Things

Just the other day I found a sweet little piggy in my laundry, and it was so warm and rubbery right out of the dryer that I kissed it, and put it in my pocket. It brought back such sweet memories of days long gone, and I asked the little pig what he had to say to me about the One who created all things, and he admonished “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition” Proverbs 11:22

You know, we all have our own special way of keeping up our relationship with God. For me it’s walking and talking with Him wherever I am. Doing laundry, I'll be praising Him in song, working together; I can be showing His love and understanding to others. Caring for my children amazes me at how God is looking after all our needs, and sometimes He has to discipline us as well. Watering plants, it’s “Let anyone who thirsts come to Me and drink.” Looking at flowers: “The flowers wither and the grass dies, but My words are forever.” The beauty of the relationship between God and Adam and Eve seems to have been restored because God is accessible at all times and places when He lives inside us. Having Him in our hearts and before our eyes we can walk and talk with Him just as the disciples did. Just thinking or writing about My God doesn't make Satan very happy either.

I was taking a walk a while ago and found a beautiful, red, (my favorite color) small, stone. I picked it up to admire the glitter and asked it to tell me something about its Creator, and it promised “I will remove the stony heart from within you and give you a new heart.” Sometimes I think I’m from another planet, I’m so not interested in talk about shoes, or dresses, food, who’s getting married when, who’s related to who, and who cares about what news. I’m so out of it, but I get so excited discussing things you can’t see with your eyes, like relationships, ideas, humor, feelings, moral issues, things God made, and attitudes.

We were snipping beans a few days ago and they “told” me they do what they were created to do according to His will. They are made for food and praise God by fulfilling their purpose. Wow! What a big job little bean!! You think it’s that simple? Well, what was I created to do then? What is the will of God for me?

1. Show His love, His No. 1 command. To me, that means overlooking other's faults, since we all have them, if I'm going to look for them I can find tones in the mirror. I have been given so much grace by God, worm that I am, I think I can pass this on to the next person as well. I guess one could write forever about love, because there is simply no end to the wonder of it all.

2. Live as sinless as possible. That is a tough one, not only for me, but for all humans. “Sin clings to us like a bur in the woods on our dress” our Reverend Uncle Ernie reminds us often at church. We only have to pass by and it sticks to us like dirt as we live our lives, but thank God we have a fountain in which to wash our hands (souls) as soon as they get dirty.

3. Keep His words; do as He says in the bible. (Refer back to number 1.) Isn't His word what saves us? It is a direct link from Him to us, no wonder it says Holy on my Bible.

4. Praise Him too. I have more means and reason than the beans that have no mouth or tongue. (Well, I just couldn't squish the erg to sing.)

Tag

1) Are you close to any family member?
Yes, Karen, Mom, Melinda (as close as can be) Melissa (how close are we really, is she the close type?), Dwight, Daniel
2) Have you ever shoplifted?
No, but I have kept some money that was not mine.
3) Do you like thunderstorms?
Yes, reminds me of our all powerful Lord and God.
4) Have you ever got up in the middle of the night and prayed?
Many, many times.
5) What country would you most like to visit?
Africa, for sure.
6) Were you born on the same place you live at right now?
Well, Portage Hospital is still in the aria.
7) Are you baptized?
Yes, and ever growing.
8) Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes, I was quite taken by Rodney when I first saw him, but who wasn’t.
9) Are you against public displays of affection?
No, I love holding hands, Rodney’s are always so warm, and I don’t care who sees. Well the young people are always commenting on how wonderful our relationship looks and I have to wonder what they see because we don’t really display our affection publicly.
10) Have you a comfort food?
No, but I love giving it to an apple when I’m really mad.
11) Do you think you are the kind of person that holds grudges?
I don’t have the memory it takes to hold them.
12) Traumatic experience? What was it?
I guess the birth of Hans and Judas were both the most traumatic for me and the following illness (post-partum psychosis).
13) Do you make a wish when you see a falling star?
I used to, but not since I got to know God better.
14) Do you wear contacts?
Yes, not always though, I hate my glasses.
15) Favorite day of the year? Why?
My birthday because it always amazes me how many of my friends think of me on that day.
16) What do you do to prevent anger?
Talk, talk, talk, talk.
17) What was your favorite toy as a child?
I still have the two adorable tiny rabbits I begged my mom to buy for me and she did.
18) What is under your bed?
Dust, I’m sure, our bed is on the floor so you can’t stuff anything under it.
19) Who is the friend you have had the longest?
Jenny, at Fairholme, we’ve known and loved each other from since we were little girls.
20) How many different houses have you lived in?
Well for how long? 2 in Airport, 2 in Crystal Springs, (MKM basement) 6 weeks at Catskill, a year at Decker with Aunt Liz, 4 in Wingham,( Lived with mom and dad for a few years, moved into empty one for a bit, then back upstairs with mom and dad and finally into my own where I am now) So that’s 8 all together.
21) Favorite perfume?
Preferred Stock, a men’s perfume I bought for Rodney when I was about 16 at the girls States trip, still love it.
22) Favorite flower?
Lilly of the Valley, it’s delicate and smells like heaven. I’m a sucker for delicate little things, I think it’s because I’ve never been small or had anything small on me.
23) Do you wear a ring?
Yes, I stopped for a while because of the Easter Letter that talks about our beauty coming from the inside, a meek and quiet spirit, but I’ll have to wait until I have a few more wrinkles so that guys stop looking at me and judging me as a 25 year old unmarried person.
24) Favorite day of the week? Why?
Sunday, I love to relax, worship and read.
25) Do you make New Year's resolutions?
I haven’t for a number of years, because I couldn’t keep the one I had made about reading a chapter in the bible everyday, I’m too off and on about it.
26) Where were you born?
In the Portage Hospital and my mom brought me home to Airport Colony, my two boys were born in the same place.
27) What are your goals for the upcoming year?
I must tape another cassette of children’s stories and sell it and give the proceeds to buy a ticket to Africa for a missionary. I’d also like to try to find other ways of making some cash to add to the project.
28) What is your favorite past-time?
I love to read true stories, comics, and psychology books.
29) In your opinion, are you easy to get along with?
No, I’m a bit moody, but I can’t hear anyone complain. Living with each other is always hard, but I try and give others as much chance to fail as I give myself.
30) When cleaning, ever sweep that hard-to-get-rid-of little junk under the rug?
I’m sure I have once or twice in my life, probably when I’ve spent the whole day cleaning house and see it getting messy right behind me.
31) How much do looks count when you’re interested in someone?
I love people, male or female; I am easily interested in them no matter how they look. Good looks will sometimes make me uncomfortable.
32) Do you have confidence and faith in yourself?
I have faith in God, to me, faith is a word pertaining to religion and I don’t religiously believe in myself. I have the confidence I need to do anything I want to accomplish by working hard for in and putting in the effort.
33) What is the definition of being “clingy” in a relationship?
It’s when you aren’t given the freedom, time, or space from the other person to be yourself.
34) Would you put your arms around someone who was crying?
Maybe a child, but I’d sure get them to tell me what it’s all about, because I know talking helps.
35) What is it about your relationship you would like to change the most?
Nothing it is a source of joy to me as is.
36) What do you like the best in your relationship?
The laughter.
37) Which person in your life has died, that you miss and were close to?
Well I really miss my Uncle Elias a lot, but we weren’t that close. The brake has kept some very dear people out of my life that I was close to and miss. That’s Rose and Sharon at Airport, and Betty at Jamesvally. Also a friend lost her son, and that was heartbreaking to have to accept.
38) Have you ever felt something strange would happen and it did?
Yes, before my first breakdown I got this strange feeling that something was weird or not normal and I flew off the handle in an instant.
39) What is one thing in your life you would do over again if you could?
Well that question is too personal, I’m sure we could find a bundle of things to do over if we could.
40) What do you think would bring contentment in your life?
Nothing that is here on this earth, I am most contented when I have a good relationship with God and his people and am assured of their love.
41) If you had a chance to help an “unhappy ” friend, what advice would you give them?
Just let them talk, that is all they need, the other person is smart enough to figure things out for himself. I think there is a good reason we were given two ears and only one mouth.
42) What would be your “dream job” if you had the choice and opportunity?
Well it went from being a doctor, to being nurse, to being a midwife, to being a message therapist as I got older and lost the chance of having the opportunity. (Shucks) Well as a mother I am all these and so much more.
43) Do you recognize when you're in a bad mood?
Yes, and I try to stay away from others so that they don’t catch it, but since I’ve been married I know that I am a source to other peoples happiness, so I take the job more serious of keeping up a better mood.
44) Do you: a: Let your room get messy for a few days and then clean it up
B: Clean it every day
A.
45) Are You a:
A “take the bull by the horns” kind of person?
B “Let things go and wait and see” kind of person?
Depends on the situation, you need to have the wisdom to decide when to do what.
46) Were you a teachers pet?
No, but I think I tried sucking up.
47) Should money be spent or saved in your opinion?
If you want something big you save it; if you’ve got enough of it enjoy it and give to the needy.
48) Would you tell someone you love them even when they are annoying you?
Every day!!
49) Do you like surprises or the thrill of expecting?
I like them both.
50) Where are you ticklish the most?
Now that would be telling!!!

Counsel

I just read Brock Shields’ book: Down Came the Rain, it’s about her struggle with post-partum depression, I had post-partum psychosis. It was incredible how I could relate and how many of our thoughts and feelings were the same. So I found a real nice psychiatrist; he’s quite exciting and sure knows his stuff. Here are some of the reasons I like him so much:
· He will come directly to my home, so I can sit or lie down anywhere I feel comfortable.
· His rates are extremely low.
· He is a Christian.
· He will give me counsel from the bible on any moral issues.
· He will spend as much time as I need.
· He already knows my history so I needn’t waist time on that.
· He has a wonderful solution for guilt.
· He can really draw out what is inside and figure out the problem in no time.
His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace, and He is available for anyone who needs Him at any time.

Trained

"Ich thieg la dana thorths" (I can thee your underpanth). Can't you just see that lisp!! These pictures are a product of Carrie my sister-in-love who takes some awesome pictures of kids. Thanks Carrie!!

Try adding a clip

I hereby annouce the succesful potty training of Hans Baer Kleinsasser. He is compleatly potty trained at age two and 9 months, (that's a half a year sooner than Judas) on July the 9th, the 2 thousandth and 7th year of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accually I need a reason to see if I can add a clip as well as pictures....so here goes. No, can't do it HELP!!!!!!!!???????

Too Fast

Judas turned five just last week and has graduated from preschool. We had a party for him and the 'klanna' school grandma got the honor of taking him into the children's dining room. We're so proud of him, but the part that made my eyes water was when the grandmas told me how much they will miss him.

100 things about 5 year old Judas Baer Kleinsasser.
1. Judas can spend hours playing quietly and alone with his little cars.
2. Judas loves to imitate his Dad.
3. Judas is a very sensitive person.
4. Judas enjoys collecting warms after the rain.
5. Judas likes to shower with his Dad.
6. Judas bats like a pro.
7. Judas loves sitting at the wheel with his Dad and steering home.
8. Judas enjoys cake and cream type desserts.
9. His favorite food is corn and knaddle.
10. Judas plays baseball with the older children.
11. Judas only cries when he is hurt badly or vary tired.
12. Judas is a big help to the ‘klanna’ school grandmas and they say they will miss him.
13. Judas’ best friends are Grace and Israel.
14. Judas loves playing in the snow.
15. Judas has a good since of humor.
16. Judas can catch a ball with ease.
17. Judas’ back name is from his mom’s side of the family.
18. Judas looks like his dad.
19. Judas likes watching himself in the mirror.
20. Judas can make a sommersault on the trampoline.
21. Judas can sing and is not shy when singing at the kitchen with the other kids.
22. Judas likes it when people watch him.
23. Judas waves at people.
24. Judas will answer when a stranger speaks to him.
25. Judas doesn’t mind his suspenders.
26. Judas is a considerate fellow and thinks of others.
27. Judas likes climbing trees.
28. Judas understands English but wants his stories in Hutterite.
29. Judas has many friends.
30. Judas loves having a marshmallow roast.
31. Judas can take disappointments well.
32. Judas seems to have enough self-esteem.
33. Judas understands which foods are healthy.
34. Judas has a good imagination.
35. Judas obeys his parents most of the time.
36. Judas loves watching videos, even the clips on computer.
37. Judas drinks a lot of water and a hardly any juice.
38. Judas slept in the room across from his parent’s in a tent for a month.
39. Judas can count to ther-ty-teen correctly.
40. Judas can write his name with help.
41. Judas can add two and two.
42. Judas can swim with a life jacket.
43. Judas is pretty careful and cautious.
44. Judas enjoys comic books.
45. Judas loves bible stories.
46. Judas never picks a fight or agitates others.
47. Judas can tell a long story.
48. Judas started rollerblading before he was two and has enjoyed it ever since.
49. Judas has had two bee stings in his life.
50. Judas respects older people.
51. Judas thinks board games like Trouble and Checkers are fun.
52. Judas likes to pick his nose.
53. Judas has mastered his relationship manners.
54. Judas likes to colour with someone.
54. Judas loves a ride with heavy equipment.
55. Judas helps his mom gather butterfly worms.
56. Judas loves ‘klanna’ school.
57. Judas needs lots of hugs and praise.
58. Judas recognizes numbers.
59. Judas knows a lot of colors and loves playing ‘I spy, I spy.’
60. Judas’ favourite color was blue but is now red and he also likes green.
61. Judas is kind to others.
62. Judas has too many toys and wants more.
63. Judas loves being babysat by Audrey and Joni.
64. Judas loves helping his dad at the turkey barn.
65. Judas gets a great kick out of playing with his fathers whoopee cushion.
66. Judas prays in a grateful way.
67. Judas’ smile lights up his whole face.
68. Judas laughs easily and catches a joke pretty fast.
69. Judas likes dogs.
70. Judas can write pretend letters to people.
71. Judas was born on the longest day of the year.
72. Judas enjoys laughing at his younger brother.
73. Judas doesn’t like naps.
74. Judas is entertained by books.
75. Judas has had tree grandfathers and five grandmothers.
76. Judas now has three grandfathers and tree grandmothers.
77. Judas knows a few prayers by heart.
78. Judas loves skating and playing hockey either on ice or on the floor.
79. Judas likes French fries.
80. Judas is a little bit shy around strangers.
81. Judas never curses or swears or calls people names.
82. Judas likes to eat a lot of junk food and does not prefer fruits.
83. Judas is everybody’s sweetheart.
84. Judas is a good sport.
85. Judas is a chatterbox.
86. Judas minds his own business.
87. Judas loves to wrestle and be tickled.
88. Judas can share his toys with Hans but would rather play by himself.
89. Judas doesn’t become loud and obnoxious when we have visitors.
90. Judas is ---------tall, and weighs 40 pounds.
91. He has had ear ache, whooping cough, chicken ‘pops,’ and stepped into a rusty nail.
92. He loves listening to his grandma and Victor tell stories on tape.
93. Judas likes all his babysitters and ‘klann’ school grandmas.
94. Judas says that Jesus lives in his heart and he loves to pray in there too.
95. Judas spends a lot of time at Aunt Melinda’s house with his cousins.
96. Judas wants to know why.
97. Judas has patience and can wait with ease.
98. Judas has learned to use buttons and zippers.
99. Judas will remember and tell us what he dreamed.
100. Judas is a gift from God.


The struggle of the week has been to try to keep positive, why does it take so much effort to see the good? I'd love it if you could just inherit a positive outlook, but noooo, it has to be cultivated. It's easy to slid into the habit of the half empty glass, and I guess it's a personal choice of what you want to see. My rose colored glasses aren't always reality ether but they sure keep me hopeful and happier and the energy exerted to ware them is well worth it.



Speaking of keeping positive and grateful, we watched a couple tornadoes tare across our sky, and one touched down just four miles from the colony. We were already gathering in the kitchen basement like we do in some of my worst nightmares. Judas was so scared you could hardly pry his hands apart because he was praying. We prayed together for our safty and that we could rest our fears and stayed in the basement just to miss all the action. He kept asking me to sing and it really helped drown out the sound of the wind but he was comforted by it.

Gardens and Butterflies

Well, Welcome back my dear butterflies!! They are all over and around my house now, enjoying my garden as I am. It's great to see them again.

I just got my garden planted this week and am enjoying it's color and eagerly anticipating more of the same. There is hardly a bare spot in it, but I wouldn't mind more perennials because an annual is a little costly, and I want it much cozier than it was last year. Last year was terrible here on the farm in our gardens, either it was because they dug in a salt water line to water them, or it may have been the soil. Someone got us a load of soil off the land that had already been treated and planted. In any case, almost all of us had bad luck.

I'm really missing my pond of former years. We put our gold fish out last year during the summer months but Rodney and I can't quite agree on what a pond should be. He wants the water so clean that you can see and enjoy the fish, and I 'd like to fill it with plants. We can't have both; our 04, 05, pond was much nicer but we didn't have any fish at that time.

Today I administered an onion on a bee sting. Judas came in crying during nap time and it's amazing what goes through a mother's mind before she can see what actually happened. He was just screaming and I had to remove the stinger without letting any more of the venom get into him. The onion did a fine job of keeping it from swelling and pulling out the little that had gotten in. I could see it getting white and swollen around the sting already and about 10 min. after applying a slice of onion it was all better. I was thankful that a few of his girlfriends came in with him to keep him well destructed while it was healing.

Last week Judas stepped into a rusty nail and we really took it seriously. We've been soaking his foot in salt water everyday and applying a ointment that keeps it clean, but we are not safe yet. The incubation period for tetanus is two weeks, but the area looks very good already. He's been literally eating dirt since he's been old enough to grab it and should be immune by now.

I can't say that I'm not scared because there was one night that I could hardly sleep. I watched my little angel sleep to make sure he wasn't having any spasms of any kind. I read some scripture and prayed and listened again to Dr. Heroet's lecture to remind me why we made the decision not to vaccinate in the first place. The fear factor is usually no problem for me because I'm used to facing up to them and conquering. I could let myself get into a frenzy every time Rodney leaves the house too, thinking this may be the last time I will see him, but sitting around and obsessing about it will not serve to improve the quality of life. When something happens we'll deal with it. I can tell you, I've never been so happy to hear those annoying noises that little boys like to make with their mouths. Swishing spit, and blowing air out or their lips in all kinds of ways, means that he doesn't have lockjaw and his respiratory system is doing just fine.

I guess I've been thinking a lot this week about how 'fearfully and wonderfully' we've been made, with the body's God given ability to heal, clean and build. Also how fragile our earth is, I mean, just move the sun 1% closer or further away from the earth and all life will die. The same goes for the moon, and try raising the temperature of the water a few degrees, or mess it up a bit more and you are in trouble. Remove a measly eight inches of topsoil and we lose the plants that use the sun's energy to make food. It is God who sustains us, cares for us and gives us His word that we are safe in His keeping. Where was I when He made the firefly? Is anything to hard for Him? The wind, the earth, water and fire obey His every command.

My sweetheart has been flying a remote control airplane the last few moths with his brother Stanley. Yesterday they crashed into a tree for only the third time, and today they had to get the forklift to get it down, and I got some nice pictures of the kids watching. The girls are my sister Melinda's and the little boy is Hans. We get together in the evenings when there is hardly any wind to watch them fly. Its a nice and relaxing thing to do with the kids and the daddy's enjoyed many an evening working on it.