Inspiration in my Life

        Through the business that goes on in the life of my family, we have been planning for some time now my grandpa's 90th birthday party. Even though it takes a lot of work to find a place, reserve hotel rooms, find someone to cater, and all the things that go on, it makes me think about it. He's not just any grandpa! He's the only grandpa I knew well, (my other grandpa died when I was young) and is probably one of the biggest influences in my life. He was in World War 2 in the navy. While on a PT boat, two different kamikaze pilots tried to hit his ship but they both missed and hit the water. When he got back, he started a family and my dad was born. He was an artist and went to school in Lindsborg and then to study at the art institute of Chicago. He also had a great appreciation for music which was passed on to his grandkids! He has always inspired me to enjoy music. He is probably the biggest inspiration for me to keep on with my music, because I always know he is supporting me. He comes to town for about every concert I play in! Every time I go to visit, he is always teaching me something new. Whether it is about art, music, or just whatever he read that day, I am always so eager to learn from him because of the years of wisdom he has. I am greatly blessed to have a grandpa that is so invested in his grandchildren. I am looking forward to celebrating his 90^th birthday this year and am so grateful for the many years he has been such an amazing influence on me.

A Temporary Sister

               I've grown up in a large family (7 kids) and i have loved being around them. Sometimes more than others. For several years there were always people around the house, and i just got used to that, but recently, now that everyone has moved out, i have been lonely! This last December we got the opportunity to house a girl who is about 27, and working at Manhattan Christian College! After being the only child at home for a whole semester, Lindsey moved in to our basement. She is a joy to have around! She is like a sister to me when mine are all away. She loves to play games and hang out, and she also loves to work out! Every morning at 5 am, she wakes up to go to the KSU rec center and run, then she comes home, takes a shower, and goes to work. Every day! I could not imagine doing that. It is also nice to have her around when we go on trips, because she loves our animals and takes good care of them. Lindsey works at MCC as an athletic academic advisor. Basically, she works with students who are struggling to keep their grades up or athletes who have problems with their courses or grades. She invests so much time in her students, and is a great role model and helper for them. She brings that back home, too! She is always eager to help out around here or wanting to learn the newest recipe I make or whatever it is. It is so fun to have another girl here while my sisters are at college. We are blessed to be able to have Lindsey stay with us!

New Year's Traditions

            My family has lots of traditions, many of them being Swedish! Of all the holiday traditions, one of my favorites is on New Years Day when we have all of our neighbors over for Swedish Pancakes! Swedish pancakes are a lot like crepes. They are big and very thin. Usually we put lingonberries (berries that grow in Sweden) on it and roll it up. It is a big deal at the Weddle household! The week before New Year’s we go out and invite all the neighbors. We have done this for many years, so they expect it now! The night before is so much work! We make many recipes of batter, clean the house like crazy, prep it with all of our new Swedish accessories, roll silverware in napkins, and so much more. One of the craziest things Swedes do is make “Swedish coffee” which is coffee grounds boiled with water on the stove and then a raw egg or two cracked in (yes, the whole egg including the shells). Finally, you strain out the egg shells and coffee grounds and it is ready to serve! J Although I am a coffee drinker, I’m not desperate enough to drink Swedish coffee! Ick. Finally the day comes and the neighbors start arriving! Even when it is snowing, one of our neighbors goes out with her 4-wheeler and paves the drive way. The main reason we do this is to build a sense of community with our neighbors. Out in the country, people don’t move often so it is always the same crowd from year to year, and they enjoy seeing each other. It doesn’t always go perfectly, though. One year I spilled a whole bowl of batter. Another year, my dog got a deer leg and brought it up to the front porch as people were walking in! No matter how much work it is, it is always a good time of fellowship. I have enjoyed this tradition of ours from year to year.

Not an Alliteration

This New Year, I had an opportunity to go to Florida with a friend and her family. I have always wanted to go to Florida and I’ve been hinting at my parents to take our next vacation there. Because they are more "cold weather people" we always go to Colorado. As you can imagine, me being "warm weather person", I’ve always wanted to go to Florida! I finally got to go over this Christmas break! We left at 3:00 am to drive to Kansas City airport....not really my time of day. We had a layover in Nashville, and then were on our way to Orlando. We went to Daytona and stayed at a resort right on the beach. That was probably my favorite part of the trip-being able to walk out the building right on to the sand and out to the ocean. The first day we were there, we went sailing. The first hour was a blast. It was beautiful weather, there were waves, and it was fun to be out in the water. The second hour, however, was not so much fun. My friend's mom and I both started getting seasick. It got worse the longer we were out. That was my least favorite part of the trip!

We did so much while we were there. We went to Disney, shopped, toured old lighthouses, and shopped some more. We even cheered on K-state in the Fiesta Bowl from Florida! On New Years Eve night we swam in the Atlantic Ocean at midnight, and that is something I will probably never do again. It was a little cold. J So many memories were made on this trip and I loved every bit of it (except getting seasick). Next time my family goes on a vacation, I am definitely going push for a Florida trip. It is a trip to remember!