Article in Banner

Mike was reading the Banner yesterday and ask me to share this poem with you all:

Psalm 139
Alzheimer's Version

Listen, Dad,
God sees you, he knows what's happened, he knows you.
He knows when you sit and when you sleep.
He knows your tangled thoughts; he knows them straight.
He knows when you're not here and where you are and when you're gone.
He knows your ways.
Before your words are lost before they get to your tongue, he knows what you were about to say, what you meant.
He knows you.

There's nowhere you can go, Dad, where God won't go with you, where God's Spirit won't comfort you, can't hold you.
As your light turns to night, even this darkness won't hide you.
God sees you clearly because dark is light to him.
He'll go with you.
And he thinks of you, Dad, often.
The number of times, the many ways God cares for you, if we tried to count them, would outnumber sand on a beach.
So you can rest easy, while we count.

We're counting Mom's tears.
We're counting the slights, the indignities, the affronts to your good pride.
We're counting the frayed edges, the missing pieces of your lost person.
But we'll get through this, Dad,
because when you awake - everyday and someday - you will be with him.
And someday we too will awake with him, with you.
-Richard J. De Waard

Disney on Ice!

Sawyer - showing me his Buzz Lightyear that he purchased with his money!!

Bonnie and her three girls(two daughters and one daughter-in-law), Becky and her two kids, and myself with Jamie and Sawyer(pictured up above-Brad and Kerri's boy) went to Disney on Ice Friday evening in Sioux City - we had a great time and it was quite a performance!

Nemo and Dori - off of the movie Nemo - the costumes were awesome!

Mulan's dragon

All the prince and princesses!!

Marcus is 16!!!

We were in Cedar Rapids for state volleyball tournament on Saturday and found out that we could get Marcus' license there and that the bureau was on the same road as our hotel. So Marcus woke up on time Saturday morning and we went and got in this line(which looked worse than it was) and 20 minutes later we have another driver in the family!! YEAH!!

We celebrated with many friends (30 of them) at Applebees before the championship game that afternoon.

Yes - it was an exciting day and Marcus slept ALL THE WAY HOME - it's hard work turning 16.

Also, Western did win the championship game in three - we are state champs again. Western has won volleyball championships seven of the last eight years and the one year that they didn't (2005) they were 2nd. They have quite a program going and it's so fun to go and watch them.

Happy 40th Mike!!!

The sign outside of Kooima Company today!!!

It was amazing how they could get this picture out there - it was pretty cool - these screens ran all day at Kooima Company. Mike had a great day and he is an awesome guy - wish him the best cuz he sure deserves it!! Love ya babe even though you are over the hill :)

Just Wondering!

Do you think that these two are related at all??

Just love this photo - had to share - enjoy your weekend - we woke up to 27 degrees this morning and very windy - it's COLD today!!

Pictures from trapping

The total from the first day - 21 animals and here they are!!!

Marcus and Jamie with a nice mink!

The boys working hard!

Jamie asked Mike for a pair of waders so next year she could walk in the water as well :)

This is the reason farmers call Mike - they want him to get rid of these beavers so they quit making so much damage to trees and corn!!!

1st day - 21 animals

2nd day - 25 animals

3rd day - 21 animals - we will see what today brings!

Trapping has begun!!

The trapping season is here - Mike and Marcus set 74 traps on Saturday - Sunday we went to church and afterwards went out as a family and checked them all. Mike let Marcus check them all and we watched and yes I took pictures but Mike has the camera along again today so will have to post them later. We had a great time and it was gorgeous weather - I packed dinner and we ate on the back of the truck by the river - was a great day. We trapped 15 muskrats, 3 racoons, 2 mink, and 1 BIG beaver. Will post pictures soon!!