Family church from long ago....

In 1890, my Norwegian grandparents founded the Beaver Creek Lutheran church near Fertile, Iowa.  It stood amidst the farms, and the graveyard is home to their headstones.....Ole Dakken and his wife Signa and my grandparents, Lewis Dakin and his wife Millie.....the first baptism at the church was my grand-dad's sister in 1895.  Recently the church was moved to Heritage Park in Forest City Iowa, where it stands today among other saved buildings.  Yesterday, I visited it again.  I had been there when it was near the family farm, but had never gone inside.  In the narthex, an old, extremely simple signature quilt was hung on the wall, with this sign next to it.  And right above the sign is my great-grandfather's name stitched into the quilt.  I was really emotionally moved, and quite unexpectedly, too.  I was also concerned that this wonderful evidence of the beginning of the church was hanging there, open to the weather as folks opened the door to come and go, and there was even a church supper announcement tacked into it!!!!  I was a visitor from far away, but I had to remove those tacks!!!  And so I did.  I am such a busybody, but if I lived near to this church, I would have the quilt restored and put behind glass in acid free environment.....more photos on this subject will follow!          

Hannah under glass.....

She wanted to look as if she was in an aquarium, like a little fishie....... but something about it was a little creepy to me, and I said okay lift it off now....!  It was over 100 degrees, and they spent two hours filling that tub and playing in the water.  Kids.....they loved the pop-siscles afterwards too. 

My DD sets a pretty and cheerful table......

This time it was for her hubby's family birthday dinner.....the smiley plates were hers when she was little and now the grands use them.  Wish I could find more of them, I just might use them for me on those days when I need a smile!

Upstairs bath photo

Next to come will be removing the wallpaper here.....but that will be a project for another day!!!  I love the new floors and counters, so nice to the feel and touch....

bathroom updates.....photos promised

Here is part of the downstairs bath.  New tile floor.  Will post one of the upstairs in the next post, since I do not seem to be able to post multiple photos on this post!

Hmm......why is Nana taking yet another photo?

Here is the newest little one, on the quilt I made for her....she is not too impressed with it yet.  But her chunky little legs are so cute I could not resist taking a picture.

4th of July - deeper meaning

Today was my birthday.  Today was my daughter's birthday.  At dinner we held hands and sang the Star Spangled Banner, as a family, before we prayed.  Our voices were small but mighty in love for our country.  Our prayers were small but mighty in the love of our Lord.  God bless America.  God bless each family who tries to live into that Godly path He gave us in this country. 

We are so blessed.  But we have to accept our gift as a responsibility to our Lord and our country.

Thank you Jesus!