Re-do!

"Mom, don't buy any onesies that say, 'Hi, my name is Zeke!'" Those were my daughter's words the other day. The day after announcing the name they'd chosen for their new baby boy. I'm told that the new choice is really "it"! This has always been Micah's favorite, but Adam has finally climbed on board the bandwagon. :)

 Sullivan Loren Yliniemi...Sly for short. Well, we'll see if it sticks. It's a long time 'til September!

Meanwhile, I received this cute little book in the mail today.

Images from the internet.

Somehow, during the last thunderstorm, something happened to my computer so that my memory card no longer works. I guess this will require a tiresome trip to the computer geek store. Anyway, I found these pics on Google. My copy has an inscription in the front from 1978!! It was inscribed to "Mary Ellen" and the handwriting is hard to decipher, but it's signed "As one Gnome to another!" Fortunately for me, Mary Ellen never got around to writing in the book. I have no clue what I will use it for, but I've wanted a copy ever since I saw one...was it on Pom Pom's blog? Maybe I'll draw gnomes in it!

Well, it's beddy bye time for me. Up early tomorrow.

Have a splendid week, all you gnomely friends and family out there!

And...shalom.

Hallelujah! He is risen!

Have a glorious Easter, everyone!

Lazy old me...

Looks like I've been sloughing off on the blogging! I think it's because I haven't had any great photos to share and I hate to bore you with a long block of prose.

Here's a photo worth sharing. My daughter Micah and her hubby Adam just found out that after 3 girls, they are expecting a BOY. And, they've chosen a name...

 They always find a fun way to announce the gender. They gave the unopened envelope with the gender info to Grandpa Doug (Adam's dad) and he handed Micah the appropriate canister of "smoke". She and Adam were pretty excited to find out that the baby in question is little Ezekiel Loren Yliniemi!

Son Josh, wife Jess and daughter Starry were here for three days. They thought Josh might find a job while they were here, but still no success. This is an economically depressed area, and it's difficult to find jobs that pay enough to support a family. I suggested that they come back in a year, when my lease is up, and maybe we could rent a house together. My extra income just might make it possible. Then they would be here and could get settled in. I would still eventually move in with Micah and Adam, but I think it will be a few years before their dream home becomes a reality, so this could be happening in the interim. Well, life just keeps changing! It was good to see Josh and family for a few days and now they're safely back in Kentucky.
Starry got bored at the restaurant on the way home and decided to decorate her dad's beard...

It was a long day at work...time to veg out! :) Thanks for stopping by. I'll come visit some of y'all if I'm not too lazy!

Shalom upon you all!

Venturing out...

I've been beyond exhausted lately. We're chronically short-handed at work and one more young man got sacked this week. They aren't replacing workers; just expecting us to work harder and take up the slack. About the time the tourists arrive in hordes they will BEGIN the hiring process, if they can find anyone willing to apply. And then we get to train them in in the midst of the seasonal rush. Do I sound bitter? I am SO GLAD this is my last summer with this outfit! (Sorry for the rant.)

Meanwhile, this morning (this is my first full weekend off in a month) I forced myself out of the house and attended my church's Widow's Luncheon. I didn't attend the last one because I'm such a homebody I find it hard to make the effort to drive all the way back into town (12 miles) on a day off. ;) But I'm glad I went. It reminded me that it's good to be part of a fellowship of believers. I enjoyed exchanging stories with the ladies at my table. The lunch of soup, salad and rolls was delicious and we all appreciated the love and effort that went into the event. One of the church ladies who is also part of the worship team is a recent widow and she shared some scripture. We also watched an old episode of I Love Lucy (the chocolate factory one) on a huge screen. It was all fun. I will make an effort to get back to being involved in church. A friend suggested joining a small group, since that might be easier with my work schedule. Church will be a priority next fall when I find a new job.

Oh, and I did take a nice nap when I got home. Feeling much more human!

I so appreciate all of you blogging buddies out there! I really love reading about what's going on in your lives. Keep up the good writing and sharing!

Here is my latest set of ATC's for a swap called For the Love of Scotland.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Don't forget to spring forward tonight! (Note to self.)
Shalom!

Bible Stories...

Do you think that maybe some of the Bible stories we share with younguns should be saved until they're older? Here's an actual conversation between myself and my granddaughters, Audrey and Hazel.

Hazel (age 3): "Grandma, if you eat purple fruit you DIE!"

Me (age 59): "Who told you that?!?"

Audrey (age 4): "Grandma, it's the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil!" (Oh yes she did say all of that.)

Hazel also announced that God is naughty for killing the Egyptians with plagues. AND she chases her sister around saying she's going to kill her because she just learned about Cain killing Abel. And try explaining this...

Don't get me wrong. I want my grandchildren to learn about God and the Bible, but I think some of these stories need to wait until they're able to understand some of our explanations. I was frankly at a loss as to how to clarify things to their little minds. They catch the DIE part and the KILLING parts, but don't understand the WHY parts. Sheesh. We, as adults, haven't got it all figured out and maybe won't until we ask God face-to-face in heaven. So, just wondering what sort of resources you all use for your littles.

Any thoughts? (I never should have let them watch The Prince of Egypt!)

Shalom.

Farewell, Downton Abbey!

I just got to watch the finale of Downton Abbey tonight. I loved it! It was the perfect ending to a perfect series. Now we can just imagine everyone living happily ever after. :)

I spent about 6 hours today babysitting Audrey and Hazel, while Micah and Adele went for Micah's first pregnancy checkup with baby #4. I could slap myself for forgetting to take a camera with me. Those two girls do some pretty cute things, and I managed to miss it all! I got the forbidden plastic recorders off of a top shelf and let them whistle away to their hearts' content. Audrey started composing her own songs with singing and whistling combined. What talent! Besides that they spent lots of time with markers coloring in "velvet" pictures. That was a great Walmart investment! Lots of fun for just about $4.

 These are perforated so you have tons of little separate pieces of art to color. The girls loved them!

 The grandchildren's art gallery is taking shape. The first two are Hazel's, then Audrey's. Son Josh has promised paintings by Nathan and Starry.

Josh and Jess are talking about making another attempt to move to Minnesota. They've tried several times in the past, but health issues for Jess or problems finding a decent job have thrown obstacles in their way. I'm determined not to worry myself sick trying to figure things out for them. I need to allow God to do His work and to provide for them. I'm not God. I need to concentrate on staying close to Him, doing my job as Mom (praying), and keeping an eternal perspective. I suspect God has bigger plans for us than just finding a job and a house, but those things may be used to test and strengthen our faith so we're prepared for bigger things in the future.

In my Bible reading today I was reading Matthew 6:14-15 and I realized that I had not been forgiving others who I felt were sinning against me. My employers. I fuss and complain about what I feel are injustices in my workplace, and it dawned on me that I need to forgive them and just do my best work. Now, may the Lord bring this to my remembrance at work! :)

My latest swap was a Pen and Ink swap. Love that pen and ink!

 The model for this character was carved out of wood. I have a whole bunch of these guys to use as future models. Fascinating!

It's been an action-packed day. I'd better start gearing down for bedtime. Thanks for stopping by!
Much shalom to you and your household!