Friday Show and Tell - and Twin Update

It's been quite awhile since I've shared a Show and Tell. Remember this picture? Back in November I posted about this minor disaster. We didn't get a lot of fancy things for our wedding, but mostly received very practical gifts - which was good. But I really didn't have a beautiful salad bowl until my MIL gave me this one for Christmas years ago. I loved using it for my 7-layer salad, which I took to almost every family dinner.



I am not an avid shopper - well, let's be honest - I really do not like to shop at all. Remember when we were told in commercials to "Let Your Fingers Do the Walking?" Now I led Google do my shopping. I found this beautiful bowl at Amazon.com. It was listed as at $75.00, and was on sale for $16.95, if I remember correctly. It is extremely heavy and lovely, but quite a bit bigger than I envisioned. My 7-layer salad is going to have to grow. I haven't used it yet, but have enjoyed just looking at it.



And - speaking of wedding gifts -- this was the first one we received. My doctor and his wife gave us this state-of-the-art-at-the-time percolator. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I have not worn it out in all of these 35 years. I only used it for company. But -- recently my son told me that the coffee I made tasted metallic - he suggested I throw the antique reliec away. So I took a picture for posterity and put it in the recycle bin. Kinda sad!



The other day on my way to work, I pulled off onto a side street and stopped to take one of those pictures of the moon setting. As I made a U-turn to head back up to work, I spotted a bright pink notebook on the side of the street. I picked it up, discovering that it belonged to a college student. It was such a well-organized notebook that she had her schedule on the front page. I looked her up in the computer system, sent her an e-mail, and told her where she could stop by and pick up her lost notebook. Turns out that someone had broken into her car, stolen her backpack, which included this notebook, a lab manual, a friend's notebook, and her Ipod. Obviously, the thief didn't want the school things, but tossed them on the street and took off.

She came into my office and was so happy and relieved to get her notebook back, and I was so happy to have been able to help her out. It literally made my day. Two days later, I was on the phone when the student receptionist in our office brought me this:


The cute little gift box was filled with delicious home made chocolate chip cookies, and she wrote such a nice note. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit with her this time, but I wrote her a thank you for the thank you. What a nice treat!

Last but not least, a bit of an pictorial update on the little girlies. Kate now weighs 5 lbs. 9 ounces and Emma is up to 5 pounds! They are just doing so well. I took all 4 girls to the library the other day. By the time I get 4 little girls in and out of their car seats several times, and the little ones into their stroller and back into the car a few times, I don't really need a trip to the gym!





I couldn't resist putting these little outfits on them today while I had them for awhile. They are Newborn size - a bit big, especially for Emma. They didn't really want their pictures taken!

They look so incredibly alike in this picture.

Little tiny Emma is trying to turn over on her tummy already! She went from her right side to her left in this picture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANYONE OUT THERE WHO ONLY GETS TO REALLY CELEBRATE EVERY FOUR YEARS!!

For more Friday Show and Tell stories, stop by Kelli's blog, There Is No Place Like Home.

Wordless Wednesday - Only God Can Do This

Sunrise and Moonset at the Same Time!

Doubly Blessed

Yesterday afternoon we had Kristen's shower given by the church. Kate and Emma didn't get to attend the festivities - just too many flu germs still flying around here and it's too risky for their tiny little bodies.


The two young women who planned the shower did a beautiful job. The cupcake design was so creative.

The big girls were so excited to help. They were so eager that they opened the gifts too fast - like they do at Christmas. They would immediately claim one outfit or another for their own baby. Halfway through, they opened gifts from one of the guests, a very thoughtful grandma who gave them coloring books and crayons, etc. They immediately dropped to the floor and begin creating.

One of the younger guests - her mommy was one of the hostesses.

Oh, my goodness - the people of our church were so incredibly generous. These little girls will be the best dressed twins in the state, maybe the region. When you think that everyone bought double - and some bought several double outfits - it was overwhelming. It was if they looked at all of the cute things and couldn't resist any of them!

Some close-ups - they're going to look like little models in these outfits.

These little "Baby Kakes" are made by a gal who works in a deli at Albertson's. She takes the angel food cake containers and makes these wonderful gifts. Unfortunately, Care Bear and Feisty got so excited about them that I didn't get a picture before they were dismantled. I put one together as best I could. The core is filled with diapers, with a receiving blanket lining the cover. In the middle of the diapers is a colorful bottle. Also included are two little tiny hats, a brush and comb set, and some little bows for their future hair. Just adorable!

Do these burp cloths look familiar to you? Thanks, Barb, for doing such a wonderful job for us! She loves them and they have been put to good use already today.

Between the diapers I bought every week since I learned of the twins coming, and the ones she got yesterday, plus the huge box of wipes, we should be in good shape for quite awhile. What a blessing!

Another blessing I need to acknowledge - last week I posted a message from our DIL, Sema, about the conditions her family is living with in Kenya. She has been so blessed by the checks and prayer pledges she has received from you. She also got money from her church small group and her co-workers. She finally reached her dad by phone, and he was totally overwhelmed with joy, amazement, and surprise. Please go over and read her new post at Twenty-Eight Celsius. It will bless you.

This and That Chit Chat

Would that be the same as rambling? Probably!


Have you ever made one of those phone calls where a disembodied voice asks you questions and you can either answer out loud or you can press something on your phone's keypad? This morning I was trying to pay a couple of bills this way. I really don't like talking to disembodied voices, so I normally choose to key in the numbers. This particular day, I had a lot of throat clearing going on, and the disembodied voice kept thinking I was trying to answer its questions - "I'm sorry, I did not understand that response." Kinda made me laugh. Kinda made me frustrated.

Did you ever make a split second decision that changed the course of your day? Not that this was anything earth-shattering or life-changing. Just an example of how something you choose to do or not to do can have an impact.


We enjoyed a bit of the lunar eclipse last night as we came out of church. It was 8:30 MST - I should have looked out again later, but I didn't (I have seen some amazing pictures out there in blogland today). This morning, as I was leaving for work, I chose to leave my camera at home. I should know better than to ever leave my camera at home. I always regret it. Sure enough, about a mile up the road to work, I peered over at the mountains and saw an amazing sight - a slight sliver of the moon was going behind a cloud, just above the mountains. I was stunned with the beautiful and unusual view. I was so sad I didn't have my camera - so I did a quick turn back south, hoping I could get back in time for the last glimpse. Of course, in the 5 minutes it took to get back to that spot, it was completely gone. You'll just have to try to imagine it. But I did get a winter view of Long's and Meeker peaks.

Then I looked to the east and was rewarded with this beautiful sunrise. Thank you, Lord!


I hope these next three things tickle your funny bone as they did mine and give you a good chuckle to start or end your day (depending on when you read this).

When Kristen was going to the hospital twice a day to feed Kate and Emma, Feisty was often with her. One thing the nurses stressed was the importance of "skin to skin" contact with the babies and their mommy. Since they've been home, Feisty and Care Bear have been a big help. But when Care Bear is in school, Feisty cherishes her time with Mommy and the babies. She loves to hold them, especially Emma whom she named. She'll pull off her shirt and say, "I want her to feel my skin!" Oh, my, how they are watching and listening and absorbing everything around them. Behooves us to be careful what they see and hear!

This morning when I got to work, I looked at the white board, which faculty use to check out and in, so we have some semblance of an idea when they might be available to students. I got a real kick out of this entry:

QUICK LUNCH? 4:00-ISH?? (Hope she left 3:30-ish!)

And, last but not least - you can tell you have been married a long time when - you hear the hall closet door open, you hear your husband say, "Hmmmm," and you know exactly what the problem is (because it has taken all week to get last week's laundry done, since I was a "tad" busy and a lot tired) - the clean towels haven't been brought up from the laundry room yet!

(Our last picture in Hawaii)

Have a great Friday!

Random Ramblings #19

It's been awhile since I've done a rambling post - except some of you probably think I ramble all the time!

First of all, thanks so much for all of your kind thoughts and words and checks for Sema's family. It is really a sad situation over there. I am working with the district leader of our missions program to see if we can do something on a large scale.

To answer questions from the last post - the great grandma picture is DC's mom. I need to take one of my mom holding them, too. They're so blessed to have two great grandmas and a great grandpa within 4 miles of their house.


Thank you also for your concern for Feisty. She is "all better" - then her daddy got sick, so I ended up having the girlies for 3 nights. The weariness hit me yesterday afternoon. But I think I did pretty well for being the grandma! I was rewarded last night with a smile from Emma. We really got to know each other well in those many hours of cuddling and feeding.

I'm happy that you enjoyed my stories about the two towns I've lived in that have distinctive titles. Someone asked if many couples come to Loveland to get married as well. I read that Loveland, Ohio gets a lot of couples marrying on Valentine's Day. Here in Colorado, many couples go to Loveland Pass,which is a ski area, to get married on skis.

I tried to take some pictures of the twins in their Valentine outfits - it didn't go so well - they'll never win an award!







Care Bear loves to hold, feed, kiss their heads. She also loves to read stories. She claims Kate as "her baby", but she'll take care of either. Poor Feisty couldn't love on them for 3 whole days!

No, that isn't a bruise on her forehead. Nor is it left over from Ash Wednesday. It's a little flower tattoo that absolutely refuses to let itself be washed off! ANy ideas on something non-toxic that we can use??

I just love the way they interact with each other. I have a feeling that Kate will dominate the conversations!






On a different subject -- about time, eh?? Spring is coming! Care Bear and I were talking about how nice it was today - 60 degrees. She was hoping to go to the "duck pond park" without a coat. I told her that tomorrow it is supposed to snow again. She said, "Warm, snow, warm, snow - it's a pattern!" She's learning about patterns in kindergarten math.

The days are getting longer - since I'm not going to work so early now, I can actually see the sunrise. And it stays light until after 5:00. YAY!!

On a more serious note - today I was listening to the radio, as I always do on my way to work. They were having a discussion of the scripture from Matthew and Mark about "wars and rumors of wars" and the other signs of the end times. Sometimes I get so distressed when I listen to the news. I often don't. But on the Christian station I listen to, sometimes I hear things that are so troubling about what is happening in the world from a Christian's point of view.


Sometimes we are certain the Lord is returning because of the wars and rumors of wars, the earthquakes, the floods and fires, famines . . . This scripture reminds us that "these are the beginning of birth pangs" - we do not know and cannot know and will not know when the end of time will be.

The scripture has a phrase that I hadn't noticed before --

Mark 13:6-8 (New International Version)

6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many.


7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.


8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.


It feels like the world is so out of control. We want things to be better for our children and grandchildren. It is scary. But then we have to remember that He is in control. He knows the end of the story. He sees the back of the tapestry - to us it looks like a tangled mess of threads. But it is making a beautiful picture on the front. It is hard for me not to be alarmed. I want to see my grandchildren grow up, but I fear for the world they will grow up in. Even so, Lord Jesus, COME!

Kristen finally had a chance to do a post - some of you haven't had an opportunity to read it yet - check it out!

Diane honored me with her first created award today. Thanks, dear friend! I can see it when I right click!