The strength of Mother Nature!

Never under estimate the strength of Mother Nature.

A gap in the door, a strong northern wind, snow falling 1-3 inches an hour,

and the enclosure of a heavy duty shed to capture the sculpture.
Look what can be created!

Piles of potential filled the inside of many areas.

But only a few got the wonder of Mother Nature.

It's quite amazing no matter how you look at it.


The rest of the storm was pretty standard issue for us Kansas transplants. We have endured many snow storms with strong winds, low temps and mounting accumulation.

But not in KANSAS!

It will be remembered as the 3rd largest in Kansas history, but for us it was just like many other storms that we had in our 13 years in Minnesota. There were big numbers to the snow fall. 19" and up depending who did the measuring and the place the measured at. The coldest temps ever in Kansas history -8 and lower were recorded. And 4, YES, FOUR snowdays in a row off from work and school. And 3 days of the University being closed~

During the storm which was Tuesday Feb. 1st, it snowed for the entire day. Starting early in the morning and continuing until evening..

The drifts around the front of the porch are tall.

The porch was cleared a number of times.

The garage was blocked by a huge drift as well.

And the back of the house is, well, snow covered too.

The inside of the screened in porch is a bit, well snowy!


The kids made it out to sled at J and D's with cousins, spending the night there.

Then a turn for them all to come here.

It was fun to have time together, to clean, cook and do homework.

I'm thinkful for help from my kids, over the past few days.

But, I miss my husband a bunch, he's in Springfield for the past two weeks.

It's felt the strangest to me to not share the storm with him, as all the others we have.

Tomorrow he comes home and it's suppose to snow again.

More SNOWDAYS to come???

Who really will know???

It seems someone else is in control!~

All in all we survived!~

Thanks to God!

Mother Nature for the surprise~

Aug-Sep-Oct

I wonder where the time goes....

Ann has grown so much the past few months. She's really enjoyed Volleyball and Football Cheer and is ready for Basketball cheer starting soon.
I found this great vanity over at a garage Sale this summer and she painted it zebra stripe and we put fabric on the seat.. It has a black mirror she uses it in her room to do her hair and get dressed, each day. It's really awesome~


Of course there was fall football and some outdoor fun.... a couple camps for the kids.

and he's taller then me now~~!~

Brian had a good time on the 4-wheeler and in the mud.

We went to a Chief's game on Halloween as a surprise for Brian and Ann's Birthday's, (which are in December and we never do anything for them) so this was our first big NFL game and it was an awesome one. We beat the Bills in overtime and it was also Military Appreciation day~



And now we will travel for Thanksgiving to see family and Casey will come with his girlfriend Jessie and we can't wait to spend time with all there. And then December, Derek will return rom AFG. and we will be soooo glad to have this past year, marking the 3rd in a row of deployment OVER~ and to start again fresh with 2011... Check back again for the update!!

May-June-July (where does the time go?)

Nothing like a little tree hugging to get the summer rolling~

Since school was out in Mid May it's been go, go, go.. I was thrilled to have my foot surgery done on May 14, 2010 and then to have the last day of school on my birthday May 21st is always fun. We had a big Garage sale here at the house and that made for some fun, (albeit that the weather was already hot by then) days of setting up and selling. But good friends, made it worth it. And the Freecycle.org made getting rid of the remains easy as usual~

Derek arriving after 5 days of traveling~

Derek was home for his two weeks leave by Memorial day and we took off for a week in Indiana visiting family there. A hop over to Missouri to catch up with my brother, sister-in-law and my parents for a day or so and then back home. Derek had a few days in Minnesota to visit some of his friends from High School graduation 6 years ago... Then he was back here for a few days and finally flew out for Afg. again the first of June. Casey was able to meet us in Indiana so the 6 of us were together at Martha's for a nice visit. (and as it goes probably the only time this year that all our kids will be together)

Brian 15, Derek 25, Andrea 13, Casey 21, In Indiana June 2010

I worked at Summer school 3 weeks in June and that was an interesting time with 12 kiddos in the classroom and that many adults. But I love Summer school, it was just the weather that proved to be such a challenge with heat one day and all the rains that kept the humidity so high. Brian took off for Texas the third week in June, to help build a church in Beaumont. Andrea went back to Northern Mo. to spend time with my family there. So that left Donald and I alone for a week...(we managed to survive, LOL)

There is Brian in the gray shirt working on the church~

The trench from the house to the shed~

Brian and Casey laying the pipe~

Now the first of July and Casey surprised us with a weeks visit. My parents came for the long holiday weekend and we got tons of projects done. Donald has been waiting for years to get electric and water in his shed out back and that was the weekends biggest accomplishment!!! HE's so THRILLED!! Casey, Grandpa, Brian and Don worked outside for 2 days, laying waterline, electric and telephone poles to line the driveway. Casey hauled tons of old scrap wood to the burn pit and had two huge bonfires to clean up the drive way. There was a bit of fun with fireworks and some 4 wheeler riding~ Mom and I managed to keep everyone feed and happy and the kitchen somewhat clean. Derek also blessed us with a call on the 4th and we had fun passing the phone around at Breakfast for everyone to visit with him.


Casey having fun~

Now Casey has taken off to go back to North Carolina. And Monday Ann leaves for Church Camp. Brian goes the week after, and I will be done with my summer college classes... (((HURRAY))) and then the calender will say August. I have a long list of little house projects that I want to complete the first of August before work and school start again the middle of the month. I hope to complete them all of course... LOL...So that's how we've been spending our summer so far~ Where does the time go?

The end of many milestones in May~

The whole spring was wet and cold here in Kansas. It's seemed long and non-ending at times, we have even burned wood in the month of May. It was cold and damp and we could have turned on the furnace, but we have a fireplace that we love and so we had a few fires to take the chill off. It seemed strange to have them when we moved south almost 5 years ago to get out of the cold and now we are burning wood in May.. But hey, one does what one must.

Many things have ended in May, College classes for me are done this semester. It was a semester of the largest number of credit hours I have taken since I started back to college and work full time. I struggled at times this semester with too much work and wanting to get A's.. So the family has had to do with out me, or make do with less of me. Going to church was out the became at day for homework and housework to get done to survive the next week. One day rolled into another with little less than a few hours of sleep. I survied and they survived and I got the 5 "A's" that I wanted from the classes that I took. It all starts again in 2 weeks with 11 credit hours this summer and only part time work in June for me. So that will seem easy.. I sure hope~

Brian is done with 9th grade. He also managed to make good grades with A-B honor roll the whole year. And he's working alot of weekends to build fence or to assist the local farmer. He's taller than me and I'm not sure I'm ready for him to be so grown up...

Ann's done with 7th grade and she's also on the A-B honor roll all year. She's ready for the last step of middle school and excited about the fall cheerleading for football and basketball and playing some volleyball.. (another reason for me to have fewer classes this fall)

I'm also done with my 5th year in the most awesome room with the best co-workers and by far the greatest Preschool kids. I love my job and can't wait for each school year to begin again. Summer school will be fun with many new challenges and new adults to train and fun activities to work on.

May also marks what I hope is the middle of Derek's deployment. He's scheduled to be home soon for R and R and that is a HUGE relief for us. This is the 3rd year of a child in a war zone and I'm about DONE with that~

Casey is doing great and having a super time in Bragg. We hope to see him over Memorial day in Indiana.

May is a super month we are Thankful for the many rains and now glad to see them end. We are glad that May brings good things for our family. God is good to us and we appreciate that God watches out for us no matter what we do~

SPRING/EASTER~!

Easter Sunday!

Sometimes a mom would just

like for her two kids

that are left at home

to act like they

love one another~

Or to just smile

and stand up straight

so I can remember 20 years from now

how tall they were at 15 and 13!

Maybe it will be their lack of interest
in pictures being taken,
that I will remember!~

Of course it was the smiles!~

and the height,

and the wind,

and the new clothes,

that we will remember...

And the fact that IT was

EASTER

and WE are so glad

that the grass is green

and the sky is blue~!

Garage Sale fever

I can see that it's beginning. Spring Break is the time to catch up and clean out. I've cleaned out rubbermaid tub after tub of fabric, thread, quilting stuff and now girl stuff from Ann's room. I stopped at GoodWill and the little Catholic resale shop today.. Just to get the fever started more. Nothing like hauling stuff out and bringing home more stuff...
Now to get some more nice weather so the fever will really get high... I"m reading the newest Flea Market Style magazine from cover to cover and I have tons of ideas for stuff that I already have stashed.. Now to get them built, put together and painted..
I want to take a road trip this year and go to a famous sale. The longest yard sale on the east coast or how about out to Washington state to the Farm chicks sale..? now that would be tons of fun.. But gas is a tad bit high for traveling across country and hauling junk back...HUmmm not junk... good used stuff....! so I will have to settle with the close sales, auctions and flea markets.. oh yes, and free trash day~

Is that SUN!?

This might be one of the shortest months, but it's been the most cold as far as I'm concerned. The weather here in KS. is cold.. snowy, rainy, sleeting and it's just cold... We are almost out of wood to burn and we have the feeling that the season isn't over!~

Here are the pups looking out the window for the sun.. or was that Don coming home?? Any way they are the comic relief around here.. and the source of stress since Snoopy has decided to be a non-sleeper.. Or at least in his bed.. He much perfers the couch with me or in Brian's bed..

So that's about it for excitement~

Oh yes, the big excitement for me was to get a copy of the new Flea Market Style and actually get to read it... Can't wait for Garage Sales to begin now~

Happy Snow!

Here in the Midwest we have had sleet, snow, rain and wind.. Now it's the cold.... and BABY is it COLD for this area...-4 as I type this morning... It gives us the feeling of our winters in Minnesota, were that temp was average for days, weeks on end..Windchills of -20+ would be common... But here,,, it's not the norm... so schools are closed and we are hiding in the house... What to do with ourselves??? We cleaned house, put away the christmas decorations, vaccumed and mopped.. baked and cooked warm foods, watched a couple of movies, played games on the computer, and on the IPODS~ NOW WHAT? I have bids on Ebay for the college books that I need in a couple of weeks for my classes. I even made some woven potholders yesterday. Today, I've got to find something a little more mind stimulating for these two teenagers to dooooooo?????????
What will it be?????????

A Day of Delays~

December 23, 2009 will be remembered. It was the day that Casey was to fly from Minneapolis to Fayetteville Ark. To spend the next couple of weeks with us. It was also the day that the Gordon/Thompson families were to get together and share a Perfect Christmas Meal and gift exchange. I was to get part of that meal ready and for the most part that went well. Ham in the crockpot, Sweet potatoes in their crock pot, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, dump cake, rolls and 3 different kinds of fudge. Pretty well all done and ready for what was to be Don talking the food and I would get Casey in Ark. and then meet them.... RIGHT~

We knew that the storm was coming and so we had already changed the plans to get Derek in Salina KS. at training and head to MO. to spend time with my parents, my brother and his family. We would just stay here and see how the storm ended up. Knowing that we had the New Years weekend to go there and for them to spend time with Derek before he leaves for Afg. in January.

So all was well until about 10. When Casey called to say that he was delayed in Mn. even getting on the plane. So that would push back the connecting flight in Charolette S. C. which would more than likely make it late when I was to get him. OK. I can deal with that, missing the meal isn't that big a deal...30 minutes later he calls and the plane he is to leave on, has just arrived and so they have get all the people off and then clean the plane, refuel, load the bags, and then the people and then leave.. so add an hour to that delay... OK..(I'm really working on flexibility with this)... Derek calls to say they haven't left Salina yet and that he's not sure when they will. As other guys aren't back yet and they have to help them when they get back and then have a briefing, load the bus and then leave. OK.... So I tell him of his brothers delays and that we will work it out.... (all the time thinking this isn't looking too good)....

Finally Casey calls that he's boarding and leaving MN. that is good they are to get 24 to 28 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.. So I feel better knowing that THAT possible issue will be avoided.. Now to wait till he gets to SC. so I can see if the next leg of his trip will be delayed. The only problem is that I have a 2 hour drive south to get him and need to leave before I really know if the next flight is on time or not. But I figure it's pretty sure that he will be delayed and so I hang out until 1;30 when he is to land. Finally he calls, "he's landed, and they gave him the wrong ticket to the next flight, it's all messed up and they have him going to Fayetteville NORTH CAROLINA.... YIKES~ (my first thought is that is a really long drive and I'm not going to make it back for dinner now)...LOL....He will call back.... I go to the computer knowing that I have his shedule of flights and info there. He calls back, "Bring up my itenerary, they say I've got it booked wrong and that I'm going to NC." Well it says Fayetteville, but I'm not up on all the names of these airports and frankly, I don't really look at his reservations. He's 21 and been around the world to Iraq, home for leave, back to Iraq and home again. He traveled alone to NC. with his truck when he got his assignement to move there with the ARMY. He's flown back 3-4 times since then, to Fl. to Mn. and back. Who am I to question the plans and check it over... I have less experience with it than he.... But I know from making the flight arrangements for us a couple years ago, that clicking in all those boxes when you have multiple connections is scary and easy to mess up. So it does not surprise me that this is yet again a delay for this day. It's now almost 2 and I'm not heading out the door. Our two other teenage kids that were to tag along with me are wondering if we will ever leave. Back on the phone with Derek they haven't even had the briefing yet and so he's just wanting to tell me that he's going to be much later than planned. Can we just leave his car at the armory and he can get it when he gets in. And what is going on with his brother? (he knows that he's traveling and that there were delays, but I can't get them both on the phone or off the phone long enough to tell the other about it).... OK... I'm laughing now.. Here on Christmas day with the wind blowing and snow falling,, my ankles are cold.. the fire is getting cold... just replaying it all in my mind is so funny... and to the fact that I have two grown children that are traveling and doing all that they are is mind boggling at times..Not to even count for the fact that they have both served in Iraq and one is going to AFG. now....

Back to the story... So the new flight is scheduled and he will be in ARKANSAS today.. he only gives me the flight number and time he's leaving and hangs up.. he's upset at the mistake and the extra expense... $500.00+ that it has cost him... He's a saver, likes his money, likes to see everyone but likes his money.... Now to plan for how to get it all done...OH yes, and all this time I have called Don in the middle of talking with the boys and updated him to the multiple changes. Now I call to ask.. "can you just go with me to ARK. and I will drop all the food off for the meal tonight and let the kids hang with family there, then you can meet me at the Armory and we can leave Derek's car and he can get to the meal when he gets back"... He's such a great man, he knows to just say, "YES"!!! So with that I try to update the teenage children at home as to what to load in the car. Ann is totally lost, she thinks we are packing for what was to be a trip to MO. tomorrow..."which gifts go in the car, where are we going,,, what has changed now" ("welcome to my life," I tell her....) I call my sister in law, explain the delays and the changes, ask if she can watch Brian and Ann while Don and I go to ARK. and if we can drop all the stuff at her Dad's place so that they will have the food for the dinner since probably won't make it back in time. "SURE," (I"m sure she can tell it's not the time to say, "NO".....LOL) So with all the food loaded in the car and the gifts for the correct family loaded now too.. We head out in the pouring rain.. (part of the storm that is coming to KS with ice, sleet and snow they say, "OH JOY") Food, gifts and kid delivered to the appointed new spots and I'm off to drop the car for Derek to have it later when he arrives. Don is waiting at the ARMORY for me in his car and we can take it to ARK. I'm tired now again thinking of it all....
I tried texting Casey, called a couple of times.. nothing,,, I hope that means he's in the plane flying... Derek calls and he's tried getting his brother... we both conclude that it means he's flying... Don's driving so I text with Derek and chat with Brian, make jokes with Debbie about eating at Mc Donald's, chat with my dad to give him the update.... And finally we get to Bentonville Ark. where WalMart is located and the airport that Casey is to be landing at...I call him just as we are turning onto the airport road.. WOW, he's just landed... He will wait outside on the curb and we can just drive up and get him.... (can it be that easy??)
It was!~ Headed back to Kansas.. We visit and tease him about the delays and the mix up.. He's not really laughing...
(well some has to keep laughing as this is my life~)
We get to the dinner at 8, plenty is left to eat and it's all good.... open gifts and continue the contact with Derek as to his werabouts.. He's on the ARMY bus making it's way south and dropping soliders at the appointed Armories along the way... so who knows what time... Finally at 9 he walks in... TIRED! Dressed in his army uniform..(it always makes my heart skip a beat, when he walks into the house wearing that uniform) He's ready to change, "been wearing this thing since 5:30" He says...
SO that day of delays is finally ended.. OUR two older sons are home..

NOW the holidays can begin~!
THE DAY OF DELAYS IS OVER~!

and the third year begins...

Friday Dec 4th, we had a gathering of family and friends for a bit of a send off party for Derek. WE begin the 3rd year of deployment for our family. This time Derek will be in AFG. doing electrical work. We had a wonderful time with lots of great food and drink.

This past summer Derek made a new buddy.. Grady stayed with us one night and he and Derek had a wonderful time in the yard, playing ball and later tickling and playing cars. Derek was surprised to see Grady and his family come tonight, Grady loves to help with just about anything.. He and Derek had a time cutting the cake.. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more~ See those smiles.. they are quite the buds~

Derek took off early Sat morning for the Armory. We went up later to visit a bit and see some of the other guys.

We watched as the loaded the truck and trailor with suppies for the trip out of town.

Andrea, Derek and Brian posed for a quick photo before we took off to go to our spot along the road. We had the big flag that Don had made and we parked the truck on the corner so the guys could see us good. It was fun to see the police escort them to the edge of town and all the folks who stopped for a while on a very cold Sat. morning to show they cared.

This is the Patriot Guard and the bus load of guys heading for training and then Afg.

Here we are on our spot at the corner displaying our appreciation for the work that all the soliders do.

And the crowd as the bus goes by~

So the third year begins, he's still in the states a while longer. But still on a mission~!

THANKSGIVING 2009

Casey arriving home from Ft. Bragg, after his year in Iraq, greeted first thing by his oldest brother.

Even though it's all a blur now. It was a fun week. My mother in law arrived the Friday before and we had a fun time passing the time cleaning, shopping and Laughing up to the day others arrived. Casey was the main reason for the gathering.. THANKFUL that he was home from Iraq. But also the gathering of family to share in renewal of each other and our relationships, to share the past year successes and the look forward to see what the next year would be. We are bitter sweet that Derek will be in Afg. this next year and that it will be the third year that our family has worried about a son, grandson, nephew and cousin fighting in a war. But we are sure that he's doing honorable work and serving the country to the best that he can.

We played games, cooked tons of food, rode 3 and 4 wheelers, gathered to chat, shared songs with out bursts of singing, and guitars strumming. It was loud and it was quiet, most of all we enjoyed ourselves.

The boys goofing off~

me with my parents~

This is us~

the Spoons game~

This is the sight that I enjoyed the most. All 4 of my kids under one roof, watching TV together relaxing in the livingroom~

House projects while we wait!

SGT. Casey E. H. Thompson Iraq Dec. 2008 to Nov. 2009 SPC Derek A. W. Thompson Dec. 2007 to Dec. 2008

Happy Veterans day to my two favorite vets... !!! GOD BLESS all those who have served and who continue to protect us~

We are down to the wire.. As you can tell from the count down.. Casey is in the air as we speak, the delays have been near unbearable at times.. We are glad and NOT glad that we aren't going to meet them at Ft. Bragg. Now that the latest delay means they fly into a different airport and get bused to Bragg we are glad to not be there.. But I won't be sleeping tonight, knowing all that he's doing to get home....

We have finished some walls with my favorite look... barn tin and barn wood.. this is the communication board that Don built right into the decor!
This is the new doorway that will go out to the deck that we will build in the spring more than likely... Notice the extra helper checking out the VIEW~ "snoopy" our little deaf weiner dog.!!

This is the dining room with the finished floor and the rusty tin and barn boards trimming the bar area.. and on the walls by the back door...

This is our finished kitchen floor.. It's wood and tile with this amazing star in the middle. I have an amazing hubby that has designed all our floors and made them.. It's just perfect~

One of the really special things about these barn boards is the dating and personalization that is on it. The dairy farmer that we got it from used to keep track of the dates and the people that they had as customers... Plus to the fact that they forgot the year had changed, (even tho it was Jan 25) and wrote "1946" then scratched out the "6 and wrote 7" I just LOVE THAT~

We can't wait to share our home and love,, as well as some food with family on Thanksgiving this year~

BLESSINGS to all~