Thinking on Good Things

Today would have been my grandpa's 82nd birthday. Yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of his "promotion to glory." I was thinking about him last night before I went to bed. My brother sent me a message- part of a song that had been sung at grandpa's funeral. It's a song about a faithful preacher who never gives in to new religious fads as times change. He still stands for the truth of God's Word- and is not afraid to preach the whole truth.

I really didn't spend a lot of time with my grandpa because he lived so far away. Usually I would see him once a year. And I didn't agree with him on everything- though I never had the audacity to start a debate with him! I would keep my NKJV Bible hidden when I was at his house! I remember when I went down for the funeral- I walked into the house, through the kitchen, stopping at the dining room door. My eyes immediately fell on his open Bible on the table and the empty chair next to it. It was the strangest thing that he wasn't sitting there reading......that's where he usually was. I realized how thankful I was for that memory. He was a man who pastored for 55 years, never deviating from the truth that men are sinners who need Christ. He wasn't afraid to walk up to people and talk to them about Jesus. He consistently wrote letters to the editor of the newspaper when he felt the need to speak out about something. And the paper printed his letters. Everyone in town knew this old preacher and what he stood for.

At his visitation, there was a record number of people in the funeral home. People from law enforcement and government offices were there. And at the funeral people lined the back walls of the church. Pastors and preachers came from all over to say goodbye to someone they highly respected and loved. I am thankful for those memories too. I am especially thankful that the Lord gave me such a godly example in my grandfather.

Now the old preacher man stands there in that city
The city he's preached of so long.
But he's never seen such a great congregation
All gathered to welcome him home.
And he's never heard more beautiful singing
Than is coming from that heavenly band.
He's preached his last sermon, carried his last burden,
He's at rest in that heavenly land.

Who's Calling?

Nils has this thing lately with the phone......any phone he can get his hands on. We have been locking the cordless phones in the kitchen cabinet because otherwise he'll be carrying one around the house trying to call people. If someone leaves a cell phone lying somewhere, it will disappear....and so will Nils. He has called several of my friends by accident. He never talks to anyone- just pushes buttons and listens to people.

A few weeks ago I was home with all the kids while Kendall and Diane were in Chicago. We were eating dinner, and I got up to go to the bathroom. The phone rang as soon as I got into the bathroom......oh well. I figured it was Diane, and I could call her right back. I made my way back to the kitchen and started talking to the kids. I walked over to the sink to rinse some dishes- still talking to the kids but not really looking at them. Then I heard a very faint voice......."Melody!"
I turned to look at Nils and saw him standing next to the phone. He had answered it while I was in the bathroom. His parents were trying to talk to him, but, of course, he wasn't talking to them- he had put the phone down on the table and was watching the seconds tick by on the screen. He really loves to watch numbers.
I ran and grabbed the phone. Kendall said they were having a lovely one way conversation with Nils. Some day we are going to get him to talk on the phone. Right now, he just laughs!

The boy is very good at laughing. I was watching t.v. one night last week when my phone rang. I saw that it was Diane and answered it -it wasn't really Diane. I said hello several times and then started calling his name. Laughing.......more laughing......finally I heard Diane's voice in the background, " Nils, how did you get my phone? Are you calling Mel?"

And then there was the phone episode this week: The Mystery of the Caller ID. I was preparing dinner for Nils and Marta while Annika was at gymnastics. The phone rang, and I went to check to see if I recognized the number. If Kendall or Diane or someone I know is calling, I'll answer. Otherwise I'll just let it go to the machine. I looked at the number- 979....... yes, I recognize that number. I can answer that ..... My mind was racing to figure out who's number it was as I reached for the receiver. Wait......that's MY number!
I turned and looked across the dining room to see Nils standing next to my cell phone, excitedly watching the seconds tick by. He didn't even realize that he was calling his own house. I picked up the phone and loudly said hello. He looked at me and smiled. Then the chase began. I retrieved my phone, found my purse in the t.v. room and proceeded to hide them both in the closet. And what was Nils doing? Laughing.

For Anouk :)


Nils and Annika and I were in the basement, writing on a white board. Nils thinks he is writing words. He does fairly well with letters B, O, P, N, and S. We practice words that he knows- I write, he identifies. I wrote his teacher's name and he said it right away. Annika sat for a moment and then started writing. I thought she was going to write her teacher's name, but instead she wrote:
"Mrs. Onuk". I was confused- it wasn't even close to her teacher's name.
She said, "There. Miss Anouk. I love Miss Anouk. She is so sweet.........and...... cuddly." Then she busted out laughing.

I laughed, too. I'm pretty sure "cuddly" was not the word she was looking for! She really cracked herself up, which resulted in serious giggling about one thing or another for at least half an hour!

Another Joke from Marta

Q.: Why did the camel go down the chimney?

A.: Because he wanted to get his butt fired!


i don't know why it was a camel......i asked her if she made this up, and she said "that silly girl Annika" told it to her. Annika denies knowing about it.

Good Things to Know

1) Never put a bottle of hand soap in the toilet and then flush. This will result in an overflowing toilet and puddles of water on the bathroom floor. Other results may include: Nils laughing- until he has to sit in time out.

2) Never put toilet paper in the bathtub while you are taking a bath. This will result in a soggy mess and clog up the drain. You may then have to dig around the drain with your fingernails to retrieve the toilet paper. If it is still clogged you may have to use a knife......or just give up and let someone else handle it.

Word of caution- if both of these things happen on the same day, you could end up slightly frazzled.