Green...

Eggs & Ham!

Did you know that Dr. Seuss's Birthday is on Friday??
I'm so excited... don't know why... just like that it's almost March!

I like the month of March.
I like green.
I like that I'm Irish.
I like when the flowers start popping open everywhere.
I like when the green wheat sprouts in the sunshine.
I like corned beef & cabbage.
I like making beer bread.
I like watching new little baby calves running through the pasture.
I like finding 4 leaf clovers.
I like wearing my rain coat (on occasion).
I like seeing rainbows.
I like the fresh air.
I like wearing my Kiss Me I'm Irish t-shirt.
I like going to Heppner for St. Patrick's Day.
I like feeling lucky.
I like green M&M candy.
I like green bean casserole.
I like that my middle name is Erin.
I like that John Deere things are green.
I like green vegetables.
I like green olives. (I used to hate them)
I like lime jello.
I like Mr. Misty Lime Freezes from Dairy Queen.
I like making clover shaped sugar cookies and decorating them with green frosting.
I like that spring is near!

Leaving a Legacy

Real. Honest. True. Sincere. Faithful. Loving. Supportive. Humble. Gracious. Clever. Motivating. Positive. Kind. Willing. Radiant. Christ-like. Prayerful.

My parents have been blessings to many. Too many to count. They are leaving a legacy. People think of them and smile. People are drawn to them. People want to be like them. They are trusted. They are loved. They are the earthly images of “good & faithful servants.” They are my parents.

They are to be complimented for their efforts in raising my sister & I. There were struggles, there were arguments, but their consistent efforts and constant prayers have guided both Kirsten & I in truth & joy in our lives as adults.
They are our cheerleaders.
They wipe away tears.
They encourage us to follow our hearts & dreams.
They support us and our families – 100%.
They love unconditionally.
They give unconditionally.
They want nothing but the best for others, & believe that the best can & will happen.
They are amazing together.

I can’t imagine life without them.
I hope & pray that they know how loved and appreciated they are.
I know that the work Christ started many, many years ago is not close to being complete.
I look forward to the future – knowing that they’re leading me, and so many others, in truth, they’re the definition of faith, and they’re following God in all they do and say!

Birthday Blessings to you dad – just a little late…
And… mom… well, I hope you are sung to over and over and over to today!

You are loved, You are treasured, You are respected, You are admired…
You are leaving a legacy!

Just a little TOO small... or maybe TOO big

Mason is infatuated with overalls.
Last night he wanted to wear his to bed, but I wouldn't let him. First thing this morning his were back on... along with his boots, hat & coat... ready to go at 6:15!
There are days when his are in the wash... and then...daddy's are the next best thing!

My sweet, sweet boy - I know there will be a day... too soon from now... that you won't be that small, but please, just don't lose that curiosity!

Love you my sweet Mason!

Learning how to ROLL

Where does the time go?
How quickly things change.
9 months ago our boy was learning to run and roll and just starting to talk.

Now... well... he's sprinting and jumping and talking more and more.
I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

Ian

My businessman with a passion for cows… what was life like before you?

I’m in awe of your strength and compassion. Inside that tough outer shell and tall frame is one of the most gentle and loving people I know – I wish everyone could see what I see. You are a man of few words… most of the time. You think others should be able to read your mind (especially your dad and me). You strive to work as hard as you can to make life easier for your family. You are passionate about cattle. You love to laugh. Work is your middle name. You worry about the future. You are getting better at planning ahead. You love Justin work boots and can’t ever have too many pairs of jeans. You don’t function well without coffee. You have become an amazing father. Your faith is beginning to show through the things you say and do. You are intrigued by the Old West and World War II. You are learning to smile more. You can’t get enough of Robert Duvall. You are my love and my life. I respect you so much. I look forward to the “what-ifs” in our future together and am excited to see where we are in 20 years. You’ve got more strength than most people I know and I hope and pray that you realize how appreciated you are. I’m blessed beyond measure because of you…

Happy 30th Birthday Ian!

May your year be filled with sunshine, green pastures, healthy cows, a good cattle market, and love!

What if ?

Ever had a day where you wondered what if...?

Today was that day for me.

What if I didn't live in this community I've grown to love over the past 9 years?
What if I hadn't become a teacher?
What if the Windy M was not my home?
What if I had a little girl and not a little boy?
What if I didn't have freckles and graying hair?
What if I had everything taken away?

This isn't a negative entry. Far from it. As I went about my day today I kept thinking to myself... what if? I'm not sure why I was questioning this life that I'm blessed to call MINE. I'm certainly not depressed about anything and I'm not questioning my purpose - God's purpose - for my life. I guess I just wonder sometimes - what am I doing here?... where am I headed?... what will tomorrow bring, where will I be in 6 hours or 2 months or 3 years?
There are so many uncertain things in life. Things happen in the blink of an eye. I can choose to live in fear of the unknown... or I can choose to live my life making the most of the time I have.
I don't spend a lot of time doing "nothing." I don't waste a minute (at least not usually). I watch what I eat, I try to keep my home clean, I fold laundry, I cook meals, I make beds, I rarely sit and watch TV, I read books, I sing to my son, I help with chores... I do what a lot of people do... and all of those "things" that fill my day... well... they are what make my day complete. I don't know life without them.
Life is full of "what-ifs." We all choose what we do with them. No one else can choose for us.
I guess today was a reality check for me... I need to continue to live life facing the what-ifs head on... not faltering, not questioning, not scared, not fearful, just facing the fact that my life is not my own. I'm living here, in this place, for a reason. God is using me and is completing a good work in and through me. I believe that, and I hope that my life is a reflection of that.
I need to enjoy the "what-if" days... dream... think... question... and know that it will be what it is supposed to be. It's really not in my hands... trust, obey & follow... and enjoy the adventure!

Totally random post, but it's my heart... and I'm sharing it.

Saturday

I love sunshine.
I love the way it makes me feel.
I love that it pours in through the windows in our home in the morning.
I love being outside with no coat.
I love listening to the birds sing.
I love smelling the start of spring.

Saturday was one of those days where if it was planned - it wouldn't have happened. I spent the morning around the house, picked up Donna in Pendleton and then headed to Walla Walla for lunch with Shannon. It was beautiful. The mountains were gorgeous, the windmills were glowing, the breeze was fresh. Robert had the tractor out, the dirt was soft, and there was a new mound... a HUGE new mound... of fresh soil that Mason ran up and down over and over over. My boy was in heaven! His nose wasn't running, his fever was gone... he was playing... outside... and loving every minute of it!

The sun isn't really shining today.
The wind is cold.
The birds are singing.
The signs of spring are almost evident.

We're all looking forward to another day like Saturday...

7 days

Challenged.
Tired.
Overwhelmed.
Crazy.
Emotional.
Happy.
Stuffy.
Exhausted.
Loved.

7 days of ups and downs.
7 days of Kleenex.
7 days of Motrin, Tylenol & Tussin CF.
7 days of water, water, water.
7 days of exhaustion.

I wonder what the next 7 days will bring??

I’m sitting here enjoying my last hour of school. My last class just left. The library is still. I’m listening to Positive Life Radio online. Life is good.

Loving these things about the last 7 days:

~ Ricola cough drops
~ Stuffed mushrooms & grilled asparagus
~ Fruit punch in a wine glass
~ Paper plates, plastic silverware, plastic cups
~ Rubber boots on 2 year olds
~ 3-D Ultrasound Photos
~ Medical Insurance
~ Unlimited Cell Phone Minutes to my family
~ The book of Psalms
~ 4 wheel drive
~ Quiznos with Becky
~ JP & Brenda – You're both AWESOME!
~ The Bride-To-Be in Montana
~ Pajama pants
~ Good chocolate
~ Voicemail from Neely
~ Baby clothes
~ My sister the NURSE
~ Papa Murphy’s Pizza
~ My Blog World
~ Google Talk
~ The Real Housewife’s of Orange County (pathetic, but addicting)
~ Puffs Ultra Kleenex
~ Fruit Smoothies
~ Mason’s sense of humor
~ My home
~ Costco Photo Center
~ Desperation Band
~ The IT Department for my school district
~ Love & Respect (glad you came John & Misty)
~ Amy Tolar Photography
~ Mason's Baby Book
~ Catching up with Tiff
~ Healthy baby calves
~ Ian (I saved the best for last)


Last Friday I left school with a red nose, tired, itchy eyes, and a chapped upper lip.
This Friday I’m leaving school with the exact same look. Gotta love it!

~Happy Weekend~
Live Simply. Expect Little. Give Much.

A Valentine Favorite:

This is one of my favorite books. As a library specialist I am surrounded with wonderful opportunities to share amazing stories with children and adults. It's a great book to pull out in February, but shares a message that we need to be aware of year round. Take a few minutes, click on the link below, and hear this story read aloud. I know you'll like it.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

by Eileen Spinelli & Paul Yalowitz

Sharing the LOVE

I'm happy to say that we have a very active, kicking, growing BOY who will be joining us at the end of June. We weren't going to find out what this baby was, but it was a little hard to miss... so here's to adventures with boys!
Ian's thrilled, I'm excited & smiling, and Mason... well, he's going to be the best big brother around!

Happy Heart Day !

Give love, share love, offer love, show love, receive love...

Happy Birthday Papa (Roy Boy) Sundberg - Hope your day was wonderful!!
We LOVE you - today and EVERY day!
Kisses from all of us... and a great big hug from Ian too!

one year later...

One year… one whole year… one great year!

Amazing.
Becoming.
Capturing.
Defining.
Exploring.
Finding.
Growing.
Honoring.
Inviting.
Joining.
Keeping.
Loving.
Managing.
Nurturing.
Offering.
Praying.
Questioning.
Reading.
Sustaining.
Teaching.
Understanding.
Viewing.
Writing.
eXplaining.
Z… hmmm....

This blog has done so much for me – inside & out! I can’t even begin to explain what life is like since starting this "web journal."
Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for loving us and this life we live!
Life is good!

Here’s to another great year!!

Loved this… thought it was appropriate for the Windy M 1 year anniversary!

The Charles Schultz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions.
Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name a few people who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name a few people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of a few people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier??

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.

It's already tomorrow in Australia."

~Charles Schultz

Ice Cream,Ice Cream...

we all SCREAM for Ice Cream!!

It's no secret that our family LOVES ice cream.
We can be seen at the DQ drive thru on occasion buying BLIZZARDS for dinner.
We help ourselves to large bowls of Tillamook ice cream in the evenings at home.
We even make our own (we have 4 different ice cream makers)!
... and I've been know to compare myself to Neopolitan - I start out white (vanilla), usually get sunburned (strawberry), and end up brown (chocolate)!

Love ice cream... love that is so refreshing... love that it tastes SO good!

I received this forward from 2 different friends - thanks Rachel and Tiffany! It's so appropriate, and I hope that Mason feels compelled to do this someday...

Saying Grace In A Restaurant

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the
food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert.
And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman
remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know
how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is
God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was
certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.
He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a
great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark
had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A
little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared
at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my
life.
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in
front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you.
Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

The End

so... here are a few of our favorites:

and all you American Idol fans out there... check out the link below!

American Idol - Dryers Slow-Churned

The sun is shining today... PRAISE GOD!

The Feed Truck

I truly enjoy driving the brown feed truck. It is definitely an upgrade from the black one, and a lot more user friendly than the white one... and it's an automatic. I just love the convenience of not having to shift while entertaining a two year old, and it seems to keep my husband from falling off the back (which has happened before). It has such great interior (kind of), it's always clean (not so much), the windshield wipers actually work (most of the time), and Mason has learned how to turn it on (not safe at all)!

Watch out world - here comes Mason (just a few years too early)!

Sharing My Message

What is my message? What am I sharing with the world? Am I living what I believe?

Nancie Carmichael, the speaker at the retreat this weekend, was real. She was honest. She shared her life with us - giving us insight to where she came from, what she's overcome, & where she's headed. God is such a "real" part of her life!

She says:
"My message is simply out of my own walk with God, out of my own fears, my own joys. I have a growing awareness and conviction that He meets us where we need Him most and that His grace is sufficient for anything that life throws at us. Perhaps our greatest challenge as women is to realize how much he loves us . . . and to let Him carry us as we carry all the things we do--our families, our callings."

WOW!
That is what I feel myself doing... especially over the last few months.
I'm sharing my message with you and not caring what anyone thinks... just knowing that my realness is going to open doors like never before and going to connect my life with yours. I love that... and I love what being real has done for me!

(Thank you Kris & John for the letter - I love that you read & connect & are touched by the experiences in our life. I look forward to meeting you this summer! Know that you are treasured!)

After spending the weekend connecting with wonderful women, listening for His still, small voice to come alive in my heart, laughing, singing, smiling, crying, eating A LOT (Love, love, love Cold Stone Creamery & Rocky Mt. Chocolate Factory), and watching others around me recognize their passions... I came home exhausted. I was hoping to feel renewed & refreshed inside & out... but I guess it was just the inside that got the jump-start...I'm still tired on the outside, but "The Lord Is My Strenghth!" and my Monday is about over.

My quest...

Well... I'm being real (that's a good start), I'm saying no to "good" things to make more time for myself, my family, my friends, and my passions (still need to work on this some), and I'm striving to be available. Available & ready to be used by God wherever this journey called life takes me.

My hope...

That those around me would see something different in me and want what I have... the love & peace & joy that only God can bring.... and that by being available, my passion for people & my passion for sharing my writing will come alive!

My advice... (take it or leave it)

Figure out what your message is and shout it out for all to hear. Let the world see you as the "real" person you are... don't be scared, don't think you have nothing to offer, don't wait until you think you're ready... just do it... and do it with all your might! Give what you have... and you will be blessed. Blessings come through choosing to STAND in the midst of STRUGGLE!

Oh... and how can I forget... Thank you mom & dad for taking care of my boys!! I love you both so much and am blessed beyond measure with your love & understanding! You've helped shape me into the woman I am today & for that I'm truly grateful!! Love you ~

Leaving On A Jet Plane

... don't know when I'll be back again!

well... maybe not a jet plane... but I'm leaving for the weekend... and I'll be back on Sunday.
Looking forward to a fun weekend with some of my favorite women in a GREAT town!

... and we're staying at this great place!


Mason & Ian are in good hands with my parents and my house will be clean when I come home... doesn't get much better than that!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

The Cow Incident... the Story Continues

Took Mason back to the Dr. today. His arm has been bruised pretty badly and really doesn't seem to be looking a whole lot better. He doesn't like us to touch it... so 3 weeks later... we're still dealing with the "stupid heifer" incident.

Good News - just got a call from the Dr. and everything looks ok... just badly bruised and the hard "pockets" are normal and are caused from deep bruising. Praise God that nothing broke when that dumb heifer stepped on his arm. Anyway... we have to continue to watch the bruising and if in 2 weeks it looks like he's still not liking anyone to touch it and the bruising is still there, then we'll take him back in for another x-ray and an additional x-ray of the other arm so they can compare the good arm with the bad arm.

Bad News - Mason is scared of the Dr.'s office, the hospital, the nurses... pretty much everything to do with the place. I'm hoping that he was just in a funk... but it wasn't fun and I'm not looking forward to our next visit. Thank goodness Mom & Dad were with me. Mom had to go in and help the x-ray tech hold him down... I couldn't because of being pregnant... anyway... it took forever and he "screamed" pretty much the whole time. He did walk out with a cute little bear named Benny and was back to his normal, crazy self in a matter of seconds.

It's just good to know that we are keeping the local hospital and its staff in business!

On a lighter note... Ian got an early birthday present last night... an Ice Cream Ball... so fun and only takes about 15-20 minutes to make delicious ice cream.
Here is a video - terrible quality - but a good way to see that yes... Mason is as active as ever... with both arms!

Note: the video was taken with my camera with poor lighting... and that wonderful Ice Cream Ball hits my knee at the very end... I think I should have been the one to have an x-ray... my knee is killing me!



High: Ice Cream Ball works, Mason is on the mend, Dr. Earl is awesome!
Low: Ice Cream Ball kills toes and knees!