Easter Weekend

A few weeks back Peyton and I had the opportunity to hitch a ride with my parents down to visit my Grandma Grace. For those of you who don't know much about her, Grandma is one of the most wonderful ladies I have ever met...and I'm not just saying that because she's my Grandma! For as long as I can remember, she's always been a shining example of what a loving, servant-hearted, godly woman should look like.

My memories of growing up a few miles away from her and Grandpa are so incredibly wonderful! Our days were filled with ice fishing, gardening, going for walks up the dirt road they lived on, swimming in the creek just down the road, spending hours upon hours playing out in the woods, making the world's BEST dill pickles with Grandma, drinking TANG and "kids coffee", gobbling up Grandma's AMAZING spaghetti, going to auctions, bird watching, splitting wood for the winter, visiting neighbors up the road and giggling as they spoke Swedish with Grandma, enjoying a tractor ride from Grandpa...the list could go on and on. I just remember always feeling so excited to hear, "We're heading over to Grandma & Grandpa's house"...even when I was a teenager! We usually spent Sundays with them, going to church together and then after lunch we'd go spend the afternoon/evening with them just hanging out playing games, watching football, listening to the Brewers on the radio, singing around the organ or listening to Grandma play the harmonica. I've probably mentioned this before, but some of my favorite memories of spending time with Grandma was when we'd get to sit with her in church! What a treat! As any good Grandma does, she always had Tic Tacs in her purse for us (my kids are now addicted to these - thanks, Grandma!), but the thing I always loved the most was singing next to her. She has a beautiful alto voice - between my Dad's fantastic tenor voice and my Grandma, I learned how to pick out harmony lines by ear and ever since I was young that's something that has always brought me great joy - singing.

Grandma celebrated her 91st birthday in January and recently her health has begun to deteriorate. But how refreshing it was to walk in the door on the morning of Good Friday and see, despite the fact her body isn't as strong as it once was, she's still got her spunky personality and hilarious wit! We enjoyed a wonderful weekend with Grandma talking about everything from what's going on back home in MN & WI, to Grandma's childhood/upbringing, to all the funny stories from us kids growing up. It was such a special time - and the best part was that Peyton was able to be a part of the weekend and have some time with Grandma, too. I remember back when I first found out I was pregnant with Peyton...we didn't know what we were having, but I knew that if we had a girl I wanted her middle name to be after Grandma (Grace). Peyton Grace...little did I know the day she was born the special connection her and Great Grandma Grace would have. :) And even though we haven't lived as close over the past several years, Peyton still talks about Grandma regularly and those two were like two peas in a pod when we were down to visit. Grandma called Peyton her "bedmate", and Peyton wanted nothing more than to simply lay in bed with Grandma and spend time with her. The first thing she said to Grandma when we got there (once she warmed up and realized it was still the same old Grandma Grace, even if she wasn't able to get out of bed like she could last time we visited) was, "You wanna snuggle with me?". What a special, special weekend, filled with lots of laughter, catching up, and of course, a few tears as reality set in that this could very well be our last visit with Grandma here on earth. But what a comforting thing to know that we'll be able to sing together forever with the Lord in heaven!! :)

Here are a few pictures of Peyton and Grandma from the weekend:















Grandma singing "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" with Peyton (one of Peyton's favorites!)

















Peyton & Grandma being silly laughing together















Grandma kept talking about how worthless her hands are now and Peyton's response was, "I can hold your hand!"...and she did, every time she crawled up in bed with Grandma
















Peyton showing Grandma her beloved CARS















Weekend "bedmates"

Who woulda thunk?!?!?!

So, my (Chad's) cousin Elise is a pretty cool chick. She's accomplished a lot in her 31 years, including getting her doctorate degree and traveling to various countries pursuing her dreams. Little did she know that her flight home from New Zealand a couple years ago would ultimately end up fulfilling the biggest dream of all - meeting the man of her dreams?!?! It's pretty amazing how God pieces things together when you're least expecting it!

Well, to find out the whole story, check out this link and vote for Elise & Matt as they attempt to win a dream wedding in the Bahamas!!! They're a great couple who certainly deserve this!

P.S. Matt's a rock star graphic designer and I'm super PUMPED to have him as a "cousin-in-law"!!!

My Favorite Time of Year

For as long as I can remember Easter has always been my favorite time of year. I've been sitting here thinking about this past week and all the things I've heard people say referencing Easter, "Have you gotten your kids Easter baskets ready yet?", "Did you do Easter bunny pictures this year?", "Have a happy Easter - enjoy the candy!". Now I get there's nothing wrong with having "Easter candy", but as I thought more about all the different people who I've come across in the past week, it made me wonder - How many of them really "get" what Easter is? The REAL Easter.

To me Easter has always been a time of celebration where we praise our awesome God for sending his Son to die on the cross to pay for our sins, then rose Him from the grave 3 days later. From the time I was a small child that's what I've always remembered Easter being about. Granted we did get a few pieces of candy each year, but the most meaningful times I remember about Easter as a kid were getting dressed in my beautiful sundress my Mom would make me for Easter Sunday, heading to church for a sunrise service where we celebrated together and ate a big breakfast of various egg bakes the church ladies had made, listening to the pastor recount the Easter story and what it meant for us as believers, and then my favorite part of all - singing "The Old Rugged Cross" at the close of the service, surrounded by my Grandma Grace, Grandpa Carl and the rest of my family and hearing the song sung in amazing 4-part harmony by our family. That's something I will never forget. Ever. Sweet, sweet memories that are priceless. And what a privilege it was to grow up in a family who understood and treasured the true meaning of Easter.

In closing, here are the lyrics for The Old Rugged Cross - they're powerful! I hope you all have a blessed Easter as we celebrate the wonderful gift we've all been given!

The Old Rugged Cross
by George Bennard

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross
The emblem of suff'ring and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

4 adults + 5 kids + 1 camera & tripod = Family Photo Chaos!!

Yesterday afternoon we got together with our friends Phil & Theresa. A few months ago Theresa asked if I'd take a family photo for them. With life being so crazy for all of us, we just now found a day that worked! We decided we may as well try and get some family pictures, too. I'd been scouting out cool places to take pictures at, and I'd been DYING to do some at the old historic bridge on the Crow River in downtown Hanover. So we headed there first. I set up the shots for Phil & Theresa's family and after we had their pictures taken we switched and Theresa took our pictures. After we took some on the bridge we headed to one of the parks in Hanover and got some more pictures. The ones of our that turned out the best were from the bridge. So anyway, here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure!

One last trip to Grandma Pete's

A little over a week ago we made a quick trip up to Wisconsin to see Grandma Pete at her home in Falun one last time before she moved down to Missouri for good. It was so much fun to be there with her at the place where we all have so many great memories from our childhood, but it was also a little sad to think that this was the last time we'd see Grandma there. She has a place down in Missouri on the same property as my Dad's oldest sister and that's where she's spent the last few winters since Grandpa passed away. She came back up to spend one last summer here, but she decided it was too much trying to live by herself out in the country and had to cut her summer up here short. Grandma serenaded us with some harmonica songs, which the kids LOVED, and she also taught Peyton how to play. It's good to know that we now have someone in the family who can carry on the harmonica playing tradition! : ) Peyton also found Grandma's organ (with a little help from Uncle Brandon - imagine that!), and played us several songs. Carson helped Uncle Aaron take Page for a walk out in the backyard before making a mad dash for the woods (and the poison ivy - NO!!!) We're so thankful for the time we had to spend with Grandma, and we're hoping to make a trip down to visit her in Missouri soon! Here are a few pictures from our trip to Grandma's.

We have a new niece!!

Tomorrow Chad's sister Therese will return from China with our new niece, Millie. We're so excited to finally meet her! It'll be fun for Peyton and Carson to have a cousin close to their age. She is about 2 years old, so right in between our kids. Apparently she's quite attached to Therese already, so hopefully she'll warm up to all of us quickly. We'll let you all know how the first "encounter" goes...I'm guessing both our kids and Millie will take a bit to check out each other. Should be fun!