Playhouse

I love storms - as long as they aren't tornadic! Tornadoes make me nervous.

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While watching the approaching storm, I got a call from a friend from church wanting to know about the playhouse we made under the stairs that I had posted about earlier. I have been wanting to write again about it since we now have the outside of the playhouse done. Infact, it is almost all done now.

So, welcome to 624B (B for basement). 624 is our house number.

As you can see, our basement is still a work in progress. Floor isn't in, nor baseboards or trim. But the playhouse was priority for the grandkids to play in so that has come first.

I love the roof shingles! Compliments of Dave and Marilyn. I was looking for these and just couldn't find them. I knew they had this on the outside of their house and they had some extra. Thanks so much, Reimers!!

Come on inside!

Hannah helped me paint the fireplace.

People have asked me about the sofa - it is from Hobby Lobby. With their wonderful 40% off coupons that you can either get in the Sunday paper or print off on-line, it helps the price!

The chenile rug was mine when I was a little girl.

The doll sitting on the sofa is now dressed like a girl, but when our son Josh (who is grown now) was learning to potty train, I found this doll at a garage sale. I used it to show Josh how to go to the bathroom. The doll has a little hole in its' bottom so it would "pee" while sitting on the potty chair (after I gave it some water) I used the book "Potty Training in Less Than a Day" which really did work. I used it on both my nephew Brandon and on Josh. The poop part didn't so much work, however. And it didn't work on my girls. This doll's name back in the day was Adam.

I found this kitchen set at a craft fair back when the kids were in elementary and junior high. I just knew it was a bargain and was worth buying "for someday for the grandkids". My family laughed at me back then, but now I think they realize I was being wise and thinking ahead.

The doll on the right is Keiko-chan. Back when we lived in Wichita and the kids were little, this doll belonged to my best friend, Kiyoko-san's daughter, Keiko-chan. When they returned to Japan, they gave us the doll. We named her after Keiko.

The doll in the middle I purchased in McPherson on one of the outings my Biblestudy goes on annually at the end of the year. I saw her and just gasped because I thought she freakishly looked so similar to Hannah! Not that Hannah looks freakish. Just that a doll that looks so much like someone is a little freaky. Only Hannah's eyes are blue and Zoe's eyes are brown.

As you round the corner, there is a spot for doll clothes and an ironing board. We have cut out this little window. That's the one thing not finished yet. Al will trim it out and I will sew curtains for it. The kids enjoy looking out to the family room.


Here is looking into the playhouse from the family room.

And here is the dollys' bedroom.

Looking out from the diningroom.

I hope you enjoyed the visit!
Please come sometime for tea!

Citizenship

Today was a special day for around 168 people who became United States citizens. They came from 37 countries; like Mexico (I would say probably 2/3 of the people were from there), Vietnam, Palestine, Nigeria, Taiwan, Lebanon, Kenya, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Ethiopia, China, Cypress, Canada, Iraq.....the list went on. There were 8 people who did not show up. I wonder why?

Around 50 of us went in support of our friend, to watch her go through the process of becoming a US citizen. We shall call her "Kelsey" for her safety.


Those who were going to become citizens had to sign in first. Then they sat in numbered seats.

This man read off each name and what country they were from. There were speeches. We were told that some people had waited 20 years for this day. Others 3 years. Some fleeing oppression. Others looking for opportunities. They were told that in our country, we do not have a caste system. The president's vote is just as important as a person who has just become a citizen. They even had a place for all of them to register to vote before they left the building! I'm sure for those from restricted countries this was really exciting!

Do you see the guitar? A gentleman sang "God Bless America" and at the end he invited the crowd to join in.

As these new citizens-to-be took their oath, there were guards making sure they were saying it. The speaker told them that in his many years of work, there have been two people they removed and would not grant citizenship because they would not say the oath out loud.

We said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang The Star Spangled Banner. Then we all clapped for everyone to congratulate them on their new citizenship! America is not a perfect country, but the fact that we can vote is a pretty good thing. (Although I can't stand the advertizements on tv right now and can't wait until after the primary elections! Those commercials make me gag!)

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This evening, there was a party at church for "Kelsey".

Isn't that an incredible cake?? Such creative desserts too.

Little Miss Katy made this patriotic pinwheel in sparkly water in a jar for her. Katy was so excited to give this to her. She jumped up and down and twirled around!

Some of her friends from Omaha who came had made her a quilt that told her life story.

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Twenty-four years ago, we went through a similar process with our daughter. She was 2 years old. I still remember the judge telling the people that in America he could not guarantee them happiness, wealth or riches, but he could guarantee them freedom.

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A lot of these people today went through a lot to become citizens, some risking their lives. When they came to this country, they had to carry a green card to show that they had permission to live here. I carried one in my billfold for Mindy for those 2 years until she was granted citizenship.

I decided to make myself a different kind of Green Card that I carry around with me.

One of the speakers, a lawyer, was telling the audience about any children they have that are under 18 years of age or future children. They are given citizenship based on their parents' citizenship. People who are born in this country are automatically citizens. As I think about Christianity, some people think that just because they are born into a family where the parents claim to be Christian, that they automatically are Christians too. But it doesn't work that way. As the saying goes, "God does not have grandchildren". In order to become a Christian, one must have faith. And it is more than just believing that there is a God. Even Satan believes that! One must realize their need for One to save them.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

We were also told that America does not grant dual citizenship. Other countries may, but we do not. And as Christians, we must give our allegiance to Christ, and Him alone. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
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Happy for you, fellow-American, "Kelsey"!!

35th anniversary

We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary yesterday.
On Sunday evening, my parents threw us a party.


When my parents had their 35th anniversary, my mom's church in Pandora, Ohio had a party for them. Mom kept the cake topper from that time and used it to top our cake.

The 35th wedding anniversary is the jade anniversary. Well, traditionally it would have been the coral anniversary but I guess the contemporary is jade. It is traditional to give a gift to your spouse or to couples that symbolize the particular anniversary; typically these are made of a different material for each wedding anniversary.

Here are some of our jade presents; a jade bracelet, a novel titled "The Jade Bracelet", a "jade tie".

Mom and Dad even dressed jade colors for the occasion.

The first anniversary is the paper anniversary. Here is a picture from that year!

I put on my wedding dress (wish I could still do that!!) and we got lots of paper products from the folks. I'm holding our wedding photo. Get a load of Al's pants!! And the orange plastic sofa that came with our furnished apartment at Stouffer married student housing at KU!

Mom had these sparklers to put in our desserts, but we found much more interesting things to do with them!

Yesterday was the actual date for our anniversary and we decided to go to

It was wonderful! Thanks for the suggestion, Andrea! We split a Cluck-n-Oink; rotisserie chicken and bunkhouse St. Louis ribs served with redskin mashed potatoes and sweet glazed carrots. Oh my!

The manager came over to talk with us and when he found out it was our anniversary, he gave us a complimentary dessert called Something Chocolate. Ice-cream sandwiched between brownies topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, walnuts and some kind of whipped topping that was to die for!

We couldn't finish it. Unfortunately, we couldn't doggie bag it since the ice-cream would have melted before we got home. Afterall, we had to make a stop at Home Depot! So romantic huh?? But we needed some door knobs and window shades and such for the basement that is in process.

We had such fun reminiscing about that day in 1975 - even how when we arrived at our hotel the first night we found out that they had given our room away that we had pre-picked! This bride burst into tears and the manager felt so bad he gave us the honeymoon sweet that this poor couple would never have been able to afford. (we spent an entire $275 on the honeymoon to Texas 6 Flags and back! And that included the quarters you could put in the "massage" bed at Motel 6! It was so funny we put in a few of those!!)

Love you more than the day we married! Happy 35th honey!!

splash park

Saturday evening while Jill and Adam went on a date, we took the girls to a celebration at the new city splash park. They had a petting zoo:

And pony rides:

Then the girls cooled off at the splash park.

I missed the shot where this little boy's trunks (and diaper) slipped down. It was just hilarious!

There is one of the Dewey grandchildren too!

And another Dewey grandchild. The kids were having so much fun! We had hoped you would come too, Rich and Carolyn. Too hot for you here in Kansas?

They were giving out free rootbeer floats. The girls just wanted ice-cream though. Hannah claims that pop is too spicy!



As we were leaving, the Friesen's showed up so we gave them our parking spot. They were celebrating Luke's 2nd birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. Luke!!

Adam and Jill had a fun time and so did we!!