And we're off! Seeding begins today!

This is an exciting day for us. Stan is off to the field to begin seeding Canola. There is so much preparation time to get to this point where he can sit on the tractor for a few hours at a time and relax. My job description changes a little for the rest of the spring and summer as well. Instead of just keeping the farmer fed, I now get to do seed delivery to the field, general "gopher" (go for ____________)and water truck driver when we begin spraying. It's so exciting! (I guess you'd have to be here to understand) I bought my garden seeds in Saskatoon last week and look forward to getting a few things growing again, too. I must admit to being a hobby gardener and don't rely on it for our winter supply. Rather, it is a joy to eat fresh veggies and put some away if it doesn't conflict with our harvest schedule, at which time I turn into the combine operator (my favorite!) Hope all is well with you,too. Have a great day, the sun's shining and God is good!

Update for the blog

Oh my, where has the time gone? We have just returned from a two week trip south to see our Stephen in Oklahoma and Stan's sister Karen and some of her family in Nebraska. We traveled with Robert, Melissa, Josiah and Abby! What a great trip. Melissa said that was odd that we could say "what a great trip" after experiencing a sick boy the first couple of days, tornados, rain, hail and 8 inches of wet snow! I guess you just had to be there. We were stormed stayed an extra 2 days in Nebraska as we waited out the snow storms and flooding between Nebraska and Canada, but even that had it's up side of spending the extra time with Karen and Terry. The upside was always the companionship of traveling with family, spending time with Stephen and meeting old friends as well as making new ones! We heard some wonderful speakers and singing at the Tulsa Workshop and Robert and Melissa were excited to meet up with some special people who knew Robert from his time with Acappella. We have returned home to the anticipation of Spring and Stan is gearing up to start the planting. Every day the wind blows in warmer temperatures and the geese are beginning to find their way north. Life is good. We thank God for the safety of our travels and the encouragement of all the visits along the way!

And we're another day closer to Spring!

Well, time has sure flown since our last post. The days are brighter and Spring must be coming. We have had Robert, Melissa, Josiah and Abby here for a lovely visit and now the house is pretty quiet again. No little footsteps on the stairs in the morning looking for Grandma :-) I am happy to see Melissa feeling so well again and Abigail is a healthy baby. We had a lot of fun last week. We head up to Saskatoon for appointments soon with our favorite dentist and will get to see Roy, Monica, Linaya and Gianna. I'm glad to get to visit them under any excuse!! Stan has been busy with farm work. He's been hauling grain away to sell and hauling in seed to plant. He's been working in the shop getting machinery geared up for the Spring rush. We plan on a road trip next month to see Stephen and Stan's sister Karen and her family so he wants to be ready for the land when we get back. We look forward to seeing where Stephen lives and works. We haven't been in his "neigborhood" since he graduated and it's time! I still have a couple of projects I need to finish for the grandkids before Spring. Somehow I got a little behind!

And now there are four!

Well, I just got home last evening from my time in Saskatoon. Now we have four wonderful little people and are blessed that they are healthy and loved and well cared for. Melissa is recovering nicely and Monica heads back to her dentistry part time starting today.Daddy has them the other half day. Always adjustments! I guess that's what life brings us, every day you wake up and see if your center of gravity has changed and make adustments until you feel the new normal :-) It will take a few days to get a normal feel for me here, too. I woke up and it's February! I can't believe how fast time has flown since Christmas! I'll look for a couple of pictures from the last month to share. We were in Mexico on the Mayan Riviera from Jan. 11-18 and returned to Saskatoon 2 days before Abby was born! I stayed and Stan returned home to get some work done. We loved the change of temperature and the relaxing pace. We did a LOT of walking and climbed to the top of Coba which is 120 steps! You see across the top of the jungle. What a view! I'm glad to be in my house again, but have loved the places I've been, the time to help my family and now being back with Stan on our farm. I need to update the picture with the new picture of Stan and I with the FOUR kiddos. (My picture updated on facebook but not blog!?)

With a grateful heart

The time spent here in Saskatoon is one of thankfulness for new life, the two new little girls in our family in October and January, and a time of reflection of being here in the fall of 2006 as Stan received medical attention. I was told how the treatment he received through vacuum bandage system has changed a lot of lives for the better. Homecare now uses pictures of his treatment and progress to train most of it's staff to be able to use this technology. I hadn't realized at the time how new it was to them, how skeptical some were of it's effectiveness to treat wounds, the contoversy of cost effectiveness and the very limited number of qualified people to make the bandages work. It is now a widely used system in this area with Stan as their unidentified "Poster child" of it's value. I am so thankful for God's provision for us to use this tool for healing when we needed it the most.

All is well!!:-)

What happy news to tell you. Melissa has given birth to a wonderful baby girl named Abigail Mary, Mary after Robert's mother. Her blood pressure continuted to be a problem and she had started into labor early. Her original due dated was around Feb 8they just came in the door for lunch!! More news later. :-)

How was your Christmas?

Inspite of colds, flu and some chest problems, we all managed to get in one place and still be so happy to be together. Christmas dinner was at Roy and Monica's and we stayed in Saskatoon until after Stan and Josiah's birthday on Dec. 28th. We brought Stephen home until he catches a ride back to Saskatoon to continue his visit until his plane flies on Jan 5th. I'll post some pictures of our fun.Instead of "GRandma's Feather Bed" we had fun trying out "Grandpa's Camping Bed"! We'll be camping in style off the ground now! :-) The kids all love their uncle Stephen and like his drawing ability and stories. Our little ones know about puzzles and were soon in the thick of things at the kitchen table. Josiah got a little bike for his second birthday and Linaya joined him for a little ride in the livingroom. I hope you all had a happy holiday, too. God Bless and let's all go bravely into the new year.

New look for the ol' blog

Thanks to Roy, the picture has been updated. I didn't want to leave the impression that I am so capable! We have returned tonight to the farm with Stephen and will find him a ride back to Saskatoon to catch his plane before Jan 6th. Hopefully he can be there a day or two ahead and do a little more visiting with his sisters and their families. It was a fun time being together, but we never got a family picture this time as one or more of us were not feeling well over the days we were together. Gianna and I had a cough going on, and then we decided to bounce the flu bug among the adults! Sigh, oh well, we were in good company. I will add some pictures from the time in Saskatoon. The kids joined the puzzle tradition and sure go involved!! Linaya was so excited she crawled right up on the table and sat at Grandpa's elbow. Stan and Josiah celebrated their birthdays together for the second time! Now there are two 2 year olds in the family! Linaya had her birthday back in October.

All is calm...

Well, we were off to flying start on Christmas morning with Stephen put up in a hotel for the night somewhere in Denver as he waited for a connecting flight and Robert calling to Monica's house to say he was off to the hospital with Melissa as she had a terrible night. By mid afternoon, Stephen and Melissa were both back with the family as we opened gifts and settled down to Christmas supper (yes, supper! We're prairie people :-)

No word from Melissa this am, but I know we won't be doing boxing day sales together. Please contiue to say a little prayer for her as this has been such a tough pregnancy and she can really use the encouragement of people who care as she waits these last weeks. The ultra sound shows a healthy baby on the way and we are just excited to meet this newest little member of the family. Gianna has improved so much from last week when she needed to be on nebulizer treatments for her congested chest. Today she is all smiles! She's just happy to be feeling better, too!!

We are reminded how great it is to be together as family and we count our blessings as we look around us. We are safe, warm, well fed and have a loving God who's always near. Have a good day :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays

We head to Saskatoon tomorrow to meet up with the rest of the family. Roy, Monica and the girls have been here for a few days and just headed back to the city ahead of us. Gianna had been having some resperatory problems that come with having a cold when you're 7 weeks old. She's doing a little better today and is to continue with nebulizer treatments for a week. Lots of cuddle time and she got lots of pats on the back, too! It was fun to play with Linaya. She changes so much between visits.
We're looking forward to time with Melissa, Robert and Josiah. She is looking forward to the new baby's arrival and feeling well again. She is 33 weeks now and baby seems to be very active and progressing well. Stephen flies in tomorrow night, I think?? If you've been following air travel over the last few days you will have noticed a few bottlenecks and delays. Stan got over the pneumonia and has been back looking for things to do in the shop. Good sign!! I have "turned into my mother" and have been packing up things to take with us to Saskatoon to use for Christmas dinner and beyond. I used to tease MY Mom and say "Don't bring water. We have some of that" Now I hear that from my girls :-) God's blessing over you and your family as you travel and spend time together!!

Now what?

Well, we've never thought our life was predictable. Stan thought he must be getting some kind of flu but it turned out to be pneumonia. I think the Doctor caught it early enough to get some antibiotics going and hopefully he'll feel a lot better in just a couple of days. It is hard for him to sit around and take it easy. We're on day 1 of that! I need to get some Christmas baking done so that's my good reason to stay home and in the house. They're forcasting a blizzard tonight and tomorrow. Our winter may really be on its way.

Home from the mountains

We had a wonderful time visiting lots of family between here and Vancouver and back. We saw, brothers, sisters-in-law, an aunt and uncle, cousins and their kids, neices and nephews and their families! In between the visits we took a little quieter time off and went on the Harrison River on a tour of a salmon run and bald eagles. Did you know there could be over 2000 bald eagles on the same river when the salmon are on the move! It was so amazing.(If you click on the picture of the tree you will be able to see a sample) The rest of the trip we kept watching for eagles. "On The Wings of an Eagle" is a special song and Bible verse to me. It was so exhilarating to watch so many rising and soaring!!

Here is my updated prayer list. Melissa continues to wait for the new baby. Her blood pressure has remained mostly constant but still a little too high. She has passed 30 weeks so let's make it 37 and then forty!! Go Melissa! Our prayers continue for you to do well. My friend Vicki has begun her chemo and radiation. Please pray for her to find the side effects tolerable and for her healing.

How many weeks until Christmas?? I haven't got my head there yet. My greeting cards are still on the kitchen table and not in the mail. Most of you know all about us if you're reading facebook, or blog anyway, right?? Thankyou for caring enought to check in on us. I hope this can be a wonderful Christmas season for you to be with people you love and not stress about "stuff".

Prayer request

Hi there, If you are reading this then I know that YOU know that our family believes that God is good and answers prayers. I'm asking you to keep our daughter, Melissa Orr, in your prayers. She hasn't had an easy pregnancy and now her bloodpressure has become a concern. We are asking you to pray that her bloodpressure stays consistent and that Baby continues to thrive "in there" until the due date of Feb. 8th. She is being monitored weekly and although the pressure is not dangerously high and the blood work has been good, we want it all to stay that way.

Home

Well, I'm back home with Stan and it feels pretty nice. As much as I loved Saskatoon and being with everyone there, I really missed Stan! I guess I've got pretty attached to him in 34 years! The best is when we are all together and then I don't have to be missing anyone. Stephen will be home at Christmas and that is always such a special time.

I'll add a few pictures of being with Linaya, Josiah and Gianna. I found myself stopping for a moment of "Super Y" on tv this morning for ol' time sake. The kids are busy learning their letters already! and are doing pretty well at it.

Stan is busy trying to get a few more outside jobs done before the snow piles high and the temperature drops. I have a few projects on the go. I have started a cross stitch name sampler for Gianna Pearl, baby quilt to be quilted for the next little Orr and a "Go Go" quilt of trucks, cars and tractors to finish for Josiah for his big boy bed. All that and a freezer to stock before the family is home for Christmas. That is not very far away is it?

My friend, Vicki, begins radiation soon and Ruby is home from hospital after her knee surgery.

One week!

Little Gianna has been with us for one week today! and is imbedded in our hearts and our family. You forget the innocence until you look in these little faces. I just keep thinking that every child should come into the world so wanted and so loved. Linaya has been very comfortable with her around.

Stan will be coming to pick me up this weekend as Roy has next week off to spend with his family.

I'll post pictures from my computer at home but I don't think I'll be able to show you anything better than have already been posted by Roy and Monica. Keep checking in on adventures ith roy blog.

God blesses us again!

Well, the only thing better than having two grandkids is now having three!!!! and the anticipation of the fourth. Monica gave birth to a wonderful baby girl this morning on October 28th, my Mom (Grace Jacobs') birthday. If you can see from Heaven, then my Mom is smiling, too! Linaya is very excited. She just keeps hugging her so tenderly.
Gianna Pearl and Mommy will be back home tomorrow. Pearl Orr was Roy's great, great grandma, wife of Wilfred Orr.

Ruby Bell had her knee surgery last Wednesday and is still in hospital in the General in Regina. Things have not progressed as quickly as she had hoped. Keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

I feel guilty being in Saskatoon without Stan. Even if it's considered "helping out" I know I'm having just way too much fun! You can check out Roy and Monica's blog for baby pics. Many more cute ones to come. :-) Happy Grandma and Grandpa!

Snow? in October??

We had a wonderful time with our family in Regina on Thanksgiving weekend. We have come up with our own tradition of having Sunday dinner at Red Lobster! It is almost like having a private dining room when ordinarily it is very busy. It had started snowing by the time we left on Sunday evening so Stan and I decided to stop overnight at the Spa in Moose Jaw to celebrate our 34 Wedding Anniversary a week early. It was a relaxing way to end a weekend and the next morning we were surprised to find 10 inches of wet snow on our car. By the time we got home, the ground was bare!

I hadn't posted Linaya's birthday picture. I made her a sling to carry her baby as she is quite the "little mom" already. She'll make a great big sister. Josiah and Linaya are busy little people these days. Now we can talk on the telephone!

Vicky Knutson had her surgery today. Carman seemed encouraged that it went well and now they wait 2 weeks for biopsy results and begin radiation in 6 weeks after she has had some healing time. I hope they can keep her comfortable as she heals. They plan on sending her home on Sunday or Monday. (I can't believe how little time they allow you to take up space in our hospitals!) We continue to pray for healing from her cancer.

Thankful at Thanksgiving

I am indeed thankful. Thankyou, God, for my healthy husband,Stan, for our wonderful children, Monica,Melissa and Stephen and grandchildren, Linaya and Josiah. Thankyou for Roy and Robert added to our family. Thankyou for another successful harvest. Thankyou for so many in extented family and friendships that warm our lives and give us strength.

We are off to Regina this weekend to attend Lectureship at Western Christian College. It has become destination for Thanksgiving weekend over the years and it is wonderful to hear encouraging lessons from talented speakers, share in singing hymns and praises with hundreds of people and reconnecting with people we haven't seen for a while. They say it may snow, but that really doesn't seem to matter!

I would appreciate your prayers for our friend Vicki Knutson of Regina. She is married to Carman and Mom to 6 wonderful sons. She will be having surgery next Friday to have a cancerous tumor removed from inside her nose. Please pray for the success of her surgery and for her strength for recovery. Ruby Bell (married to Elford) is also scheduled for knee surgery in Regina in two weeks. Please also keep her in your prayers for a quick recovery.

Happy thanksgiving to all of you. Enjoy the day with your "attitude of gratitude" :-)

The Grain is in the Bins!!

Yes, it's true. As of yesterday, we are finished the harvest of 2008. We are thankful for our good health and safety through it all and were able to complete harvest without running for any major repairs for the combine :-) Some of the grain has already been delivered to the elevator but Stan will have some trucking days ahead of him. We were blessed with a good crop, even after the hail storm. Don't think we're on vacation yet. We still have some fall work to complete before we're relaxing too much. I think our near travel plans will include a weekend to Saskatoon for Oct. 5th (Linaya will be 2!) and Thanksgiving weekend in Regina at Lectureship.

September has arrived

Well, where did the summer go? It smells like fall, doesn't it? We haven't had frost yet which is a good thing. Roy, Monica and Linaya were home last weekend and we got a lovely visit because the weather was holding us back from full day combining. It was fun to have Linaya for a combine ride, too, as well as letting her help bring in veggies from the garden. She would show up in the kitchen and want to be picked up. Monica took a picture of what I was calling "The Cooking With Grandma Show" She would watch so carefully. We also had a very loud Roughriders game in our living room on Sunday afternoon. Linaya and Daddy got all decked out in their "Go Riders!" shirts. We're back to longer days in the field. I'm planning on being done so we can get in on Linaya's birthday cake on Oct. 5th! Harvest has been going well. Stan has been busy moving grain around to different bins to accomodate what is being dried and what is incoming dry already on the grain trucks. He is working hard and pleased with the crop that survived the hail storm. Onward we go!