Returning to Routine

After a long break from the blog, I will likely return to some of the routine things that have somewhat “fallen by the wayside” for these first few months of 2026. We have been extremely busy, and while my blog has never functioned as a “journal,” but rather more as a place to “share my art and my heart,” still the events of life have taken priority, and I have, of necessity, let some things “go.”

We are so thankful for how God has continued to bless us. Since January, these are the highlights, all good.

January - River, our fourth great grandchild was born (our grandson Conner and his wife Caroline live out here in the PNW, as do we). They now have two boys and two girls (Leeland and River, Lily and Oakley).

April - hubby Russell had a total knee replacement and is doing well with recovery. It has kept us both pretty busy.

June - our granddaughter Tory (also out here in the PNW) married a wonderful man Jonah (youth pastor); they look forward to serving God together in ministry; she teaches at the Christian school that is attached to his church. At their wedding, we were SO honored—Tory asked her Grandad (my hubby) to walk her down the aisle and give her away. Her daddy (our son Mark ) officiated the wedding, and her mom Kristy was the Matron of Honor. Tory asked me to play piano (actually keyboard, as it was an outdoor venue) for the wedding. Words fail to express how special this was for us. Her brother (Conner) led everyone in a praise song, “Goodness of God,” after the recessional. His wife (Caroline) was a Bridesmaid. Our oldest great grandson (Leeland) was the ring bearer (carrying a pillow handmade by my grandmother for my wedding), and our two great granddaughters (Lily and Oakley) were flower girls.

Our routine includes family dinner at our home after church on most Sundays. We are blessed to have three pastors (representing three churches) around our table for dinner (our son, starting his fourth church plant in a nearby town), our grandson (our pastor), and our new grandson-in-law. There are 12 of us now for Sunday dinner.

We continue to keep up with our Missouri family (sister Janene and husband David—who is my husband’s brother, my brother Keith and wife Michele, our daughter Sharida and husband Greg and family), with visits at least once a year (most of them were here for the wedding) and with virtual visits on Google Meet. Our grandson there, Dawson, is starting his junior year at our alma mater (Southwest Baptist University).

I have kept up with scrapbooking (huge deal these days with so many events to include), but I have not kept up with watercolor. That begins again today, and I will share a painting soon (if I can remember how to paint).

There are technology challenges, even with keeping the blog (things like, where are the pictures stored, do they disappear eventually?, etc.), so for now, I’ll just post this text update.

So, for those who have been wondering if I fell off the face of the earth, it has all been good, but back to more routine days now!

After 15 years, I’m also researching ways to export/back up the blog, for the time I feel like I’m ready to stop blogging!

Thanks to all who have been hanging in there with me—after this many years, I’ve had over 1,398,000 visits.