Wednesday, July 16, 2008  -  HE SAID:   Not too much to report today.  I started the day by making blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  We spent a quiet day at the farm.  It rained on and off all day so no working in the hay field today.  The mosquitoes love the rain.  Marce made a terrific spaghetti dinner and we watched the movie "The Long Way Around", one of my favorites about two guys who ride motorcycles around the world.  It's a long movie and I didn't get to bed till around 11:30.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008  -  SHE SAID: As Don said above, it was a nice, quiet day, which allowed for lots more talking with Dar. These talks always lead to looking at how important God is in our lives and just how important it is to trust Him with anything and everything going on in your life, especially stresses and concerns. IF I didn't believe that, life sure would be overwhelming.

We got the news today that Jimmy, our son in South Carolina, will be heading to Afghanistan on August 2nd, to work there for a year. I know the money is good, but my protective mom genes kick in and I get nervous when anyone in our family even flies, let alone fly off to Afghanistan. But, Dar reminded me, we will just make sure he is covered by a blanket of protective prayer and he will be safe. But, we sure will miss him.

I also am still working on trying to be brave about having Zenia, Sabryn & Jaegur, living 3,000 miles from us--but my heart sure is excited about knowing we will be seeing them in a few weeks, as well as seeing our little Aerin, down in South Carolina. But, Jimmy will already be gone, so that will be strange not to hear him talking computers, motorcycles, and cars or seeing Aerin snuggled up in his lap.

I am also really looking forward to seeing my sweet, dear sister, Cheri & her sweet, little husband, John & all our wonderful family down in Illinois--so having that to look forward to, helps ease the pain that comes along with having to say good bye to the folks here in Minnesota.

And, I have to say, that Doug & Dar are among the best hosts around. They treat you with lots of love and let you pitch in and help--whether it's out in the field baling hay or in the kitchen cooking a meal or doing dishes...or...hey, wait a minute...we're working in the fields, cooking, and doing dishes….and loving every minute of it.