About The River

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The last couple hours in Mexico

The last couple hours we ate supper and played with some of the kids. The staff of the church made us a great meal. It was really good. Everything was different. From the way the food was prepared, to what they like for dessert. It was a lot fun. After the dinner we played football (soccer) .... the natives had the advantage over us American boys!


We headed home just as it was turning dark. We had a long wait in the line at customs. Our passports were checked and the van was looked at too. The American Customs agent moved some items around in the van - then we got the clear to go home. While waiting in line at customs the native people were trying to sell us beans, newspapers and flowers. As we got closer to the Border Patrol, they left us alone.
We drove in the desert on the way home and had to stop about one hour into the United States for another Border Patrol check. It was cold outside! The United States Soldiers had heaters blowing on them outside. They had big guns and checked the van. We were clear to go. But a couple other cars were stopped and people had to get out. We drove all night, back to San Diego, California. It was a windy ride home. It was very cold. During the day it was over 100 degrees. On the ride home the van's thermometer read 40 degrees! It was also windy. Big gust of wind would blow across the desert. 
We made it home at 2:00 in the morning April 8th. It was a great experience. We felt good helping others.
That is our story...A day in Mexico...April 7th, 2009.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Sam's Friends

We had a special day with Sam's friends. They played, climbed trees and laughed. Jeremy and I made a fancy dinner for them. We had pancakes, strawberries, whip cream, bacon and sausage. We got the fancy glasses out for juice and strawberry milk. We even had candle light. The kids loved it. They felt special...and that is just what I wanted. I am thankful to be involved with my son's friends. They come and talk to me and share some of the most interesting stuff. :)
call you for ice cream
call you for prayer
call you to laugh
call you to share
Thanks for always being on call!
 

Monday, March 28, 2011

LAST SKI OF THE SEASON

Our last big ski of the year. We visited Lake Wissota State Park. We loved the trails. We will be back next season. Beautifully groomed trails, a fun ski and amazing nature.

We are planing to visit Lake Wissota State Park this summer. We are always saying "So much to see and so little time" and right in our own great state.
  Last year my son did a school project regarding Wisconsin State Parks. I learned a lot! :) After the project we thought it would be fun to visit all the Wisconsin State Parks together.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Ashland, Wisconsin

We stopped at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center on our way home from Book Across the Bay. An amazing building, a five story observation tower resembling a lighthouse. We had fun looking at the exhibits and listening to the wind howl outside. The wind was so strong, the doors had to be locked because the wind opened them. I enjoyed the exhibit about trees. We hope to visit again in the summer so we can enjoy the interpretive trails.
 Basswood
White Pine
Yellow Birch
Sugar Maple
Hemlock
Balsam Fir
We have been trying to learn our trees during our summer hikes. It is a fun trivia when we are out in the woods. We also are learning bird songs. We saw three robins and heard a robin. All three robins were sitting on a Sugar Maple. :) Check out the Northern Great Lakes at the following site.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Close up of the Car

Close up of the Car. 
We think we have this car in our matchbox set!
No more close ups - Good Night! 

Close up of the Dog

This is a Mexico dog.
Atticus wanted to be sure you got a close up of the dog. 

Post by Sam and Atticus - Mexico Part 4

WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MEXICALI, MEXICO
  Walking around and looking at the different homes in Mexico. Sam would like to report "housing is different in Mexico, then in Northern Wisconsin."
Cool Car!
Our walk around the neighborhood, it made us thankful for what we have here in the United States. Mom did not get a photo of the sewage system. It was a ditch in the town. All the sewage flowed to the ditch and sat. It was amazing how quick things can change, we were only forty miles into Mexico. Wow! What a change from how we live in the United States.
Keep Posted for next week.
 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Spring Storm - March 22 - 23, 2011

We had lighting, thunder and snow last night. The thunder woke up my eight year old. He just did not think it needed to be thundering outside and snowing at the same time. He does not like thunder and lighting. After some cuddling and prayer, he went back to sleep. We woke up to big drifts in the driveway. It took awhile for us to shovel out. The fella that usually plows our driveway did not show up. The boys and I tackled the project.


I am sure this little guy is wondering if this view can be true. He lives under our neighbors deck.
 We were hot after cleaning the driveway. We needed water at first. Later, a cup of homemade hot chocolate was a treat. We try to be fancy with whip cream, chocolate syrup and shaved chocolate bar. Coffee shop style? 
 Yummy!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Fern Anderson, August 4,1926 - March 18, 2011

We have lived in our home for ten years. We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors. Fern Anderson was our neighbor across the street from us. She loved the boys and enjoyed visiting with us. November 2009 her friend that took care of her died. The boys told her they would be happy to get her mail, take out the trash and do other small jobs for her. They started in November of 2009 and got her mail, took out her trash, helped her do a few chores and visited with her. If the boys had friends over, they would take their friends over to meet Fern. She always listened and loved them. She loved me and Jeremy too. She always took great interest in what we were doing.
Focus on the Family publishes a magazine for kids called, Club House. Club House challenges the kids each summer with a different theme. The summer of 2010 was God's Great Team - it was a challenge of serving, memorizing a bible verse and why you chose to memorize that verse. You had to write an essay explaining your service. The boys got published with the essay they wrote about serving for Fern.
Sam, Atticus and Fern are up on the top of the page. A friend shared,"how great the boys have a reminder of Fern, how God used them to help her." Yes, that is true. The boys already miss Fern and so do Mom and Dad. She was a fun lady. We are thankful we got to know her.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Super Moon

I did not know anything about the Super Moon until this morning at church. Our pastor mentioned it. I wish I would have been home on my parents farm. I watch the moon every night come up over the field. It is always different. In the winter, a full moon brings cross country skiing at night. In the spring, a full moon brings sitting out on the deck listening to the frogs sing. In the summer, the full moon reaches above the growing corn field and we try to catch lighting bugs. In the fall, again the corn may still be in the field. The chill in the air and sound of falling leaves brings us to telling stories.
If you get a chance, check out some of the photos posted on line of the super moon. They are amazing.
I am going to peek tonight. I think the moon is super all the time. It is a favorite of mine.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Sam and Atticus Post - Mexico part 3

We are helping build the kitchen.
This is our Dad. He is helping build.
He made several friends.
Communication was sometimes hard. Dad had to wait for the translator to let him know what needed to be done. We studied Spanish for three months. We only knew a few words. When they talk to you, it is so fast that is hard to pick up what they are saying. But a smile goes a long way!
We got to paint the outside of the storage area. We started and soon some of the other kids in the neighborhood visited. They wanted to paint too.
Working in the heat.
Atticus did not drink enough water, he began to get sick. The heat is hard to get use to in a day...especially when you are from Northern Wisconsin and it is WINTER. Mom took me into the sanctuary of the Church. She let me lay down on her legs as a pillow. I rested for an hour and was back to work.
Next week we will take a walk around the neighborhood. 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sweet Water

The VOYAGE of the DAWN TREADER - The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Chapter 15  The Wonders of the Last Sea
"Sweet!" he cheeped. "Sweet, sweet!"
"What are you talking about?" asked Drinian crossly. "And you needn't shake yourself all over me, either."
"I tell you the water's sweet," said the Mouse. "Sweet, fresh. It isn't salt."
For a moment no one quite took in the importance of this. But then Reepicheep once more repeated the old prophecy:
"Where the waves grow sweet, Doubt not, Reepicheep, There is the utter East."
Sweet Water!
Artesian water is the best treat for us. When we traveled to Ashland, WI and Cornucopia, WI we filled up our canteens. When we go camping in the summer we fill our water coolers too. We forgot to bring the water cooler to fill this trip. Every time we go, we get excited for our Sweet Water. We love the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.We have listened to all the Chronicles of Narnia on CD, Radio Drama by Focus on the Family. Wonderful! Lucy is my favorite Pevensie. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Last Battle are my favorite of the seven. My boys always ask me"Mom, if you could only have one favorite, what would it be?" I have narrowed it to two...I would sneak all seven if possible.


We all try to do our best impression of Reepicheep.