Christmas Smiles...

I remember as a child visiting my great grandpa and grandma's house on Chritmas Eve. We would all be together and laughter would ring out from every corner of their little home. My grandmother had treats prepared for all of us - cookies, cakes, and candies. The tree was cut from the field and the lights were constant colored lights and the ornaments were foil or handmade. The tree was then covered with tinsel. The gifts were stacked deeply for everyone brought their family gifts there for exchanging, and the sight was mere magic to the eyes of a child. The anticipation of what they held inside was more than we could imagine.

Go forward some 45 years and 2010 Christmas finds my house full of family with gifts stacked up under a tree. The ornaments are all gifts from years of friendships, children, and trips taken and collected then each one placed on the tree with love and memory. They decorate the small tree from top to bottom with anticipation of the families celebration of Jesus' birth. The family, children, and grandchildren all gather in on Christmas eve. We share homemade treats and goodies that everyone brought in for the celebration. The gifts still fill the hearts of the children with wonder. The food is still good. The laughter still rings out. The traditions of the past live on again. The memories we make today will one day, in 45 years or so, pass down to another generation. How wonderful to be a grandmother.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve...

I've been so busy with life that I've forgotten about living. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and my birthday. It is exciting and almost too soon. There is a little secret that I just have to share with you. My sweet, little grandgirl is going to get a junior baking set and a Paula Deen children's first cookbook. She loves to "cook" with her momma.

Christmas is always so much fun. Time spent with family and sharing the reason for the season, Jesus Christ, is so wonderful. I'm blessed, its my birthday!

A Special Time...

Anytime you can spend a few hours with your grandchildren it is definitely a special time. Today I was blessed by the opportunity to spend time with all five of my grandchildren. They made me laugh, look in amazement through their eyes and remind me of the blessings our Father in heaven hands down to his children. The tickles, the blowing out of candles, the jack o lanterns, and the ride on the gator - ahhhh grandma. I love the sound of that word!

They Never Grow Far From Your Heart

No matter how old your children are you never stop caring about their feelings. When one of the children are hurting you are hurting. The pain travels some unknown, unseen cord that is wrapped around their heart and is somehow connected to your own. Love is that way. It is not easy, nor is it for the faint of heart. Love is hard. Losing it is harder.

Good Morning...

Do you just love the morning? As a child I loved the morning, my favorite time of day. I am again loving the morning. I love the time when darkness subsides into daybreak. Just that few moments between night and day. I often remember those days as a child. I was always walking to my great grandparents during this time. They lived down the road from me and were of course already up. The light from their kitchen window gave me guidance through the last bits of darkness. I would keep my eye on their light and was never afraid. I would walk there often, leaving my parents in bed asleep. When I arrived I was greeted with hugs and often a warm breakfast. Their love encircled me with everything I needed: guidance, love, laughter, encouragement and acceptance.

Now as I think back I am reminded that like my grandparent's light, Jesus is the light that I follow now. In just those few moments when everything seems the darkest in my life, I lift my head up and see his light in the distance. If I choose to follow it and obey his word I am greeted with love, acceptance, encouragement, and all that is good. If I choose not to follow Him, he is still by grace shining his light for me so that I can turn around and find my way home. I am thankful for my life and Jesus' love.

Loosing Teeth...

Why is it that losing a tooth is so exciting? Especially that first tooth...the grandchildren come running with finger on the tooth and wanting everyone to wiggle it. Is it almost out? Will the tooth fairy come? Losing a tooth is a rite of passage.

I begin to think about all the teeth that have fallen out and all the rites of passage I've seen with my own children. Now, I'm watching my grandchildren. Seems to me that they grow up so quickly. Why can't time hold off for a while and let them enjoy the carefree days of childhood just a little longer?

Time...when you are young you usually have too much of it...too much time. Now, I can't seem to find enough of it. Is it a rite of passage, too? If it went by any more slowly could we as adults handle it?

Are you wiggling that tooth again?

The Show Must Go On...

As I look across the room and see pictures of my children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents I am reminded that the show goes on. It doesn't stop with me. It goes on. So this is my greatest challenge, my commission, if you will. I must insure that God's great love continues through the generations, shared by my grandmother with me now I must share it with my grandgirl, too. So that down the road when my walk has weakened and my light is barely flickering she'll be able to pick up the torch and light the way for the families that are sure to come and follow along behind her.

I encourage you today to share your "light" with those you love.

Taking Care of an Elderly Parent

Aging - it isn't for the faint of heart. Neither is watching as it happens. As a person begins their descent into the end of their lives it seems that the spiral that was their life, begins to swirl and represent everything the person is not. The cover of a book comes to mind, I think it is Oh The Places You'll Go...

Labor Day...

I remember my father working as a hod carrier when I was very young. He worked so hard for such little money. I remember my father working in a sewage ditch cleaning out waste from pipes when I was a preteen. I remember my father working on a construction road job and almost getting hit by a car that didn't obey the signs. I remember my father working hard in his garden. I remember my father when I think of hard labor. He worked hard so that I could have a better life. He worked hard so that I could have more opportunities than he did. Today, on Labor Day weekend I thank him for teaching me the value of hard work.

Light

We are all searching for light. A light to shine on a situation that will make it clear and help us understand how to handle it. A light to shine on an attribute that makes us happy so we can share it with everyone. A light to keep us on the right track.

When...

Just when you think you have it all figured out...you learn something new. I've been concentrating on being grateful and I am. But, now the lesson seems to be trust. The lessons we learn in life from all of our trials and tests create a great opportunity to grow in our faith. It doesn't seem to matter how old you are, you still have opportunities to learn. This week it has been trust. Trusting God and letting him work out everything is sometimes tough. But, when you roll your cares over on him, he gives you peace. Life is like a ball game, except three strikes your out does not apply. You keep getting opportunities to catch the ball or hit a homerun. When life throws you a curve, put up your ball glove and catch that ball! Trust that God will give you the strength that you need to meet your "curve ball."

I read in a book today that fear kills dreams before they can become reality. Keep trusting and believing in God's ability to take care of His children. Dream big dreams!

I am reminded...

Lately, it seems that I am being reminded of just how blessed that I am. How truly blessed my life is and how fortunate I am to be able to live in a wonderful home, have a fabulous job that I love, have my children live close to me, have five beautiful grandchildren, and to have a husband that loves me unconditionally. I don't know if I'd forgotten (or taken for granted) all the blessings in my life, but I surely wasn't as grateful and appreciative as I should have been. I'm so thankful that God still finds me worthy of learning. Worthy of another chance to get it right.

As you look around at your life, make a note of each blessing in your life. For many of us they are vast and for some of us they are fleeting. In either case, praise God loudly and thank him for all of the blessings in your life whether large or small. God inhabits the priase of his people. I don't know about you, but I love hangin' with God! Tell Him thank you - I did!

When I get old...

I don't want to be a burden to my children. When I get old I want to leave my family with wonderful memories of our lives together. When I get old I want to sit on my porch in the rocker and watch as the yard fills with grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins and such. When I get old I want my children, grandchildren, and family to say "Tell us that story again, Mom. You know the one about..." When I get old I want to be wanted. When I get old I want my best friend still sitting beside me and sharing a knowing look or a good laugh just between the two of us. When I get old I don't want the pain. When I get too old to live, I just want to go to heaven. When I get old, I'll be closer to seeing Jesus.

Remembering...

Today I'm remembering...you know those moments in your life that you always recall. The moments that stay right in front of your memory and cause you to smile each time someone finds the right trigger to bring them to the surface. I'm remembering how wonderful it was to be a mother to young children. When my children were young I worked, but I loved being their MOM. As they got older, I went back to school and finally graduated. Today the memory is of a little girl and a little boy that always came to visit me as I was reading the end of a book...the memory of a little girl sharing her secrets with me...the memory of a boy laughing until he cried...and singing through his daily activities...remembering the little girl that loved her hair brushed (unlike her mother)...of a boy that loved TV and of a little girl that loved her "babies." And now I've moved beyond the remembering to absolute gratitude for the opportunity to be a mother. Thank you God for giving me treasures from your kingdom.

The Ten Questions

Which five words best describe you?passionate, sincere, friendly, positive, believer. What was your first job and what path have you taken since then? secretary onto many others which prepared me for my passion - teaching! What’s your proudest achievement? My greatest achievement has been my children. Through them my love for life will continue long after I'm gone because they are and continue to be my best work. What’s been your best decision? My best decision has been marrying my high school sweetheart. Who inspires you? I'm inspired by many people - my family, Joel Osteen, and children. What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about reading and how it can change your life. What’s the best lesson you’ve learned? That when your heart is broken, God picks up all the pieces and creates a masterpiece just for you. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Jesus Christ - hopefully someday that will happen. What dream do you still want to fulfill? I would love the opportunity to become a leader. What are you reading? Becoming a leader, Osteen books, magazines, children's books, self-help books, and everything I can find within reach!

#1 Grandson

How can it be? Just when did it happen? My first grandchild became a teenager last week. I remember when he came home from the hospital I was sure the sun was shining directly on us. Our joy was magnified by 1000%. He is what all grandparents desire. A boy that is all boy with a great big heart. He is tall, oh so handsome, full of activity - pitching, juggling, riding, skating, running, jumping - and did I say handsome! He loves to spend time with us. He loves his family and is so helpful to his grandparents. If you can't tell, I'm one proud grandma - my first grandson has given me so much pleasure - and I love him so! Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Camping In The Sunshine!

We waited and waited for the first sunny weekend. Finally, the forecast was good and the prospects of having a wonderful weekend was just a few days away. As we got closer to the weekend we realized this was going to be our opportunity. We delivered the camper to our site and set up camp. The white blooms of the dogwood made a carpet over the underbrush and the oaks were just starting to bloom. The air was filled with the yellow pollen that coats your car, tables, and chairs - just a dusting that is plenty enough to make you sneeze! The sun was warm, the fishing good, and the relaxing was necessary. Life is good here in the middle!

Weekends

Weekends pass by so quickly! Why is that? Why do we have to work five days and only play two? This weekend I started with my grandgirl on Friday evening. She alone without her big brothers kept us in stitches. She danced, twirled, and sang the night away. Her personality is beginning to show in so many of things that she does. Animal lover is at the top of her list - this we know because she "walked" the neighbor's dog all evening. Then Saturday, was play day - a day to listen and talk to the one you love, a day to dream, a day to breath. Sunday afternoon spent with the two grandsons that live closest to us. We laughed and played and wondered why do weekends only last two days.

Easter

He is alive! I see God in all sorts of places. He resides in my heart, but I can pick him out in a crowd of people. Today a child bent down picked up an egg and handed it to a child that had only a few. I saw Him. As I was preparing food for the meal I thought about the Last Supper and remembered He enjoyed sitting down with his friends and family, too. I saw Him. While I listened to the sermon today and tried to decide which part I would play, I saw Him on the cross. As I sat across the table from friends and listened to laughter and love. I felt He was there. When the children laughed and excitedly ran to fill their buckets I was reminded that He has an ever flowing of love for His children. I saw Him there. At this Easter season and all the year through, may God walk close enough to you that you see Him in all you do!

What Would You Do?

What exactly do people do that do not have children or grandchildren? I wonder about this all the time. My family is the most important part of my life. As I get older I find that most all of my pleasurable moments in life revolve around their visits, activities, and events. I love the times we can all be together and share the best that life has to offer.