(Some Time With A Niece)

This weekend, our 13-year-old niece, Allison, came over on Friday night, spent the night with us and then the day with us on Saturday. When we picked her up on Friday, we went out to Pizza Ranch for dinner, one of her favorite places. Allison and I have always bonded over the dessert pizza there. We both like the same kind, the blueberry pizza and the chocolate chip cookie pizza. We like to say about the chocolate chip cookie pizza, "It doesn't look that great, but it tastes amazing". We feel the appearance of this "pizza" helps to keep out the riff-raff who do not really know how good it is, and we're fine with that. 

Unfortunately, since chemo started, I can't eat chocolate (though I continually try to persevere in this endeavor with no success). It tastes awful to me at this time. I take a small bite and end up spitting it out every time. I wasn't able to eat much at all at our visit to PR this time around, just a little mashed potatoes and gravy and a glass of milk. I tried a bit of both dessert pizzas but just couldn't do it. Allison ate an extra piece of the cookie pizza in my honor, and I enjoyed watching her enjoy it. 

One of the things that Allison and I do together is have our own little book club. Allison is a veracious reader, and I really like to read too, so this is a common bond we have. Currently, we've been reading through some of the books in the the Geoff & Janet Benge Christian Heroes Then and Now series. Our current read is Amy Carmichael (Rescuer of Precious Gems) We had a few delays in getting together to discuss this one, so Allison read the book three times by the time we got together this weekend. She really liked this one. Amy Carmichael was born in Ireland and later became a missionary in India in the late 1800's through early 1900's. She established an orphanage there and rescued and raised many orphan girls. Allison and I enjoyed discussing this one together. And I enjoyed seeing her enthusiasm for it. 

I've shared in other posts that Allison and I share a passion for the Operation Christian Child ministry through Samaritan's Purse. We spend time in November preparing shoeboxes filled with gifts that are sent all around the world to children who need them. And through these boxes, the opportunity is also given to tell them about Jesus.

So that we can pack a larger volume of boxes with quality items, I shop clearance sales all year long and store the items away until they are needed. I save up some money for the end of the year, and I do a bulk of shopping during the after-Christmas sales. Walgreens is a particularly helpful resource in this regard as they quickly reduce the price of the toys they had available for Christmas because they want to move on to Valentine's Day (literally, the Valentine candy started getting stocked on the shelves on December 26). 

Allison then comes over and helps unpackage and untag the items and categorize it into containers. She seems to love the job, and she's super helpful to me. 

In between the unpackaging she got creative with the packaging and started building her own structure. 

Over the years, I found with teenagers that if you keep their hands busy in a project and direct eye contact doesn't have to be made, a lot of conversation takes place. So, Allison and I played music (we listened to a lot of Lauren Daigle that day--and Allison knew most of the songs) and we talked about lots of different things. We had an enjoyable time together. 

Because I haven't had much of an appetite lately, I haven't baked much  either, which is unusual around here. Allison kindly made us some brownies and some sugar cookies, and she did a great job. 

As always, Allison and I had a very nice time together, and I look forward to when she's able to come over again. 

A Day With a Niece and Nephew (07/31/22)

Today Greg and I spent the day at Bunker Beach, a local water park, with Allison and Rylar, our niece and nephew. Allison will turn 12 years old next month and Rylar will turn 11 years old in December. They both wanted to go to Bunker Beach for their birthday activity this year. Allison has been there a couple times, but this was Rylar's first time. 

We had a fun day there. Greg and Rylar spent most of the day riding the water slides together, and Allison and I spent most of the day floating on the Lazy Loop. When we weren't doing that we all spent time together jumping waves in the Wave Pool, which is pictured behind in us in the following photos. 

We all had a great day together! Happy early birthday to you both. Your Uncle and Aunt love you!

A Day With A Niece 07/16/2022

Today, Carissa and I spent the day together to celebrate her 17th birthday (which happened a couple weeks ago). After the nieces and nephews turn 8 years old, we give them the choice of receiving a gift from us for their birthday OR doing an activity with us. Since the time she was old enough to choose, Carissa has always chosen the activity. The other kids usually like to choose an activity themselves, but Carissa always lets me choose it. Much of the time, it's some variation of she and I driving around in the car together for the day with stops along the way (often there are surprise visits from Uncle Greg along the way, though that didn't happen this time). 

This year, we went on a "chocolate shop tour". 

First we visited Abdullah candy store in Apple Valley. Abdullah is a local candy maker. They sell their products in many grocery stores and craft shops throughout the state. This is their one retail store in the state, and it's worth the trip. 

We had lunch at "The Smoothie Cafe" in Savage. Her mom told me she had been to one when they were on vacation in Florida, and she really enjoyed it. I kept our lunch destination a secret until we arrived there. She was very excited when we pulled into the parking lot. 

Since we were already on the southern end of things, we kept going and visited the Largest Candy Store in Minnesota, which is in Jordan. It is a sight to behold, and it earns its name. 

   

That candy store had an old fashioned photo booth (with old fashioned prices). It was $2.00 for two strips of pictures (in color), one for each of us. We couldn't pass up that deal. We had fun doing it, as you might have noticed. 

We finished the day at one of my favorite chocolate shops, the Droolin' Moose, also a local shop. We didn't take a picture there, but we did have a fun time. 

While we were driving around all day, between stops, Carissa and I played the game "Things" It's a card game that's usually played with a group of people, but I've always used the cards from the game as conversation starters when I have teenagers in the car with me. Carissa and I have played it during our past mini adventures. We pick a card and then take turns trying to name as many things we can think of that match that card until we run out of ideas. 

Some of the cards we drew were: things that no one knows about you, things you were wrong about, things that don't go together, things that are hard to measure, things you wish you were good at, things that are not true, etc. 

We had a lot of great conversation around these simple little cards. It's a nonthreatening way to have a conversation that goes a little deeper than "So, what did you do yesterday?

It was a great day together. Happy Birthday Carissa! You are loved by your Aunt and Uncle. 

A Day With the Nieces (Birthdays 2015)

Today I spent the day with my nieces, Kylie and Emily, for their birthdays. Next week, Kylie will turn 16 and Emily will turn 15 years old (their actual birthdays are a day apart). For the last several years now, we've spent a day together doing various things in celbration of their birthdays. I usually keep the agenda a surprise until we're in the middle of the activities. Today was no exception.

This year we started our day out at a pizza place in Robbinsdale called "Pig Ate My Pizza" It was one of those chef-driven restaurants with fancy pizza and a fun atmosphere, maybe not quite the speed of picky teenage eaters, but they humored me. 

Next, it was off to get our nails done.

The girls chose fancy polish that turned colors with the temperature of your hands. 

Our final destination was my favorite local chocolate shop (now also their favorite), The Droolin Moose. 

It was a fun day together. I am so grateful to God for the opportunity to share in the lives of these young ladies. 

A trip to the Fair (Iowa)

In early August, Emily and I took our annual trip to Iowa to visit Greg during his two-week stint working at the Iowa State Fair.

We checked out the place where Greg was working for the week. 

The audio-visual production trainee

A little fair time.

Emily and I rounded a corner in the Art exhibit building and came across this site. As Greg was posing near this picture, a lady stopped us and asked us if that was a picture of Greg when he was a child. We chuckled. 

Emily's first experience with a pay phone. It was a novelty for her. She had to make a call to "Papa". She had no idea how to use the phone. Oh, how times have changed. 

Emily and I always have a good time on these road trips, and as she has gotten older the trip has changed. The conversation is deeper, and the experience is richer. 

Though having Greg away from home for so long in the summer is difficult for our family, I'm grateful for the opportunities it has afforded us to grow in the knowledge of Christ and in our relationships with others (like road trips with a niece). God is an amazing God who uses even the most unlikely of situations to show himself Great. 

Katrina's Musings (Graduation Tour)

In the middle of May I was able to attend two graduation ceremonies in other states within the same week. My husband called this event my "graduation tour".

The North Carolina Trip

First, I was in North Carolina. My young friend, Katelyn, and her brother, Chris, graduated from high school. Katelyn used to attend our church in Minnesota before her family moved to North Carolina a few years ago. During her time at our church, she and I struck up a friendship. It has been both a friendship and mentoring/teaching relationship. I believe strongly that God instructs me in the Bible to maintain relationships with young ladies and to teach them what I know about God (Titus 2:3-5). Many people have been giving me credit for doing this in Katelyn's life (especially after making the trip to NC), but I deserve no credit for it. God is the one who brought this relationship about and God is the one who gives the drive to maintain it. And ... because Katelyn and her parents are so receptive to the idea, the entire process has been pretty easy, and it has been a joy

The graduating twins

My favorite family in North Carolina

Katelyn's grandmother, Ruth, (pictured above) has become a fast friend of mine as well. My favorite memory of the trip to NC was my last night there when Katelyn, Ruth, and I all stayed together in the commuter apartment that Ruth and I were renting for the weekend. We sat in the living room for hours before bed that night, three generations, laughing and talking about life and God, all at different stages in life, all with different experiences, but all serving and praising the same God. It is a memory that I will cherish always.

Another young friend of mine, Katelyn's sister, Karis. She's a hoot!

The Arizona Trip

The second trip was to Arizona to attend my niece, Julia's high school graduation. I haven't had opportunity to spend a lot of time with Julia over the years because she has always lived in Arizona and I have always lived in Minnesota, but the opportunities we've had available to us, we have seized. I am grateful to God for the ability to attend her graduation ceremony.

It also afforded me the opportunity to see my Dad-Robert who, since retirement, lives in Panama. He made the trip to Arizona for the graduation as well and I was ever so grateful to spend time with him.

Left to Right: Sandra (my stepmother), Julia (the graduate), Elan (my sister), Sean (my nephew), Tom (my brother-in-law), Robert (my dad)

Me and Elan 

(Technically, Elan and I are stepsisters, her mother married my father when I was 9 and she was 8, but the word "sisters" describes the relationship far better). 

I am very grateful to God for my time with family in Arizona. It was marked by both happiness and sadness as tragedy has been as much a recent part of this family's life as has joy. I am glad that God is in control, that He knows all things, and that He placed me in this family. 

There was so much laughter in this trip (and some crying) and so much needed time together. This trip to Arizona, in particular, is another memory I will cherish forever.

Two different states, two different graduations, two different families. Grateful to God to be a part of it all. 

All in all, it was a wonderful graduation tour!

Niece Musings (choir concert) 05/12/15

Tonight was my niece Emily's last choir concert of junior high. It was 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's themed so the attire was pretty varied. Emily went with the 50's era. After a harried weekend of dress shopping at thrift stores, I think she nailed it.

Niece Musings 05/10/15

This Sunday two of our nieces showed up at our church (Emily came with me and Carissa came with her grandparents). I had to get a picture of the two tennis-shoe-clad girls in their cute dresses (I think Carissa would have liked to have worn dress shoes but forgot them, but Emily was making a fashion statement). I'm so grateful God has put these two young ladies in our lives, and I pray they grow into young women who seek Him with all their hearts.

(Yep. The 14 year old and the 9 year old are the same height. One is a bit tall for her age, one is not). 

Niece Musings 05/01/15

Our niece, Kylie, was in her high school production of Cinderella tonight. Greg, Emily, and I were able to attend it. Kylie did a great job in the play. I was able to get a few pictures of of her in her fancy dress.

Emily and Kylie (cousins and good friends)

We're grateful to God that we have relationships with our nieces and nephews and pray they will grow up into adults who bring much glory to Him. It's a pleasure to be part of that "growing up" experience.

Nieces and Nephew Musings 02/27/15 & 02/28/15

This weekend was a dramatic weekend for the nieces and nephews. 

On Friday night, Ethan and Carissa performed in their school's Creative Expression Night. 

Ethan recited Lewis Carrol's Jaberwocky. 

Carissa recited Sick by Shel Silverstein

On Saturday, Emily played a townperson in the Community Theatre production of Pinnochio. 

All did a great job, and it was fun to attend their performances and see how God is gifting each one of them in the area of creative expression.