Last Week

 Monday when I rode horses with Jewel, there wasn't a drop of wind. It was a nice change after the last few windy days; and it was beautiful. This mirror reflection caught Jewel's eye.

We promptly turned around to check out the lake.

Idk if I would know up from down except for the few blades of grass in the bottom left. This was stunning.

Our world is so beautiful and peaceful. God is awesome.

This was Tuesday; these two did a 4w ride. Brandi goes nutso when the 4w is around. Good exercise for her. She gets pretty fat & sassy over winter.

Wednesday visitors on a cloudy windy but warm day. So glad littles like the 4w too. Love this grin!

Removing trampoline debris from the roof.

Made much progress this week wrapping Christmas gifts. I enjoy this.

Yesterday Kaitlyn brought Clay over for awhile. Was so good to have him here again!

Jewel rode after her school & jobs were done. 

Ino Dad doesn't understand why I'm obsessed with taking px of kids and horses, but that's ok. Idk that I understand either. Maybe bc I wanted this as a kid and didn't have the opportunity; I love love love seeing my kids and all kids enjoying this blessing of country life. 

Plus our horses are so pretty.

A novel way to deliver laundry.

Friday was busy! So busy that I didn't get to go skating with Sarah, Jewel, and Josh... and these two cutests! Glad A. Sarah brought them so they can start to learn to skate. From all reports I got, they did great!

And the smiles indicate that they were having fun, so... hopefully it happens again when I can go 😊

A crowd came for homemade pizza and to hang out awhile; then Dad & I & Lucy took off to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.

And that was the end of that week, blink 😳

Life Beyond The Pictures - December 2021

Well, we don't do a Steiner Connection in December, but I've really appreciated the written journal records of life lately from the other updates I've copied here from the SC so decided to do a quick update to keep the pattern consistent. Here goes.

I don't think I can say life has slowed down any; but since applesauce and dried apples are finally done, things have seemed a bit calmer. Wedding planning is pretty much done; good thing because the action starts tomorrow morning. Wedding showers were nice but five showers in ten days made for a busy season.  House is ready for the newlyweds, and Jacob's basement bedroom is almost empty. Clothes are ironed and ready for px tomorrow. Everything's ready for the rehearsal dinner except final setup which we're doing tonight. I've had some time to do Christmas shopping and wrapping; I'm waiting on a few more gifts to arrive then I can cross that off the list too. I've been cutting squares for my next denim comforter, and I've been playing piano a little more, and I've done a couple puzzles. So has life slowed down? Well, yes and no. Seems like there's not as much pressure as there used to be; but there is still plenty to do. I'm never bored. The list is still endless; but instead of apples that will spoil, it's Oreo Balls and cheesecake that I *really* don't need anyway. Especially with kids/grandkids bopping in every other day or so, days just fly. I love it. I love the busy days, and I love the quiet days of Josh & me when everyone else is gone working at 360. Yep, you read that right. Everyone here is employed at 360 except for Josh and me. It's a good place to work and I'm glad they all enjoy their jobs. School is going well. College kids got all A's (I think). Levi is way busy at CIT, and Jesse is way busy at Rheo. Tori is busy with the rest of the 360 crew. Jacob - well - he's getting married in two days and is more than ready. It's been a super busy engagement and he's been drinking too much Mt. Dew. Kaitlyn is D.O.N.E. with the classroom/lecture/professor/assignment/campus part of college and excited to start student teaching in January. I'm pretty excited for her too. It's been a challenging journey for her and I couldn't be more glad for her. Ben finished his last college exam and headed for FL for a week; he got home this morning, went to bed, and I haven't seen him yet. SJJ (otherwise known as The Three Littles) just keep on keepin' on with school, jobs, and things around here. Sarah got an A in her first college class and is technically done with HS as she's only doing ICC next semester (dual credit). All animals are well, although Diamond is getting older and her days are numbered. That will be a sad day which we won't think too much about yet. Brandi is winter fat and lazy. Tim & I are thankful for each day together, for each of our kids/grandkids, for the blessings of friends/extended family, and for health, strength, and energy (sometimes lacking) to do all God asks us to do.

And that's that for this time around. Time to move on.

Sunday

 Beautiful day worshipping at church then home for a snack,

and a walk.

Ben and his friends enjoyed worshipping with our Ft. Lauderdale congregation. From the little we've heard from him, they had a great week; and, as I'm working on this post, they're en route home. 

l-r: Daniel, Andrew, Ben, Matthew, Lucas.

Christmas program was that evening. Kids did great as always and it is almost unbelievable that we have a granddaughter old enough to be in the program. Where do the years go, huh?

Kaiser Christmas 2021

 Really good that so many were able to make it to Kaiser Christmas last Saturday evening.

Thanks Grandpa & Grandma and U. Jerry & A. Marcia for another wonderful Christmas!

Summer Storm in December

 Last Thursday - unseasonably warm.

And beautiful.

Older three boys and Flint picked up a couch for us while Echo, Kiowa, and Josh went to the Christmas program practice and some went to choir. Lucy, Jason, and Travis hung out here with Dad & me.

Josh is such a good uncle. He was glad that Friday morning he didn't have to share his nephews!

Friday night our warm weather collided with a cold something or other and created quite a storm. 85 mph winds in Tremont, tornadoes south (which Ben got too close for comfort to as he & his buddies drove to FL), and a waterfall in our basement.

Saturday morning our yard had a new look 😕

Windows had a new look too - they were covered with brown raindrop stains. Evidently the wind/rain picked up a fair amount of dirt from the bare fields and deposited the dirt on my windows😕. Something we don't see with true summer storms bc fields aren't bare. So my awesome youngest girls helped me spontaneously wash all the windows. And they look great again! I have this thing about windows; I tend to get grouchy when they're dirty. And most of my job description lands me inside, but I like the beautiful outside. Thus, clean windows are important to me.

Anyway.

 'Twas a beautiful afternoon.

And, while we're thankful our damage was so minimal - barely mentionable - we grieve for those in the paths of the tornadoes who have suffered such great loss and sorrow. May they feel God's comfort, presence, and abundant grace.