Grandma Tuna sent lovely Halloween crafts for the girls to do. Thanks to the engineers, they took care of the project:-) We have enjoyed fantastic FALL weather. Another 60 degree day headed our way... Its weird that sunset is at 4:50pm though.

We have been doing school for almost a full month. The girls are actually really LOVING it, this year! They are getting all their sounds, teams, math facts, history and science down (at least the routine of it all). I LOVE the pace of our homeschool day. Just LOVE watching them "get" things. Have really enjoyed being with them all day!

A turned 5, finally. According to her anyway. So many highlights of this birthday...but the pillow pet definitely was at the top!

L lost her 6th tooth and is getting to be a pro at me yanking them out:-)

Am in awe of the LORD today. I have just seen HIM personally move/work in so many hearts this past month. I hope that you cling to HIM today!

Love ya,
A

Long time ago...

S,D and boys came to town over her birthday, so of course we partied. Then the boys stayed for a few days.

Customize a photo album

These are a couple reasons WHY I am busting my butt, literally, to get a little healthier. I just LOVE me some yummy, greasy, food. My honey can grill/smoke almost anything...even fruit and I'll eat LOTZ of it.

About a month ago I found a book. If I knew how to work the technology, I'd post a pix of that book, but alas, that is not my gift.

I'll tell you that its been transforming my heart regarding my health. Start with a bible verse, eat breakfast each day (which I don't like at all) and move for 30 minutes, 5 days/week.

I've not lost 1 pound. Feel better. Face is clearer. Attitude toward the world is better. Heart is so much healthier.

Not sure why this picture makes me enjoy being a mom, but it does. Love the pure enjoyment of A. yelling...I'm DONE!!!!! Doesn't even care that she still needs me to wipe her. I don't even care that she still needs me to wipe her.

Funny how this picture/activity reminds me of how the LORD just loves taking care of the little details of our life.

Phil 4:12-13 "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength."

HE will provide each and every thing you need today...I'll remember that as I have a million things on my heart.

Please pray for A and L tomorrow...A gets her tonsils out first thing Friday morning.
love ya...

Grma Marge's Carmel Rolls

We have a great tradition on the Skurdal side. Carmel rolls. Sticky buns in some cultures:-) So, since we live far, far away from Williston and carmel rolls only show up on special occasions, I decided it was time to learn the skills.

While I don't have a step-by-step process on pictures. Here are some, of the 16 hour process of yummy goodness.

Thanks to Grandma Marge for tirelessly creating these masterpieces, for all those years, for all those people.

Summer Shots

Some of my favorite summer activities thus far. Visiting Grma Jean and picking rasberries.


Held our first ever Skurdal Fun Run in Williston ND on the 4th of July. 30+ Family members either walked or ran or strolled or rode bike for the 5k Race for the cure (we're not sure what the "cure" is for).

Swimming with friends has got to be the best summer activity on record. If you've not been to Burnsville water center, you've got to go. Pack a picnic and enjoy the fun!

Just returned from our 10 day vacation to Williston ND and Souix Falls SD. The girls loved seeing their cousins and grandparents. We ended the trip with an overnight in Apple Valley with cousins and camping out in the sun room.

I am continually blessed by the relationships in our family. Thanks to all of you who made the trip!

TX friends...

K and K visited us from Houston and we got to go to Como Zoo! My girls LOVE Como-Town, and settle for the zoo. While I think the zoo is one of the better ones I've been to. May be small, but it sure pacts a punch. Apes, giraffes, polar bears, tigers, lions. Cotton candy. What else could you want! Thanks, for meeting us there!

Oswald

Nope, not the purple octopus so many kids watch (I think he's an octopus). One of my Dad's favorite, if not the favorite, authors: Oswald Chambers. He's a really deep thinker and has spiritual insights incomparable with most.

Anyway, was reading June 16th devotional and you know my struggle with trying to live a life worthy of greatness...not just the mundane life of being a stay-at-home mom, well...

"We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways."

"Will you lay down your life for MY(Jesus') sake?"

"Its far easier to DIE than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of high calling."

Touche'

Happy Birthday!

Birthdays are an interesting day.

Can I just say, "Blessed."

If anyone one has the out-pouring
of love, encouragement and excitement,
that I got to experience yesterday.

Wow!
You are truly a blessed person.

May Jesus Christ bless all of you for taking the time to celebrate
my birthday...through phone calls, or emails, or
facebook, or gifts , or visiting,
or text messages,
or singing in a garage.

Couldn't imagine my life without you all!

I think this birthday has been the best, yet.

Thanks
to my friend, Caroline,
for her
AWESOME
sugar
cookies.

Aging and Struggle...

2 Corinthians 4:17 (The Message)

^16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

Anyone had a bad day? Tough situation? Stress? Illness? This passage absolutely inspired me this morning. Don't give up!

IT Technology

Anyway, if you check the blog to "keep up" with our life, sorry about the delay. We've experienced technological difficulties. Back to normal, hopefully, now.

We've been busy on our days "off" from the computer...

Moth catching, visiting with S (our lovely neighbor), walking Zander and learning how to wake up without anyone else...and turning on the TV to number 301.

Have you ever trained your children to NOT wake you up, if you're sleeping? Well, A. finally learned how to operate our complicated remote and turn the channel to Noggin, which is always a good choice;-) Its amazing how exciting it is to sleep in...without a little voice waking us up. Not that we mind the "little voices", you understand?!

Back to it...

Well, we are back from the wedding weekend and after napping yesterday, are in full swing. Our neighbor friend is over helping L finish her book. Almost ready for her American Girl Doll! Sunny skies today and A's appointment with the ENT doc about her tonsils/adenoids. Will keep you posted.

Wedding Weekend

J's brother got married this last weekend. What a celebration! The bride and groom were gorgeous, the decorations amazing, and the weather was better than expected. However, the show-stoppers had to be the 7 girls...actually 11 with some extended family cousins. Not a little boy among us. Just cute, pink, sweet girls. Here are a few shots of the fun...

Alone with the LORD

For awhile now J and I get up together, after we pray, he leaves for work and I head upstairs to the "new" sitting area and open my bible. With my cup of coffee, its just about the best way to start the day, in my opinion.

Part of the reason I started this blog, was to Journal some of what the LORD is placing on my heart. Do you ever think that there is something "more" for you to do? Like there is something else missing from your very full life?

I often struggle with "being content in all situations". I do not like to be uncomfortable. I like things neat and orderly and really like it to make sense (to me). Well, we all know life isn't that way.

I'm reading this devotional book called, Devotions for Homeschool Mom's, and I'm not kidding...the LORD wrote this book for me. Each day (like today and my struggle of wanting something MORE out of this life...or just to make an impact for the LORD, fearing I don't), I open this book and Philipians 4:6-7 is the passage of the day. Which says:

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good,
will come and settle you down.
It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

How can I not recognize that GOD Himself, is aware of my hearts cry/longing? How can I say, its just coincidence. HE is doing something in me, during this time of being homebound.

The author says, " I believe that when you seek the LORD'S wisdom in your time of need, He gives you just exactly what you need, whether you realize it or not."

Oops...

Was trying to find a fun template and erased all my journal entries! Oh DEAR!!!! Told you, I'm not so good with the Technology...

Here's a house in my neighborhood, that I just LOVE! I love the understated elegance of the French theme. Reminds me of my friend Traci's vision for her home...Shabby, and very Chic.

The other house is my "dream look" for my house. LOVE the green (of course), the stone work. I could do that, right?

Zoo Fun

Took the girls to the zoo and actually had a picnic there. It was crazy busy and we sat next to a teacher with her students on a field trip, for lunch. Again, just reminded how fortunate I am to be experiencing this stage of life with my girls. Although, there is a slight part of me that wishes they could have fun with their peers on field trips too. Picture of moose for my Dad:-)

Crazy downpour and I can't resist re-enacting my childhood...

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• L and I got dressed up to go to the Kenyan Children's Choir at the Ordway in St. Paul, while A got to go to get the oil changed with Daddy.
  

Day in the Life

Don't you love tonsil shots? A's tonsils have decreased, significantly in size and whiteness...PTL! She is such a trooper. Never complains, except when her fever is real high. Loves to eat popsicles for breakfast!

L has to read 2 books before any TV time, so she read to Daddy before he had a chance to get out of bed. Amazing tool, TV is.

Yard work is never ending around the "semi-forest" of our backyard! J and L removing stumps while C and I pulled WEEDS! The weeds were definitely flowers in the wrong spot!

Ended the night with a softball make up game and dinner.
We had a very relaxing, busy day.