Joyfulhouse’s Weblog

February 27, 2009

Beautiful Friday

Filed under: Door County Life, Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 11:06 pm

It has been a wonderful day.

The sun is setting and casting a pink hue on all the white birch trees outside my windows.  I like this time of the year with darker evenings, perfect for candle light at the dinner table.  Soon enough this peaceful season of the year will give way to the madness of living in a tourist area.

We did accomplish some school with everyone claiming they did all their work.  We also cared for Sammy, playing games with him such as “wild animal” where Melody chases him and attacks him with tickles and being wrapped up in a blanket.  He also did school as I am working with him to learn self-governing ie; sitting still, drawing neatly and listening.  He is making improvements.

Annie and Sammy baked cookies for everyone who played games here after lunch.  It was fun to play Phase Ten with the gang, would have been more fun if I had beaten  those teens!  They are a competative bunch.

The last of the teens just left after watching a short Disney Movie.

I need to finish some laundry, feed the family and pick up my bathroom and then the day will start to wind down.

I feel blessed to see the hand of God today not only in the beauty of a snowstorm and the sunset, but in the faces of these children as they laugh and enjoy one another.  I saw Him in His Word, in the phone call from a friend telling of answered prayers, in the warmth of our fire as He cares for our home.  He is so good.

Blessed

Joyce

When it’s a full blown blizzard outside in Northern Wisconsin, it’s the perfect time for…………..

Filed under: Door County Life, Family, Kitchen Life, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 10:54 pm

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Watching Little Women, knitting and enjoying a winter evening together

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 10:47 pm

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Mandy’s birthday cake, made by Kristi, and VERY delicious. How many girls have Arctic Cat green frosting? That’s our Mandy!

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 10:45 pm

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Beautiful sisters in Christ hauling wood in bitter cold weather. Because that’s just how we do it around here!

Filed under: Family, Photos, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized — joyfulhouse @ 10:38 pm

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Door County

Filed under: Door County Life, Family, Photos, Spiritual Life — joyfulhouse @ 10:36 pm

Door County has it’s issues, many of which are SO sad and inexcusable.

BUT,  THe little community of Gills Rock has some  rules by which we live by that are BEAUTIFUL!

The picture above was from about three weeks ago.

It was a bitter cold day with winds coming off the bay at 35 MPH and no guessing the wind chill.

The ladies came for Bible study and as they were getting ready to leave one of the girls mentioned she needed to get wood off the family property for her wood stove.  Annie, the one in need, has had neck pain for weeks and migraines.  Immediately we all said. “we are going with!”  She tried to stop us to no  avail as we bundled up and followed her to the property located here in Gills Rock on the water.  

We started hauling wood from a shelter, but as you came along the lake side of the house the wind was hurling icy pellets at 35 MPH which stung and went into you mouth and felt like sand.  THe wind would take your breath away as you rounded the corner.  I am  proud to say that these strong Northern women filled the back of Annie’s truck, not stopping till the job was done!   That’s just how we do it here!

Or how about this morning when my husband was out snowplowing and came upon a stranded woman who is part of a Hollywood crew up here filming a movie.  She was buried far from the highway.  He called a friend and they plowed a path for the woman and freed her from the snow drift for no charge.  She was the first of a few he helped after today’s storm.  That’s just how we do it around here.

How about volunteering to watch a young couple’s children so they can attend AA meetings for free, and drive them if needed.

If our daughter’s need help with their cars and dad can’t help they have a neighbor up the road who help them and myself ANYTIME.

Our daughters were home alone for the weekend and some boys started to take a scaring prank too far.  No problem in Gills Rock, they knew who to call to help them, and let’s just say those boy will NEVER go to far again!

A neighbor needs food, we pass the hat

A neighbor needs money,  we pass the hat

A neighbor needs a break, we watch the children

A neighbor is sick and needs food, meals, cleaning, care is all given for days on end.

Someone runs out of money while we are at a youth outing.  Teens pass the hat so nobody is left out.

That’s just how we do it around here

Parents could not afford to send their teens to camp last weekend. we pass the hat and all went paid in full.

Someone falls off the wagon, again.  We go and love and encourage.

A missionary family comes for six months and they are given a home to stay in, full pantry, clothing for all their family members.

That’s just how we do it around here.

We may not always get it right, but we share in the sorrows and the joys.  We pray hard for one another.

We brought home two boys for foster care and we were inundated with clothes for them and toys, everyone rallying around us to help take up the burden we had taken on.  Our burdens are never our own because we are a community.

We had a wedding recently and the family did not have a lot of money.  THe decorations were beautifully done by a lady in our church and afterwards many of us stayed for a couple hours un-decorationg the church because the groom was one of our own and we try to take care of each other even at weddings!

That’s just how we do it around here!

SO, 35 MPH winds and bitter cold didn’t stop a bunch of sisters in the Lord from helping out another sister.

That’s just how we do it around here.

I SHOULD be suspicious with those faces!!!

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 10:05 pm

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Hot cocoa with white chocolate and home made bread warm from the oven.

Filed under: Family, Kitchen Life — joyfulhouse @ 1:20 pm

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February 24, 2009

Traditional stop at A&W for lunch on the way home.

Filed under: Family — joyfulhouse @ 2:00 am

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Mandy’s birthday cake, a fish, how appropriate for a fisherman’s daughter

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:58 am

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Mandy’s 22 birthday, celebrated at camp. She had one candle stay lit!

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:56 am

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Our two brave men who survived discussion on hair straighteners, perfumes, clothing, best love songs, etc..

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:55 am

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These girls are FUN!

Filed under: Door County Life, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:51 am

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Crazy girls in the back of the van, or an oreo sandwhich!

Filed under: Door County Life, Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:50 am

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Beautiful Lake Michigan, even when it is frozen over

Filed under: Door County Life — joyfulhouse @ 1:49 am

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Our Mandy heading off to a job interview. Impressive :)

Filed under: Family — joyfulhouse @ 1:46 am

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Rick obviously was goofing off during this father/daughter photo!

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:45 am

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Valentines Day Roses for me, I am loved!

Filed under: Family — joyfulhouse @ 1:42 am

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Melody with her roses from her daddy. He always gives the girls roses for Valentines Day to tell them how much he loves them.

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:41 am

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Sweetheart banquet at church, Sweetest guy there

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:38 am

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Family dinner, this will teach the girls to make faces while I am taking a photo!

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:34 am

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Mandy showing off her cooking skills

Filed under: Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:32 am

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J and M in Door County together

Filed under: Door County Life, Family, Photos — joyfulhouse @ 1:24 am

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February 23, 2009

Sometimes life is funny

Filed under: Uncategorized — joyfulhouse @ 11:58 pm

I was gone all weekend to a youth retreat in the Upper Peninsula, Yuper Territory. I will write about that later but today I am struck with how funny life can be.
I came home tired from the weekend and last night my husband and I could not communicate, we kept misunderstanding each other, it was annoying but very funny.
I went to bed at 9:00 and when I go to sleep exhausted I have a bad habit, snoring! I woke in the middle of the night and noticed Rick was up. I did not know why he was up and being tired, I fell back to sleep.
He was not in our bed when the alarm attempted to wake me. Poor Guy. He went to the couch in the living room, far far away from our bedroom, to sleep in peace and quiet. I felt so bad.
I made his lunch, and miraculously remembered a spoon, so often forgotten when I am tired! I made him coffee and we talked, well, I talked. :) He was tired remember?
He left for work with a fresh cup of coffee.
Only tonight did I find out I gave him a cup of my French Vanilla coffee when he walked out the door.
He made it to the stop sign and dumped it out the truck window.
When he told me about it I asked him why he did not drink it.
He said it gives him headaches.
I asked him if they are as bad as the headaches I give him ;)
He said no, they are not quite that bad!

Just keeping it real!

February 11, 2009

Yesterday

Filed under: Uncategorized — joyfulhouse @ 2:19 pm

Yesterday I taught a ladies Bible study and we studies contentment……… I should have known I would be in for one of “those” kind of days!!!

It started with a text from Mandy, our daughter who was visiting a friend in Detroit Michigan, that would be a LONG way from Door County!
Text: We have a huge problem

What is a mother to do but groan and and call back trying to act normal when my heart is in the bottom of my stomach?

Problem: She missed the bus which was to return her to Chicago where she would get her car and two siblings and start the 5.5 hour drive home.

Of course I could not believe this had happened!!!!!!!!!!

I told her to call when she knew what was happening as I was going to drive to Green Bay and meet her to gather our two teens, a friend and their stuff to bring home.

Then, I got to practice contentment and joy in the midst of this stressful situation.
I taught the Bible study which was so good…. sweet ladies learning to be loving and godly wives.

I kept returning to contentment when she started out on the road with her friend to drive to Chicago…….. and after a few hours did not know where she was!

I practiced contentment when no one was answering my calls or texts….

Do you see a pattern for the day here?

The day brought discussions on attitudes and actions, responsibilities and respect. Good lessons learned.

The good news: they did make it to Chicago, they did make it safely, and with much prayer, to Green Bay. My friend Kim and I had a wonderful time sharing hearts and encouraging one another over supper as we waited for the girls to arrive. We made it home safely tho very late.

As I fell into bed last night I thought about the day and realized that God orchestrated this day for so many reasons. I felt peace, and yes contentment as I fell to sleep, thankful.

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