Happy 21st Birthday Jeffrey

Jeffrey you are soon going to turn 21 years old. We trust you will have a wonderful time celebrating your special day. We will always love you Jeff. We just hope you dress a little bit warmer tomorrow on your 21st birthday then you did on your 3rd birthday. We look forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!

Grade School Days!

On Sunday my best friend from my childhood called as she was driving through Fergus Falls. She had been at a quilt retreat in northern, MN and was headed back to Northfield, MN. There were so many years when all we did was exchange Christmas Cards but as our children are growing we are finding a little more time to reconnect. Nancy was my friend who would walk two blocks west, as I walked two blocks north each school day. We met every morning at "the corner" and walked to school together the rest of the way. We build the best snowforts together, played endless games of scrabble, camped at Meadow Lake in the summer, liked the same boy in fourth grade, and convinced our parents to let us take our first road trip together to Mackinaw Island after graduation. How fun to spend a few hours together on a Sunday afternoon! So,

This is not extra credit!

Imagine being a junior in high school and taking Chemistry. Then imagine backing up and hitting your chemistry teacher's car. This young lady felt so bad when she came in tears to Mr. Risbrudt to admit her driving error. He graciously reminded her that cars can be fixed. Well, it is all in the life of a teacher. But, she won't earn any extra credit! :)

Happy 67th Anniversary mom and dad!

On November 7th , 67 years ago my parents were married. This called for a celebration. How many people get to celebrate 67 years together??!! My parents are living in the Eventide Retirement Community. My dad is 92 and my mother is 89. We are blessed to have them a part of our lives. Here are a few pictures of the day.

Kimmie's Confirmation

The first week-end in May found us in Moorhead at Triumph Church at Kimberly's confirmation. They confirm their students in 9th grade.
This is Pastor Jeff Seaver giving Kimberly the confirmation verse that he choose for her and telling her why he picked it just for her.
Kimmie's confirmation verse
Here is Richard with the confirmand and his sister Carol(Kimmie's mom) and his brother's Chris and Tim.
Here are the women. It was a nice day so we thought one picture should be outdoors. Here I am with Kimmie, her mom and sister Alison and her Aunt Sue from Wisconsin. Believe it or not it was so bright that we could hardly keep our eyes open. Congratulations Kim!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Early one morning Nicholas awoke to sound of Wyld Life students and their leader running up the stairs coming to wake him up! Nicholas has been a part of this in the past as a Young Life leader and this time these young men were repaying the favor. Fortunately for him they arrived with breakfast! Here he is barely with his eyes open!

Here's Wishing Dad a Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to a great Dad and Husband! We hope you have a wonderful day!

A "SWEET" GET WELL WISH !

One day Nicholas recieved a very tasty get well wish from three special friends when he tore his MCL. Erik, Noah and Annika (Levang) Bjorndahl made this get well card for #7. Well, I think they might have had a little help from their mom and dad. The good news is that the card is working. At the doctor yesterday he reported that Nick is 1/3 of the way there. So, we will just sit down and enjoy a treat and let the healing continue. Thank you dear friends!

Side lined photo's

These are some pictures we have snapped of the football season. Since we don't have any to show in uniform we are just going to show a few side line pictures. We have to have some pictures for the scrap-books. Some of these are taken on Senior night. This was a common scene on the sidelines this year....Nick and Adam.
Lauren and Kathryn cheering on their Otters.
.................Mom with two of her favorite guys!..............
The senior moms. What a fun bunch of ladies to hang out and cheer with.
One of my favorite Otter Fans...Kathryn Walvatne
Nick and some of his friends on senior night
.....................THE TRIO....................

Nick's senior poster that mom and Lindsay made.
Introducing the seniors on Tuesday night
.......................The walking wounded........................

Nick and Adam with their mom's and Darin!

"SIDELINED"

Who would have guessed that just half way through the Otter Football season these two young men would be comforting each other on the sidelines. Nicholas tore his MCL last week in practice and Adam fractured his Tibia during the second game of the year. So tonight they enjoyed watching the Viking vs Packer game together.

It's been said that "misery loves company". These two have demonstrated this more then once. In ninth grade they both had pnemonia in their left lungs at the same time and now....they both injure their left legs! We may need to separate them.

The coach has had enough of this. Who says it takes this long to heal a fractured tibia?

Do you think he might be serious?" Could we at least remove the rust from the saw first?

Darin, Adam and Nick or "The Three Muskateers". This was Nick and Adam's response when Darin came downstairs complaining that his leg hurt. With Darin's leg in their grip, they are trying to give him something to really complain about!

So, what does a mother say to her senior son when he hears his season is most likely over? As mother's we have an incredible need and desire to fix a hurt and yet the truth is that sometimes we can't do the fixing. So, as I wash Nick's maroon and gold uniform for the last time and know this is way too early, I wipe my tears. I grab his football shoes and begin to remove the dried mud caked on the leather. I see letters coming through the mud that spell "SCHU" . It is an abbreviation of Adam's last name. It was written by Nick on his shoes after the second game when his best friend fractured his tibia. I keep chipping away at the shoe and a bible reference that has been on all of Nick's athletic shoes for as long as I remember appears Philippians 4:13. "For I can do all things thru Christ who gives me strength". Then I am reminded that it will be His strength that will take our adversity and setbacks and make them building blocks rather then stumbling blocks. That God takes no pleasure in our misfortunes. He doesn't want to see us beaten down in life. But, God does expect us as His children to be overcomers and to achieve His will on earth. So, the first "Friday Night Lights" arrived after Nick's injury. It was more difficult then I imagined. I was sitting by Adam's mom as Nick and Adam were "sidelined" and it was with blurry eyes that I smiled as I saw Nicholas pat his team-mates backs, offer them encouraging words, and "coach" from the sidelines. It was then that I knew the healing process had begun and I was witnessing a true champion's heart.

Monday Night Football Birthday Party

Tonight after football practice Nick had some of the guys from his team over for a little 18th birthday party. I forgot how much food football players can eat! We had footlong hot dogs, nachos and cheese, chili and hot fudge brownie sundae's. These young men find there way to each other's houses many times. It is so much fun to sit upstairs with Richard and hear the gut roaring cheers and laughter from the basement. Every one of the guys here tonight thanked us for the food as they went out the door. The last one left at 10:00PM...many of them toting their book bags having worked on homework as they watched the game. I went downstair to start cleaning up and every dirty plate, cup, napkin, etc...had been picked up, carried upstairs and thrown away. I continue to be blessed by these guys and will miss them when Nick graduates and they go their separate ways. Meanwhile, we have a whole school year to enjoy them. So, come back any time men, we love to have you here.

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS

You are 18 years old today. You were born on a beautiful autumn day. Dad was mowing the yard and was trying to finish but Grandma told him if he didn't quit and take me to the hospital she would drive me and we all know Grandma didn't drive! :) Grandma was getting a little bit nervous. You were born about 4 hours later. You weighed in at 7lbs 4oz and we were very excited to see you arrive. You were our blondie. Lindsay provided the red in the household, Jeff the brown and you the blonde. So, we thought our family was complete! We don't need to tell you who you are or what you are capable of...you just need to always remember that you are a child of God, our son, and we are so proud of you. Happy Birthday young man! We love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY!

Dear Lindsay, We hope you have had a wonderful birthday today. It sounds like it started out very well, breakfast made by your husband and a dozen red roses! Today you are 24 years old! Wow- how can that be? Happy Birthday dear daughter. We look forward to seeing you next week-end!

Another Last Time.......

I have listened to a few mother's talk about their tears sending their first born to school this year for the first time. I along with many of my friends this year are sending our last born to school for the last time. It seems just like yesterday that I was sitting in the hospital room for 16 days helping to keep Nick entertained as his leg was in traction. Yes, he is going to his first day of school in this picture but his first day of school came almost 3 weeks late. Nick chose to take on a culvert with his bike and it didn't work. So, with a cast up to his waist and part way down his other leg and a bean bag chair in the classroom he made it to kindergarten. Now we are seeing him on his first day of his senior year. Thank you Nick for letting me take this picture. I know you didn't want to but I just had to capture this last time. We are thankful this time no teeth are missing and both legs are intact! Have a great Senior Year!

Too Much Time to Spare???

Nick came home one evening after hanging out with a group of friends. We voted and he had to take it out before church the next day. Nice work girls! :)

A Summer At Inspiration Point

Jeff spent this summer working as a counselor at Inspiration Point Bible Camp. I found some of his pictures along with a few that I took this summer and thought they would be fun to post. Many of us have great memories at Bible Camp. So, here they are!
Gas Light Theatre has gotten to be a very popular venue at The Point. Does anyone recognize this guy?
Jeff and his good friend Darren. These two were counselors at camp together this summer but first met when they went to camp in third grade. Now they are enjoying time on the NDSU campus together.
Rabbit Hunt
The Swamp Hike
One of Jeff's cabin groups
I am not sure what all these fruit snack packages are doing on Jeff's face but they are sure having a lot of fun.
Senior High Week
First and Second Grade Camp.......they were a busy bunch!
When these guys stayed at our house for Day Camp in Fergus Falls they had a night out at Applebees. Love those dress coats!