New Neighbors

December 15, 2024

A bit over a year now that Butch has been retired. We both are enjoying it. Some people think it's all fun and games. Not saying it isn't because we enjoy not having a work schedule to follow. Someone said to us Butch could do whatever he wanted now that he is retired. I said no he can't. I think when people retire and have nothing to do that isn't good for them. They lose part of the life they have been living. 

We still have sort of a schedule. Butch still likes to make the urns and he has been making other things too. He made some outside planter boxes. Now he brought some bark from Andrews and Jodi's to make me a candle holder. Plus, he has been playing on the 3D printer. We have never been lazy people, and we don't intend to start now. 

Does God talk about retirement in the Bible. I never saw it. Over the years the term "working for a living" has changed for the worse. With all the evil politics and what they have been doing to use for years or should I say decades stealing our money and such. God says in His prophecies that He never intended for us to live this way. God is healing our land. Enemies of Almighty God as He calls them don't stand a chance. Every one of them is defeated. 

So, we still sell our urns and such, but it is nice to go out shopping or to lunch whenever we want.

Butch didn't get to go deer hunting last year. He did this year, and he shot a buck fawn and a doe. Andrew shot a 4-point buck, Foz shot a 6 pointer and a nubby buck. Very successful hunting year.

We are done with Christmas Shopping. We just buy for the grandchildren mostly. Little things for our girls and their boys. We also downsized our Christmas tree this year. We have 9-foot tree and now we have a 5 foot. Next year we can do both or just small one. Choice is ours. 

We are having Christmas eve with Kim, Travis and the kids. Spaghetti and meatballs. 

We so enjoy having Willa every other week. She is growing up. Jordon too when they come to get her, we can see he is maturing. I told Willa when you sing praise songs to Jesus and lift your hands up and put them flat in the air God will touch you. When she sleeps over on Wednesday, she starts out in her bed but always ends up in our bed (and no I will not tell her she can't). So, this week I asked her where she wants to sleep, and she just said with you. So that means grandpa in spare bed. Anyway, we go to bed and the room was dark because if she is with me, I don't bother with the candles. So were laying there talking and she says to me I touched God. I asked her how she did that and she said she lifted her hand. She is so learning about Jesus. She tells me all the time Grandmas I just love Jesus. Willa loves to sit by Grandpa with one of our Bibles and ask him what this says. I did have to tell him she is five so make up things she will understand like it says: Jesus loves everyone, Jesus died for your sins, lying and stealing is a sin, God wants us love everyone, and so on. He gets the picture. 

In the summer the house next door went up for sale. As always, I pray and believe for the right neighbor. After talking to the Jeanne the realtor, I added the right neighbor at the right price. I always love to hear and know how God does what He does. Anyway, in Il there is a person interested in the home however her realtor shows her all the spec sheets to show her the home is overpriced. She waits and waits and finally came down to a price that was doable. We have been helping them get settled and getting to know them. Also getting to know one of their good friends as she is helping too. God has done it again.

Imagine that I pray for friends that live closer to us and God gave us three all at once. They are an added blessing to us and our neighborhood. 

Forgot my Purse

Our Willa is so cute. It's amazing to me how much she knows at her young age. We left home the other day, and I realized I forgot my purse. It wasn't a big deal. We seldom use our credit card but Butch had his if we had to. Willa said if we don't have your purse how can we go shopping? She knew without money we would not have been able to buy anything. We did come back for my purse, and she now knows though that grandpa has money too. 

It made me think back to when Jodi was that age. We were at Kmart and Butch and I were dating. Jodi saw a strawberry short cake blanket set. When she asked me for it, I had to tell her no that I didn't have money for that. Her cute answer was but Butch does. Yes, he bought it for her. 

Back then, I wasn’t born again. I didn’t know about the things of God. We got born again shortly after we got married (41 years ago). I never use that phrase anymore that I don’t have enough money. The Bible states that God will meet all our needs.  Salvation means more than just asking and receiving Jesus in your heart. It's the full package. Salvation, healing, and prosperity.  That promise belongs to us.  

All these years later we still have every need met. We live daily on His blessings.  

The Bible says we must know Jesus and have a personal relationship with him. Lotta people know Jesus through their religious beliefs, but there’s no relationship there. There’s no believing there. Everyone believes in God the Bible says, even the devil does. 

In these days we need Jesus more than ever. He is knocking at your door just open it and let Him in. 

Blessings….

 January 27th, 2024

Butch has been retired two months’ now. It’s nice. We had a couple winter days where even he was happy to stay in. Otherwise very mild warmer winter. 

People say well Butch how is retirement? I said how come nobody ever asks me. Things are very different for him but also for me. For 41 Years I have taken care of everything. Now Butch is home and he must think I forgot how to do it. He wants to always help me, and I understand that but go do your own stuff.  

Three months already with no Zoe. I miss her. I want another dog but for all the wrong reasons. I will wait and see if God puts a special dog in our path. 

I think Jodi and Andrew might start building their new home soon. I really wish they would wait till the housing crash and prices are the way they should have always been.

Gods hand is moving in this world, and we are about to have an exodus moment. Then things change for our good. 

He has been building urns and working on a bigger project he wants to finish. 

I think Willa is getting use to him being here when she comes. She likes to sneak up on him when he is relaxing in his man cave. He joins us too on our once a week out to lunch. 

Travis and Kim got engaged at Christmas. Not sure when the big date is but thinking they will make it a small one. Then they all move into Kim’s small home. It won’t take long, and they will know a bigger home might be required.

Jordon enjoys kindergarten. They grow up so quickly. Eden is twelve now. She was here with Willa one week and I taught her to sew. She had told me when she was eight or so her grandmother gave her a sewing machine for Christmas but still in the box. Well, I pulled out mine and we made some purses. She was so happy. 

We have no real plans right now to go anywhere. Trips are more for the warmer weather. However, we might take a ride to Janesville to see my sister and her husband.

 God is so good He never stops taking care of us. Blessings.

 By our Jodi December of 1995 after my dad her grandpa Bob died. 

I watch the trains as the last car goes by and after it's gone, I can't move. Cars beep, people pass but I still can't move. 

I remember as a child being excited to see the last car of the trains. Waiting to see if he would be on it. Even if he wasn't there was always the possibility, he could be on the next one. I'm an adult now and that excited feeling has turned into emptiness because I know he won't be on the next one. He's at home waiting to leave us forever. The train is long out of sight and still I can't move. 

It's been six years since you've been gone. Memories of you are still so clear. How you loved to sing and what a great voice you had. If only I could hear it once more. The way you made people laugh. I don't think I'll ever meet someone quite like you. How you loved to be outdoors working in your garden. What pride you had in your roses. Your patience in teaching me how to drive a very treasured memory. How lucky I am to have had you in my life. Not a day passes when I don't think of you. I miss you grandpa. 

My mother her grandma Joy died April 7, 2021.