Sunday's Snow Adventures

Sunday's afternoon temperatures were just perfect for getting outdoors after some quiet time.  We had already spent the morning at church and had visited Grandma Elizabeth.  

Eliza is trying to hit Daddy with a snowball.

At first they did a little sledding down the hill from the garage to the sand pile.  But then we got out the 4-wheelers.  Both of them.  Double the fun!

Still trying to hit Daddy.  

Eden had a blast!

Eliza used the loader bucket as her secret spot to make snowballs.

Ephraim pulling Eden.  Emmet on Seth's 4-wheeler (NOT pulling anyone).  

Daddy getting ready to go fast!

And get stuck in a drift.  

Ephraim pulling Eden & Eliza.  

Trying to get un-stuck.

Having too much fun!

Showing off for the camera :)

Eden trying to hit me with a snowball.

Emmet pulling the girls.

Seth with the girls  . . . ready to give them a good ride.  

We took one round like this, just me and the girls while Ephraim pulled us.  

And then the boys enjoyed a ride together.  I was pulling them.  I was able to successfully throw them off the sled at least twice.  They loved EVERY minute of it!

Later in the evening we went to Seekers in Sneakers.  They were having a Super Bowl Party.  Thankfully, they allowed us to come even though we didn't know who was playing.  We had a good time playing games with the other children who came.  

We did miss the game, the commercials and the half time show.  That's just the way I like it.  I'm not sure any of it was worth it.  I won't get on my soapbox, but it is hard to imagine how "we" could spend so much money on one game and how that money could be better spent giving clean drinking water to the poorest places around the world.  Or administering life-sustaining medicines to the starving.  

  

Despite that, I think there was one commercial worth viewing again and again.  

 This one commercial from Dodge.  God Made A Farmer.  Check it out.  

Makes me proud to be raised on a farm and raising my children on a farm.  

4-wheeler + Snow + Sled + 4 children & a mom

Saturday morning found the kids and I at home, looking longingly at the snow.  The temperature was just right to be outside.  Seth was busy trucking.  It would be up to me and the children to get the 4-wheeler started and going.  We could do it.  And we did.  We hooked up one sled to the 4-wheeler and a fun time was had by everyone!

Emmet pulling Eliza.  Many thanks to Grandma Twyla for the colorful scarves.   They make it easy to distinguish who is who from a distance.  

Eden waiting her turn.  

Ephraim pulling Eden.  

Ephraim with Emmet on the sled.  

Eliza waiting her turn.  

Emmet pulling Ephraim.  You can almost hear them say "Go faster" but Seth has it governed out so they can only go so fast.  It's safer that way.  

You can't tell, but the girls were pouting big time here.  They were learning a hard lesson in patience and taking turns.  

Going two at a time.  That's about all that 4-wheeler can pull!

It is heart-warming to hear their thrills of excitement!

Oh, now it's my turn with Ephraim on the 4-wheeler.  

And then Emmet wanted to pull me.  

Just waiting, patiently.  

Emmet pulling me and Eliza.  I have to admit, it was fun!

Emmet and Eliza . . . and a cat.  Our hay field was the perfect location for this.  It was mostly flat with a turn at the bottom.  There were no obstacles for the boys to weave around.  Riding on the sled was a bit rough if you hit a cow pie or some random corn cobs from the adjacent corn field, but all in all, we had a wonderful time together.  Just 90 minutes outside does a world of good for the children.  We need to take advantage of our snow while we can.  Seems like warmer weather and rain is on the way again.  Not gonna complain, we need the moisture, but we do like our winter activities, too.

When they're having a good time, I'm having a good time.    

2012 MBV Champion

If you see this man . . . .tell him "Congratulations."

Why?

He's been named Barker Implement's 2012 MBV Champion.  

What's that?

MBV stands for Managing By Values.  

It means going above and beyond your job description.  

Going the extra  mile.  

Essentially, he is their one and only Employee of the Year.  

Out of 300 employees.  

That's quite an honor.  

And very humbling.  

How'd he get it?  

Each quarter, each of the 8 Barker Implement stores pick a MBV Employee.  

At the end of the year, each store has 4 MBV Employees.  

They pick one of the four to represent their store at the state meeting.  

There are 8 stores, each with an MBV Employee who is eligible for the MBV Champion.  

A committee decides on the one Champion from the eight.  

This year it was Arlin.  

What'd he win?

A nice coat.  

Gift Cards.

And . . .(drumroll please) . . . his picture on the wall by the men's restroom.  

Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man."

Facebook Photo

I knew that Seth was taking a photo of me.  

What I didn't know was what he was doing it with it . . . posting it on Facebook with the caption "Sexy."  Thanks, honey!   I'm flattered.  

At least I was warm in my boots, Carhartts, gloves, scarf and hat!   

All kidding aside, we had a fun time in the afternoon with the boys' 4-wheeler and the sleds.  It is fun to be outside, right beside them, listening to their excitement and laughter.  

Our week, January 27 to February 2, 2013

Sunday, January 27, 2013

We went to bed Saturday night, having a pretty good idea that if the meteorologists were right, we would not be making it to church.  And we were right.  If there had been church, we weren't going.  Not going to risk it by driving on ice!  We had breakfast pizza for breakfast, roast and potatoes for lunch and then supper was homemade biscuits and gravy and pancakes.  It was a relaxing day as a family.  We played games and watched a movie or two.  We did slip and slide outside to do chores since the animals are depending on us, despite the weather and temperature.  

Seth gave the Bible lesson from 1st Kings about Micaiah.  

The lesson was about the importance of telling the truth.  

Also pictured is the Apostle's Creed, which I'm teaching the children to memorize.  

Monday, January 28, 2013

We visited with Seth's Grandma Elizabeth this evening.  She's in the hospital recovering from having a blood clot in each lung.  A very serious situation but we're thankful that she's on the mend.  Despite the weather, we were able to visit on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.    

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Seth had free tickets to the Farm Power Show in Des Moines.  It was a boys day out for him.  A good time was had by all three of them.  On the way home, they stopped at Bass Pro and were just in time for the fish feeding.   

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

We got an inch of rain in the past day or so.  Then it turned to sleet and later snow.  We spent the day home as a family.  We had school, baked cookies, played outside a bit and chored the animals.

With the snow, the children were thrilled to get outside.  Here they are, all bundled up!

We got  probably 6 inches of snow.  The moisture is much needed.  The wind and the zero degree temperatures make winter less desirable, but we'll take the good with the bad for now.  

Thursday, January, 31,2013 

I'm taking a class through our local extension office called Annie's Project.  You can read about it here.  I've heard about the class in the past, but it has never worked for me to take it.  Now was the time.  It is for 6 weeks and I'm super excited about all that I will learn.  Our second week was all about fencing laws, lease agreements and estate planning.  It was very informative to say the least.  There's a lot to know about your fencing, what the neighbor is required to do and not do, and what the law says about habitual offenders who have livestock out all the time, or at least 3 times in year.   The links above are for Iowa State's Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation.  

 Friday, February 1, 2013

Working on another Pilgrim craft at the kitchen table.  

We also visited Grandma in the hospital and made a trip to the library.  

Saturday, February 2, 2013

The children and I got out the sled and their little 4-wheeler for some fun in the snow.  We were out for about an hour and the boys did an EXCELLENT job driving the 4-wheeler.  They went nice and slow and kept an eye out for their passengers.  

Ephraim and Eden

Emmet and Eliza

Of course, there will be a whole post about this, so stay tuned.  

Our week, January 20 to January 26, 2013

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Sunday was a busy church day for us.  The girls and I had nursery duty.  We also helped serve coffeetime, visited for a few minutes with our marriage speaker from the day before, and then I had to teach Sunday School.  Ephraim also had to sing with his class for both services.  The photo is of his group singing while I watched from the nursery tv.  

Monday, January 21, 2013

Monday was a State holiday for me.  My sister also had the day off and her children didn't have school.  It was a great day to get together at her house and make freezer meals!  From about 10:30 until 3pm we worked in the kitchen.  We made 4 Creamy Chicken Casseroles, 4 Chicken Roll-Up meals, 4 Pizza Burgers and 4 Roasts in marinade.  And then we finished up with 90 Twice-Baked Potatoes.  The photo above is just the half that I came home with.  

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I just finished this book, Last Man Out.   It's a true story about an Iowa man who survived as a Prisoner of War in WWII.  What a story.  I think it is important to read something like this so that we don't forget the horrors, the wickedness of war.  Many of the men at this prison camp didn't survive and they were tortured beyond comprehension.  At times, it was a difficult book to read.  We need to be thankful for the men who have fought for our country and we cannot forget them or their sacrifices.   

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

With some freezing temperatures outside, it has be the boys' job to make sure the cattle waterer doesn't freeze during the day.  A couple times a day we go out to check it.  We break the ice if it is frozen and pour hot water on it.  

Thursday, January 24, 2013

A new look for our living room window.  Previously, we've had the shades and a valance.  Well, after our recent "incident" I wanted something with a bit more privacy over the window.  Something to cover the cracks between the shades.  I was lucky enough to find some sheer curtains in the same color as the shades at the Pella Thrift Store for $8.  Sweet.  

Friday, January 25, 2013

Our American History unit has us reading about the Pilgrims right now.  The children are loving it and I'm learning some new stuff, too.  I found some online crafts for the children to do.  So far we've mapped the Mayflower route, built a ship, studied the New World/Old World and built an Indian Village and an English Village.  

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Ephraim on the ice.  Yes, I was a bit nervous but we drilled the ice to see how thick it was and we were safe.  He wasn't doing anything too crazy and he kept the 4-wheeler under control the whole time. You can't see the edge but it's just to the left of the 4-wheeler and he never went out in the middle.  Meanwhile . . . 

. . . . Emmet lighting a fire around the pond.  Yes, I was a bit nervous but the adult/child ratio was 1:1 so we were safe here, too.  Overall, it was a pleasant January day to be outside.  We just spent the afternoon at Seth's parents so we could feed cows and light the fire around the pond.  

Farewell

Friday, January 4, 2013 was the funeral visitation for Seth's Grandpa Elmer.  It was a full two hours of shaking hands, receiving hugs and talking with many friends, family, church members and neighbors.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day . . . " 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

A nice bouquet of flowers from Elmer's only living sibling, Marvin.  

I took more pictures at the visitation, but mostly to send to faraway family members who couldn't be present.  If you are one of those, and you want the pictures, let me know.  I did put them together in a memory photo book for Elizabeth, Marvin and Arlin.  I can always order more.  Taking pictures at a visitation and funeral seems a bit unorthodox, but I wanted to remember the moment.  I wanted my children to have something to look back on and remember.  

After the visitation, the family was able to enjoy a meal together.  Here is Paul reading some emails from faraway cousins who wrote about their memories with "Uncle Elmer" and the farm.

The funeral was very fitting and gave the glory to God for Elmer's life.

"Elmer was good to his faith and it was good to him.  Elmer was good to his family and his family was good to him.  Elmer was good to the farm and the farm was good to him."

A yummy luncheon with cousins.  

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . ."  Psalm 37: 3-7.  

Michelle played the prelude and postlude on the organ.  

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children . . ."  Psalm 103:17

At the cemetery.  Saturday, January 5, 2013 was a chilly day with a south wind.  Elmer will be buried by his parents and his brother/sister-in-law.  They have one tombstone for the six of them.  

Good-lookin' brothers!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  Matthew 5:8

Eliza was pretty smitten by the plant with the birdie.  Thankfully, it was from Grandma Donna's work and she allowed us to take it home.  

Seth and I.  

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8.  

We were able to come home with some roses and wheat from the casket spray.  

Crashing on Grandma's couch for a bit after an exhausting weekend.  

The Bible verses are all ones that were mentioned during the funeral.  

I wanted to be able to remember them, so yes, I took notes.  

Grandpa lived a good, long life and he is enjoying his eternal reward in heaven now.  He left some big shoes to fill for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but we're up to the challenge.  

He left a legacy of faith, family, love and stewardship.  

We'll forever carry with us special memories of Grandpa Elmer.