A Tribute to Our Lady Kenmore

 

It's a very sad night at the Steffensrud home. We came to the tragic realization that our 1976 Lady Kenmore clothes dryer has finally bitten the dust. "Why?", you might ask, do we have a 1976 clothes dryer. When we first got married and had to acquire lots of new items for the new household, money was tight. I remember asking God to please provide for all of the necessities that we didn't yet have, but very much needed...like a dryer. Well, one night back last April, we decided to do a drive-by of what was to be our first little home come May. We had just finished dinner and I remember saying to Doug, "Let's go look at OUR house to see what it looks like at night!" So, we drove by. Well, lo and behold, there she was!! The Lady Kenmore Super Deluxe Dryer complete with olive green paint, painted over with crackled almond paint (a definite "do it yourself job"}, a nifty track light that allows you to see the controls and a sign that read,

 

She was right out on the driveway by our townhome. It was as if God opened up the doors of Heaven and dropped her right out of the sky just for us! You might think it's odd that we'd be so excited about such a crappy looking dryer. But, the word FREE made her so much prettier in our eyes! That night, we loaded her up into my SUV and drove her over to a guy we know about who restores appliances. Well, he fired her up and took a look inside. Would you believe that he said she was "good as new!" He said, "They just don't make 'em like this nomore...she's a keeper!" And she was. And she has been now for almost a whole year!! But tonight, as I was being domestic and drying clothes, I realized they weren't getting dry. I called the appliance restoring guy, and he said she's probably giving out. He'll be bringing a new one by tomorrow. So now, we give thanks for the Lady Kenmore (and no, I didn't name her that...that is actually what the dryer is called...written right there on the appliance)! We give thanks for her and for this year of dutiful drying she has done for us. Lady Kenmore, you are a real lady!!

 

;

Armed and Dangerous!!

This weekend, my sweet husband went on the Men's Retreat with our church. All the guys traveled down to Glenrose, TX where they had a "Man-fest" as Doug likes to call it. Well, I'm a pretty independent gal...was single until the age of 30, lived alone for a time, not too easily terrified...or so I thought! How is it that now that I'm married, I am somehow not so independent anymore, and actually quite DEPENDENT on this Doug man? I kept myself busy for the majority of the afternoon yesterday, but as night began to fall last night I became very aware of my state of alone-ness. You see, usually, he's here with me. And I guess I didn't realize how much I do depend on him to be my protector...the one who will kill the bad guys when they try to come get us! So, I did what any smart home-alone girl would do...I watched two hours of crime drama. What the heck was I thinking? I tried to tell Jessica, "Oh no...those don't scare me...no problem...big girl...blah, blah, blah!" Well that was a bunch of bologna! As I finished the crimespree-athon, I suddenly became aware of every little noise that our house makes. The creeks, the cracks, the things that go "Bump" in the night. So, I devised a plan! If he wasn't here to protect me in the event that one of my crime-dramas should come to life...then I was just gonna have to fend for myself!

So that's why I needed to have this at my bedside...
 

 
And this IN THE BED with me...

 
And this rigged up to make lots and lots of noise when the bad guys tried to come break down my door...

What you really need to know, though, is that when I returned from my Women's Retreat last fall, I arrived to find Doug inside of THIS...
 

He was happy as a little clam!! He had all of the movies that he never gets to watch because I hate lined up for viewing. He had every linen pulled out of the closet to create the monstrosity of a fort pictured above. He had snacks. He had his jammies on. He was completely content. Not scared. Not neurotic. Not preparing for his own personal live version of Special Victims Unit to take place in his living room. Just happy and content. Go figure.
Needless to say, I was elated to see him home Saturday afternoon! I have my weapons secured for the time being!

Happy Birthday Faye Faye!!

This weekend, we helped to host a "surprise" Birtday party for Doug's mom, Faye! I say "surprise" because she technically knew that there was going to be a party at some point, at some place in her honor. BUT, she didn't know the who's, when's, or where's of it all. So, we did get to surprise her some! We took her to dinner, but didn't say anything about her Birthday at all (which is coming up on Tuesday). At the end of the meal, we had the really obnoxious wait staff come sing "Happy Birthday" to her. So, she was thinking that was it...that was our version of a party in her honor! Then, when we went outside, I said to Faye, "Ya know, I'm not really in the mood to go back to your house for dessert." Then, we quickly busted out a blindfold and covered her eyes. The people eating on the patio at On the Border probably thought she was being abducted. Then, we put her in the car and drove the long way to her friends, Jane and Bob Choun's house. They were so sweet to let us have the party at their home! We made the party Canadian themed since Faye is Canadian. We had everyone wear hats (aka "tuques") and scarves. We also crowned Faye the Queen of the Great White North (hence the tiara that you'll see below). It was a great time and Faye seemed to really enjoy herself! Thanks to all of the her many sweet friends and family members for being there to celebrate with us! Happy Birthday to our Mum!

 
All blindfolded up and ready to go!

 
Doug led her on a goose-chase through the Choun's yard to make sure she didn't know where she was.

 
I had this cake made for the party. It turned out so cute and yummy too!

 
The Birthday girl!!

 
Grandma (Faye's Mom from Canada) was in on the fun too!

 
So shy!

 
Doug and cousin Laura

 
Jane read a funny list of "You know you're a Canadian if..." Of course, Faye Faye got to raise her hand to all of them!

 
The Birthday girl with her two kiddos!

 
I made a picture display of photos from Faye's life up to now

 
The Canadian flag!

 
Our hostess, Jane, came up with this special birthday song (sang to the tune of My Country Tis of Thee). We sang this in place of Happy Birthday.