Day #18.

I am thankful for warmth!

• The warmth of a cozy home.



• The warmth of a family living contentedly together!



• The warmth of hot chocolate...



• The warmth of my blue, fuzzy robe.



• The warmth of the cold, Autumn/Winter time---when you're inside, looking out. :)



• The warmth of communicating with an old friend...



• The warmth of God's love, shining through others.

I am thankful for warmth!

Day #17~

I am thankful for patience! Really and truly, I am! Without patience, this world would be a not so very nice place to live in, agreed? :)

I enjoy caring for children, it is true, but there ARE times when they can test your patience levels to the utmost... As I cared for 10 small children (4 and under) from 9 AM to 3:30PM and then 4 more when the school bus came, until their parents came gradually to pick them up, it was a busy day! One young boy there especially tries everyones' patience, which is why I thank the Lord for giving myself and the other children there the patience to show to him. ;)

I am so glad that God is patient with us, His children, as I'm sure we frustrate Him exceedingly at times!

Day #16...

I am thankful for good health! Last night, I wasn't feeling so good after shooing cows loudly in the cold air for nearly 3 hours, but thankfully, the Lord strengthened me and helped the vitamins and garlic to work and I feel fine tonight. PTL!

It was a busy day once again, and it snowed again. There still isn't much snow that stayed, so it still feels like Autumn.

I worked in town again. Tomorrow I'll be babysitting at Helens' again.

My dad hauled grain again and loaded a hay semi again.

Mother did 4 sessions on people here at home again.

Andrew and Jacob (and Dad and I) worked on fixing up the fence again.

It was a good day. :)

The end~

Day #15~

Tonight, I am thankful that God kept Jacob and I safe while we ran around and around and around for nearly 3 hours, trying to get our cows back in the fence after they broke out. Half the time it was dark out, so driving around on a 4-wheeler and dirt bike could have been dangerous indeed! We ended up herding them all into our East pasture. The cornfield they had been in just had electric wire around it, and they decided not to respect the wire today. It was quite windy out and snowing a bit, so that's probably why they wanted to get out.

We also spent a good portion of our morning making bread, and most of afternoon topping carrots and sorting through them.... Mom and Jacob were in Bismarck and our dad was gone trucking and then had to load up another load of hay to sell to a farmer in Texas.

Please pray that Jacob and I stay well, as I don't feel so good right now, plus I'm a bit hoarse from hollering.......

Day #14~

Today, I am so very thankful for the talents that the Lord has placed in each and every one of us! May we know how to use them for His glory!

This evening, my mom, Andrew and I made the 60 mile journey to Bismarck to watch and listen to a group of talented actors and singers from Chicago who put on the play, "Fiddler on the Roof"! It was SOOOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!! I will remember it for ever, if my memory holds out that long. :)

There were so many "Favorite" songs to listen too:

"Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days,
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze......."


"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!
Find me a find, catch me a catch.
Night after night in the dark I'm alone,
So find me a match of my own......."

"Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older,
When did they???".......


The choreography was terrific and all the twirly, long skirts were so cute.... Tevye was an especially interesting character and the actor quickly endeared himself to the audience. It was a wonderful evening!

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There was something that took place earlier in the day too though that I'm very grateful for---that being that my brother, Jacob passed his driving test and now sports a brand new drivers' license. :) "Congratulations, Jacob Austin!" Now, just watch out for those deer!


Let's just say it's been a great day!

Day #13: Today I am:

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I feel so blessed and encouraged when I read the comments you, my friends, leave me! :) I love reading your blogs as well and receiving and sharing ideas..... YOU are a JOY in my LIFE!

Farm update:

Jerome helped us dig/box/bag the last of the potatoes this morning and then we started on the carrot rows. I had to go work in town this afternoon and only recently returned. I hear that the others worked on carrots more this afternoon....

Brother update:

If you would say a quick prayer on Jacob's behalf tomorrow, I'm sure he would appreciate it, as he's going to be taking the driving test to try and get his license. I'm sure he'll do well. :)

Weather update:

It's cooling off each day it seems. I think my dad said the high for Wednesday is supposed to be 28F degrees! The ground is still green/brown though, and we are enjoying each Autumn day!

CNA update:

We lost one of our residents today, due to a blood clot I hear. It was quite a sudden thing. So sad........... It just goes to show that life is a fragile thing and we must be ready to go at any given moment!

Kitchen update:

We need to bake bread.

Random update:

Pickled Jalapenos are very good in potato soup!

Personal update:

I am tired and need to go to bed.

The end.~

Day #12...

Today is a very easy day to think of something (or rather, I should say, someone) to be grateful for, as this guy:


...turned 21 years old! :)

My dad's cousin, Jerome, joined us for the celebration of Andrew's life. Jerome actually fed his sheep plenty this morning, so is spending the night with us tonight. We had a pleasant afternoon, playing games; visiting; eating; and we watched a movie (about pioneers and Native Americans) this evening....

Mother, cutting the boys' cake. (Sadly, I must admit that, NO, I did not make the cake. Mother knew that I'd be too busy with babysitting and all, so she bought one in Bismarck.)

Jacob's birthday was actually last Saturday, as you probably remember, but seeing as Mother and Andrew were gone all that day in Fargo (learning what must be done to become delegates, and listening to Ron Pauls' speech), we had both the boys' party today. :)

Mom bought this nice collection of hot-chocolate varieties for Jacob, as he'd asked her to buy it a few months ago already, and now that it's getting cold-er outside, hot chocolate seemed like the perfect gift!

Jacob decided to make Andrew search a bit for his present! The gift was inside one of those little boxes, but Andrew had to open up several of them (and dig through packing peanuts) before he actually found what he was looking for. When filling the large box with small boxes, we couldn't find one that would fit in the one open spot, so Jacob thought of the perfect filler: a SQUASH! :)

"Thee" gift ended up being a lit hockey puck. :)

Our parents bought the boys each a very nice, new Bible, as they've had their other Bibles for many, many years and they were falling apart badly. Part of my gift to my brothers was a new case for their Bibles...

And then, we bought Andrew the expansion to the farming board-game, "Agricola", which he received as a birthday gift last year. He was pretty happy!

Mother started a new family tradition too. She said that, when her sons turn 21, she wants to buy them a new tie as they are now "MEN" in everybody's eyes. She got Andrew this eagle tie, and he was having fun trying to tie it properly. Google came in handy!

It was a special day for all.

I'm so thankful for my "Little" brother! He has grown into a fine man of God...

"May the Lord bless you indeed, Andrew! Once again, HaPpY bIrThDaY!"

Day #11...

Today I was reminded of how precious little children truly are---what a blessing!

There is so much these little people have to learn, and yet how willing they are to absorb all that they see and hear!

May we all be so receptive to what our Father has to teach us each day!

May we reach out and except others where they are on this journey called life!

What joy it was to cuddle one of the sleepiest of the 11 children I cared for at Helens' while she went to her appointments this morning!

What fun it was to read to them and do puzzles with them and to just enjoy life together!

Tonight, I am thankful for children.~

MATTHEW 18:1-6

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Day #10

....LOTS OF THINGS! :)

I just got home from working in town and am very thankful for alarm clocks, as I'm not sure I'd wake up on my own early tomorrow morning in time to get dressed, eat breakfast, and drive 20+ miles to be at Helen's Daycare by 8:00. I should probably get to bed as soon as possible!

Day #9

Tonight, I just want to say how thankful I am for modern transportation methods! These days:

...would have been fun, but a lot colder and we definitely would not travel around the way we do nowadays if we were still in horse and buggy times!

This morning, my brothers got up early and did chores and then I joined them on a road trip to Bismarck. Andrew had sold one of his cars and wanted to deliver it, but needed someone to pick him up and bring him back home after the delivery was made. Jacob rode along because he needed to renew his drivers' permit before it expired tomorrow. We also ran around town and did some errands for Dad and for the farm (ex: we bought gunny-sax for the potatoes). Then, Andrew took us both out to eat at Pizza Hut, which was a very thoughtful treat. :)

We arrived home just in time for me to change into my work-clothes and to head into town to work at the nursing home. I just got home and am very tired, so I shall bid you all a good night.