I've got the best Mom in the whole world! :) Happy Mothers Day!!!!

Raindrops on Roses

Lately I've been learning to focus on the "rain drops on roses" in my life... And trying to learn not to dwell on the "dog bites and bee stings".
It seems like God is trying to teach me to rely on him for everything, the joy-and-peace that every girl wants, and also the friend-to-talk to that every girl needs.
I've been thinking about how the dog bites and bee stings in my life are the results of other peoples fulfilled dreams. Lisl marrying and moving to Thailand... Jenny marrying and moving to Nebraska... Charity going to Colorado. And so on. And it makes me wonder, when I go to fulfill my dreams, who all will miss me? How many people will suddenly realize that they don't have a best friend around to tell all their secrets to and go shopping with? Will my family wish I was here to sing silly songs on road trips, wish that I could have an orange car, and suddenly need cheese cake at ten o'clock at night when we are playing Settlers? What will people miss about me?
So, like I said before, I'm learning to focus on the "rain drops on roses" in my life. The seven new goldfish, NBCC, my flower garden, piano, singing with Mom and Amy, sewing projects, tea party plan's, ect. and (this is not a bright spot btw!) finishing schoolwork.
Anyways, I need to go finish folding the laundry. Have a good week! -Frank

Have you ever heard of trash can diving?

Yesterday afternoon Brad told me that we were going to Rice Lake when Dad got home.
"Oh good", I thought to my self. We headed out at 4:30 and went to Aldi and so on, finally we landed at...
Just guess.... WALMART!!!!! Amy and I trotted around doing this and that, I was looking at the sunglasses (All they have is those huge goggles that look dumb on me cuz my face is to narrow, but I got some.) And Amy came over and informed me that they had the watch she wanted, so I bought it for her.
We headed out to the truck before Mom and Dad where ready and we were happily sipping Dr. Pepper and trying on my new purple sunglasses.... When they called and said that whoever had bought that watch needed to come in, it was making the security, beeper go (We had thrown our stuff in the cart as we walked out the door).
"Oh great", I thought to myself and marched back in.
I came in the door and they where all standing around talking to a gray haired gentleman who was the security guard. "I threw my receipt in that trash can." I informed them... Sooo the gray haired gentleman and I went trash can diving! We must have looked a sight standing there laughing and inspecting crumpled receipts, but I found it! And Amy got to keep her turquoise colored watch.
Moral: Never throw away your receipts, even if you do pay in cash!
-FRANK

Its been a month, but I'm back!

We went out to NE last week to visit Jenny and Gabe, and of course Gwen! And Amy and I ended up staying ten days, FUN!
We spent the time shopping, sewing, window washing, visiting, and just generally enjoying ourselves.
The Saturday before we left Gabe and Jenny took Clark and Charlotte and Amy and I to The Arch, Its a museum over the free way. There was some pretty impressive stuff in there. Then we spent the afternoon having a picnic and looking for the sand hills.... They kept moving father away!... Well maybe it just seemed that way... At sunset we all went to a park and watched the sand hill cranes come in by the hundreds to roost by the river for the night. That is what the top picture is, I cant get this thing to put them in the right order. Grrrrr..... We headed home Monday morning, Had a very nice time coming home... Did you know that you feel much more "Alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic" After drinking... Well lest just say lots... Of Mt. Dew!?
We saw some pelicans along the way, but for some reason no one believed my claims of seeing hippo's and alligators... Wonder why? We stopped along the St. Croix river and sat and watched it for a while, it was beautiful down there! We took a beautiful rout home through some back in the boondocks farming country, It reminded me of the types of places you read about in James Harriot's books.
The day after we got home I dived back into "normal" life again, cleaning, NBCC, piano lessons, school, ect.
And speaking of school its high time I was doing some! See ya all later! -FRANK

Beautiful Weather

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous lately, yesterday Eileen and I sat in the bean straw stack at Rupert's for an hour and I actualy got a sunburn! And we ate outside last evening.
Summer is on the way folks!

It's Fine Today
Poet: By Douglas Malloch

Sure, this world is full of trouble-
I ain't said it ain't.
Yes, I've had enough and double
Reason for complaint;
Rain and storm have come to fret me,
Skies are often gray;
Thorns and brambles have beset me
On the road - but say,
Ain't it fine today?

What's the use of always weepin',
Making trouble last?
What's the use of always keepin'
Thinkin' of the past?
Each must have his tribulation -
Water with his wine;
Life, it ain't no celebration,
Trouble? - I've had mine -
But today is fine!

It's today that I am livin',
Not a month ago.
Havin'; losin'; takin'; givin';
As time wills it so.
Yesterday a cloud of sorrow
Fell across the way,
It may rain again tomorrow,
It may rain - but say,

Aint it fine today?