Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Old Things

I have been thinking about old things.

My husband took me to Seattle, Washington for my birthday! No, I am not thinking about me being old! :)  For this post I am remembering walking through antique stores. I look around me now here at home and through the years items in my home have become antiques! I see some of the same or similar things that I had or still have sitting on antique store shelves. Doug has even older stuff because he keeps things just in case he needs it someday.

This morning Doug said that he had to go change his socks "because this pair has some holes it them." I told him "Well then, just throw them out!" He says, "But I can still get a few more wears out of them."  Today he has a doctors appointment and I guess that merits socks without holes. Isn't he funny? Yes, he is.

Anyway, back to old things. My twin daughters enjoy old things. They want them in their homes and they want to re..... re....... hmm. Can't remember what they call making "new" things out of things that are old. They'll use old tools for bookends; make garden decorations out of old kitchen utensils; or they like to see them sitting around just so - gathering dust. That's what I say, "It's just a dust collector, it's just something you'll have to dust."

But one day in someones past those items were new. One day in the past those items were precious to someone. One day in the past those items were treasured, dusted and kept away from others that could misuse or abuse them.

Now... there they sit.

I thought to myself: No family to take them and treasure them? No family to make them a family heirloom? Now it is just a thing that has been bought by the highest bidder and put in an antique store so that I can go look at them.

Kind of a sad thought isn't it? But that thought makes me put "things" in focus. Nothing, nothing on this earth will last long enough to enjoy in eternity. Items we treasure after we die will probably not be treasured by our offspring, or at least not forever. What's even more sobering to me are the many hundreds of photographs from the past, beautiful people, babies, houses, boats, on and on - photos that have been forgotten and now sit in a basket in a dark corner of an antique store.

Let's keep living focused on eternity. Learn what eternity's values are. What will last forever? Focus on God.

King Solomon's thoughts from Ecclesiastes:
"So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This is also vanity." For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!" Ecclesiastes 2:15,16.



PHOTOS:
Top:An old ball and chain!!!  :D
Middle: Old bottles.
Bottom: My daughter :)
I love you daughter!


Thursday, January 15, 2015

My "Sons of Thunder" UPDATED


 UPDATE:The story of my sons experiences on the Iron Dog trail have been posted at their Sons of Thunder Facebook page.  It was an exciting week not only for them but for us that watched it via Irondog.com's GPS connection. Many mishaps along the way due to the trail having so little snow and in many places no snow at all! Skipping their sleds across open water and in Golovin Bay they suddenly found themselves in open sea water with land in the far distance. You may enjoy reading their story which was also shared in our local newspaper and included here for your convenience: The Mat-Su Frontiersman, The Bond of Brothers Endures Toughest Iron Dog Race in Event's History.   Bravo to my sons Klint and Kris who are no longer Iron Dog Rookies since they persevered and finished the race and are now Iron Dog Veterans!

~~~~~~       ~~~~~~~~     ~~~~~~~~
 My sons Klint and Kris are preparing to race in the Iron Dog Snowmobile Race. They have been riding their machines for long distances whenever they can get away from the responsibilities of work and families that tie many of us down everyday. Young couples with young families are especially too busy so getting away is not as often as they would like to. The guys say that they will be happy to just finish the race as the competition in this race is very stiff with many veteran teams that will be on the trail a head of them. Personally, I have no desire to run the 2031 miles strenuous, fast and as they say "the longest, toughest snowmobile race" and neither does my husband even if I have to say so for him. :P  We could do a funny video of how not to win the Iron Dog... ha! (nah!!!!)

  I am hoping to see a lot of photos from the trail (no time for pictures from the trail Mom.) and get reports to share about how and where they are (good luck).  Irondog.org will be equipping all the sleds with GPS tracking gadgets so keeping track of them during the run will be hard not to keep watching! I watched my son Klint for the 2014 Iron Dog Trail Class and found that I can become very irritated if the gadgets don't do what they are supposed to do. :-\ This year there seems to be more confidence in what will be attached to the machines. Hope. Hope.

 Like and Follow my sons on their Iron Dog Team #49 Sons of Thunder facebook page.

The following photos of my sons and their proud Dad were taken by Marie Aaberg, my daughter. 









Monday, January 05, 2015

Feeling Better

Christmas is laying all over my living room rug. That is how far I got even with help from Doug. I have been having a weird sickness. No fever. No runny nose. Just extremely weak and tired. Not sick and tired, just weak and tired. Anyway, today I feel better.

It is cold today; minus temps and according to our weather forecast it will be for the next week. It is good for freezing up the open water but does it have to be that cold? This morning the sky is a rosy pink with a purple-ish blue on the horizon. It always seems to look that way when it is cold.


By the time I figured out iCloud and got this picture of Sleeping Lady taken, all the rosy and blues were gone and all I had left was and is the cold! Brrrrr!

Back to cleaning. And I am thankful today that I feel so good. Thank You Jesus!

"...abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7


Thursday, January 01, 2015

Holidays are Over!

Holidays are over and here it is 2015!

My new years resolution... haha. If anyone ever does these things anymore...
I plan to kiss Doug on his lips every day! He is happy about this resolution and I think I might be able to do this. hehe.  We will see.



Thanksgiving, my family and I made reservations at Cattle Co. for dinner. I was not that impressed. The turkey fixings were not outstanding but there was turkey. Nothing beats home cooked for sure!  But the absence of piles of dishes and aching feet was totally enjoyed with the loving hugs and fun of family around.

Christmas we all got together on Christmas Eve and enjoyed each other. We ate chili soup, played games then opened gifts. It was such a nice time together and the very happy point of the celebration was that our oldest granddaughter was with us.

Divorce is an ugly wound in families and her absence was a result of all the wrongs and hurts that come out of a very caustic separation and divorce. This Christmas I had hope that my dear grandchildren will be climbing out of all this mess to try and proceed on with their own lives, their own ideas of what they want and don't want in their every day's.

I want to get back into blogging.  The constant mind control of an aging Mom and her needs are not here anymore for filling my thoughts away from blogging. So I find myself thinking about what I would like to share.

God has been faithful.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)