Big Day

I am sitting in the van on an overcast, drizzly wet morning an hour from home.  Ethan is in Bloomington, MN teaching immigrant church pastors the Gospel of Mark.  Peter John is test riding a Kawasaki moto in hopes of owning his first motorcycle. The younger girls are home doing their chores (hopefully). We dropped off my oldest daughter at a barn north of Z-town. She has been taking her leased horse, Amber, to a Perelli horse clinic in Milaca this weekend with her riding instructor.  This day is especially important because it is Gretchen’s 18th birthday!

My daughter becomes an official adult today.  I trust God has a uniquely designed plan for this special young lady.

The Results!!!

Category: Derelict Footwear

Forty-five minutes to grab as many pictures as possible of the items on our scavenger hunt list. Two teams.  Two phones.  Off we went to discover as much as we could at the Sherburne County Fair.

Category: Mommy or A's ribbon winning item

Category: Most Unique Lego Project

Category: Sitting at the Sherburne Fair History Building

Category: Someone you know.  We know these sheep. They are owned by good friends from church.  Great job on the Purple ribbons!

Category: A fish

Category: Mommy or A's ribbon winning item

Category: Milkshake booth

Category: Something carved from a chainsaw....that's 'You-know-who' on the log!

TWO categories!: A wrecked car, A classic car

Category: Favorite 4-H project

Category: Weirdest Artwork

Category: A person with a four-legged animal

THE RESULTS:

A and Mommy worked together looking for the items on our list.  We were doing pretty good for a while until we came to the Open Class building.  Since we both entered items into the exhibit, we got severely side-tracked looking for all our items to see if they had prize ribbons on them.  We were pleased to see several winning ribbons on our items.  L, my lovely blondie, was off on her own finding the items.  She worked so hard and did not slow down.  I am happy to report that L, my lovely blondie, WON the photo scavenger hunt hands down.

Fair Time!

Today we plan to check out the Sherburne County Fair.  We will see if A or Mommy won any ribbons for our open class entries.  For our Summer Vacation Grab Bag the girls drew a Photo Scavenger Hunt out of the bag.  So, we will combine the Fair and a Scavenger Hunt into ONE! 
Here's THE LIST:

Photo Scavenger Hunt at the Sherburne County Fair

>Milkshake Booth

>A person with a four-legged animal

>Petting an animal at the petting barn

>Someone you know

>Derelict footwear

>Mom or Amy’s ribbon winning item

>Purple ribbon winning item

>A homemade item in a jar

>Weirdest artwork in the art display

>Favorite 4-H project

>In front of a food vendor advertising something crazy or different

>Something carved by a chain saw

>An alpaca

>Largest tractor

>A classic car

>A military veteran 

>Most unique lego project

>A wrecked car

>A fish

>Yourself sitting at the history of the Sherburne County Fair building

>A miniature

Wish us luck!!!

Summer Vacation Staycation by A & Mommy

Well, since PJ, G, and L are off in the wild blue yonder, we decided to make a SUMMER VACATION GRAB BAG.  Every night we will draw a slip from the bag that tells an activity that we can do.  Today's activity was "Write a blog post on the blog," so here we are.  

When Mommy asked me what we should write about, I said, "Camp!"  I am going to camp this Sunday.  I am so excited, and it is SOOOO hard to be patient.  When we asked Daddy, he said, "We should write about which type of motorcycle is the best."  We just laughed.  Mom wanted to write about our county fair entries and how she has been spending hours online trying to find good curriculums for her third and fourth grade class this fall.  We decided to write about our summer staycation.  

Today, Mommy and I picked beans from the garden and talked about if Mom should use her hardly-grown beets or hardly-grown carrots for the county fair division, "Smallest Vegetable in Show."

 Mom's also going to enter some of her AMAZING strawberry-rhubarb jam and her sauerkraut (I personally think sauerkraut is gross).

I made a doll crazy quilt for the county fair.  Umm...I made a lot of other entries, BUT, I decided not to take a picture of them.

Mom and I made cinnamon-raisin-oatmeal bread today. It's STUPENDOUS!  In the first picture, I was saying through my teeth, "This bread is getting really hot on my hands!"  Then I started to cut with an electric knife that I personally think sounds like a chainsaw!

That's all for now! -the Youngest Child and her mom

What Makes You Happy?

The bright sun rays broke in through the windows of the sunroom and onto our feet.  Several ladies sat in Mrs. Anderson's home sharing God's word and a lovely tea party together.  When asked the question: What gives you joy? several seasoned women answered, "children" or "babies."  These answers never left me as I pondered this time together in that sunroom years ago.  My children were still babes, all under ten years old.  Though they did truly fill me with joy, I couldn't recognize that at the time because my emotions centered more on exasperated, down, and can't-wait-till-they-grow-up-so-I-can-get-some-sleep feelings.  Women who have lived a long time see this joy more clearly.


The question on the YMCA whiteboard this week asked "What makes you the most happy? What makes you smile?"  Very quickly my thoughts focused on this simple answer:
My children.  They make me laugh, make me cry out to God for help, make me wonder how I will answer their profound thoughts, make me smile with pride, make me experience life at a greater level, make me truly enjoy pre-teens and teenagers, make me panic sometimes, make me cry, make me want to tear out my hair, make me dance, make me so thankful.  I love Gretchen, Peter John, Lizzy, and Amy.  My amazing children.

{Easter Sunday Best}

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 
Psalm 127:3

photo courtesy of G

photo courtesy of PJ

 

G and Horton, photo courtesy of PJ

Easter Sunday 2018

photo courtesy of PJ

photo courtesy of PJ

photo courtesy of PJ

Gotta get the CRAZY one in!

Wait, Where in the World is Ethan?

On this cold November day, Ethan is comfortably situated in northeast Tanzania near Kenya. After four days of travel, I should hope so! Taking one day longer than planned, the team arrived safely, and are, Lord willing, setting out to do their jobs in this underserved area. They will be teaching in a college and hope to encourage the Church by training her leaders.

Meanwhile, my son is working on his driver's education class, parent-teacher conferences all went well, and I am recovering from laryngitis. We have begun winter here in central Minnesota, but the red oak leaves and green linden leaves are still clinging to the trees. 

My youngest two daughters play violin in an orchestra in Princeton, MN.  We are so blessed to have a wonderful string teacher who hails from Chicagoland and taught in Germany. My oldest daughter keeps laboring over her junior year classes, including two college-level classes.  Such a hard worker. 

I would like to say with Martin Luther: My conscience is captive to the Word of God.  The words of God are more precious than gold or silver, and sweeter than honey (from Psalm 119).  It really is the constant thing in my life, though I waiver emotionally and in my faith in Christ.  I know God will ever be faithful to His words and that He can be trusted. 

Happy Birthday to this big guy on Friday.

Lots of love, Elysia

Hymn of the Week: The King of Love

Sometimes the only way to move my children from wakefulness to sleeping is singing hymns and Scripture songs.  I sang for about 30 minutes last night while folding laundry.  The girls stopped talking and arguing in bed while the older kids just did their thing.  It was peaceful and worshipful.  I thank God for the years I sang in the Concordia Choir, the years of worshipping in church, and the hundreds of songs, hymns, and spiritual songs that have been infused into my soul.  Here is one of them inspired by Psalm 23.

The King of Love My Shepherd Is
By: Henry W. Baker

The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul he leadeth
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me

And on his shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me,
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spredst a table in my sight;
Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh, what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house forever.

Newletter Time!

Ethan is leaving this afternoon on a long airplane ride to Northern Romania.  He will begin a three year relationship with the pastors in that region teaching them and training them in Bible, theology and preaching.  As I am sitting down to write a newsletter, I realized there are several friends, relatives, and acquaintances who may not receive our email prayer requests.  We send these out every time Ethan travels and periodically throughout the year.

I invite you to sign up today with your most current email address  Please click this link and complete the simple form to sign up for our prayer newsletters.  Thank you!

Romania Monastery Building, 2015

Norwegian Fruit Soup Recipe (Sut Suppe)

Becoming a working mom has been an adjustment in my life.  Since September, I have been teaching Title I Math and Reading, teaching a 3-4th grade Social Studies Class, and am now working on my artwork for sale.  This leaves much less time for the homemaking treats I enjoyed working on in my spare time.  Today Amy and I have the day off from school for Christmas Vacation!  After our shopping we decided to bake some more goodies for Christmas.  Amy mixed up a delicious Scandinavian Almond Cake recipe, and my project included boiling potatoes for lefse and mixing up some Christmas Sut Suppe (my husband's favorite Christmas treat).  I am recording the recipe for your enjoyment and for posterity's sake.

Cutting up Prunes for Sut Suppe recipe

Sut Suppe / Frukt Suppe Recipe
Dictated in the exact words of my father-in-law, Luther

1-2 lb. prunes
1 lb. raisins
dried fruit (apricots, apples, pears)
1.3 c. tapioca
red hots, opt.
red food coloring, opt.
cinnamon
nutmeg

"Cut dried fruit into smaller pieces and soak in water for a while before adding to the other stuff.  To the dried fruit mexture, add water enough to cover the fruit. Gradually heat so it comes to a boil (watch so it doesn't burn).  When it gets toward the boiling point add ⅓ cup tapioca.  This serves as a thickening agent.  Let it cook slowly for a while - perhaps 15 minutes.  Add some cinnamon and nutmeg to suit your taste.  If you have cinnamon candies, they can be used (provide red color and flavor).  Add red food coloring if you wish to give it a nicer color.  Keep stirring quite regularly as the tapioca will settle to bottom and burn if not watched.  The put in jars like for canning or otherwise store in fridge and enjoy!  A blob of true whipped cream on top is very becoming to this delectable dish that surely was developed in the kitchen of King Harold the Holy."

Clay

Clay

by Elysia Larson

A poem for Ethan Larson on the occasion of his 49th birthday

Big Springs, Island Park, Idaho

Loving God, You formed this man,
     Chosen, steadfast heart;
Created through You, for You,
     A life set apart.

We don't go looking for God
     You came down to us;
Complete in Him, Head of all,
     Making Christ our trust.

Gripped on the mountain alone,
     Lewis book in hand,
Your glory, truth, purpose first,
     Creator 'fore land.

"Two things, my son, last in life:
     Word of God and man,"
His mother spoke.  O what joy!
     A clear purpose, plan.

Steadfast heart, redeemed, chosen,
     Appointed to bear,
Holy fruit that will remain.
     Help him persevere.

O Lord, You are our Father;
     You made him Your clay.
You are the Potter, forming
     This man till that Day.

Glory, Savior comes again
     Speaking to His clay,
"Well done, my good, steadfast heart.
     Enter into joy."

-Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Love to Ethan,

Elysia

Representing God

When God created men in His own image, he fashioned them to reflect the Father heart of God.  I do not understand this, but I trust that one day we will bow our knees to God and see God as He truly is. As we celebrate fathers today, we can truly honor them as Scripture tells us because in honoring our fathers, we are honoring God Himself, the Father of all.

Bible Verses which teach about God as Father:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named... Ephesians 4:14-15

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:6-15

My father is a representative of God in my family on earth.  I praise God for giving me a believing father and mother.  Without God's grace in their lives giving them faith in Jesus, I probably would have never known true freedom and peace.  I honor my dad today. Dad is a truly creative man who has endured a lot of adversity in his life.  He never gave up on our family.  He always worked hard to provide, and he despite his failures and sins, always runs to God's grace and mercy.  I will never forget dad coming to me (as a junior high teenager, mind you) and apologizing for losing his temper with me.  What dad does that?  Very few.  Happy Father's Day.

Dad had four daughters and later adopted another daughter.

Dad grew up an only child in Montana and Wyoming. His own godly father passed away at age 27 from cancer.

Dad was always reading books, newspapers, and periodicals. You should see his pile of books next to his chair and bed!

Dad is a father to the fatherless. He adopted one child, but had many foster children beginning when mom and dad were newly married.  He has also been appointed a guardian to other young people without fathers.

Dad loves his grandchildren.  Do you see the resemblance?