No more dreaming, it's definitely been a white Christmas!!!!

We're Minnesotans and we're tough, but snowstorms at Christmas are a bit hard to take.

We missed celebrating with my family and now my husband's family. This is getting old real fast! All that good food, great fellowship and just, well, being together.

But Mother Nature had to have her say. While we didn't get as much snow here, the travel and winds and snows were worse around us.

So on Christmas Day, when normally we'd be visiting with my side of the family, we instead stayed bundled up at home. The boys were enjoying their new netbooks, Doug had plans to watch something with a ball in it on TV and me...well, I had an inkling to go to a movie.

I don't mind going to a movie by myself. All those years I did the power-commute thing for work taught me that sometimes you just have to do things by yourself. And I do enjoy movies. Doug doesn't like sitting in theatre seats and the boys have now decided it's not the coolest thing on this earth to go to a movie with mom...she can drive you out there but then you try to separate.

I don't mind. I can pick where I want to sit and what movie I want to watch and laugh as loud as I want or wipe away the tears in private without worrying if someone is going to see me.

So I saw It's Complicated. Good movie although I was surprised to see so many men attending what I thought was a chick flick. There were husbands and wives at the movie and, in one row, three guys...just guys no dates, no wives...interesting.

Christmas was a bit unconventional. How many times have I gone to a movie on Christmas day? Never until this year. And I saw that there were many people I knew who felt the same way. My best bud and her family were there. They went to another movie but there was something comforting knowing their plans had changed as well. And once I got out of the theatre, some church friends were waiting to see the same movie I saw.

When it snows at Christmas like it did this year, you have to expect the unexpected and go with Plan B!

Christmas Eve shoppers UNITE!!!!

Most people would be in a panic by now....six days till Christmas. But this is the time frame that gets my adrenaline flowing.

I am a regular Christmas Eve shopper, you see. I have a few things purchased...a few things for the DILS (daughter-in-laws), know what we are giving all our boys and have my present purchased to me..actually it's my present from my hubby but Doug told me to get my own present since I told him I wanted some Hillcrest gear. He said, "Buy it from me and wrap it for Christmas."

It works. At least I can get it in the size I know will fit and not some imaginary size Doug either wishes I'd be or some oversized thing he thinks will fit me but I will swim in...so I'm not complaining.

And about my Christmas Eve shopping, well, it's in my blood.

You see, growing up, my sisters and I would plan our Christmas Eve trips to either Alexandria or Fergus Falls. We had a list of who we had to buy for and some ideas. You see when you shop like this you have to have ideas. You can't have one thought in mind like those little hamster things that EVERYONE seems to be buying, except me, obviously.  And you go for things people can use rather than the popular faddish things.

I remember going into the department stores and we'd try several types of perfume for a gift for mom or check out the different tester bottles for cologne for our brother or dad or uncles. One year we all got sick to our stomachs on the way home, no urping, but it still made our stomachs churn as we smelt like a combination of Stetson cologne and Chanel perfume. YUCKO!

It was the only time in the winter that we drove with the windows down!

Once we got home to the farm, we each went into a different bedroom to wrap, wrap wrap, finish chores, take a bath (we had no shower. Oh, the humanity!) and get ready to go to Grandma's house. Amazingly, all the hub-bub seemed like a well-planned event. We enjoyed the evening, the surprises of the gifts and all the food. There was always more than enough to eat.

Ahhh. Busy shopping, preparations and a late night. We slept really good once we got home.

So maybe my Christmas Eve shopping events aren't really something I HAVE to do but it's like baking sugar cookies and listening to Christmas songs...it's tradition! And you don't want to mess with mother tradition now, do you?!

Oh Christmas Tree humbug

Like many households, we got our Christmas tree up after Thanksgiving.

It's artificial, but like real trees, it has its imperfections. The top branches seem thicker than the bottom ones and the top branch, the one that's supposed to stick straight up, has a bend in it. I could bend it straight, but it gives some realness to its unreality.

Regardless, like the Christmas decorations of my youth, this tree will be up until the 12 days of Christmas or, in other words, through Epiphany. We're so quick to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in the weeks coming up to Christmas, we fail to honor the whole Christmas story including the wisemen!

And so the decorations are up for the duration.

My nativity scene has been scaled back some, though. Not because of any cost cutting measures. The reality is that some of the figures have fallen on hard times...they've fallen on the hard floor and have broken.

Some of their falls were due to grandbabies who got ahold of the figurines before Gramma could grab them. Some fell victim to my clumsiness. No matter what, they're toast, plain and simple.

So it's a bit smaller party in the stable scene. There's a donkey, cow and sheep. there's a wiseman (note the singular term) a shepherd and Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. The important thing is the three main characters remain.

My girlfriend told me her family had received a nativity set carved from olive wood. They lost baby Jesus and replaced him with a swaddled napkin complete with pen-placed eyes, nose and smile.

I got my Family Christian bookstore catelog today and there were other nativity scenes to purchase. There's even a Veggie Tales one!

No matter what the characters look like, it's the story that counts. The fulfillment of prophecy. Our Savior is born! Alleluia!

Blessings

Here they are! Our DIL Nancy and her sons (our precious grandsons) B and Kian. although we don't "celebrate" halloween, we do enjoy the costumes. The boys ar wearing costumes Nancy made. Obviously they are color crayons and Nancy is so gifted and did such a great job of putting the outfits together. And her? Why she's a gumball machine! So creative.

We weren't able to be home that night because Andy had a football game - semi-sections. They lost but they had a good season and we were blessed with everything along the way. The next night, the same night as the Vikings game, JP and Julie came with Aaleigha...she was dressed as a Vikings Cheerleader. Doug tried calling Andy who was watching the Vikings game at a friends house to tell him we had an actual Vikings cheerleader in our living room but he was too busy watching the game, obviously!

what fun it was, though! To see the kids and grab these pix.

We are blessed!

And the routine continues...

School has started, thankfully!

Now we are back in a routine...or at least I THOUGHT we were back in a routine. We're still getting classes finalized, a homework schedule going and, last week, Jose decided to go out for soccer. Of course he's now missed the hard work they all went through during sports week in mid August. But Jose saw something that he thought he could provide for the team.

In his Facebook status, he said he was going out for soccer and then added the note, "they need me."

Andy is playing football. His foray into football answers the constant comments he's received from friends, "Cmon out. Join us for football." Of course, that's my mom thought of what they're saying. I'm sure it was a totally different conversation and Andy is going out more to quiet the peer pressure he's been feeling. He loves football, don't get me wrong. He just doesn't like to play it as a team high school sport. He'd rather have a basketball in his hands!

But he's enjoying his junior year. He has a fairly light schedule and is also jr. class president, something we learned from other people and not from him. Guess he didn't think it was really that big of a deal.

Doug's back to driving school bus plus he's picking up a few coach trips now and then. Once the school year starts, they start driving college in high school teams to sporting events.

And I now have the days to myself in my home office as everyone goes about their own routines!

We schedule time with JP and Julie and Wayne and Nancy and the grandkids! How special those times are...

So it remains busy.

Breiden, at 2, is quite the talker. Kian, at 1, has learned what buttons to push. They were over the other night and, as Breiden was standing by the little TV I set up for them, as he was watching or attempting to watch Thomas the Train, Kian kept shoving at his shoulder. It was such a brotherly nit picky thing. Doug and I watched, smiling, remember similar times we had with our siblings. They resolved the situation themselves. Turns out Kian wanted to check out toys and was, in his own way, trying to get B to move. Although we've seen him get that kind of brotherly satisfaction out of bugging his older brother!

And so, that's our life right now.

And how are things with yours?

a fair time

Yesterday was a work day - at the state fair.

My bro and sis came with to enjoy a day at the fair. We didn't get to do much together at the fair. They went their way and I mine. I ran to three or four ag-related booths that I'd contacted before the fair's start. It was a busy schedule including picture taking and interviews.

Doug is complaining right now that I didn't bring him a foot long hot dog.

Get over it, I say.

I told him I didn't have time. The three of us — bro, sis and me — met for lunch at Hansen's stand. They had a pork chop sandwich and me? a hamburger. It was good but I really had no time to stop for the traditional fair food such as corn dog or foot long dog.

Doug doesn't believe me. Everyone should have room for that, he thinks. Well, think again.

So today I'm trying to recuperate.

I'm sure I did over 10,000 steps yesterday! Heaven knows my leg muscles sure feel like it today!

I'm ready to let the chips fall where they may - the buffalo chips, that is.

Tomorrow I go to Farmfest and am on the media team for the DNR's Buffalo Chip Throwing Contest.

Last year, my first year in the contest, I threw like a girl, as my guys would say. My distance throw lacked distance. If it made it three feet, I was lucky.

They kept telling me to throw it like a frisbee. A frisbee? A buffalo chip and a frisbee have little in common. The frisbee is this aerodynamic disc. It glides. A buffalo chip is a, well, a dried mound of buffalo poo! There's nothing aerodynamic about that! Afterall, if God had intended us to throw the "chip", he'd have done a better job on the design aspect.

I carried my team on accuracy, though. I threw it in the bucket.

So today is reserved for practice. With a frisbee. No buffalo poo in my yard!

My mom said that, while growing up in North Dakota in the early 1920s, they'd collect the cow pies and use them in place of wood to burn in their stove. YUCK! Imagine that odor! And if you wanted to live the smells of yesteryear, does Febreeze even carry that scent? Hmmmmm. And what would be the chance of future sales if you were to bottle the stuff?

So tomorrow I will don my little plastic gloves and throw the bull... At least we won't have to burn it!

Summer cold, makes you feel unfine

It's warm. The sun is shining. Why, then, do colds do so well in this weather, causing us to sneeze, have sore throats and generally feel yucky?

Jose came down with it about two weeks ago. He couldn't understand why we should have colds now. And he couldn't understand the cool summer weather.

Is it fall? he asked. Is winter coming soon?

Sure feels like it.

He no sooner had recuperated when I caught it. Yuck.

Now Andy's down for the count.

And meanwhile, the sun is shining, the weather is warm and all bad germs SHOULD be held at bay!

time for news

Wow! How time flies!

I was talking to my friend Elaine and she mentioned my entries on the blog were a bit dated! No kidding. So here's an update inspired by Elaine.

Since my last entry...in April...We've had Aaleigha's baptism, Jose's confirmation, Jose's graduation from Hillcrest Jr. High, and I went to Canada on vacation with Wayne, Nancy and boys.

Andy's busy with baseball and working out for the upcoming football (be still my heart) and basketball. He's also having fun with friends, which is what summer is for.

Jose and Doug remodeled the basement for rec area for Jose complete with tv and playstation 3. It's even carpeted!

Three of Jose's friends were over last night to play video games and it was supper time so I made them tacos. Had everything on the table so when I hollared the meal was ready, they came up to eat. I thought, Hmmmmm tacos! What a great meal. But when they left to go back and finish the game, I discovered they'd cleaned the pan clean!

I really like hotdogs! Or at least I did last night.

Oh, and for you family members..I'll be at Farmfest at our AGri News booth on Wednesday and Thursday so if you want to stop by, please do! Would love to visit.

Nancy stayed in Canada for a month. Good time to visit with family! Wayne and I returned after a week. It seemed strange not having the boys around for that long!

Nancy stayed in Canada for that long because Wayne's travel schedule took him on several trips for Hillcrest. Was great to have the family reunited and everyone back home safe and sound! And I think the boys grew a gazillion inches! Well, it seemed that way.

And Aaleigha sure is growing! She's doing fantastic and loves to smile and laugh! I got to watch her last week while JP had baseball and Julie was out with friends. Sure don't turn down those visits.

Sorry, it's over 6!

Went over to JP's and Julie's last night and was corrected on Miss Aaleigha's weight - she's over 6 pounds and pushing to 7!

She's also settling into more of a pattern that's distinguishing her days and nights. What a blessing that is for mom and dad who are...pooped!

Such a little sweetie she is!

Andy returned safely yesterday. He and a school bud traveled, by themselves, to the Twin Cities. This is the first time either one of them has driven in any kind of big city. They've never driven to Fargo or St. Cloud to say nothing of the Twin Cities! There were a lot of prayers going upstairs and a lot of praises sung once they called home and said they'd arrived safely.

Of course, as a parent, I would never admit that to him. I was encouraging saying I knew you could do it but, what can I say? I'm a mom. I worry. I pray. And the Lord lifts me through these moments.

The two, Andy and Zach, visited their fellow classmate Torry Brue. And they attended the Twins game on the last of the Twins opening stand. The Twins lost but the three can say they went to the Metrodome during the last season any games will be played there...now they can plan for a trip next year to the new stadium. new stadium. New open stadium. At this time of year? It'll probably snow!

Over five pounds!

Tuesday and Thursday nights are special times for me. It's my time to watch Aaleigha Mya as JP has business meetings and Julie attends water aerobics at the Y.

Last night was a sheer joy for me especially when I learned she's well over five pounds, has been dropped from one of her medications and has changed formula! All steps moving forward. Her body is adjusting to the changes but she's looking great and is awake more now and looking around the room. Such a trooper that little one is!

Julie is probably delighted that Aaleigha is off the other formula. It made the little one quite, um, gassy shall we say. But dad was quite proud of the effects it had on her. He said she, well, passed gas like a Stender! I guess that's a guy thing in the realm of things to brag about!

And now she will celebrate her first Easter. And I believe it's our Kian's first Easter, too, come to think of it! We had such an early Easter last year...Two little celebrations there. Fun and such blessings they all are.

Andy and Jose are on the Hillcrst Spring Break. They have break for two weeks and already a half week has gone by. Jose is also preparing for his confirmation April 26.

We are also watching the flood forecasts for our neighbors to the north and west. Fergus Falls' elevation is high enough where we don't face the floodwaters like Breckenridge-Wahpeton and Fargo-Moorhead do...And we still have a foot of snow on the ground from our storm we had last week. Yuck! I love traveling south to do stories at this time because I can see fields drying out ready for planting. That' won't happen anytime soon in our neck of the woods! But forecasted warmer temps will be welcome...for us but the forecast isn't that great for those in the Red River Valley. Means greater snowmelt and increased flood waters coming through the system.

Ahhh. Spring!

Flood them with prayers

This morning, Hillcrest buses and vans, loaded with high school students and many from staff, will leave the campus here in Fergus Falls and travel to Fargo, N.D. to help in the sandbagging effort.

I ask for your prayers as our neighbors to the west battle floodwaters.

This flood is near if not, in places, above historic 1997 levels.

At this time I recall a friend's battle with floodwaters from 1997. Her property that included her residence plus an upstairs apartment she rented out, was in an area that had been heavily sandbagged. There were sandbags along the river and surrounding her house. One night the city engineer in Wahpeton came to her and said, "Pat, I'm afraid you will have to leave your home. We've done all we can and you need to leave for your safety." The ground around her home was very soggy and it looked as if the river would win this fight.

She prayed and told the Lord, her home was in his hands and whatever his will was for her at this time, she would accept it. And she left to stay with a friend.

Within hours, she received a call from the engineer. She could return home because, miracle of miracle, the ground around her home was now firm. There was no leaking anymore of sandbags.

What an awesome God we have!

There are numerous school cancellations for the Red River Valley area. Roads are closed. And while all the attention is placed, right now, on the cities of Fargo-Moorhead and Wahpeton-Breckenridge, there are also numerous small towns and farms in the valley dealing with overland flooding and flooding from the river.

Again, please keep these people who live in the area and our school in your prayers.

They're home!

Julie, Nancy and Miss Aaleigha arrived in Fergus Falls Friday, March 6 about 5 p.m.
We had an opportunity to meet the new addition about 8 that night, when she was awake for her feeding.

Such a precious peanut, she is! She's captured our hearts and we welcome her with open arms into our family!

It was such a difference, though, holding Kian just hours before and then holding Aaleigha. Kian is almost a year and a solidly built boy who is soooo ready to take his first step! And then to hold Aaleigha who tops the scales at 4 pounds 10 ounces...well, what a difference! Pretty eyes!

Welcome to our family, Aaleigha! Soon enough she'll be battling with the boys! She may be small now but she'll catch up fast enough!

She's now met both sets of grandparents and uncles and aunty Nancy.

Nancy and Julie had great travels on the way back although they tell of some interesting travel experiences. Unique stories they will tell for years to come and share with Aaleigha as we all tell her of our first meetings and the joy and light she is in our family, as are all our kids, spouses and grandkids!

She seems to be adjusting okay to the Minnesota weather, also. Julie said the hospital staff in Houston were preparing Aaleigha with blankets and warm clothes. She reminded them that we DO have babies in Minnesota, too, and they do quite well! Well, little button has acclimated nicely. And, like the rest of us, is bundled against the cold.

We're supposed to get another snowstorm today so everyone is hunkering in for a daylong blizzard. School is closed and the boys are, of course, sleeping in! Must be nice!

On their way home!

Julie and Nancy are on their way home with little Aaleigha Mya.

Their first trek took them from Houston to Dallas and the second leg to Topeka, Kans. Aaleigha wasn't a happy camper about all the miles and they are playing each day by ear as to how far they go with Aaleigha.

I think the girls are enjoying the trek together and Nancy is such a great mom and is helping Julie with all the things we moms were learning as we started our parent journey. Blessings to them on their travels.

JP is back in Fergus Falls working although, because of the storm on the east coast, he couldn't come home as early as he'd originally planned. He ended up coming home after midnight on Monday (technically Tuesday) after he had to go to another airport in Houston that flies directly to Mpls. and blessings on Tim Jensen and his son who went to pick him up!

Meanwhile, I am watching the little ones for Wayne during the day (where DO they get that energy!).

And the saga continues with our family. While we've been thinking of, praying for and eagerly waiting news from the travelers, Andy sprained his other ankle at a basketball game on Monday. It's an upper ankle sprain and maytake him out for the season. He's learning new moves on crutches!

Jose helped Andy clean up at work last night. Thanks Jose.

I have been asked to judge the McLeod County Dairy Princess contest March 21 in Plato! Am looking forward to that. And Andy and Doug are planning a trip with a Hillcrest mission group to Chicago.

How come Doug gets all these trips to cities I would LOVE to visit?! I get to go to Plato. Don't get me wrong. Nice town. But they are going to see some great sites in Chicago!

The trip, seriously, will give these students a good worldview and some great discussions and Bible studies to and from Chicago.

They leave the day before my (Ah-Hum) birthday so another strange birthday for me. Last year we were in Mexico so I didn't get to see any family on my special day.

We will be celebrating my Aunt Adeline's bd on the 26th. She turns 80. Happy BD, Adeline. Blessings to you.

And blessings to our travelers.

Please keep them in your prayers for protection, guidance and wisdom with weather and travel conditions as they make their trek. They should be home Friday!

Texas travels for some

Nancy is heading south! 

She will be going to Texas at the same time JP will be flying to Mpls from Texas on Sunday. And, as JP starts his work week back at his Fergus Falls office, Nancy and Julie will start making plans for their travels to Minnesota. 

Julie has posted a note on Facebook that Aaleigha is on medicine to help with her reflux. She also has to sit up for 20 minutes after eating and will have to have a monitor (mini version) from three months to a year until she grows out of this reflux thing. She says on Facebook that it will take some time getting home because of her feeding schedule every three hours plus the 20 minute sit up thing, but the important thing is they will come home!!!!!!!

We are all excited! Finally this family can be home and start their new chapter together. What a blessing! 

I'll be with the boys while Wayne is at school during the day and we all will be there to help, if he should call, for the evening. I think some suppers with everyone who is around home, is in order! And maybe some meals sent home for when everyone is back, too, as everyone settles in. 

So, great news. A bit more adjustment, perhaps, getting used to monitors and feeding schedules, but how great to have everyone just home! 

Thanks, Nancy, for traveling to be with Julie on the ride home.

God's blessings on your travel and on J.P.'s as he makes the return trip to Minnesota and also on Wayne as he drives his brother back to Fergus Sunday night. 

Bradys and it has nothing to do with the bunch

There have been questions about Bradys, the episodes that little Aaleigha Mya has...I have received more information on this issue from JP so here goes...

Bradys is when the heart rate drops. JP said he'd understood it to be common in preemies. The hospital will now be giving her medication for reflux. As in this is usually caused by acid reflux. Who would've known. I told JP she's just like a Stender..like her Grandpa Stender, anyways, dealing with things like acid reflux but who would've thunk a wee one like that would have a rapid drop in heart rate because of acid reflux? And that they would name it Bradys?!

So they are starting her on medication and if she can go about five days without an episode, Aaleigha Mya can start the journey home about Tuesday or Wednesday. We're working out the details as JP has to return next week for work so either Nancy or I as of this time are set to fly down and drive back with Julie and the babe.

All are excited about this event!!!

If Nancy is able to go, I will take over watching the boys plus a little boy named Griffin that Nancy watches during the week for a friend. I think I need some strong vitamins! And excedrin! Just kidding.

For sure, whether I watch the babes in Fergus or fly to Texas to be with Julie and Aaleigha on the drive home, I will take next week off from work. Of course I have to finalize those plans with the boss but he's not at work today because of the storm.

In a way, I'd look forward to a trip to Texas. Anything to get rejuvenated with some warmer weather after all this snow and all this cold!

Will let you know if we get more news which I am expecting to receive tonight from Julie's messages on Facebook.

And any Stenders and extended family interested in joining our circle on Facebook? If you have questions, just e-mail me!

good and not so good news

We've heard from JP and Julie and there's great news and not so great news concerning Aaleigha.

She had the feeding tube removed and they are going to try to give her all her nutrition and feedings via the bottle.

BUT....

She had two bradys episodes the other day.

Please keep her in prayer that she can continue to gain strength and continue her great feedings AND that her episodes of periodic lowered heartrate will stop.

We are anxious for this family to get home! Aaleigha's feedings, maintaining her weight and regular heart rhythms are crucial to them coming home.

Even though half of us have colds and won't be able to see her immediately, knowing she's home will give everyone great comfort and a time when this young family can start this new chapter of parenthood together with family and friends surrounding them!

Thanks.

Stenders get a GIIIRRRRLLLL!!!!!

Jp and Julie are now the proud parents of a girl, Aaleigha.

The two completed the home study process and paperwork needed for adoption before Christmas. We'd all thought they would be adopting by June or July but the Lord had other plans. He had children to touch their hearts in January and February.

The first call they received for baby boy had them buying blue. Unfortunately, that process didn't work out with the birth mother wanting her little one to be with family.

We've all prayed for them and knew the Lord had a special little one just for them. And sure enough, there was a little girl in need of parents and JP and Julie need a little girl ... The whole Stender family, in fact, needs more girls. In our family, we have four boys and Wayne and Nancy have two boys so a little girl to spoil and protect is just what was ordered!

She's in Houston and, they found out, a preemie. She was about six weeks premature. A little tyke! I don't know what her actual birth weight was but just last week, she weighed 4 pounds five ounces! She's developing more each day...eating more...getting stronger. It's a struggle to eat so much (is 30 millileters a lot? it is for her little body but she's doing it) and to gain and maintain her weight.

I was over 4 pounds when I was born and, well, I gained, obviously. It all takes time.

So JP and Julie are in Houston and had a visit from Wayne and Nancy. they were able to have some good visit time together and see a bit of the city, too. That was a nice break since JP and Julie had been spending all their time at the hospital when they weren't sleeping at the hotel! So great they were able to regroup and get refreshed with a visit from family.

And so we join the Heins in welcoming Aaleigha Mya to the family.

Welcome, Aaleigha and hurry home!

Please keep this little one in your prayers that she gain and maintain her weight and continue her good eating habits so she can get stronger!