Iowa

My recent trip to Iowa was truly a blessing. It was wonderful to spend some time with Jen, Steve, Amelia, and Nathan, and to see their new home and surroundings. And even though Jen and I were anxious to see some snow and play in it with the kids, and everyone kept saying how unusual it was not to have 2 ft. of it by now, I've decided that even the no-snow was a blessing because it made it possible for me to see their surroundings instead of having it covered up with white blankets. Plus, the safety issue of trying to drive in it! (I found myself being a little envious when Steve said that when it does finally snow, he would take her out in a field on the Gator and she could slip and slide around on it to get the feel of how to manuver on slick surfaces!)
Even the plane ride was a blessing! It started with rising above the clouds to view this: 

When I arrived in Des Moines and finally spotted Jen and the kids, Amelia and Nathan about knocked me over when I kneeled down to catch them running toward me! Made me tear up! (Yeah, it doesn't take much to make this Gramma well with tears.) Then when we left the airport, we accidently passed by the state capital. So pretty at night with all of the trees leading up to it decorated for Christmas.

The next morning we took the kids to the Phelps Children's Museum in Waterloo, which has multiple rooms set up with hands-on activities.  

Jen tried to get Nathan to cover his ears and open his mouth like "The Scream". He's laying down and the mouth is the cup (mini golf).

The upstairs had a puppet stage with every kind of puppet you could imagine hanging on the wall ready for little hands (or big Gramma hands),  a platform stage and lots of costumes--a highlight for Miss Amelia, an art room with projects set up on tables and bins of other supplies along the wall, a miniature golf room with each hole themed after a famous painting, a library/reading corner, and various mini rooms of different countries.

Next we played downstairs and there was so much to do that we didn't even have time to finish. Riding the tractor, planting carrots, and digging for fossils were some of their favorites. I missed getting a picture of the life-sized cow that could be milked!

Other highlights of the week:

Going out to see the horses and a tour of the farm:

Touring the farm:



House from the south



LOTS of corn fields

In the area between and behind their  house and Steve's folks' and what remains of a bridge used in the Civil War

The back of their house

Horse barn

North side of their house

View from in front of the garage-train just in front of the road

Making cookies:

Gorgeous sunsets:

Frozen puddles:

On Jen's birthday, Steve's mom watched the kids while she and I went on a tour of the John Deere factory. It was fun! They wouldn't allow pictures to be taken inside, but we took a few outside. It was facinating to see how each pre-ordered tractor is assembled by both human and computerized assistance.

Good-bye farm! Til next time!

The ride to the airport:  (We finally saw snow, just enough to enjoy but not enough to interfere with travel! another blessing!!)

Thank you, Lord, for such wonderful blessings!!