HAPPY FRIDAY...

Well here we are to Friday AGAIN and almost the very last day of March!  Time is whipping by.  I enjoyed Bible study yesterday as always and after lunch headed to the docs office to have my stitches removed and hear my results.  It turns out that I do have a Basil cell skin cancer.  No big deal really, and not something I wasn't expecting.  However I do have to have some more of it removed which is scheduled for April 30th.  Not looking forward to it of course, but I wish all things were that easy to solve.  My upper GI didn't show much really other than I have a MILD case of Acid Reflux which again I was pretty much expecting.  My doc has said all along he thinks it is a big part of my problem, but STILL don't know if I am buying it, haha.  He honestly believes a bigger part of my problem is due to the fact that I no longer have a gall bladder (removed YEARS ago) and digestion is becoming more and more of a problem as a result.  I have been feeling MUCH better recently so I do think the digestive enzymes are helping.  He also said (always encouraging, lol) that there is a chance we will never know for sure what exactly is going on.  Sooo, I guess for now it is the old.....just move along....as I am forever telling my kids.  I will eat as sensibly as I can, and pray the Lord heals me which I know He can if he so chooses, and thank Him I feel as good as I do.  I am also prayerfully considering doing my knees.  A MUCH bigger deal in the scheme of things.  I will see is all I am going to say about that.  I have my referral, and x-ray orders, and that is as far as I am for now.  And now having said all of this, I am going to put all these annoying physical things aside, and focus in some other more enjoyable areas of my life.  : )

I am looking forward to tomorrow as we are going to celebrate Jeffie's birthday, though his birthday is not really until the 6th.   He is going to have a "Star Wars" party at his daddy's karate school, and I am sure the kids will all love it. 

My mom and step dad are REALLY suffering.  Times have become so hard for both of them.  It is very difficult to watch your parents age and become more and more dependent, less and less able to cope with just everyday life.  I had to take my mom to the doc's again today and for more blood work, and it is just sad how hard it is for her to get around.  Hopefully they can adjust her medication so that she will be less unsteady how her feet.

Guess that's about all I've got for now.  Hope you all have a wonderful week-end!

GRANDMA'S CUTIE!

A NEW LAP TOP!!

I am typing this from my new lap top....YAY!!  My old one has been on it's last legs for the last couple of years.  How it managed to hang on as long as it did I can't be sure.  But last Friday was it's last day.  We have been shopping around for the last few days wondering what I should get....we considered of course all the "new" things like an IPad etc., but at the end of the day I really just wanted something very similiar to what I had.  I just don't like to learn new things.  I can barely work the "old" things is the bottom line, so it worked out just fine as this was the least expensive way for us to go anyway.  My BRILLIANT hubby had backed up most of my old pictures, so as soon as he gets them all transferred on here I will be good to go.

My test last Friday went well.  I should find out the results from it and the biopsy on my doc appointment on Thursday afternoon, so in the meantime I just wait.  Not the most patient person I will admit, but don't have any other options as I see it, haha.  I am already half way through book 5 (which is the FINAL book) in the King series.  Seriously, I can hardly put them down.  I can't bear to finish them as I will really miss reading them.  I really feel the Lord has taught me soo much more than just the historical stories of these Kings.   Again, if you get the chance, read these books, and then let me know so we can discuss them.  Mel is reading them too, but she is WAY behind me.  One would think she has a baby to take care of or something, haha.  And speaking of babies, Sam is 6 months already and went to his cardiologists on Monday for a check up on the heart murmer and small hole in his heart.  The doc. told Mel on Mon. that she was ASTONISHED to see that the hole is almost completely closed up as she really didn't expect it to happen on it's own.  Now she wasn't worried about it anyway as it was tiny and in a spot that it didn't matter much, but still!!  She told Mel she expects it to be completely closed by his 9 month check up, or for sure by his 12!!  Praise God!  Sam is up on his hands and knees already, and I have a feeling crawling is around the corner.  Here are a couple of pics I did manage to copy off of Mel's facebook.

6 MONTH'S ALREADY

LOVE HIM!

WHAT DO I DO NOW??

I am going to attempt to post a video my son James made of his oldest daughter Capri's little poem she had to do for school.  I think she did a VERY good job with it, plus she is just darling doing it.

http://vimeo.com/39089176

I have tried a few times so hopefully this works.  It will take me a while no doubt to figure out everything on here. 

We had a storm on Sun complete with lightening and thunder and I enjoyed every minute of it, but the weather these last couple of days has just been beautiful.  I am taking my mom to the dentist tomorrow and nothing to much more exciting going on.  I have had a hard time visiting these last few days as I had to go on my hubby's lap top which is a Mac and I could barely work it.  But I will be around now to see you all.  Hope you are having a good week. 

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say....  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

COUNT IT ALL JOY....

Tomorrow is Friday and so another week has whipped by.  This particular one hasn't exactly been a fun one for me.  Tuesday I had a small what appears to be skin cancer removed from my chest to be biopsied.  Didn't hurt at all and had only two stitches.  I had gone to the doc for a stomach follow up and ended up on that as well.  I had a feeling it probably was so it wasn't really a shocker, but I guess I was still kind of surprised when he decided to do it on the spot.  Now if it DOES come back as a skin cancer I think I may have to have some more removed....sigh.  Not really looking forward to that.  I guess there is a SMALL chance it is just PRE-cancer, and then I will be all done.  But honestly, I have a feeling that chance is pretty remote.   And then, the very next day I had to go to the dentist (almost forgot all about that appointment, haha) and have both a cavity filled and a thorough cleaning done.  Seemed like a good idea at the time to get it all done at the same time, but TWO hours later when I was finally leaving and my whole mouth hurt pretty badly,  it wasn't seeming that brilliant anymore.  However, now that it is all done, today it is seeming brilliant again, lol.  Plus, no more cavities and that is always good news.  Today was Bible Study.  Loved every minute of that.  And tomorrow is the Upper GI.  I will be glad when that too is all over and I put this week behind me.

I have found that it is always easy if I try,  to fall into negative thinking and "poor me" feelings.  But of course in the long run what in the world does that accomplish?  Depression and bitterness and worry.  As we have gone through the book of James on Thursday mornings I have put MUCH more effort into considering life's trials and tribulations things that I can be thankful for.


James 1:1-2  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  

Now goodness knows it goes against our human natures to do such a thing, but honestly it benefits us in a number of ways when we do.  It certainly has proven true for me anyway.  The more I depend and trust in my God to get me through each day, the easier things always are, and the more I find myself trusting Him, and then resting in His peace.  And the more I rest in His peace, the happier I am.


Isa. 26:3  You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is set on You, because he trusts in You.

He can do His greatest work on those whose hearts are grateful, and trusting.

Just this week I read the blog of a friend of Melody's.  A young girl (Mel's age I think....she used to work with her at Christian school when Mel was in college) whose husband was diagnosed late last year with cancer of the spine.  She has two young babies (one of them just born shortly after Christmas I think it was) He has had the tumor removed but is not only receiving more treatments for cancer, he is having to regain MANY of his physical abilities as the removal of the tumor damaged his spinal column.  He is walking again with the use of a walker, but is weak and it is quite difficult.  The youngest baby has been quite difficult as she suffers from Acid Reflux, and the two year old has regressed and is waking up every night crying for seemingly no reason.  This poor gal has her YOUNG YOUNG hands soo full.  And yet, she is a strong Christian and is leaning on Him and her church to get her through.  The things she is learning through this experience are both inspirational and humbling.  I have no doubt the Lord has great things in mind for her as she obediently trusts in Him.  I am praying for them all everyday, as there is little more I can do.  This is one of those times I wish I could put more hands and feet to my praying, but I am convinced that prayer accomplishes more than we ever realize.  If any of you would like to join me in prayer for this young family, I am sure it would be much appreciated.  You can find her blog HERE.  I am sure she has little time for blogging, and is really just writing as a way of coping, but like I said, I find her inspiring, and my heart just breaks for her.

Just one more little thing I wanted to share.  I got a call today from my little Jeffie.  I haven't seen him in a few weeks, and I was thinking about that this afternoon, and wondered if I had time to stop by and see them all on my way home from Bible study.  I decided against it, as I really needed to get home and let Elvis out, plus I had a few bills to pay and just haven't seem to find the time for it this week.  Anyway, as I was sitting here working on my bills, my phone rang and I answered it expecting it to be my dil when I saw the number on the phone.  However, I heard this little voice (why do they always sound sooo young on the phone? haha) saying, "Grandma, is that you?  It's me, Jeffie.  I haven't seen you in sooo long.  Where have you been?"  We talked for about 15 minutes or so.  Just made my whole day.  : )  He has a birthday coming up soon, and I am thinking a WHOLE day with Grandma sounds pretty good.

SWEET JEFFIE

Hope you all have a wonderful week-end!

HAPPY MONDAY!

I decided to do The Simple Woman's Daybook this morning, so hope you enjoy.


Outside my window....It is a GLORIOUS day.  I thoroughly enjoyed the stormy weather we had all week-end though.  Soo different for So. California.  It rained BUCKETS here on Sat. especially.  We had some thunder and some hail too.  It began to hail yesterday just as we were leaving church so everyone scurried to their cars quickly.  I somehow ended up with all 3 of my grandkids in the car with me for a little while, in addition to 2 of their little friends.  The hail was pounding on the roof of the car and they were all soo fascinated by it.  Little Tella especially.  Her eyes were as big as saucers, haha.

I am thinking.....that it is soo amazing that it is almost Easter time.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Spring and all it brings.  The blooming flowers and trees.  The cool breezes blowing in the window, and yet the still occasional shower storm.


I am thankful for....sooo much.  I was thinking about all that this morning during my devotional time.  Thankful for the rain yesterday, the sun today, the birds chirping, my cozy warm house, my hubby, my kids, my grandkids, and for full busy days.  I could go on, but you get the drift.

In the kitchen....not much going on there yet, haha.  I will be heading out to the grocery story though after lunch, and plan on getting everything I need to make chicken fajitas for dinner.  Of course I make mine without the tortillas.  I am STILL doing the gluten free diet, and I am not fond of corn tortillas.  Besides, I like the insides the best anyway.


I am wearing.....baggy, comfy jeans, and a long sleeved warm yet light weight knit top that it is multi-colored blues and greens.  I am still wearing my slippers too.  It was really chilly after my shower this morning, haha.


I am creating....a rag quilt.  Still in the EARLY stages but I am quite excited about it.  More on that later.

I am going....SOMEwhere everyday the rest of this week.  Tomorrow I have a nail appointment and a doc's appointment.  Wed. I will spend the day at my mom's as she has a lot of errands she needs to run.  Thursday is Bible study with the women, and Friday I am to do an upper GI series.  DREADING that day I am not going to lie.  But I need to get this taken care of.  It is getting REALLY old.  I do have some days that are not bad at all which is an improvement I guess, but I just want to be done with it.  But that's another story, and another post.


I am wondering.....MANY things, haha.  Let's see...I will try and share a few.  I am wondering how it is that I am soo blessed, when I don't deserve it, I am wondering what the results will be of the testing I am doing for my tummy, I am wondering how long it will be before we will be able to make a trip to New Mexico to see Mike, Mel & Sam, I am wondering what a friend of my daughter's baby will be...she is having her test to find out this morning.  Guess there is always MUCH to wonder about.  Glad some things are definite and never have to be wondered about, such as  God loves us and is on His throne, and all is in His capable hands.

I am reading.....I am just about done with the 3rd book in the Chronicles of the King series called Faith of My Fathers.  It has been soo good that I can barely put it down.  I honestly just can't imagine how hard it would have been to have lived through some of what went on during that time.  And yet, so much of what goes on in other parts of the world even today is just as scary.  One thing I think is hammered home over and over and over again is the importance of blessing Israel.  They ARE God's chosen people.  Gen. 12:3  I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.   I am also reading through the book of Acts right now.  And, still studying James.


I am hoping....again, MANY things.  But probably at the head of my list today is that my hubby closes a deal he has been working on now for a few weeks.  He works soo hard, and I love to see his hard labor pay off.

Around the house....It is quiet here today.  Oh, except for the sound of the birds chirping, the clock ticking, the dish washer and washing machine and dryer running, and Elvis alerting me to others out for their morning walks.  ; )

A favorite quote for the day....most of my favorites are in the Bible...but picking one of my "other" favorites came from Bill Cosby...."I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."  Is that true or what??  haha


One of my favorite things....Is looking at pics of my grand kids, haha....And here are a few for you to enjoy...

SAM ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY

SAM AND MOMMY

JD...SUCH A BIG BOY....ALL REGISTERED FOR KG. NEXT YEAR, WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

CAPRI'S NEW HAIR CUT....SHE WAS "IN CHARGE" OF CURIOUS GEORGE THIS WEEK-END, SO HE WAS ALONG FOR THE ADVENTURE, HAHA.  THE HAIR CUT IS DARLING ON HER!

TELLA "POSING" RIGHT BEFORE HER SWIM LESSON ON THURSDAY...SUCH A LITTLE DOLL!

Well, guess that's about it for now.  Hope you all have a good day, and a happy, productive week.  Many blessings to you all!

HAPPY FRIDAY

I came across this meme today will visiting Sue at Pear Tree Lane and loved the idea so I decided to link up with it this morning.  I KNOW you will be blessed by the others who have linked up as well, and you can find them HERE.    ENJOY


Here it is Friday again....how can it be?  Oh, and MID March as well.  Really kind of scary how time whips by.  I really don't have much to report so I have a feeling this post will be somewhat "random" haha.

Bible study was just soo good yesterday.  Larissa has put soo much into this study that she is blessing us all more than she realizes I am sure.  I do know that it is taking up a lot of her time, but it is well worth it, and how I appreciate it.  Don't forget that you can listen to any of them if you would like by clicking on my son's picture on the side of my blog page which will take you to the churches web site.  From there just click on sermons and a list of both her studies and my sons are there to chose from.  Most of hers are only around 30 minutes or so, and are really good.  However, let me just say (not to discourage you from listening) it is not as good as seeing her deliver them in person.  : )  After the study yesterday Larissa had a few things to do and I ended up having lunch with just my son.  Doesn't happen very often that I get one on one with him and let me just say that this mama enjoyed every minute of it.

We are going to play cards with my mom and dad this evening and I am looking forward to it.  Haven't done so in a couple of weeks, and we have missed our times together.  Bring your game mom, I am in the mood to win, haha.

I came across this verses this morning in my devotional time and it has just soo blessed me that I have found my mind just meditating on it all morning...

Psalm 84:11,12  For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.   Oh Lord of hosts, blessed in the man who trusts in You.  

God to those who love Him is like the sun....meaning He enlightens us and shows us the way.  He is our shield and therefore protects us from the enemy and his attacks.   He has not promised us material riches or earthly fame, but He HAS promised grace and glory to all who seek Him.  His grace, which is His undeserved favor, that leads to our salvation,  and His glory, which is the beauty of His Spirit.  Not a material beauty, but a beauty that emanates from His character.  It is eternal.  We are soo blessed to be the vessels that contain His glory.   He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly!  What a promise.  But what is considered a "good thing"?   Trusting in Him to KNOW what we need for our ultimate good, and content with our life no matter what our earthly life presents us.  Blessed indeed is the man who trusts in Him.

We really don't have much going on this week-end so I thinking we might spend it relaxing for some of it, and who knows, maybe we will tackle the bedroom closet?  Though not committing to that just yet.  I am thinking my dh may just need to relax.  Hope you all enjoy your week-end! 

Still kind of missing this little face!

PEAS ARE PRETTY GOOD GRANDMA!

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

Well it's Wednesday and time for Hodgepodge.  You can join the others HERE.


1.  St. Patrick's day will be celebrated this coming Sat.  What's a favorite article of clothing you own that contains a touch o'the green?  I have MANY to chose from as green is not only my favorite color in general, it is one of the best colors I can wear.  I think I would chose for my favorite right now the green top that my oldest son Joe and his family gave me for Christmas.  More of an aqua green I guess, but soo pretty, and comfy too.


2.  What's your favorite "green space" in the town, state, or province where you live?  If I am understanding for sure what you mean here by "green space" which would be to "reuse" an area for a wide range of things from agricultural, to recreational, or ecological uses, in my particular area I guess it would have to be the ball fields and parks.  Most of my particular neighborhood is VERY city with neighborhoods, restaurants, busy malls and shopping areas etc.  And while I have NO objection to any of these things, there is nothing like sitting in a gorgeous park full of huge trees and flowers and rolling hills covered in green grass.   


3.  Do you wish you were taller, shorter, or think you're just about right in the height department?  At 5 ft. 6 inches I think I am just about right.  I think that falls into the "average" height for most women.  I always felt like if I was a little taller though my weight would suit me better, haha.


4.  What's the surest way for someone to pick a fight with you?  Uummm....I guess if I think one of my kids or grandkids were being picked on or attacked in some way I'd probably find myself jumping to the defense and ready to do battle.  I remember one incidence in particular when I was a VERY young mama and my oldest son was only 2 (really close to 3 I guess) years old.  Words flew out of my mouth soo fast that I honestly couldn't believe it.  I was at the laundry mat doing our weekly wash and my son had a few little cars and was lying on the floor under the table where I was folding our clothes playing with them.  He was a typical little boy and he was making the cars crash and making car noises etc.  He was being as good as gold as far as I was concerned and not hurting a soul.  Well, there were a couple of older women in there as well who were finding him annoying for some reason (honestly, I never did understand why other than maybe she was trying to read and the place was small?) and had rolled their eyes and sniffed around and you just knew were trying to get my attention so that I might make him collect his cars and sit quietly in a chair I guess.  I ignored them.  That is until one of the women finally spoke aloud and said, "Some moms just don't understand that this isn't a place for children to play.  She should have left him at home." (Really?  from a LAUNDROMAT? )  I turned to her and said, "And some women don't remember what it was like to BE a young mom trying to get things done, or a young boy just trying to play while she does.  They were always OLD and FAT...."  Can you believe I said that?  Both of their mouths dropped open (and then quickly shut) and that was the end of that.  Can't tell you how I regretted that.  WHY did I find the need to add on that last little bit?  There is such power in our tongues.  We have the ability to bless others or hurt them every single day.  What others say to us and what we say to others can last a LONG time, for good or for evil.  The casual sarcastic or critical remark can inflict lasting injury on another person.  Likewise, the well-timed encouragement or compliment can inspire someone for the rest of their life.  Proverbs speaks of the person who doesn't consider the destructive power of his words.  Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"  Proverbs 26:18-19.  I felt bad about that for a LONG time.    

5.  Broccoli, Spinach, String Beans, Peas, of the four, your favorite green veggie? (Or the one your dislike the least if that first option is too hard?  I just know there is some veggie haters out there)  I LOVE them all.  But probably my favorite would be Broccoli.  However, I don't like it raw or uncooked or whatever.  I love it steamed or cooked only.  Then I could eat it everyday.   


6.  March is National Women's History Month.....besides friends, neighbors, and the women you are related to, who's a woman in History you admire and why?  When my boys were young and going through elementary school, the school they attended had an assignment called "Famous American".  They had to chose a famous American to research and write a paper on, then they had to write a speech pretending to be this famous American, and then come to school dressed as their character on the final day.  This took place during the entire month of February, and included all the kids from KG through the 8th grade.  It was adjusted of course as the child grew older and more and more was required.  As I recall the KG's just dressed as their characters.  Anyway, this was A LOT of famous Americans over the years for my boys.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed these assignments.  The reports, speeches, and costumes were judged and awards were given out etc.  I was often asked to serve as a judge for the speeches.  I LOVED it.  But I remember wishing at the time that I had a daughter so that more time could be spend researching famous American WOMEN.  By the time I finally had Melody we were no longer sending our children to that particular school, and the new one did not participate in this event.  So I never did get to dig deeper into the famous American women.  However as I judge I spent a lot of time listening closely to the girls as they gave their speeches.  There were soo many that caught my attention and admiration.  But I remember one in particular.  Someone always chose this woman every year, and I looked forward to hearing about her.  And that was Rosa Parks.  This is of course the woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white man.  She was both arrested and fined for this.  Rosa boycotted the city's bus company for a duration of 382 days.  This caused the Supreme Court to rule that the ordinance under which Rosa was fined was wrong.  They also put out a law against racial segregation on public transportation.  She also later received the martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Price.   I remember thinking how brave she had to be.  And how committed to wanting to make a change for the good for the future.  What a scary time in history that had to have been.  It still amazes me that these things all existed in the first place.  Anyway, she is right at the top of women I admire...


7.  Keep calm and ____________ on.  You fill in the blank.  How about....keep calm, and carry on....or....keep calm and press on....or keep calm, and continue on.  Made me think of the verse in Philippians.  I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.. Phil. 3:14.  I have got my eye on the goal where God is beckoning us onward---to Jesus.  I am off and running, and I am not turning back.


8.  Insert your own random though here.   My head as always is all over the place, haha.  But picking our just one of my "random" thoughts is.....How much I LOVE day light savings time.  Now I know it is soo annoying that first morning or two when it is time to get up and begin your day and it is still kind of dark outside, especially when you rise as early as I do.  (and yes kids I am WELL aware of the fact that I don't HAVE to rise that early anymore) But it is soo worth it at the end of the day when it is still light outside LONG after dinner is over and you can sit outside and enjoy the sunset and the weather.

HEARING GOD'S VOICE

Well here it is Mon. afternoon, and is it ever QUIET around here....Funny how much gear, activity and "planning" surround one little baby.  I so enjoyed every minute of their time here (Ok, maybe the time we spent sick wasn't all that great, haha) but even that had it's good points.  But it is back to regular living around here today and I am choosing to set my mind on the positive.  Something I don't always do all that well, but it is possible.  Let's see where do I start?  First of all it is a GORGEOUS day here.  Sun is shinning and a cool breeze blows in my window and there are a few different kind of birds chirping to listen to.  I so love to listen to birds sing that I have been considering recently on getting myself a cannery.  Not quite ready to take the plunge, but it is on the table nonetheless.  I am also noticing that everything seems to be in bloom.  Soo pretty.  The church picnic was quite fun yesterday, and I am so glad we were able to go.  I spent most of my time sitting comfortably in a chair watching all the activity going on around me.  One of my favorite pastimes by the way.  There were sack races, 3 legged races, baseball games, and volleyball all going on well within my line of vision.  And the kids all had such a good time.  There was a really small little creek running behind where we were sitting (with almost NO water in it btw) and the kids quickly found it and spun a game of pretend around  it.  I had to laugh at Capri when she called out to her daddy, "Daddy, I am getting pretty dirty you know:"  haha  Just such a nice day of wonderful spring weather and fellowship.  Today I am finishing up my laundry that "somehow" got neglected last week, lol, and spent a good hour down at our local Christian book store looking around and buying the next books in the Chronicles of the Kings series I am reading.  They are soo good.  Book 3 is called the Strength of His Hand and I am soo looking forward to starting it.    I also purchased a book I have had my eye on for a while now called Discerning the voice of God by Priscilla Shirer.  I have such a desire to "hear" God's voice in my own life recently it would be hard to put into words.  I am hoping to find some practical suggestions in this book as to how to accomplish this better.  I have read the first chapter already and have found it REALLY good.  Seems soo basic and soo easy.  Want to hear God's voice?  Then LISTEN!!  There are soo many scriptures that talk about just that.

Isaiah 55:3  Incline your ear, and come unto me:  HEAR, and your soul shall live;

Ecclesiastes 5:1  Walk prudently when you go to the house of the God; and draw near to HEAR...

Matt 11: 5  He who has ears to hear, let him HEAR!

Eze. 3:10  Moreover He said to me, "Son of man receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and HEAR with your ears.

These are just a few of course as the Bible is full of God's command to us to listen for His voice.  To sit and wait in His presence.  I am really looking forward to digging into this deeper.   Maybe all the "quiet" at my house this week will make this a little easier.  I  have always found myself so easily distracted, and the older I have gotten the easier I am.  Though knowing this Grandma I am will have to have my moments were I sit on the phone and listen to Sam talk too.  : )

I wish I had taken a couple of pictures at the picnic yesterday but for some reason I forgot all about it.  I have caught up some with most of you and am looking forward to seeing what has been going on in blogland.  In the meantime, hope you all have a good week!    
  

LAUGHING BABY

Well they are gone....How I thank the Lord for their visit and time.  We had a wonderful day yesterday and we all felt good.  Praise God.  Just had to show you a quick video Mel took of my mom and Sam.  For some reason he found her just hysterical.  He laughed and laughed with her.  We all loved it.  We will relax today and I will probably spend at least a little time feeling sad they are gone.  But tomorrow is church followed by a picnic, and I am looking forward to that.  Hope you all enjoy your week-end.  ENJOY the video.

PICTURES OF MY TIME WITH SAM, AND THE SHOWER

Well, I imagine you know what I am going to post about?  haha  Here is how Sam has taken a few of his naps this last week.  Comfy and cozy on Grandma's lap...

SILLY GRIN IS JUST HOW  I'VE FELT

We are all doing MUCH MUCH better.  Truthfully, not totally 100%, but good enough to enjoy things now.  WOW, what a stomach virus that was.  A total of 15 people in our family came down with it.  How ridiculous huh?  Can we say contagious?  I soo appreciate your prayers.  Both my parents and Sam escaped and I can't begin to express how grateful we all were.  A small consolation over the whole thing was that Melody will spend 4 extra days here as a result.  She is spending the day today with Mike's mom and sister.  I am soo glad that they got a chance to see him too.  I decided to take advantage of the time to go through some of my pictures and get this up.  And we still have ALL DAY tomorrow to enjoy.  They will fly home Saturday morning.  Mike has really missed his little family.  I am so grateful he is always so willing to share them.  Too bad getting away from the dairy is so hard.  They did skype a couple of times and that was nice.  My tummy is acting up REALLY bad again though so my doc has ordered an upper GI.  Not exactly looking forward to that, but am looking forward to figuring out what is going on.

Mel and I made a trip out to Babies R Us yesterday when we were finally feeling up to it, and had a good time shopping around for Sam.  She does not have one anywhere near her, so it was a treat for her.  We did get him some cute clothes and a couple new toys including a baby Einstein video.  He LOVED it!  The baby has been soo good, and has slept soo well, and my appreciation for that is through the roof as well.  Even though we had to endure the stomach flu, I am soo glad to have had this visit.  I am already kind of dreading them leaving, but I know home is where she belongs.  So I will "move along" as I always tell my kids, and look forward to the next time, and in the meantime I have soo many others that fill my heart I've really no reason to complain.  I will now post a few (and trust me it was hard to narrow them down haha) of my favorite pictures, and a video of the shower.  I realized as I was putting the video together that my pictures were kind of random at times and I didn't get any of my sister and not many of my niece.  I think I spent a GREAT deal of my time holding baby Sam, not taking pictures...Oh well, first things first right?

HE DOES ENJOY HIS APPLESAUCE

MORNING SNUGGLE TIME WITH GRANDMA

LOOK HOW HE ENJOYED HIS VIDEO!

SOOO SWEET

BATH TIME...HE WAS A BIG SPLASHER, HAHA

SUCH A HAPPY BOY

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I am sorry I haven't gotten around to visit much.  I've missed you all.  I will catch up soon I promise.    : )

Just a quick side note on the Zoo cupcakes.  Diane found them on Pinterest and she and Melody and I decorated them the night before the shower and had soo much fun doing them.  Not nearly as difficult as I thought they might be.  The memory of getting everything ready the night before was a GOOD one, and not one I will be forgetting soon!

AN UPDATE AND A PRAYER REQUEST

Just a quick update....the flight with Sam couldn't have gone better.  He was the hit of the plane, haha.  He is soo adorable and has slept soo well and done soo well it has almost been unbelievable.  The shower was PERFECT.  Just the right combination of good food, loving people and fun.  Again, Sam did great.  All of my boys made it up Sat night for dinner and to see Mel and that couldn't have been nicer either.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE being all together.  Sunday morning we went to church down in San Diego and Sam again just couldn't have been better.  He slept the whole way down and the whole way back.  We decided to go by my mom's after church so that they could see the baby.  And here's where everything took a BIG turn.  Melody became suddenly VERY ill.  Within 10 minutes at my mom's she was vomiting and just became the sickest she thinks she has ever been.  When we couldn't control the vomiting for more than 10 minutes at a time we headed to the emergency room thinking it was food poisoning.  We were there over 5 hours with Grandpa walking the baby around outside so he wouldn't be exposed to anything inside.  They gave her fluids and medication but it really hasn't done a lot of good.  He told us that he didn't think it was food poisoning, but rather a stomach virus that is particularly nasty, VERY contagious, and rampant right now.   Just everybody has got it he said.  Well, since Melody came down with it SEVERAL more of us have been hit as well.  Last count there are 14 of us sick.....including both my dh and me.  I am not going to lie, it has really been somewhat of a nightmare.  Some people are being hit HARD like Melody, while others are not too bad.  I am somewhere in between.  I think if I wasn't dealing with my stomach issues already, I might not have been too bad, but I am not able to take the digestive pills (naturally) and so all the same symptoms I have been dealing with for weeks are acting up as well.  Thankfully, the baby is still well.  We are hoping that the fact that Melody is nursing him and he is picking up her antibodies in her milk is causing him to fight it off.  Plus of course we have all been praying diligently.  So far by far the worst hit are both Melody and Michelle, who is the one the shower was for.  Melody was suppose to go home tomorrow but she changed her flight until Sat. instead.  I feel bad that Mike's mom and sister haven't even gotten to see the baby yet as they were suppose to get together yesterday and Mel was just too sick.  We have told them coming over here would be REALLY dumb unless they felt like getting sick too.  Please pray Mel starts feeling better soon and that the baby doesn't get this.  I am not sure why this has happened.  Not exactly the visit we all had planned.   But I do KNOW the Lord has us all in His hands and so we will just trust Him.  Hope you all are having a good week.

HAPPY FRIDAY....

Good morning and happy Friday everyone!  This will be quick as I have lots to do before my sister arrives soon and we begin our day of preparations for the shower.  To say I am excited and looking forward to this time would be putting it mildly.  We had a slight scare yesterday as Mel wasn't sure Sam was feeling well.  His sleep was WAY off and just soo fussy and sounding kind of congested as well.  She popped into the doc's office to have him checked as she didn't want to bring a baby with an ear infection or something on a plane.  But Sam was declared perfectly healthy and suffering from a case of "teething"....been there and done that and  I know it isn't fun.  Please join me in prayer if you get the chance that the baby (and Mel) travel well and that they get here safely.

Other than that, women's bible study continues to go soo well.  How I love it.  Larissa is doing such a good job and all the ladies are so blessed.  Larissa is going to do a little devotional tomorrow at the shower as well and I am soo looking forward to it.  Such a perfect time for all the ladies in the family to join together and pray for the new baby that will be joining our family soon, and to shower him with some goodies as well.  I actually forgot to take pictures of my sewing projects to show you and they are all wrapped up for now, so hopefully I will remember to do so at the shower.

I have gotten a GOOD measure of relief from the digestive enzymes that I am taking for my stomach.  I can't tell you how grateful I am.  Now it is not 100% by any means, but compared to what I was dealing with it is much better.  Guess it did make sense that without a gall bladder my digestion is just not going to be what it should have been.  I had it out years ago and I have had some trouble in the past too, but nothing like this last bout.  You think the doctors would have mentioned what I should have been doing and eating, but seriously I heard nary a word.  Oh well, I do pray my tummy is on it's best behavior soon, and certainly these next few days especially.  Not time to deal with that, haha.

OK, time to get busy.  How grateful I am for my God.  He is sooo good to me!  Hope you all have a WONDERFUL week-end!

2 Cor. 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

BE THERE SOON GRANDMA!