More weather stuff

I heard that Minneapolis was colder yesterday morning than Siberia or Nome, Alaska. But I don't think we've been getting the round the clock news coverage the east coast did a couple of weeks ago when they were a mere zero degrees. It was 23 below, actual temperature--never mind the wind chill.

I think the worst is over, so anything above zero will feel like Florida. I hope Inga's packing enough warm clothes for her overnight excursion north today. I wonder if she'll catch any fish from the frozen lakes.......

Till next time (hopefully a warmer time),

Suzi

Working today

It's going to be a crazy day, starting with getting up at 5 or 5:15, walking Raven (just a one-p.... walk today), getting Luke up at 5:50 so he can make it to jazz band at 6:30, getting Mark and Inga up so they can catch the bus at 6:49, and Christina out by 7:15. Tim worked and then helped set up stuff for our new church till 10 last night, so he's not moving too fast this morning....

I packed lunches for Tim and myself, showered, fed the dog, and now I'm blogging before using my new remote start (thank you Tim--thank you Lord!) to get the frigid van going (it's outside in this 20 below weather). Then I hit the road to drive 30-45 minutes in traffic.

Tonight Tim and I are having dinner with friends, so we have to arrange rides for Christina and Inga to get to where they are going, and make sure Inga has everything for her overnight this weekend up north where I hope she doesn't freeze to death!

Ah, well, it's Friday after all.

Till next time,

Suzi

Brrrrrrrrrr

Last night was the coldest it's been in the Twin Cities since December 25, 2000. I remember that day. We decided to wait to leave for Tennessee till Christmas Eve or day, and we ended up leaving at 6 am on Dec. 25. We had our exchange student, Marcelo from Ecuador, with us. He was having difficulty adjusting to our climate, even though he'd been with us for several months at that point. We got all our stuff loaded and sat with blankets and the heat cranked up, but even so, the windows did not completely defrost until we arrived in central Illinois about 10 hours later. We arrived at my parents, near Knoxville, about 12:30 am, just after Christmas. It was nice to enjoy some warmer days, though I think it was in the 30s or 40s there--maybe even in the 20s.

I'm looking forward to Saturday's high of 15. And waiting to hear from my sister, who lives in northeastern Wisconsin--where it is often 10 degrees colder than here.

Till next time,


Suzi

Another cold one

Temperatures are below zero again, with a nasty wind chill. It's not too bad if you're not walking in the wind, but if you are.....brrrrrrrr

It was a two poop walk today--I always feel better if Raven has time to refresh himself at least twice so things don't get clogged up. I don't know if that bothers him or not or if I should even be writing about it.....but it is hard to carry a poop bag when the weather is so cold and I'm looking for a garbage can.

Well, it is January, after all.

Till next time,

Suzi

Snowmobiling with dogs

After working a long day yesterday and commuting through the snow, I crashed at home, watching reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. This morning is cold and bright, so Raven and I headed out for another shortened walk. As we headed down to the woods by the lake, we saw a man on a snowmobile driving on the frozen creek with his dog running along beside. That's the way to enjoy winter, I thought, as Raven and the dog happily and nosily greeted each other.

Isn't winter fun?

Till next time,


Suzi

Ice castle

Last night we went to see the ice castle in St. Paul. It was really a good time to go--a bit chilly and windy, but not unbearable. We left home about 9:30 pm and got back around 11:30 (after stopping at White Castle and KFC since no one had supper). It was very impressive--with a light show and everything. You can see more at athe St. Paul winter carnival's website. There were dozens of ice scuptures, too, and the light show was accompanied by music and large video screens with fun patterns. It was really an enjoyable family evening.

Now we have 2 or so inches of snow (compared to the 6-12 they were predicting) and it's off to work--tax time! I'm tired, but happy.

Till next time,

Suzi

Tax time approaching

Well, today I learned a few of the new responsibilities I will be having during tax season, which may mean visiting both my brother-in-law's office and my mother-in-law's office, too. I hope it won't involve too much evening time, because, as we discovered last night, teenagers need supervision!! Tim and I went to a birthday party and didn't get home till almost midnight. The kids were jamming in the basement and there were wrappers, pizza boxes, and loud noise everywhere. They are good kids and we weren't really worried, but it still is good to be around, especially since I'm trying to get the house in some order for our small group coming over tomorrow night!

So--back to work--carting kids and cleaning house!

Till next time,


Suzi

Snowing today

This morning we woke to a soft blanket of white, covering the bare spots of the ground. It's not to much, just one to three inches predicted--enough to snarl morning traffic, but also enough to make everything look fresh and new.

Raven always loves a new snowfall, burrowing his nose along as he plays dog-plow, and making snow dog/angels in the white stuff. He barks as we walk along, chasing the dancing flakes as the cover his back and nose until he shakes them off.

The kids are off school today--end of the semester. maybe they'll run out with their sleds and snowboards and chase flakes and make snow angels too.

Till next time,


Suzi

Ten below

After everyone out east complained about their freezing temperatures last week, we are now the coldest state in the nation--here in the Twin Cities it is 10 below. It is quite amusing that the east coast big wigs, still shivering from their latest frosty experience, arrived here in St. Paul to report on the beautiful ice castle that was constructed this past week and has it's grand opening today.

We hope to visit the ice palace--the first in over 10 years here. It is pretty spectacular, with an almost regulation size ice rink, cool lighting, and more stuff I don't even know about. The St. Paul Winter Carnival begins tonight, which is a celebration of winter.

Raven and I celebrated today by taking a bit briefer walk, but I bundled up quite a bit--I think I had on four layers. If you're protected from the wind, it's not too bad, and the winds are supposed to die down this afternoon.

Welcome winter!

Till next time,


Suzi

Rushing around

It seems like everyone is rushing today--Luke got up early, but went back to bed unnoticed, so he was late giving everyone a ride to school. Christina madly dashed about collecting her things, but managed to make the bus. Raven and I had a pretty leisurely walk, but now I'm trying to get supper in the crockpot, get my BSF stuff together, pack a lunch for our fellowship after Bible study, and generally get myself ready and out the door.

I need to take a deep breath, thank God for the day he has given me, and be on my way with peace in my heart.

Till next time,


Suzi

Keeping track

Life with teenagers is always an adventure. Whether you're dealing with friendships that have become estranged, trying somehow to motivate your mohawk wearing son that he needs to work on homework and get his grades up, and yes, this is more important than band practice, dealing with sassy behavior, messes, etc.--it's always something new every day.

Next week I start working 2-3 days a week in my brother-in-law's accounting/tax office. This year we are handling my mother-in-law's clients, too--with a little help--so my sister-in-law will be in the office with me too. Hopefully it will all go well and my mother-in-law will be fine with a reduced load and not end up in the hospital again with another stroke. (That's what happened last year, three weeks before the end of tax season, and Tim and I (with his brother's help and others, too) tried to keep her business afloat as she directed us from the hospital.)

So, hopefully the kids will sail through these next few months as our time will be divided between them and work.

Till next time,


Suzi

All is well

Last night was our first preview service for The Well Covenant Church. Our core team of about 30 was there early to set up and check on things. The only hitch that I knew about was that latex balloons were purchased, and there were people coming with latex allergies, but Kari, our administrator, ran off to buy mylar balloons and saved the day.

Lots of people from our "mother" church, Plymouth Covenant, came to help. We filed into the sanctuary where a crowd of 400 plus awaited the evening with excitement. The band played, some new, energetic sounds, and some older familiar ones as well. We had multi-media--three large screens set up on the old high school auditorium stage, with video images showing across the screen and also some video clips of interviews and even Mr. Bean. It was a great evening that seemed to be enjoyed by all, even though the temperature outside hovered around 0 degrees F. The warmth of the Spirit was present and we celebrated with joy.

Our next preview service is February 8--stay tuned!

Till next time,


Suzi

The Well Covenant Church

Last night we set up for what will be our first preview service of The Well, our church plant from Plymouth Covenant. The boys and I helped haul stuff in from the trailer and Paul (our pastor's) car. We will be meeting at the old Robbinsdale High School, which is right across the highway from our old church of more than 2 decades--Trinity Covenant. We worked, and Tim arrived just in time for the Subway sandwiches. Inga watched the kids with some other teenagers, and Christina was with Kris and her mom at her school basketball game.

After supper, we gathered in the high school auditorium for prayer and worship, and then communion. It was a wonderful evening.

Tomorrow night is the first preview service, at 6 pm. It will be neat to see what God has in store for all of us!

Till next time,


Suzi

Catching the bus

Fridays are always the day when Mark and Inga have to get up early to catch the bus, because Luke has jazz band at 6:30 am and won't be driving them to school at 7 am as he does M-Th. So, I get up early to get Luke up and going. Tim wants to start work early, so I work on getting him going as well. I fix Tim's lunch as I intermittenly (sp?) check on the kids. Last night, Christina had asked me if I could drive her to school, so I get dressed and get ready to walk Raven before I need to leave with her at 7:30.

Luke leaves at 6:15, Mark and Inga look like they're finally ready to go, and Christina is almost ready when I leave with Raven. (I don't worry too much about Tim--his lunch is packed and he's seated eating his oatmeal and drinking his morning coffee.) As I head out in the dark ahead of Mark and Inga, I see the school bus approaching. They're going to miss it, I think. Just then, they appear at the door, and I yell to the kids getting on the bus, "Hold the bus!" and to Mark and Inga, "RUN!" Fortunately, the bus waits because I don't know if Inga would have made it in the heels she chose to wear today, and Mark would probably just as soon stay home.

I get home, Christina feeds Raven while I warm up the van. Tim is on the road, and so are we.

Well, now we have a long weekend to look forward to--then this will all begin again on Tuesday.

Till next time,


Suzi

Lake phone

Last night Tim took Raven for a walk. They were gone for a while--maybe 20 minutes, and when Tim got back, he took off his coat and couldn't find his cell phone.

So, Tim and I went back out into the darkness of the night (about 9 pm). Armed with a flashlight and my cell phone, we retraced his steps, still fresh in the new fallen snow. We approached the wildnerness of our neighborhood, also known as Humphrey Park and Twin Lake. Now, I have two major phobias (probably many other minor ones)--walking on frozen lakes is one (the other is crossing bridges--especially those grated bridges that hum when you drive over them and that you can look down and see the water below through the bridge. Maybe a third would be sinking in swamps--but that's for another blog.) So, I bravely walked for awhile, but then had to retreat to a shoreline, from where I resolved I would run for help when Tim went down in the frigid water.

But Tim and my phone trudged on. He was spurred on by not only his and Raven's footprints, but the faint ringing of his cell phone as he pressed redial on my phone. Finally, as he was becoming a dim light in the middle of the ice, he called--"Suzi!" He had found the phone.

We somehow managed to get back to "Terra firma" and back home. I think Tim will think twice about where he puts his cell phone the next time he and Raven race under the stars on the frozen landscape of Twin Lake.

Till next time,

Suzi

Cornerstone DVD

Yesterday we received the Cornerstone music festival 20 year anniversary DVD. We've been attending this Christian festival since 1995, so we enjoyed many of the more recent interviews and concert clips. It's amazing to see how the technology of the video world has improved since the early 1980s.

It was fun to watch the DVD as a family and relive some of those good, albeit hot and sweaty times in the dust/mud bowl of east central Illinois.

Now it's time to get ready for next summer!

Till next time,

Suzi

Cavities

After working in drywall and allowing my blood sugar to drop as I jumped on stilts to spot nails on the high places of the walls, I got to take a break and go to the dentist with Christina. I relaxed, doing my Bible study on Amos (many warnings and prophecies of judgement on Israel). Then the dentist came out to talk to me. Christina has eight cavities. Although my blood sugar had stabilized, I felt my blood pressure going up.

I no longer have dental insurance, so we'll have to bite the bullet and take care of this. I'm thinking after we pay for Christina's bill, we should get the boys in for check ups. I used to be so good about getting them to the dentist! Well, I think the boys are pretty good about brushing........

At least we are doing our part to keep our local dentist office in business. Gotta keep that economy humming.....

Till next time,


Suzi

Back to drywall

Well, here it is, two weeks before I start my seasonal job answering phones during tax season, and today Tim needs my help spotting nails. He had no work for about two weeks, now he's working long days, including weekends, with the boys help. You know they're busy if they need me too.

So, I'll dig out my drywall duds and get to work--bringing along my glucometer in case I go a little hypo.

Variety is the spice of life.

Till next time,


Suzi

Battle of the bands

Last night we went to one of Mark's band concerts. It was fun to see him on stage with his guitar, complete with purple mohawk, with friends dancing around him. (The dancing had to stop after their set though--too dangerous as there were about 20-30 kids on stage with the band members.)

We scooted out after Mark's band finished, but not before chatting with the principal--our good friend Dave Dahl, and greeting some of the kids who have been through our house for practices of picking up of Mark and whatever else. (playing video games, eating pizza)

I'm enjoying this season of life--I know it will quickly pass. I wonder what Mark's hair will look like in 10 years?

Till next time,


Suzi

A sad day

We received news that our former neighbors, who moved a few miles away, lost their daughter due to a head injury she sustained when she fell in her college dorm room. She went to take a shower on Tuesday morning and was found unconscious. She later died of head injuries.

This family has two other children, Sara and Matthew--the girl who died is named Beth. Please pray for them and for the parents, Paul and Dianne. I know they are a religious family--I pray that they all have a personal relationship with Jesus and that Beth is now resting in his arms, with her grandma who died only one month ago.

Thank you.

Till next time,


Suzi

Christmas dinner?

Well, I had thought to make a special eastern Orthodox Christmas dinner last night, but it just didn't happen. I made chili ( a double batch), which everyone but Christina likes. So Christina cooked herself a pizza, Luke didn't get home till after we ate--Tim was famished so had at least two bowls--Mark had ARby's before supper, so he wasn't hungry, so Inga sat with Tim and me munching on clemente oranges--she filled up on them so she wasn't hungry either.

The best laid plans.......

Tonight we're having roast--and Luke has to be at a pep rally at 6:30, Tim's working a long day, and........the kids usually eat right after school because they don't like to eat cafeteria food or don't take enough from home to fill them up.

There's always left overs.......

Till next time,


Suzi

Back to work

Tim's gone back to work after a couple of weeks off for travel, and then, jobs being delayed. Now he'll be swamped for the rest of the month. Sigh, that's how it goes. He was happy with all he was able to do at home, and it was nice to have him around, too.

Soon it will be tax season and I'll be working 2-3 days a week. It will be nice to have a little income of my own coming in for a while--I wonder if I'll be able to save any?

Today is the eastern Orthodox Christmas--Merry Christmas! It 's fun to stretch out the holidays a bit longer. We've got Martin Luther King day coming up in a couple of weeks, too, then break for the end of the quarter--in February there's president's day.....

Carpe diem.

Till next time,

Suzi

Getting warmer

It's a bit warmer today--the high is predicted to be 9 degrees above. The wind is a bit nippy, though--but we are expecting it to warm up throughout the week--getting up to 30 even by the weekend!

The good thing about the cold is that St. Paul workers can continue getting the ice castle ready for the winter carnival which starts at the end of January. It was so warm recently that they didn't know if they could complete it--at least with ice from a nearby lake. Now it is no problem.

Also, the days are getting longer! It is nice to see a little bit more sun every day--warms the spirits and gives hope for spring! But that means our time with Inga is growing shorter too--so, I have to keep reminding myself to take one day at a time--carpe diem or however you say sieze the day in Latin!

Till next time,


Suzi

Subzero

I'm a happy camper, even though it's 8 degrees F below zero and the office where I now type is 55 degrees this morning, since we turned the fireplace way down last night (otherwise the thermostat upstairs here doesn't kick in and it gets really cold downstairs).

Anyway, I am so excited about our new refrigerator. Tim hooked up the water tubing over the weekend and we have water and ice (albeit not crushed)--right from the door! We had our first party to celebrate this (well, actually it was a birthday party for Christina), so our guests (Tim's family) got to see the new refrigerator and oooh and aaah. I am also so pleased that Tim bought me a microwave egg poucher. Now I can have perfect eggs in one minute in the microwave, with no mess. Hallelujah!

I know I shouldn't be consumed with material things, but I do appreciate what God has given us and the little conveniences in life that make things go more smoothly.

After all, tomorrow is another day--and who knows what inconveniences might be waiting? But I'll not borrow trouble, and enjoy today's eggs and ice water.

Till next time,

Suzi

Cold walk

Well, the warm snap is over, I guess--it was 10 degrees with a cold windchill today on our walk. It wasn't so bad when the wind was at our back, but when we walked back home into it--brrrrrrrrrr. I came home and had sugar free hot chocolate, 2 poached eggs in my new microwave egg maker, and an English muffin. Yumm

Mark is off in the frigid weather to go snowboarding. We gave him Tim's old hat with fur on the forehead and on the ear flaps. Also he wore snowpants, boots and warm mittens, so I hope he'll be okay.

The girls want to go shopping, so I guess we'll look forward to that too!

Till next time,

Suzi

Happy New Year!

Well, I just tried to post a new blog, having taken a break for our Tennessee trip, but I seemed to send it out to the cyberspace of never never land. (Sigh) So, I'll attempt to blog again, trying to remember most of what I wrote!

We had a wonderful trip to Tennessee to see my family. This year is my parent's 50th anniversary of marriage, so we celebrated by having cake in the Sunday school classroom of their country church. Mom and Dad rented a 15-passenger van to accommodate us, so we got to go to church, lunch, my brother's home, touring the Nashville area, and shopping at the mall together. (Of course, at the mall we did go our separate ways for a bit.) We enjoyed games, food, conversation, songs, and fun together. It was really great and memorable.

It is nice to be home now--though the throng of teenagers never seems to cease. :) There were kids coming and going on New Years Eve, so I was glad for New Years Day and now the day after to recoup. Now there is a throng of them watching Edward Scissorshands in the basement. And Inga is the only one down there with them--Luke and Mark are off at other friends and Christina finally pooped out on the love seat.

There's no place like home, even after a great trip. We'll have to go again so we can enjoy another excursion and the joy of returning as well.

Till next time,

Suzi