Happy 8th Birthday, Teresa!

Happy 8th Birthday, Teresa!

We spent our afternoon at Colorful Creations painting pottery with Bella (and mom and Aunt Amanda!) Teresa has been planning this birthday for two years--and she said it was the best one ever.  I'm so glad it lived up to her expectations! :)

Then it was time for our trick or treating at Grandpa and Grandma Melius' house!

Grandma always has a birthday cake and a fun party ready for Teresa on Halloween, too.

We all went trick or treating in Cresbard this evening and returned for one more birthday cake--a princess dress of cupcakes.

Hope

I don't know if you have noticed this, but life is HARD.   Yesterday was my fifth funeral for the month, for a sister of my dear friend Rachel.  My core group of friends has been rocked by tragedy and loss this past month.  It's the type of thing we would sit and ruminate about in high school . . .  things we hoped would never happen to us.  And now they have. And it's so very hard. Each day as I flip on "on" switch on my Hope light, I say an extra prayer for Marilyn,  that God will allow her to awake from her coma SOON and speak to her family once again.  Hope does not disappoint. Yesterday I had the opportunity to end my day on a Rosary Walk with the youth of our church.  Believe me, walking in the cold wind (with a cold) was not high on the list of things I wanted  to do, but as we prayed as one  for an increase of faith, hope, and love, and for respect for all life,  I was blessed.  So very blessed. How appropriate that Gus Lloyd commented on these same things in his reflection for today. For more Reflections by Gus Lloyd, visit www.GusLloyd.com The Love of Christ St. Paul’s letter to the Romans is such great reading. Today we hear St. Paul asking the question, “What can separate us from the love of Christ?” He then gives a list of things that we are afraid of. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 13, some Pharisees come and tell Jesus to get outta Dodge because Herod wants him dead. Jesus says that he will continue on His way. Read what else He says. Anguish. Distress. Persecution. Famine. Nakedness. Peril. The sword. These are all things that St. Paul proposes might separate us from the love of Christ. But do they? I don’t think so!! “No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” St. Paul then goes on to give a laundry list of much more powerful things, none of which will separate us from the love of Christ. I hope you realize that we are in a constant spiritual battle. Satan and his minions tirelessly try to get us to despair, to give up, to think that, especially when we’re going through trials – like those mentioned by St. Paul, God can’t possibly love us. But Jesus loves us ALWAYS! In fact, it is in those times of great tribulation that Christ loves us all the more. Don’t let Satan let you think otherwise. Fight on, brothers and sisters!! Father, we thank you for victory! Victory over sin and death and Satan and evil. Teach us to rely on the strength of Your Son, Christ Jesus, from whose love nothing can separate us. Amen.

Melius/Johnston Pheasant Hunt

On Saturday, the Johnstons and Meliuses gathered for their 66th (give or take) pheasant hunt.

They now have a fourth generation joining in the hunt!

Jack O' Lanterns- Day 1 and Day 2

After many years of trying to get pumpkins to grow in our garden, we finally had a bountiful harvest this fall.

Nathan, Teresa and Rachel carved three on Thursday night.

The kids didn't have school on Friday and it was raining, so we all got a break from harvest.

Landen joined in the fun that day and Nathan made two more of his own.

As soon as we started talking about carving Thursday night, Rachel had an idea of what she wanted hers to look like.  She kept making this face and saying that is what she wanted.

(She was OK with it if I couldn't give the pumpkin hands.) 

:)

Overflowing

'Tis the season of abundance!
This week, I see abundance all around me--overflowing laundry baskets of clean clothes, and those overflowing with dirty ones, pumpkins (Yay!) . . . even my phone is overflowing with info right now and cannot sync another email!
How did I get behind so quickly????

So, if you don't hear from me for a few days, my excuse this week is that I am digging out!

By the way, there will be a NCFE benefit for Charlie & Marilyn Neuharth Friday night in Java SD from 5:30-7:30pm. Stop by if you can, and if you've never been to Java, this would be a great reason to visit. :)

Melius Pheasant Hunt 2015

 We had a lighter crowd for opening weekend this year, but we still had a whole lot of fun! After we got these hunters on the road, the rest of us girls had fun playing and shopping at the Faulkton Craft Fair!

Landen passed his Hunt Safe course this past summer, so this was the first year he carried a gun.  He has not hit a pheasant . . . yet.

Yesterday was the annual Melius Birthday Bash at our house. Card games and the inflatable outside kept everyone having a great time.

After dark, it was running around the farm with flashlights for the younger crowd--there's nothing better to end a fun day of hunting and celebrating!

Corn Harvest

It occurred to me last night that harvest each year is much like when we brought each of our babies home as newborns (also all in the fall/winter). Meals are at strange times and our family schedule is completely different. The only difference, I suppose, is that we all get to sleep all night through. 

It is a special time of year, and not just because this is when we get paid for our spring and summer's work.

It's a time when we work together as a family, and it is a reminder of what is important in life.

I've gone to four funerals this past week.

When it comes down to the difficult times in life, our greatest blessings on this earth are our friends and family. And, even harder than going through hard times myself, is seeing those I love have to travel through theirs.

But, I've seen so much grace, so much hope, so much faith and love that I know God is in control of all, even if I can't figure it out.

(Really, I can't even do college level algebra, so what makes me think I could figure out God's plan??)

Harvest blessings.

And naps always help, too . . . .

Middle School Band Festival

Last night, Landen played tuba in his first Middle School Band Festival held at our school. Musicians from all over the area came to participate in the band or chorus. Guest conductors come to work with the kids all day as well.

The concert ended with both playing and singing "God Bless America."

Nathan the Nurturer

Nathan sure is good at growing things!

He grew this perfectly shaped pumpkin in his garden.

He's also growing a pretty grown up looking rabbit! Snuggles and Nathan are great friends. :)

A week in review . . . .

This past week, we had a BIG birthday--Dad is 38!

Rachel has a new subject to draw. Her drawings have all been pretty similar to this--two people (this one is Mom and Rachel) looking at each other.  I love their expressions and detail--she is even including knees now. :)

This was the scene on our way to Landen's football games on Monday night. I have been seeing the sun's rays at all times of the day this past week. I'm sure there is a scientific explanation, but with so much uncertainty, pain, and illness affecting several friends and family in these past days, I like to think of them as a hug from heaven.

I was also turned loose in the combine for the first time this past week! After riding and learning for a day, I was given the wheel. My third day was the most difficult, with the sickle (what cuts the soybeans) getting plugged a couple of times, but my father in law was there to kindly get me back to the field. Soybean harvest is now complete. I will see if I am hired back on next year. :)

Here Rachel is waving to her G-Ma. She was as trooper, too, riding in the tractor with grandma and combine with Dad and never complaining at all! She did require some movie time yesterday morning because harvest is just hard work!