February Fun

Since swimming in the creek last weekend, we've been back down to the frigid zero degree temperatures, and then back up to 50 on Friday. What a roller coaster! We were very happy for the beautiful weather Saturday. Tyler and Kathy are away for the weekend, so the boys and I had planned to take a short trip to see a local historical site. Columbus Junction has a really nice swinging bridge. I pitched it to the boys as "going to see the Indiana Jones bridge". When we were almost in Columbus Junction, Wyatt said, "I don't think this bridge will be the same bridge Indiana Jones was on."
After the big build up, I was a little concerned that they'd be disappointed when we actually saw the bridge, but they both were very excited and interested. We stayed longer than I expected, just running across it and feeling it bounce and swing. If you have never been to Columbus Junction to see their swinging bridge, we recommend that you do so!
We think that we could build a swinging bridge and hope to try it during summer vacation. We're going to start gathering building materials and making plans. Naturally, our progress will be reported here, if indeed we actually get to build.
We stopped to play at the Denning Conservation Area near Houghton on our way home. We were the only ones there for quite a while. Another family with three little girls came, and they eventually started communicating with the boys. Actually, chasing the boys would be a better description. They chased and chased until they were worn out and their parents told them it was time to go. After they left, the boys wondered "why did those girls chase us". I just told them to get used to it, and keep running....that girls would be chasing them from now until one lucky girl catches a husband!


Denning Park is a very nice playground, very secluded and quiet, but the neighboring fields have recently been fertilized with organic waste, so the air wasn't as fresh as we would have liked. Otherwise, it's a great place to take the kids!

January Thaw!

With the last day of January having sunshine and temperatures in the fifties, we enjoyed playing outdoors. We were not really planning to get wet, but when we fell through some soft ice on the creek, the boys decided to enjoy the water. I also went through the ice and got wet, but I wasn't cold, so I figured that we wouldn't have to head back to the house unless someone complained.
They were already wet, so why not have some fun!



As we were walking back home, Zach said, "We always have fun when we come to your house, and sometimes it's kind of weird fun." I think he must have thought that playing in the creek in the winter is weird. I don't really know. I do know that they both thought it was more fun than playing Wii! And, I happen to know that they love playing Wii.

Can't Argue With Dr. Rogers!

The following came to me in an e-mail. Perhaps you've seen it. I think he's completely right about this, and I can almost hear him saying:

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~

Comments?

My Best Shot of the Day!

Taken just an hour ago!

One of the comments on this post warrants adding here for all to see.

1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in the whole earth!
You have made your glory
higher than the heavens.
2 You have made sure that children
and infants praise you.
You have done it because of your enemies.
You have done it to put a stop to their talk.
3 I think about the heavens.
I think about what your fingers have created.
I think about the moon and stars
that you have set in place.
4 What is a human being that you think about him?
What is a son of man that you take care of him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.
You placed on him a crown of glory and honor.
6 You made human beings the rulers over all that your hands have created.
You put everything under their control.
7 They rule over all flocks and herds
and over the wild animals.
8 They rule over the birds of the air
and over the fish in the ocean.
They rule over everything that swims in the oceans.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in the whole earth!
---Psalm 8 (NIV)
Thanks, Chris!

Living Insight from Chuck Swindoll....

With temperatures soaring up in the low to mid thirties today, we took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. We started off playing "Fox and Geese" on the pond (frozen, of course). After some time though, this fat, old, out of shape goose was weary, so we moved on through the woods just shooting at stumps with the BB guns. We ended up walking along the big creek, which was fairly solid, but had some open and flowing water. I let the boys go check it all out, warning them to test the ice, and not get too close to the open water. Well, here are the pictures, showing that they really didn't heed my advise.










Zach did fall in, but was able to catch himself, so he didn't get soaked. We got cold pretty quickly after that though, because he was a bit wet. So, instead of staying out and playing longer, we had to head back to the house sooner than we would have otherwise.


As we got back inside, I thought to myself how I too, sometimes like to be right on the edge. Maybe you have times that you also enjoy playing too close to the edge, I don't know. What came to my mind, and what I'm attempting to convey here is that we do often tend to linger just at the edge of the forbidden. Living on the Ragged Edge came to my mind, and I hope Chuck doesn't mind being quoted here, but on page 4 in the study guide of Living On The Ragged Edge by Charles R. Swindoll he points out some conclusions drawn from the life of Solomon.
The sensual lure of something better tomorrow robs us of the joys offered today.
In our case, the thrill of playing at the edge, on thinner ice, robbed us of the joy of staying out longer today. We came in because the boys were lured into a "thrill" and it ended up sending them back to the house.
The personal temptation to escape is always stronger than the realization of its consequences.

Again, in our case, the temptation to enjoy the thrill of perceived danger was stronger than the realization of its consequences. They didn't think about having to go back in once they were wet!


I'll leave you to draw your own applications. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
I think we're going to play Sorry. How ironic!
But first....here's a picture of the little woodsmen sitting in our favorite red bud tree.

Record Setting Cold!

We were about the only school in the area to have classes today! Our temperature was about 14 below zero. School started two hours late, and after lunch I am driving the third grade classes to Keokuk for Bald Eagle Appreciation Day. I'm hoping to get some really good pictures. I came home mainly to get my camera, because I forgot to grab it when I left for the morning run.
Here at our house, the bird feeder is abuzz with activity. I counted 18 beautiful, bright red cardinals at one time in and around the feeder. They can go through a 50 pound bag of seed quickly!

Sunday Afternoon Fun!

After church, and a fine dinner at Mom and Dad's, Tyler, Dennis and the boys went ice racing with Michael on Kern's pond. It was a perfect day for it...not too cold, but cold enough! The pond had about 8 inches of ice.

Tyler put ice screws on all their tires, as did Michael and Dennis. Without those, they would have no traction. Tyler and Dennis have done this before, but it was a new experience for the little guys. Of course, they loved it. They wanted to keep going after the old guys were ready to go, but there will be other days.





































These big boys will race anything. You may not notice unless you inspect this picture closely. There are two motorcycles and one four wheeler trying to beat each other around the corner. Dennis is leading, with Michael coming along inside going for the pass. Tyler's behind it all, just waiting for his opportunity to pass them both.
Tyler did this jump several times, coming up the pond levee and jumping about 60 feet out onto the pond. Dennis went over to stand in as a "measurement" for height, and Tyler went over his head! Dennis is over 6 feet tall, and he couldn't believe it!

Remember When.....

I've been doing quite a bit of reminiscing lately. I'm sure much of the reason I seem to be spending so much time "in the past" is due to the project that seems to be consuming so much of my time these days. At any rate, I've been remembering things that seem to be forgotten in today's world. For example, do you remember when...
Hubingers (yes, back then Roquette America was Hubingers) had an 8 o'clock, noon and 4 o'clock whistle that could be heard all over town?
Main Street was two lanes with diagonal street parking?
Kids fished in the pond at Rand Park?
The Keokuk Saddle Club was almost out of town?
Keokuk Hamilton bridge was a skinny little toll bridge? (most will remember this...because it is fairly recent)
Lee County Sheriff threw candy (Tootsie Rolls, of course) at kids when he saw them on the streets? And he always had a big German Shepherd with him too.
Graham Hospital and St. Joe Hospital?
The OLD public library? And the NEW library?
J. C. Penney's on Main Street?
The Apex Discount store?
Fun family outings such as walking the railroad tracks, biking River Road to Sandusky, boating, swimming and skiing on the Mississippi? Family reunions, where even the adults played softball?




Well, New Year's Eve, we were invited to Rockhold's for food and games. We had a wonderful time, and I wish that I'd taken more pictures, but while we were playing, we had to laugh at how things have changed. First, when we were kids, on New Year's Eve we would likely have been at church for the Watchnight service, which included food, fellowship, fun and games, as well as a time of worship. In addition, back then we would NOT have been playing cards! Although my family was a bit more liberal in that area, there were many who wouldn't play a game with a deck of playing cards. Yet, here we are, playing Texas Hold'Em with even the preacher and his wife! We had to laugh about that.
Back then, there were so many things that a proper and refined person just did not say or discuss. Apparently, that's not so any more either!
Certainly, things have changed.
Good or bad? What do you say?

Happy New Year

We have so enjoyed all the family gatherings over the holidays. We spent New Year's Day with Kuzzin Bubba and his Momma. As always, that was quite entertaining! Of course, there was plenty of great food, fellowship, fun and games. There were more than 100 in attendance, which may seem like a large crowd to some. However, last year I believe there were 130, so I think there were many who were unable to be there this year. We missed them, but it was, never the less, a very good time. I am very thankful for our family!



Here's Wally, wearing the "wild card" Chicken Hat! He had the option to exercise the power of the wild card and take a gift from anyone present IF he was willing to meet the requirements of the Wild Card Option. He chose to do so, and took a set of pliers from one of the young men. Of course, the person from which he took the pliers got to keep the Chicken Hat. Both seemed very pleased with the trade.



We have just one more family party to go. We'll be celebrating with the Mann family on Saturday. I'm hoping that all of them will make it. We don't live so very far apart, but it seems that we only see one another about twice a year, so we're looking forward to a good visit.

Happy New Year!

Posted By Request....

Since you asked, here are my photos taken of the eagle perched in our tree last Saturday. At least I think it was Saturday. We've been so unscheduled since the last day of school it's hard to keep track of days. I wish I'd walked a little closer to the tree, but didn't because I was afraid it would scare him away. We really enjoyed watching him, but have not seem him around here since Sunday. We're seeing plenty of the little songbirds though! In fact, today we're going to have to run to town for more bird feed! They eat unbelievable quantities, and the birds that come seem to announce to every bird in the county that we're serving, so the flocks keep getting bigger. We enjoy watching them though, and will continue throughout the winter. Many times recently, we've seen so many colorful birds in and around the feeder that it would seem the bushes are beautifully decorated. I'm ever amazed at the variety and beauty of each species. God made the heavens and the earth we see so beautiful, it's hard to imagine how beautiful heaven will be!






This may be my last post until after Christmas, so let me leave you with a Christmas card greeting.




When you get right down to it, He's the only thing that really matters. Merry Christmas to you!