The Little Ones Entertain Us

I didn't realize until I watched this again after posting it just what a hoot I get to experience every day. This was just a few precious moments in a typical day. Claire is singing her version of Hush Little Baby, don't say a word, Mama's Gonna Buy You a Mockingbird. I have to ask Whitney what words she uses, cuz these don't sound like mine! She is sharing her new doll with Brody. It has been named Ami, that is why Brody is talking to Ami. Max chimes in about his book. He does not wait around to be noticed any more, he demands attention at all waking moments! Love 'em!

My Dad was 41 when his life turned around!

Mom has been working on her life story. Below is a piece of one of Mom's chapters. What is so amazing to me, now, is that my dad, whose resume would have told of farming, milking cows, hauling milk to the creamery, being a janitor at a school, driving school bus, working at a grain elevator to name a few, was encouraged by his sister to travel to a whole new world and apply for a job as the manager of a restaurant! He knew nothing about that world. I don't think he ever managed people (maybe one or two guys at the elevator), cooked anything but a hamburger on the grill at home, did any kind of bookwork besides writing out a check. What he took on, not to mention having to answer to a whole host of big wigs, was phenomenal. He had no way of knowing what was to come for he and his family. Guess he was pretty amazing. Sure miss him!

Marland had lost his job in Walnut Grove. What to do!! My job at Johnson Furniture in Tracy paid for the groceries ($1.10/hour). Phyllis called and told us that the new restaurant, called The Big Steer, just down the road from her, was looking for a manager. She was working there just to help get it started. Marland drove up for an interview and stayed with Phyllis and Skinny. After the interview, he was offered the position immediately. The Big Steer was looking for someone to enter into a partnership. They wanted to own 51% and the partner would own 49%. We thought it would be a good idea and with nothing else on the horizon, we borrowed the $5000.00 from Marland's parents (Fred and Edna Mieska). Little did we know what would happen!! It did work out very well for a while and we were able to repay Marland's folks within 3 months. Marland moved to Northfield in February, 1969.

The kids were in school in Walnut Grove and I was working. The kids and I stayed in Walnut Grove and would drive up to Northfield every weekend. We were looking for a place to rent once school was out in May. Phyllis and Skinny offered all of us to stay with them until we could find a place. We lived with them for about 5 months until we found a place.

Phyllis and Skinny lived right next door to Alber's Park. There was a lot of vandalism there during the week. We approached the Rice County Board and volunteered to watch the place if we could move a mobile home there. The Board approved our request, and we bought a 12’ x 70’ mobile home and had it moved in there. Marland mowed the lawn, cleaned the public bathrooms and took reservations in lieu of paying rent. That was our home until 1975 when we had a house built just south of there.

Meanwhile, back in 1969, Phyllis played a big part in our lives at that point. She was there for the girls - she cooked for them. It was a REAL treat if I could sneak away from the restaurant once in awhile to have a home cooked meal with all of them. She did our laundry and was there for all of us when we were spending much of our time at the restaurant. Bonnie was married on July 3. She had done all the planning. We just had to show up for the wedding. Phyllis sewed me a beautiful suit for the wedding. It was a mint green sheath with a jacket. Very lovely.

Good Friday

The God who made the universe,
and holds it in existence
by His will alone,
becomes, as man, too weak to bear
a piece of timber's weight.
How human in His weakness in the Son of Man.
My Father willed it thus.
I could not be your model otherwise.
You also must accept without complaint
your human frailties.

Lord Jesus, how can I refuse?
I willingly accept my weaknesses,
my irritations and my moods,
my headaches and fatigue,
all my defects of body, mind and soul.
Because they are Your will for me,
these "handicaps", of my humanity,
I gladly suffer them.
Make me content with all my discontents,
but give me strength to struggle after You.

Our Trip to Fripp

Island, South Carolina

Papa enjoying the beach, really, there were seldom people in our view.










Omi out "shelling". We found SO many great shells












Totally private island, you don't get on it without permission from a home owner. Very quiet, very private.

























Omi and Papa were walking hand in hand down the beach one day. We looked down, and there was this perfect shell. We felt very blessed. We felt God's presence in this place so strongly, and I asked for His blessing on our two little grandbabies to be born.