For many reasons, it's become clear that we should buy a home here. After a relatively short search and 4 offers (one of which was accepted, but ended up being a lit time-bomb), we found a home with all our essentials. This process was the result of a lot of prayer and soul-searching and budget-crunching.
We decided to walk away from a pristine neighborhood with a pool across the street for a better floor plan with an extra bedroom close to our church/school. We were on the fence about the neighborhood until I drove past this particular place. I had such peace in my heart, which is always how God answers my prayers. There is a highway in the distance, which you can't hear. The neighborhood reminds DH of his growing up. We are so pleased with this place; and grateful to God for opening our eyes!
There are many fruit-bearing trees in our yard. Here is a papaya.
There is a pomegranate tree behind the Engineer.
We discovered the quince fruit.
And, of course, banana. This one is my favorite because its large, green leaves decorate my view from the kitchen window. It feels like we are in a tropical paradise from that spot.
"If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs."
"In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. 'How are we to live in an atomic age?'”
I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”
In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways.
We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.
This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together.
If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.
Two of our three baby boys. Each was so friendly. Somehow, we forgot to capture all three of them. :(
My favorite Wisconsin thing: Summer sunrises shining through perfect rows of pines.
The first time we've been together in two years -- and our first picture in much longer!
All of the grandkids minus Mr. Serious & The Engineer.
We are absolutely in love with this sweet, dimpled little lady!
The 9 and almost-9-year-olds. She was in-utero when we got married. Her cousin came along 6 weeks later.
Wide open spaces we love so much!:
Beautiful sunsets abounded:
Ready for an afternoon on the lake:
Right after unfollowing an Instagram account that posted another reminder (in case I forgot *massive eye roll*) that Covid-19 can be deadly. Some people are determined to make us all crazy. I'm determined to remain sane. The battle is already won. Jesus reigns eternal. +
The grandkids were in awe of Grandpa's ski skills.
This photo makes me want to whiten my teeth. Beautiful Aunt Monica!
Showing off. I will do this at 64 if I can too!
Baby Boy Whisperer.
My favorite part of Wisconsin Dells is the characteristic rocky shores and pines. (Holiday Shores, Wisconsin River.)
Uncle M & Aunt C in their boat.
Supersonic with his Supersonic Aunt.
Fueled by connection and Clif bars.
Doing one of his favorite things.
The best bug ever -- mosquito-eating dragonfly.
She's up! The reward for keeping at it!!
Reading -- preparing for years of this!
Love this smile!
You can tell how much fun they were having here. I love this candid!
Demonstrating the full-body ski workout.
More showing off.
This one gives you a good view of the Wisconsin River landscape at this junction. It's beautiful!
Sweet Pea threw litter off the boat (grrr); thankfully, Uncle M caught it! Mad skills.
How to end your ski trip.
I love this. He walks on water. The only boy. The prized child. LOL.
"Mom, did you really get to work here? I'm jealous," said the Firstborn while he proceeded to sell Grandpa a grandiose, custom home for $800. It was on the ocean in California. I would say just add three zeros, but he'd need more like four more zeros. I liked witnessing his imagination though.
"I want to work here. I will be the grass cutter."
By far, our best air traveler. This boys is my hero:
