Rachel and clothes

Rachel isn't a clothes fiend, or hog like many girls but she does enjoy looking nice. But she is also an incredible bargain hunter. Yesterday we saw a sign that we thought meant a very nice 2nd hand clothing store was going out of business. Rachel went down after school to take a look. The store isn't going of out business, but they were having a winter clearance sale. Rachel has wanted a formal outfit to wear for a variety of events (like out Oscar party). She found a $10 formal that she really liked and that fit. Her favorite dress, that has been at the store for a while now, is still not on sale but below is the dress she found. I continue to marvel at her ability to find bargains that she likes.

Fourth Day of Christmas

It is the fourth day of Christmas and the family is mostly dug out from the Christmas storm that saw us get about 2 feet of new snow between Dec. 24th and Dec. 26th. I am back at work and writing this post between helping patrons so if it becomes a bit disjointed you'll know why.

We had a wonderful Christmas. We were incredibly blessed by good food, good company (a family that enjoys spending time together is a precious gift of it's own) and generosity of friends and family in plenty of gifts.

Yesterday, Rachel and I got out to the ski trail and I skied my classic ski and Rachel tried out her new skate skis. She is going to have to continue learning. She looks a bit awkward yet. We are looking into finding someone to give her a brief lesson. Our goal is to get out at least every Thursday evening, even if it is just for 1 km.

We have had a terrific time with Stephen, Sarah and Rachel this Christmas. Jeff and I appreciate our children so much and marvel at the adults they are becoming.

Hopefully our Christmas letter will get written tonight and in the mail by the end of the week.

Our love and prays for a joyous end to 2009 and blessings in 2010.
Love,
Diane

Advent

I enjoy the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is time to prepare. I stay busy baking, buying, wrapping and all but have time to enjoy the process. December has also been cold, helping motivate me to stay in and get things done.

The week has been full but at the moment I'm not remembering much of note. This coming week will be a bit different. Jeff has the business fundraiser for Icebox Radio Theater this week. Calls to Santa will be each evening this coming week from 6 -8 pm. You can call and talk to Santa and listen to the show by going to the icebox radio theater website. It will be a busy week for Jeff.

I am hosting a library holiday open house on Wednesday afternoon for staff, board members and city staff. Then Thursday afternoon I will pick Rachel up at school and she and I will drive to Morris to pick up Stephen. We'll spend the night in Morris then all of us come up to Bemidji to finish up our Christmas shopping.

Take care. Hope everyone is staying healthy and enjoying the holidays.
Love,
Diane

December

It is December and the snow has finally arrived. It began snowing the evening of November 28th and has snowed some each day since. The temperature has also begun dropping. So this morning I believe we hit 0 for the first time this winter.

But we have a nice warm house and the outside is pretty white with the trees flocked more beautifully than any human job I've ever seen.

The main news here is that Rachel is now employed. She was asked by one of the local radio stations to man the station during live broadcasts of local sports. She spent two days earlier this week learning the system and last night was in alone at the station for the first time. She is also hoping to get on at a local coffee shop after the holidays as she really wants to learn to make coffee drinks. (I think she also wants smoothies and I believe you get one free drink a shift. :)

Jeff and I were talking and commented on the fact that the first job of both our kids was at radio stations. Obviously they are known in the community for their ability to learn technological equipment and speak (although Rachel isn't speaking on the radio at this point.)

We have begun holiday preparations. We'll pick up Stephen on the 17th and I believe Sarah will come home on the 20th. We aren't traveling this year and will enjoy a quiet Christmas here at home. We will order our traditional (to International Falls) smoked turkey and salmon for Christmas day.

Hope everyone's holiday plans are coming together and that the spirit of the season is present in your homes. We miss all our relatives and friends on the west coast but sure have come to enjoy white Christmases. So anyone is welcome to join us.

Love,
Diane

Happy Thanksgiving! (Belated)

Hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday. We did. We enjoyed a wonderful meal with family and friends. I cooked turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans and rolls and took it all over to a family friends' house that don't have cats. We shared a meal with 18 people. A smaller group than we've had some years but we were in a smaller house.

We played some games, talked and enjoyed one another's company. It has been a very good month with an exciting finish to Rachel's swim season. She participated in 3 relay races and the 50 freestyle. She qualified on Thursday for the Saturday finals in each race and the 200 freestyle relay was one place away from the state meet. They were very excited about the results and hope to do better next year.

We have had a very good week with Stephen. He wasn't feeling well and Jeff was in Duluth at the end of last week so instead of coming straight home from Duluth he came home via Morris and brought Stephen home a few days early. After the summer without him, it was terrific to have a few extra days to play, talk and just be with him. We will treasure these days for years to come.

While Stephen was here, he heard that he had moved beyond the first cuts in a summer internship with the NSA. While nervous and having a hard time remaining hopeful, he would really like to receive a job like that this coming summer. So we are doubtful he will be coming home again for an extended period. It makes us focus on the time we have and enjoy the moment.

Have a blessed advent season. May you use the season to prepare your hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord.
Love,
Diane

Fall 2009 with the Adams family

I was going to try and be more regular about posting on this blog this fall but time seemed to get away from me as it seems to do most every fall. There are only three of us living at our house now, but that doesn't seem to make it any less busy.

I think there are several things that contribute to the busyness. At the library, fall activities and the planning for the rest of the year keep me busy. Then for the third year, I was in charge of the concessions for the girls swim team home meets. We have to adjust back to the school year routine. Rachel and I getting up and ready for the day and out of the house by about 7:45 (and 7:25 two mornings a week). Jeff switching from a focus of writing for the upcoming theater season to rehearsing, performing and putting together the shows (and all the logistics involved in working everyone's schedules together to put a show together). We also have three birthdays between Oct. 2 and Nov. 2. Then this year we added a trip to Colorado Springs to visit my Oma (grandmother) one last time before she died on Oct. 26th.

And the Lord has blessed us with a new teenage daughter. Sarah has been placed in our lives and we are thankful for her presence in our lives. She spent a good part of the summer with us before heading off for her first year of college. Since then she has been home to visit twice, always bringing her bright smile and sense of fun.

But, I think things are beginning to slow. Birthdays are past, swim season is wrapping up and we are looking forward to the holidays and the arrival of snow and the chance to get out and start skiing.

So I thank you for your patience if you've been looking for news from us and don't give up. I hope to be more regular at posting.

Diane

WOW! It is the middle of September

Time is flying! I can't believe we've already had two home swim meets. School has started and we're finally harvesting a few red tomatoes. Yum! All the fall scheduling is in full swing and we've begun planning a sweet sixteen party. It is hard to imagine that Rachel will be sixteen in less than three weeks. We are throwing a chocolate and games party on Sunday afternoon, October 4th. The one thing she really wanted was a chocolate fountain. So we'll be celebrating in style.

We are enjoying the weather which has decided to be summery at last. I've put up beans and carrots and have ordered some apples to make sauce and pies to put in the freezer for this winter. Of course we'll also eat and bake with many of them.

Stephen is working and playing hard during his second year of school. The University of Minnesota Morris has been a really good fit for him. He is president of the Assoc. of Computing Machines chapter at UMM this year and will be helping plan computing contests.

Jeff has been very busy getting ready for the next podcast season of Icebox Radio Theater. And the theater has their own office and recording space this year and he has been working on creating the perfect sound space.

Have a wonderful fall and let us know what you are doing.
Love,
Diane