Ties That Bind

Last night was our churches annual "Ties that Bind" banquet.  I don't know how long this has gone on.  They have a different theme each year with the main purpose to be fellowship.  They ask that people donate items that are then drawn as  door prize type things.  These are many times a dinner at someone's house....something that for the most part helps people to meet and get to know the people in the church.

We started with a meal.  They have it catered each year according to the theme.  This years theme was the '50's as Clear Lake in February is a '50's wonderland. (especially the first weekend).  This year marked the 50th year of "The Day the Music Died".  For those of you like me who doesn't know a whole lot about '50's rock and roll.  Clear Lake, IA is where Buddy Holly, Ritchy Valens, and the Big Bopper gave their last performance at the Surf before there plane crashed in a field also in our town.  The beginning of February is always interesting here, and this year was the 50th, so it was even more "interesting."  All that to say that was why we had the 50's theme.  A lot of people were dressed in 50's costumes.  It was a lot of fun.

Every year, they do the Newlywed game.  Dan and I were asked to be in this with three much younger couples.  It was a lot of fun.  We won!!!  I didn't know if we had a chance as we have a lot more years to remember than any of them, but we won a gift certificate to a very nice restaurant around here.

It was a lot of fun!  It is so nice to be able to go to a church function and just laugh and laugh.  Sometimes life is too serious.

Color the Wind Kite Festival

Today is the annual "Color the Wind Kite Festival" in Clear Lake. They had to first move the festival due to the fact that at the sea wall where they were planning on holding it, there is no ice.  They moved it to one of the parks on the lake where the ice was still solid.  This enables the kiters to be out on the lake and away from power lines and trees...etc.   Today is 18 degrees with 25 mph winds---feeling like -2.  The wind got a little too much for the kites, so there were not as many.  I did take pictures because I think that this is so neat.  They have some that they "ski" behind, but they were doing that too far out to get a picture.  The big one on the bottom never went up.  It was 30-40 ft. long, but it was too windy to put it up.

We've been fighting influenza in this house, so I haven't been on the computer as much.  I have been on facebook to keep up with some family members.  If you are on facebook and have not found me, I am on.  I am not totally faithful to it, but I have found many people that I have lost touch with.

Mitchell is sick today.  Looks as if he will be home from school tomorrow also.  He sounds terrible, is running a fever, and looks as if he could stay in bed for a week.  I had the same thing last week; Peirce had it the week before that, so we can understand.  The only difference is that Mitchell hates to lie down.  I hated getting up and didn't for a few days when I had it.

Spring actually looks like it is coming.  We still have some snow on the ground.  We have only gotten above freezing a few days, but after being below zero for so long, even 20 feels wonderful.  Today is 44 and feels like 50.  Dan actually rode his bike last week.  I am looking forward to getting mine out, but I will wait until it gets closer to 60.  I am a bit of a wimp.  I will just have to keep exercising in our basement.  Wii Fit is a lot of fun though.

This weekend is the annual kite festival here in Clear Lake.  I will be sure to get some pictures as I am excited about it.  These kites are huge.  We missed last year by a few weeks.  We are getting close to ending our first year here.  It has been a long winter, but the sun shone even when it was bitterly cold.  I'm glad.  I don't know if I could have handled it if it had been gloomy on top of below zero for so long.  We are looking forward to summer bike rides, walks to town, and the pool.  We already have our summer membership.

Update on Ryan Theel

Ryan came home on Monday or Tuesday.  He will not be out for awhile.  He is doing well, but there is so much sickness that we will not be taking him anywhere.  He still has an open incision in his abdomen due to the healing of the colon. That will be open for awhile.  Please continue to pray for him as he is still not totally healed, but doing so much better than a few weeks ago.

My privileges--My Choice

God has been working on my heart today especially about all of the things on my daily "to do" lists that I mumble about.  I many times get my martyr complex going.  We were reading this morning before the guys left for school in Daily in Christ.  I didn't take it quite the way that Neil Anderson was talking, but God really convicted me.  He was talking about how we perceive ourselves.  Many times we live a defeated Christian life because we fail to recognize the fact that we are more than conquerers.  If we do not perceive ourselves as children of God, we will not live as victorious children of God.

I changed the idea a little, but as I said, God really convicted me.  I've been in the mode lately to just "get it done."  It seems as if there are so many daily household activities that become monotonous, but I am choosing to look at it differently.  I am choosing now to look at it as a privilege.  I am privileged to be able to stay at home with my daughter during the day.  I am privileged to take care of my family and provide them with clean clothes and good food.  I will thank God that I have the ability and opportunity to do the many things that seem tedious.  I am so blessed.  Satan loves to get our minds on the dirty laundry instead of the fact that we have clothes in abundance and a working washer and dryer---on my second floor.

Now that I have said that, I do need to take care of the piles of ironing that do need to get done, but I have to admit that I am going to do it in a much better frame of mind.---It actually is much more enjoyable when I decide to do it with a good spirit.