Well Mom...I was in the church kitchen this week!! All those years you tried to get me to cook the meal for Wednesday night meal at church (cooking for about 100-120 people) and I hesitated, drag my feet...well we(Kurt, myself and a team of friends and teens from the high school group) did it! This was my 2nd attempt. The 1st time was in February of last year, but at that time I was able to talk to you about the menu, quantities, and whatever else I needed. Now that night you wanted to come to church, but you were not feeling well. Dad had the camera and took pictures, so you could see how things went. That night I was disappointed that you couldn't be there or come through the back door of the kitchen at church to give me a hug and your "you got it under control" speech!! But who would have ever thought that the next time we cooked the meal, you wouldn't be here at all!!! Man was it tough to be in the kitchen, but memories of you were shared throughout the evening while we prepared the food. Laura and I brought up the "don't spill the grease on the floor" incident, we made sure we used the carts for carrying the groceries in, phrases/directions that you had given us before came to mind. After it was all done, I evaluated the night and began taking mental notes of what I will do next time...I guess that means I am thinking about doing it again!! Another interesting thing that happened that evening, was that I have the high schoolers help serve the meal. It is so amazing to watch the interaction of the teens and the adults! The room was filled with christian fellowship and joy! Then last night Mia and Livi helped me cook super at home, better start training them now!!! No, I just thought it would be fun to have the girls help me make pot stickers. Mia always likes helping me with those, but it was Livi's 1st time. The girls did wonderful and even though I had to get a little firm because water was going everywhere, it was fun!
Love you so much!!!!

Little Mia

Mom,
Today was Columbus Day, so Mia and I had the day off to spend with Daddy and Livi!! We started off the day with taking some fall pictures and McDonald's in the park. We visited the apple orchard and napped in the afternoon. This evening Daddy went to watch the Bears play, so it was an evening with the girls. We painted nails and read the "I'm too small" book, a mouse's perspective on Noah's Ark that you had purchased when you went to visit the Creation Museum. Then Mia and I read the first letter that you had written to hear on her 1st birthday. You see about a week ago she discovered the letters and took a glance at them and I tried to explain them, but really I wasn't ready for this discovery. So tonight I asked her if she wanted to read one together. We both had tears in our eyes as I remembered the days in Savannah we she was born and how precious she was to you and Dad, well all of us really!! I told Mia, when I was finished reading, that she meant the world to you. She asked what that meant....I said that she was so precious to you. So tonight as she prayed, she asked God to watch over you and Grandpa Erickson while you are in Heaven. She prayed that God help Grandma Erickson and Grandpa Anderson to survive. Before she said "goodnight", she said "now I know how important those letters are". What a sweet little girl we have been blessed with. She also said that I should help Grandpa continue writing those letters to her and Livi!!!
Miss ya Mom!!
Thank you God for some down time to spend with my precious family for those intimate moments with my girls!! Thank you for the memories that were made today!!
Love, Jenn
XOXOXO

Shopping

Mom,
So, Dad and I planned our shopping trip for this past Monday after school!! He was so sweet. He carried an arm full of clothes around the store, went looking for a different size (smaller....yeah!!), tried to put some outfits together with me...he really has good taste, sat and waited while I tried on!!! Not many Dad's would do this, but it truly put a smile on our faces!! As he was making the purchases, I told the cashier that this was my Dad and took me shopping for my birthday! She wanted to be adopted!! Then we met Kurt and the girls for dinner!! Thanks Dad!! By the way, he didn't even have to sing!!
More good news...I passed my LBS1 test...it's official I have a special education certification....now if the district can stay stable..maybe I can be in a position for more than a year!!
ArtScene is coming up on October 14-15!! So excited, Kurt will be showing at 4 places this year and two of the places contacted him!! Thank you God for continuing to bless him with talents and places to be a witness!!!
I can't believe that fall is here!! The leaves are beginning to change, it's Turkey Day weekend (Dad's camping!!!), pumpkins were harvested out of grandpa Lowman's garden (and he really grew them this year...he didn't have to go purchase them and put them in the field!!), the smells of fall whisp under your nose when you go outside, God is such an amazing creator!
Yesterday, Laura and I met at your house to wait for Kurt to pick us up and then we were going to the campground to eat steaks ....not soup with Dad. So her and I did a quick "Fall" decorating, just one of those things Dad doesn't think about doing, but probably really misses. You know those acorns Mia and Dad "picked" about 5 years ago and we wanted to spray paint gold...well I put them in a vase with a fake fall cat tail arrangement in it. I looks really good. We also put fall m&ms out, just a couple little things to change the season inside for him!!!
Love ya, Jenn