Happy Pilgrims

We spent Thanksgiving in Wisconsin with the Reids, which has slowly been overtaken by little men. Aaron and I smiled to think that 10 years from now, the woods around Northern Wisconsin will be swarming with Reid men wearing blaze orange. But until then, we women have to keep them occupied during hunting season. Not an easy feat.

two thumbs up

I do love a good story.

That's why two movies recently have left me extremely satisfied and wanting to encourage everyone to see them.

The first is Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Granted, you have to jump in with both feet to believe in the story of two people separated by time. But, if you just hang in there and enjoy the ride, it's worth it! I appreciate the fact that a movie can still tell an incredible love story without going "all the way". There is a great deal of restraint and unselfishness in this film that is so hard to find in our contemporary culture.

The second film is One Night With the King, which I took my 13-year old niece and her friend to last night. This adaptation of the Esther story is the kind of film I wish we could see more often. I loved seeing some actors from Lord of the Rings Trilogy; there were bigger names in the movie than I thought there would be.

I also got a kick out of the actress who played Esther. She was innocent and childlike at the beginning and then matures and becomes this regal beauty at the end.

Check out www.pluggedinonline.com/movies for more!

All in a Day's Work

Here are two reasons I may be developing a twitch: Jonathan has great fondness for the oven and desires to climb inside. (The oven in this photo is off and cold.)

One night, when Daniel was extra tired, I found him on his back, ASLEEP in the bathtub. His face was out of the water, of course, but still -- good grief!!

Flying Solo

This week has been a lesson in perseverance. Aaron got sick on Tuesday and stayed home, the day we were to drive to Wisconsin to be with Nick and Beth and other supporters as the election results came in.

Little did I know Daniel was on the verge of getting sick, too. A couple of hours into the trip, in Hardees, he gives me "The Look" and before we could get to the bathroom - explosion. And there was more before we actually reached our destination. Details witheld for the queasy...

We arrived at the hotel for the party, but we were not in party moods. I took the boys up to a room and decided we would hunker down for the night and just get through it. Daniel continued on his journey of stomach flu, and the other boys stayed healthy, thank the Lord.

Jonathan decided to stay up most of the night and turn into Curious George, getting into everything in his path. I think it's harder when you are alone and there's no one there to keep things in perspective for you, someone to just look at and say, "Is this nuts or what???"

Nick lost his race for U.S. Congress, but fought a great fight. It's hard to take down a Democrat who has been in office for 37 years. We are incredibly proud of him.

Where I Come From

Growing up, I was a little embarrassed to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. But the older I get, the more nostalgic I become about growing up in the "boondocks." I love going back and sitting in the front yard grass with my boys, enjoying the sound of peace and quiet. I love being able to come back to a place that has such a stamp on me, in my very core. So when I heard this song on the radio one day, I could totally relate.

(lyrics courtesy of Little Big Town)

I feel no shame, I'm proud of where I came from

I was born and raised in the boondocks

One thing I know, no matter where I go, I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks

it's where i learned about livin'
it's where i learned about love,
it's where i learned about workin' hard and having a little is just enough.

It's where I learned about Jesus and knowin' where I stand
You can take it or leave it
This is me - this is who I am

Here are some shots of my childhood home in Ohio...my son Daniel took this picture of my brother Doug and I in the tractor -- notice the silos in the background!