Kisses, Hugs and Yahtzee...



My Firecracker....Izzy!



 

Took a sick day today...stomach issues...I won't go into it!!    Instead I will share something else to think about...you know things like kisses, hugs, and Yahtzee...

As you may all know, my Firecracker was at my house this weekend.   I know I seem to dwell a lot on this Gramma thing...but there are so many things I learn and think about in looking through the eyes of a child.  Perhaps I didn't get to think on them as much when my kids were younger...you know with the Gramma gig...you get to experience things and then you have time to reflect on what you shared instead of being like the parents...not much time to think about this "thing" because you have to move on to the next "thing"! 

One of the rituals that Izzy has when she comes to my house is changing the dress on my goose.   This goose was a gift from my sister-in-law Jo and so she has several different outfits for different seasons and events.   The last time Izzy was here and I might have mentioned we put on the rain gear consisting of the fluorescent pink and yellow bikini top, rain slicker, floatee, and the hat.   These could be two different outfits but to Isabel...they are one ensemble.    We kept these for quite a while because Izzy liked it and of course I would always like rain so wanted to be prepared.  

  However, on this last visit she comes and points at the goose and says "hmmm" as if Ahma it is time.  And so she goes and takes the outfit off and marches into my bedroom where she knows the other outfits are put away.   So we go through and decide against the Halloween outfit but we find the little gingham and I think sure this is time for getting out our aprons and putting up goods for the winter...But before the weekend is over she thinks that perhaps we should change again...so we put on the orange Halloween outfit...witch hat and dress.   Except before long she wants it changed back to the rain gear...so there sits the goose now in the entry still hoping for rain!!    I love these little traditions that we are forming without even really thinking about it...

But the memory that sticks with me was when I was in my room getting around and in comes one little Firecracker...yes she can now open my door...and so she comes in and sitting over in the corner is this little blonde haired blue eyed doll that my friend Doris, "Memaw", gave me one year.   The doll is in a BLUE velvet dress in an old fashioned desk.  And most importantly this day is her SHOES!   Usually this doll is on my ledge...but that is another story...
Anyway Izzy comes in and wants to hold the doll and I tell her we have to be careful with her and so she very softly gets down on her knees and starts looking at the doll and talking to her.   And she gently grabs the hands...I tell her shall we call her Isabel to which she gives me a "YA" and I think someday I will probably give that very doll to her just because of this day...(And I think of recent conversations of my family regarding my cousin Kathy having a Chatty Cathy doll and how her getting that doll back many years later still touches her...and I think of Aunt Helen and her dolls...we don't just hand down the dolls but the love and memories that goes with them).

Anyway Izzy starts giving kisses to the doll and I tell her not to give all the kisses to the Isabel doll...she needs to save some for Ahma.   I said you need to save Ahma some and put in your pocket.  To which she seems to grab a kiss from her lips and puts it in her hand.   She then looks at me and says "Ahma, no pocket!"   And then before I can say anything she says, "Purse!"   And she heads for my purse...falls to her knees and proceeds to unzip it.   Once unzipped she throws the kiss in and zips it back up.   She continues playing and then all of a sudden says, "Hugs Ahma!"   And she hugs the Isabel doll and then heads for the purse again and puts the hugs in my purse.   I love her imagination...and just think of this moment.

For some reason though she has now decided to put P-pa's handheld Yahtzee game in my purse as well...to which I hope I remember or I will be busted for stealing old "Op's" Yahtzee...but then the part that just put it in my heart and not my purse all the more is when she runs out to tell her Mom.  In her two year old "language"...she comes out saying, "Kisses, Hugs, ahtzee--Ahma's purse!"   To which her Mom who is pretty good at speaking Izzyease...is thinking a little on this as she has not been in the bedroom observing this whole experience.   And I think...yes these are things that you should keep with you...kisses, hugs, and representing the fun in life and not knowing how the dice will roll but keep on playing...YAHTZEE!

So I stop and cherish this time together...hanging out with my girls...blowing bubbles in our jammies...and I give thanks for these moments.   And as I am hanging out flicking channels I come across Joyce Meyers talking and I listen to her for awhile and she says something about her website to which I feel lead to check out...and I find the following reading that I think is definitely something we should ponder...well for sure me!

by Joyce Meyer

Simplicity: Five Things Little Kids Can Teach You

How many days a week do you feel like life is just too complicated? Even if it isn't, it doesn't take us long to make things complicated. Human beings just have this innate ability to ramp up everything to the next level. I once tried to plan a simple barbecue party...I was going to invite two couples from church, grill hot dogs and hamburgers, and just sit around and fellowship. Sounds good, right?
Well, in one week I managed to turn two couples into 20, buy expensive steaks I couldn't afford and drive my family crazy with a list of chores I was convinced we just had to do before company came over.
Frankly, I just wanted to impress people. And because of it, I had a miserable week—and I made my family miserable too.
What's the simple solution to all of this? I believe the answer is in Luke 18:17: Whoever does not accept and receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] shall not in any way enter it [at all].
Did you notice it says little? As children get older, even they begin to have the ability to complicate things. But when they're really little, there's just none of that.
Little children aren't complicated. They don't live their life trying to impress anyone. And they can teach us a lot about how to enjoy life.

"Multitasking may be popular, but the Bible tells us to give our mind to what we are doing."

Lesson 1: Let Things Go

One thing about children is they are extremely forgiving. One minute they can be fighting over a toy and the next minute they're hugging.
I can tell you that hating people is complicated and it's hard work. You can carry a grudge and be bitter, resentful, mad and offended. And every time you see "that person" you can cringe inside and you can talk about them behind their back—or you can spare yourself the trouble.
Listen, don't waste the rest of your life sulking about some unfair thing that happened to you. Get yourself off your mind…and simplify.

Lesson 2: Be a Dreamer

Another thing children do that makes their lives simple is that they so easily believe. They believe in magic and fairytales. They have no problem coming up with imaginary playmates or imagining life to be amazing and fantastic.
There's a book by John Ortberg called God Is Closer Than You Think. And in it, he writes about a little girl who said she knew Jesus was living in her heart because when she put her hand to her chest, she could feel Him walking around.
Now, we adults know she was just feeling her heartbeat. But that little childlike spirit felt God inside her! And when you think about it, she was right because a beating heart is a sign that life is in you.
As adults, we need to move into the supernatural realm and start dreaming again. We need to create joy in our own lives. It's a right and privilege we have as children of God, but it's a decision we must choose to make.

Lesson 3: Pick Up Your Toys

Some of us can simplify our lives very easily, even without using our imaginations.
For one thing, we can go home and clean up our rooms. Keep the stuff you use and keep the stuff you love. But give away what you're holding on to for someday because odds are when you need it, you won't remember where you put it.

Lesson 4: Focus Your Attention

Another way you can simplify your life is to practice doing one thing at a time. Multitasking may be popular, but the Bible tells us to give our mind to what we are doing (see Ecclesiastes 5:1).

Lesson 5: Ask Your Father

Finally, you can simplify your life just by trusting that God loves you and hears your prayers. Philippians 4:6 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (NIV).
If you want something, ask Him for it. If it's right, He'll give it to you. If it's not, just know He has something better for you in mind.
It really is that simple! I encourage you to stop questioning God with your mind, and start trusting Him with your heart.
Be a little more childlike in your approach to life. Who knows…you may just feel Jesus walking around in your heart.
Happy to Be Me.

---

This article is taken from Joyce's four-part audio series

 http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=simplicity


This seemed to say so much to me...so many lessons that we can learn from children...and so I think I'll let some things go... dream a little...pick up some toys as I pass by the fluorescent dressed goose...focus a little...and ponder and give thanks for these things until I can get another live or is it life lesson..maybe get a kiss and hug out of my purse...And just keep playing this game of life...or Yahtzee!

lyp



More than one way to dress a goose...Firecracker at play...you can't see the bikini top...
who needs Barbie when you got a goose...even though that is a Barbie from when I was a girl...HUSH!

Wise old owl...



Oh ya definitely hey girl nice bike....
love that this one can be pushed so easily...
Firecracker is a bike rider too!

So last night I wanted to go for a bike ride...but it was starting to get dark but still the most beautiful sunset.   The shepherd was good with sandwiches so before supper I hopped on and away I went.   In talking to the shepherd he made me laugh as I told him that he could go with me if he had a "nice bike" too...to which he replied I don't have my four-wheeler here...and so we laugh picturing he and I traveling around me on the bike and he on the atv...but I left him to his solitaire...so I take off singing to myself..."I ride my bike I rollerskate don't drive no car..." I was looking for the song so those of you who have not heard it but you should watch this video...it will make you smile!  Brand New Key sung by Melanie .

Well I hadn't got far down the road and you know how I am fascinated with birds soaring...my Selah...pause and calmly think of that moments.     Right there as I traveled was this beautiful site of a bird soaring in the outline of the sunset.   I was not sure what it was but it landed on the power pole and so I tried to take a picture with my camera phone... okay it is a little blurry maybe but I was riding and if you look close you can see the bird right there on the top of the pole.  The closer I got, I realized it was an owl.  

Owl's fascinate me but must admit that I have childhood issues related to owls...I can remember my brother and I wanting to sleep in the tree house our dad had built us when we lived on the "Baker place".  (Have you noticed how in rural areas or small towns...a lot of places are identified by someone who lived there...sure many others may have came and gone since then but to the locals...it was the "Baker place.")   Anyway I can remember that we had an owl who liked to hang out at night near that old tree and he would get to sharing his old hoot and next thing we knew we would be heading for the house.   But I can remember times my dad would come out and sleep with us...and how I wasn't afraid of any old owl then...just let him try and take on my dad.   Isn't there a lesson to be learned there Lord...perhaps but with our Heavenly Father as well...

As I got closer I couldn't help but watching him as he stood up there in all of his glory for lack of a better word.  It is something how owls have that certain dignity to them...maybe because we have always referred to them as wise...why is an owl the wise one and the turkey not?   But then I think of the owl soaring and staying out of harms way and picture the wild turkeys that seem to live near my daughter's house on the highway in Limon...which makes me laugh how those crazy birds can almost cause a traffic jam...okay back to my BIKE story!!!

Watching the old owl on the pole I try to remember from one of my favorite John Wayne movies...Rooster Cogburn and the Lady.   In the movie Katherine Hepburn spouts a quote about the owl and so in trying to find it...I find a clip from the movie...not the quote I was looking for but put it in all the same... A clip from Rooster Cogburn and the Lady...   Maybe this pair makes me think of Tim and I...don't worry Emily you still have John Wayne at your house!  (A friend Emily writes some entertaining stories on her blog (check out on the right) many containing her husband she lovingly refers to as John Wayne).

Okay here is the poem I was thinking of...

A WISE OLD OWL

A wise old owl lived in an oak

The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard.

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

I am reminded of this on the most wonderful walk I got to take with my friend Mary...but how it can be such a blessing not to be the one always talking (I know something I need to work on).   But being one who listens as well.   Perhaps that is what I love about Mary and I's conversations...we both get to talk and we both get to listen...and sometimes God is telling us both to just listen...and I think of our journey reading the God Calling and what a gift!

So I have to bring this to an end as it is my Firecracker Flex Friday with a twist!   I had to work a little this morning but now Firecracker and her mama are headed my way and we are going to lunch...and you know how I love to listen to those two!    Have a great weekend...

Imagine that?   Here it is Sunday night and I never made it back here...so I decide to add a little more and then stick it up.   Had a great time with my "girls".    We took in Fiesta and must say Izzy loves the vermicelli!  And as we were sitting there, we were talking about something and I have noticed how Izzy seems to be part of the conversation...she is starting to try and speak in sentences...but what I love is how she will pull out the highlight words and just go off sometimes in her own little conversation.  And like her Ahma she sometimes cracks herself up!

Anyway now I can't remember what we were talking about...I just remember thinking how this had went with what I had said earlier...NOW I remember!    We were discussing Izzy's mean red rooster.   She does not seem to be a fan of it and has said "mean"!   I love to hear her say as we do sing the Taylor Swift "Mean" song...anyway I said are you scared of him.   And she seemed to think on that for a bit as if trying to maybe think of what "scared" was.   Then she looked at me and without blinking said, "No Granddad."  I remember thinking of the owl...and how I wasn't afraid just as Izzy there with her Daddy's Daddy was not either!   How we should all have that faith that if our "Father" is with us no matter what is there...we should not be afraid...how Izzy coming down the stairs with her mom saying, "careful, careful, careful" with each step...(okay so I have done this for some time that we say careful on each step and once we hit the bottom we say..."CRAZY!"   I had left one little girl sitting on the stool with the new toothbrush I was letting her use.   Anyway while I ran upstairs to get her clothes...I all of a sudden hear this little, "careful, careful" and I come out and coming up the stairs is one little fearless Firecracker with a toothbrush and Yahtzee game in one hand while she is slapping the stairs with the other...")  But the example I was wanting to include was seeing Izzy and her mama coming down the stairs...hand in hand with Izzy saying, "careful" on each step but clearly showing no fear at all while she is holding on to that hand...but reminds me of the faith of a child!



Uncle Lance on the skid...



I loved having both my kids here this weekend...worked on some projects with Heather while Tim and Lance got some projects of their own done as well...Also got some lunch in today with the Great Grand Pfeiff's back at Fiesta...as we were leaving Firecracker started singing one of her songs handed down to her from her grandmother...okay her AHMA taught her and she loves Ray Charles singing, "Hit the road jack don't you come back no more no more no more..."   Well she breaks out in song and starts dancing.  Her Uncle Lance as she called him this weekend instead of LaLa...says that sometimes she just gets overtaken by Ahma...I am sure he meant that with the most love and affection!!   I laugh and say poor child has Ahma, Mama, Daddy, P-Pa, Granddad, Grammy, LaLa, Aunt Aum, all dancing around inside her...no wonder she is such a "crazy girl"...you know how we love her...

Such a great weekend and so while I did not get in a bike ride today...the shepherd did put my bell on...BUT did push one little Firecracker on her bike for awhile...



 lyp



Hey girl nice bike...

For those that don't know...the valley in the fall can be almost perfect weather...and this beautiful weather and procrastination from all summer...I tell myself that during this last week I was going to get the tires aired up on my bike.   Those of you might recall I got my Schwinn Cruiser for Christmas.   It was a gift from Heather, Jay, and Izzy that brought tears at the time.   And probably could again.  

As a young girl I remember buying my first Schwinn as I lived in Palmer Lake...well actually at the time, I was "Penny Weese Wance living at Wake Wodge in Pawmer Wake, Cowowado."   It could be perhaps some form of child abuse making a little girl who can't say her "L's" live in such a place.   No, I cherish memories of Wake Wodge.    ANYWAY this truly is a bike riding story...but that first Schwinn was blue with training wheels.   Oh sure it was used but you couldn't tell.   I think I may have been 3 or 4 years old.   But I can still remember sitting at the table next door to Lake Lodge at the Italian restraunt and somehow that was where the deal was made.   With my dad sitting at the table with me.  But I bought that blue Schwinn with my own money...$10.  (Other than it almost seems that there was a hat or something passed around Lake Lodge for maybe even this very purchase...that memory is a little more hazy). 

However, I more than got my money's worth out of that bike...riding it around on the dance floor with our family friend Ernie running after me and our dog running behind.   I can picture this memory as though almost I am someone on the outside looking in.   Ernie was in the armed forces and was to be married and was killed in a car wreck on the way to see his bride to be...and I sometimes wonder since I cannot remember names and wonder what happened to his bride and little girl...

My New Blue Schwinn...from Heather, Jay, and Izzy

And the old blue Schwinn even survived a few years with my brother Shane...you have to realize though that Shane gave the bike a whole different life!   It had to jump, and who knows what all...so as you can tell, I had some great attachment to that old blue Schwinn!    So when Heather and Jay and my Firecracker gave me this new blue Schwinn for Christmas WITH the bell...it was a touching gift in deed.

So when I figured out that it was missing a screw/bolt type thing on the back fender I didn't know if I should return the bike or just try to get the part.   Needless to say....I kept the bike in my entry way for many months.   And instead of acting I just left it sit there.   Summer came and there was my bike...but it was awfully hot and I have to say I might be a fair weather biker...I do not bike in 100 degree weather!   Needless to say I missed probably many good opportunities to ride.   But I guess if it can take 9 months to have a baby...

And I think of Izzy's other "Grammy"...Jay's mama.   Maryann is a bike rider and her daughter has compared her to Mary Poppins on  her bike.  She has told me that she only has so many bike rides and so many a time she will head to Fort Collins saying she is going for a bike ride.  I love the story where some friends said they wanted to go for a ride with Maryann.   She wearing whatever she happened to be wearing that day and the others in more bike riding attire if you will.   Well I take it that Maryann was told to take the lead...but I love to hear Autumn tell the story making her sound as if she is Mary Poppins.  Well I think the others might have been a little suprised as it turns out that they might have had a little bit of a hard time keeping up with Grammy!    So I need to get in condition that I could maybe make part of a bike ride someday when Izzy might want to go with her "crazy" old Grandma's.   I didnt come up with that..."my favorite son-in-law" seemed to make references to us being crazy...I have no idea what he was talking about!

Thanks for being patient as I get back to my story of my new blue bike.  I wanted to get it going this week for some reason...don't ask me why...but there is some beautiful days as I might have mentioned earlier...and perhaps like Firecracker's other Grammy...maybe I only have so many bike rides in me.

So yesterday, I talk the shepherd into airing up my tires and even though the screw is not fixed...I sent an e-mail to Schwinn today...I went for a ride.   WELL...I must say it is a smoking cruiser!   I took off on a ride and thought this is why I loved riding a bike.   I seemed to make the half mile down the road easy and headed back.   It was a great ride.   So tonight, I couldnt wait to get home from work and go for a ride...and yes I made the mile ride and had to keep going.   I of course still need to get the bell put on...you might remember my favorite commercial...Schwinn Magic Bell commercial



While traveling down the road...



Well you might be wondering why I titled this as I did.   But...it goes back to my granddaughter and her "boyfriend".    Yes I am not sure about a 2 year old and a 21 year old but I guess if she loves him we have to as well!   Anyway Tyler when we are out riding around together has been known to say, "Hey girl nice bike!"   Maybe sometimes he might tell anyone on a bike that.   But Izzy loves when he does this and now there is a little girl sitting in the backseat who will say, "Hey girl nice bike!" if the windows happen to be down.   She did it the other day when  her and her mom were somewhere...but it is another treasured memory I want to keep track of...as I ride along on my NICE BIKE...



And I play with another Christmas gift...Photo Shop from Lance...I think I will love it if I figure it out!!
Me on my bike...took this myself with my phone...AS I WAS RIDING!   Can you tell?





and of course I say..."wanna ride a bike"!

lyp

Are you ready for the game...

And I pull this off the shelf as I sit here listening to the rain come pouring down...and I breathe it in as we have so needed the rain...beautiful music to my ears...a beautiful site to behold.   I give thanks that God has blessed us and I decide to finish this up...

So I was away from my kitchen table...made it up to Ag Day in Fort Collins where yes CSU did win against UNC.  Yay Rams...I will have another blog perhaps of the weekend...but for now...another seems to prod...

Ag Day 2011...Izzy Sheridan...CSU fan...

So this morning I read the devotionals from Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  And I read the following in My Utmost for His Highest...from September 10th...(please note these were I think originally written in 1935 by Oswald Chambers...so I do not know what "crisis" he was speaking of....okay I get ahead of myself...

Missionary Munitions

"When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

John 1:48

We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the big crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of, it will not put anything into us. "If God gives the call, of course I will rise to the occasion." You will not unless you have risen to the occasion in the workshop, unless you have been the real thing before God there. If you are not doing the thing that lies nearest, because God has engineered it; when the crisis comes instead of being revealed as fit, you will be revealed as unfit. Crises always reveal character.

The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness. The time comes when there is no more "fig-tree" life possible, when it is out into the open, out into the glare and into the work, and you will find yourself of no value there if you have not been worshipping as occasion serves you in your home. Worship aright in your private relationships, then when God sets you free you will be ready, because in the unseen life which no one saw but God you have become perfectly fit, and when the strain comes you can be relied upon by God.

"I can't be expected to live the sanctified life in the circumstances I am in; I have no time for praying just now, no time for Bible reading, my opportunity hasn't come yet; when it does, of course I shall be all right." No, you will not. If you have not been worshipping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.

And the past weekend so brings home CRISIS...on Friday it was six months since we lost Jay.   Something that plays on our thoughts and minds...but it was Firecracker Flex Friday and so a good day as well.   But I think of going through this process this CRISIS and I am thankful that I had started my time at my kitchen table...time of reflection....of study...of prayer.    Then when Mary and I began the God Calling...it was as though it was being accelerated in my time...and I am no way saying that I was prepared for what occurred...but I do say that the Lord had helped me be in a better place than I would have been a year ago...and I think of preparing ourselves and sitting under our fig tree...my fig tree being my kitchen table...

So my brother calls after I have read these and I am talking of my fig tree I guess...I really do not know how it came about but we had not talked about that much and he says how he had heard this guy talking about it being easier in the locker room or practicing...than when you are out in the game!    I laughed and said okay okay I am hearing it...because he had no more said that and he had to go.   Do you think God made him call me just to tell me that....could be...

But then Sunday was the tenth anniversary of September 11th.   And I realize that one can say that date and everyone knows what it is...what they were doing...but do we all reflect and remember that time.   I was flicking through channels...(something I do...I suppose my bike riding on the radio...used to make the shepherd crazy when I would change the radio stations all the time...and now he does it...go figure)...anyway I heard this tribute and when I try to find it, I realize that there were more broadcasts on this subject...however the one I heard was September 12th... Link to hear Focus on the Family broadcast...   It has some parts that really make you reflect on this CRISIS...of those who were hero's...those that were prepared...but most as with Jay that 9th day of March...did not know that this day would be a different day...and so I think on being prepared...they ask a question of how many that woke up those mornings knew it was going to be their last...We do not know how our day will be...but are we ready no matter what it entails...and so I include the next day's My Utmost For His Highest...

Missionary Munitions

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet."

John 13:14

Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means being very selectly God's in any haphazard surroundings which He engineers for us. The characteristics we manifest in our immediate surroundings are indications of what we will be like in other surroundings.

The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God's power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary sordid things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty as it ought to be done.

"I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you." Watch the kind of people God brings around you, and you will be humiliated to find that this is His way of revealing to you the kind of person you have been to Him. Now, He says, exhibit to that one exactly what I have shown to you. 

Oh," you say, "I will do all that when I get out into the foreign field." To talk in this way is like trying to produce the munitions of war in the trenches - you will be killed while you are doing it.

We have to go the "second mile" with God. Some of us get played out in the first ten yards, because God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say - "I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis." If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.

So I think on these things on how there is more to this life than just this day to day...There is a big picture that we only see parts...but I want to be ready for the crisis when it comes...and so then I include the God Calling that seems to tie in with this...and for some reason this starts to change around and the words of being killed seem to haunt me...how I have come to hate that word...but I have peace in knowing that Jay was ready...no he didn't say I want to go...but he was ready should that time come...something we all need to be able to say...

September 9 - Cultivate  --  Yourself

In Thy Strength we conquer.

Yes! Your conquering Power you gain from Me. There can be no failure with me. The secret of success then is Life with Me.

Do you want to make the best of life? Then live very near to Me, the Master and Giver of all Life.

Your reward will be sure. It will be perfect success, but My success.

Sometimes the success of souls won, sometimes the success of disease cured, and devils cast out. Sometimes the success of a finished sacrifice as on Calvary. Sometimes the success of one who answered never a word in the face of the scorn and torture and jeering cries of his enemies, or the success of a Risen Savior as He walked through the Garden of Joseph of Arimathea on that first Easter morning.

But My success. The world may deem you failures. The world judges not as I judge.

Bend your knees in wonder before My revelation. The joy of seeing Spiritual Truths is a great Joy. When the Heavens are opened and the Voice speaks, not to all hearts, but to the faithful loving hearts.

Remember your great field of labor is yourself. That is your first task, the weeding, the planting, digging, pruning, bearing fruit. When that is done I lead you out into other fields.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
 manifest the savior of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

There was a story on the Focus tribute...and it talked of a man whose life was spared...and his son asked him what are you going to do with the rest of your life?   There is a reason we are all here...a purpose...we can choose to ignore...or we can listen and learn...and get out in the game...out from under our fig tree...YES PENNY away from your kitchen table...

Are you ready for the game?
Firecracker and P-pa putting on sunscreen...


Don't be caught sleeping...

God bless you Firecracker!!

And the rain picks up and I breathe it in and listen and know God is with us even in our tears..

lyp

Goodbye to summer...

Labor day is supposed to be the end of summer...oh sure there are more days until fall officially begins but it was as though with Labor Day weekend coming...summer said I GIVE!   The weather cooled off and it felt like fall might actually come...you know it has been hot when a two year old steps outside and says, "Not hot!   Nice!"   Yes, I realize this is Colorado...we are not done with hot...but the cool was a welcome change and break from the heat...

Was a great weekend.  It started on Friday afternoon with a trip to Red Rocks to see Alison Krauss and Union Station...was a great concert...Her voice is amazing and in the Red Rocks setting was soo good.  This concert was a gift from our kids for our 30th wedding anniversary...I highly recommend if you get a chance to go.  I took a pic with my phone so it really doesn't do it justice...but was so cool when Jerry Douglas...who I was thinking some sort of guitar...but it was actually a resonator guitar (a guitar on steroids!)...(thanks Kimmy:)   Anyway they were having tech issues at the beginning and he played the National Anthem with only him on the stage...amazing sound.   I am thinking as a musician that would be an amazing experience...(I have decided when I turn 50 going to work on playing guitar...and I want to play just like him...I say set your goals HIGH!)

Then the final songs by Alison were so good...of course my favorite..."When you say nothing at all"..."Down to the River to pray"...and not sure exact title..."Reason for it all".   And funny how those last two songs had been part of my week prior so were extra beautiful.   A rain had came through before the concert so had the freshness of the air...(well until it took on a little different aroma...a very diverse crowd)...but you could see the lightning off in the distance...the weather was what you might call perfect!  Not too hot--not too cold--JUST RIGHT.   My cousin Vonnie was also there with her hubby, daughter, and mama for her birthday...I am sure a happy birthday for her!  Who had also offered me a ticket...so I am sure I was definitely meant to go...But the weekend didn't end there...



We headed east for Limon with Heather...yes she probably got the short straw...as Lance got to go north! :)   Had to stop along the way for bathroom stop and so picked up some munchies for the trip home...must have been something in the air...ANYWAY...spent the night at Heather's where Aunt Aum and Izzy were hanging out!   Aunt Aum had met us in Denver and her Izzy headed to Limon earlier...Izzy was excited about "May" Aunt Aum's dog going with them...and time with her auntie!   When talking about this Izzy replied, "Fun!"     Iz did get to have dinner with us...Aunt Aum was over on the right and Uncle LaLa on the left...but like I said was using the phone camera and it can sometimes be iffy...so some were a little fuzzzzy and this expression here is one that I have seen before perhaps from her Daddy!  Like what exactly are you doing now Auma!

Izzy and her Mama at the Black Eyed Pea!

Like I said we spent the night and so the next day decided to head for Colorado Springs...do some shopping and get us some Fargo's pizza...had a great day with Firecracker and her mama!   Was so funny watching Miss Izzy shop...She found something she liked and so she told her mom, "fit, size, and threw it in the cart..."   Her mom found her a "blue" shirt and some jeans...that I have to say made her look way too big!

P-pa and I headed on home Saturday night and then Sunday was around home...moved furniture and some laundry in the afternoon...and then the kids had went to cousin Keri's so Izzy could play with her "brothers"--Peyton and Mason.   Think they enjoyed and then they showed up to our house about midnight or so...However, Sunday morning I got the following text with the caption..."Who do we look like in this goat outfit?"   OH this would be a Peanut...her daddy's girl definitely!   Cammo pants and boots and our favorite t-shirt even if it was too big...This just makes me smile...quite the attire for doing our goat chores!

Time to tend to the goats...Daddy's Peanut for sure!

So Monday morning...Labor Day...I spent some time at my kitchen table...and then I heard..."Auma" and some little Firecracker talking to her mama...so they come down and she wanted me and I must say I got the most wonderful morning love...and then we decided to go find some breakfast.   In case I haven't mentioned before Izzy LOVES eggs!   So decided to make her eggs in a nest...this was always a treat growing up...if you don't know what it is...you cut out a circle in the bread which you butter and grill and put an egg in the middle and then you have the middle round piece as toast...but while cooking...Firecracker took her place where she likes to HELP...I dedicate Alison Krauss', "I Will" (okay maybe a little group called the Beatles might have sang...but love this version...)  I Will sang by Alison Kraus   "Love you Forever...and forever...love you with all my heart...love you whenever we're together...love you when we're apart..."


Love you sweet Izzy...making eggs in the nest...on Auma's counter...
with our blue fingers and toes (thanks to Grandad and Aunt Aum)


So then Labor Day...P-pa and Izzy were out for a drink as well as the boys...Tyler and Lance helping her get ready to head for the Big City of Pueblo...She has her some boys that love her lots...and she thinks quite a bit of all of them...

Did I say I love these two...Izzy and P-Pa!!

Uncle LaLa smiling and Our boyfriend Tyler...(quite the expression)
Trying to adjust pants that didn't have a band...

So yes it was a wonderful weekend...Labor not too much...but we did change the old goose costume...so not real fall attire but Izzy wanted to put her bright yellow and pink rain coat on the goose and since we could use some rain...we put Miss Goose's (This is one of our favorite things to do is change the clothes on the goose)...anyway we put her bikini top on and raincoat and hat and a floatation device...so me and the Firecracker say COME ON RAIN!!  

Hope you all had a good one as well...and I give thanks!!   Boy I am falling behind on blogging as it seems I have all kinds of stories floating in my head...hoping to maybe get some high speed internet...then LOOK OUT WORLD...!!   lyp