Lucy and the mule deer

Check out the mule deer.  Lucy loved it.  She wanted to get a little too close.

Snowy Colorado

"The Assassination of Lincoln" by the Gammons Players

This is the kind of stuff you do when you're educated at home.  The boys were studying Lincoln's assassination.  Amanda sent me these photos of the kids' subsequent production.  I especially love the performance of the actress portraying Mary Todd Lincoln.

A great weekend camping

Aside from the heater running out of propane at 1:30 in the morning and my having to drive to get a new tank, we had an amazing weekend.  What could be better than fall camping with friends in beautiful southern Minnesota?  Thanks to Teresa for the photos.

Tender Hearts

There have been tender hearts lately at our house.  The tender hearts are mostly in the men of our home.  When Ben had his birthday, I took him out for breakfast and when I was telling him all of the things that I loved about him and my hopes for who he would become, out came his tender heart.  Red eyes.  Little tears.

His tender heart came out later when we gave him his gifts.  He loved the little camera we gave him.  He said to me, "Dad, thanks for my camera.  It was my best gift."  Then red eyes, little tears, "Actually, my best gift . . . was you."  I hugged him hard, real hard.

Matthew's tender heart comes out all the time lately: when we were at breakfast together, when he told Gigi thank you for his 6 trip, when I thanked God for him at the dinner table, and many other times.

Caleb's heart is different.  His tender heart is out more when he's happy.  It looks like kissing me, telling me he loves me, and sitting close on the couch.  He longs for control, so it usually doesn't get too far down the tears road.

I just read Molly Piper's post about still missing her dead daughter Felicity four years after she was stillborn.  Tears welled.  I am glad when my tender heart peaks out.  It helps me know I'm still struggling.  When my heart becomes hard and there's no emotion, I know I need to get back in the fight for my soul.  I pray that each of my kid's heart remains tender.  It is a tilled soil that is ready for the gospel of Christ.  God promises to remove our hearts of stone and give us a heart of flesh.  A friend used to ask "When was the last time you cried?"  He used it as a measuring stick for how we were living.  I know tears come easier for some of us than others.  My grandma used to cry over Hallmark commercials.  I'm not sure I ever remember my dad crying.  More than the tears, I hope for the tender heart.  There are things in our world that should hurt us and things that should overcome us with gratitude.  I'm thankful for both and the tender heart that responds to each.

Matt's 6 Trip

My mom has made a special tradition of taking each of her grandkids on a special trip when they turn 6-years-old.  For Matt's 6 Trip, they went to the local water park hotel and then to the Vikings game.  They had a great time and memories were made . . . even if the Vikings lost. 

A Celebration!

Last night we celebrated Mom's birthday with an amazing dinner out at the Corner Table restaurant in Minneapolis.  It is a small room in a very simple neighborhood, but the food and service were exceptional.  We arrived and Dan our server seated us a table right near the window.  We looked at the very small one page menu and decided to do a tasting menu.  This is where you leave the food up to the whims of the chef.  Each course was delicious, paired wonderfully with a wine taste as well.  We don't get to do fun things like this very often so it was a great treat.  Mom, thanks for getting older and giving us this chance to treat you.  Shube, thanks for coming along.  D&J, thanks for watching the kids.

If you're looking for a place for fresh, local food in Minneapolis, definitely give the Corner Table a try.  Here's a pic of our main course, lamb ragu.  MMMmmmmm.