In Which I Ride a Ferris Wheel

This past few days I have been on many adventures. Most of them go no further than kitchen and involve lots of dirty dishes. Why is this not surprising? The other day I had particularly grand adventure on top of a Ferris wheel, located of all places, in a sports store.

I was eagerly anticipating the theme park ride and eagerly volunteered to ride two full rounds with my cousin Steve. What I did not realize was just how high the Ferris wheel went. Suddenly, and I mean very suddenly I found myself perched all of three stories in the air. I might also mention the ride was stopped at a complete halt. Lest I make this seem more dramatic than it was...we were only stopped to unload and reload riders. Heights were not really something I was ever fond of, so it felt like we were sitting 30 stories high for a exuberantly long time.

Focus, I needed something to steal my attention away from smashing into a million pieces on top of NE Corn Husker shirts. My gaze fell upon the sign just ahead me; which read "Danger do not Rock Seat". After that a slightest shift of our seat sent my heart into a turmoil.

Suddenly I noticed my feet were very wet from sweat. I know there is a better way to describe bodily fluids, but I can't spell it. But I digress. Dripping were my hands and Steve's hand wasn't exactly dry either because I was holding it very tight. Yes the one good thing about the ride, well I suppose one of the good things, was that I could hold cousin Steve's hand very tight and He didn't mind a bit.

Things surely couldn't get any worse, but they did. Suddenly I began to feel a bit faint. I knew this was a problem, because well fainting on a Ferris wheel while hovering 3 stories in the air is probably not a good idea. Fainting is best done when there is somebody tall and strong nearby to catch you. Preferably person whom your parents and brothers happen to also like. Ahem.

So I decided to not faint. Instead I sat back and enjoyed the remainder of the ride, but I didn't once let go of Steve's hand. Though it might have slipped out a time or two due to all the wetness.

I found the next stop of the evening more to my enjoyment. Though anything with chocolate and ice cream always wins with me. I'm sure I'll ride a Ferris wheel again, but I won't do it without somebody to hold my hand.

Oh Take Me Out...

...to the ball game!

I feel very smug right now because I just got back from a Omaha Royal's baseball game. Why is this fact something to boast in? Before I tell you let me make sure my brothers are listening. Ready? I viewed the game from just a few rows back from home plate. Even my non sport lover self appreciated this great honor greatly. Yes all of the pictures were taken right from my seat.



I've decided I like baseball games. For no more reason than smelling hotdogs and funnel cakes and listening to crazy fans yell their heads off. Sometimes though a game can be embarrassing when you ahem clap at the wrong time.
By the way I don't know who won...because we left before the game was over, so we could go home and have ice cream; which was not fried in grease of any kind.

Summer just isn't too bad at times.

Goodbye Little One's

College is very nice, but little nieces are too small to go, so little girls kiss me goodbye. Children wrap their little arms around me for a hug. Than I leave and I cry, because I love my nieces and nephews, but I would rather hurt for missing them, than to have never have known them at all.

Never Forget to Pray

Photo by Erin Dietrich1

Tomorrow we will celebrate our freedom to live freely in a land we love. A privilege from the Lord. Mother's, wives, little children, will be acutely aware of the price this freedom takes as they celebrate alone . Separated by a war necessary because of a sinful world. Perhaps this post is more appropriate for Memorial day, but the significance is the same.

The other night I ran across these photos*. Pictures (second set) of soldiers returning home from war to their eagerly awaiting families. The emotion in them is very raw. Photographs filled with joy of a painful journey over, others show the awful side of war. The families that never welcomed their loved one home with waving flags. Instead they welcomed a flag draped coffin.

Acutely I was reminded how much these families as well as our soldiers need desperate prayer. Today thank the Lord for the freedom He has given, then bring the warriors who fight at home and on the battle front to the feet of Jesus.

*I don't endorse the content found elsewhere on the website or the choice of dress in some of the pictures.

I've been Convicted...

By these few words...

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” -Henry Winkler

Perhaps my time would well be better spent praying for my friends rather than dreaming up fantasy problems for them.

She Loves Him

Twenty years ago something very special happened in our family. My oldest sister married her beloved during a beautiful wedding ceremony, and I don't remember a thing.

I don't remember the storm with hurricane wind speeds that knocked the power out for days just weeks before the wedding. Thus saving the mother of the bride from having to cook. Allowing her time for other important things. I don't remember the frenzy of wheat harvest as the father of the bride and any early arriving guests on hand worked hard to bring in the grain. I don't remember my sister spending hours sewing yards of satin and bits of lace into her wedding gown. I don't remember the ring bearer who was framed as the culprit for holding up the couple's departure. I don't remember the food, the flowers, decorations, or even the many well wishers who packed the church. I probably don't remember the spoken vows because I was asleep nestled in my mothers arms. I'm quite certain from the reports and the photographic proof it was lovely day.

What I see now is the beauty of the love which has continued to blossom since my sister's wedding day. A wedding ceremony is beautiful, but only if there is a couple to celebrate its remembrance each year. Sadly a day that once held beauty now is a painful memory for many couples, because of the cruel plight of divorce .

Not my sister, she still holds that bridal glow I'm certain that made her stunning that June evening. This is not what I remember, but the love I see in her, reflected upon the face of her husband. I will see it tomorrow, next year, for as long as the Lord will allow I know I will see it.

There is just something...

very nice about siblings...








...even when they are bigger than you, because than they are wiser than you.