Monday Multitudes # 502-522

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Cor. 15:57

This week we have much to be thankful for...

kids who are (still) excited to get up for school every morning

trips with daddy to look at campers

camper titles :)

one spot (the perfect one) left at the campground on a Friday evening

waking up to the water

running by the water

swimming in the water and making sand castles

roasting marshmallows and finding that the girls ate all the chocolate...

using the timer to take a family picture

nature walks

garage sales with a treadmill in my price range

a suburban that can fit 6 people and a treadmill :)

watching daddy tinker with the camper

watching daddy fish the sewer hose out of the dump hole ;(

driving away from the campground without the blocks or the sewer cap, oops

dumpster diving

"new" fry pans :) he he he

feeling really lucky and wondering if we should purchase a lottery ticket and then remembering it's not luck...it's faith and hope and was already planned out a long time ago
everything works like it should...even better than we thought it would

celebrating some much needed family time together

relishing in the plan that the Lord has for us...thanking Him for his goodness and mercy and for giving us a wonderful weekend full of blessings and surprises :)

School Days 2010

It is hard to believe I have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. They were excited this morning. Not only is it the first day of school BUT they get to eat breakfast at school!

Monday Multitudes # 471-501

That we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope...the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Rom 15:4,13

This morning I am thankful for;

lots of red tomatoes, give me the burst of energy I need to can them

same with the cucumbers

a worship service still ringing in my ears

healthy kids

a break from the heat coming

little girls with curls

kids reading books to each other

kids who can make their own breakfast

leftovers for lunch

kids who can help fold laundry

sisters who call just to listen to my house noise

kids who are excited about the first day of school

grocery stores that are near so I can get the milk I forgot to get

Popsicles

coffee with cream

mountains of laundry that will wait

the computer for a getaway

emails from friends

time to think

remembering to do my blessing list

tears

more tears

playing in the sandbox with the girls

dresses made from pillowcases

time to pray

fair memories

getting to know my nieces and nephews better

unexpected thank you gifts

hugs from friends

being the greatest sometimes - this was Pastor's message yesterday

Outtakes

I am saving the best ones for the Happy Birthday Jesus cards but here is a sneak peek of the shoot....











Dang, I am blessed...

Baked, Mashed or Fried

Scritchem, scritchem, scritchem...this is the sound my thrift store shoes made on the gravelly paved streets early Sunday morning as I went for a slow jog. It was the morning after the SpudFest and I was still sorting out all my grievances of the previous day as my tired feet pounded the blacktop. Was it a success? How can we improve? Did we accomplish our goals? These questions were tearing at me as I warmed up taking loud steps along the street.

I decided to take the mile route from yesterday's SpudFest to help me visit my thoughts instead of my normal route this morning. I started up the hill and went as far as Church street goes north and then rounded the corner thinking about how my Maleah ran half the 5k yesterday in the sweltering heat and finished strong thinking she was done.

She was thirsty and tired and I couldn't bear to tell her she only did half, so I didn't. I knew that this morning when I returned home she would no doubt say her legs are sore as she also rode her bike all afternoon and played on the inflatables.

My brain flicked to memories of my dear cancer survivor friend Denise who one year ago was recovering from a chemotherapy treatment and just yesterday completed a 5k. I hugged her at the finish line and with tears in both of our eyes felt. so. wonderfully. proud. of. her. and so thankful for this life that I have been given. Trying not to slip on the stones down the hill I remembered the 1st SpudFest. My one year anniversary from the cancer diagnosis. How far I have come now. How blessed I am and continue to be. How wonderful and amazing our Lord is.

Scritchem, scritchem, scritchem...My ipod lays forgotten and abandoned on top of the piano at home so my brain continues to wander through these still vivid short term memories. After the 5k Main Street was flooded with kids on bikes and lawnmowers for the kids poker run. The vendors, with their bright booths and attractive wares, were set up. The fragrant smell from the concessions was wafting through the air. The heat was thick and chewy and stagnant but the kids were not letting it get them down. The kiddie train with its' loud and headache creating bike horns was running at full capacity for hours. The driver had placed a plastic bag chock full of potatoes on the hood of his lawn mower engine and every time he passed me I smiled wondering if he would bake them or mash them or fry them or grate them for browns. Potatoes are one versatile vegetable:)

The route was flattening out now as I neared the pool and the sand volleyball courts. Yesterday there were tons of people watching and playing and whooping it up. The swimming pool was packed. My heart panged a bit, sharply, when I realized, again, that I didn't make it down to this spot once the day before to play or watch a match, something I had really looked forward to accomplishing. I rounded the corner and noticed the campground was at maximum capacity but at this hour was completely quiet and all I could hear was my feet again, scratching on the street.
Turning up the road I glanced over to the softball park and the garden and thought of how much fun the kids had digging up potatoes Friday night. It was a dirty job. The bugs chewed on us. But bugs can't eat away the memory of the forks digging the black earth and the brown water bath for the 'taters and the interesting spinning barrel we used to get them clean. I wondered what kind of memories others might have of yesterdays big party. The tractors and trucks throwing candy in the parade kind of memories. The cotton candy, kettle corn, or funnel cake kind of memories. The getting hosed down by the fire truck (please tell me someone got a photo of that) watching the horses, or jumping and sliding on the inflatables kind of memories.

As I neared Main St. and saw the road blocks pushed up onto the sidewalks and the overflowing trash cans I thought of the music and supper and silent auction that ended the evening. My cheeks rose into a smile when I thought of Mike and his wife, the t-shirt designer, who showed up in the late afternoon to check things out. It was good to see you, Mike, hope you enjoyed our little town, I am kicking myself for not giving you a tour. Sorry, have no idea where my brain was :(

I jogged past the deflated but brightly colored inflatables and the big tent and the last few scraps of what was left of our annual event. I huffed and puffed up the hill wondering how well attended today's worship service would be. I thought about all the people I wanted to thank for their hard work and dedication to making this event happen. I wondered if they knew all the memories they were helping to create. I hoped they did.

My heart surged and I half sprinted the last block home. The blood pumped in my veins and my heart was filled. The blessings that we have are too numerous to be counted. The overflowing of support from our community year after year after year has to be noted. It takes a village to have a SpudFest.

The worship service was AMAZING. What a perfect end to the weekend. Over 50 people sang, praised, and thanked the Lord for his ultimate sacrifice. The message was wonderful. I wish you all could have heard it. Pastor applied the Scripture to our lives and it fit like the last puzzle piece in the cause of our celebration. Everyone broke out in applause after his sermon and I am positive it had nothing to do with the joke he made earlier about not getting recognition like the soloist.

We were blessed with some AMAZING music, too. Thanks for the great praise music, Vicki, Pastor, Betsy, kids, Stephanie and Lenice, and Pastor Jerry and I can't forget the percussionist, Isaac...Jesus is the rock and he rolled my sins away!

Afterwards as we sat at the table and took care of all the loose ends I felt compelled to voice my opinion. I was frustrated with some lack of communication. I felt that there were some people who did not value and work towards the true mission of the SpudFest. I focused on the negative, got caught up in the little things and forgot to look at the big picture. I didn't even thank the people I wanted to for all their volunteer hard work. I crumbled and fell apart. I put in my notice. I retired. The earth still is still turning.

With or without me, I hope that there will be many more memory making SpudFests. I can't wait to see what's in store for number 5:)

Customize your own slideshow design

One week to Spudtacular FUN!

THE SPUDFEST WILL BE LOCATED ON MAIN STREET THIS YEAR
(bugs and mud have encouraged us to relocate our celebration for 2010)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
POTATO DIGGING……............................................7:00 PM
COMMUNITY GARDEN

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
5K RUN OR 1 MILE RUN WALK……………............9:00 AM
LAWN MOWER AND BIKE POKER RUN….........10:00 AM
PARADE…(30+entrants including pipes and drums)…11:00 AM
BEAN BAG TOURNEY…………………………............12:00 PM
TATOR TOT (KIDS) GAMES PLUS INFLATABLES.....1-5:00 PM
POTATO TOSS……………………………….........…….1-4:00 PM
COW PIE BINGO …………………………….........……3-6:00 PM
SAND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT…….…2:00 PM
(courts located just east of the pool)
SILENT AUCTION ……………………………........….4-7:00 PM
TREFOIL CELTIC LIVE MUSIC.......……….........5-7:00 PM
SUPPER…………………………………………….................6:00 PM
BRATS, BURGERS, POTATO SALAD, WATERMELON and DRINK
$7.00 AGE 13 THRU 64 $5.00 AGE 12 AND UNDER AND 65 AND OVER
CARMAN KAROKE…………………………...........……9PM-1AM
BEER GARDEN AT THE OFFICE BAR-MAIN STREET

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE...............12:00 NOON
special music guests include the debut of the Montrose Community Children's Choir (practice is at 11:30 am everyone is welcome), Pastor Jerry Stolp and more...
POTLUCK IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SERVICE
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
208 W CLARK STREET

...a very very very fine house

UPDATE: Addi just came running into the kitchen with her camo binaculours and said, " I am going to get the BIG one."

I asked her, "What are you hunting? Deer? Pheasant? Rabbit, Fish, Squirrel?"

"She put her hand on her hips and looked at me, "No, mom, I am hunting forks and noodles!"

quote of the day =

mom "Nora do you want peanut butter on your toast?"

Nora looks at mom quizzically and bends and touches her toes, "No toes, mom, SPOON!"

Some time ago the big kids ransacked our old cd collection. One of their favorites is a mixture of Tina Turner and Joan Jett. Right now they are in their rooms cleaning away to "What's love go to do with it?" and "I hate myself for loving you".

And I am praying for no unannounced visitors. Where is that VBS cd when you really need it?

bountiful

This morning I put the cukes on ice so I could pickle them. Within minutes my neighbor called and said she was doing corn today and would we like to help. So six hours later I had three quarts of pickles and over 100 bags of sweet corn. Schwew!

Next cooking project...SALSA!!!!!

Mom has been dropping of some amazing tomatoes. They are HUGE. They taste delicious, too. But they are funny looking. She is using seed savers seeds and there are no hybrids in the mix. So when she brought in this tomato I almost couldn't believe it. Maleah calls it the Thumbs Up tomato. Thank goodness. Um, yeah, I had something other than a thumb in mind. We'll just leave it at that.

Monday Multitudes # 453-470

...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22

Any person who thinks that life will always be easy and happy is sadly mistaken. This is a test. A test of our will, our perseverance, our sacrifice, our dedication. There will be times when it is hard to think of something to be thankful for. Mornings when a tired mommy gets up with nothing on her brain but dark scummy thoughts left over from an awful mess of a week and with only another mess of a week to look forward to. It's times like these when counting blessings seems like running a marathon. Impossible. Yet, the simple act of thoughtful remembering and soulful searching clears a muddy brain better than anything else I can think of besides heartfelt, on your knees, prayers.

What I am trying to say is this. The process of assembling my gifts posts has helped to cleanse my brain and heal my broken parts. It is a great feeling. A small simple weekly step for thanking the LORD for such a gigantic gift of my life, my children and my Savior.

Thank you precious Jesus for;

the sun on my face

a breeze in the stifling heat

a red tomato

cucumbers many

green beans that just won't quit

sweet corn and kids who love to shuck it

a summer of baseball memories

watermelon and the one year old who adores it

canning neighbors

the hope of a new start

the countdown from two very excited elementary students to the first day of school

new backpacks

brand new shoes from the thrift store

new crayons

coupons that add up to over $50 in savings off my bill

having time to use my coupons...even if it wasn't planned

lime green shirts with brown spuds on them

an awesome event in the works - spudtasticalafragilistic!

Bye bye summer hello delicious diet food

Well, now that baseball is over it can only mean one thing. The summer is gone. It goes by faster and faster every year. Only 13 days until SpudFest!

The state tournament game isn't even worth mentioning. It was that bad. It just wasn't their day.

I got some time to myself this weekend. It was completely spontaneous and unexpected. It started because I had a fight with a box of "do it yourself" highlights which required me to head to town and find someone to fix it and ended with my whole family camping out for a night sans me. Here is the note I found on the table when I returned home.

It was lonely. I didn't sleep well. Then I got over it and made some delicious diet food.

August 1st was the start date for the family Biggest Loser contest. I am taking it slow and making better choices about food and also getting off my bum a little more. In fact, my oldest and I went for a slow run the other night and it was fantastic.

Anyway the delicious diet food....stay focused, Rani.

I had a container of low fat cottage cheese staring me in the face and I needed to use it up.

What else can a hungry girl do but google cottage cheese recipes?

This one was so easy and I had everything on hand. I used my blanched and frozen spinach and I was so pleased with the results.

Crustless Spinach Quiche

2 boxes frozen spinach (thawed)

1 container plain cottage cheese

1 small onion (chopped)

2-3 egg whites

salt, pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes to taste

olive oil or cooking spray

Drain the spinach really well- the best way is to squeeze handfuls of it over the sink.

Finely chop the onion and saute in olive oil until golden- about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix the onions, spinach, cottage cheese, egg whites and spices until well blended.

Pour mixture into an 8x8 pyrex, pie plate, or scoop into muffin tins.

Baking time is about 45 min for an 8x8 or pie plate or about 20-25 min for muffin tins.

These freeze well, and can be left out to defrost before being reheated in the oven. They can be frozen baked or unbaked. Two of these with a whole wheat pita bread makes great lunch!

I used the rest of the cottage cheese to make a taco fiesta casserole for supper. YUM!

:)

Go and get it

I just finished reading the Shack by William P. Young. It was, for lack of a a much better word, interesting. I think I may have to reread it.

If you haven't read it you should. I don't want to give away anything but here are a few quotes that really got me thinking...

...relationships are a whole lot messier than rules, but rules will never give you answers to the deep questions of the heart and they will never love you.


...Nouns exist because there is a created universe and a physical reality, but if the universe is only a a mass of nouns, it is dead. Unless "I AM", there are no verbs, and verbs are what makes the universe alive...

...The trouble with living by priorities is...is that it sees everything as a hierarchy, a pyramid... If you put God at the top, what does that really mean and how much is enough? How much time you give (Him) before you can go on about the rest of your day, the part that interests you so much more?

...Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It is simply not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you. And the more you know another, the richer the colors of that relationship...

It also has a pretty fantastic story with some amazing characters in it. It was a page turner for me. It'll spark your brain for sure.

too many deals, not enough nap time :)

Good deals today, people. No, not good, GREAT!

Check the deals tab for the best but I have to share the top three because they are too good to pass up!


DEAL NUMBER ONE:
Kohl’s currently has some great clearance deals available, with items discounted up to 80%! Plus, you can use coupon code NEW8874 to get an additional 10% off the already reduced prices, I have a Kohl’s charge card so I used coupon code JULYPYD to save 15%! …AND shipping is ONLY $0.99 per item! BUT if you spend $50 or more, then use coupon code cpmnfs50 to score FREE shipping! You don’t need a Kohl’s chard card to use this coupon code and it’s stackable with the 10% off NEW8874!!!!!! CHECK OUT the LADIES workout gear clearance...tank tops for $4 before discount and running shorts for less than $8 before discount. I even got Ry a pair of Avia's for less than $25!!!! Go, hurry and if you use ebates it's 4% cash back. New to ebates? Sign up with this link and get $5 when you make your first purchase!!!

DEAL NUMBER TWO:
I just bought 6 pieces of jewelry from Torrid for 10.54! I used coupon code BTDM710 to get $10 off any order of $10 or more! To get this promo code to work, first go here and sign up for free to become a DivaStyle Rewards member. Then start shopping and when you checkout use the coupon code ( BTDM710)! Shipping is a flat rate of $8. Got a couple of gifts checked off my list with that one! AND don't forget to go through ebates!

DEAL NUMBER THREE:
JCPenney is offering up a new $10 off your purchase of $10 or more coupon code! Just go on over JCPENNEY.COM to shop online and then type in code TEN2YOU at checkout. Even sweeter, today ONLY, shoes ship FREE! I just got Maleah some Nike flip flops for less than $3 shipped to my house! AND don't forget to go through ebates for cash back on every purchase!

GameDogs draw first game first round

It's drawn out of a hat they tell me.

GameDogs play Dimock/Emery tonight at 6pm in the first game of the first round of the South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament. Here is the bracket for the tournament.

Sdaba.com has a webcast of the games if you aren't able to make it to the beautiful Sioux Falls stadium.

Tickets for the tournament games are sold in sessions (afternoon & evening) and are $7 for adults and $4 for children 12-and-under, kids 5-and-under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium the day or night of the game.

$29 and free shipping

Addison wants this for her birthday. I suppose I should bite the bullet and order it. That is a good price for a Radio Flyer.

Community Garden Featured

on PBS tonight 7pm. Check your local tv station for listings!

Montrose's community garden a part of Aug. 3 "Garden Line" program.

The live video stream is available only during the live television broadcast Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. CDT. The stream will become available at the beginning of the live broadcast. Previous episodes are available as podcasts and can be found through Garden Line's iTunes University site.

SpudFest 2010

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
POTATO DIGGING…….7:00 PM
COMMUNITY GARDEN

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
5K RUN OR 1 MILE RUN WALK……………....9:00 AM
LAWN MOWER AND BIKE POKER RUN….10:00 AM
PARADE……………………………………………..11:00 AM
VENDORS in the Park..................................11:00 AM
BEAN BAG TOURNEY…………………………..12:00 PM
TATOR TOT (KIDS) GAMES,
PLUS INFLATABLES .........................1-5:00 PM
POTATO TOSS…………………………………….1-4:00 PM
COW PIE BINGO …………………………………3-6:00 PM
KICKBALL TOURNAMENT……….……………3:00 PM
SILENT AUCTION ……………………………….4-7:00 PM
TREFOIL
CELTIC LIVE MUSIC …………………….5-7:00 PM
SUPPER……………………………………………..6:00 PM
BRATS, BURGERS, POTATO SALAD, WATERMELON and DRINK
$7.00 AGE 13 THRU 64 $5.00 AGE 12 AND UNDER AND 65 AND OVER
CARMAN KAROKE………………………………9PM-1AM
BEER GARDEN AT THE OFFICE BAR-MAIN STREET

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE
AND POTLUCK ………. 12:00 NOON
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
208 W CLARK STREET

5k shirts are in

get 'em b4 they're gone...

State tourney bound

Despite two losses at the end of the tournament the Gamedogs are going to the State Tournament. The first game will be Wednesday night at 6 pm against Dimock/Emery. The tourney is at the Sioux Falls Stadium, home of the Pheasants(previously known as the Canaries). I am hoping they update Sdaba.com shortly with game info. and times.

Come out and support the town team if it's not raining.

Monday Multitudes # 436-452

How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17


gardens that grow despite all odds

trucks that are home, still not running, but home at last

the pool, even if we have to walk to get to it

blond haired babies

tan kids even with 50 spf sunscreen

water to drink

water that receeds

dry basements

safe and dry places for family to stay

red tomatoes from grandma

baseball games and handsome pitchers

squirt guns and umbrellas to keep cool at ballgames

a wake for a very special man, a chance to celebrate his life

plans for a SpudFest despite the water

quarts of pickles and dill beans

Monday morning thankfullness "How great is the sum of them!"