Oak Tree Musings

Date Night!!

I went to the hair salon this morning, painfully had my eye brows waxed, hair highlighted and cut.  Tonight is date night! I cannot even remember the last time Joseph and I had an evening out to ourselves!  The kids are both going to my in-laws house to spend the night.  I'm not certain what is planned.  Simply having a nice evening out...sometimes the best things are unplanned...

In the meantime, it is hard to sit here at work and be patient.  I am watching the clock for 4:30! 

I hope all of you have a nice weekend!

Blessings to you~ Laura

My Sweethearts...

Sunday during church I started feeling ill.  I ended up with a stomach bug...it was horrible!  The kids were so sweet, trying to take care of mommy.  Abby thought it would make me feel better to make me a tuna salad sandwhich.  She was so proud of herself!  Oh my, I don't eat tuna when I'm not sick!  Joe done a wonderful job of saving me by explaining to her that I couldn't eat anything at the moment. She was happy with that and ate it herself.  When I went into the kitchen Monday morning I found the new jar of mayo out on the counter.  Even though I had to throw it away, it still made me smile thinking of Abby taking care of her mama!

Tonight I am feeling much better.  Luke and I were outside taking care of the animals and he picked me some flowers.  He was so excited when he presented them to me....I loved them so much I had to capture a picture of them.

These are the tender moments I will always treasure.

I also have to share a conversation I overheard Abby and Luke having this evening.

Abby stomps into the room, "Luke, this is the fourth time I have found your poop in the toilet!  Learn how to flush it!  I am tired of seeing it!"

Luke replies calmly, "You don't know what your seeing Abby."

Abby gave up and walked out...it was much funnier seeing it happen, then when I just typed this.  I guess it was one of those moments you have to be there...

Blessings to you~ Laura

A big Wind blows...

Living in the midwest, I have not been directly affected by hurricanes, until Ike.  Sunday morning I got up to get ready for church and watch the news to see what the weather had in store.  I figured it would be raining...but the weather man said the rain would hit north of us and our area would stay dry but could possibly see some straight lying winds or small tornadoes. 

My family & I drove to church, about 40 miles south of us, right across the river from Louisville Kentucky.  It was quite windy when we arrived.  My husband opened the car door for me and my skirt flew up in my face! 

After church let out we went to dinner with my in laws at Famous Daves.  I felt very umcomfortable, I knew the wind was racing and I am terrified of storms.  I wanted to go home so badly...our meal was nearly over when the restaurant lost power. 

Debris was flying everywhere, it was not safe to be out at all!  Traffic signs were actually bent backwards and touched the ground, some even wrapped around themselves.  The wind was howling and just had a strange feeling to it.  It looked like smog there was so much debris floating around.  The strangest thing is that the sun would even come out and shine perodically.  Absolutely no rain, just the intense wind.

My in laws only live about 15 miles from there so we attempted to make it to their home. The BIG problem was that they live in the country which means TREES everywhere.  It was normally a 15 minute drive, took us over an hour.  Everywhere we went there were trees covering the road.  Power lines were down all around us as well.  I was nearly in tears and was trying to stay calm for Abby & Luke. She was crying, I kept telling her that God was watching over us and keeping us safe.   

In the end, we ended up driving off the road into fields and under dangling power lines all the while trees  & limbs were falling all around us.  I thank God for guarding our path and wrapping his protective arms around us.  We made it to their house and immediatley prayed for all those out in the terrible storm.   We had seen people with flat tires due to the tremendous amount of debris on the road. 

We stayed till the storm passed.  Then my husband helped his dad cut tree limbs off the barn roof and off some power lines in their yard.  After it was safe we journeyed home.  I was afraid of what we would find...it was not as bad as I had feared.  We need a new roof and some sofits fixed. It destroyed the canopy on the kids playset, the flying debris broke some of my landscaping lights, and our new volleyball net was broken.  I feel we were very lucky. 

My parents live next door and their house was not touched.  The mess they had were with trees.  I have never seen such a mess in my life!  It has taken us 2 full days to clean it up.  The worst part is my father's corn crop.  It is destroyed.  The fierce winds blew it down and it is gone!  It looks like someone has taken an iron and smothered it down flat.  Please pray for him, I worry so much...he has a terrible heart condition and I know he will be worrying about the crops...

Our power just came back on last night.  Schools have been closed and remain closed tomorrow.  The news have reported that the wind gusts were between 60-80 mph!  I never thought I would see hurricane force winds in the midwest!  I have much more empathy for the hurricane victims! Also pray for the storm victims, there were 7 in my local area that lost their lives due to falling debris.  

There were no warnings about Sunday's devastation.  I am thankful for having faith and being able to lean on God to guide me through life's storms. God is good!

The ring...

Beginning in 3rd grade I was best friends with a sweet girl named Bekki.  Bekki had a younger sister named Hope and a cousin  the same age as us, Misty.  Since I was 8 years old,  I attended birthday parties and sleep overs at their home many times, but I do not remember meeting thier cousin Joseph until the summer before my senior year in high school...it was a hot July night and Bekki had just finished styling my hair.  She asked if I would like to meet her cousin Joseph.  I had a simple reply...I need to see a picture first.  Yes, I know, how rude...but it's one of those things, back in Kindergarten there was a boy who sat beside me named Joseph and he always had snot dripping out of his nose, and it simply grossed me out!  So just to hear the name Joseph, was not a good start to me!  Bekki said okay and let it drop.  Two nights later, at the county fair I ran into Misty.  She asked if I would still like to meet Joseph.  I said, sure, why not...She introduced us on the spot and I looked into the most beautiful set of sparking brown eyes I had ever seen!  Joseph was tall and slender, he wore plaid bermuda shorts and a t-shirt.  We walked around talking & eventually he held my hand...after a few hours it was time for me to head home before I missed my curfew.  Joseph walked me to my car, he gave me a hug, kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear "don't forget about me."  Needless to say, Joseph uh, I called the next day, and the next day, and the next day...

Joseph & I were married on September 10, 1994.  Misty was a bridesmaid, Bekki played the piano, and Hope kept the reception hall in order.  

So now onto the main reason I started this post...the RING!  A little over 2 years ago the engagement ring was lose so we took it and had it fixed.  Less than a week after getting it back, the diamond fell out & was lost.  Our insurance, thanks Farm Bureau, said the ring had to be stolen, not lost in order for them to pay for it!  Our son had been critically ill for several years and I had not been able to help support our income, so our finances were tight to say the least.  I started wearing my pretty, simple emerald ring that Joseph had bought me for my 18th birthday on my left ring finger since it had special meaning to me.

We talked about getting a cheap ring to make do until we could afford a nice one or have my ring fixed.  Joseph couldn't bring himself to do it, he wanted me to have a nice ring....so a little over 2 years later, some bills paid off, and today on our 14th Anniversary......he bought me a BEAUTIFUL Past, Present, Future Anniversary ring.  It is simly stunning!  I love it because it is absolutely gorgeous and sparkles nicely on my finger, but most of all I love it because it is from Joseph and it came from his heart.

We still have my wedding set that needs a replacement diamond.  The diamond is quite large and being an emerald shape, very expensive to replace. In the future we will have it repaired or the remaining baguettes placed into something else.  I am thankful for a wonderful husband and family!  I can't wait to show Bekki, Misty & Hope!

Blessings to you~ Laura

State Fair!

Roasted corn, lemon shake-ups, pork bbq, pizza, funnel cakes, cotton candy, Wisconsin cheese nuggets, Italian sausage, salt water taffy... Yesterday all four of us, plus my mil, fil, and bil journeyed to the Indiana State Fair.  Abby & Luke loved the rides, we ALL loved the food; it was a great day!  The weather was perfect, no humidity and a cool breeze blowing.  

Today we have a family reunion so I need to get busy with laundry and in the kitchen.  Everyone else is still asleep.  A mother's work is never done....

Blessings to you~ Laura