks mom.
Wow, what a weekend!!
Friday night mom, Christie and I traveled to join family members in Duluth at the Visitation for Uncle Hartley. What a neat time of sharing just how much he meant to each one of us. A time of tears, yet joy for him, cuz he is now with Jesus, and a time of laughter as we shared stories from his life. Mom was the representative for both her and dad as they remembered the part their dear brother-in-law played in their lives for over 50 years.
Saturday, mom and several family members stayed with dad while the rest of us went to Uncle Hart’s funeral. They remembered him in their personal way while we were remembering him in a public way that was so fitting for Uncle Hartley! The music, the pictures and the verbal tributes all conveyed just what kind of man Hart was, and how ultimately, it was Jesus who molded him into this wonderful man who reached out and touched so many lives! The title of the slide show was “A Life Well Lived” and oh, how well that describes Uncle Hart!
My dear extended family, in the midst of their own grieving, took time on Sunday to come to visit mom and dad, and what a blessed day it was. Thanks to my dear Shermer family and other precious friends, we had food prepared and Irene and Syvilla served and cleaned so that we would not have to worry about kitchen duties. Eric and Kris had taken pictures at Hart’s Visitation and Funeral, and were able to share them with the group, so mom and dad got to share in that service in this way.
People gathered around mom and dad as he shared about his life at Nett and the great honor bestowed upon him of becoming an honorary member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. How perceptive of my relatives to realize that it is a big deal for many Native Americans to come to Christ after the way they have been treated by the White Man. Why would they want to follow a God who would allow His people to heard the Native People onto reservations, and then come and take away their children and put them in Boarding Schools? Yet, dad was unlike the stereotypical White Man. He came and listened . . . and eventually became one of them. Through this quiet ministry he brought people like Fred Isham, who mistrusted the White Man, to Jesus. Fred was one of the children in a Boarding School – and yet eventually Fred came to Christ and dad baptized Fred and his wife, Ann in a canoe. People were huddled around mom and dad intent on hearing their stories before dad’s voice gave out.
Then we sat in a larger circle and told stories of how dad touched our lives and sang songs about our walk with God. Again lotsa tears and laughter. When it got too teary someone would make sure we got on a light track! I asked if we could sing “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus” cuz that’s what the crowd around dad reminded me of – but when I started the song only mom and dad joined in (shows my age!!!). So Dan said “Let’s sing something we all know” and led out with “Flinstones –meet the Flinstones, they’re a modern, stone-age family”. Yup – tears to laughter in just a few seconds!!
Kris, Hartley’s Daughter-in-law, said that this is one of the blessings of cancer - - we get to pay our tributes now, and have the opportunity to say our good-byes. What an awesome time of sharing together, both in memories, in tribute, in song and finally in prayer. One of the pictures I took while my Mark was speaking shows the words above our cupboards – PRAY and HOPE – and that’s how we are living right now. We are continually in prayer – and we have an awesome hope! Hope that we will again see dad and Uncle Hart and all those who have gone on before us – but more than that, hope that we will one day be with Jesus for eternity!!
As we finished the tributes to dad, Les gave him the song “I can only Imagine”. Yup- we were all crying!! How powerful it way – I do imagine dad there one day, and what a glorious day it will be!! Dad’s parting words were “If I did something right – it was all because of Him (and he pointed up). If I messed up – it was me.”
To God be the Glory,
His servant,
Karen
So much has happened, I will just touch on a few things. We were able to celebrate my brother Nick's birthday (Jamie's as well) and Grandma Shirley's birthday at the beginning of this month. It was a lot of fun as Grandpa came and sat at the table with us and we were able to have a special day in order to remind Grandma just how much SHE means to us as well.
Just before we had dinner my mom received a call from our cousin Brenda letting us know that her Dad, Uncle Hartly has gone to be with Jesus. It was hard news to receive and yet I know that he was just as excited to be with his Lord as my Gramps is. It was a great weekend with a lot of laughter and tears- I will cherish it, but was glad for the quiet Monday that followed.
I thought about writing about it, but since I don't have much time I am going to cheat and post my mom's email about it. Thanks mom.
Wow, what a weekend!!
Friday night mom, Christie and I traveled to join family members in Duluth at the Visitation for Uncle Hartley. What a neat time of sharing just how much he meant to each one of us. A time of tears, yet joy for him, cuz he is now with Jesus, and a time of laughter as we shared stories from his life. Mom was the representative for both her and dad as they remembered the part their dear brother-in-law played in their lives for over 50 years.
Saturday, mom and several family members stayed with dad while the rest of us went to Uncle Hart’s funeral. They remembered him in their personal way while we were remembering him in a public way that was so fitting for Uncle Hartley! The music, the pictures and the verbal tributes all conveyed just what kind of man Hart was, and how ultimately, it was Jesus who molded him into this wonderful man who reached out and touched so many lives! The title of the slide show was “A Life Well Lived” and oh, how well that describes Uncle Hart!
My dear extended family, in the midst of their own grieving, took time on Sunday to come to visit mom and dad, and what a blessed day it was. Thanks to my dear Shermer family and other precious friends, we had food prepared and Irene and Syvilla served and cleaned so that we would not have to worry about kitchen duties. Eric and Kris had taken pictures at Hart’s Visitation and Funeral, and were able to share them with the group, so mom and dad got to share in that service in this way.
People gathered around mom and dad as he shared about his life at Nett and the great honor bestowed upon him of becoming an honorary member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. How perceptive of my relatives to realize that it is a big deal for many Native Americans to come to Christ after the way they have been treated by the White Man. Why would they want to follow a God who would allow His people to heard the Native People onto reservations, and then come and take away their children and put them in Boarding Schools? Yet, dad was unlike the stereotypical White Man. He came and listened . . . and eventually became one of them. Through this quiet ministry he brought people like Fred Isham, who mistrusted the White Man, to Jesus. Fred was one of the children in a Boarding School – and yet eventually Fred came to Christ and dad baptized Fred and his wife, Ann in a canoe. People were huddled around mom and dad intent on hearing their stories before dad’s voice gave out.
Then we sat in a larger circle and told stories of how dad touched our lives and sang songs about our walk with God. Again lotsa tears and laughter. When it got too teary someone would make sure we got on a light track! I asked if we could sing “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus” cuz that’s what the crowd around dad reminded me of – but when I started the song only mom and dad joined in (shows my age!!!). So Dan said “Let’s sing something we all know” and led out with “Flinstones –meet the Flinstones, they’re a modern, stone-age family”. Yup – tears to laughter in just a few seconds!!
Kris, Hartley’s Daughter-in-law, said that this is one of the blessings of cancer - - we get to pay our tributes now, and have the opportunity to say our good-byes. What an awesome time of sharing together, both in memories, in tribute, in song and finally in prayer. One of the pictures I took while my Mark was speaking shows the words above our cupboards – PRAY and HOPE – and that’s how we are living right now. We are continually in prayer – and we have an awesome hope! Hope that we will again see dad and Uncle Hart and all those who have gone on before us – but more than that, hope that we will one day be with Jesus for eternity!!
As we finished the tributes to dad, Les gave him the song “I can only Imagine”. Yup- we were all crying!! How powerful it way – I do imagine dad there one day, and what a glorious day it will be!! Dad’s parting words were “If I did something right – it was all because of Him (and he pointed up). If I messed up – it was me.”
To God be the Glory,
His servant,
Karen
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