New pics soon

Some excitement in our household yesterday. I got a call from daycare that Ella had hit her ear on a counter while the kids were playing duck, duck, goose and that she may need stitches. So I picked her up and headed to the doctor. An hour later, we walked out with a 1/2" to 3/4" gash wound on her ear that had been glued back together using Dermabond. More pictures to come soon.

My brother Brian has been racing snowmobiles at the Des Moines Winter Games today. Thus far, he's had 2 races -- 1st in one heat and 2nd in the other. He was also interviewed by the Des Moines Register. More to come as I hear more.

PHONES IN CHURCH

A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on thevestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read 'Calls: $10,000 a minute.'

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to GOD.

The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, and Milwaukee and around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Iowa, upon entering a church in Des Moines, behold he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read 'Calls: 35 cents.'

Fascinated, he sked to talk to the pastor, 'Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute.

Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?'

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, 'Son, you're in Iowa now . . . . You're in God's Country, It's a local call.'

Good one!

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'

Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong: she's failing algebra; her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck,' says her daughter.

'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'

'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!

We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe and He chose your heart.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Misc

So it's been a few weeks since I've posted. Unfortunately, I've been dealing with bum digital camera batteries, so my pictures are a little slim. I really need to get that figured out!

We've been dealing with snow and cold temperatures, then warm temperatures, then really, really cold weather, then snow. Ugh! I guess that's what I get for Iowa weather.

Last weekend, my parents were down to visit. We ate dinner at Firkin n Fox in West Des Moines, specifically to celebrate my dad's birthday. An ok Irish pub type of establishment, but great company!

This weekend, we didn't do a whole lot of anything. Charles has been complaining about little TVs since my parents got a new LCD for Christmas - needless to say, I'd had enough. I told him to either quit complaining or find the budget money to pay for it. So today, we became proud owners of a 55", yes I said 55", LCD TV. Right now it's sitting on our living room floor, until it can be mounted above our fireplace for all to see. Charles even thought we may have to close one set of our curtains in our dining room, so neighbors and those walking by can't see the TV. Oh, funny husband.

Ella has been her little spit fire self. Last week, I went in her room to wake her up one morning and laid on the full size bed that sits next to her toddler bed and started to fake snore. She said up in bed and promptly told me "Mom, I'm trying to sleep." For any of you that know Ella, this is even more humorous, since when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she asks, "Is it wake-up time?" For her, this weekend was full of putting puzzles together all by herself to doing 'crafts' with squiggly scissors, construction paper and glue. She really liked craft time. Good for her, I've been keeping ideas I see in newspapers to do together when she's able to.

And the dogs, well the dogs really like the cool weather and snow to play and wrestle in. Although most times you couldn't tell it, I think they really go like each other. Saturday night was bath night for all the girls in the Anliker house. Ella, Duste, Penny and I were all sparkly clean. Charles was left as the stinky one, at least until Sunday morning.

Up next - a LONG week at work. It'll be hard to work 5 days this week, since we only had 4 last week. Next weekend Charles leaves for Oklahoma for a week to meet with his dealers, so Ella and I are flying solo. No worries - she's usually pretty good with me.

All the best - here's to keeping warm!

The last/first Christmas

We had our last Christmas of the 2008 Holiday season, but our first Christmas in 2009. We got together with my parents, brothers, and their families on Saturday at my parents house.

Ella's has really taken hold to black olives and earlier this year, her Uncle Josh taught her to put them on her fingers, so now if she doesn't have 5 olives (one for each finger) - everyone will hear about it.

This may have been the first time in almost a year that we've all been in one place together. It's nice to be around each other and remember how we're all related - like you can't tell it by the way we talk to one another. And you certainly can't tell it by our kids.

Ella got a snap 'n style doll - it had soft hair, but snap on clothes. She must really like it because she was quiet for almost all of church yesterday playing with it. The snowboarder outfit is her favorite. It's dual purpose in her mind - snowboard and skateboard. She also got a Little People set, a new blanket and a puzzle.

Brian with Kyla's new Care Bear - Ella picked it out, so of course it's blue, her favorite color.

Charles with his Captain Morgan Private Stock - one of his favorites! And Brian and his family while Kyla is opening her presents.