Happy Birthday Ben~!~!

 Happy 8th Birthday to Ben.. Nov. 12th was Ben's birthday..  What a joy this boy has been in my life~!  
Here he is opening his card from Aunt Jodie..
HE was so excited when he saw the money~!
I love to watch his tongue waggling too and fro from one side of his lips to the other.

Have a great day~!  
It's a tiggeriffic day.. snow on the ground..crisp air and the magic of winter...ta ta for now..~!

Ben's last day of school~!

This is Ben's first grade teacher, Mrs. Schlotterback.. She is going to have a baby June 25.   Ben was so excited to help me make this quilt for her.. Today was the last day of school and I brought it to school so Ben could give this quilt to her..  She really liked this quilt and said that her babies room was with a chevron design for a wallpaper border and in these colors.. Perfect~!    She is going to have a girl.. She even let the class vote for the name.. I thought that was brave..  

Another year is over and Ben is now going to be in 2nd grade next year.. Can't believe that this school year is all over.. 

       I volunteer for 2nd graders and next year I won't be able to do that.. Ben will be in that classroom.. So I went to the third grade teacher and asked if she would like me to volunteer in her classroom... She was so very excited.. Teachers really need our help with helping with their students...  Giving them one on one time in reading ~~~ helping them with their math...  correcting math and spelling for the teacher.. Soo if anyone has some time to help with teachers in their area,,,it would be a great thing if you could do this.. I go twice a week from 9 a.m. to 3p.m.   If you can't do all day then just do an hour or two... Its rewarding and time well spent in helping the children..  

      Have a great day...ta ta for now from Iowa:)

It's a wonderful day here in Iowa...Had a huge big storm last night... 60 mile wind and flat winds along with the rain... We got hail first... Big balls falling out of the sky.~!
Was driving in this mess and was so glad to get home and put car in garage.. I ran for the house and went to the basement.. Tornadoes sirens going off..  Yikes~!  My hair was on fire....LOL
Today is sunny and it is now 72 degrees.. going to be a nice day...to go out and work on the weeds in the garden...
Ben will be home at 2:30  from school. early out today.... Last day of school is going to be next Thursday..May 29th.. Doesn't seem possible he is done with 1st grade and going into 2nd.. He is so smart.. He is reading 3rd grade level and doing 2nd grade math... Now if we could just get his social skills calmed down..
It will come with lots of time and patience.. I take him once a week to what is called Play Therapy.. It's actually counseling..and it's really helping him... a lot..
Haven't  been on here since my birthday in February.. Best to get started again since I miss all my favorite blog buddies.  So here is the beginning of a new start .....
    This is Ben at his school for track day.. Ben is on the left ..With his favorite buddies ~~ Grant and Andrew...

Have a Tiggeriffic Day~!  ta ta for now from Iowa:-)

Happy Birthday~! I'm 1/2 way to 140~!~!

 Yesterday was my birthday~!
I love my birthdays~!
I sat in my pj's all day answered the phone with my family calling and wishing me a splendid day.  I had a virus on my computer and the man I was talking to that was going to fix my computer ~ I told him it was my birthday and he wished me a Happy Day..He laughed when I told him my age.  I did my Bible Study and looked at the birds outside my window.. Baby it's cold outside but it's sunny and pretty white with snow..
    I had a (total) of 18 male and female Cardinals come to the lilac bush and show off all their beauty with the snow in the back ground.. right outside my window.. What a marvelous sight that was to see..Won't be long and Mr. Cardinal is going to be singing love songs to Mrs. Cardinal.. Music to my ears~!  

Then I had to get dressed..My friend Holly came and got me with a van full of some of my friends and took me to dinner at Zeppelins's  Restaurant. They told me to order whatever I wanted.. and I did.. It was an awesome evening with laughter and friends sharing lots of birthday wishes..  This year I'm 1/2 to 140... I love telling my age this way.. It makes people do the math..ha ha...:)

You can't have a birthday without dessert.. So here is a Chocolate brownie with whipped cream and ice cream and a smackling of nuts..  IT was so good and the evening was ended with much sweetness~! 
Needless to say I had a great time.. Thanking God for Birthdays and knowing that God is able to provide me with every blessing in abundance...   I love my family and friends and a day wouldn't go past that I don't appreciate them all..  ~!~!
Have a Tiggeriffic Day ~~~ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Ben in a play "Tacky the Penguin".

Last Friday Ben and his friend Grant were in a play. Ben was narrator 3 and his friend was narrator 1.. They both did a great job~!  It was a really cute play.. The kids in his classroom (14) were dressed like penguins and it was so cute to see them preform.. or is it perform..
It was a great time for parents to see their children doing a play about penguins. Ben and Grant did a wonderful job reading all those words.. Some big and some short and some very hard for a 1st grader to read.But these boys are at the top of their reading groups ~ no problem for them.

      Snow storm last night.. We have 4 inches.. I went out this morning and shoveled a path to the bird feeder and got their feeders filled.. They were munching while I was filling the feeders.. They were hungry little birds. I also got the cement pad in front of garage cleared of snow and then came into the house.. I was chilly.. It was 12 degrees and wind chill factor was -9.. I poured my coffee and came into my room where my computer is located...Turned on my computer and there was WARNING ~! WARNING~!  on the screen.. I had a major virus.. So I called our Secure It virus protector and they took over my computer with my permission and 3 hours later they had it fixed..  Thank you Secure It~!   
     Today is my birthday..I'm 1/2 way to 140... Doesn't seem possible that I'm that old.. I don't feel that old..which is actually very good.  I just wonder where did all those years went.. It's a great day...I love my birthday..~!  My bible study girls are taking me out for supper tonight. Zeppelins.. Not sure where that Restaurant  is but it's going to be a happy time to be with these girls..I made them some hearts.. Ben and I and his mom Tracie has been working on these hearts.  Take wax paper..a potato peeler and a hot iron.. and crayons.  peel some of the crayon onto the wax paper fold paper in half and go over the paper with a hot iron and the crayons melt..  After this cools I cut the paper into a heart shape...  they are so cool.. This is going to be Ben's valentines to give to his kids in his class.. and I'm going to give to my girl friends for my birthday~!  
        Early out for school kids today..  some schools cancelled.. Our school had a late start and a early dismissal..  Only 4 hours of school today... This way we can have last day be in late May... and not have to go into June... Snow and cold bitter temperatures have been a long battle for us this year.. Don't mind the snow as Iowa needs all the moisture it can get.  We were in the beginning of a dought last fall.
      You all have a Tiggeriffic Day~!  ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Look who's doing the supper dishes~!

 After I volunteered yesterday (Tues.) for the second graders at Springville Elementary ~ Ben and I left to go home.. 
Decided to have pizza.. His mom got home and we had the oven ready... Ben made his own pizza and he held up his plate with the dough that he had spread out, he had drawn a happy face.. He said "GranAnnie ~ this is how I feel"..."Happy"...We are trying to teach him about feelings... match the face with the feeling.. I told him that his face made me Happy too~!

After supper he just decided on his own that he was going to do the dishes.. So he got his stool and I gave him the sponge we use to wash the dishes and squirted soap on the sponge.. (of course I gave him lots of praise).... He was as happy as a lark to do this..I told him I would wipe the dishes.. I told him the responsibility that the dryer had was to be sure the dishes were clean and rinsed good.. He liked it that I was drying the dishes.. He said "We are a team"...  
         Afterwards we went into his Mom's bedroom and watched a Vegie Tale Movie.. Beanie climbed up and he petted Beanie and said  'You know GranAnnie if you pet your dog long enough they will follow you all over the house ".. I said "Yes, Ben you are right"...Little later he went to the kitchen to get a drink and he was so excited..Beanie walked right behind him... He gave her a snack... Good Dog~!
       This morning was a little chilly but this noon it's 21 degrees with the sun shining so brightly.. We are having a heat wave.. Ya-Hoo~!   Went outside this morning and it felt so good to not be below 0 and the wind not blowing so hard..
      The furnace is acting up this morning and our furnace man came right over... Oh NO~~!  He said the motor was dead.. $$$$$$$$$$  later, we have heat again.. 
The expenses of winter is upon our house and so glad I saved money for a rainy/snowy day.....
      A Cure For The Blues:  Psalm 8   ought to be required reading for anyone suffering the "Monday morning Blues" (I know today is Wednesday) If one can read it without getting emotionally involved, than you haven't had your morning coffee yet~!  When was the last time you counted your blessings from God? God has provided much happiness for our families, our health, security possessions, a home in heaven.  Give much thanksgiving and Read Psalm 8 out loud to God. Our God is all-powerful~! 
      Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! Ta Ta For Now:)
      
       

100 days for Ben's School

     Last Friday it was 100 days of school for Ben at Springville Elementary. His first grade class participated in dressing old.   He was dressed like an old man.. He has on his great grandpa's hat..his dad's suspenders and a painted on mustache.. He looked so cute and he was so proud..   His teacher took their picture and on the computer she aged the kids faces.. This is what Ben will look like when he is old..He is still cute.. or handsome.. 
     Yesterday we had really bad  weather and the blowing snow  was so bad traveling to church..  But we made it~!  When we came out of church it was nice. No wind and no snow blowing.. We came home and had some delicious brocolli / ham soup and a sandwich.. I baked some apples in the microwave and they tasted so delish~!    About 4 p.m. the wind picked back up and Yikes~!  the blowing snow was blowing so hard and on the T.V. there were school cancellations for today..(Monday)...   This morning lots of businesses were closing.. It's -7 and the chill factor is brisk.. The winds are suppose to pick back up to 30 plus and they are telling people to stay home because it's so cold.. I went out this morning and fed the birds ,,,had to shovel lots of snow to get to their feeder.. There was a little black capped chickadee that was not looking very good.. I picked him up and brought him into the house.. I gave it some water and some food and he perked right back up.. I let him back outside and he flew to the feeder and looked like he was going to make it.. He was singing his  song "I'm alive"  "I'm alive"... chick a dee dee~!  chick a dee dee~! 
      After I got back inside I poured my coffee and made my morning grits and a soft egg..  Now just sitting in my comfy chair watching the birds.. I now have one squirrel and he is enjoying the corn I put out on the ground this morning just for him.. I had some walnuts and put them out there too.. My friend gave me a old bag  (2010) of walnuts she had in her freezer and said to feed them to my birds.. j
    Hope you all are safe and warm.. I'm just thankful we have electricity and the furnace is running ...
    Ta ta for now from Iowa:)  
WARNING~~~~everyone should go outside and take a look at the exhaust that is on the side of your house..this exhaust comes from your furnace.. If it is blocked with snow or ice your furnace will not work.. I checked mine while out feeding the birds..It was covered with snow.. Good thing I looked~!  

Ben had Flat Stanley for the week=end.....

 Took Ben to the movie called Cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2.. It was a really cute movie.. Ben got to bring Flat Stanley home from school for the week-end.. So here is Ben and Stanley at the movie..
His class has been reading Flat Stanley books (3) so far and on the week-ends one child gets to take him home and have an adventure with him.. Then he writes in a journal about what Flat Stanley did over the week-end with this child.. 

 This is Ben's Sunday School teacher.. and Flat Stanley.. He was learning about Noah's Ark...

 Flat Stanley is now sitting on the chalk board at church alongside Ben..

Flat Stanley at the billboard outside the movie theater.. Ben really liked this movie and it was a lot of fun to watch.. We go to the cheap theater where tickets are only $4.00..We always get a large popcorn and something to drink.. 





It has been so cold and snowy here in Iowa.. You can tell it's getting on peoples nerves..It's -1 right now with the promise of being -25 in the morning.. That's O.K.. I like winter and the snow.. The schools are already having 2 hour delay.. That should make some kids happy, they can sleep longer..  I personally like the snow maybe not the freezing below 0 temperatures but I do enjoy the snow.. Our church on Sunday had a pot luck after church and then we went sled riding.. I didn't go sled riding but it was fun to watch the kids and some young adults go down the hill.  I used to be able to do that but with 3 knee replacements I decided to be careful and not do that..it stinks getting older.. But that doesn't keep me from enjoying the out of doors and walking in the snow.
     My wildbirds have sure been hungry this winter. I feed them daily and they are so thankful... I have pheasants come to the feeder and little rabbits.. I have no squirrels.. 
      Tomorrow it's suppose to be a below 0 day and I will still go outside and walk.. IT's so important to get some fresh air every day in our lungs... I used to tell my kids when they were little to go outside and get the stink off.. They would always say "I don't stink".. I said "Yes , I know"... My kids would always go outside every day and build snowmen and caves when the snow was deep.. When they were babies and little I would always take them outside for just a bit.. put color in their cheeks..
       Hope you are all keeping warm and staying safe..
Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Sketch Me More

Found this really cool application on my smart phone. It's called "Sketch Me More"... If you go to the application and then click on Gallery you can make any picture you have in your gallery look like this.. I thought it was really a lot of fun.. I printed it off and I'm in the process of using colored pencils to color it and then frame the picture.. It makes it look like one actually sketched it.. I guess I could leave it alone and just take a micro pen and draw outside the whole picture..Either way I think this application is so fun..  Course when people see this project I'm doing they ask me if I sketched it.. I can not lie,,I tell them No I got it from an application from my phone.
Yesterday it rained and of course it turned to ice and coming home from volunteering at school yesterday afternoon the driving was very slippery.. I took Ben to his Mama's house and I came right home. It got foggy and the road was a sheet of ice.. After driving school bus for 23 years I am quite familiar with driving on ice.  You have to go slow..
Ben told me yesterday he had his 2014 Resolution made..He was going to drink water and milk...so his muscles will get strong... He said GranAnnie ?  Next year I'll be able to carry you... I just chuckled and said Well, Ben I better lose some weight.. He is so funny , he just cracks me up.   He brought home the traveling Flat Stanley yesterday and he is all excited on what adventures he is going to take him on this week-end.. This morning he is playing a game on the WII game . Later we are going to the Cedar Rapids Library.  He said to make sure our phones are charged so his Mom and I can take lots of pictures to put into the book about his week-end with Flat Stanley..  Soo off we go~!
        My Romaine lettuce is getting taller.. Now I'm wondering if I should put any nutrients in the water while growing this lettuce.  It's looking good and getting so tall.. If you have any suggestions let me know if I should be putting something in the water to give it some nutrients.. I'm going to buy some celery today when I go to town and see how that grows.. It sure does give some bright green to the room on this wintery days.
     This year for my Resolution I chose the word "Joy"..
Not going to be too hard because I choose to be happy and be an encourager.  Sometimes I have a hard time when people this time of year say they are bored.. Oh my goodness just to be alive and be able to get out of bed is a blessing from God..  Sometimes when things happen in my life that is not pleasant I try to just turn them over to God.. sometimes that is very hard because I just like to turn it over and over in my mind  and it's just not good. Soooo I'm going to try harder this year to just let God handle these things.  If we just look back at all the things that have happened in our lives that we worried about and then realize that God had it handled all the time and it turned out for the good.. Or through that hardship God made it into a blessings.(If I had just realized how it would of turned out I wouldn't of had to worry so much)  I'm not much of a worrier ~~~when things happen I don't start asking what if ?  I just wait until it slaps me in the face and then I can take action. In the meantime I just think prayer is the answer.. 
     Well, you all have a Tiggeriffic Day~!  Ta Ta For Now from Iowa:)
       

My Romaine Lettuce is Growing~!

My Romaine lettuce is looking good. With everyday it just gets bigger and bigger.. Wonder if when I cut it off and use it in my salad  it will grow again.. OR if this is a one time deal..  Well it sure is growing and is so dark green.  My computer is acting up and the cursor is jumping all around.. I'll have to quit now.. sorry..
Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now...from Iowa:)

Our Iowa Live Snowman~!

Here is Dave posing with all the snow all over him.. He used the John Deere Snow blower that we have to remove all the snow in front of our garage and in the driveway.  It's freezing cold here in Iowa and today we are having a heat wave.. It's 4 degrees.. First day in 3 days that it hasn't been below freezing..Waking up with temperatures starting at -13  last couple days is not very inviting. The school kids have had no school for two days now and I'm sure they are going stir crazy with being off for 2 weeks for Christmas.. 

     My good friend died Sunday and Dave and I are going to her funeral service at 11 today.. No burial as it is too cold.  ( I would think the ground would be too frozen).  Another chapter in Ruth's life.. She was 71...

     The birds are at the bird feeders this morning  in a huge group..I took out some water for them this morning and even thou I have a heated bird bath it is freezing on the outer edges.. They are drinking the water and I'm sure they are thankful.. Food and water are so important for them this time of year when everything is frozen solid.    It's so fun to set here at my desk and look out my window and see all the beautiful colors they present with the white snow as a background..

       Made chilli today..it's in the crockpot.. Thank goodness for crockpots ~  When we come home today it will taste good for our evening meal.. I think I will make some cornbread to go with the soup..  Dave is doing Weight Watchers so I have to be careful with my cooking.  He has lost 50 pounds so far and has been doing it with my daughter Tracie since May.. They are both having success. Makes the Doctors Happy.

        Stay warm and keep busy.. My knitting projects are getting done and I have watched many movies on Nexflix.   I watched the movie titled Unconditional  ~ last night.. That was a awesome movie.. 

Have a Tiggeriffic Day~!  Ta Ta For Now From Frigid Iowa~! 

Mega Big Time Sugar~!

Double /Triple Dose of Sugar~!

        Have you ever looked at the side of the can of pop that your children or Grandchildren are drinking.. Ben was drinking with two straws of Sun Drop Soda.. He was trying to fiqure out how to put the straws into the cans and just drink out of one..So he decided to drink with two straws in each can.. I wondered how much sugar is in one of these cans~~ Yikes~!   46 g of carbs and 45 g of sugar.. I took the rest of the cans that I had purchased and dumped them down the drain and put the empty cans into the recycle bin..Guess GranAnnie better look next time Ben puts a beverage into the cart.. Needless to say he was higher than a kite and if someone says to you that children are not affected by sugar it's all rubbish.. They are affected.. Ben and I had a little talk about this drink he was drinking and we decided that we need to be more cautious and careful with our choices.. 
        Tracie (Ben's Mom) and I took Ben to the Cedar Rapids Library and the new library is so cool.. They have a treadmill attached to a computer table ~ Ben is reading a book while walking on the treadmill...What a great idea~!  That's the way I like doing things,,multi-tasking.  He loves going to the library and when we go we usually spend 4 to 5 hours there.. 
         Yesterday at church the Pastor asked if anyone had taken a test this week.. Lots of young people's hands went up..College age students..  This was testimony Sunday and a time when people ~ if they want to come up and tell how God had worked in their life this year.   There were about 9 of us that went up and I gave a testimony about how I love to witness to people and see where they are with their walk with God.  My oldest Son,(age 33) Wally was killed in a automobile accident 18 years ago and what got me through this whole ordeal was my strength that I had with God..  As long as I kept my eyes on Jesus I was strong.. But when my eyes were not on Jesus I was a basket case.  When we go through hard times in our lives we need to lean on God to get us through the ordeal.
I got to thinking about what the Pastor had said ~if any of us had taken a test.. I think God is giving ALL of us a test everyday.. Did you pray today? Did you read your bible today? Did you read your daily devotions?  How was your driving to work today, or shopping mall~~ did someone bother you by not driving fast enough or being in the wrong lane?  Did you get bothered by standing in the checkout lane  and seeing the lady in front of you is paying for her groceries with lots of pennies..? ( I went up and helped her count  ALL those pennies).  What are we doing to show other people God's love.... what are we teaching our children... Because it's so bitter cold outside I went out to my mailbox and put some handwarmers in the mailbox for the mail person that will deliver my mail later today.. An hour ago it was -13 and now it's -8.. and it's 1:30.  Lots of schools cancelled today because of the bitter cold.. 
January is always a starting over month for me.. I don't make New Years Resolutions ~ I don't keep them...So I'm starting by reading The Daily Walk Bible.. by next year I'll have read the whole bible, read the special daily devotions that are included in this bible, have insights to help me understand what I have read..and have a closer walk with God..  It will be a jouney and I'm going to write down my thoughts in a journal..  Day 7 will be tomorrow and I have been faithful so far in reading the bible everyday..
Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! ta ta for now from Iowa~!

Growing Romaine Lettuce

Ben's artwork~!

Saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I would try and see how it would work for me.. These are the bottom of Roamaine Stalks ..I cut them off and set them in water..Look~! they are growing.. They will get really tall..I can cut them off and use them for a salad.  I thought this idea was so cool~!. Each day they grow a little taller and they are so pretty and green. I started them on New Year's Day...

Saw this idea on Pinterest..

Ben called me yesterday and said "GranAnnie?" I'm bored..  So I went over to his house and got out the construction paper, markers,glue stick and scissors..  He cut each part out separately and had a great time making this guy. I just loved it.. We hung it up in the kitchen with his other drawings... He was very content with his handy art work.

Monkey boy ~ Ben

 
 Ben is now scaling the doorways at my house.. He just loves doing this all the time.. My son, Rich  would do this at this age and how interesting we are in the next generation doing the exact same thing.. 
Ben starts back to school Jan. 6 ~ Monday.. But with the snow and very -0 temperatures ~ school might get cancelled or 2 hour delay.. I go for the 2 hour delay..These kids have been off for 2 weeks. An hour ago 10:00 a.m. it was 35 degrees and now I see it's 27.. getting colder as the day goes on.  I'm going outside soon to shovel the cement pad that is in front of the garage and the steps leading to the garage.   Get outside while it's not so cold and do some excercise.  Plus we are suppose to get more snow.. Yeah~!  It's Iowa....and it's winter.. 
Outside my window I can see 8 cardinals at the bird feeder.. They are so bright against the white snow.  The bird feeders are very active today..I'll have to go and fill up the feeders when I go outside.. The black capped chickadees always sing a merry tune to me when I'm filling up the feeders.  
Knitting a scarf for Tracie.. with the frigid cold temp's outside she needs something for her neck..
Have a Tiggeriffic Day~!  ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Ben shoveling the snow

 Picked up Ben after school today after helping with Mrs. Wittenburg's 2nd grade class.
He was so excited to get home.. He took his book bag into his Mom's house and went out to the garage to get the shovel.. He said "GranAnnie I'm going to shovel the snow off the walk so when mommy gets home she doesn't have to walk in the snow.."  Oh how sweet this was to hear.. He has never shoveled the walks by himself.. I was so proud of him.

Ben standing tall with his shovel...

Snow falls and it's so glistening~!

      Here we are December 12th and it's crisp and cold outside with lots of snow.. It's Iowa and it's suppose to be like this..Only not so cold..But it is winter and I love all the seasons.. So glad I have seat warmers in my new car and I can start my car from the house... gotta love it when it's this cold..  
     My daughter , Jodie has been here for couple days and she bought a remote for our garage to turn on the outside lights.. I have had to go outside and manually turn them on...garage is not connected to the house.. This is so nice now to just flip the switch and ta da the lights go on,,, Sweet~!  Jodie does so many things for us it's just so awesome...and she is so thoughtful~!
    Had a great Thanksgiving in Illinois visiting with my son, Rich and Lisa and family. Ben went with us and loved being with all his cousins and Aunt Jodie and Uncle Richie.. He pulled on the wishbone with cousin Sophia...He was so happy he won~!  

Emily Anne and my Sparky Girl Kelly~!

   

Sophia and Ben playing Monopoly.  They had a really great time playing..Ben is the banker..... and keeps right on top of things.. He knows his math and he knows just what you owe...course he can give change... He is so smart.. Can't believe he is 7 and so smart in reading and math.
       Today I went to school and helped Mrs. Wittenburg with her Christmas presents that the children are going to make and give to their parents.. I'm going back tomorrow and finish with another project she wants them to make for their parents.. There are 23 in the classroom and 4 of the children need two presents for their parents..because of divorce.  It's a lot of work but soooo rewarding,,the children are so excited to be able to make something to give to their parents. I love working with them..
     Took Ben to counseling this afternoon . It's called Play Therapy.. Not sure what it's all about but this is what the guidance counselor wants his parents to try for Ben.. So I get to take him every Thursday and we have so much fun.. Afterwards we go to Casey's store and buy a drink and a cookie and then we drive to the local cemetery and today we put our boots on and of course hats,gloves,coats (it's really cold and snowy here) and walked through the cemetery.. They have a awesome memorial for the cival war soldiers.. So we talked about the soldiers that were buried there and I told them that President Lincoln was the Pres. at that time. That is Ben's favorite President..  He loves to walk in cemeteries and read the names on the tombstones.. He asked if the ones that all had flowers were believers of God and they were the ones that were in heaven with God..and the ones without flowers were not going to heaven.. I told him ,,,No, the ones with flowers are blessed because someone that lives close went to the store and bought some  flowers and put them on their families graves..He said "Does Uncle Wally have flowers on his grave?"  We live close to his cemetery.. I said No Wally doesn't have flowers on his grave...So on Saturday after he has play practice at our church we are going to buy flowers for Wally's grave and take them and place them on his tombstone.. 
We had a nice quiet walk around this cemetery and Ben asking lots of questions and reading lots of names. I just love being with him...
Well, have a blessed day and ta ta for now from Iowa:)

The weather outside is frightful~!

This was on Monday and we had our first snow and ice.. People forgot how to drive and it was accident after accident.. Body shops will be busy for quite awhile..  and Car Dealers busy with people having to buy a new vehicle.. That will help their pocket books..
     This morning it's 9 degrees and very sunny.  No school for the kiddies and Ben's in daycare right now.. I'm going to pick him up at 3 today..He wants to play Monopoly.. We have been playing an ongoing game for 3 days now.. I just set it up and when it's time to quit we just leave the game and come back to it later.. That is the only way to play monopoly..  HE is winning so he doesn't want the game to be put away..:)  
     We are going to Barrington, Illinois to my son's house for Thanksgiving.  So this morning I have 3 pies to make.. I love making pies so I always get to bring pies when we all get together.. Need to get packed and ready to leave at 7 in the morning.. I want to get everything done so when it's 3 today I can pick up Ben and we can just play...  
       

Yesterday when I was at school helping with Mrs. Wittenburg's 2nd grade class the school in the afternoon had a 1/2 hour reading session.. Grades pre-school to 5th grade all came into the gym and sat down in groups and read ~ some to each other and some alone.. I took a chair down to the gym and Ben sat on my lap and read to me.. Then he went to his room and got my Thanksgiving present he made for me.. It says all the things he is thankful for.. I was honored and I told him how proud I was of him making this for me.. He took a picture of me (I need a haircut so bad)..It was a good time and I just love to hear him read.. He doesn't hesitate at all when reading and it just amazes me at 1st grade he can read those big hard words that some of the 2nd graders stumble on or need help... 
Guess I best get busy with the pies and packing.. You all have a great Thanksgiving~!  It's the time of year to be Thankful~!  ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Took Ben to the Library...

       

Tracie and I took Ben to the library last Saturday..It's the brand new Cedar Rapids library.. We found these very comfy chairs...and I mean comfy~!  We asked one or the librrarians how much this chair cost and she said $500... OUCH~! too much for my budget.. But it was so comfy and would be a great chair to be cozy to sit in and read a book.. Ben loved the library..We got lots of Skippy Jon Jones books that had CD's in them so he could listen and enjoy the author read the book..We had a great day..~!  While at the library Ben wanted to use the computer.. He used my library card # and played on the website where there were lots of Math problems to do.. He loves Math..THis site had Math games,, puzzles with Math,, spelling and lots more.. He played for 1/2 hour and then we were off doing something else.. He wanted to get on the computer again and play some more Math games I said you need my card so you can type in my card #..He said "No, GranAnnie I have it memorized.". Yikes~!  This libarary card # is 13 numbers plus 4 numbers for password.. I was amazed.. We had a great time at the library..We were there for 5 hours,,there's so much to do and see.
     I saw this quote the other day and thought I would share it with you..
“Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, "Show it to Me."  Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, "What are you doing?” 
- J.C. Ryle

Have a Tiggeriffic Day...ta ta for now from Iowa:)

This is Ben at the playstation with his friend Jacob.. Jacob is in yellow and his Mom, Kim is in Blue..I told them they look like Mario ...Ben and his Mom, Tracie are in the middle.. He loves going to the playstation every year for his birthday with Jacob..  Ben turned 7 this year and is growing up so fast.. Yesterday I went with Tracie and Ben to the brand new Cedar Rapids Library.. He wanted to be on the computer to do a math program (he loves math)...Had to enter my library card number which is 13 numbers.. I told Ben what to type along with my password.. I couldn't believe it the 2nd time we did this he didn't need my card,,he knew the numbers including the password.. Oh my goodness~!  that was so amazing to me that he could remember ALL those numbers.. I think you call this a math whiz...When he does the math or subtraction problems he doesn't even think about it he just writes the answer down  like 7+3 =10.  It's like reading words, no hesitation..  WOW~!  

       He is very interested in Planets right now.. We found 2 really good books on the subject.. I told him we should make the planets and color them and hang them from the ceiling in his bedroom.. He said yes,,we can start with mercury and go from the smallest to the largest.. He said "GranAnnie just to let you know the earth is not the largest ~~~~it's the sun...What a boy... !~!~!

Here is Ben having a good time with lights out and us singing "Happy Birthday". He was so happy~! This was a video and I don't know how to put a video on my blog.. Lots of loud singing ~ in tune and out of tune.. But Ben loved it and we had a great time celebrating his 7th birthday...
           Went to church this morning and because Ben was with his Mom this week he gets to go to church with PaPa Dee Dee and me...The Sunday School is practicing for the Christmas Program ... He said after church that he had a great time and he loves singing to Jesus..He really enjoys going to church with us.. There was a baptism this morning and he was really fascinated with what was going on...he said he would like to someday go under that water just like Jesus did with John the Baptist.. (He remembered the story I told him couple weeks ago)..what a memory he has .. bless his heart.. He accepted God into his life, kneeling next to his bed awhile ago.. He said he wanted to be sure he was in the Lambs book of life.. on God's hand.. I cried..what a tender moment that was for me to listen to him give a heart felt talk to God..wanting God to be in his heart and his name on God's hand.. Sweet~!  What a blessing ~!
       Today was a warm,,rainy day.. After church we dropped Ben off to his Mom's house and we went to Culvers for lunch.. There were lots of people there.. When we got home I took a nap.. Isn't that what Sunday afternoons are for...?
Now I'm going to get some popcorn popped and get ready for the Amazing Race ....I really like this show..  So on that note..Have a Blessed Day~!~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)

Yesterday Dave and I went to Ben's house for his birthday party.. He was with his Dad on Tues.November 12 when it was his b-day but now he is with his Mom for a week and it's time to celebrate.. He wanted a marble cake so his Mom found a camouflage cake that would be good for Mind Craft theme.. She found a small toy in the toy Dept. of WalMart and ta da...the cake was complete.. Ben really likes playing Mind Craft.. I don't understand it but he does and it keeps him quite busy..
      Aunt Jodie sent him a book of Skippy Jon Jones and the stuffed Skippy Jon Jones.. What a delightful book.. He was so excited when he saw the stuffed Skippy Jon Jones.Skippy Jon Jones is a Siamese Cat and he has such big ears and a big head he thinks he is a Chiwawa..spelling all wrong , there is even a little Spanish language. It's a really fun book.  . He was elated...jumping up and down and hugging hugging with all his might.. It was so fun to watch.. His mom has lots of pictures..Even a video of us singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles.. I have so many great memories of birthdays I had in the past..Poor Dave has none.. His family did not recognize birthdays.. We had a great time and Ben had a good time playing with everything he got for his birthday...

Happy 7th Birthday Ben ..Yippee Ya--Hoo~!
We are going to the Cedar Rapids library today to check out some Skippy Jon Jones books.. and go to Ben's favorite restaurant... Pizza Ranch...
Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! ta ta for now from Iowa:)

The Joys of Life~!

This is my best friend, Holly...She is my prayer partner and my help when needed...we are at a Steven Curtis Chapman concert . We came with her family and other friends. It was a great concert and Steven Curtis Chapman is such a great entertainer.  It was fun singing along and praising God.. 

Friends like Holly are such a joy~!  People always ask if we are sisters.. Holly is 46 and I'm 69...quite a age difference.. I always tell people that we are actually twins...we were just parted at birth...  We always laugh.. I didn't meet Holly until we moved here from Ohio.. She has 2 children, Caryn and Nathan..age 11 and 15.. Her husband, Fred works at Collins Rockwell.  Has a great job . We had a great evening~!  Praising God~!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

In my devotional for today it talks about getting a Spiritual CheckUp...:

The Psalmist prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24)  

If you're wise you'll visit your doctor and get a regular physical checkups. You'll also go to God for regular spiritual checkups.  In what areas?  

1. Your salvation.  "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new"..(2Col 5:17) Was there ever a time in your life when you repented of your sin and placed your trust in Jesus to save you? Have you surrendered to Him and made Him Lord of your life?

2. Your devotional life. "I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day  (Ps. 119;97) "Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it ...Do you read and meditate on God's Word each day?  Are your

personal devotions consistent and meaningful?  Do you try to apply the principles of Scripture to each circumstance you're in?

3. Your humility..God says "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isa 57:15 Are you quick to recognize and agree with God when you have sinned?  Are you quick to admit to others when you are wrong?  Can you rejoice at others' successes, even when yours goes unnoticed? Do you esteem others as better than yourself?  Do you live with a sense of dependence upon God?    

     Praise God if you have had a Spiritual CheckUp today...

The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive... God Loves Us So Much  ~!

Have a Tiggeriffic Day~! Ta Ta For Now from Iowa:)