3's Company

This picture was taken around Christmas, but it's a regular occurence.  Gabe, Abbie and Lizzie, in various stages of dress-up and accessories, toting any number of dolls, guns or other items, sharing and fighting about where to sit and who sits where.  The past few months have been filled with many days at the greenhouse... some of which Aaron has joined them.  Just this morning Abbie met Lizzie with, "Hi, cousin."

These three seem to always travel together.  When Gabe is on the lawn mower belting out "All Aboard!" ... you can be assured that Lizzie and Abbie are nearby with a boarding pass.  At lunchtime, they have assigned seats at on their stools, with boy plates and girl plates.

Someday, these events will be replaced with car rides to the movies, trips to sporting events, double/triple dates and countless other outings.  They will indeed be harassing Aaron for a ride long before they have their own permits.

I grew up 1/2 a mile from four of my cousins, the Wollbergs (Brandon, Chris, Ryan and Heidi).  At the time, we may have taken for granted the luxury of each other's friendship.  My Dad and his sister were close, so we spent many days and evenings together.  I can remember summer nights of basketball games near the machine shed, days jumping on the trampoline (with the sprinkler running on the underside), showing livestock at the county fair together, taking turns on the Atari, fishing with Grandpa and Grandma Schlueter and numerous other fond memories.

Living close to family was always a plan for Ann and I.  We grew up close to our cousins, and wanted our children to have the same experience.  I hope our kids treasure the memories they make with their cousins, just as we did when we were young.

How many days until Spring?

My wife, Ann, hates the winter months. Once Christmas ends, its a long haul until the first signs of Spring. We try to spend time out at her parent's greenhouse business... being inside the humid and heated plastic houses gives you a bit of a reprise from the cold outside.

I also can't wait until Spring. We own and operate a restaurant and catering business, and the first four months of the year are slow and boring. Nothing exciting happens... in fact, we are excited to even see a wedding reception during these months. Ann and I always tease that the time of year when we have the most time to do things (Winter) is the time when we have the least money because our business is slow. Then when we have the cash flow at the business (Spring & Summer) we don't have the time to do anything.

So, to pass the time, we play games, read books and wrestle with our children as much as possible before their bedtimes. Then I kick back in recliner while Ann lounges on the couch. She rarely makes it past 9:30, but then again, she gets up a bit earlier than I do... something about exercising with Gilad on Fit TV. I don't care who Gilad is at 6:15 am... as long as he doesn't disturb my sleep.

Here's to a short winter and an impatient Spring (hoping is gets here soon!).

Aaron... the sensitive one.

Little people are funny. They melt your heart one moment and then they do something you don't understand. Aaron is our son, he is 5 and has a 19 month old sister, Lizzie. He is into dressing like an army man, loves to farm with his uncles and grandpas, thinks our retired neighbors have all the coolest gadgets and "stuff" (they do have some cool gadgets), is picky about most things we put on his plate and really does have an extensive imagination.

If you were to ask Aaron, he would tell you that his body has two tubes. One in front and one in back. Their role varies from time to time, but if he coughs, something most likely went down the 'back tube' instead of the 'front tube.' If he actually understood a ruminent stomach, he would say he has one... Aaron has 'sections' for certain foods. When he has had enough pasta, he will say his 'noodle section' is full.

Just like any person his age, Aaron's curiousity gets the best of him. Last night he decided to lock the deadbolt on the bathroom door, assuming (I later discovered) that his sister might interrupt him. After finally discovering where the screaming was coming from, I found that he had locked himself in. He was unable to switch the lock back, so I had to kick the door down. Did I mention that Aaron has a very soft heart, which means he loves everything and is very emotional about silly things... sometimes. So, as you can imagine, Aaron had gone into 'orbit' about me having to kick in the door. He didn't need any discipline, he was already beside himself.

Ann (my wife) and I laughed later, remembering the time she had called 911 because her parents weren't home. And I remember an incident with a large number or round bales on fire at our farm when I was younger. Kids are great, even when they're not. We love them, laugh at them and most importantly, they remind us that sometimes we take ourselves too seriously.

Tradition!

Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving at our house. For the past few years, we have headed to Savannah, Mo. to Schweizers Orchard. For $30 you get a hayrack ride to the field and a saw to cut down your tree of choice.

This year we made sure to get a taller tree than before. They always look bigger than they actually are when you get them home. But our judgement about a tree's size comes with a reminder that a few years ago we had to trim almost two feet off of our in-law's tree.

We thought about how our kids viewed the first appearance of a tree in our house and wondered when peope decided to bring a tree inside to celebrate the holidays. I found a web site that gave a bit of insight into the reason we use a fir tree. There is also more interesting information on this site. http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html.

Traditions: Christmas Trees and Ornaments
The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time.

The most important thing we have learned about fresh trees is to cut off 1/2" before placing in the stand... and be sure to water often. There are more suggestions on the National Christmas Tree Assocation web site.

Enjoy this holiday tradition with your family... whether you prefer a fresh tree or one from a box (Ha!)

Turkey Day Cometh

It's almost here, Thanksgiving that is... or 5pm... whatever perspective you have. I'm writing my first blog and hopefully someone will read it.

Thanksgiving has always been about eating a lot of turkey, dressing (can't get enough of this stuff), potatoes - mashed and sweet, pie and whatever other sides seem to arrive. We generally hop in the car and head to Nebraska to eat ourselves into an uncomfortable fit, but this year we talked my Dad and siblings into coming to our place in Tarkio, Mo. We have put off the cleaning for two days, so tonight there will be enough work for all hands.

But let's get back to the food... sometime tonight between 9 and 10 pm the turkey will go on the smoker and with some luck, will be done perfectly by 6am or so in the morning. We will indeed eat more than we should, enjoy each other's company as a loving family should, and of course find time to watch some football.

Let's hope that somewhere between all the action and eating, we take a moment to be thankful for what really matters. In 2 Corinthians 9:15 it is written "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" We truly have reason to be thankful. God's indescribalbe gift in this passage is grace. What comfort we have in knowing that forgiveness lies in our ability to admit fault and place our trust in God. His grace will save us.

When you gather this weekend to say your family prayer of thanksgiving. Be sure to thank God for all that is important in your life. And thank him for his gift of grace.

I know that I will be surrounded by my blessings - my wife, my children and my family... I hope you are surrounded by the blessings that have been given to you.