A Most Glorious Event

Want to see something fantastic? Take a look at my new grandbaby!

Heidelbeere's first child. She did pretty good for the first time, eh? One cute little girl.

The happy Mom. . . . .

The proud Dad!

A miracle, very nice indeed.

Sitting in her great-grandmother's lap. Thanks to the parents for making these photos available so quickly!

Sunday Scripture

And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure until the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
I Nephi 13:37

Big Snow

Well, winter is finally here and it came in a big way. The storm started last Tuesday night and kept up until Thursday. These pictures are from Wednesday mid-morning.

I got stuck in the end of the drive-way, where the plow had turned the snow into our drive=way. They won't let you just shovel it back out into the street. How is that fair? Anyway, I didn't hit the pile hard enough going thru it and got stuck. Fortunately there were those to help push me out. School had been cancelled Wednesday so I got some help.

Couple of things around the yard, with snow piled deep. We got about 11 inches by mid-morning Wednesday. Then the snow quit falling quite so hard.

So after all the work was done and the drive-way, deck and steps were clear: Hot Chocolate and Cookies!! Yay!! 'Course, we had to make the cookies first but nobody minded that. Some times its a contest around here to get them baked before the dough gets all snitched away. Popular stuff!

Sunday Scriptures

And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord - I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission pf their sins, I Say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, ever one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed. And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: thy God reigneth?
Mosiah 15:10-14

A Good Worker

This summer has provided plenty of opportunity for service for our kids. Himbeere has been real good about going and helping for pretty much all of it. The Stake had a service project for the quarterly activity earlier in the summer. Out west of the stake house a ways is a garden park where the stake youth put in a good Saturday's work pulling weeds, moving bark and generally doing spring clean up.

That one had some perks that Himbeere didn't object to at all. He has a way of working his way into the cushy-jobs but he still gets the work done.

A few weeks later there was an eagle service project for one of the other boys in the troop. They removed an old boat house that had fallen down and was a real eye-sore. That day it was all rainy and a little cool but he still was there, working along until the work was done.

A little later there was another eagle service project. This time they were splitting logs and building a rail fence. Himbeere got some experience running a post-hole digger. Heavy machinery? Maybe not, but they got the job done.

The batteries on my camera died before it was all done so we didn't get any pictures of the finished product but it was a pretty nice looking fence.

Just last Wednesday the Elders and Young Men went out to the house of one of the members to move firewood for the family. They heat with wood and had been cutting it all out front so it needed to be moved back around behind the house, closer so it wouldn't be such a trek to bring in wood all winter. That one got done after dark. They had a generator and lights and all but we didn't end up getting any pictures.

Then this morning the troop had arranged to help out a retired guy who had some trees across the street from the church that had become diseased so some of them needed to be taken out. All the cutting had pretty much been done before today. The work today was just loading it all up and hauling it off.

He confided in me that he enjoys this kind of physical work. That's a good thing because life is full of it. Himbeere can be a good worker.

Sunday Scripture

"Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times - including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of dispair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him." That phrase - taken from Moroni's final lines of testimony, written 1,000 years after Lehi's vision - is a dying man's testimony of the only true way."
Elder Jeffery R Holland, October Conference, 2009

So Very Far Away

Clear way back in June his mission call came. It seemed like an incredibly long time between then and when he was supposed to enter the MTC. He was anxious to get going but they had to allow plenty of time for him to get his visa and all the other stuff he had to get to be able to do. He had to take a bunch more medical test, even a letter from his bank. It was amazing. But now all that is in and sent off. Then it was just waiting around. So he continued attending institute and spent a lot of time with the missionaries here where we live. That was a good thing. Then, finally, the time was getting seriously close. He ended up speaking in church twice, giving a sort of farewell. Remember, we don't do farewells anymore, but the ward we used to live in wanted to have him talk. And then the branch we live in now also wanted to hear from him. I told him it was okay to give the same talk in both places.

Then, the Sunday before he left our stake president came to visit our branch so we didn't have to travel clear to the northern end of the stake to get him set apart this time. That was nice. So he was set apart right in our own building. That was a good time. And it was a good blessing. To have words spoken in a blessing seems like such a simple thing but When you stop to realize the Lord's promise and strength are behind it you begin to get a vision of just how well the Lord arms you when he sends you on an errand. And there were a lot of things in the blessing that were comforting to his parents, too. This kids is going out to spend the next two years on a group of tiny little islands way out literally in the middle of the biggest ocean on earth. His mission president called it a "high adventure" and it certainly will be. So we can't help but worry about him.

Then the next day it was off to the airport to begin the journey. We purposely put the flight leaving late in the day so we could all be there. This was the big send off. So first it was get checked in. . . .

And then get through security. They were actually pretty good to him. Had to take off his shoes. Unless I missed someone, it looked to me like there was only him and one other person on the airplane. That's all I saw board.

So after all the goodbyes, he was gone. It has felt really weird to have only the three youngest kids at home any more. Each time someone has left it has felt like someone was missing every time we'd get together for meals or anything. We're going to miss that boy. Personally I hope he spends most of his time on the main islands. Missionaries on the outer islands don't have access to the Internet (no emails) or even regular mail service. They get visited from the mission home at least once every six weeks and thats when they get and send mail. It occurred to us that if we want a Christmas package to get there any where near on time it needs to go in the mail right away. I haven't checked on the postage rates for airmail yet but I'll bet its pretty steep. And slow-boat takes so long.

I was at the stake center yesterday where they have a map of the world showing where all the missionaries from the stake are serving. There were all the names clustered around North and South America. And then, way off to the far right side of the map, clear out at the very edge, was Stachelbeere's name. He's going so very far away.

Sunday Scripture

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
D&C 123:17

How it went

So this is sorta how it went:

Himbeere: Which socks should I wear? The brown ones or the grey ones?

Me: The brown ones.

Himbeere: Okay, thanks. I'll wear the grey ones.

(but then a few minutes later he came out with the brown ones on.)

Sunday Scripture

61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

Jacob 5:61, 70-72 (Italics added)

"ounnized"

So, I just posted a comment on a blog. You know how it has you type in the goofy letters so it can be sure you're not some spam program throwing out some unwanted advertisement? Well, the letters I had to type were "ounnized". That almost looks like a real word. I wonder what it is to get "ounnized"?

Sunday Scripture

4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.
5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.
6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.
7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.
8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.
9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.
10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.
11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

Alma 33:4-11

How it Works

On our trip out west last month we did "sunshine hours" to help the kids get thru the long drive. This is a long and history rich tradition that any of the kids would be deliriously happy to tell you about if you asked. The idea is simple. They behave for an hour and they get some kind of prize. Himbeere got a prize and demonstrated how it works. Hold it thus. . . . .

And squeeze!

School looks

This afternoon Himbeere was showing me the faces he uses at school.


And this one is when the bell rings at the end of class.

Another One in Marching Band!

Its been a few years since we had one in high school marching band. Heidelbeere was our last one and she graduated a while ago. But Maulbeere has been in band for the last couple of years and this year is a high school sophomore. That means when she signed up for band this year she automatically ended up in marching band. She wasn't too thrilled with that at first but I think after last night's game, which was the first one she had to go to, she may be a little more warmed up to the idea. I think she actually had a little fun. First the band stood in front of the home side stand and played some opening numbers, including the national anthem. That was cool.
When they were done with the pre-game music they took their place in the stands. She found a couple of friends to sit by and seemed to enjoy herself. It was nice to have a guaranteed seat. The game was well attended; it was against their rival. The crowd was so big that some of the late home fans ended up sitting on the visiting side.

Then, just before half time started, they all went down to the side lines and lined up to go out on the field during half time.

Maulbeere had actually sprained her pinkie in gym the day before the game so she wasn't actually playing. When she had asked the band leader about it he said to take her place and just fake it.

So out she went and faithfully stood in with the band. No one was the wiser. And it the end everything was okay. The band sounded great and the team won.

High Adventure

It was a holiday and everyone had been pretty good about getting their chores and stuff done in the morning. But the clincher was Brombeere needed to get some homework done and needed the house to be quiet. Besides, this may well have been Stachelbeere's last rock climbing expedition before leaving for his mission. So we piled in the car and headed to Castle Rock. I don't know if that's the official name of this rock formation but that's what we call it. It is at the north end of the Castle Rock flowage on the Wisconsin River, on the Juneau county side. The kids like it. Its not the most challenging of the different rock formations we climb on, but it is the tallest.

Just a little bit up the trail, looking back down to where we parked the car. You can just barely see it peeking through the trees.

Starting up the trail.

It didn't take too long to reach the top. And the view is pretty nice.

Lots of trees. Most of the area around the flowage is undeveloped. Nice.

On a clear day you can see forever.