Band, Band, and more...Band.

Nathanael has been involved in Mattanocook Junior High's bands. He is the youngest member of the Jazz Band, a member of the 7th and 8th grade band, and the Band Ensemble. Here is a picture of the Ensemble being honored at the recent Christmas concert. The concert was good and Nate had a solo part in a Jazz Band piece, and the whole trumpet section had a solo during one part of the concert. It was crazy trying to get to a place where I could see to record . The videos are awful and the sound....terrible, but I loaded them along the side anyway. The concert was so much better in person. I think I'll ask for better video equipment for my birthday.

Happy Christmas!

Here's some pictures of our recent Christmas play. We had several instrumental specials that were so nice. This is Dillan and Lindsay playing sax and clarinet duet Mikayla

Nathanael, Hollie, Brett, and Mikayla

James, Rebecca, and Jim

Julianna and Josh, the cutest Mary and Joseph ever.

Dillan, Brett, and Mikayla

Well, so much for getting back to the blog BEFORE Christmas. Things were just too busy around here, plus our computer decided to fry it's hard drive. We had an ice storm that knocked out the power for a awhile, and a nor'easter that dumped two feet of snow on us. Nothing major. The kids practiced for band and church Christmas performances. Nathanael plays trumpet in two different bands at the Junior High, and then for Christmas, his teacher formed a special ensemble with her best students. So, he went to the school Monday through Friday to get ready for the Christmas concert. The concert was great, and then during the concert his teacher called on him to play a solo that he had to completely improvise. He did great, and we are so pleased with how well he is doing with his trumpet. All three kids were in the church Christmas play. Alana sang in the children's choir. Nathanael and Mikayla both had parts in the play. Nathanael played his trumpet in a trumpet trio and Mikayla played the piano for congregational singing. I think she plays better than her mom now. We had a great Christmas together as a family, with my parents coming over for the day. I made the traditional Swedish (or are they Norwegian? I've always wondered .) pancakes for breakfast. This year I was smart and borrowed Mom's cast iron skillet, and they really came out better than ever. I also made the traditional krum kakke(How does one spell that? And again, are they Norwegian or Swedish? Maybe we'll just say that they are Scandinavian). Mom claims that I stole the krum kakke iron, but really, I just borrowed it last year and never gave it back. Last year, I made krum kakke for everyone in our church and we delivered a tin of them to each family's home. That took forever, and it just didn't happen this year. Another thing that didn't happen was a big turkey dinner. We like to relax and enjoy the kids on Christmas, so I bought some fish and Mom made a big pot of New England fish chowder. Easy and yummy! Thanks Mom! I haven't gotten my camera's software onto the "new" computer yet, so look for pictures of the play and our Christmas at a later date. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Well, here are some pictures of our Christmas play. Along the side under "Favorite Videos" there is a trumpet trio (Nathanael played the harmony part and his music fell off the podium near the end. We thought he did great to just pick up the melody and finish off with hardly a pause.), and a little video of the cutest Mary and Joseph ever.

Ok,

Our computer is on the fritz so i have not been able to update this here blog for a while. But, have not fear, we shall return. Hopefully before Christmas.

Thankful---Full of Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving, All! I'm still in the Thanksgiving spirit, even though Black Friday has come and gone, and others are well on their way into Christmas debt. I still have pumpkin candles burning and my pretty Thanksgiving center piece on the table. I always thought that Thanksgiving got pushed aside to make way for the more commercial holiday, and I have always felt a bit sad about it. My husband and I felt full to the brim with thanks this year, and it would take the entire page(or more) to list all the things that we are thankful for. Our enthusiasm spilled over onto the kids, too. Here is just a few things that were on our thankful list this year.

1. Written on a turkey shaped piece of construction paper with various and sundry colored feathers sticking out..."GRANDPA IS BETTER AND GRANDMA LIKES THAT! ME TOO"(Lanie)

2. "Mama, do you know what is really great? GRANDPA CAN COME TO CHURCH ALL THE TIME NOW, WHICH IS WHAT HE LOVES TO DO!"(Nathanael)

3. Overheard while on the phone to a friend..."GRANDPA IS SO MUCH BETTER THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SKIP TREATMENTS NOW AND THEN, WHICH IS BETTER FOR GRANDPA , GRANDMA, AND THE REST OF US WHO GET SO WORRIED!"(Mikayla)
We are all praising the Lord for Dad's health which continues to improve!

4. The Lord gave us the funds for Lanie's oral surgery!

5. Our family is bonded together with strong cords of love. We are healthy, happy, and God has supplied all our needs!

6. The most important...God is still God and in control of everything. We are able to rest in His care, keeping, and guidance of us as His own, dear children.

Several times this Thanksgiving day, my eyes filled, and I had to busy myself with the dinner prep. in order to get contol. And I'm not usually the overly emotional type. But, God has been so good! We are Thankful this Thanksgiving! Full of Thanks!

Mikayla and Nathanael played a duet for an offeratory at church the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I wish that I had taken video of that since they played it on the church's grand piano. But they were willing to do it again at home for me. It is along the side with our favorite videos. Enjoy!

Psalm 150
Praise ye the Lord. Praise him in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltry and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Fall Recital

The kids had their fall recital on Thursday for their music lessons. Grandma took some pictures. I didn't bring mine because I thought that Mikayla had hers, and she thought I had mine so she didn't bring hers either. I was going to video it, but oh, well. This was Alana's very first recital, and she did great! She has been taking voice and piano. Mr. Drinkwater, our teacher, had them choose only one thing to do this time because he has such a large group. So, Lanie picked voice. She sang "I am His, and He is Mine". Those of you who know Alana know how shy she is. So we were happily surprised that she went right up on stage and sang out nice and loud. She WAS glad when it was over, she admitted later. Nathanael played Pacobel's Canon in D beautifully on the piano, and Mikayla played Prelude #1 from the Well Tempered Clavichord by Bach. Also, beautifully! Here are Grandma's pictures from after the concert. They are all up on the stage receiving certificates for their accomplishments.

Who Am I?

So, at the Harvest Party, the kids also were dressed like a Bible character, object, or animal. We had some great entries at the party. Our family had a good time getting our costumes together. Can you guess who they are? Hint: Alana is Egyptian, but she is not Pharaoh's daughter. Nate is a thing, not a person. Mikayla is a Hebrew woman, but which one?

Pumpkin Creations

Well, I lost my camera for a time. We thought someone may have stolen it, but it had gotten thrown out with the trash somehow.The moral of the story: "Never leave your camera in a plastic shopping bag". But, now I have some catching up to do. At the end of Oct. we had a Harvest Party for our youth groups. We had a pumpkin decorating contest. So, here are the kids entries.

Nathanael's Patriot eating alian pumpkin.

Lanie with her princess Pumpkin. She used heart shaped cookie cutters for stencils.

The Finished Pumpkin Creations.

Another Great Soccer Season Down!

Here is a photo story that I made for Mikayla of her 2008 soccer season. She played great and worked hard. She was a starting half-back. Great Season, Mikayla! We're so proud of you!

More for Grandma

My Beautiful Babies

A friend of ours that works with Terry would like to take pictures professionally. She asked Terry if she could take pictures of our kids to show potential customers her work. Then she gave us the cd. I think she did an awesome job! Here's just a few.

She Did It!

Drum roll, please! Alana has learned to ride her bike! Yippee! I was worried that she would never reach this childhood milestone. She would never get on it even when we had training wheels on it. When I made her try, she just cried and seemed paralyzed by fear of falling. Since all her friends, and many much younger friends, are riding, she was really feeling bad about not being able to. I bought a handle for the back of her bike that claimed to help a child ride within 15 minutes. Although, I scoffed at the idea of any child learning in 15 minutes, let alone a child that was freaked out as much as Alana. I worked very hard with her on Friday, and refused to let her quit or whine. (Mean Mama!) On Saturday, I determined to take her out and work some more. We went to an empty, level parking lot, and I got all ready to use the handle. I started her off, but she took off alone and screamed, "Hey, I'm doing it!" I ran beside her for fear that she would go right out into the road because she hadn't figured out the brake yet. But she was able to steer like a pro. Later, we went up to the High School's track where she rode around and around until she was exhausted. So, the handle was a great purchase although I'm not sure that it took as little as 15 minutes. I guess if you subtract the hour that it took to convince her that she wasn't going to fall, and the next half hour of "You ARE going to give this a try", then just count the next half hour of actually work, well, you get the picture. Anyway , we are so proud of you, Lanie! WOOHOO!

There's a video of her riding along the side.

Camp in the Fall

Yesterday, Terry had a day off with nothing pressing, so we gave the kids a day off from the school routine and headed to camp. We had some work to do out there, and we wanted to enjoy the kayaks before it gets to cold. It turned out to be a very sunny, warm day. It was beautiful out on the lake and we all really enjoyed the kayaks. Mikayla, Nathanael, and I enjoyed sitting out in the lake watching a family of loons. They were very close to us and I wished for my camera. Next time maybe I'll take the chance that it might get wet so that I can get some pics. In my humble opinion, sitting in a kayak in the middle of a quiet lake watching loons has to be the most relaxing thing on the planet!

BARN BURNER!

Stretching out
Rainy and slippery
Mom is staying dry inside the van

Mikayla's soccer team won yesterday, and here are some pictures. Not the best pics I have ever taken, but beggars can't be choosers. If you click on the pictures you can see them a bit bigger. Mikayla is number 7 and plays half-back, if that helps. It was rainy and the girls were all slipping and sliding around the field, but they played so well. It was a great game, or a "Barn Burner" as Terry would say. It was like watching a completely different team than just two weeks ago. AND...Mikayla had two assists and one shot on goal. YOU GO, GIRL!

Have You Ever??!! Just For Fun.

Here's a fun list that I pirated off the blog of a cousin that I don't know but wish I did. I think we would have a great time together. You can cut and paste it and then bold or italics the things that you have done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it!!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the NorthernLights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment(I think this runs in the family)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (never quite brave enough for this one)
27. Taken an ice cold bath(Why would anyone!?)
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking!!
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing(Do rock walls count?)
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland( I wish!)
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone - verbal not physical
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did (like inventing the dishwasher!)
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name -best day ever!( Are we talkin' marriage here?)
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating( I guess the hunter's safety course was a waste, aye?)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours. (Most fun I'd had in a long time)
106. Raked your carpet(HUH?)
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people (I think there may be a few...)
109. Worn a mood ring ?that's an embarassing one to admit!
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156.Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous (Pres. Bush )
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale(again, why would anyone!?)
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog( well, duh!)
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course (of course)
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible( does a jeep count?)
198. Found a long lost friend( Thank God for Facebook!)
199. Helped solve a crime

More Blessings and Other Stuff

Well, here it is October already. The fall colors are very vibrant here in Maine this year. So beautiful!

Alana's cold is all better and she didn't have to be hospitalized with pneumonia. Although she did end up with a touch of it, it was treatable at home. I think I'm getting pretty good at knowing what to do with her and when. It would just be "old hat", so to speak, if it didn't WORRY ME TO DEATH! So far the doc's prediction that she will grow out of this has not come to pass. Maybe this will be the year.


I was able to attend a ladies retreat in Camden recently that was really great. I was able to bring along one lady from my church as well my niece, Jessica. We had a good time and it was nice to see where Jess lives and stay with her in Rockland.

Many things have been happening recently which has had Pastor Terry running out of town and here and there. All that gas has left us a bit short in the budget area, so when we headed out to piano lessons yesterday, I had it in my mind to ask our teacher if it would be alright to pay next week. We pay him monthly, and he has said before that if we pay by the second week it is ok, so I figured it would be fine. Before I could say anything, he told me that we were paid up for the next three months. I asked, "How did that happen?" and he said that he was not at liberty to say. WOW! Isn't our God good!?! He knows what we have need of before we even ask. But...how to thank this mystery friend? I'll have to think on that. Lanie's third lesson was yesterday, and she is doing quite well. She is taking voice as well as piano, and we are hoping that these music lessons will help her learn to focus better and give her a boost in her confidence. She has always been so shy!

Mikayla's soccer team won a game the other day. She was pumped to have finally won. All the girls played very well, and we are hoping for a repeat today. She also has a teen retreat this weekend that she is very excited about. It should be a blast with all the kids from all around the state coming. Nate can't wait until he is twelve so that he can go.
Speaking of Nathanael, he is heading off to the junior high school four times a week for either band or a trumpet lesson. He is progressing very fast. His teacher has put him in jazz band, which is actually an honor's band. Why they call it jazz band escapes me. They don't play any jazz as far as I can see, just a little syncopation. Monday is his lesson, Tuesday and Thursday is sixth grade band, and Wednesday is jazz band. If I wasn't so sure that all of this is good for him, it would get old really quick running him over there every day. He also works on hymns to play for church and has played several times for special music. He and a friend that also plays trumpet are working on a duet to play soon. We are so excited to be teaching these young people to use their God-given talents in His service. And what a blessing it is to everyone in attendance.