Something So Big

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Cycling into Seven

Happy Birthday, Wynne Gloria!!
("hold your mouth right" as Granpda would say;)
 I can't believe our baby girl is seven already.  But ready or not Mom, here she comes...training wheels off!
"You have filled my heart with great joy.
It is greater than the joy of people
who have lots of grain and fresh wine."
(Psalm 4:7, NIrV)

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven, Daddy!


“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” 

1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV


You left so quickly, Daddy.  We didn't get a chance to say good-bye!  But I know that is how you wanted it, because your earthly body was getting worn out and you didn't want to fade away.  God is merciful and loves us all.  It's been a really hard year without you here, but I know that you are STILL here and we will see each other again.  Please give Mom some extra care; you told me how strong she is, and we all know it, but she still needs some reassurance.  Dear Lord, it's been a rough 24 hours in Boston and all over the world...please hold us close and soften the hearts of those who've forgotten You or denied You.  Dad, we love you and miss you--I took this picture on Easter Sunday and thought about your first Sunday in heaven.  I bet it was musical, triumphant, and loud!  Thought you'd get a kick out of the Easter egg next to your memorial.  I don't need a plaque to think of you all of the time, but it is a nice reminder of your strong yet smooth, warm hands and God the Father's loving hands.  Happy First Birthday in Heaven!  Love, Amy

Monday, April 15, 2013

A New Voice in Heaven

On Easter Sunday the angel choir welcomed their newest member...
good-bye, Grandma Boots!  Until we meet again. :) 


 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.--Romans 14:8

Odds and Ends

Grad school, teaching, and life in general get in the way of blogging.  Here's what has been going on over the past 4 weeks...
Joey graduated from the fire academy and is now with the Milwaukee Fire Department.  Congratulations, Joe!
Mark ordered and installed banners for the school weight room...
 ...they feature players from throughout the years and motivational words.

 Kids work hard in this place, day in and day out, all year!
 I should have taken a "before" shot, but here's the upstairs bathroom.  This is what happens when Mark puts several $$$, hard work, and time into something.  Thanks to our neighbor for the donating the log from his cabin, to Jan for the rugs, and to Shopko for the sale on the shower curtain!

 This room used to be long, dark blue, and cavernous.
Back left is a case with the individual cloth boxes, one for each kid to store their "toiletries" (for lack of a better word right now).  We're hoping that the kids use this bathroom more now.  It turned out really sharp!
 
On top of the towel cabinet is this box from my family's farm with my dad's signature on it.  It's very special to me for obvious reasons!
Last bit of trivia...the dogs.  Young and old, hyper and calm, inside and outside...the antonyms could go on.  I love how Rudy is barking at Mickey through the window.  Gotta wonder what Mickey is thinking, "Gee thanks a lot, guys...why does the little whippersnapper get to stay in the house and I don't??"

Happy Easter!

 Easter lasts for 50 days, so I'm not too late with this...right?
Engelke Easter was at the community building this year, followed by a special treat that evening...
 ...the baptism of our newest nephew, Joseph Todd!  Ken, Marla, Julie and I are the proud godparents. :)
 Such a beautiful family!
Easter Morning, the usual candy stupor...
Rudy was 8 weeks old at Easter.
 And then the next day, the Easter Bunny came and dropped a few jelly beans in the back yard!

 He even went to Great Grandma's house in Dubuque, as Tage discovered.
 Wynne distributed some of her eggs to her cousin Kierta.  Just to be fair and all;)
The Siegert cousins gathered for a picture after the big hunt.  It was ccccCOLD this year on Easter Sunday!
 Meanwhile, the big kids were playing "Logos" in the house.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.--1 John 2:25