#33

The #33 has come to mean a lot to me. It was never my favorite number until Tyler wore it for Morningside football. Every time I turn around, that number pops up. Not too long ago, I saw gas for $3.33. Thank the Lord it is lower now! When I get 33 cents in change, I smile and think of Tyler. Today was a special day in Sioux City. It was Tyler's last regular season home game and it was Senior Recognition Day. When we got to Sioux City, it was 33 degrees. Really! We turned the corner as we left the game and can you even believe it? Dairy Queen was advertising 2 Double Cheeseburgers for $3.33! As part of Senior Recognition, each Senior player was asked to bring a male that has had an influence on their lives. It was very special when he asked his Dad if he would come and have breakfast with him. Dave doesn't really share mushy stuff with me and Tyler didn't want me to read his speech....guess it was a father-son moment. He did tell me it was just some stuff about how his Dad hauled him to all those soccer and wrestling tournaments and then they talked on the way home about what happened and what could be improved. I recall MANY basketball games when I just sat in the back seat, letting Tyler sit up front with Dad and they really, really HASHED it out. Tyler had a fair amount of frustration with his lack of playing, not playing what he thought was his best, and not making enough points. He also had a fair amount of frustration with recurrent ankle sprains in high school football, hobbling around with tape and wraps and ice.... I thought he was wonderful and played wonderfully and I was proud of him no matter what. Well, today, he scored his........33rd college career touchdown!!!! AND, the Sioux City Journal had him with 5 carries for a total of 33 YARDS!!! REALLY!!!! And Tyler, I still think you are wonderful, played wonderfully and I am proud of you, no matter what. Morningside came out of the game on top, scoring 73-8. Next week, Morningside 9-0, meets the University of Sioux Falls 9-0 for GPAC Conference Championship and playoff ranking. We are behind you all the way and I will be proud of you.....no matter what. Oh, and Dar said to tell you, she would like the same score next week! Love you forever, Mom A special request from all of my visitors...could you all say a special prayer for Angela and maybe check out her Caring Bridge site under my "Sites of Interest"? She has had a good day, #4 in a row, where she is up more, gaining strength, eating some, drinking some, and she is going to Denver for rehab on Monday. Praise God for her strength and healing!

No Matter Who Won

I took this photo in front of school this spring and did some editing to create a black and white frame around the crimson tulips.

There have been many emotions with this election. Some of you may be celebrating. Some of you may be feeling broken. I heard this on my favorite radio station, KNWC, Lite 96.5, and went to the web to get the information in print. It is good for all of us to realize that, no matter what you may have thought and no matter who you really believed should have won, it is what it is, and now it is time for all of us to come together and do what we can for our nation and our world.
No Matter Who Won the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers

2. Prayer will still work

3. The Holy Spirit will still move

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching

6. There will still be singing of praise to God

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people

8. Jesus will still love you.

9. There will be room at the Cross

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him

Happy Birthday, Calvin and Kavian

Great Grandma Nichols with her very first set of grandtwins.




On November 5, 2004, we were blessed with twin grandsons.
Kavian was born first...always the fighter, the scrapper, born with a black eye, eager to get out into the world and live! 2 lbs. 3 oz. We called him "The Kaveman".

Calvin (aka. The Calvinator)was born soon after, weighing 2 lbs. 15 oz, with a heart condition that scared us more than one time. He was long and skinny and liked to stretch out. He was taller and bigger, and still is today, on this, their fourth birthday. I posted this late last night, couldn't quite stay up until midnight, so it posted as Nov. 4, but November 5 is actually the big day!

Life With Twins

Sometimes I say to myself...what was God thinking?

There are days when there is not enough of me to go around and the house is a mess and there are 2 times the laundry, and two times the diapers and 4 muddy feet and 2 glasses

of spilled milk...Sometimes I get so tired, but most days I just feel blessed to have 4 little arms to hug me and 4 big eyes to melt my heart. I love double the kisses and double the little hands in mine. I wouldn't trade these moments for diamonds or rubies. I love it when they sit on my lap. I love it when they run up to me and hug me. I love it when they wave through the door over and over until they can no longer see the van. These are the special moments of life...moments of love, of family, of treasured times. I thank God for my many blessings...small, living, breathing blessings. I thank their mommy and daddy for the boys. God gave me the honor of being the Grandma of twins. I am doubly blessed!

Happy 4th birthday Calvin and Kavian. I love you forever.....

Altered

"Diversity" by Luke Larsen

As I posted earlier, I am into "altered art", taking old, used, recycled things and refurbishing them into something usable or with some artistic statement. I guess I am always trying to make some sort of statement, even with this blogging thing I do. Why do I blog? Somehow, it feels just like I am sitting with friends or sisters over coffee, sharing truths about myself and those I trust, telling my stories. Our stories reveal who we are. Our stories offer hope and instruction and joy to those who will listen. I tell my stories to remember...to see how events shaped the course of my journey. I tell stories to hear the voice of God. God speaks to me through what happens to me. Jennifer said she loves how the Holy Spirit works in me. She loves how I share my faith as part of my everyday life and she loves how I "Choose Joy" in everyday things. I know I do have a lot of stories, but how can we remember a story we haven't heard? I want to remember all of these things that have made me who I am. I want to share these stories with anyone who will listen. Some days are great, some are not, but two are better than one because everything is more easily accomplished with a friend. Sometimes, one can be overwhelmed alone. One stands a better chance with a friend or two, or more! Thanks for being my blog friends. Thanks for visiting. Thanks for listening. Some say they don't have the courage to tell their stories where so many can see and hear them. I say, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow". Seek joy where you can, and if not today, try again tomorrow. It is there, you just may have to dig deep! Please pray for Angela! Happy Birthday to Kim. You certainly are a young one for your age! Pray for Kim's Dad too!

Altered Book Page by Andy Simons. It makes me laugh every time I read it! They were to choose words out of the text to work with. He chose: "What is so wierd? You look pretty grubby to me. Please strangle my egg salad sandwich. Is that too much to ask?" I didn't ask the students what or why????!!!!????

These girls look pretty "altered" to me! lol Mary and Kendra!

Trick or Treat

Party time at daycare. Thanks for the photo, Lindsey!

Friday night, after school, we went to Larchwood to help the kids get ready to trick or treat.
I had to go back to school to work at the school play, then back to Larchwood to get Marissa, then home to Alvord. Friday night....shot.

Two pretty cool looking "Spidermans"!

Marissa might be scared if they weren't so funny!

There are those too pretty to wear a mask! Braylyn visited a couple

of houses, but happiest just chillin' at home.

Calvin let me take a nice close up of his baby blues (the one that was

peeking out anyway),but I couldn't TIE Kavian down! Could it be too much sugar?

Marissa and I put 500 miles on the old van on Saturday, going to Crete, Nebraska for a football game at Doane College. We left at 7:45 a.m. We picked up Tyler's girlfriend, Christi in Sioux City and I talked her into driving some and she took us all the way to Doane. We got a bit lost on the way home and ended up taking the route with more miles, but nicer roads through Omaha. By the time we got home, I was stopping for coffee, stopping for bathroom breaks, stopping to get some air, rolling down the windows, eating...anything to stay awake. Saturday....gone. Sunday morning brought making food for a potluck dinner, getting to church, singing a solo, teaching Sunday School, going to the nursing home to see George (Dave's Dad), then to the Dollar Store (gotta do that) with the twins, then back home, where they were out of their clothes and into their "farm clothes" in two seconds. They had to check the kitties, the corn, the tractor with a flat tire, the 4 wheeler.....busy, busy. Marissa went to open gym and I got peace and quiet for the first time this weekend. Oh, Morningside won the game and Tyler got his 31st and 32nd career touchdowns, and his highest yardage in his career of 117 yards. That made it all worth it, that AND his million dollar smile and big hug AND his many words of "Thanks Mom. I appreciate all you do and for coming to all my games and for all the gas and the food and stuff".....He is a dear one! Two more GPAC games, then we should be on to the playoffs. Morningside has a record of 8-0 but are predicted to be #2 in the conference and we are ranked #4 in the nation!!!! It has been such a fun 4 years......sad to see it be over soon.

I would like to thank God for kids, grandkids, and for weekends, for the wonderful weather, for gas prices coming down. I would like all of you to pray with me for Angela. They are trying to get her fevers under control, get her pnemonia under control and help her get well enough to make the trip to Denver for some serious rehab. Her family could use our prayers too. They are worn. Look at her Caring Bridge website on my left margin under "sites of interest". I would like you to continue to pray for the Ideker and Blauwet families. Their little one, Alec, earned his wings exactly 1 year ago and I know they miss him dearly. So many in our area are battling cancer and other illnesses. Kim's Dad is struggling so. So much to do, so many to pray for....won't you join me in thanksgiving for our blessings and in loving reverence to God, bring Him our prayers and concerns for others. Happy Birthday, Kim! Have a great week!