Block wall project #485

Thought I'd share some of the changes going on around our household...This new block wall area will receive some mulch...and make the presentation of our home a bit more welcoming....maybe. I'm thinking siding is next...though I don't notice the unfinished-ness of it...I love it here...love the home that God has blessed us with...and know how far we've come here...lovin' it every step of the way. though I could do without all the mud. just a suggestion.



what have we here?

they make working in the wind and rain look stylish, do they not?

Will was cute here...he knew I had the cam pointed at him...kept his face behind his hand, looked up and I got 'im.

3 days and counting, muchacho...

My little retaining wall expert...and ain't he cute?

Shovel it, Jeff. we "dig" your hat too. how very Skipper of you.~

~Greetings on this mild, yet not so mild Wednesday, here in the Midwest. It's 57 degrees, and while the temps are mild, the wind and rain that is on it's way is NOT. ~

~warning: deep thoughts...leave now if you must....~

~I set off on my first two of 10 miles today, and while it was sprinkling a bit...I figured I'd be safe to get it started without much moisture. Ha. ha. The God of all Creation had other plans. But ya know what? it was kinda cool. to watch those trees sway back and forth in the forceful winds and to see and feel the rain drench me physically...was quite spiritual. I always try to use my exercise experiences as a worship time (and not worship of myself, mind you)...sometimes, I can't help but raise my face up to the sky...or (gasp!) raise up my hands. I was raised so very conservative BAPTIST...and we don't do that usually in this denomination. I'm not so very conservative Baptist anymore...I'm more and more just a forgiven child of that Creator of this amazing universe and planet Earth. Whatta place to be! Emmanuel. God IS with us! whoa. Adonai...I lift up my heart...and I cry...My Adonai...maker of each moment...and a really good reason to CHOOSE that JOY (right Shellee??)....It's so easy to forget that God has given us these moments...and how we respond...man, that is deep.

~Ok, well thanks for letting me get deep on ya...I do occasionally have some pretty deep thoughts...it never fails to surprise me. (I just re-read thru it and I sound like a whack job, right?)

~God Bless you this day and as you go about your moments...remember, you are being watched (don't mean that to sound creepy)...and you can't change what happens to you or what your circumstances are (usually).... but you can change how you receive those circumstances, situations...and our responses are in our control.

**Shellee...I just have to say this...it was so very nice to talk to you on the phone yesterday. What a completely unexpected surprise and treat....all the way from Nayoro, Japan...(did I spell that right? I lost my paper that I had it written on...) Momma to 8 little boys (whoa...that was NOT a typo, folks) and her and her family are missionaries to the Japanese...more to come on this but Greetings to you, dear Sister in Christ! You are in our thoughts and prayers!

sixteen days to thirty-one

one of my many Becky favorites..

you do big spectacles well...

good momma....

Loving wife...

Ok, so on the whatever day it is of BECKY GOODNESS...my best pal and sister gave to me...

good photo ops

More to come...

3 days to 13

can't believe this was 9 years ago...when E. turned 4...OMGolly

E with P

3 days and counting, kid.

Congratulations Heather & Jeff!

this is the only pic I have of Mrs. J...


My sweet friend and fellow blogger (Our Journey with Jack), Heather, her husband, Jeff, their oldest son, Jack and family pooches Nelson and Maggie, welcomed a new family member today!

Luke Ansel

Monday, February 9, 2009

7 pounds, 9 ounces

20.75 inches

11:12 a.m.

Congratulations and God Bless you

All as you get used to this new little person

and welcome baby Luke into the fold!

We love you!

You are in our thoughts and prayers, kids!

Driveway of "death", museum visit, downtown delights...

our drive can be a bit frightening when we get nasty weather...the thaw brought with it some treacherous conditions...big clumps of wet ice...

watch yourself, there, Daveyboy...

the canyon was swelling with melting snow...ice on either side made the jump across a bit daunting.

Spidey greets ya when you walk into the Children's Museum, in honor of the comic book display that is currently there...Batman's 8th car, the Tumbler, was also on display. I think my pix turned out rather dark!

onto the Lego Castle display...one of the many displays...David, Will, and E's mouths hung open occasionally.

A humongous Lego Knight...

E and armor...horse's armor even...

these really aren't out of order...I stepped out of the crazy busy area to breathe with Molly. There were 425,000 people there on Saturday. 424,000 of which were kids with no parents, apparently.

Lego Knight Dude...how cool is this? not as cool as what is up next....

This Lego Dragon was absolutely the coolest thing...and see her baby in the treasure chest below her? how cute is this? I don't know who these people were but it was nearly impossible to get a pic without some randon person stepping in the way...argh! :)

They had some period clothing on display as well...to go along with the Castle theme...Mel and I decided that we liked the pinkish dress best!

closer view of LegoDragon...neat-o

A Lego Castle Village...

Mel, Levi, Molly and I got out of the crazy Lego display to go to the toddler playscape, but there was a line out the door (wha??) so we walked around, and our amazement continued as to how clueless some people can be. that ramp in the middle of the museum that takes you to each level? yeah, don't stop on it, when there are a gazillion peeps there, unless you want to get clocked by my racing stroller. k? just a suggestion. keep it movin' folks! think of others.

There's a new display at said museum...focuses on kids' who changed history...Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White...a neat yet depressing display...love the history but didn't get to give this the time I wanted..Molly was not having it.

onto the super heroes display...here we have a rather cool guy...Silver Surfer...know him? he's really neat!

Spidey is more our speed!

onto the dinosphere...where we disagree with most of the information posted...but hey, it's a free country, right? it's still neat to see the dino bones and hear the roaring and weather changes. The Creation Museum is definitely a bigger, more awesome version of this place...but that's just my opinion.

The dragons were sporadically placed around the Museum, in honor of the recent Chinese New Year..these are for you, Andy & Christy...I totally dig the colors and all...dragons rock.

on to the train display...

my book-ends...enjoying the miniature train village....

isn't this a cute little miniature?

Levi looooooooved the train. He wanted to stay on it!

The Chihuly display in the center of ramp...

ok, so this pic and the next? you're wondering why I'd post these? yikes. spookalicious, right? yeah. This abandoned hospital is right next to the museum...in fact, in 2002, my mom had some surgery here...and even then, it was a little freaky...but this is what it's like now...I say, torch the place...it's just too creepy. and yet, we have new buildings being raised all around it...the museum has a new section being built as I type...what gives? we are so warped in this society.

entrance to ex-Winona Memorial Hospital - a definite Scooby Doo mystery for sure!

these next pix were taken at the Central Library for Marion County, Indiana...the American Legion Mall...it's funny because as long as I've lived here, I've never been in this particular area...it's a little eerie to me.

old section of library....much cooler than the new part....

amazing....

these little mummies are on all of the old bookshelves...how cool, huh?

no Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace!

in just looking at these pix now, I'm getting all swoony and light-headed. I kid not. this is on floor #6 and the glass window is right there at the edge. I'm going to toss my cookies.

Hello Levi Pokaheadup

the view from Floor #6...

outside the new section of the Central Library. The boys were not impressed with the nakedness..."why are you taking pictures of that Mom??"

Let's blow this pop joint...the library was cool, I guess...I love the history that is there...and I have nothing, whatsoever, against homeless people...but man, there were lots and lots of them at the library, one guy was even sleeping on the bench inside...I was surprised and kinda sad about that. It was interesting to see it.

David was quite fried by this time...but look how cute he is, in spite of it. Whatta dad!

Scottish Rite Cathedral....our next visit downtown will hopefully entail a visit here....

This is an old church that has been made into apartments. hmmm. neat yet kinda sad?

Apartment building from the front....

a neato Vietnam memorial...

a view down Meridian....check out that Soldiers & Sailors Monument (remember our downtown visit to see the lights?)

This has just about done me in so I'm outta here but wanted to get these posted for you...whoever you are! (U know who u are)....happy Monday, folks!