Farewell, my Gracie……

We knew it was coming.  We didn’t want to think about it, but we had to. She had cancer all through her little body.

Gracie came into our family about 13 years ago.  It was before Erin and Brody  left home, before any grandchildren had been born.  She was my baby.  She was strong willed, spoiled and contrary.  She didn’t like to be hugged or loved and she whined at the table.  It’s true, I spoiled her.  I gave her the last bite of everything I ate.  Mike, didn’t like that, the kids didn’t like that, but I didn’t care.  She embarrassed me a lot when people came to dinner.  I didn’t care.  I loved her.

She was great company to our Sookie and the Toby, the cat.

We miss her terribly.  People have asked before, “Will there be dogs in heaven”?  Some people have said, that theirs would be.  I  hope there are some.  I hate to say it, but for Gracie, probably not.  She was a stinker…but I loved her.

Anger………

It’s been a really long time since I have been on here.  I miss writing and I miss my blog friends very much.  So the fact that I am writing right now is a surprise even to me.

I don’t get angry very often.  Usually when I do, it comes as a culmination of  a lot of things and takes time to bring me to this point.  It has been a difficult week.  That is  not the reason for this post.  The reason for this post right now, at 2:30 a.m. is this.  I am angry.

I am angry that I cannot sleep, I am angry that it’s still 82 degrees in mid-October.  I am angry that my grandchildren do not have the freedom I had as a child because lunatics lurk around and we have to be afraid.  I am angry that we have to censor television, because a lot of it is crap.  I am angry that there is a  woman I know that cannot treat their children right, and pretend she does.  I am angry at the selfishness I see daily and at men that won’t grow up.  I am angry that I cannot watch half of my grandchildren grow and learn and play because the economy is bad and can’t afford to see them.   I am agree at a generation of  young people at church, who will stand and watch 85 year old men tear down tables to put them away with no respect for the man or his age.   I am angry, probably at myself , because I feel like I must not deserve any praise from those close to me, because I have to  ask or sometimes feel like I must beg for a positive encouragement.

After saying all of this and getting it off my chest……I  am a dirty, rotten sinner and I am angry more because of that.  I confess, I do, to my Father and to you.  I am also grateful, grateful that God is still on the throne and gratefully I am not.

Camping…August 2009…Part 2

Erin seemed to be relaxed.  I did the cooking and she was able to be with her kids and talk with friends, lay by the lake and just generally be able to do nothing,.  School started 3 days later.

We hardly saw Trinity at all the entire weekend.  Here she is with Megan and Anna West and Madison Glenwinkel.  She rode bikes mostly and swam.

Mike, Zion and Noah and Noah’s friend, Hayden went for rides in the Tieman’s boat.

We had a wonderful time.  In closing this post, I must mention some thoughts I had.

The night before we left, my BFF, Bridget’s mom died.  We had just seen her 2 days before and it was expected, but still not.  You know how that goes.  I spoke with Bridge on the way up the mountain.  My heart and prayers were with her.

Also, Blue’s 7th birthday was that Saturday.  As is custom for us, Mike and I called to sing “Happy Birthday”.  All the cousins sang this time.  All together in the trailer.  I know that this is one of Kristin’s favorite places on earth.  I missed her.  I missed Brody and the kids.  Everytime I looked out at that lake and the forest beyond, my mind and heart wandered to Kristin.  If I could have had all of them with me, I would have.  Church camp was something that Mike and I always did with the kids and now with the grands.  Yes, we had a wonderful time.  Someday, somehow, our family will all be together.  Has to happen…..it’s my prayer…

Camping..August 2009… Part 1.

For our family, this, the Donner/Tahoe area is one of the most beautiful places God created.  Our church camp was here again this year and we loved it.

This picture is of Noah and a couple of his buddies, building at the lake’s edge.  The water was cold, but they never care.

Next, Harold and Shayla, well Harold talking and Shayla listening.  It was so cold the first night, Shayla was freezing in her tent.  She moved into the trailer and slept with Trinity the next night.  People said it was 29 degrees.  It felt it.

Shayla has been close to all of us this year.  She helps Harold and Nik with the Junior High.  She is a good friend to Erin, loves the kids and we have become her “aunt and uncle.”  She is a great gal, who truly seeks to follow the Lord in all things.  Love her to pieces.

Our friend’s, the Brown’s brought “Nitro”, their Weimerheiner.  He was beautiful.  We could throw sticks out into the lake and he would swim and bring them back.  Zion had a great time with that.  I think Mike and I did too. 

Speaking of Mike having a great time.  He borrowed the skateboard from Mike Sparling, and away he went.  Scared me to death, Erin too.  But the grands thought it was

was great !!!…    I was so happy for Mike.  It had been a while since he had a day off.  He turned his phone off just as we left for the lake.  Never turned it on until we got home.  He fished, snorkled, rode his bike and Mike’s skateboard.  He taught Zion how to ride a 2-wheeler, as he had the other two kids at campouts.  I was very glad he had some “down” time.

Just a note here….when we came back we stopped at Colfax for a lunch.  An elderly gentlemen across from us began to choke.  His wife panicked and started yelling, “Help, help”.  Mike jumped up, scared because of the age of the gentleman.  Mike gave him the Heimleck manuever and out that food came.  The guy and his wife were very appreciative, Mike was still scared, but everything went perfect.  We are grateful for a perfect result, and know that the lord had His hand in that deverted tragedy.  Thank you, Lord.

PPT — Father’s Day …..

We had a great Father’s Day.  Now, I may be very repetitive here…but I truly feel my husband is the Worlds’ Greatest Dad.

He loves and I mean really loves his children, his grands, they are all the same.  They are his focus for everything he does.  When asked what he wants to do for his birthday, or for Father’s Day, it is always the same..BBQ with the kids and watch them play in the yard.

Honestly, our yard was designed so that the kids could have most of the area to play.  He set up the hoop, has an area for bike’s and is now looking to get a Volleyball net.    Mike went on our kids field trips, and our grands.  He chaperoned 8th grade trips and coached sports teams.  He never missed a teacher conference.  I have never heard him complain about anything in regard to the kids.

I am always grateful for what the Lord has done for us in regard to Mike.  He is the best.  He is our gift.

So for Father’s Day this year, we BBQ’d, watched the kids play and now we leave for Tennessee to love on some more kids and grands and we cannot wait.  As with our Father, Mike’s love just keeps on going.  ….and I am grateful….

“And these are the words which I command you today shall be in your heart;  you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”  Deut. 6-6-9

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PPT — Addendum…FRED…

Today I met Fred.  He is sweet.  He was sitting in his wheelchair at his bedside with a lovely lady named Nancy reading the Bible to him.  He is probably 80, a recovering alcoholic, former chaplain to the jail here in town.  As Nancy is reading,  Fred has closed eyes, the nasal cannula giving him some oxygen and he is taking it all in, the oxygen and the Word.  We were quiet until Nancy finished reading the passage.  He was happy to see us, but very tired.  He likes to know what your name is and even has a book about names, so that he can look up what your name means and he remembers.  He is a child of God.  A precious, child, who has lived a full life and continues to love His Father.  What a privilege it is to meet him.  Bridget told him that her great niece, Hannah, prayed to ask Jesus into her heart day before  yesterday and how he rejoiced.  I thought he was going to come up out of that chair.  Sometimes we grow complacent about things.  Not Fred.  Then as Nancy was getting ready to leave, something small happened that I will never forget…what a wonderful salutation….Nancy said, “Fred, Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, Fred replied, “Lean not on your own understanding”, Nancy, “In all your ways, acknowledge Him”, Fred, “and He will make your path straight…..”.  That is the most beautiful way to say “See ya later, Fred.” that I have ever heard…

PPT — Generations…

These pictures were taken at Philip’s Graduation party.  I love both of them, I really love the people in them. Seiji Sparling, is a delight.  He laughs and runs and loves on folks.  He had eaten chocolate covered everything and then needed to have a little “jawbreaker” topper.  We think that is funny because his father used to get Brody “quadruple shots of espresso” when he was in Junior high…Pay back is tough…He is a great kid, and Matt is a super father…

Rhoda, our precious, Rhoda…here she also was enjoying some chocolate covered strawberries.  I have blogged about her before.  She is head of the Sewer’s and Rippers, the Prayers chain, Greets for me and I have learned so much of the Christian walk from her.  I love her dearly.  We had the most fun seeing who could drip the most on ourselves.  The joys of a “chocolate fountain”  break all age barriers.  What a simple thing to bring  joy.

Phil’s sermon this week was on “Summer Fruits”, the first being “Charity”.  Basically, loving, expecting nothing in return.  Giving to someone, who cannot give back.  I love that idea.  That really has nothing to do with these specific pictures,  except that we can love all  generations, all walks of life.  For someone who “adores” people, it is a freedom I truly enjoy.

I, also, love doing things with my BFF, Bridget..so today, we have some elderly saints in our church who are in little care home.  This is where Bridget’s mom, Rose stayed while Bridge was in Kenya.  I visited her and we both met some sweet  folks there.  We are going to go  visit those older saints, love on them and then go have lunch.  I am excited.  I may even post about that later.

I guess, what I want to say here, is…Loving people is such a priviledge..knowing people from different age groups is a blessing.  What a great gift from the Lord to us…to learn about each other,  to accept one another.  Thank you so much, Phil for the encouragement.  Thank You, Father for Your Word.  Thank for our precious saints.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love  has been perfected in us.”  1John 4:11-12  and again, I am grateful…  ++++

Happy, happy Birthday, our Noah !!!!

Our eldest, oldest, (what ever is right) grandson turned 11 today..  How on earth does this happen.

Noah John is beautiful, inside and out.  He is “crazy” smart and real.  I have certainly written this before.  When he was born, being our first, I could not even breath until Erin brought him over…everyday.  He brought a new dimension to our lives, of course.  As he has grown and matured, he continues to do that.  Honestly, he is very much like his uncle in that he loves quiet.   He loves to read.  Dislikes being around loud noises and needs alone time.

Some of my favorite times is when he comes over and says,  “Mammo, could we just read together, in the quiet, or sit outside and talk?”  I love that.

My prayer for Noah has been since the day he was born, “Father, make him a man after Your own heart.  Grow him up to be true to his “namesakes”.  A strong, man of God, who loves like You, is peaceful and kind to others.  As he starts Junior High this year, my prayer is even more so.  And ya’ know?  So far so good.  Thank you, again Lord.

Take a Walk With Me…….

Wow, it has been a very busy Spring.  We have had 3 birthdays, 1 college graduation, 2 High School graduations, traveling to Tahoe, Home Shows, and general family stuff.  Time gets by and I really miss connecting with my “blog Family”.  I miss you, Melody.  I miss you too, Scottie and all the other sweet people I have met here.  I am not far away.  You are always in my mind.  I miss communicating with my fam through pictures and words.

With the summer upon us, I am truly hoping for more time, to write and reflect on things.  Sometimes, I feel I was meant for a different time, a slower paced, quiet life.  Then again, I would not want to miss all the things that go on in the “right now”.  Guess, I’ll just trust the Lord that He knows best,  and go for it.

Noah, Trinity and Blue all did very well in school this year.  I am always and proud “Mammo”, so that just adds to it, since I was a very lower average student.  I cared more for “social” activity than academics.  I am still that way.   I truly want the kids to all do well though and be whatever the Lord has designed for them.   Zion will begin Kindergarten this year, he is quite ready and excited for that.

These gorgeous things are blooming again in the back yard.  I try to take these pictures to send to our Kristin, I know she loves flowers as much as I do and will appreciate them like I do.  It always amazes me that God takes care of these things.  They come from sticks and climb and I do not have a green thumb at all, and yet “our Father takes care of these things”…like the lilies of the field,  I am so grateful.  How generous of Him to allow these for our pleasure.

Honestly, I never see this lavender, and we have about a dozen of these in our yard without thinking of Kristin.  She loves the smell of lavender.  And we love her.  Zion actually took this picture for his Auntie.  He is a pretty good photographer for 5.  Quite the eye.  He gets it naturally.  Erin is a wonderful photographer and we all know Brody is.

When the Spring happens and the yard is in bloom, I really take some refuge there.  I can sit on the swing, water or just stand and look, the Lord is there.  We talk and usually there is a noise to distract me, but I do steal some time alone with Him here.  I am so grateful for this place He has provided for us.

This is absolutely, the only thing that I can grow inside the house.  I put them in my kitchen window and enjoy them year round, every day.  As I look at these pictures, I realize I love purple flowers.  I love the look, the smell and the peace they give.

Thank you so much for allowing me this indulgence and taking this walk with me through what brings me peace in my busy world.  Thank you, Father for the creation of beauty in your world and allowing us to live here.

Life With ZeeB…

So, at lunch today, Zion wanted Erin and I to play a game of cards with him.  I thought that would be fun, so he dealt out the cards to play…GoLD Fish !!!

This was my hand.  I looked at my hand, not quite sure how to play the game this way…Zion said, “Mammo, do you have any baseball players?”  I think, I was silent for a minute and burst out laughing.  He was very serious……