Too much time in the house?

The greatest paradox in our house is our washing machine.  This would be washing machine #4 (our current and longest-lasting one so far).  Anyway, this 'Heavy Duty' beast which has 'Oversize Capacity' is also (apparently) of the 'Quiet Series'.  Now you have to understand, this is the washing machine that has scared me many a time thinking there is a burglar banging around in my pantry, or that I have an elephant stomping in the kitchen!  When the load gets off-balance during the spin cycle it goes "THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!"  Along with that, it also is able - of it's own accord - to shake around and move itself several feet out from the wall!  As you can imagine this is quite disturbing.  To go in to change a load and find the washing machine has moved!  By itself!  And then there is the screech.  The gyrating drum comes to a SCREECHING halt when the load is done.  Oh the irony of the so-called 'Quiet Series'!  On the up side, it lets me know when the washing is finished. :)  

Along with wireless for just about everything, this younger generation is also going cordless!  We have a cordless iron, and I feel very cool.  It works very well* actually, and I would highly recommend it to anyone!  We weren't quite brave enough to try a cordless vacuum (fear of the battery not being strong enough for good suction), but maybe someday...

Tired of hair on your carpet?  Here's a great trick that works really well for most kinds of carpet (works the best on indoor/outdoor and short-haired sorts of carpet, but also works for other kinds).  Just take a stiff bristled broom and sweep your carpet.  Yup, that's what I said!  Sweep it!  Brooms not only work on hard floors, they do great in a pinch to make the carpet look nicer if you only have a couple minutes!  All the hair collects on the broom and you take it off with your hand and dispose of it and -viola!- your carpet is magically hair-less!  Followed by a good vacuuming, your carpet will feel cleaner to a whole new dimension!

There is that verse in James about the tongue** that goes something like, "...if we have our tongue under control, we are able to keep our whole body in check".  I have found it to be very true in housekeeping as well.  If I have the dishes and laundry under control, I have the whole house in order!

Funny how biggest fear getting married was cooking; turns out I quite like cooking.  It's the cleanup (dishes) and the laundry I don't like! :P  But the cooking part... has turned out very well! :D

*the specific brand that we have
**James 3:2

"Our baby is in Jesus' Arms now"

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”  Job 1:21 (ESV)

Ben got these flowers for me the day before you went to be with Jesus

Baby, 

This is the only (sort of) "family" picture we have...  Your dad is a photographer you know.  We were going to get some amazing pictures of you and us...  He and I loved you very much!  We were excited to meet you, but I guess now we have to wait a little longer.  Your Uncles and Aunts and Grandparents-to-be were very excited too - one of your uncles had been praying for a long time that you would come.  He wanted to give you four-wheeler rides, go exploring with you and show you how to catch minnows in the pond.  Mama had a lot of dreams for you too!  I was going to have a baby for the first time!  You were going to be born in the spring and all summer I would keep you nearby as we planted a garden, made supper for Daddy coming home, and kept our house tidy.  We hoped to be moved into our new house before you arrived.  We wanted you to have a really nice home to grow up in.  You would grow up healthy and free in the country.  Some days you might have even gone to work with Dad and gotten a lolly at the hardware store!  Dad would also teach you how to work on cars, fix pipes and wire stuff, though if you were a girl you'd be more interested in the kittens that play in the shop!  You would be Mama's little helper!  I was looking forward to building forts with you in the woods, teaching you your ABC's and letting you pursue your interests.  We were going to keep each other company while Dad is at work every day.  He works so hard for us, and he loved you too you know.Well, I need to go and stop crying and try to be cheerful for your Daddy!  It's supper time.  Just wanted to let you know that we miss you.   

Love, your Mama

Even though I was eight weeks along, we think the baby died or stopped developing at seven weeks (this is what it looked like).

I never got to sing you a lullaby so I'll have to sing this "Lullaby of Love".  It's a really neat song for anyone who's lost a little one through miscarriage.

And in memory of you we're going to plant a tree -- someday -- maybe in the spring.  Because trees are growing, and living, and full of LIFE!  Just as you are, in heaven with Jesus. :')

First comes love...

...then comes marriage, then comes a BABY in a baby carriage!

Happy 25th Anniversary (on the 20th) Mom & Dad Nelson!  You're going to be Grandparents!!!  

Little baby Sahlstrom is due May 3rd.  I'm seven weeks along and so far feeling fine (praise the Lord!), except for some days where I am really tired!  I'm not showing yet.  We pray for he/she or they... wouldn't it be fun to have twins??!  (We think it would!)  Ben jokes that he is enjoying his last few months of bad table manners before he has to set an example for little one!  LOL!

Dry Goods in the Pantry...

Happiness is... a well-stocked, well ORGANIZED pantry! Yay for fresh ground whole wheat flour, re-filled rice, and oh the amount of oatmeal! (The last now being our breakfast four times a week because it's cheap while still being healthy!)

This is also cool because it's posted from my phone! You see, I'm in the pantry and the computer (in the living room) would be too far to walk! :P Double yay for Blogger finally getting a proper iPhone app!

The Seasons

You may know the season as Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.  But when you work in the plumbing, heating and refrigeration business, the seasons are A/C installation, A/C installation/fixing, Digging, Heating (respectively).  Plumbing, of course, is year-round as most people can't wait until next season to get their toilet flushing again!

All that to say, it is now Digging season.  At 60 degrees I think it's quite chilly, but Ben claims it's finally "nice!"  The days are beautiful, the skies very blue, and I can open windows! :)  Ben works very hard during the day and then in the evenings we work on our house.  The DWV (drain waste & vent) is almost done and we have a water spigot and one outlet in the basement!  We also picked out skylights to help give natural light in what will be a very fun room, the attic!  It is going to be one high-class country house!

When your little boy plays with his Tonka work machines and says he's a big "digger-man!", smile and be very proud of him because when he's a man it just might be true and his wife will be very proud of him! :)