my baby is engaged

I cannot believe my youngest daughter is engaged. It has all happened so fast. I knew this day would come, but now that it's here it is just hard to fathom. She has dated Taylor for about 6 months and already is engaged to him. She warned me he was the one and I heard her but did not put it in the reality portion of my brain. Now that the beautiful diamond is on her finger, I have to have a reality check and start the process of this wedding planning. The wedding date is set for August 7th of this year and that is not a long engagement time. I know this will be lots of fun. I know these few months will fly by. But I feel like we are pro's at this wedding planning after two weddings completed. I want this one to be personally Emily. I want this to be her dream wedding. I want it to be fun. Here I go......wedding shops here we come!!!!! Congratulations Emily and Taylor

Snow and Valentines

I am so rusty on my blog, sometimes I forget that I have it.

I do want to post today as we have had a beautiful snow and I made a snowman. I didn't have any help, but it was still fun. I made it with love for my grandkids who are far away. I imagined if they were with me how much fun and laughter would have been involved in making that snowman.

I also had an awesome Valentines date. Tom and I went out for a lovely dinner in a very cool restaurant and got to watch a flickering fireplace and look out the window and see a fluffy white snowfall cascading down while we ate. The two opposites created a romantic setting for this years Valentines date. Also ruby red roses were on the table before we went. I love this man I married. After almost 29 years of marriage he still has what it takes to move me.

The New Year

Wow, it is a new year and a new decade! How did 10 years go by so fast. Remember Y2K? It certainly doesn't seem like 10 years since nothing happened with that. I had all my kids under one roof 10 years ago. Now they are not all in the same country let alone house. (I have them spread out like jam on bread.) I love the beginning of a new year. My hubby says he thinks New Years is the dumbest celebration, but I like it. I makes me feel like I have a chance to start again and make better choices than I did in the last year. Even if I had a good year, I just feel renewed come January 1st. I love cleaning out the house after all the Christmas clutter. I love shopping for deals at the stores around town. I love being in the warm house by the fire when the weather is cold. I love that my birthday rolls around at the end of the month and I once again will be spoiled by my husband and family. I always like to think that I will know more about God and He will reveal more of Himself to me. My life feels uncluttered at this point in the year. It may be a mess by the middle of the month, but for now I am loving it.Happy New Year to all who read this. May you feel the joy of a new year with me.

Oh Christmas Tree

I have my tree up and for some reason this year it smells so good and pine fresh. I usually only smell it for a few hours and then it is just a beautiful thing. But this year it has been up for a week and is still a wonderful scent everytime I walk in the room. I think it is a great tree. Emily picked it in less than 3 minutes and I was not so sure about it, but it has been one of the prettiest and best smelling ever. Good job Emily.

I also love how my cat Titus loves to sleep under the tree. I never get tired of staring at my tree and remembering the birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas!May your tree be as special as mine.

Ecuador

I thought I would write a little about my mission trip to Ecuador. First of all I would like to dedicate my trip there to my uncle Gary. He has supported me for all my mission trips and always was interested in them and wanted to hear about what I did. While on this trip my uncle passed away. He was always a happy man and as far as I could tell enjoyed life. I am thankful for knowing him and will always remember him fondly.

Tom and I were able to go on this mission trip together and for that I am grateful. We had been wanting to do that for years and it just never worked out. This year we were able to join up with a group of people that we did not know except for my wonderful friend Elaine. We did so many different things on this trip. We did a children's ministry in a park in Quito to assist a couple of small churches. The kids loved the games. We also visited with some pastors in their home. We helped out with two ministries to keep children in school and off the streets. We played with them. Did a couple bible studies. Helped feed them. Gave them some supplies for their teaching. We made Christmas bags for over 300 kids. We attended and participated in a cultural night at the seminary where we were staying. Twelve countries were represented. We also provided a pizza night and prizes for about 100 students at the seminary. We got to see beautiful sights in Ecuador and ate some interesting food. Guinea Pig to be exact. We met some amazing people whose faith is incredible. We made some dear friends. We laughed and cried and enjoyed most every moment. God is working all over the world. He is bigger than we think! If you ever get an opportunity to go somewhere different and experience some new places and people, please take it. You can change a life and yours will be changed too.

Just right

I recently returned from a trip to my home in Minnesota. I was there for 2 weeks. The weather was absolutely the best ever with no rain and the sun shining beautifully and the wind blowing lightly and a temperature of around 70 something most days. Fall was in the air and everywhere I looked it was just amazing. The corn was tall and the hay fields were being baled. The animals were grazing and I enjoyed time with family and friends. I attended the wedding of my niece and thought that she couldn't have asked for better weather for her special day. All in all it was a wonderful trip. It was about time I got it right as in January Tom and I were there and it was the coldest temps of the year. We were also there the end of June and it was the hottest temperatures of the year. So I was due to get it just right. It was certainly a wonderful time to be in Minnesota. Best sweet corn I had in years. Great tomatoes! And I got to try Paul's pickles and they were just right too.

the hunt

I don't know how time goes so fast and then I realize how long it's been since I posted. I have been busy doing nothing. I am not working much and am looking for a new job. It's amazing how time consuming that can be. To find jobs online and then have to apply takes SO much time. Too bad you can't get paid for that. I don't love the process, but it is a necessary evil. Here is to all the people looking for jobs! Don't give up, the perfect job is out there somewhere. Someone wants and yes, needs you in their company. (that is what I keep telling myself anyway)

every day is new

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.I say to myself "The Lord is my inheritance therefore, I will hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:22-24 (New Living)

lots of stuff

four generations... Duesterhoeft Burger and Stover




Olivia's birthday celebration.


I finally feel like life is getting a little bit back to normal...not totally normal, but slightly. The wedding is over and the newlyweds are back. We went on our Minnesota vacation and had a great time. We are getting the house back in order and life seems less chaotic. I will post a few pictures from the wedding and our trip. Oh my Olivia turned 2 yesterday! Life is a rollercoaster that never stops. You never stop climbing and never stop falling. Up and down, up and down through all the stages of life.

Two days until the wedding. Things going on like crazy. Wedding favors are made. Nails are done. Today is bridesmaid luncheon. Guests coming from out of town.(family) Rehearsal and dinner tonight. All the fun stuff now. Ready to enjoy all of the festivities and activities. Looking forward to watching my daughter walk down the isle to the man of her dreams. This is it! Next post will have pictures. Yippee!

Showers, showers and more showers

So we have a wedding in 2 weeks from today. The past month has been showers, showers and more showers. I have never heard of anyone having as many bridal showers as my daughter has had. Couples shower, room shower, prayer shower, lingere' showers, regular shower.....it has been exhausting. It's been lots of fun watching Alisha and James be so blessed by their friends and family, play fun games and laugh alot. However, I am ready for it to be over and here comes the bride be played. Don't get me wrong, I am totally enjoying the whole process, but I am ready to go back to normal life. The life where the most you plan is what to have for dinner and what show to watch.

Rain

It has rained on and off for over a week. I don't think May has had very many dry days at all. I love the fact that the grass and plants are all so green and healthy looking, but I am also ready for a few sunny days. The rain plays with my emotions. Any how.... those are my thoughts on that!

wedding time

As today is 1 month until my daughter Alisha and her fiance'James' wedding, I will post about it as I think I will be a little busy in the next few weeks. 1 month and I will have one less Burger daughter. I have been through this once before and should be a pro at marrying off my daughters. The planning can be fun (sometimes) The dress shopping, exhilerating. The showers...so much fun. The thinking about the money we need to spend, exhausting. But when it comes close I get excited for my daughter, especially when I know she is marrying the right guy. I knew with Sheila that she was marrying the right guy and I know with Alisha that she is marrying the right guy. That does give me peace and joy. The part I struggle with is the fact that my daughter is no longer mine and Tom's, she is her husbands. She will never be ours on her birthday. She will never be ours on Christmas morning. She won't wake up in our house and come down for breakfast or say good night when she gets home late. They may spend the night once in awhile but it's just not the same. They belong to someone else. They are married! So when June 20th comes and Alisha walks down the isle to James and he looks at her with tears of joy and she smiles that beautiful smile, I will have tears in my eyes, some of joy and some of sadness for another daughter who isn't mine anymore. But then I have to remember...God gave her to Tom and I to care for and raise right. She is His and was never mine to start with. That makes it easier. I am gaining another son too. Two down, 1 to go.

Happy Birthday Em

Tomorrow is my baby's 21st birthday! I am thinking that this cant be possible, but it is true. She is an amazing girl/woman. She is finishing up her junior year of college and has excellent grades. She loves God with all her heart and is a very loving person. I love to hang out with her when she is around home. She grew up too fast and I don't know where the time has gone. Emily, I love you and wish you the best birthday ever. Thanks for being my girl. You are the best! Love, MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHEILA

Twenty-six years ago today, I gave birth to my first-born child. A beautiful red headed girl and we named her Sheila Rebecca. I try to wrap my mind around the fact that she is an adult with children of her own. But when I think about her today, I see the sweet little face that looked up at me in wonder twenty-six years ago...and yet she is a grown woman. Time and memory is such a strange thing....and wonderful. Happy Birthday, Sheila. I love who you are. You are an amazing woman, a terrific mother, wife and daughter.

anniversary

It's my anniversary! Happy 28 years together my love, Tom. April 11, 1981 was a very good day.

I am thankful for the cross

Today I remember what Jesus did on the cross for me. I am thankful for the cross. I am thankful for Jesus setting me free!

Just a moment

I recently read a portion in Max Lucado's book It's Not About Me. What I read on Page 55 inspired me. It's talking about moments in our life compared with eternity. Here is a portion of page55...

God does the same with your struggles. On one side he stacks all your burdens. Famines. Firings. Parents who forgot you. Bosses who ignored you. Bad breaks, bad health, bad days. Stack them up, and watch one side of the pan scale plummet. Now witness God's response. Does He remove them? Eliminate the burdens? No, rather than take them, He offsets them. He places an eternal weight of glory on the other side. Endless joy. Measureless peace. An eternity of Him. Watch what happens as He sets eternity on your scale. Everything changes! The burdens lift. The heavy becomes light when weighted against eternity. If life is "just a moment" can't we endure any challenge for a moment?
We can be sick for just a moment.
We can be lonely for just a moment.
We can be persecuted for just a moment.
We can struggle for just a moment. Can't we?
Can't we wait for our peace? It's not about us anyway. And it's certainly
not about now.

there aren't words enough

There are no words necessary. These two are my joy!

almost heaven

I love being a grandma. Today I leave to go and take care of my grandkids while their parents are in meetings. I will get to play, love, kiss, hug, help feed, change, sing, run, shop,play some more, sleep, color, smile, hum, rock,and just relish the job of grammy! God sure designed life in an amazing way to give us nuggets of heaven. This next few days will be very close to heaven for me.