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I have been told by several people that they are unable to make comments to my blog. I welcome your comments. I would LOVE to hear from you! I went through the process and it can be done by anyone this way. You don't have to set up an account or do any password or anything. Simple!!!

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Wildcat Spirit

• 
  Freshman lip sync--"Under the "C"
  
  Marissa as Cinderella, always in a hurry, trying to beat the clock
  
  Aladdin and Jasmine "singing" "A whole new world"
• There she goes again! Almost midnight! Got some lovely pictures of your first time on stage , Marissa Rose!!!
  
  The hallways are spectacular!

Haley calling for the Lion King or maybe she IS the King!


Amanda says, "This is how you do some synchronized lion calling".


King Lucas and Queen Abby

Well, Homecoming week has officially begun. The kids are excited, the hallways are exciting, the festivities are in full swing....and I am old and tired. The good thing is, I did come home tonight and open my mail to find I had received an AARP card and membership form. Now, I don't know how old one must be to be considered for AARP, but I am just absolutely sure it must be a mistake or someone's idea of a joke. I can't be THAT old! I really did have a great time tonight watching the Coronation and the lip syncs (if that is how it is spelled). I especially liked Brian and Wil as Jasmine and Aladdin and the one Freshman moment I understood when they were carrying a large letter "C" with pictures of Coach C. while "singing", "Under the Sea". I guess Marissa was supposed to be Cinderella, always running, almost late, running across the stage. Oh, to have that energy! School pictures, dress up days....today was Hawaiian Day, complete with coconut bras, shell necklaces, leis, and grass skirts. Tomorrow is an early morning trip to the orthodontist, class color day and a Volleyball game at night. Wednesday is 80's Day and Thurs is Gangster Day. Thursday is another Volleyball game, and Friday is Spirit Day, early dismissal, teacher inservice and the big football game and Homecoming Dance. Saturday is Tyler's football game at Dana College, Sunday is church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, taking care of the twins, maybe a little nap and it'll be Monday before the weekend hits again! Oh, my life is full!!!!!!! I am really, really, REALLY blessed!

Find Your Wings

Just a few of Marissa's 9th grade pictures

It is amazing how much a person is able to miss while standing right there watching it all happen. You grew up so fast and right before my eyes, yet it seems like unbelievable how much you change with each passing year. I used to watch you from afar as you danced and sang and celebrated everything in life. You are so expressive! I remember one night, you took a CD player outside on the porch. I asked you what you were going to do. You said, "I'm going to dance!" You danced and danced to your own special special beat, no lessons needed. I tried to steak peeks at you through the window, but you were always looking to see if I was looking....which I usually was. I hope you always remember to dance... Everything leads me to a song and of course I have one especially for this moment in time. It is called "Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris. "It's only for a moment you are mine to hold. The plans that heaven has for you will all too soon unfold. So many different prayers I'll pray for all that you might do, but most of all I want to know you're walking in the truth. And if I've never told you, I want you to know, that as I watch you grow, I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams, and that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things. I'm here for you whatever this life brings, so let my love give you roots and help you find your wings." Marissa, I hope you enjoy this new chapter of your life.....high school....with it's new freedoms and responsibilities. Dave wonders why we bother taking our own school pictures. Wouldn't it be easier to get the school ones and get it over with? I really do enjoy our little photo shoots. We can get a lot more of your personality in the shots this way. You are so beautiful and they will be over way too soon. Remember.....I love you forever, Mom

Leaving a Mark

Abby, Andy, Molly and Ashlee-Wall Artists

Leaving their mark-

Brian lending Brandon a "hand"-

It has begun....the year of lasts. Each year, a group of students is put in charge of "The Wall". It is a small section of the cafeteria wall on which they are allowed to paint and then leave their handprints. Little do they know that they have left a much bigger mark at West Lyon than can be indicated by a little paint. There is so much activity going on around here to get these kids ready to graduate. There is the class picture, the wall painting, the coronation and Homecoming festivities, the lip syncs, the dress up days, the senior pictures, the NHS meetings, the Student Council meetings, the article for the newspaper, football games, volleyball games, cross country meets, band competitions, the forms for scholarships and college preparations, ACTs and FAFSAs.....and hopefully some learning. Most of the seniors are so excited to leave here and get on with the ritual of growing up. I like to think that they should be happy staying here. They are cared for, fed, clothed and loved, usually a car is provided and laundry is taken care of. It is a much bigger world out there than they know. I do wish them the best as they continue past high school. Many of you can attest to this fact: Life starts going much faster as we age! I don't know how that works, but it is true. It is Monday, and suddenly it is Friday. The weekend is gone before you know it has hit. It seems like Tyler just graduated from high school. I remember him putting his handprints on the wall and painting his mural in the weight room. Wasn't that just yesterday? He is ready to graduate from college this spring! Our baby girl is a freshman in high school and is out right now driving my van!!!!

You know what I have to say about all of that? Don’t take one second of your life for granted. – live it to the fullest as each day will never be reversed. Remember to look to God each and every day, choose hope, choose faith, choose life and choose joy! Best wishes to the Class of 2009!

Memories

First of all, hello Deb! It has been so much fun seeing you and talking to you. I know you have to work, but it is just nice seeing a friendly face, and you always have a smile for me. Some of these old pictures seem like they were taken decades ago. Oh, wait, they were! I had the privilege of graduating with the greatest class, the Class of '76! Everything was patriotic, right down to our band performance under the direction of Jim Smith. I can remember the flag girl getups we wore, right down to the tall fur hats that were sometimes whipped off with an exuberant twirl of the flag (but we were to just go on without it), the white go-go boots and the one piece white polyester shortset with the blue split skirt that covered it (sort of). I remember the dueling ship routine where the American ship reigned supreme and the pirate ship was sunk! I remember how the American flag popped up at the end with all the flags fanned around it. I remember Greg Twombly and Ann Kerkvliet as our fearless leaders. I remember the pink panther routine and marching in the parking lot in pouring rain, just so the Seniors could get in their final performance after a cancellation due to the weather in Rapid City. I can still remember trying to see how many people we could pack into Smitty's office, and I remember the band trips on the old yellow school busses. I remember feeling nauseous on the bus going around and around, and up and up to Mount Rushmore. I have been known to be a bit bus sick, maybe plane sick, but the THOUGHT of eating buffalo burgers was enough to turn my stomach inside out. We did have some great photo opportunities, like the one where we all have matching shirts, and we are sticking out tongues or making pig nose faces! Headstands with Slim and Boots and leg wrestling at a rest stop...... I remember the pastel swing choir dresses and the leisure suits, light blue and sea foam green for special days like Prom! I remember the muslin Gunny Sack dresses. Who doesn't remember the dreamy eyes of John Freeman? I realize why I am such a poor driver. It was always difficult to keep my mind on driving with such a beautiful driver's ed teacher! We used to make late night trips to Taco Bell and/or Mr. Donut , eating as much as possible, and always piling as many people into the cars as we possibly could. I think I was one of the smaller girls, usually ending up on someone's lap. AND, that was before the days of seatbelts! Kids!!!!! I remember my station wagon that smelled like hot oil. It had fake painted paneling down the side. Lots of time was spent in Ann's basement, and at Sheila's house with Harriet getting all the details. Judy's Mom adopted me when Beloit flooded and Peggy always had the BIGGEST slumber parties!!! Peggy, Ann, Judy, Sheila and I posed for a shot before we left for a band trip, and 32 years later, we posed outside Peggy's house in Twin Falls, Idaho. I think 32 years look like they have been kind to us. We are all 50 and have separate lives, but I have some wonderful memories and wonderful friends that I enjoy seeing from time to time. It is fun to see Deb so often through some sporting adventure or other and it has been great catching up with Diane through the Class of '76 website. I see Cathy at work every day and I had a long visit with Helen in Scheels a few weeks ago. I see Tony all the time as he is a coach at school. Check out the Class of '76 website on my list of sites of interest. Thanks, Diane for keeping us all connected. You do an awesome job!!! Thanks for all the joy you each have given me! I am blessed!

New Record

Ok, so I told you I wouldn't write about Morningside Football all the time, but I really HAVE to today! I have no choice! Tyler was waiting and hoping to achieve a new Morningside record and HE DID IT SATURDAY!!! They played Dordt College in Sioux City. It was SOOOO hot in the stands! Luckily, we were so far ahead at half, that I could sit in the shade during the second half. Dordt is in their first year of football, so the score is a bit lopsided. It was 62-0 at halftime. The coaches took the starters out and tried some other players and other plays, and the end score remained the same: 62-0. Tyler needed 1 touchdown to tie the record and 2 to break it. He now owns the record of "Most touchdowns in the history of Morningside College". We are so proud of him, as are most of his teammates, coaches, fans and past coaches. He was featured in the Morningside article in the Sioux City Journal. He even talked about his mom, saying that he was just living up to his mom's expectations. The day he was born, we were discussing names. Tyler was chosen and the middle name would be David. I remember saying, "His initials will be TD for touchdown!" With his birthday being the day before, I was especially happy for him to have achieved this new record in honor of his birthday. Tyler, you have worked so hard and kept your nose to the grindstone. Congratulations Ty Ty!!! Love you forever, Mom

Happy Birthday, Tyler!

The twins call you, "Touchdown Uncle Ty"!


Tyler leading the pack into the stadium for the first game of the season!


Tyler having some fun with buddies

Seems like yesterday you graduated from high school-now a college Senior!

Doing some business always with a smile.

Tyler and his BFF, Christi!

Working hard on our driveway project.
Happy Birthday today to my son, Tyler. You are such an amazing athlete/kid/man/person. I love you forever. You have brought so much joy to my life (almost forgot the year of car accidents, tickets, trips to the Lyon Co. courthouse/glad you came out of all that unhurt!) You made it through the ridiculously huge glasses, the buck teeth, the balder than bald baby days, the constant fire red cheeks, the "heart attack" as you used to call it, the rec specs, the stuttering in 2nd grade, the matching tye dyed outfits with Brandon, the braces, the injuries....all with a smile on your face. Best wishes for an amazing senior year and a more amazing end to your football career and last year at Morningside. You have made me very proud. Keep smiling and you will have everyone in the palm of your hand. Love you forever and ever, Mom

Baby Blessings

Who can resist that face?

Kavian and Calvin love their sister!

Braylyn Ray, (B-ray, ray-ray, sis, baby Braylyn, sister) you have added so much happiness to the family, a little pink ray of sunlight. You have the most beautiful smile and big blue eyes. Your mommy and daddy adore you, and your big brothers love to hug and kiss you and help take care of you. You are a big pink bundle of joy, with a wardrobe fit for a queen! Grandma was just getting her house cleaned out as the boys have left home, and suddedly I have a swing, a stroller and am starting a box of girl toys for you! Always be as sweet as you are right now and the world is yours! I love you forever! Grandma Carol

Family, Sports, and Stomaches

Marissa - great serve!

Marissa played 10 sets of volleyball on Saturday with the freshman team in Luverne.

Tyler is #33

Tyler played in the Morningside vs. Northwestern game Saturday night in Orange City. He wasn't able to get his touchdown, but sure played hard, ran hard and hit hard!

Friday night I took tickets at the football game at West Lyon. I enjoyed being in the new ticket booth, built by my husband and his shop students and taken over by our son, Brandon. He is very good at what he does. He can climb around like a monkey and get the job done well and quickly!!!! West Lyon won! I didn't see much of it, being in the booth until half, and then I listened to the rest on the radio on the way home.
Saturday morning it was up early to take the freshman girls volleyball team to Luverne, MN for a tournament there. They played all day, doing a pretty good job, but it wasn't really a contest with placings, just lots and lots of volleyball being played. Dave took the varsity girls to another tournament in Rock Rapids. They are really coming along, but it wasn't their day to get into the championship round. Anyway, back to school, then home to change for the big game in Orange City. We have days like that a lot. Pack, drive, unpack, pack, drive, watch, drive, crash!!!! It was an awesome game, very close the whole night, and it was fun to see Tyler out there as captain again. Pictures were impossible with us facing the bright sunlight, but you gotta see joy in that. It had rained all day in Luverne, and we have been to many games where the sun is not shining! It was also very enjoyable to watch all the kids on the Northwestern team who came from West Lyon and who had been Tyler's teammates there-Seth, Jon, Caleb, Jordan, and Jayme. Morningside did come 0ut the winner, but it was a battle with a score of 26-21. Sunday brought another busy day, with Church and Sunday School. This is my first year teaching Sunday School and from the looks of things, I am going to thoroughly enjoy it! Those little 5 and 6 year olds are so precious. Calvin and Kavian started this year in the 3 and 4 year old class and I have been taking them home with me afterwards. They said, "God Made Me" at least 100 times and showed us how God blew the breath of life into Adam who He had made out of dirt. They got a little bottle of bubbles to take home to show how God blew the breath of life. How cute is that? We took them to Pizza Ranch and to see Grandpa George who is in the nursing home in Rock Rapids. He always perks up a bit when he sees them and I think he enjoys watching them play with his tractors! Brandon and Brittany came to pick them up, had supper with us, and the weekend was shot! I was not exactly choosing joy when I was awake from 4 am. on with a terrible stomach ache. I didn't go to school today, and it was a good thing because I slept until 1:30 p.m. It could have been the tomatos, the cucumbers, the fish oil I took on an empty stomach, the licorice I ate that I shouldn't have....I imagined E-coli, gall bladder trouble, a heart attack....whatever it was, it got me and I forgot to choose joy! I will try to do better tomorrow, God. Thanks for getting me through the night and this day! I need to remember, "Do not take your health for granted!!!!"

So Many Gifts

The gift of life and health. Isaiah Larry Peters was sprung from the hospital today!!! 4 weeks and he is good to go! Praise God for answered prayers. I bet there is some major Joy going on in that family!!! If you want to read more about Isaiah, check out his Caring Bridge site on my "Sites of Interest" to the left. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

An ink drawing done by a student, Erin L., shows her love of music. I love it too! It gives me joy!


I make these watercolor prints for friends and family. This is being sent to Nashville to Todd and Angie Smith. Really!!!! You can read about Audrey Caroline under "Bring the Rain" listed in my sites of interest. I just have to make things to share with others! It is a gift! Have a great weekend!

Remember Me

It took years for this plant to take off----everything in His time!

You have to admit....it has been quite an abrupt change....one that takes some getting used to! I put my coat on, take my coat off and put it on again. I almost feel like starting the furnace in the morning, but it is quite comfortable when I get home from school, only to cool off again before bedtime. I walk around the house and find I need to be wearing socks, and sometimes I just HAVE to bake something to warm up the kitchen. When I hop in the car in the morning, on goes the heat. After school, it is the air conditioning! If I go away in the evening, it is back to the heat! I went to my first football game of the season and teetered between shirt sleeves and winter coat and mittens....Does any of this sound like something flashing, girls? I thought I would give you some fleeting reminders of summer plus some of the fun I have with photography. Enjoy the view while you can!!!!


West Lyon front yard

I can't resist altering something!!!

More Alterations

These last 4 pictures are taken in Mom's backyard of her home in Canton. They live on!

Mom was so amazing. She is still! She is with me when I see the flowers bloom. She is with me as I work in the garden. She is with me when I see the leaves change. She loved fall. She loved Christmas....absolutely hated Santa, but she loved Christmas because it brought the Baby (she loved babies), and it brought beautiful music. She loved to hear me sing. She loved to hear all of her children sing. She loved Christmas because it always meant her family would be together. She often said of her less than easy, less than materially blessed life, "When it comes to blessings, I'm richer than most". Her last Christmas, she told the Dr. she had to be home for Christmas, and she was, with all her children near, her richest blessings. She was so tired and weak, she sat in a recliner and just watched, but as she was leaving for the evening, her children began singing, and she stoppped to listen...she may have been tired, she may have been weak, but her blessings were singing to her, for her. I bought a mat for one of the last pictures we had of her because of the poem that was written on it. I wasn't really shopping for a mat, but I stood and cried in Crossroads. It was just perfect and I HAD to buy it! I treasure it each day. I can read it now and smile at the picture of mom smiling back at me. The tears are there, ready to spill, but I can make it through the poem now. I am taking baby steps.

Remember me when flowers bloom

early in the spring.

Remember me on sunny days

in the fun that summer brings.

Remember me in the fall

as you walk through leaves of gold.

In the wintertime, remember me

in the stories that are told.

But most of all...remember

each day, right from the start

I will be forever near

for I live within your heart.

-Judith Bulock Morse

I will not forget.....and I am trying to choose joy, Mom!

Love you forever!