Thankful Thursday

Thanks be to God for....

1. Vacation Bible School (VBS).  I have been helping with VBS this past week, with the preschool group.  I have a whole new appreciation for preschool teachers - you have a gift.  The kids have been GREAT and its so neat to see God's word transforming these kids this week.  It's also good for me to see how these kids take in God's word, they are really teaching me a thing or two.
2. Meeting new people and building friendships with the other VBS volunteers.
3. My husband who knows when I'm tired and need a break.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23

Thankful Thursday

Its another Thursday, so another edition of Thankful Thursday!

Thanks be to God for.....

1. Family coming to visit, Papa Paul is here for a week.  We are very excited to have him!
2. Naps
3. Sunny days, it really helps the mood

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalms 46:10

John Deere

Yep, we have a John Deere riding lawn mower.  With about 2/3 of an acre, we NEED it.  Okay, Andy needs it, who am I kidding, I don't mow the lawn.  :o)  Just wanted to share some pictures of our new lawn mower.  Rosie was "helping" Daddy mow the lawn, really she just wanted to go for a ride.

"Look Mommy, I'm helping Daddy mow the lawn"

Look at all that grass back there.  Its all ours.

Yep, even I learned how to drive the lawn mower.  

Had to use the push mower around the swing set.  Rosie is helping with her push mower too.

"I'm a good helper!"

Memorial Day Part Two - Yard Work

Sunday of Memorial Day weekend we did some yard work.  Actually, Andy did most of the yard work, I did a little raking.  I had hoped to get a picture of the tree in our backyard before Andy started cutting limbs, but I didn't get the picture in time.  So, here is our tree with the first part of the limbs cut off.  Picture it with tree limbs to the bottom of the tree, tall grasses and weeds under the tree.  So, even the before picture, the tree looks a lot better.

Under the tree, before the raking

You can see where Andy was cutting off tree limbs.  All the way to the bottom of the tree.

After the raking.  You may not be able to tell the difference, but we can.  :o)

Progress on Rosie's Marigolds that she planted on Mother's Day.  Yeah, they are growing.  (And my toes in the bottom of the picture too.)

Yeah, the Marigolds are growing.

Memorial Day Part One - Rib Mountain

Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend was a beautiful day.  We didn't have any plans made, but I wanted/needed to get out of the house, Andy wanted to do yard work and do more unpacking.  The pastor of our church suggested a hike on Rib Mountain.  So, we took his advice, took a little hike on Rib Mountain, then came home and did a little work around the house.

Check out this website for more information about Rib Mountain.  Here is an excerpt:

"Rib Mountain is well known in Marathon County and Wausau. It's really a 4 mile ridge, one of the highest "mountains" in Wisconsin at 1,924ft. It is one of three adjacent hills, Mosinee and Hardwood the other two close by. It is not a volcanic formation. It is quartzite, hardened by heat and pressure from sandstone, we commonly call granite. Getting close to a lot of this granite can be done most easily by visiting Rib Mountain State Park. The formations are fascinating."

Rosie looking at the map, planning our hike

Andy and Rose posing in front of the Queens Chair

If you can't read it, this sign reads, "Highest Point, Elev. 1,940 ft"

"This sign is marks Rib Mountain's highest point at 1,940 ft. above sea level. Actually, scientists assign a height of 1,924 ft., but somewhere along the line someone of influence measured to the top of this granite formation to come up with 1,940 ft."  - from  www.wisconsincentral.net/Land082108.html

This sign reads Rib Mountain is One of the Highest elevations in Wisconsin, I've been told its the 2nd highest elevation in Wisconsin, right here in my new city.

View from the observation tower we climbed, so we could see above the tree line.  Downtown Wausau and surrounding countryside.

Day Trip to Madison, WI

Before Kevin headed home to Portland, we did a day trip to Madison, WI.  Didn't really have a plan before we went.  Just thought we would find the downtown and head over the the University.  We spent the majority of the afternoon on State Street, over by the University and the Capital Building.  We went out for lunch to a WONDERFUL Afghanistan Restaurant, (not a whole lot of ethnic restaurants in Wausau), then Kevin wondered on his own for a while (that's what he wanted to do) and Andy, Rose, and I wondered to the Capital Building.  We ended our day with a trip to Trader Joe's, there is ONLY ONE store in the whole state, and its in Madison.  It was a great day and hope to visit Madison again, soon.

Rosie and Kevin, on the bike rack

Kevin, Andy, and Rosie walking down State Street

Andy at the Capital Building, on the Observation Deck

Renee and Rosie on the Observation Deck at the Capital Building

A trip to Trader Joe's.  Rosie is pushing our very important groceries - wine and beer.  

Thankful Thursday

Thanks be to God for.....

1. Not feeling like I don't fit in.  We got free tickets to a Wausau Woodchucks baseball game, it was a great night with a large group of people.  The men watched baseball and drank beer, the ladies chatted, and the kids played.  It was the first night that I didn't feel like an outsider.  Good times!
2. Great week with lots of activities.  
3. Plane tickets for a visit out west to Portland and Coeur d'Alene.
4. My wonderful husband who works so hard.  I really appreciate him.  He makes me proud.

Thank you Jesus for a great week and all your blessings!