Mon Nov 30 13575

11/30/09 Happy Birthday Nancy!! (and Gavin and Ben) I tried to get a hold of you but the line was busy. I'm looking forward to spending the end of January in Brownsville at OUR trailer park...4 Seasons. This am we had the vet come to the unit today plus the sow owner. Lots of discussion. Then I went to Sioux City to get a new pair of glasses. My prescription expires 11/30 /09. I got to take the Prius. and I really like the car. I also met with my HSHS students. I went to bed earlier but couldn't get to sleep. (I shouldn't drink Mountain Dew later than noon.) 8 gals for Bible study. Lynn, Sarah Jodie, Elizabeth, Emily, Danielle, Renae, Reeann

Mon Nov 30

Sun Nov 29

11/29/09 After feeding at the unit I went to SS. I found out I am suppose to be in the nursery next Sunday when we will be in Dubuque. So I switched and did nursery today for SS. There were 4 little ones. 3 little girls that could toddle around and one little guy. His mom said he was in need of an am nap. I thought to myself, "Fat chance of that"...but really, what do I know? He fell asleep in my arms with about 30 minutes left of SS...and the 3 littles girls just played nicely for the remaining time... so I just held him as he slept. What a treat!! When Carrie, his mom, came in to get him, I got the okay to take him out and just hold him during the service. Oh, my, it doesn't get much better than that! Great start to the day and then after church Karen came out to join us for lunch. It was a good day. Naps in the afternoon and I got my check book reconciled and entered into the computer. I went to prayer tonight and Shigae was there from Turkey. He said sometimes there have been prayer support mission groups that have come and walked through the city where he and Luann are. They would pray for the people and the gospel. He said he would give me an open invitation for any time I could come. I said I would pray about it. I can't say I would have ever thought about that on my own. It's some thing to pray about along with their other needs. He and Luann have 4 children under 8 years old. The other mission couple has 5 under 11 with number 6 on the way. Their team started out with more families, but now it is just down to the 2 of them. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out more workers, and to open the hearts of the Muslims to the Gospel.

Sat Nov 28

11/28/09 I went to the unit about 5. Then home and back to bed until the rest of the house woke up. I fixed scrambled eggs for breakfast. After discussion we rode with Howard and Anabel to Blair and Karen and Luke rode with Jensens. Great meal with Gary and Kim's family. On the way home I rode in the back of the folks car. Jensens went right home to Parkersburg and L&K rode with us. Lots of fun with everyone.

Fri Nov 27 13475

11/27/09 Great to have Luke here overnight. Missy and Phillip E&A came about 3pm. Becky is in St. Louis this am. The HS football team she is athletic trainer for made it to the 8 man state playoffs. Luke and I went to the folks for lunch. we started a fire in the coop and went out there for a while. The folks came over here for supper about 6:30.

One of my sweetest memories this Thanksgiving season is of Haley and her friend Tara at church. We got to church before the service and Tara came up to talk to Haley. I don't remember how it got started but together they recited Psalm 100. They had learned it at school. It is just a precious memory. Two sweet little gals...in happy pure voices..."Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Come before his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pastures. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations." Thanks Matt and Becky for the sacrifice to send her to St. Joe Christian Academy. It is a blessing to my life.

Thur Nov 26 Happy Thanksgiving

11/26/09 So much to be Thankful for!!! We rode over to Manson with Great Grandpa and Grandma Johnson. Luke met us there. Linda and Dean's family were there and it was a great meal.

Wed. Nov 25 13450

11/25/09 I subbed for Mrs. C today. She had a reading day so it was really simple. Plus they got out at 2:30 for Thanksgiving. Denny had a long day at the bank. We went to the community service in IG this evening. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank you, Jesus, for all the ways you have blessed us. We will be missing our Colorado kid this holiday season.

Tues Nov. 24

11/24/09 I subbed at the HS today for Mrs. C. The pix is of all the cousins and Ginny's family with Auntie Verna. We have lots of memories of holidays spent with them. It was so nice to honor her Sunday.
.

Mon Nov 23 13425

11/23/09 I was going to include a picture from the BD party, but instead I'll put in a pix of the car we bought today. We got it a Carroll. Lynn S. bought our Intrepid. I spent the am in Parkerburg then headed home. After feeding at the unit I met Denny and we headed to buy the 2004 Prius, kind of a cute little electric car. Then back hoome for Bible study with Stacy, Lynn, Renae, Sarah, Emily.

Sun Nov 22 VERNA IS 100

11/22/09 We went to church. Nancy sang in the choir. Then a quick visit to the estate sale that I missed yesterday... I'D HATE TO MISS AN ESTATE SALE!!! How kind of my sisiters to realize that. and take me back to it where I spent $12. We got to Neenah about 1 and 9 of us cousins ate pizza at Ginny's home before going to the nursing home where Auntie Verna lives. Very nice Party. How amazing. 100 years. I'll include more pictures nest week. Back to Madison about 6. Just in time for Nancy to head to a bridge club. I headed to Parkersburg and spent the night there.

Tues Nov. 17

11/17/09 I put this in out of order. Neil couldn't help at the unit today. I am so glad we got a lot done yesterday. I still worked by myself processing for over 5 hours. Aren't kindergartners cute?

Sat Nov 21 13400

11/21/09 Fun to spend the night with the Jensens and to wake up and play with Evan and his stuffed animals in the tent in the basement. It brought back memories of other little ones and stuffed animals and babies. I left for Madison, Wisc. when the fog lifted and got there about noon. Jean and Nancy were returning from an estate sale. In the afternoon Nancy x 2, Jean, Arlen, and I went to see baby Maggie H. For supper we ate great Mexican. Best guacamole ever!! I finished at gift for the exchange at Nancy's.

Fri. Nov 20

11/20/09 I subbed for PE today at the HS. He has 8 classes in Fridays, no planning periods with 20 - 45 students in each class. Pretty full day...but I really enjoyed myself. I went to a home school skating paty before heading to Parkersburg and getting there about 11. Two pretty cute 6 year olds!

Thur Nov 19 13370

11/19/09 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALEY! You are very special to us and we love you very much. Hope you had a great birthday!!! I subbed this am for PE at the HS. I really felt bad that I didn't get you called to wish you a Happy Birthday first thing in the am. I got to school and realized it. Your birthday pictures are really cute.

Wed. Nov 18

11/18/09 I subbed in HS Home Ec. today. Then home to feed sows and get supper ready to take to Arthur. Pretty good night at Awana. It is fun when cousins get together. Looking forward to Dubuque. See Betsy with her own baby on 11/17.

Mon Nov 16 13325

11/16/09 When a person spends 8 hours in one day picking up baby pigs, giving them shots, etc. there is not much to write about. Denny went to an extension meeting in Sac City today. I left a message for the vet about our pigs. Good Bible study with Sarah, Elizabeth, Renae and Emily. The picture is out of order. We went to see Wade, Betsy, Martin and Maggie on Nov 21.

Sun Nov. 15

11/15/09 Church and SS. Came home and had leftover pizza. I napped and Denny worked on the computer. Later we washed 2 cars & cleaned the house. I watered and put mulch on the bulbs I planted yesterday while Denny sprayed off the pickup. Prayer time at church at 6. We stopped at the folks for a visit afterward. We talked to Gail and Bruce this afternoon. They made it to Brownville just fine and Bruce had the same comment as Denny, " This is really nice!".

Denny smiled about the pliers in the pocket because it is probably not some thing you would see in a CPA's ward robe. But I know all things work together to make Matt who he is. And Dad really likes carrying around a pliers even today. It's nice to know Matt is (still) his daddy's boy.

Sat. Nov 14 13290

11/14/09 Slept in. (actually Denny slept in and I got up & just dinged around until he got up.) I didn't go to the unit til after 10. Denny spent most of the day fixing at the unit. I went to the Fred P. funeral at 2. I got pizza afterward kept it warm in the oven until we had it for supper in the coop. Denny got a load of firewood in the afternoon while I planted the 31 lily bulbs that I got in the mail. Cute pix of the kids practicing for showing at the fair. Do you notice anything? (besides how great the pigs looked). Denny got a chuckle out of what he saw.

Fri Nov 13

11/13/09 We got this nice kindergarten picture of Haley last week. I subbed at the HS in the afternoon for science. I came home and quickly fed the sows. Laura asked if I could give her a ride to the play. We ate at Subway first. Amy was in the play along with our neighboor Ivan. The students did a very good job. Janet C. had gotten the letters done for me. I gave Jane O. my quilt to finish hand quilting. I started quilting it when Missy was a freshman (17 ?? years ago). The material has almost worn out. I told her there was no hurry. (Like is has been that long...What's with another yer or two.) Denny passed his test to sell credit life insurance. On the way back from Des Moines he stopped in Carroll and drove an '04 Prius with 126 K miles on it. He went in to Fred P.'s vistation after he got home.

Thur Nov 12 13250

11/12/09 Denny left about 5 am to drive to Des Moines for a class to sell credit life insurance. The folks invited me over for a pizza supper. I went to Bible study at Susan's. I visited with Janet C. who is helping me get a Dubuque Christmas gift ready. Isn't there something just fun about swinging?

Wed. Nov 11

11/11/09 I went to the unit before going to teach PE. Denny had Veteran's Day off (one hurrah for the bank job). We had a quick cup of coffee at the folks then I headed to Odebolt. Four nice classes. (No one likes nice tennis shoes more than Missy.) I headed to Carroll to go to WW. Denny spent the day welding stainless steel feeders and fixing stuff at the unit. Parent-guest night at Awana. About 35 extra for the night. I made pumpkin bars and red hot cider to serve to the parents.

Tues Nov 10

11/10/09 Coffee at folks before going to the unit. I sprayed the B&G pens on the west side, got done at 11:30 and was in IG Elem to sub for the guidance teacher in the afternoon. Four nice classes. I got home in time to make supper to take to Arthur for Denny and me before FPU. At 7 I headed to the home school meeting. Then back to check my sows and to bed.

Mon Nov 9 13193

11/9/09 Back to the real world. The walk on Sat was great. Haley said it was the longest walk she had ever been on. Torren did a good job following the other 2, but why would you just walk on the sidewalk...when there were lawns to walk on...sticks to pick up...dirt to look at? Every so often he would say, "Hold me" and Grandpa would give him a ride on his shoulders for a block or 2. This am I went for a quick cup of coffee at the folks. Howard was heading for IG but waited to hear about our weekend before he left. They said April's wedding an Sat was very nice. I sprayed gilt room 4 at the unit. At Bible study tonight was Ranea, Stacy, Steph, Danielle, Emily, Sarah and me.

Sun Nov 8

11/8/09 Church and SS. Then they took us to Cheddars for lunch. It was so nice. Afterwards we sat in the back yard. Denny played catch with Haley. They caught a butterfly, luckily they had a bug container right by their sandpile. The lid was gone so she used a baseball to keep the bug in. Thanks for the great weekend, Johnsons! After we got home I went to Sun nite church. Denny stayed and did his laundry (got to get those pretty boy clothes ready).

Sat Nov 7

11/7/09 Nice to wake up to the sound of little voices. Denny slept in the basement where it is quieter longer. Matt fixed egg burritos for breakfast. About 9 Matt and Becky left for meetings. We went for a walk with the little ones. The plan was to walk to the grocery store and get some fruit for lunch. On the way there were 3 gorgeous red trees that we stopped to play by. At the store we asked if there were any parks close by. Yes, Krug Park is just down the avenue. We headed that way... and kept walking and kept walking. Ended up it was about 1.5 miles from their house. Matt came to get us for lunch. Hurray for cell phones. I stayed with the kids during naps, Denny and Matt went to the Griffin's game where Becky was working. They lost. :( ISU lost :( Iowa lost :( Pork chops for supper :) Good to be in St Joe :) On the drive back to the house from the park Torren said "Nice day." I thought so, too. :)

Fri Nov 6 13164

11/6/09 It's too bad this came out so blurry. Missy had always been a good little mama. So cute the way she cared for Luke. Wouldn't it be funny to have him in a picture lined up with the same stuffed animals now? I got the brown rocker/recliner just to rock & hold my new little baby boy. We still have the rocker. It still works well even tho it has it's share of baby urp up. Today the day was a little easier day at the unit. :) I went to IG in the am to take a wedding card to April L. and pick up some pig feed. Nice break. I finished up most of my work at the unit and was at home by 5 to pack. When Denny got home from work at 6:30 he changed clothes and we loaded the car and headed to St Joe. LET'S GO SEE THOSE KIDS!! It's been too long since we've seen them (State Fair August 18).

Thur Nov 5

11/5/09 Another full day. Fourth day of being at the unit by 5 am. Just me and Mark. First day of me spraying out a room all by myself. I did 2 rooms. On the sprayer from 8:30-4:30. Not nearly as much fun as Matt was having giving Missy a drink. Denny did bring pizza out to us from Arthur, so we sat and ate for about 45 min. At 5:30 I left and went to Anabel and Howard's who had asked us over for turkey supper. YUM!! Howard was in the mood for a turkey leg so last Friday he had gotten a turkey. We had a great meal complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, peas, lettuce salad, fresh buns,and all the relishes (with black and green olives). Then top it off with pumpkin pie and cool whip. SO GOOD!! I was so physically beat that after supper I took grandpa's place on the sofa. I went home earlier than Denny who stayed and cataloged some old coins Howard found in his uncle's lock box in Arthur.

Wed Nov 4

11/4/09 Another full day. Kinda topsy turvey. No breaks & getting out of the unit. JUST 5am - 5pm at the unit. Jon came and worked today. He put in 11 hours. We shipped out 750 pig. 13.49 # Jon and I sprayed 3 rooms. I had pork roast and potatoes in crock pot for lunch. It was so good to have Jon work. There was an early out and Mark knew we needed the help. Maryann L. met me for prayer time 6-6:15. She asked if Denny had found his coat and said she had been praying that it would be found. PTL!! Sue G. had a DVD on Jim Elliot's life for counsel time at Awana. Very good. Right to bed...another 300 baby pigs to load out tomorrow at 7. Be at the unit by 5. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Tues Nov 3

11/3/09 I subbed at BC for Joseph again today. My time frame was about the same as yesterday. 5 am unit...6-7 home...7-8:30 unit...9-2 BC...2:30-5:30 unit...6-8 church. At 2:30 Neil, Mark and I finished giving shots to the last 2 rooms of baby pigs. Neil had sprayed out room 6. We pulled off the holdover pigs that were not big enough to sell and put them on moms in room 6. I did make it to FPU with supper for Denny by 5:30. How romantic to eat by the light of the car interior. When I got to town he was still at the bank working. Sure nice to have him working at Arthur at least until the end of the year. I guess you can say we eat out at least 2 nights a week. On Tuesday I bring supper and we eat at church before FPU. On Wed. I bring supper and we eat at church before Awana. Tonight was the first time we ate by the romantic light of the car interior. Such romance just knocks me off my feet.

Mon Nov 2

11/2/09 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN !! This picture was taken at Dubuque during the Newhouse Christmas. Susan had gotten this white erase board and started using it to write down all her family gifts. Good use (right away) of the gift from the grab bag exchange. In fact maybe she bought and brought this gift because she actually wanted it. I heard that Julie bought and brought a small heater. She wanted one that would keep her feet warm under her desk at work and thought she might end up with it at the gift exchange. (I don't know if she went home with it, but it was a great idea to get something YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE AND USE.) Today I was at the unit at 5. Then home til 7 when Denny left for work. Then to the unit til 8:30. Then to BC to sub for Lisa H. She teaches one 4th grader who has extreme ADH. She works from 9-2. It was interesting to sub for her. I was back at 2:30 to give shots with Neil and Mark to 1 more room. Neil had to go then. I worked at the unit until 6 when I went home for Bible study. Stacy, Emily, Danielle, Sarah, and Reeann.

Sun Nov 1

11/01/09 Mandy, your comments made us LOL. Thanks. Sorry I have no life to write about, hence our Walmart list. I did go back on the blog and found Dad's pix in Parkersburg with his leather coat. Looking over our activities (or lack there of) we surmised the coat may be in Carroll...No luck at the Chinese place...BINGO at Santa Maria. :) This afternoon Dad is working on bank statements/reconciling/ entering in the computer. Then some time hopefully before we get too tired and have to take naps...Financial Peace comparing actual with budget. I'm sure OUCH, but it needs to be done. It's kind of a balancing act too. (I actually DON'T know whose hand that is. I'm guessing a big brother's.)