Railroad Days- July 18,2010

Well, that's what I get for trying something new. I had written my blog about Railroad Days on Thurs. And it was quite a long one. Today I was adding pictures and accidently had the same picture twice so I asked for help in how to delete a pictures and thought it would be quite simple but instead of deleting one picture it deleted my whole blog! I can't believe it! I don't think I have the patience to rewrite the whole blog so I'll just put up the pictures. I just want to cry :{

We did have a good time and there was a lot of railroad history to absorb. I wish I could have remembered everything I learned. We went to the Durham Museum which was the old Union Station. I was really beautiful and so big it was hard to make sure you saw everything. My favorite museum though was the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. It was smaller but a little easier to see everything and their new exibit, "America Travels by Rail" was really neat and told about the passenger train history. The Railroads West Museum had several old train engines and cars you could walk through and every museum had model train displays which are always fun!. The General Dodge House was so beautiful inside. It's hard to imagine how much money it must have cost for all the beautiful chandeliers, furnishing, rugs, and draperies. I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of the inside of the house because it was gorgeous. General Dodge was instumental in surveying the route for the transcontintel railroad and was the chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. We didn't get to spend much time at Lauritzen Gardens but the model railroad garden is so neat there. I think I have some pictures of it posted from last year when we were there.

Good to be home!

When I got back from my bike ride this morning I went out to check on my garden. I can't believe how everything has grown in a week! I even had a cucumber big enough to pick and lettuce also. I'm getting lots of green tomatoes and even the sqaush is starting to get little balls of squash on the vines. I had one little red strawberry which I ate, even though it was very tiny because otherwise the birds are always getting them.

I love to travel but sometimes it's nice to get back to your old routine again.

Time in KC

Monday Mom and I left Council Bluffs for Kansas City to see Cindy. With Cristy at Rainbow Center, I just felt that it would be nice to visit and show our support. We met Cindy for lunch and then mom and I went shopping. I spent way too much money on shoes and stuff for the yard. After Cindy got offf work we had supper with Shasta and the girls and then went to visit Cristy. She is doing better but hopefully they won't discharge her too early like they did the last two times and then she ended back in the hospital again.
Tuesday morning we went to the Burlington Coat Factory and I bought a couple things and once again met Cindy for lunch and then we went back home and watched Hallmark movies until Cindy got off work. We went to Old Shawnee Pizza Factory for supper with Shasta and the girls again, just before the big downpour came. It was almost over by the time we got done eating. We went to visit Cristy again and say our good-byes to her.
Mom and I left around 7:30 am to start our journey home and had a very nice, uneventful trip home. Well, until I got to the farm and Mom locked the car with the keys in it and Curt had to drive out and rescue me. But it gave me time to enjoy mom's yard and help her fill all her fountains and bird baths.
I thank God always for protecting me in all my travels!
(I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of Shasta, Elle and Mia! What am I thinking!)

A Week-end Away

Wow, where has the summer gone! Here it is already the 22nd of July. This last week-end I went down to visit Tim and Amy. Mom went with me because after the week-end in Council Bluffs we went down to see my sister, Cindy, in Kansas City.

We had a nice hot Sabbath so in the afternoon we took their boat out to Lake Manawa and had a relaxing time cruising around the lake. It felt a little cooler on the water, it was in the 90's with a very high humidity. As you can see in the pictures, Tim, Amy, and Smokey took a dip but Mom and I didn't have our swimming suits. When we got back we talked to Angela and Klaralynn through Skype so got to see them too. It sounded like they had a fun Saturday night. They are quite the party animals. They love to dance. Then we got to talk to Jeremy and Krissy with Skype also. They showed us their amazing patio garden! I don't know how they can grow so much in such a small space. Jeremy is getting so fit. He's down to 185# and he's 6'1''! I'd love to get down to 185# and I'm 5'5''. I have a lot of work ahead of me to get there and below.

What a Great Summer!

I have to say I can't remember such a perfect summer in a long time. Last summer was a little on the cool side, didn't really get 80 degree weather until September. But this summer is great! And the good thing is that it is encouraging me to ride my bike (which I didn't do at all last summer). This morning there was very little breeze so I decided I couldn't pass up a ride. I realize now why I enjoyed my rides so much before...the thrill of exceeding the speed limit of 25, if only for a brief moment. The satisfaction of making the climb with gears to spare...And just feeling great after 10 miles and wanting more...more beautiful bike paths like in Minnesota. Enjoying the bird songs and the beauty all around me are amazing perks. God is good and I am so glad He gives me good health and an amazing body so I can enjoy His great outdoors.

My Day Off

Since I was a bit sleep deprived after the week-end I decided to sleep as long as I wanted which was until 2 pm. Then Curt came home from work and he thought we should go out for dinner since we hadn't done anything for our anniversary in June. But since I didn't feel like getting all cleaned up to go out we opted for pizza and movies. We rented "All About Steve" and "The Spy Next Door". "All About Steve" started out kind of crazy but ended good. Not quite the type of movie I'm used to Sandra Bullock being in. The "Spy Next Door" was a cute family friendly movie. I am so used to watching more action packed movies that it was kind of fun to just watch some fun shows.
This morning I slept a little later than usual since I have to work tonight but it was such a beautiful morning I had to go for a bike ride. It was very invigorating and tiring. I feel like another nap coming on before work.

July 4th Week-end

When the kids come for a week-end I so wish I could have the whole time off but such is life. Amy and Tim arrived Friday evening. Both Curt and I were at work so there wasn't much of a welcome. They flew in so we had to leave Curt's pick-up at the airport for them. Ben and Ashley were going to come on Friday but Ashley wasn't feeling well so they didn't leave until Sabbath morning and arrived just as we were finishing up lunch out at the cabin. Warren and Carol came for lunch also and the Thoms arrived around supper time. It was a beautiful Sabbath and we had some great fellowship time. Since I had to work the night of the 4th, we shot off fireworks Saturday night. It was a little breezier than I like but we still shot them off and they were beautiful.
Sunday the kids went out skiing and then we all went swimming. The water was the clearest and least green that it has been for years. It was a bit chilly when you got in but not bad after your body got adjusted. I got a bit of a sunburn on my chest. I didn't put on any sunscreen since I wanted to soak up as much Vitamin D as I could.
Monday morning I went out to the lake as soon as I got off work and rode in the boat and videoed Ben, Tim and Amy while they skiied. It was hard to say good-bye but I needed to get a little sleep before I had to go back to work.
The time went too fast. I hope I get to see them again before too long.

"Living a Guilt-free Life"

This blog should be dated July 3, 2010 but it was a pretty hectic but fun week-end and then work got in the way, so here it is Wednesday already.
Well, I finally gave by testimony in front of the church. After 7 years, Chrystal finally encouraged me to do it and offered me the opportunity. I was hoping I could do it with less crying but between the emotionality of it and nerves and no sleep, it was pretty much a given that there would be tears and lots of them. It felt good to tell my story and I hope they got the point that God never gives up on us and the life-changing feeling when you finally let go of the guilt of past sins. Accepting the free gift of forgiveness and the freedom it gives you. Not the freedom to sin but the freedom from the guilt of sin. All the church members and visitors were so kind and supportive afterwards. I hope they really took away a blessing from it and weren't only being kind. They all seemed very genuine in their what they said. I sang the Damaris Carbo song,"He Has Forgiven Me" after my testimony and I really had a hard time getting through it. It has been like my theme song ever since I heard it. I could have written that song, it fits my life so perfectly. But Satan never stops trying to get me back into the old trap of guilt. I've been better about looking "him in the eye with confidence and say, "He has forgiven me. My sin has been washed from His memory. By the Blood of the Lamb of Calvary, He has forgiven me."
I just love the Lord more everyday! He is so amazing!