I Knew It! I Knew It!!!

Acts 15:36 ....Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city...

I knew my sister's visit would be the Balm of Gilead for my heart. I have so many GOOD and DEAR friends here, but I miss my sisters! It was such a joy when Karen called a couple of weeks ago to say they would like to come down for a quick visit. They did ~~ it took place over the past 24 hours~~ and we enjoyed having Paul and Karen here immensely.



They arrived at about 3:00 and so we sat for a while and talked. They were interested in our recent trip to Alaska so we shared a lot of information with them. Karen helped me prepared dinner ~~ in tribute to the blessed memory of our parents, I had planned to have Dad's "honeymooner" sandwiches and Mom's shrimp salad.

Brian, Amy, and the grandkids came over to have dinner with us so they could fellowship with their Uncle Paul and Aunt Karen, too. After dinner, the four of us went to a restaurant across town that specializes in a delicious key lime pie so that was fun. (Note: I cropped Paul out of this pic as I don't think he wants his picture on the internet.)

On Friday morning, we got up leisurely, enjoyed a few cups of coffee (well, Paul and I enjoyed the coffee. Richard drank his diet coke and Karen had water)' and then at about 10:00, we shoved off on an excursion. We rode out to visit a museum, left there and went to a seafood restaurant for lunch, took a scenic drive, and then visited our infant sister's grave. Sharon was born and died just a few weeks before Karen's 2nd birthday some 4-1/2 years before I was born.


















We arrived back at our house just in time for Paul and Karen to shove off and return to their home for their weekend activities:

(ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I cannot express the joy in my heart regarding their visit. Thank you, Lord, for the fun time I had with my loved ones.

Weekend Blessings and The Coming Week!

Richard and I had a wonderful weekend at Chip's in the Huntsville area. His pastor was out of town preaching in a revival meeting so Chip filled the pulpit on Sunday morning. What a blessing it was to sit under the preaching of our son. I sat there quite amazed as my man-child proclaimed God's Word with authority. My heart was full to over-flowing. On Sunday evening, his Dad and I were blessed to sit in on Chip's student meeting hour and then to attend the evening worship service where the new minister of worship preached. Bro. Brandon had an excellent message as well. WOW. It was a great day at Capshaw Baptist Church!!

On Monday morning, before our departure to return home, Chip took us to the house he is buying. It is very nice and we are so happy for him as he reaches yet another milestone... that of being a homeowner!



From there, we took off to return home and had supper waiting on Brian, Amy, and the kids when they came in from work/school. It was a sweet time of fellowship with our loved ones here.


This week, we will be keeping our eye on the weather and our hearts in prayer as Gustav churns and grows out in the Atlantic. Our college students begin arriving this weekend and we certainly don't need to have a big storm bearing down on us ~~ or on anyone else for that matter.





My sister is coming!!!! We have been real close since 1951, and I miss Karen. I look up to her in so many ways. She is my mentor not only spiritually but as a faithful wife and mother. She is my mentor as I enter my "senior" years in this thing of aging. I have always admired and revered her. So.... I am so excited that Paul and Karen are due to arrive on Thursday for a visit. It will do my heart and spirit much good to get to spend some quality time with her and Paul.




A few more pics of the house Chip is planning to purchase:

Jaden, The School Boy!

What a hoot when our bell rang at 6:45 a.m. and it was Jaden. He came over to say "hello" and "good-bye" as he was about ready to take off for his first day of school. I grabbed my camera and recorded Jaden's visit:




Jaden didn't know it, but Richard and I were lined up to be volunteer grandparent helpers at the school this morning. About 10 of us were there just to help the little ones who arrived by bus or car and who came in by themselves to get to their classrooms.It is a fun thing to do each year, and we will go again on Friday morning. We were there from 7:15-8:15 and then went out to breakfast with the other members of the grandparent patrol. I made a few pics at school this morning and was so glad to get to see Mommy Amy walking her little Jaden to his class. When he saw me at "Mommy's School," he came a-running and so she snapped our pic. I know Jaden is having a FUN first day at school. I can't wait to hear all about it this evening!




There's Jaden's teacher. She's all ready for the first day of school, too!


Jaden hugging his teacher before he entered the classroom. The other lady is the assistant in Jaden's class. Jaden will do just fine. This spoiled grandma might be the one in question. :)


Principal Amy cruising the halls~~ looking for folks she can assist

I GUESS THIS REALLY IS THE LAST "HURRAH"

For all of his 3 years and 9 months, I have been able to keep Jaden any day that I wanted to. Brian and Amy have been very gracious to allow me my "grandbaby fix" at most any time th need struck ~~ and that was often. Amy was blessed be have a 12-week maternity leave after Jaden's birth, but then I kept Jaden for 5 semesters of school (Amy has summers off) and loved every minute of it. When he was eligible for 3-year-old nursery school, I recommended to Brian and Amy that he attend nursery for the social interaction, more active playtime, and some academic learning. He did real well during his 9 months at the nursery BUT I was able to invite him to stay with me any time that he wanted to or needed to for various reasons. I kept him on Wednesdays and on a lot of weeks added in another day or two at Grandma's house. As of tonight, my option to keep Jaden runs out......

......for tomorrow, Jaden goes to "Mommy's School" to start his 14 years of learning there. What a blessing that we have a wonderful Christian school where our grandkids are educated not only in their A-B-C's and 1-2-3's but also there is a lot of Biblical training there. Of course, Jaden gets wonderful Christian training at home and attends church every time the doors are open and receives wonderful Biblical training there ~~ which means that the school just serves to back up what he is learning both at home and at church. There is NOTHING that would tear down his child-like faith in God (he has not yet trusted Jesus Christ as Savior) or draw him away from the wonderful values and precepts of Christianity that his family holds dear.

So it is with happy hearts that Grandpa and I have kept Jaden today ~~ his last day before starting school ~~ and it is with happy hearts that we watch him go off to kindergarten in the morning. In fact, we are working on the "Grandparent Brigade" which helps all of those brand-spanking new little kindergarten students find their classrooms for the first 3 days of school. Won't we have fun!!!

Jaden, we will pray for you every day of your school years as long as we have breath in our bodies. We know God has a wonderful plan for your life and a good Christian-based education will help to prepare you for your life's work. Go and do good, precious grandson. We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandma

CELEBRATING MY MOM AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW TODAY....

They are both in Heaven; but today, August 19, is the birthdate of my mom and Richard's dad. We were both so very blessed to have wonderful Christian parents. We were raised in Christian homes, and then our parents were a wonderful source of Christian influence on our children as well. Both my mom and Richard's dad lived to know that Chip was called into the ministry, and their prayers for him were invaluable. My mom didn't live to know Amy's children, but Daddy "D" knew and prayed for our first three grandchildren: Jarrett, Isabella, and Joshua. What a treasure his prayers for them were.



How we thank God for my mom and for Richard's dad today as we think of them, love them, miss them, and look forward to our glad reunion with them in Heaven when it is our turn to go.

Happy 87th Birthday, Mom!!
Happy 94th Birthday, Daddy D!!

We love you and celebrate you both today with fond memories and lots of love.

BEING A GRANDPARENT IS TOO MUCH FUN!

Richard and I kept Jaden today while his siblings started their first day of the new school year and Jaden's class doesn't start until Thursday. We had so much fun with him. We got out right after our 7:00 a.m. breakfast and helped Richard a bit with the shed he is putting up from a kit. We then got ready and went to a relatively new park about 10 miles from here. It was very nice ~~ just hot today. We had packed and taken our picnic lunch but were so hot by the time we had been out there for an hour that all we could think about was coming home to jump in the pool and eat our picnic lunch pool-side. Jaden didn't argue one bit but said, "Grandma, I'm sweating, too!" Here are a few pics from our park play, but I didn't make any at the pool or picnic lunch.

THEY'RE OFF AND HE'S HERE!!!!

THEY'RE OFF: Isabella and Joshua were out bright and early (6:45) for pics to be made on their first day of school. Belle is in 8th and Josh is in 4th. Of course, their mommy (Principal Amy) has been back to work for six weeks but today will be a busy day for her as all of her prep-work comes to fruition and she over-sees her (15+ but I didn't ask her how many this year) 4th grade through 6th grade teachers and all of the students who are under her supervision. I made some pics of them as they came out and were ready to leave this morning. We all had to chuckle at Belle when she came out the door with ALL of her stuff.






AND HE'S HERE: Kindergarten had Open House on Sunday afternoon for the students and their parents to find out who their teacher is and where their classroom is located, but they don't start class until Thursday. So, it looks like Jaden is in "Grandpa School" today!! We have plans to take him to a real nice new park just for kids for a picnic lunch.

Jaden's K4 Class On Open House Day....

At the beginning of the movie, Jaden is seated at the table across the room with several other children. He is in the green shirt with his back to the camera.

ANOTHER MILESTONE!

Milestones are marvelous markers in our lives. They let us know that we are growing, learning, and achieving goals throughout life. Our 4th grandchild, Jaden, is reaching a milestone this week~~ that of going to Four-Year-Old Kindergarten!! After staying with Grandma (that would be me) for his first 2-1/2 years while his mommy and daddy worked, this past year he attended "nursery school" on campus where Brian and Amy work. He loved the social, mental, physical and spiritual experience and did real well. It is FINALLY going to "Mommy's school" and is so excited that he is going to be in the same building as his mommy and siblings. He knows he is a big boy now!!

Today was Open House for the kindergartners. Amy invited her Dad and I go and see Jaden's room, meet his teacher, etc. We went and it was a lot of fun. Jaden was thrilled to meet his teacher, see his classroom, and is now ready to start school on Thursday. I made a few pics and will share them here as our pledge to Jaden that we will pray for him every day during this coming school year.

Finding his name on the class list...

Making his way with Dad, Mom, Belle, and Josh to his classroom....

Meeting his teacher...

A nice pose with his teacher as Dad and Josh look on...

Jaden's proud parents!

My Sister and Brother-in-Law Playing Their Dulcimers!

My baby sister (by 15 months!) has always had a lot of natural musical talent. Nonie's latest latest venture is that of learning to play the dulcimer. She and her husband Tom are members of a dulcimer group and play several times a week. I surely do want to hear them in person some time and was tickled today to receive this YouTube video ~~ my first LOOK at her playing. She has played for me on the phone at my request, but I hadn't seen her. I loved hearing them play "An Unclouded Day" and hope you will as well: