Memorial Day Weekend

I saw an article in the paper today about some grandparents who had taken their grandkids to the cemetary yesterday so they could better explain what Memorial Day is about. Great idea. I'm putting it in my memory datebook for next year. It brought back memories of when our kids were little and my sister-in-law, Patrice, and I would take her 4 and my 2, along with her mom, to see "Papa's Grave". The cemetary setting seemed like a park to the kids, but it provided opportunity for talking to them about death and life and service (sacrifice) for your country.  I'm reminded that maybe we haven't talked much about it since those days when the kids were young, and also that it's important for our grandkids to know our family history as well as our nation's history. So much of it is being erased from the history books used in schools these days. "Social Studies" books are filled with opinions and "diversity studies" instead of actual history, aka: facts. The theory is that a generation that doesn't know the facts is easier to persuade (manipulate/control) with opinions. The same kind of tactic is evidenced by what many people actually know (or don't know!) about Darwin's theory of evolution. The reality that it is taught as fact instead of theory is scary; and shouldn't the fact that Darwin himself later refuted his own theory also be taught???

Well, by this time my segway to Memorial Day has escaped me. Writing papers in college used to take me forever because my mind jumps so fast from one thought to the next!

Oh yeah.... Our little munchkins this Memorial Day weekend. First, with their great-grandmother (Papa's wife) at Isa's soccer game:  Cade to Isa, "You need to get up off of Nana's lap because I need to sit there!"

Sydney, lovin' her new freedom with walking:

Cade, the golfer, teeing up:

And finally, this last picture is one of my parents when they got married 68 years ago. Thank you, Dad, for serving your country!

Blooms Out, Blooms In

Playing Together

(The blog posting didn't happen yesterday as planned. Oh well.)

Cade and Amelia and Nathan have begun to play together without nearly as much competitiveness and fussing at each other. It's great to watch how they are learning to cooperate. There's more laughing! Sydney is not far behind in joining this crew. She already has an extreme desire to be down and joining in the fun. If only she would stop putting everything in her mouth, she probably could be joining them sooner! Indoors she's doing better, but outdoors there are still so many things she wants to "taste". The 4 of them were surprisingly willing to sit on the wall for a few pictures!  Well, the 3 on the right were more willing than the one on the left.



Such cutie patooties!



Behind Again

I'm feeling like I'm behind in the blogging again. So many things going on. But that's a good thing. It means that many blessings are going on as well. Even if some of it is stressful, it means that God is moving me and I'm grateful that He has me in His Refiner's Fire. And, ok, I'm also admitting that I'm praying that I can be a better listener and learn to obey the first time around so I can feel that cool breeze for awhile!

So on to some of the blessings:

The first up today is Isabella Lorraine. Wow. I blinked again and she has almost finished her first year of school. Oh my. Could we just slow this down a little? It seems like it was just a few days ago that I knew she could read if she would just try it, but she was afraid she couldn't, and now she is reading everything she gets her hands on. Thank you Mrs. Harvey for helping her to enjoy school! 

Thank you Lord for making it possible for me to be able to share in Isa's Kindergarten year by helping in her classroom once a week.



Isa and her puppet at Open House

Next up....to be continued tomorrow.....

Makin' Me Smile

The first time one of our babies falls asleep in the highchair, it always causes me to smile. This time it was Sydney's turn. She had just finished eating a snack and was unusually mellow as she watched Cade finishing his, and a few seconds later her chin slowly reached her chest. SO cute! And such a contrast from the little livewire who has her scream down pat for anything that displeases her, like not feeding her fast enough. As much as I have worked on teaching her the sign for "more", I have yet to be successful. Actually, I think she knows the sign but just prefers the scream!

A Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
I am humbled by Your presence and so grateful for Your grace, Your faithfulness, Your blessings. You've brought an 85 year old new friend into my life who I don't think knows You and my heart aches for her.  Her story magnifies my blessings. Her husband passed away a year ago while they were living in the midwest and her son made her move to CA because he didn't want her to live alone. Now she is more alone than ever, since her son lives in Ventura.  She has 5 children, LORD, and they should be a blessing to her. But a week before Mother's Day she was so sad because she didn't think she would hear from any of them. And then her son called and said he was coming to see her. She was so excited! But she knew he only had a motorcycle, so she was even imagining riding on the back of the motorcycle (even though she never had) if she had to, just to go over to her neice's for Mother's Day. And she was going to get up at 3:00 AM just so she would be ready when he came early.  My heart sank when I drove up Sunday morning and saw the motorcycle in the driveway. I knew it wouldn't be possible for her to go with him. He left within 10 minutes after I arrived. At least she did hear from one other son in AZ that day. But I still feel like shaking the daughter who said she was coming and then didn't show up.
So, LORD, I hold Your dear Ruth up to you and pray that You will be her comfort and companion. Guide and prompt me, Jesus, to do Your will. Thank You for the blessing of my precious, caring family and friends who love You. May we show Your love to others.
Amen

New Pillows

I purchased a poppy fabric a few months back because I thought it would go well with the tapestry we have hanging in our living room. I had in mind to make pillows but, of course, I was waiting for a really good deal on the pillow forms. Well, the really-good-deal came along, thanks to Kohl's:  2 pillows wrapped together for $24, a 60% off sale, and a coupon for an extra 30% off. Thank you Kohl's! My kind of deal.

I can't seem to get a picture with true colors, though. The tapestry pic looks very muted, and the new poppy fabric shows up way too bright. They really do have the same coloring, somewhere between the 2. Even taking the pillow outside didn't show a true color.