Some late Christmas photos

Hello all~ Well, two weeks into our new house and I finally have to get off my duff and do some work as Mom went home to Michigan yesterday. I don't think I changed Eden's diaper more than twice while she was here! Dad was here until Tuesday last week. Al and he got LOTS done. Minor repairs, shelves up, hooks on the wall, refrigerators in place, washer/dryer hooked up, etc... Mom & I got many boxes unpacked, but by the end of last week, I was pooped and didn't want to do anything, so we mostly just sat and visited and watched Eden play. She did babysit one night so Al and I could go for a steak dinner up town. Good Steak!


The moving and installation photos are stuck on my camera until Al finds another outlet to plug me into. Check back this weekend. Until then, enjoy these 'better late than never' Christmas photos.


Tyler and Eden on Christmas Day.






























Eden on Matthew's shoulders.
Lexi and AJ standby at the Christmas Eve potluck,
watching a serious game of Sorry.

Eden watching the airplanes at Omaha airport

Eden with Grandpa Strawn

Eden's 1st haircut, given by Aunt Marie

Eden and her cousins

Until later, here's my quote of the day:

"Don't throw away the old bucket until you know whether or not the new one holds water."

First Post from Bridgeport

The movers have moved all of our 18,100 pounds of stuff into our new parsonage in Bridgeport, NE. The 2.5 car garage couldn't fit a vehicle in it if we tried. Six men broke their backs trying to move Sarah's antique 1 ton upright piano up the stairs. My inlaws came out to give us a hand unpacking and babysitting. Many things have been unpacked. Some things have not. There are a few pictures on the walls. Eden has become quite proficient on the stairs and this morning climbed out of her crib (through the door in the side), made her way downstairs, into our bedroom, saw Samson, and proclaimed, "DOGGY!"

So many more stories to share. I will be installed as Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church this Sunday (January 28th) at 4 p.m. We will post pictures as soon as we find the cable to connect the camera to the computer.

Until later

Well, this is the final post from our home in Wilcox. Tomorrow will prove to be an exhausting day and then the movers will be here Tuesday. Today was a very sad day at church. I had no idea how many people were positively affected by our being here. I will miss the many friendships I have made. Until later...Godspeed

Ice, Packing, Generators, Darkness....

my two sleeping beauties...

Well, back from Michigan's warm family setting and into thick ice, no power or heat, and packing by candlelight. Joyous. I'm sure God has a lesson in here somewhere about appreciating modern technologies, but he picked an inconvienent time to teach. Well, that's just my opinion. (Stand back, lighting may strike momentarily).......................

Actually, Wilcox got generator power for the town folk earlier this week and it's been off and on since we got home. I would like to drive around and take pictures of all the devestation to trees and power poles, but my time will be best spent packing. Take last month's ice pics of our yard and triple it at least! The size of trees it brought down is amazing. They are saying we'll be out of power another month, as will many other small towns around here. Pres. Bush declared some 50 counties in NE disaster areas. I'm thankful no one was hurt. Click the link for our local newspaper coverage.

Every waking moment has been spent putting boxes together and filling them. It's so overwhelming. With Eden's help, I seem to not make much progess. Tonight, the generator konked out while I had stew on the stove, so I had to actually UNPACK a box of camping stuff so that I could find our Coleman stove and finish dinner. I'm tired of cheese and crackers or PBJ. And I've only been here since Friday! While I was unpacking that, Eden thought she, too, should unpack something. So I came upstairs to an empty box and a smiling child.

It was warm today, about 40 degrees, so Al and I took turns pounding away the 5" of ice on our sidewalk and front steps. It has to be ice and snow free for the movers, who are scheduled to come on Tuesday, barring any more storms. There is still much to do.

Michigan was relaxing yet busy. Saw as many people as we could and enjoyed being together with family and friends. The nieces are all growing so much and becoming independent. Zachary, the oldest, and the only boy, keeps a tight reign on the little ones. He's very protective and caring.

Flying tip #34: Flying with a 16-month-old works better with benedryl.

As you may have noticed, Christmas cards didn't happen this year. Nor will thank you's. Just know that all of you who have been praying for us and helping us out in small ways or big, we're thinking of you and we appreciate you. For the rest of you....well, nevermind ;-)

I read all the Christmas cards & letters last night by candlelight. It was lovely. I felt like I was Jo in Little Women.

Flying tip #45: When flying with a husband, pack something other than a sandwich.

Hope all the Christmas celebrations were fun and reflective for you and yours.

Til next time..........

http://www.extremeinstability.com/06-12-31.htm
I hope you can click this link and be taken to some amazing photos of our ice storm.
http://www.extremeinstability.com/06-12-31b.htm
These are follow up photos from the same photographer, taken all w/in a 25mile radius of us.