iDump

Untitled - the middle

The adventure continues. I spent the weekend with some wonderful people on a journey that is just beautiful. Thankful for this group of world changers. And thankful for our time at niobrara. 

two years old

my darling keller grace is two. she has truly become a little girl over the past six months.  my heart explodes watching her take in the world around her.  she's curious and full of life.  she's always the life of the party and makes sure to greet and hug everyone she sees!  she's sassy and independent and she tells you exactly how she is feeling!

• keller weighs 25lbs 4 oz and 33 inches long

• she is not a picky eater (thank goodness) but thinks it is fun to throw her food

• keller does most things independently and hollers quite loudly if we try to help!

• she has a mouthful of teeth but we are still waiting for 2 year molars. 

• kg loves the bath but doesn't like the pool.

• she loves to sing! her favorites include baa baa black sheep, itsy bitsy spider, amazing grace, and row row row your boat.

• she and evie play well together most of the time...but when they do not...it gets loud and usually ends in tears. 

• kg is starting to put 2-3 word sentences together. we hear phrases like "help please" "no sissy! mine!" "bless you mommy!"  "i sorry, mommy/daddy/sissy" "no thank you!"  "okay, thanks."  "welcome, mommy" 
• we tend to hear the words "no" and "mine" quite frequently.

• kg is always on the go and never stops moving!

• she loves puzzles! keller really enjoys taking anything apart and putting them back together (taking all the tupperware out of the drawer and putting it back...).

• she is still attached to her blankie and likes to have elmo and her baby doll to sleep with at night.

• keller said bye-bye to her paci a couple weeks ago. 

• she enjoys taking her shoes and socks off while we are driving (me not so much)

kg birthday fun

it's my birthday!

ready for bday fun at school!

PARTY TIME

evelyn irene cooper

we drove up to south dakota over mother's day weekend to visit grandma cooper.  she had fallen a couple weeks before and broke her pelvis.  we had the most wonderful visit.  we got to see my brother and sister.in.law as well as grandma.  even though grandma had to be in her recliner, it didn't stop her from playing with the girlies.  she loved every moment...and so did we.

two weeks later, on friday may 23rd - grandma went home to heaven.  little did she know...when walking to fill out her discharge papers to go home from the hospital, she would actually be walking straight into the arms of Jesus to her eternal home.  we are thankful she ran quickly even though we were left shocked and in disbelief.  she has been reunited with the love of her life - jack cooper.  and we praise jesus for his eternal promise that this earth is NOT our home.

in honor of grandma and her legacy, i put together a slide show (with the help of my cousins).  while this only is a glimpse of the love passed on from her to our family...may you appreciate her smile, her charisma, her competitive streak when playing cards - and most importantly - her love for jesus and her family.

Evelyn Irene Cooper

Evelyn Irene was born June 8, 1922 to Clarence and Emma (Hagenlock) Rusch in Elroy Township near Onaka, South Dakota. She attended elementary school at Lincoln School in Elroy Township and graduated from Seneca High School in 1939. She attended Northern State College one year, received her First Grade certificate enabling her to teach at Ford and Latham Schools, each for two years. She returned to teaching in 1960, and finished getting her degree by attending summer sessions and extension classes, graduating from Northern State University in 1974. She continued teaching until retiring in 1985.

On August 11, 1943, she married John W. Cooper in Brownwood, Texas where Jack was stationed at Fort Hood. To this union, four children were born: Jacque, Delbert, Charlene and Jill.

Upon John’s “Jack’s” discharge from the U.S. Army Medical Corp, they established a home in Seneca Township. They moved to several other rented farms before building their own home on the farm site owned by Jack’s parents, the W.H. Cooper’s, in Latham Township. They continued to live there and farm until failing health prevented Jack from actively participating in the farm work in 1987. They continued to live in their farm home until April of 1995 when they purchased a home in Faulkton.

Irene was a member of the United Methodist Church in Seneca and Faulkton, the Rebekah Lodge in both Seneca and Faulkton, a bible study group, the Healthcare Auxiliary, the Tuesday Club, Retired Teachers, and Jolly Dozen Whist Club, plus several other organizations.

Gardening, crafting, music, reading, cards, volunteer work, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and people in general were some of Irene’s favorite pastimes.

Grateful to have shared in her life are her three daughters: Jacque (Duane) Frisinger of Moorhead, MN, Charlene (Thomas) Haggar of Lincoln, NE and Jill (Gary) Henderson of Albuquerque, NM; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Cooper of Sioux Falls; three brothers: Clif (Marilyn) Rusch of Spearfish, Ken (Marilyn) Rusch of Fairmont, MN and Robert (Darlene) Rusch of Onaka; one sister, Corinne (Joe) Bowar of Faulkton; seven grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; son, Delbert; granddaughter, Angela (Cooper) Powers; son-in-law, Stan Wahlen; and a great-great granddaughter, Kirstin Booke.