FLOOD 2009

WOW! That is all I have to say...no calm before this storm.

Sad, heart felt, raw... so many words I have the urge to write about...

The are reminders all over the community. As I went home last night there are huge trucks moving with sand in the back, there are red cross people all over, sandbags that have fallen off trucks in the road. The urgency is in the air and like I heard on a news cast not out of fear but determination. The water edges closer and closer to home, over bridges, edges of roads. Like it is a big monster...

A life experience:
Here are some clips from flood reports:

• 35.26 is the RED RIVER CREST LEVEL AT 10:00AM THIS WILL BE UPDATED HOURLY. STAY TUNED.
• IF YOU LOSE PHONE SERVICE, HANG A RED FLAG OUT SO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE KNOWS YOU NEED HELP.
• -- BOAT RESCUE ON THE WAY... Rescue operations, involving boats are underway in Cass County (9am) Sheriff Paul Laney says that there a "5 hot spots... 4 in the oxbow area and 1 in the heritage homes area." There priority is rescue.
• -- TRAVEL NOT ADVISED. PLEASE CHECK ROAD CONDITIONS ONLINE (LINK TO MNDOT AND NDDOT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE), CALL 511, OR CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. MANY SECONDARY AND RURAL ROADS ARE WASHED OUT. WITH THE SNOW FALL, CONDITIONS HAVE WORSENED IN SPOTS.
• I heard from someone at work today that if the dikes give it will flood up to 5 miles away. Our clinic is less than 3 miles from the river:(
• Home Depot is open 24 hours for people to buy supplies
• They made 400,000 sandbags in one day.

There is just an amazing amount of information that I need to document for myself and my children. This is really amazing.

One Fargo residents said:

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

God is hearing a lot from this region I imagine and I will continue to have communication with him.

Those darn kids

So I have to share a few stories as I can't help but laugh.

First of all Laura: She truly amazes me with her wit and memory of all conversations. This is a sign of the times for sure! Last weekend we were headed to Fergus for a short stay at a friends. I had to stop at the gas station for gas so... I stopped at our local Hornbachers (as I NEVER fill on gas without coupon anymore and they have pay at the pump with coupon option) anyway, I stop at Hornbachers to get gas. We do this and start on our way to Fergus. As we are going down University Drive in South Fargo, I notice new signage at Stop N Go. I must have looked long enough for Laura to see me and she says, " Darn it, gas is cheaper there we should have gone there!"

Oh Laura!

Addison: Well I have many many stories with this girl but I am not sure how to spell the words she says to give the story the whole feel of our conversations but I will try.
Kris and I have started a bad habit (not ritual) but a once in a while habit of allowing the girls to get candy at the grocery store. Ya know the ones where you put a quarter in and you get three pieces of candy? Well anyway we allow the girls to do this if we visit about it prior to going into the store and have a plan for our behaviors and listening skills. So a couple weeks ago as a family we all go to Cashwise another local store in Fargo here and we get the candy and both the girls are eating there candy as Daddy pushes them in the "car cart." Addison's choices of candy have been ones that require me to break them up as I am a over nervous mom and freak that she is going to choke. So I do this I break them up into thirds and give her some piece by piece. Well from at least 1 isle over I hear Addison scream, "Coooaaannnnnnnddddy!!!!!!!!!!!" In that very high pitch where everyone grabs their ear! :) She did that until I had the candy ready and avail for consumption.

Addison knows what she wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Addison and going potty. Most adorable thing she stops just after going in her diapers and says, "POTTY!" In the most frantic voice. She is so funny. Not at all ready to hit the potty training seriously but we don't have to worry about it as I am sure Grandma Pam will prevail and train both of our girls.

Activities: We have been keeping busy on weekends and they go by soooo fast. Kris and the girls are home during the day while I am at work and honestly I can't tell you how much there relationships with there Dad has changed. It is pretty amazing! On weekends we have been to the Pancake feed on Valentines (we did not eat) but we did play on the blow up bouncing slide and enclosed inflatable jumper things! :) We've been to Fergus, Minneapolis and home some.

A pretty good month all in all even will the sadness and mourning of my Uncle Don dying and finding out my Aunt has cancer. I have been doing A LOT of praying.

Hope this finds everyone well!

THE CURRENT SITUATION

Well for my fellow face book friends this is what is up! And for my blogger friends this story is for you too!


So Anyone and everyone is aware Kris and I are not found of our apartment. (Although we are grateful for the shelter!) Our shelter feels a bit small for us as a growing family. SO..... we have decided to move to Fergus to live in house.

We have been given a great opportunity to rent a house in Fergus that there is potential to buy and Kris is already putting a lot of sweat and tears into the project. Our lease is up in May and we will move prior to May 1st. We are extremely excited for a backyard, more room, a park across the street, a garden, just a short walk from good friends and family, also close to Lake Alice (for non Fergus people not to be confused with a lake you swim in!) Oh so many things we will be able to do there. We are thinking and will continue to think about public education and hope to get that figured out in about a year and half.

Work: I will continue to drive to Fargo for work and I am realistic that the drive will not always be fun but I am also optomistic that the Fargo to Fergus drive is all interstate and should not be more than 55 minutes with good traffic and good roads. Kris is licensed in both MN and ND so he will be possibly driving up to Fargo for some jobs and staying in Fergus for some others. Only time will tell.

Daycare: Kris's mom, Pam, had accepted a job in Breck as you may have read in previous blog. Well that did not go as well as she had planned and Pam decided to be a lifesaver and stay home and watch our children. When I say our children I mean Erin and Adam's (Kris's brother and SIL) children. Possible other grandchildren as the family continues to grow. I know my girls are looking forward to there time at Grandma's as the beginning of the winter went very well.

So that is our current situation and we are very excited. The packing, moving and preparing has already started. Now just to get the house livable!

A LEAST SOME PICTURES....

I am not sure how much I will get blogged as I have lots of ideas. But I want to at least get some pictures on.

OUR TRIP TO MINNEAPOLIS SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY WHILE MOURNING THE LOSS OF MY UNCLE.
UNCLE DON WAS THE BEST!

LAURA ALL DRESSED UP IN HER OUTFIT TERA BOUGHT HER FOR CHRISTMAS

ADDIE LYNN SMILIN' FOR THE CAMERA.

Laura's choice of reading tonight

Small Miracles
Quotes and such by many different people and from the bible.

We got this book as a gift from Kris's mom, Pam, when I was pregnant with Laura. I read it through a couple times when I was pregnant and really enjoyed the short verses that described everything I wanted our baby to experience.

I kept the book up for safe keeping. I have read it many times for Laura and she has enjoyed each time. Before tonight I had been the one that suggested reading the book as I was bored with the fairy tales, silly talk and plots. Most recently, not sure how, the book had been removed from the safe place and made it's way to the book shelf. Well tonight Laura choose this book and you should have seen the focus and and how well she listened. I could tell by her posture and her smiles that this book made her feel good. A great way to end your day with who you think are the most perfect beings in the world.

A couple quotes from the book:

My Little Miracle

"How can I love so intensely someone I barely know?
Someone who has said not a word and shared not a thought,
someone who has yet to see a page of the calendar turn...
I wait for a glimmer of recognition in those shining eyes...
I look for a hint of a smile as I hold you close...
Through the night, I check your cradle, looking for the rising and
falling of your chest and straining to hear your soft breaths...
How can I love so intensely someone I barely know? I didn't know it was
possible - until there was you, my little miracle, my little mystery."

I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
The book of Psalms

Your Innocent World

I caught you in a moment of play. And, oh, how this quick glimpse into you
innocent world refreshes and renews. You live in the moment-it's magic and its fun. Whatever the avenue- kitten and dolls, puppies and trucks - you savor the present. You wholeheartedly delight in the moment as if you are somehow aware that it is all we have. And, thankfully, my child, your approach to this adventure called life is wonderful contagious! How you make me smile!

A child's life has no dates, it is free,
silent dateless. A child's life ought to be
a child's life, full of simplicity.

Oswald Chambers

Not the lightest reading but both girls really enjoyed this book.

DRESS UP

Not the best picture any of us have taken but I had to share this picture.

Creativity at it's best!

Update

Well once again it has been a while since I updated....so here it goes.

Exciting news, Kris's mom got a job in Breckenridge as an activity director. She has been in search of the perfect job and was lucky to have come across this one. In saying that Kris is not able to work on the house during the week. So, he and the girls are now going to be in Fargo during the week and Kris will go to Fergus on Friday until Sunday. Personally I am glad to have them home! I know progress on the house will slow and the girls with miss family in Fergus so it is a toss up for them I think.

Laura: WOW! If I had to find a word to describe the three year old it would be... STRONG. Strong willed, hearted, soul, you name it she does it with power! That includes feeling, crying, laughing, talking (maybe that is more loudly than strong), VERY STRONG Will. Kris and Laura are now working on letters. Today they did A's and B's. Very good progress as she constructed about 5-8 of each and I personally thought they were the best looking A's and B's ever! I might be a little bias.
Anyway, yes Laura appears to be doing well. I measured her and Addison at Target and they are both a full size ahead of there age due to height!

Addison: Well she is doing very good also. Talking up a storm. A recent favorite story is of Saturday morning. Kris was a kind man and let me sleep in. I was starting to wake and I heard outside our bedroom door..."ere arrrrreeee ou? (Where are you?) It was so cute of course I couldn't sleep and just had to sit and listen. Then I believe it was yesterday she was helping Laura wipe something up and she says, "I help you!" The words are now sentences... She uses a lot of one word commands too, a favorite, "LAP!" "COAT!!!!!!" She loves to go...busy busy busy!

Me: I big THANK YOU to all who read blog and sent Grandpa a birthday card. He enjoyed them and I too enjoyed each one. It was awesome to see how many people sent him "Grandpa" cards. Warmed my heart a million times. Work is good and busy just how I like it! Kris and I are patiently awaiting spring he can't wait to get going with contracting again and I just can't wait to take the girls to the park and PLAY outside!