Tuesday, December 28, 2010

ANOTHER GREAT GRANDCHILD

The proud new parents are rejoicing with their newest addition.  One month old and his first Christmas!  My fifth greatgrandchild, a boy.  God has blessed me way beyond anything I could have imagined. 

We expect our sixth great grandchild to be born in April.  And they are all boys, well, except for our little Ruby.  She looks so much like her daddy but has her mommy's beautiful eyes.  Mommy's eyes are a deep blue that turn to violet depending on what outfit she wears.  Rubys are a deep black.  You ask how can she have her mommy's eyes if mommy has blue eyes and Ruby has black.  There are more to one's eyes than the color.  They have the same shape, and then their individual expressions, that are different, yet the same.  I think you get the idea. 

Our grandchildren live throughout the world and now our great grandchildren have joined them living so far away from us.  But I feel a road trip coming on!

Until then...........

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Only a few more days and we will be ringing in another new year.  Where has this year gone?  As we get older it seems like time flies by so fast.  Long gone are the lazy days we used to lay in the grass and stare up at the clouds and dream of flying, or even tugging on the string to keep our kite soaring.

What happened to the front porch sittin' days?  Slowly rocking back in forth in the rocker, waving to neighbors and their children as passed by.  Remember when everyone on the street congregated at one house and chit chatted.  For that matter what happened to the front porch?

Am I telling my age here?  Well I can remember when I used to sit on the front porch and my mama shooed me into the back yard to talk to my friends.  She said.  "A good girl doesn't hang out on the front porch advertising."  It took me a long time to understand what she was talking about.

Oh well, on to better times.  Reflecting back through the years, letting my mind wander, to the happier times in my life.  Watching my children opening their presents at Christmas.  Their smiles and giggles as they tore open the paper and flung it aside to see if they got what they asked for.  Which usually they did.

The delight I felt as I watched each one of my children walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.  Helping them decide on what college they wanted to attend.  Then being there when they pinned on their first strip coming out of boot camp.  Army, Marines, and Air Force.  My children have you covered.  Rest assured, you are safe.

Their marriages and my grandbabies!  How much more blessed could a person be?  To sum up my year I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.  I pray each one of you are too.

Until then..........

Thursday, December 9, 2010

1-800-2HEAVEN

Christmas Season is upon us again and like everyone else I'm running around trying to get everything put together for our semi-annual trip to Disney.  My phone rings constantly if not from the telemarketers it's my daughter asking still another question. 

Jenn is next to my youngest but she is the only one that lives close by.  I see her and the grandchildren almost everyday.  She will pick up the phone and ask me how long do I have to boil a whole chicken, to do you think I should take the baby to the doctor if she keeps complaining about her mouth hurting.  Then there are times when she is pretty upset over someone or something and she just has to have a sounding board.  After she has sounded off she says thank you and hangs up. 

The other day I told her she was going to have a hard time after I'm called to heaven.  She said.  "Mom don't talk like that.  You're too young, besides we need you."

I tried explaining to her we don't live forever.  We are born, live our lives, then we die.  It's how we live our lives that make an impact on others.  Again her reply was "I don't want to talk about it."

I finally told her.  "Well Jenn when it does happen and you are really needing to let off steam about something here's what you'll need to do.  Pick up the phone and dial 1-800-2heaven and I'll be there."


Until then.............

Thursday, December 2, 2010

CHRISTMAS TIME'S A COMIN'

Yes it's that time of year again.  Christmas!  The hustle and bustle of the crowds as you shop for that perfect gift for Aunt Betty, or for the doll little Susie just has to have.  You adorn the house with all the garland, tinsel, and candles you stored in the garage.  And you can't forget the Christmas card list you've so carefully updated from last year.  But there's another side of Christmas we forget all too often until someone reminds us.  Christ's birth.  Let me tell you a story from my house.

We downsized over a year ago and I had packed the grand children's books and hadn't unpacked them until recently.  I had a large book on Jesus life that had pop ups on each page.  When my daughter's schedule had her working nights she would d\rop my three grandchildren off for a few hours.  My youngest granddaughter found the book tucked away under an end table and pulled it out to read.  Mind you she is only eighteen months old so I set her on my lap and with her three year old sister standing next to me I tried reading the story to them.  They were not interested in the story but more interested in the pop up pictures so I just started explaining the pictures to them.  Of course, reminding them not to tear the book which I'm sure they are getting tired of hearing.  My eight year old grandson listened but is more interested in the video I've put in the player than the stories about Jesus.

Yesterday I stopped by my daughter's house to drop off some things she asked me to pick up while I was out shopping.  My three year old granddaughter met me at the door along with mommy.  Mommy and I stood and talked for a minuted when the granddaughter asked me "Where's Jesus."  My daughter said.  "What did you say."

I told her we read the story about Jesus and she just asked me where was Jesus.  Mommy was caught off guard for a minute.  Mommy tells her about Jesus but they do not go to church but once in a while and the children don't go to Sunday school.  I turned to my granddaughter and said.  "Jesus is in your heart.  He's in mine."

She said.  "No He isn't."

Mommy replied.  "He's in my heart."

To that my granddaughter looked at both of us and said again.  "No He isn't."

Mommy and I told her again Jesus lives in our hearts but for a three year old she was not buying that.  My only prayer is that the more I tell her and the more she is told the story of Jesus she will begin to understand.  With God's guidance I will continue.

Until then....

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

FIVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND COUNTING

The little bugger finally made it into the cold harsh world Nov 22nd at 9:45 p.m. during a snow storm in the high sierras.  He's such a sweet baby.....mommy says he wants to sleep all the time.  Just wait!

Now we are waiting for the sixth that is due in April.  It would be funny, yes funny, if it was born on April Fool's Day like it's grandmother.  My brother was born on April Fool's Day also.  It's time we added another joker into the family.

Children and more children....oh my.  The Lord told me to be fruitfull and multiply and believe me I guess I've done my share.  I always wanted a lot of children.  It's just a pity they all live so far away.  Life happens.  What happened to the days when your children stayed close to where they were born and raised?  Where they could bring their children over to visit the grandparents....rest awhile......chat......Sunday dinners.

Our world is spinning so fast........everyone is in a hurry.....all the time.  We have to get this done, that done, go to work, shopping, taking the children here and there, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, laundry, ironing, fixing meals, balancing the checkbook, and the list goes on and on.

The question is this...do we take the time to sit and enjoy each other's company?

Until then......