Oh Gus

After our adventures with a mouse in the house, Bill thought we should put the sticky traps around to make sure we would catch another mouse if it entered our house. Thankfully there were no more mice!  However, we did catch a Gus.

 It was quite the process attempting to free Gus from the sticky pad...

Strength

It is amazing where you can find strength when you need it most.

In the past couple of years, Bill and I joke about our life "theme song". We were listening to the radio a few years back while we were dealing with stuff and heard the words of Tom Petty's song I Won't Back Down. Here are the words if by chance you don't know them:

Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down

Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down

Well I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down

We kind of feel like we have been at the gates of hell and that life's blows have tried to drag us down but we are not backing down! We are not giving up. I am not sure of Tom Petty's religious background or what the true intent was of this song, but man does it exemplify Christianity for us. Seriously, think about it. God isn't going to stop loving us and taking care of us, he isn't going to back down just because we act like idiots and do stupid things. He forgives us every time we lash out or do something hurtful or not within our values.
Every time I hear this song, it gives me a little boost and reminds me to hang in there and to stand my ground! 

Here is a little Youtube link if you need a quick listen ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvlTJrNJ5lA

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month.

This week was full of dark nights and pretend smiles during the days. Today, I feel I can finally be myself and take some time to heal again. It is amazing to me how many things do not matter to me and I find insignificant but I try so hard to respect other's worries and problems. I know that each experience causes us to handle situations differently. What is a crisis to some, does not even crack a worry for others. It is all in the perspective of the moment. Trying to find that balance of respect for others is important to me and I try to remember my values when I want to just cry from hurtful words.

This week was full of memories.

Monday night we lit Sophie's candle, read through her book and went through those days surrounding her birth. All across the world, people lit candles for lost babies.

Tuesday evening we went to a Memorial Service that was full of tragedies and fellowship. We were able to spend time with people who understand this part of our life. There was a slideshow of pictures of our babies lost too soon and it was painful and wonderful to watch.
Our nurse, who was with us from the moment we saw Sophie's lifeless body on the ultra sound and stayed with us through Sophie's birth, also lost a son. Her son Andrew's picture came across the screen and I felt like someone punched me in the heart but also opened my heart as well. So many mixed feelings.
Another family who lost their son, Preston, to SIDS, was very kind to us sharing their loss and hope. Preston's picture scrolled across the screen and all I could think about was that they were again facing another situation with their other son in the hospital recovering from a life-threatening injury.
Baby after baby, picture after picture scrolled across and the only thought I had was, Why? Why do all of these babies die? Why do family have to feel this heart-wrenching pains? I will never get the answer to that question but I do know that even though the grief waves hit hard and it feels that everyone is so insensitive, God isn't. God cares, he provides hope and love for us. He is always there and never leaves us, even in those dark nights.

No matter how painful and hard life can be. I know we are a family, we love each other and God loves us.

Romans 5:5 
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

Leaf Watchers

My friend Steph used to live in Duluth and would always make fun of the people who would travel there during the fall to watch leaves.
Bill and I are, in fact, leaf watchers. We LOVE to go back home and check out the valley to watch the leaves change.
Here are few pics from this past weekend.

The Magnum

I said goodbye to the Magnum a few weeks ago. I was actually kind of sad to see it go, a little anyway. This was the first car we purchased and it worked pretty well for us for many years. It was time, however for it to go. Bill got a new pick up and I got the other Dodge pickup back to drive. Just in time for $4.00 per gallon gas. Goodness sakes! O-well, hopefully this will work for a little while. 

Baptism Day

Last weekend we were blessed to be apart of Mr. Drew's baptism day!

Drew's mommy has been my buddy, well since I was born:) It is such an honor to be Drew's godparents. Bill and I think he is about as cute as cute can be and we are both so very thankful to have the Olson family in our lives!

Garden Time

After the hail storm and the accidental crop spraying incident, Becky and Dale finally have their awesome gardens back this year.

Here are the grape vines.

A berry patch area.

The boys had fun on their bikes while we were checking out the gardens.

Carter thought the electrical fence was pretty darn cool. 

 Morgan and Lissa had fun walking out on the road.

There are actually several pumpkins ready too!

There are many varieties of pumpkins, squash, melons, okra, potatoes and much much more!

Here are the sand cherries, cabbage and I believe lettuce.

It is hard to see but the dill is in this area. I would have gotten closer but there were snakes back there when I was growing up. Even though there supposably hasn't been one in years, it could happen!

Tomatoes!