Mother’s Day Blessings ~Family Time in Okinawa ~Celebration: part one

I am blessed to have these two wonderful women in my life.

I saw this online and like this poem 

about theMother and Daughter relationship...

It is a special bond, indeed.

And we are so lucky to have two special daughters.

Every year I post a couple of my favorite photos 

of the little girls that made me a mom.

And of my own mother who 

often came to spend 

Mother’s Day Weekend with us.

Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day to you.

This year I am overjoyed to be spending

Mother’s Day with family. 

We have been celebrating all weekend, 

starting Saturday morning with a trip to the American Village.

I am enjoying my new role as Nana to this sweet little boy.

And I am so proud of the wonderful mother that 

our daughter has become.

The American Village has streets lined 

with restaurants and boutiques.

A fun way to spend a Saturday Morning.

This Nana did a little souvenir shopping 

before we had some lunch.

Amy brought us here for a bite to eat.

This was the salad she ordered.

I think it is the most beautiful salad I have ever seen!

And full of healthy ingredients, too.

Amy ordered the Rainbow Bread for Jack.

It comes with fresh fruit and a green salad.

I’d say, He likes it.

My brunch was the Avocado Eggs with roasted vegetables. 

All the plates are garnished with a flower.

We shared this tasty soup.

Everything was absolutely delicious!

We worked off all our food on the long walk along the sea wall.

Soon we were back at the American Village and our car.

It was nearly time to go home for a nap.

Happy Mother’s Day to all women who 

nurture and care for children.

More Celebration News to come...

Stay Tuned!

We are blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie

So much to be Thankful for... and a Cyber Monday Reminder...

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday...

Family...Good Food...Giving Thanks...

And now...Thanksgiving 2011 is just a memory.

A good memory, that is.

Emily prepared her first Thanksgiving Dinner for us in her apartment.

Turkey roasting in the oven...

stuffing in the slow cooker...

potatoes waiting to to peeled and cooked...

We had all our favorite side dishes...

stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy...

sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, and broccoli salad...

Carving the turkey is a position of honor and always goes to the oldest man in the household.

(that would be my hubby)

Amy traveled the farthest...

she was responsible for the beverages.

It was just our family of four, and I so enjoyed our time together.

And now we are all back in our own homes, packing away the pumpkin decor.

We are ready to face the reality of Monday morning at work,

rejuvenated after spending time with family.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Take care,

~Natalie

p.s. 

Remember... tomorrow is Cyber Monday.

 Use 'OFGthanksyou2011' 

as the coupon code 

to receive 10% off 

everything in my Etsy shop...

along with several more shops from the

Old Farmhouse Gathering team.

Scroll down to the previous post

for all the clickable links.

Thank you! 

Working Girl ~ Day 3 (and a Mommy Flash Back)

You know the saying...

"Hard Work Pays Off"

We've all heard it, we've all said it...and for Amy, it did...

Sixteen Years of Schooling = One Fabulous Job

All those late nights reading...the all-nighters to finish a project...giving up fun on the weekends and holidays to prepare for a test...

Amy is now officially a part of the Mayo Health Care System...

ID badge, pager and parking spot.

I felt lucky to be there for her first day...

Having coffee together, sharing in the excitement.

Of course, I had to take pictures...

then... I had a brief flashback to her first day of school...

New outfit...coordinating jewelry, socks and shoes...

New school bag too...

Thank you, Ms. Brosz for teaching our girls to love learning.

You've come a long way, baby!

Best wishes to you.

Take care,

~Natalie

p.s. sometimes, it's all about your bag.

choose wisely...

consider the size, color, and number of pockets...

if you find the perfect bag...the price doesn't matter...

Getting to Know You

Line, our Norwegian daughter for a year, will be here in 4 weeks. While she is busy packing, we are busy here cleaning and planning.

Here's a little more about us. Hubby was born in this community and has lived here all his life. He has worked in retail and now for state government. He is a drummer in a jazz group and also for our church praise band. He enjoys golf and brewing his own beer.
I was born and raised in North Dakota. I came here to teach in 1978...so have called this my home for over half my life. I enjoy cooking & entertaining, sewing & crafting.
Our oldest daughter is 24. She graduated from UNL with a degree in Nutrition Science and is currently going to graduate school in the Physician Assistant Program.
Our youngest daughter is 20 and a junior in college. She studies Exercise Science with the Pre-Physical Therapy option. Right now, their hobbies include reading textbooks and studying.


Blogland Awards

Because today's post is all about getting to know us, I'm thinking it is a good time to catch up & share the blog awards I have received recently (two of them just this week and two of them earlier this spring). I am posting them in a group because the award criteria is similar...to share personal and honest tidbits about yourself. Please be patient while I go back and forth to hook up the links.

The sisterhood award was passed along to me earlier this spring by Della and by Kelly Maria.

I was nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by Carol and Kim.



Just this week, the Honest Scrap Award from Ramblin Mama.

And today I have received this Lovely Blog Award from Planet Treasures.

I hope that lumping them all together does not minimize the meaning and intent of the each award. I do appreciate each one. It is a compliment to know that someone in blogland is stopping in here.

And now before this starts to sound like the Academy Awards...
Here is the personal trivia, the honest tidbits...

• I am an only child
• I grew up on a farm...and can drive the tractor
• There were 10 people in my graduating class...5 boys, 5 girls
• I was a cheerleader in High School
• I was an overachiever in college...double major, double minor
• My oldest daughter is now my sister (Kappa Delta)
• My youngest daughter and I attend (attended) the same university...but 30 years apart.
• I had a baby and a Mater's Degree at the same time (1989)
• I like to get up early and wish I could stay awake later at night
• I cannot keep a plant alive but love pretty flower gardens
• I am 100% Norwegian, but the only thing I can say is 'Thanks for the meal'
• I may have inherited the 'too pretty to use' syndrome from my mom...but I'm working on that
• I drive an old car...but it's paid for
• I'm hoping to be retired in 5 years...or less
• I love to read other people's blogs..

So...now I must pass these along...this is the hardest part...because some of you like to get thse awards...and some of you don't...and I don't really think there is any in-between...

Twenty-Eight Years in Review

1981 to 2009...Together, we have supported each other and shared a wonderful life that has included:
Daughers~both away at college in Physicians Assistant & Physical Therapy studies
Homes~three houses, & an apartment
Career Jobs~Men's Clothing Retail, Insurance Sales, DOL Program Rep, FACS teacher
Pets~1 dog Sparky, 4 cats Sambo, Patsy, Callie & Lucy, 2 birds Chipper & Skyler
Vehicles~Cutlass, Cavalier, Bronco, Blazer, Taurus, Explorer, Tahoe, Yukon, & Trail Blazer
Supplemental Income Jobs~ Playing in a band, Teaching drum lessons, Working at NW Fabrics, Teaching Summer School, Writing curriculum for the State, Designing & Sewing costumes for Children's Theatre, Working at Midstates, Online Sales & Directing the Praise Band
Family Activities~Fishing, Sewing, Hunting, Cooking, Swimming, Dance, Church Groups, Golf, Cross Country, Track, SAAD, Peer Ministry, Teen Court, Girls BB, National Honor Society, Crafting,& Beer Brewing.

In addition~trips to the hospital...Natalie for overnight stays, hubby to emergency room (softball injuries!)

~a master's degree

~numerous home improvement projects

Last night we celebrated with Grandma and Emily. We had a delicious meal at Bully's Chop House...and this Grand Finale...Death by Chocolate.

Then...and Now...

My Personal Development Class…on Thursday, we were discussing High School…and the students asked me if I drank in High School…when I said ‘no’, one Senior boy was quick to say, ‘Liar”…one of my Freshmen girls wondered if I regretted it…cause she said that I didn’t have any fun…I’ve spent a lot of time since…thinking about how my high school experience was so different, just 35 years ago…
COMMUNICATION
Then…we had only one phone in the house, and it was a party line. That means, all the farms south of town shared the same telephone line. Each family had a different ring pattern. Ours was two longs. The neighbors had two shorts and a long, etc. And if you wanted to call someone, you had to pick up the receiver and listen to see if someone else was talking…and you only called someone when it was quite important.

Now…I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t have a phone on them at all times…I wouldn’t buy a purse anymore that doesn’t have a cell phone pouch! Well, High School kids are connected 24/7. “Whaz Up?”... "Whatcha doin?"... “Where you at?”... “Who’s there?”... They can all be together in a snap!


TRANSPORTATION
Then…I rode the school bus through my Junior year of High School; during my senior year, my parents got a new car and I got to drive the old car into town…to go to my activities and events.
Now…a lot of HS kids have their own car…if their parents don’t buy them one, they get a job and buy it for themselves.

SPENDING MONEY
Then…My parents gave me money when I needed it for something specific. I worked on the farm, driving the tractor, hauling grain, making meals, mowing the yard, cleaning the house…no set salary or wage…just part of being a family.
Now…Teenagers are a big part of the work force…fast food restaurants…retail stores…day care centers…fitness centers…nursing homes…they earn their own money and have it to spend on anything they need or want!

I'm not saying it was better...or worse... it's just different. Today, most teenagers are still growing up with solid family values and a strong work ethic. I love teaching High School age students!

"Find a job you like, and you won't have to work a day in your life!"