Christmas 2017 – Shocked and Awed

Shocked and Awed

Many of us have been shocked by the news of recent world events. The fact that Hawaii had a nuclear bomb drill this month really disturbed my sleep. The number of mass shootings, even local “shots fired” reports, makes me more alert to my surroundings than ever before. The shake-up at the Today Show, demonstrated you really don’t know what other people are capable of. It is simply shocking what is going on in the world.
I have also been awed by the show of human kindness. The regular “Joes” who have stepped-up to stop a shooter, the donations of time and talents by people in all walks of life, in fund-raising, hurricane relief, telethons, and daily volunteer efforts is awesome. Sports athletes in Houston organizing relief, music stars at special concerts, and elected officials speaking out, all demonstrate the best in human spirits.
We were reminded this year how shockingly quickly our time here on earth can be. My sister has friends almost our age, who had began joining us at our 4th of July meeting spot, at a public park across the river from the capital in Jefferson City. Jamie and Lori fit in so well, that they changed from it being their final destination, to being their exclusive place to be. We all enjoy the relaxed friendly and casual atmosphere. There are lots of family members, it all started with Dale’s cousin Becky and hubby JR – their family and ours, but also lots of friends who gather, share grills, food, and conversation. Lori loved my spaghetti salad, and I’d shared the recipe and tips with her. Suddenly comes the shocking news that she was rear-ended by an inattentive driver while waiting to turn off a highway. She had her seat-belt on, and it should have been survivable, her nephew the passenger, walked away from the crash, but she was life-flighted to the hospital, and sadly there was nothing to be done. As an organ donor, she left a further legacy, but what a tragic and shocking loss.
Then just a few weeks later came the news that Dale’s cousin, a talented, energetic, effective woman had passed away one Sunday morning in her home after doing some yard work. The shocking news was just devastating for her parents, who were a bit older, and Dale’s uncle as the only surviving brother of 5, was in the process of undergoing chemo treatments. If ever there was someone you’d call a daddy’s girl, it was Alea. She was a breath of sunshine in every room she entered. It broke Uncle Milo’s heart & soul so much that he passed only a month later.
What silver lining is there in all of this? It was awesome that 5 of Dale’s siblings (and two in-laws) thought so highly of these favorites, we made the trip to Nebraska twice in just over a month to attend their services. One trip was over 8 hours to Royal, NE, and the small town where the Lynn grandparents had lived, where their 7 children were raised. There were visits with 3 of the aunts, and several cousins that hadn’t been made in many years. Old pictures and stories were shared, along with food from the family and communities. Small-town and old-time values of friendship and care were awesomely evident. The services in Ashland, NE, at a community church were a technological marvel. The simultaneous tributes from Alea’s home church in Arizona were live-streamed to Nebraska, thus saving her parents the difficult choice of who could travel and who would not. Her life-long friends gave amazing testimony of her impact. High-lighted were her love of life, music, and humor, honor and family values, the non-traditional career positions, great love of Guam and years spent there. Awe inspiring was the service she was doing in MS fund-raising (something she herself was diagnosed with) especially her efforts in growing the annual local MS bike-a-thon. The crowning moment was when Alea’s 13-year-old daughter Sara stood up to speak. Her poise and maturity in such a challenging time really showed how much amazing strength she had inherited. She really shared what a beautiful and special relationship she had with her mom. Mentor, bed-rock, caretaker and friend, the experiences and lessons they’d shared were awesome to hear. The legacy that Alea leaves behind is one of the most awesome stories I’ve been privileged to witness.
Dale and I actually had a shocking personal start to the year, with a hospital stay for him, while battling another infection in one of his legs. We are blessed by access to good medical care that is local and covered by his VA benefits. There was a predicted ice-storm that never materialized, allowing me to travel safely back and forth to visit him. The infection did not settle into his knee joint so that was a fantastic bit of further news. Not the way I intended to spend my 58th birthday, but a grateful resolution, and some strategies to help in prevention were learned.
On Labor Day weekend, we celebrated 40 years of marriage! We usually don’t feel like we should be that age, let alone have sons almost that old. A planned “Gilpin family reunion” turned into a surprise anniversary celebration for us at my beloved brother Benny and his fantastic wife Robin’s home. We have the MOST AWESOME PEOPLE in our lives! Cindy, Brian, Benny, Robin, all our kids – especially Russell, Ryan, and Jenny. I can’t even list all the special people who came, but a favorite Uncle Mort and the Mordica-McSwain cousins came. There was a Crane-side cousin who was like our other little brother growing up – Kevin and his wife Kim – from St. Louis. Special long-time friends like Larry and Pennie – who traveled in with their family from Oklahoma. Our vacation (and everyday) work buddies – Carl and Barbie. The crafty/crazy/caring girlfriend group – Nancy-Danielle-Melanie. Those we include as bonus family – Chuck and Cindy, plus a few others that I know I’ve failed to mention. It was a perfectly sized group and a perfect way to celebrate. We could make our way around easily to visit with everyone, and most knew each other. After this many years of blending how could they not? The day was beautiful and the pool was still open. There were tents up for shade, the food was potluck we had a beautiful cake purchased with special messages for us. Touches like the yellow roses and Benny’s beloved stuffed mushrooms, along with his smoked meats, all just awesomely fabulous!!!
The fruitcakes are baked, the Christmas tree is up, the letter is written and cards almost addressed. I have cookies to bake, and some gifts to wrap, so I guess it is that season. “Thanksmas” with the all the Lynn-side families is tomorrow, Dec. 10th, and other gatherings are in the plans. Our wishes this Christmas is simple: may you all be blessed with warm hugs, good food, and deep love. May the shocked times be few, and the awesomeness be over-the-top. Savor the memories, because time – like solar eclipses, and Santa’s sleigh – fly by quickly! Some moments you just never get back.
Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas 2016 – The Message

The Message…. At work this past month, I have felt like everything was in such a mess. My job revolves around getting our 70+ class’s each semester entered into myZou, (the program the University uses for registration). Our 1800+/- Health Sciences students were in their early registration phase for Spring 2017 classes.  There had been some big changes in how one of our core/required courses was going to be listed, (affecting 7 classes and 200+ students) and finding out the approval process was delayed. Then due to budget cuts, we weren’t able to offer as many classes, meaning we’d be squeezing students in. It created quite the challenge & work for me. I had to prioritize my time, there were tasks left incomplete, and it seemed I was behind on everything. Everyone was supportive, but truly it really felt like a MESS.

In early November, Mary, Alani, and Rebekah went to Washington, D.C., to visit some friends and see the sites. I had lent my car to them for the trip. Their final day as tourists, and just blocks and an hour from the culmination of their trip and extensive pre-planning – their White House Tour – they were sideswiped by a semi  who’s driver we think likely was using his phone. They were all safe, but the car was not drivable. What a mess.  The logistics on getting them into a rental car and home, getting the car first towed (quickly), then repaired, paid for and retrieved, quite the challenge. Dale was on it immediately, made all the right contacts, just everything!  Can I just say here that our AAA Insurance has been just great, and Tammy Grimes, our claims service representative, has been over-the-top in her helpfulness. The other insurance has not accepted responsibility yet, but our car had initial repairs, and it’s back home now. There are several steps yet to go, so the mess continues.

I recently saw somewhere “MESS + AGE = MESSAGE”                                                                                             I turned that into: “With AGE, the MESS, becomes the MESSAGE.”

Time is a great healer.  I know that and try to counsel people with that message.  The teenager that runs away from home today may become the most respectful and loving of your children in the future.  Best friends who weather the storms of disagreement become the best and truest old friends. Ask a married couple at their 50^th – 60^th – 75^th anniversaries, it’s not that they didn’t have messes in their life; it’s that they didn’t give up. As Tim Gunn says on Project Runway, a favorite show of mine, they are the ones who “work(ed) the problem.” Distance does soften the edges, and helps you forget the wrongs.

2000 years ago when that young girl traveled so far from home with her new husband, so very pregnant, she arrived in a town with no place to stay, then went into labor. I am certain she was thinking what a mess! But look what that story brought us. Her MESS became our MESSAGE.  What a glorious one!

I’ve made it through the worst of early registration, learned a few things, and resolved a few issues. Mary and the girls, and then ourselves, made the DC trip, both there and back, unharmed. We saw some historical & beautiful places, and had wonderful hosts while there. (Julie and Lonnie – you rock!) My mess in the past few months has become my Christmas Message – seems I always end up with one. J             My hope for you is that your messes have (or will) become part of your message. Don’t give up, perspective will soften the edges, and distance does make the heart grow fonder.

So on a happier note:  flip this page over for the news from our family for 2016!

 

 

We had a great start to our year! A most clever couple, who we count as family, brought us into the New Year with a big celebration.  Steven and Chelsea Beck (my brother’s niece who shares his birthday) decided to get married on New Year’s Eve, and throw a big double-duty party afterwards. What a marvelous event, the “Day of Beckoning” it was affectionately termed. Lots of family & friends, gathered together for food, dancing, inspiration and perspiration, in a safe and warm environment. God bless the couple, their families, and the new little bundle of BabyBeck joy coming in 2017.

Dale surprised me at Christmas & purchased tickets to the opening day of the NASCAR season, at the newly rebuilt Daytona Beach 500 So mid-February saw us traveling to Daytona, seeing & staying with our granddaughter Alani and her mom, Mary. What terrific hostesses! Door-to-Door delivery to the track, breakfast sandwiches to go, trips to the beach, a big home-cooked crab leg and grilled chicken finale. What more can I say about my first NASCAR race???? I wished #19 Carl Edwards had won, I wished I could go back again and see more, but mostly I know that I am amazed by the surprise, the adventure, and incredibly blessed!

The day before we left for Florida on February 17^th, my niece (Cindy’s daughter) Kalee Jo and her hubby Ethan, presented us with our new great-nephew Luke Murray Williams.  That was a close call!  When Dale bought those tickets and started making plans – he had no idea how close that call was going to be. Eternally grateful I was able to make it to the hospital to meet that little man. What a blessing.  Luke is now crawling everywhere, standing up and acting like he wants to start walking, and is the light of his Auntie Bre’s life. Ethan’s duty station was moved from NY State to Kansas, so they are closer now.

May saw Alani and her mom move to Columbia!  What a blessing to have all my grandkids close by again. They live on our street, Russell and Rebekah moved about a mile away in October, and Ryan, Jenny, and Ariel were already about ½ a mile away, so we are really blessed.  Alani at 12 is doing cheerleading and gymnastics and was in her 1^st National American Miss Pageant.  Ariel will be 7 in days, in the 1^st grade, is growing like a weed and such a delight, she also does dance, & takes piano lessons. Rebekah at 11 still loves her arts & crafts, swimming, reading, an animal lover, and is in the 5th grade.

Fall also saw Dale and I make our 2^nd trip to our favorite Florida Beach. Some great girlfriends convinced me to join them there two summers ago, Surf Song Resort in Madeira Beach FL. That’s down on the coast outside of Tampa Bay. We stayed additional nights this year, who-hoo, and yes, co-workers /friends, Carl & Barbie, just happened to book for almost the same dates as us.  LOL – it’s a really big thing at our jobs to clarify it is NOT that we take our vacations together. We have our own cars, rooms, even floors, we just happen to be there on almost the same dates. It’s so much fun having buddies to talk with on the beach, eat or cook with, play games with in the evenings. You just can’t put things off until tomorrow, (or retirement), we know first-hand that’s not always guaranteed!

So the tree is up, with several fruit cakes and batches of cookies that have been made.  The Christmas letter is complete and ready for distribution. There are no lights up outside, because Dale’s knees just can’t do that much standing or climbing ladders anymore. Now if the gifts purchasing and wrapping would just get themselves done, I might be ready for Christmas!

Holiday Blessings and love to you and to yours!

Holiday Letter 2018 – Ups and Downs

Ups and Downs

Life is a series of ups and downs. We have often lived on streets that have the name “hill” in them. Our current address does not, but when giving descriptions on how to find us, I often say at the bottom of the long curving big hill on route K, just past the long white fence, we are the first street on the left. Pretty soon I’ll have a better identifier, right across the street from the new big convenience store. Yes, our quiet little piece of the world has earth movers buzzing around, trees are falling, and our dark nights that were perfect for star-viewing are going to be coming to an end. It’s a shame, but it is progress. The wishing for a light at the end of our street, is soon going to be rewarded. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.
The waves ebb and flow, the tides rise and fall. Our annual fall trip to Madeira Beach, Florida has become something we look forward to each year. There is such a peace setting in the sand, with a gentle breeze, good company, and just watching the water roll in and roll out. This year was not like the previous as the Red Tide had come to the central gulf coast. It arrived full strength to our location the day that we did. Immediately upon getting out of our car to check in at the Surf Song office, we were assaulted by the foul stench of dead sea creatures. The breathing irritation came after some exposure. The first walk down to the water was just heart-breaking. Note: Red Tide is when an algae bloom, becomes so numerous that it colors the water, depletes oxygen from the water, and releases toxins into the air – that may cause illness in humans and animals. Being outside was uncomfortable, we coughed a lot, and the smells traveled quite a ways. (It also stuck to our shoes if you did walk on the beach.) Even being in the pool or shopping was a challenge. We stayed 4 days, ate and shop everywhere we considered key, and tried to support suffering area businesses, before deciding to head back home. We ended up finishing our vacation with a 3-day-stop in Chattanooga, TN, going to a cave, aquariums, and eating Mexican food. We really tried to make the best of it, but it was a long way down from our high levels of expectation and enjoyment over the past few gulf coast visits.
Family news:
Oldest son Russell, just returned from a vacation in Japan. He seems to have had a great time, traveled with some cousins, so there were four in their little group. Did a lot of walking, site-seeing, and had new cultural experiences. It was long planned and well deserved. He is still working for IBM, and lives close by.
Russell’s oldest daughter, Alani, is now 14 ½, going to high school, and participating in competitive cheer with local club Eagle Elite. There have been bumps and bruises, a concussion, torn ligaments, all the typical athletic ails, but she really loves it. In their first regional competition, they have already qualified for Nationals in Orlando for next May. She will turn 15 while there. She was baptized at the first of the month, and we are so proud.
Russell’s younger daughter, Rebekah, is now 13, in middle school, and participating in school drama and musical shows. She is really excelling this year in a club that explores post high school careers and
educational opportunities. Her grades and confidence are up, she is making some great friends and she is such a neat kid to talk to. Both girls are in Florida right now with their mom, and visiting family and enjoying a few mini vacations.
Younger son Ryan and his family moved in the fall, into a bigger but slightly older home. It is still only a few miles from our place, so only a couple minutes further, but they gained the extra bathroom & space needed, and Ariel got to stay in the same schools. Jenny is still playing her harp, and we’ve been privileged to see her perform at church, and as part of the Columbia Civic Orchestra this month.
Ryan and Jenny’s daughter, Ariel, who turns 9 on Sunday, still takes piano & dance lessons, and is the wacky, fun, intelligent center of her parents’ (and yes, her grandparents) world. We still do a family dinner most Sundays where all the kids come together, sometimes the extended family too.
My sister Cindy (& Brian)’s youngest daughter, Breanna, married Airman Jakob Warren in May. What a great time! She and I baked a lot of cookies for that event, as they preferred cookies over cake. Dale and I were honorary grandparents for the event, since all of her side’s grandparents are now gone. In fact, both she and sister, Kalee, call us Nana and Pawpaw, starting after the “little” girls came along. So in that vein – we can share that we are becoming grandparents again, when Kalee, Ethan, and almost 3 year-old Luke announced plans for a new little one to come in May 2019. Cindy has suffered a lot of physical ailments in the past year, so is exploring options on her work career. We need her better to enjoy those little ones, who are soon moving closer to her. The family was able to go to Texas where Jakob is now stationed and see the honeymooners’ new home they’ve purchased there. So one has moved “home” and one has moved away, that’s how it goes.
Dale’s nephew Michael realized a dream when he married a high school friend Twyla at a beautiful outdoor venue in mid-June. There was a mix up with the arranged minister – but the show must go on – so I ended up leading the ceremony where they exchanged pledges and rings. A family friend (& minister) came to the rescue later in the day, and came to officially sign the license. A great blessing.
We lost a few important people in our world this year. Our very dear friend, Pennie, lost her dad, Ted Fitzhugh, in the fall. We have become family with all of them, in our 30 years of intense friendship, and it was a crushing blow. Gosh he loved Dale’s fruitcakes! My dear sister-in-law, Linda, lost her mom, Helen Barnes. We’d known her for over 40 years, and she was such a happy, bubbly, family-oriented lady. A teenage neighbor has suffered some debilitating illness, and girlfriend was found to have lung cancer. A high school friend died suddenly last week from diabetes complications. Life is very precious, and we sometimes forget to give thanks for waking up relatively healthy and happy every day.
Dale and I continue to enjoy our various hobbies and activities. He is still bowling twice a week, and going to a few state and local tournaments. I went to Iowa for a summer weekend with the girlfriends who sustain and renew me. The girlfriends and I had a delightful Halloween adventure, dressing as witches, and visiting a few key people. I have managed to lose a little weight, and am seeing the health benefits already. We added a spunky little 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier “Rocky” to our home. Over-all it’s been a good year. Hope you can say the same.
Love and best wishes for a happy and safe holiday.

WARM HUGS

WARM HUGS

 

If I could wrap my arms around you right now

I’d give you a nice warm hug.

If I could give you encouragement

I’d tell you that you are very special.

If I could take away your worries

I’d send them flying away on butterfly wings.

Since I can’t be with you right now,

Please close your eyes,

And feel warm sunshine and hugs.

Think of chocolate, and baby kisses,

and how much you mean to others.

Place your worries on your palm

And blow them into a gentle breeze,

Exhaling the worries, and

Taking in a calming and refreshing breath.

 

Thinking of you today.

 

Imperfect Friend

I don’t want the perfect friend, because finding the perfect friend is perfectly impossible! What I want is a friend who is trustworthy, honest, loyal, and loves me as I am. Not for what we own, or can buy, not for who we are connected to, or any of the advantages of monetary value. I want someone whose heart is large enough to welcome me even if their home is small. It is someone who can have fun on a beach, or under a tree, or even just watch the sunset from the tailgate of a pick-up. Someone who won’t tell all my secrets, that cooks my favorite foods for me, and knows my favorite song. I want an imperfect friend….and one who is perfectly worth it!

~

2012 Christmas Letter – JOY

Definitions of the word JOY: BLESSEDNESS, BLISS, FELICITY, GLADNESS, HAPPINESS, WARM FUZZIES.

My beautiful daughter-in-law, Ryan’s wife of almost 4 years, Jenny, brings joy with her music. Several clips have been posted on face book in the past few weeks as her way of sharing the joy of lovely holiday music, as she performs solos on her harp. Of course our delightful and littlest granddaughter, Ariel, brings joy into any room she enters! Her big blue eyes and bouncy blonde curls, her delighted laughter, and anticipation of seeing her Nana, and cousins “Bekah Bear and Ali” just warm our hearts. She loves to wake up early, and either wave to her PawPaw from the bus stop at her driveway, or meet him at the nearby gas station between routes where she can actually climb aboard the school bus to visit. The pattern has become to then go buy donuts with her daddy to take home for breakfast. It takes such simple things to bring her joy. She has started dance lessons and Pre-School two mornings a week. She is energetic, outgoing, and very entertaining! She loves Lala-Oopsies, Hello Kitty, My little Pony, and playing with her Daddy’s old matchbox cars! Ryan and Jenny experienced a monumental joy this past spring when they moved into their own home. It is just across the street from her sister’s home, and a little over a block from us, so we all rejoice that it is so wonderfully located.

Joy is the prospect of possessing what one desires.

A huge monumental joy for Russell this year was his ability to take Rebekah, and Alani, to Florida, over Spring Break! They were able to reunite with their mother after a year-long separation, go to the beach, and spend a day at DISNEY WORLD! Alani is a vivacious active friendly third grader, whose greatest joy is holding a pencil and paper to draw lovely pictures. She also likes stylish clothing, changing out her pierced earrings, doing her own hairstyles, riding her bike, and friends-friends-friends. Rebekah is an intelligent, kind and compassionate first-grader, so also a natural animal lover. Like her sister, she also enjoys all forms of crafts and art, cooking, Bekah has a sweet tooth, and a sweet smile. She may soon follow in a family tradition and add glasses to her new look. The girls were able to travel again to Florida, for two months this summer, a first such extended stay with Mary, who relocated, from San Diego to Jacksonville in the spring, to be nearer to her family. Russell continues to experience all the joys of single parenthood! He recently received a promotion at IBM, after a year of employment. It has been such a blessing, and is wonderfully flexible in allowing him to work from home when the girlies are sick. Russ also joined bowling regularly on leagues this year.

Joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune.

Our joyful attendance at several Lady Eagle Volleyball games was included in our Fall 2012 activities. Both of our nieces, Kalee Jo and Breanna are enthusiastic participants. They can be counted upon for cheers from the bench or to offer encouragement while on the court. We have been so proud of their hard work, and great sporting conduct. Both continue to work at the one-of-a-kind Claysville Store. It is a seasonal, local, and unique eating experience, with family style serving options of fried chicken, country ham, homemade biscuits and pies, along with standard sides, and is run in a historic location by Christian family on weekends only. This is also Kalee’s senior year of high school! It brings me great joy that these loving, delightful, intelligent, courageous, and talented young ladies, enjoy spending simple moments with us. It amazes me that they still run to hug us when they see us. They truly enjoy time with family.

For some joy comes naturally, to discover, to identify, to make, and to savor.

In a lot of ways, Dale and I have been more sedate this year. A little less travel, although Dale did bowl in a few bowling tournaments that required overnights in Springfield and Kansas City. His knees still limit a lot of his abilities including standing and walking distances, but he pushes through any pain to bowl two nights a week. Whether it is the daunting task of cleaning out the garage on one of the very hot days this summer, or putting up our Christmas tree and hanging a few Christmas lights, he simply keeps a chair close by, and takes frequent breaks. Two fruit cakes have been made this month, and several batches of Dale’s very popular No Bake Cookies have been made this year! I have cookie dough in the freezer, and more to make, but Sundays are now a time of regular family dinners, and simply time with our family. The boys may toss a football; the girls make snow with flour on the picnic table, or play in some water, “simple” fun.

Joy is something we all need.

There were some scary moments this year. I had a diagnosis of skin cancer. Dale had another infection in his leg. I received a beautiful handcrafted painting and frame from my cousin, Steve, this fall, and he shortly thereafter had his own medical scare. He is returning to health now, but we just never know our day and time. My sister, Cindy, managed to flip her vehicle upside down in a simple trip on a Sunday afternoon. It occurred barely a mile from her home. No one else was involved, the large vehicle, seat belt, and airbags protected her, and emergency help arrived quickly. In retrospect, there were many blessings that day. At her arrival in the emergency room, a nursing angel with the name of Stacey, recognized Cindy as the sister of Stacey’s own brother-in-law, so took extra special care of her! She helped notify and keep family updated, cleaned, calmed, reassured, and generally held the hands of the nauseous and nervous patient. Her responsive and efficient manner was literally a godsend. Not that it was anything she wouldn’t have done for any other patient, but it sure seemed extra special to us. God certainly placed her on that shift for a reason, and we were blessed to have her with us. Please say a prayer for our angel Stacey as she faces her own challenges this year.

Joy is a sense of delight, an expressing of profound happiness, and perpetuates with sharing.

It has been a year of simple joys. Certainly, there are many families who have faced great tragedies this year. It a reminder to us to count our blessings, and hug tighter our own loved ones. My hope is that each one of us find joy in each other. Simply tell those you value that YOU DO VALUE them. Have a simple and joyous time with your loved ones this season!

Love to all from the BOCOMO family

12-15-2012

Some gifts before Ali and Bekah go to Florida!

Starting the Christmas letter

Creation of the Annual Christmas letter. I am often asked, “How do you come up with your annual Christmas letters?” Just let me say that although they ramble sometimes, and I hope they read and flow like a conversation, they do take some effort and thought.
Well the family news part is generally fairly easy, I try hard to find the great things that have happened over the year, and often resort to pulling out my calendars as resources. While I try hard to stay upbeat, and NOT to embarrass my family, there are often very real challenges we have faced, that I do share. I make an attempt for balance and even demonstrate a life lesson learned where appropriate. Hey, this is real life here.
The Theme of the Year is not always as easy. I often call it my “divine inspiration” and credit the source as coming from a power higher than myself. Yes, it sometimes feels a little “preachy” but I am a Christian, so figure that one out. I have to say……..”the ideas just come to me.” Now some years they come before Thanksgiving, and one year it was the week before Christmas, but I always know when it is right. I can buy the cards on clearance a year ahead, find or create my stationary, buy stamps, creation of labels for mailing, and even decide on and print pictures to include. But just let me say, nothing goes into the mail until that inspiration occurs.
One year it was a series of cartoon funnies clipped from the local paper that got the ball rolling. One year a chain email with an inspiring story. Sometimes it’s just a random thought or phrase that comes to me suddenly and sticks in my head. Give me a blank space and time to think, and it doesn’t usually take me long to get creative or wordy. (I know that doesn’t surprise a lot of people.) For instance, this year it was a single word, JOY.
JOY! Uummmm….. JOY? Who is Joy, what is Joy, where is Joy, how do you explain-measure-contain-share-JOY. Wow, nothing like setting yourself up with a big challenge.  Maybe I need more joy? Maybe I need to appreciate the joy I am given? Maybe I need to share the joy? Why joy or all things?
Maybe I will figure it out in the creation of the 2012 Annual Christmas Letter? Let the introspection, research, and creative writing begin. to be continued…

Wisdom

untitled prayer credited to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr………..
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

It is one of those days, when events between your grandchildren and their parents, cause you a lot of heartache. Good Discipline is a fine balance in learning a lesson that will serve the child as a lifelong frame work for making good decisions. Poor discipline can scar a child’s heart, mind, even body. What is said and done can erode a parent-child bond, and cause those watching to doubt the parentlng skills. A grandparent hates to see harshness, especially if the punishment is thought to be out of proportion to the misdeed. How to bridge the gap between, and not alienate the parent while protecting the child? We all want what is best – and love the child – so how do we handle it? The wisdom is in finding what to say and how to say it. I hope I acted with both courage and consideration today. It took some counsel and prayer before acting. God I love that child and want what is best for her. Some days it is just really hard being the grandparent.

Adoration – a Mothers Day moment

  Our beautiful daughter-in-law who has blessed us with a beautiful bitty girl!!! She is a fantastic mom, talented lady, loving aunt, and is crazy about my son …..what more could I ask for????  Counting my blessing every day…………

She loves absolutely and with her whole being.  She plays the piano and harp like an angel.  She volunteers to keep the nieces, providing the cousins time to play, have fun, and bond.  She likes nothing better than spending time with family doing the simple day-to-day things.  She makes sure we get quality and quantity time with our bitty girl, and that we never feel left out of their lives.  Can you tell that I adore her and am so proud she is part of our lives?  She has a special place in a mother’s heart.

Credits to JMP her most talented twin for the most excellent photo!!!!

The hard road…………

Thinking of all the BIG projects that could be done, first weekend the girlies are in Florida, but figuring the day-to-day things like mowing, laundry, and such will probably win out. If I gotta mow you bet it will be when its 65 degrees today and not 85 or 90 again soon!

Still torn thinking about the granddaughters being gone for two whole months. Not the first to go through this, but it’s hard. They will be spoiled and enriched and have a great time I am sure, meeting all their other relatives. There will be good quantity and quality time with Mommy, but Nana will sure miss them. It is sometimes hardest to do what is right isn’t it? Only love of those girlies makes me strong.

Credits to JMP for the most excellent photo graphs!!!!