Time with Grandpa

We were recently in Iowa and got to spend some memorable time with our Grandpa. We did an awful lot together and had tons of fun. There was work to be done as well. Grandpa is currently restoring a 1954 Corvette, so we got to help with that and gain valuable knowledge in the process. I took bunches and bunches of pictures while we were there. I hope that you enjoy them!

The tulips are blooming!

We stopped at Dairy Queen and Grandpa treated us to chocolate malts.  I thought that this sign was funny!  :)

I love reflections!

Elijah got a ride in Grandpa's model A.

Papa buffed the model A and the result was incredible.  The reflection was so deep and clear!

Jeremiah in the Corvette.

I walked around the car and this is what I saw! :)

Elijah shined up the whitewalls on the Corvette.  It was amazing when he was done!

Grandpa taught Elijah how to operate the 0 radius turn mower.

Jeremiah had a "blast" on the Gator!  :)

Papa also buffed the Corvette with the same results as the model A.  It looked like a whole new car!

I found this tree in Grandpa's back yard.  I'd never seen anything like it before!

I love this shot!

I couldn't get enough of this tree.  Isn't it gorgeous!?!

We thought that this barn was so neat!

Grandpa also took us to a private air museum.  It was incredible what the man, his wife, and daughter had accumulated over the years!  There was so much there and so much to learn.  We spent quite a while there, but, in the end, I still felt like I could have stayed another couple of hours!

We did some cleaning in Grandpa's shop one day and he used this stuff to clean some paint off of the floor.  It smelled really nasty!  I picked it up to put it away after we were done with it and noted that "this stuff is sickening."  Then I saw the brand name!  I burst out laughing and, if you know me, you probably guessed that I ran for the camera right away.  :)

We made chili for lunch one day and had a really sweet time doing it together with Grandpa, laughing, joking, and making memories.

The violets are out and are just a joy to see blooming along the roadside, and adding a splash of color to the landscape.

I saw this picture and thought that the daffodil looked like it was singing.  :)

We visited one of Grandpa's friends and this was a lovely spiral staircase that she has in her home. 

The boys cut wood one day.  It was fun to see them running the chainsaw!

Rainbow eyes.  :) 

He's got sawdust in his hair.  :)

After an hour or two of work, here's what they had done.  Not bad!  :)

Grandpa taught Elijah how to run the skid loader.

Buddies.  :)

Rush Hour...

...from the perspective of a little person.  :)

Springtime.

It's springtime in Minnesota!!!!!  What a glorious, beautiful time of year this is - when the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and there are also rainy days to water the thirsty ground. God gives new life to the earth.  Everything that has been dead and buried all winter comes to life and is so fresh and beautiful.  It is a wonderful reminder of our new life in Christ.  We are no longer dead in our sins, but alive with Christ.  Life with Christ is a beautiful thing! 

Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We were down in Iowa recently and a very kind man allowed me to borrow his camera (a Nikon D300S).  It is so complicated and a challenge for me, but amazing and so fun to work with!  It is a really neat experience for me as I had never expected to handle a camera like this for years to come - if ever!  :)  Some of (well, most of) my pictures in this post were taken with this camera.

The sky has been absolutely breathtaking lately!

The first flowers to bloom in our garden.  They are so delicate and beautiful and their scent is lovely.

Jonnie boy.

Miss Dawn was going out to the Richters on Monday, and invited me to go.  I had a great time with them!  Their tire swing is amazing fun!

Isaac loves the ride!  :)

Miss Dawn got this picture of little baby Nathan.  He's adorable!  :)

Jeddy and those blue, blue eyes...!  :)

Isaac is really looking grown up!

And this is "Itty-Bitty" - that's what Papa calls her.  :)

Ashlyn is so sweet!

We were babysitting earlier this week and I just had to try out the new camera.  I was pretty happy with the results.  What do you think?

Recent Happenings...

A snowfall earlier this month gave me a wonderful opportunity for shooting some lovely photos of the winter blanket. I thought that the curl in the arms of these chairs with the snow piled delicately on top made a pretty scene.

Psalm 51:10

 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Mama and I attended Ashlyn's 8th birhtday party.  It was tons of fun!  :)

Byron a.k.a "Byro"

Amanda, Miss Dawn, and Eliajh

Jonnie had fun on the swings after church a couple of weeks ago.

A gorgeous sunset!

Teddy loves to chew on his ball.  He was looking quite goofy this time, so I ran for the camera!

Rosie, hoping for a handout...!  :)

Christian is making "flour" in this picture.

Christian and me - he was providing wild game and cooking meals for me under the trees.  What a wonderful brother!