Gratitude Challenge-catching up post...November 29th

To give you a bit of a background, my husband has had some major health challenges for a few years.  We have been spinning our wheels working with an inadequate treatment plan for a while, and fighting and hoping to get a chance to get new eyes on his case and give opinions of how to improve.  We finally got it.  We had 12 days' notice to travel almost 400 miles to see doctors and had to arrange for home, family, children and animals to be cared for in our absence.  What was supposed to be a 2 day trip became 5.  Life was a bit overwhelming and I am still not recovered, but coming up for air and trying to get back into the swing of things before our holiday season takes over with all of my business obligations...

So here is the list as I saved it:
Day 7: Thankful for a vehicle to get us where we have to go at a moment's notice.
Day 8:  Having a small farm to be able to raise many of our own foods.
Day 9:  Children who are innocent and don't know all of the hard things going on in this world yet.
Day 10:  Books.  One can never have enough knowledge, and books keep that knowledge at your fingertips.
Day 11:  My electric blanket.  I get cold, and it makes life more bearable.
Day 12:  A full calendar to keep me busy and prevent me from being bored.
Day 13:  Dirty dishes.  I loathe them, but they tell a story of a well fed family.
Day 14:  Fur-friends.  Dogs, cats, cows.  All of them bring something special to our family, and their fuzzy winter fur makes them lovable and cuddly.
Day 15:  Social media.  It connects me to all of these amazing people.
Day 16: Events that bring new customers to my business.
Day 17: Thirty-One business that provides me all the functional bags I need for travel and daily life.
Day 18: Buffets.  When traveling, it is nice to have an option to eat something, no matter what your tastes.
Day 19: Doctors who truly are attentive to their patients.
Day 20: The Internet and phones that allow us to keep in touch with friends and family while away from home.
Day 21:  Gracious women who are understanding and kind when you have to cancel your plans to meet family needs.
Day 22: My own bed.  There is something comforting about your own bed after traveling, no matter how bothersome it may be.
Day 23: Cupboards with food in them.
Day 24:  Warm winter clothing.
Day 25:  New beginnings and blessings. 
Day 26:  Friends who are there no matter what they think of your situation.
Day 27:  A home where children laugh, make messes, make memories.
Day 28:  A family that is dedicated to each other, through thick or thin.
Day 29:  My Lilla Rose business that provides opportunities to meet amazing women while providing some extra income for my family. 

Join us with the Gratitude Challenge hosted by my friend, Brenda over at Quiet Pandemonium. 

Sidetracked by life...

I've come to this page repeatedly over the last 6 weeks.  Not sure what to say or where to go with all of the ideas swirling in my head.  The reality is, they are all so intertwined at times, it is hard to separate them to pull just one out.  There are times when I get a bit overwhelmed with life and the things I have to do.  There are times I just need to step back and say "I can't fit that in right now, check back later".  A few friends even asked if we were having problems {in our friendships} and if everything was ok.  Yep, it sure is and was.  I just run a busy schedule and have times where I need to downsize what I am doing, and focus on the biggest/most important projects.  It was hard and still is, but I had to focus on business for a bit.  I had an amazing month for August and September with both of my business ventures, but I had the great pleasure of promoting to SUPERVISOR with Lilla Rose in September.  It all started with one clip and one party, but now I have more of an opportunity to earn money to help meet the needs of my family.  My growing Lilla Rose team is a huge blessing in my life, and I can't thank them enough for what they've done for me.

Coming up?  Watch for some fun reviews.  I am also participating in the Gratitude Challenge with a sweet friend.  I have some business and health articles in the works too... I promise that winter is knocking at the door here in northern Minnesota and I will have more time to write consistently in just a few short days!

There are angels all around us

This past several weeks, I have been stuck in a whirlwind of activity that has left this blog sorely neglected.  One party laziness, one part overwhelmed mind, one part brain fog.  You see, as an independent consultant (aka home business owner), I've gotten involved with several great circles of women who often do events together.  This group of women has been torn to shreds mentally by several of these gals being slammed with major health issues.  Two of them were diagnosed with cancer less than 2 weeks apart.  This would send many reeling, and to be honest?  Mentally, it has.  These are both vibrant, active women who live full lives.  Both have children at home yet.  It could have been devastating news, but instead?  It has become story after story of inspiration. 

No, the cancer is not gone.  There is question of whether it is even possible for it to be gone.  That part of things is terribly sad and solemn...but it is not the focus of attention.  You see, instead?  This group of women that I have been blessed to become a part of on a regular basis has linked arms and said, essentially, "we are fighting this together!".  Fund raising, sharing burdens, sharing prayers, rallying support, connecting resources, and sending words of encouragement.  This group of women who otherwise has no significant connection besides doing business together several times a month has become an inspiration.  I will say that I am a Christian, but I do not believe one has to go to church or follow a particular teacher.  I believe that it is about personal relationship and actions.  I see some amazing faith in these women who've never said a peep about church or faith.  I've seen encouragement through scripture, through actions, through genuine, unashamed love for our fellow "sisters" in business.  These women have shown themselves to be angels on earth. 

Today, I am choosing to post on my designated day of "rest" or "time off", to say I am blessed to those around me who aren't overtly church going, rule following Christians who step out and show the love of Jesus in just the right time and place as needed.  They aren't always found in a church, they don't always act as if they are regular church goers to those who follow "the rules", they may slip out a cuss word or smoke or drink, but they have their hearts where they should be...and it isn't out there for the world to see on a regular basis, but it is there.  Behind the rough edges and imperfect lives.  Right where many modern churches would say it doesn't exist. 

Phew! Did you see that?!?!

It is August 1st already and I think summer kinda ran right past us and missed us!  The weather has been so crazy here, we are up so late at night that we end up sleeping late in the mornings.  I feel like my head is spinning some days just trying to get it all done. I just keep reminding myself to try to soak it all in before the world looks like this again:

Living in the north, that could be next week!  Ok, so not really, but it feels that way sometimes.  Last week there was a frost advisory in our region, so it is coming faster than we'd like. 

Take the time to enjoy the simple things in life....

Summer is so busy around here, it is hard to find time to put thoughts together in words and sentences and paragraphs.  It is easy to dig in the dirt, get busy with cookouts with friends, spend time mowing the lawn, doing repair projects, working at the farmer's market, and the rest of daily life. 

Over the past weeks as things have been so crazy busy around here, I've tried to make a special effort to notice the small things that make us smile.  Enjoy!

Sunset at our favorite fishing hole.

Watching my young children appreciate their adventures in nature.

Sitting with my own bobber in the water.

Young, new life.  Full of energy and mischief, and the ability to keep rodents away from the house and garden with great stealth.

Every day is a gift

Today I had the pleasure of running into a woman whom I've known for about 15 years.  This elderly woman is soft spoken, but full of life.  We chatted about her family, the weather, the crops (farming community that we live in, whether you are a farmer or not, it is a rather regular topic for most anyone).   All the chit chat faded quickly in my mind when she turned to her husband as the topic. 

He has had rather rough health the past year, and given all of us many scares.  She proceeded to share how he had a heart attack 27 years ago, and she never expected to bring him home from the hospital.  She said that every day when she wakes up, she gives thanks for one more day with him, knowing it is truly a gift.  Wow.  I know that is the case, and I have had that lesson many times in my life, but seeing her sincerity today just hit me all over again. 

Every day with him is a gift, she said.  There is something mighty powerful in those words.  It was even harder to hear her admit that she knows her time with him is short and it is time to say goodbye.  The strength in her voice began to shake and I fought hard against the tears that wanted to let loose with those words coming from her mouth while standing there in the grocery store.  I do not know her husband well at all, though we have met a time or two.  Her devotion to him, her appreciation for him, her fondness for him hasn't faded in more than 50 years of marriage.  What an amazing legacy to leave their family.  What an amazing glimpse into her faith in just those few words.

Every day is a gift, and I sure hope that some day, I will be able to embrace it like she has and truly absorb and appreciate every moment with those I love and not be muddled by the daily grumblings and disappointments, but be thankful.  Every day IS a gift.  Will we receive it or cast it aside?

Above and beyond...customer service at its best! Michaels craft stores

The originals in their box of doom....

I will admit it.  I am not always the most organized person.  I may forget things, lose things from time to time, but I am still a work in progress.  A short time ago, while helping a friend prepare a few of the more intricate details of her wedding, I helped with the flowers and her hair combs.  Through a series of unforeseen (comical later on) events, the first batch had a mishap.  I was headed out to the bigger town in our area so that I could pick up some other things, so I volunteered to pick up the replacement parts, along with a few other last minute items.  Just 2 weeks before the wedding, I wanted to make sure that nothing was misplaced or out of order, so as I left the store, I tied the bags shut and put them in my vehicle.  I got home, put the bags in a designated "safe" spot to protect the flowers and other delicate contents until the designated day we had planned for last minute items.

Much to my horror, that day came, and we got busy, and worked on all the other details.  Then it hit me, I had one project left.  The hair combs.  And those flowers were nowhere to be found.  I assured her they were at home, I must have taken them out of the bag (funny how the mind plays tricks on a person when stress hits!).  I had my family scouring the house, searching for them up and down, did they end up with these items?  In *that* bag with the other stuff we bought that day?  Did they fall out of the bag in the vehicle?  Three people searched under, between and behind seats to no avail.  I resolved myself to having to make the 50 mile trek back to the store to buy more of those two little $1.99 beauties that were so essential.

The next morning, I decided there was one option I hadn't thought of.  "What if...."  Maybe.  Just maybe, they never actually made it with me.  I found my receipt, and they were on there. But they were nowhere to be found.  I took the chance and called the store.  It had been almost 2 weeks, surely they were long gone.  But it was worth a phone call.  First I talked to the operator, not knowing who exactly to talk to about my predicament.  They sent me to customer service.  I explained to customer service that I could not find them anywhere but they were on my receipt, and asked if there was *ANY* chance that I may have left them there.  I was informed that items that are small that are left are returned to the shelf, but was then referred to the manager. 

I happily talked to the manager and explained my predicament.  He was very kind, very reassuring, and very understanding.  He asked if I had the item number from the receipt, and I gave them.  He asked how many I had, and asked me to hold for a moment.  He came back a few moments later and said "We have 7".  I started frantically thinking, in that short moment, "Oh, great!  What does it matter to me if you have 7, I just need the 2 I bought that I can't find, I don't care how many you have, LOL!"  And then he said "We are only supposed to have 5.  Apparently, yours got left behind.  Would you like us to ship them to you?"  We discussed the options, and now, being 3 days from the wedding, it didn't seem safe to ship them and risk them missing the deadline.  He asked for name and phone number, and we agreed I would pick them up the next day.  All for $4 worth of merchandise.  Thank you, Michaels of Grand Forks, North Dakota!  You've got some amazing customer service going on.  I now have my flowers and the bride should look great with her flowers tomorrow.  No one had to go out of their way for that small of a purchase, but they did.  And I am one happy customer.  When I went to pick them up, the gal at customer service knew exactly where to find my package, she met me with a smile.  Thank you.  All of the team who helped me in my little adventure.  I still don't know how it happened that I left my most precious part of the purchase there, but I did.  And they helped me fix my error.  Being a crafty nut, I will be back. Hopefully, never to repeat this sort of adventure!

Seizing the moment and letting go...

My kids have something to teach me more often than I seem to be able to learn.  They take the chance and capture moments and use them to the fullest.  Our winter weather has produced a lot of this beautiful, heavy frost this year.  My girls have commented about how it reminds them of Narnia.  Magical.  Mystical.  Enchanting.  You get the idea, I am sure.  Their list is always growing.

Not long ago, they seized the moment and took off on a grand adventure with my new camera.  The pictures they snapped were fun and interesting.

 
Never mind there are snowmobile tracks, that just made easier walking.

Don't mind the dog, she just wanted her share of the spotlight too!

                    Sometimes, the "moment" is as much about the preparation as the final destination. 

  Boy, am I glad we have plenty of dress up clothes!  This formal has been in the girls' stash for a number of years now.  They have sure made the most of it!  I don't think I want to know what the plum trees may have done to the fabric.

                                    What grand adventure lurks on the other side of those trees?

                               A snow princess is never complete without the white gloves, you know!

 When all was said and done, there was no "perfect" shot.  No grand picture with the perfect pose.  No amazing portrait that is worthy of a spot on the wall for the sake of art or beauty in the photographic elements.  What there WAS in all of those pictures was an imagination.  A passion.  A moment, seized by the young ladies of the house with a sense of adventure and enthusiasm to jump in and enjoy what is around them.  A chance to bond and build memories that I can't give them.  The kind they have to find on their own.  Without the barriers of mom's rules to squash their imaginations.  While I could be fussing over the lack of a coat or the use of my camera or the danger to the dress or any of a number of things along the way, I am letting go and enjoying the adventure. 

Look at that amazing place they found in our own back yard!  I wish you could see how brilliant those trees sparkle in the sunshine!  How heavy those branches get with the weight of the frost.  How it feels and looks like it is snowing big, frosty flakes when the wind shakes it all off of the trees.  What a magical place to live in!

Itching for spring!

A few weeks ago, during one of our beautiful blizzards, I started getting the itch.  You know, that "Spring Fever, can't wait to get my fingers in the dirt and see those amazing little plants start from that teeny tiny seed" itch.  The one that starts well before the frost is out of the ground.  The one that makes you dream of all the hard work that makes you wish it were winter when you are bent over and digging out weeds in the middle of July.  Yeah, that itch. 

.
We sorted out our seeds, took inventory of what we have and what we want and need.  Each year we start hundreds, if not thousands of seeds.  We find it hard to wait until the specified time of the year.  Each year, we learn new things, reinforce things we've learned in the past, and get new ideas for the next year.

A couple of months back, I got the chance to review a garden planner to help me figure out when each of my seeds should be started inside for the best chance to plant outside, and it even gives the dates when one can reasonably expect to harvest produce if all goes as it should.  I can't wait to try that out.

Tomorrow, look for a review of an ebook on starting seeds.  While I have had years of experience, I also have enough experience to freely admit that there is ALWAYS more to learn.  I am excited to share this one with you because it even answered questions for me that I hadn't ever thought to ask.

Taking the time to smell the...never mind! STAY WARM!

We can't really stop and smell the roses when it is -15f outside, but we sure can admire the beauty of things after the blizzard we had yesterday.  We just took a slow day today.  The little boys did reading lessons and the big people enjoyed a quiet day. 

We found these beautiful spider webs in the porch, covered with snow.  Nice, huh?  If we had swept them away, we'd not have been able to see their current beauty. 



And look at the snow clinging to the screen and the tree beyond.  I love this "aftermath" of a good blizzard!

Snow Day!

It was windy and cold outside, but today was warm and fuzzy inside.  While the blizzard piled the snow up high in the back yard, we worked on making memories.

 

 It all started with a yummy and colorful breakfast.  Green and orange bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and scrambled eggs.  Love on a plate on a gloomy day!

We made it through morning chores and spent the rest of our morning having free time.  We opted for a lunch of sandwiches and spent our afternoon watching documentaries on Frank Lloyd Wright.  We discussed the similarities of our house and many of the design elements that came to be his signature components.  We discussed how we'd like to have a dream house like Fallingwater or to go see Taliesin in Wisconsin.  We discussed our plans for snow forts and sledding.  Before we knew it, the daydreaming had used up most of our daylight!

Then came supper time and what better time to have a warm, "home made" soup than on a blustery winter day?!?!  Chicken noodle soup with vegetables.  And did I mention home made, FRESH noodles?  Yeah, we did.  They really are simple, why do we keep forgetting that and buying noodles from the store?  I don't know.  This was my daughter's first time making noodles, and what better way to learn than to just do it!

Our recipe was simple:
To make the noodles, crack 2 eggs in a bowl, sift one cup of flour over them and mix well.  Roll out on a floured surface and cut.  Simple, easy, rewarding.  And it took only 15 minutes. 

While the noodles were being made?  I boiled 3 quarts of chicken broth with 1 cup dehydrated mixed veggies, and about 2 tablespoons of dried onions and a cup and a half of chicken breast.  Once that was boiling well, we tossed in the noodles and cooked it until they floated. 

 Tomorrow, we dig out.  Maybe.  Or we might just find another old family tradition to pull out of our hats and share with the kiddos!

A place of peace and contemplation

 While spending time in Minnesota in the winter, it is easy to find yourself being dragged down by the weather.  On a day when this is what it looks like outside:

Along with snow and -20F temperatures at night, it is easy to find places inside that can warm the spirit.  A recent journey to the Mayo Clinic introduced me to one such place.  Among the various subway tunnels and art and historical displays, the powers that be at Mayo have created some spaces that are just relaxing and restful.  On this particular day, while it was barely safe to walk outside due to the freezing rain, I happened across this beautiful piece of stone:

 This lovely work of art was found in a beautifully large room full of many, many live plants and trees.  What a welcome sight this time of year!  What a relaxing place for a weary soul!

The skylights top it all off nicely, even on a gloomy rainy day.  While my photography skills are very amateur, the sentiment carried well for me.  In my time in that atrium, I spent some time reading.  Some time crocheting.  And even a bit of time watching others come and go and enjoy the quiet peace of this room.  Those who come and go at the Mayo Clinic tend to be there because of difficult things going on with themselves or a loved one.  Such is the case with my own family, but this place brings a special comfort.  Not just in this atrium, but in many of the various buildings and walk ways.  Over the years, we have found many favorite spots to sit and relax.  I hope to share more with you in the future.

Winter Wonderland

I love looking at pictures that my kids take.  The views, the angles, the small things that I always seem to not notice around me until they point them out.  Somehow, they still see magical, curious things where I see tall grass that needs trimming, trees that need pruning, and brush that needs to be cleared.  They see "diamonds" on the ground with fresh, sparkly snow.  They see "crystal wands" on blades of frozen grass.  And oh, the sparkles from the ice coated trees!  They make prisms all over the place.  What beautiful things we see around us while we still have imagination and a care free mind!

What do you do on a cold winter day?

In our house, we find big projects to tackle.  As I write this, our temperature is a mild -18*F.   During our last cold snap, I had the chance to pick up on a great sale at the store, and made good use of a day that wasn't good for other projects.  It helped keep a few entertained and busy for about 2 hours.  When peppers are just .39 a piece in the frozen parts of the country, it helps the budget to buy as many as you can and store them up for days when you really want them!  We ended up with a case of them, and that turned out to be 20 bags of chopped up peppers for all sorts of soups, salads, and surprises.  They are waiting in the freezer for just the right recipe.  Hopefully there will be enough there to last until the garden can produce some, but I doubt it.  That is still 6 months away!  The kids chose to save a bunch of the seeds, we may have pepper plants coming out of the ground in some odd places this year ;)

The pondering of people

Recently, as we sat along the side of the road, working on our van, there was a bit of time to "people watch".  It was storming, wet, cold and dark.  We didn't mind, the van issue was caused by wet, slushy roads, we knew what to do and had the basics to get it done.  We were in a metro area, and knew roughly where we were, but not exactly which town we were in and couldn't see a gas station.  Those things weren't a problem, but did make it a little more interesting wondering if we would be miserable before the fix could be completed. 

We hear so much about the cynical nature of people lately.  "No one stops to help anyone anymore" or "they always just drive on by".   Being in a metro area, we surely expected to sit and just watch people drive by.  We quickly realized that we were in an area that is mostly immigrants and it was a very busy corner.  It took maybe 10 minutes for the first car to stop.  The young man was smiling and eager to help, even though his English was difficult to understand.  He offered to give us a jump.  I had to politely inform him we were fine, but he was glad to offer.  He went on his way and it was a short time later when the second one stopped.  It was a couple of young ladies in their silk head coverings and sandals.  They offered help as well.  I assured them we were good, they were free to go.  They insisted they could help.  I just couldn't imagine how in 6 inches of wet fluffy snow that they could help, but they were eager to reach out to us.  I sent them on their way, showed them we had the tools and a flashlight, and they smiled and obliged.  It wasn't long before another stopped and again offered help.  It was pretty amazing that we were there for about an hour and had 4 people stop.   

I can't help but to wonder what sparked this train of good will.  Was it their background?  Did someone help them and they wanted to return the kindness?  Did they feel bad for us because of the cold weather?  Was it just human nature and empathy?    Or was it just because humanity isn't as bad as most people like to think?  I don't care.  I know that total strangers were willing to help.  I admit, I did laugh a bit when I asked hubby if the ones who offered really could have helped since they all offered a jump while we were sitting there with our lights on quite strongly, but their skills weren't the point.  It was their heart.  And they all shared a little piece of it with us.  What a refreshing thing to see!

Random pictures from the camera ghost