Farmin'

Grandpa Prestrud with all 13 grandkids.  Prairie Farm, WI.  Labor Day weekend.  A photographer from a farming calendar also came out to take pictures...so you may see one like this in a 2010 calendar a year from now.  The Case Tractor (if I've got my facts straight) was originally purchased by Wade's Great Grandfather, sold several times, then many years later tracked down, purchased again, and restored by Wade's Dad, who still farms on this century old farm. 

Grandma Sallie

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10)

My Grandma Sallie would have been 95 today. She passed away 8 months ago, on December 12th. The above verse is one she had chosen for her funeral. This picture was taken on Thanksgiving, the last time I saw her before she died.

This is the Grandma that prayed for me every day of my life. Her full name was Selma Marie Knutson. Selma means "divinely protected by God." Abby's middle name is Selmalynn, named after Grandma.

Some special memories with Grandma Sallie...When I was really little, we spent Christmases up at her house at the lake in Bemidji, MN. I loved her red shag carpet, her Swedish meatballs, and her fancy blue and white dishes (which are now mine). As I got older, she taught me how to make lefse & took me to the movie Annie when it came out in the theaters. I remember playing Uno together while we snacked on Pringles and Rye Krisp. When Grandma & Grandpa moved to an apartment in Waconia, she planted a garden at my parents' house, down by the lake. When we were kids, we swam nearly every day and when we got hungry we'd snack on yummy strawberries and pea pods fresh from the garden. Grandma also loved teacups, having a beautiful collection--part of which is also now mine. In her later years, I remember times when we'd do devotions together at her nursing home. I'd read the Scriptures she requested, or read aloud from her large print devotional. Then we would pray together. When it was time for me to leave, I'd tell her I loved her and she'd reply "I love you more."

When I went off to college, (before she moved to the nursing home) I remember being keenly aware that Grandma would not live forever. (She was approaching 80 by this point.) I began diligently writing her letters, and she and I kept up a wonderful correspondence throughout my college years.

As she reached 90, Grandma really wanted to make sure her affairs were in order. She asked me to help her plan her funeral. I wrote down all of her wishes, from the hymns and Scriptures she wanted, to flowers and what she wanted to be buried in. She also requested that I sing, eulogize, and play my flute at her funeral. I told her I'd do my best, and somehow I did manage to honor those requests.

You'd think, given her age, I'd have been prepared for Grandma's passing, but it hit me harder than I expected. For months I'd cry every time I thought of her. I miss her dearly. But I know I will see her again in heaven. As I said when I spoke at her funeral, Grandma is in heaven not because she was a good person--though she was, she is in heaven because she trusted Christ alone for the forgiveness of her sins. She knew she wasn't perfect and couldn't earn her way to heaven by doing enough good things. She gave her heart, mind, and soul to God, serving Him in quiet humility all the days of her life.

I leave you with one more Scripture--another she had chosen for her funeral:

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us and we are his;
we are his people, she sheep of is pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love
endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."
(Psalm 100)

Olive You, Nathan

"I want a-nudder one!" Nathan requested. Five times. One for each finger. Olives are a staple at any Knutson family holiday meal or special get together. When my sister Bria and I were kids we always liked to put the black ones on our fingers and pretend we had big black and blue owies. (How many of you did that, too?) Bria has now passed on the tradition to my kiddos. So Nathan was pretty excited when he helped unload the groceries today and found a can of black olives. It's the small pleasures in life, isn't it...?

Speaking of the Knutson side, my mom visited yesterday. LOVE having her visit. I had told her about Nathan (see my previous post) and how relentless and exhausting he'd been to parent lately. But of course, he was Angel Baby practically the whole time she was here. Lots of smiles, manners & eyelash batting going on. Mister Cooperation. Poster child for mild mannered and happy-go-lucky. I almost wanted him to act up just show she'd know I wasn't exaggerating. No such luck, though. So maybe I made it all up. Or maybe he's turning a new leaf, as Wade is hoping. I'll let you know. In the meantime, we're enjoying olives for supper.