Memorial Day...2012

Today is the day we pay honor to all our veterans and current soldiers!  We thank you for all you've done.  My Dad served during the end of World War II ending up in occupied Japan.  I'm so thankful he didn't have to see battle.  I was about 3-4 years old when he went in...my only memory is living in the apartment above my Grandpa and Grandma Anderson and dad was leaving and he had me run up to the apartment to get his toothbrush.  This is a picture of my parents around that time.  The soldiers gave up a lot to serve...but also the wives and families did too.  I'm so thankful my dad came home!  Wish I would have asked him more questions...

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  John 15:13
  Lots and lots and lots of soldiers did this so we can enjoy the freedom we have today! 
 Thank you again.
Jolyn

Sweet Tooth

We have a pair of Baltimore Orioles who frequent our feed bar...Mr and Mrs O.  Their preference is grape jelly. Others with a sweet tooth who join them are a woodpecker and one sparrow.  The morning I took these pictures...Mr. O had been at our mudroom window fluttering trying to get in.  He kept at it for hours and I could get 18" from the window and he wouldn't fly away.  Only morning he did it...but was fun to get some pictures.  They are such a pretty bird!

God could have made all the birds look like crows, but to bless us...He made such a beautiful variety! It's always a treat to see these bright orange birds.

Kind of looks like he was posing for me! 
Jolyn

May Quilts

It was such a treat to be able to go to the quilter's meeting last night!  Can't remember if the last time I went was in January or last November.  Everyone is busy with gardening right now so there wasn't as much show and tell, but still what was brought was some fun stuff!  Notice how I managed to make the flag look like a party hat for Linda!  She's been making bags and has a friend that makes zipper flowers to add to them. 



I think she's saying "cheeeeeese".



Cele made this quilt of civil war blocks with the civil war fabric reproductions.  It measures around 92" x 92".

This gal made this by using folded fabric.  Kind of hard to describe, but she really did a neat job.  She was also working on another one.  Isn't it funny how when we like a pattern...right away we have to make another one!

One of the treasure's from our Trash to Cash event.  That is when we bring those things we know we won't ever finish or even wonder why we bought them...and it becomes someone elses's tresure!  Judy made this sunflower wallhanging from a kit  (I think I brought that...but my memory isn't real sure).  All money raised from this event go towards bringing in a special speaker for our Quilt Expo in August. 

ok...Liz...I want to see your face!  Took another picture and it showed even less of her face...she made this and donated it to a resident at Nicolett Place.  Such a cheerful quilt and made that person very happy.  Giving a quilt away is part of the fun of making one.
All this eye candy makes me want to start sewing again....but I think I'll go shopping instead...quilt shop of course!!
Jolyn

Blessings!!

Nothing like the grand tour!!  Our granddaughter...Karissa and Daniel visiting from California!  What a treat to have them here!!

And of course...had to get close up and personal with a future Spam product!!

They got to ride the tractors while the guys were working up ground and planting beans.  The weather was just the way Minnesota should be...perfect!  We are so blessed with our family and there is nothing better than when they get a chance to come visit!!  This was Daniel's first visit to the midwest and he commented on how flat the land is!  Minnesota really should have one mountain....maybe we should talk to our legislature about that!!

What a Guy!!

All of Wayne's growing up years his mother made home-made white bread.  When we got married, on occasion I would make rye bread, but it's probably been the last 25 years that I make so that we always have some on hand.  Before we went to Branson I made 2 batches and took a bunch along and also left some in our freezer.  Couple of weeks ago we ran out.  My back isn't quite happy enough to knead it yet, so Wayne said he was going to do it.  This morning when I woke I heard him in the kitchen and wondered what was going on.  If the first picture is blurry...it's because that's the way my eyes are in the morning. 

Hard at work.

Hands are a "little" sticky.

Please note the lack of flour on his clothing.  I always have it all over myself.



The finished project!  Good job, honey!!!



My happy camper!!  And I got the first slice with peanut butter...while the bread was still warm!!!  But I'm not giving up my job...just until my back says I can!
Jolyn

Answered Prayers

  Wayne had his scheduled colonoscopy at Mayo and then we were back the next day for results.  We went with no fear or anxiousness or even dreading the results.  Because the lab report had indicated that the tumor was a 9 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being cancer...we didn't know what  was going to happen.  Also knew they would have to schedule surgery.  When the PA came in and said it was all good news...we just sat there and then she said..."you can smile now!"  No cancer...no surgery (they were able to get the rest during the colonoscopy) ...no pain...just praise!  We were so prepared for whatever that it took a while for all this to sink in.  We are so blessed!  It was fun to call the kids and tell them!  He will have to go back in 3 months for another colonoscopy and if things look good then...go back in a year. 
  We have been so blessed with a great praying team near and far and with cards and calls and hugs.  Most of all we've marveled at God's peace through this.  We left Mayo with good news, but very aware of all those who don't have hope or good news.  It's renewed our praying for others who still deal with their health issues.  And yes...I have my appointment. 
                                            Jolyn

Psalm 145:13b-14
"The Lord is faithful to all His promises
and loving toward all He has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down."

The Storms of Life

           "The storms of life remind us to take shelter in the loving arms of our Savior".(author unknown) 
  Yes, I am among the living.  I had preposted the quilt blocks to come up while we spent the month of February in Branson.  I was thinking I would have so many pictures of our "home away from home" to show you...but the trip down seemed to trigger my sciatic nerve.  I'll spare you all the details, but I was in intense pain and we spent our time going to the chiropractor and trying to get me ready for the trip home.  We came home the end of February (the day before the tornado hit the Branson area) and I spent all of March and first half of April still trying to get rid of the pain.  I am much better...no longer using the cane...still taking two naps a day...but not having the leg pain I did.  What a treat! 
  Wayne had a routine colonoscopy in March (his normal 5 year one) and found he had two tumors.  One they were able to remove, but the larger one they could only get part of it.  Good news is that it is not cancer (but would have been if he had left it another year)...but the bad news is he will have to have surgery to remove it.  Our first appointment at Mayo in Rochester is April 19th and we hope to find out when they will schedule the surgery.  Through this God has blessed us both with an unbelievable peace.  Not something we could manufacture or mind over matter...but just His blessing.  Even though Wayne and I have always been close...this has led us to treasure our time together and grow closer to each other and to God.  It is so comforting to know He is in control and that none of this is a surprise to Him. 

This has become our statement of faith:
  "The greatest faith of all, and the most effective, is to live day by day trusting Him. (Jesus)  It is trusting Him so much that we look at every problem as an opportunity to see His work in our lives.  It is not worrying, but rather trusting and abiding in the peace of God." (author unknown)

Couple of verses that have blessed me:
Psalm 73:26  My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Psalm 145:13  The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises, and faithful in all He does.

Zephaniah 3:17  The Lord your God is with you.  He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you.  He will quiet you with His love.  He will rejoice over you with singing.

We have so much to be thankful for!  My list goes on and on! 
  Keep us in prayer!!!
Jolyn