My GranGirls

TORY

ALYSSA

My girls will be turning 17 soon. No, I cannot believe it.

Of Fireflies and Toy Stories

My littlest grandchild, four-year-old Dawson, has begun to enjoy talking on the phone with Mamo. What more delight could there be in a Mamo's heart than for one of her precious grandchildren to want to talk with her. So, at this point in time, Dawson and his Mamo have a "mutual admiration society." He likes to talk to me, and I like for him to talk to me. Last evening, his mom sent me a text with a photo, and an audio note from Dawson that he had caught some fireflies. Later, he called me. We had quite the conversation about the fireflies ("They are orange and green and red.") and his first movie ("Was it Saturday, Mommy? Yes, it was Saturday."), "Toy Story 3."

He loved the movie, and he asked me "What was your favrit movie when you were a kid, Mamo?" I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't really remember getting to go to a movie when I was a kid, but I do remember getting a television for the first time when I was about 8. I saw a "movie" on that TV, so I said, "Peter Pan." He said, "I like 'Peter Pan.'" He wanted to know what was my favorite book when I was a kid. He didn't seem to understand "Tuffy the Tugboat" or "Babar the Elephant," but we found common ground a bit with "Peter Rabbit." Anyway, WHAT FUN!! At tne end of the conversation, his mom told him he could talk to Mamo some more later. "How 'bout tomorrow," he said.

THIS is what I'm talkin' about!

Slow Down, Time!!!

No, it can't be possible that my grandson is already 15!! I'm quite sure it was just yesterday when I first saw that little head with already-red hair in the nursery at the hospital in Texas. Well, it was for sure only yesterday when he was four and explained to me that the reason his dad had disciplined him was because "He's just a frustrated dad, I guess." But, for him to be already 15 is almost beyond belief. The good news (for him, because he still likes birthdays) is that he really is 15. The good news for the rest of his family, and everyone who knows him, is that he really is still the same incredibly bright and sensitive and loving "child" (at heart) that he has been since the day he was born (yesterday).

Father's Day

My hubby had a special day and shed lots of tears while reading the cards from his two very special children.

If I have a "child" who is "over the hill," what does that make me?--Don't answer that!

"Daddy--my favorite word in the world," he said.

Honestly, though, where in the world do the years go?

A Relaxing Getaway

This is me playing golf! :-)

June 14-17, we escaped to our campsite to spend a few days. Beautiful weather! Our son and grandson joined us for an overnight guys'-getaway (including fishing and golf).

"Pishing" Today

Today is a good day. Our daughter's family is coming for a visit. Our grandson Dawson (4) called us Thursday evening. He wanted to call Mamo, but as my grandchildren are prone to do, as soon as I answered the phone, he said, "Mamo? I wanna talk to Grandad." He wanted to tell Grandad that when he comes to see us, he wants to go with Grandad and Sassi in the Mule down to the creek to go "pishing." So, guess what Grandad will be doing this afternoon?

The "Little" Things

One of my favorite sermons that my Daddy would sometimes preach (he passed away in 1988) was "Little Things Mean a Lot," the title taken from an old song. I won't go into the points of that message today (a good one, by the way), but that topic, of "little things," comes to my mind today.

Sometimes God shows Himself in HUGE ways. Quite often He does that, actually. And I'm always amazed at His awesomeness and usually remember to praise Him and thank Him at those times. But sometimes, like today, He shows Himself in smaller ways, and I don't want to miss those reminders of how He cares about me and takes care of me and those I love.

Just this morning, He sent me a couple of reminders of his presence. They are "little things," but I love these "little" reminders of His grace.

(1)This morning, my little grandson had outpatient "surgery" to clip a shortened frenulum. The procedure did not require general anesthesia, and we knew it was not going to be anything "major," but his mom (my daughter) and his Mamo (me) were still emotional and stressed about our little guy. God answered our prayers. The procedure only lasted 10 minutes, and Dawson was shortly enjoying a Popsicle as he rode home with Mommy and Big Sister, having made it just fine through the surgery. (Mom made it fine, too--another answer to my prayer!!)

(2) Last night my mother (82, independent and active) lost her cell phone (her "little Barbie phone," she calls it, as the cell phone and the calling plan were a gift from my husband and me a couple of Christmas-es ago). Now, it might not seem like a big deal for someone to lose a cell phone. But, Mother has so "latched on" to her phone that it has become somewhat of a security blanket for her. Even though I told her I would bring a replacement phone to her when I see her this weekend, that didn't help. She wanted her phone. She was literally physically ill with disappointment that she had lost her phone. Now, playing into this level of stress for her is the fact that she is pretty seriously visually impaired, and it was very challenging for her to learn how to use this phone, and she could barely stand the thought of having to learn to use a different phone. So, since her frantic call to me last night, yes, I have prayed that God would help her find the phone--not because the cell phone is a necessity of life, but because of how extremely upset she was about it. This morning, she found it. With tears of joy, she told me, "I found it, I found it, thank you, Lord." And she meant it. I thanked Him, too!

So, little things? Yes. I have several huge prayer requests going on in my prayer time currently, too. But, I don't want to miss these "little" answers that God sends my way to remind me that He has those things covered, too!!

Oh, yes, God cares about the "little" things.

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Luke 12:7a (NIV)

Balancing (not the checkbook)

While it's an awesome time of life, to be retired and able to choose what I WANT to do everyday, it's also a challenge. When I was teaching, it took no measurable amount of self-discipline to go to my "job" (that I loved, I might add--maybe that's why it took little discipline). The evening's activities were also pretty much "set" (fix supper, go to evening school activities with kids, clean house, do laundry). But, now that I can choose how to spend my time, it requires a huge amount of self-discipline to maintain a good balance in my life. For example, if I really did just exactly what I WANT to do each day, I would "work" (that's how I describe it to my hubby) on "my" projects--I would scrapbook, or learn new crafting techniques, or better yet, add to my wish list of crafting supplies that I pretty much need to have! Meanwhile, the lesson I need to prepare for children's church, or the Bible study book I need to read, or even the laundry, or the meal preparation--those would almost always take a back seat....if I only did what I WANT to do that day. So, I'll take the "bad" (the need for self-discipline) with the "good" (the freedom to choose how I spend my day) and remember that I love a challenge. At the top of my planner page for today is just one large word: "BALANCE."

Scrapbook Layout--Outdoor Adventurer-ers

Completed this layout a few months ago. Our grandson loves to go riding on the Mule with Grandad, down to the creek! He's a little bigger now, but he still loves it!

Scrapbook Layout--Birthday

Getting all the photos I want to include in a two-page layout often means sacrificing space that could otherwise be used for fancy stuff....but, for me, the pictures really are the "main thing." I sometimes cut apart the greeting cards to use on my pages, but occasionally, a card is so special in its entirety that it must be preserved in an acid-free pocket, within the scrapbook page. Such was the case with my children's Mother's Day cards to me this year, and such is the case with this "very special card" from my sweet son.

Scrapbook Layout--Easter Dinner

I am determined to work on the technique of photographing my scrapbook layouts. I'm certainly not "onto" it yet. I have chosen a few layouts to share, but I have two huge 12x12 albums for each year, so I obviously only "post" a small sampling.

Sweet Birthday Gift

What a great idea! My sweet daughter-in-law took my favorite verses and put them on cards for me. Along with a Vera Bradley Journal (for prayer journaling), I have a wonderful birthday gift from my son's family.

Funny from my Grandson

Just received this in an email from my daughter:

The other day, Dawson said to me: “You look like a WOMAN, mommy.”

I said, “Really. What makes me look like a woman?” (I’m thinking – this should be interesting….)

And he said, “Well, I’ll tell you……………it’s your underwear.”

Scrapbook Layout--My Brother's Family Here

Just finished this layout tonight! My "Everyday Paper Dolls" cartridge arrived today, just in time to use the little golf cart and the puppy dog. I transformed the "golf cart" into a "Mule" by cutting the image from cereal box and then again from patterned paper (then glued onto the cereal box).

Our Little Sassi Girl

Yes, she is as spoiled as it would appear.

Bulletin Board for VBS

Directing our church's very first VBS is quite a challenge! This is the bulletin board I created to promote it.

Memorial Day at the Campsite

We spent the afternoon and evening with our son's family, as they are camped at our "annual" campsite, at Mark Twain Lake. Our campground has a fishing lake, and the "guys" caught enough fish for our supper!