Costume day

Friday we were supposed to dress up like a patient. Since most of ours
are pregnant, I really had no choice! It gave me great empathy for the
9 months Jenn just went through. After 8 hours I was really tired of
being pregnant!

She's got the cutest little baby face!

In case you haven't seen Adalyn laughing in her sleep, I had to pass
this on. It is just too cute and gets a laugh from everyone I show it
to!

Laughing Adalyn

Kevin posted this on the web, but I had to be sure you all got to see
it. Adalyn is laughing in her sleep!

Fun at Curves

In honor of breast cancer awareness, my Curves is having a contest
this month. We were supposed to make a purse using a bra somehow. So
below is my creation and the bunch of others that have been turned in.
We'll vote on the winner next week. This is what I did instead of
studying yesterday. I knew with a new grandbaby on the horizon I was't
going to be able to concentrate on reading! This was a lot more fun!

Tennessee Trip

Well, I had a fantastic weekend in Tennessee. Got there on Friday afternoon and got to see the church that evening. I was shocked at what an impressive place they have. Go to AwakenChurch.org to see lots of pics of before and after and the first service that I have not been able to include here. Saturday was some more work and errand running. We were ready for the service in plenty of time.

Jenn and her brother Jordan lead worship. Kevin gave the announcements and a great kick off sermon. We all went out for dinner after service.

Sunday was a lazy day. Dennis & Kara spent the morning with us until they left for the airport. We managed to get in a game of Nertz much to Kevin's dismay. I got to enjoy chicken enchilada casserole with the family and a relaxing evening that included Jordan. Emery learned how to play ragdoll blaster on my phone. She is amazing the way she navigates around on the phone.

On Monday Jenn & Emery and I drove a short way to Kentucky to try out a couple of Amish stores. We got some great baked goodies. I found the book "Scuffy the Tugboat" which I got for Emery. Couldn't resist since I remembered it from when I was little. We read it several times over the next 24 hours until I left. :-) Em and I also played for a while in her room. She is quite the entertainer. She made me 'bacon' and 'muffins' and 'tea'. We were almost too full for dinner. :-)

We got in a couple games Monday evening after homemade chicken noodle soup. We had sourdough bread (from the Amish store) with triple berry jam that Jenn & I had made while Em napped. What a treat!

Tuesday I packed and read Em her book a couple more times. Then it was off to the airport. On the way Jenn asked Em what they were going to do without grandma. Em said, 'cry'.

I have to tell a few cute things Emery said over the weekend. She has a tape measure like her dad's. She carries it around and calls it her 'taper'. If you ask what she does with it she tells you she measures walls. There are 2 ostriches near the road to town. She calls each one ' an oscritch'. I told her Donna got bit by one when she was little, so she was careful to remind me each time we drove by that Aunt Donna got bit by an oscritch. When she has fun doing something she'll say, 'Let's do it amore again one more time and see what happens!'

I am sure you can't guess that I miss Em. We had fun making up for some lost time. She assures me she'll help her mommy with the baby until I come back at Thanksgiving. It made it a little easier leaving know I would see them all in just a couple months.

An encourager

Emery spent 3 days with me just before they moved to Tennessee. I decided her gift is encouragement. And gratitude too. All weekend long she kept saying things like - "Good job driving Gramma." or "Good job making pancakes Gramma." or "Thank you for Emmy helping with cookies!" or "Thank you for finding ice cream man, Gramma." Life is pretty rich when she is around!

I can say goodbye, because . . .

I haven't blogged in a while. Technically this isn't a blog, but it sums up some recent thoughts, so I share it with you as well as Kevin.

Written for Kevin on June 15, 2009

I Can Say Goodbye, Because . . .

When you were just born and it was time for you to go back to the newborn nursery,
I could say goodbye because I knew in just a few minutes you’d be back in my arms. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And on your first Sunday home with us, we took you to church and dedicated you to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When you were my precious growing baby I would leave you in the church nursery while we were in the service. I could say goodbye because I knew in just a couple hours you’d be smiling at me again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And I prayed with you the day your name was written in the Book of Life when at the age of three you asked Jesus to come and live in you.

When you were only four I took you to nursery school so you could play with other kids. I could say goodbye because I knew it wouldn’t be long and you’d be home with us again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And at home and at church we did our best to teach you the ways of God.

When you went to school each day I could say goodbye because I knew we’d see you again at the end of the day. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And from grade school right up to high school I saw you grow and struggle and love your Lord and become more like Him.

When it was time for summer church camp I could say goodbye for the week because I knew in just a few days you’d be home again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And in your senior year I watched the call of God begin to take place in your life.

That summer you left to be a counselor at Lone Tree Bible Camp. I could say goodbye because I knew in just a few short months you’d be home again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And I watched you grow in the strength of the Lord as God confirmed His call on your life.

Then you left home to marry Jenn and I could say goodbye because you were still in Albuquerque and our family had grown to include your beautiful, wonderful wife. I also knew that you both were in the arms of God.

And I watched you grow to become a man of God. A man who loves your wife and your daughter with the love of the Lord. A man who seeks to serve his Savoir wholeheartedly. A man who is courageous and strong in the might of the Lord. A man who is willing to forsake all to follow the call that God has on your life in Clarksville, Tennessee.

So tomorrow you leave Albuquerque and the times that I can be with you will be rare and precious to me. But I can say goodbye because no matter how often or how little our paths cross in this life I know you are in the arms of God.

And I know that we all are in the arms of God. His plan is unfolding, marvelous and rich and glorious. His plan for you and beautiful Jenn and precious Emery and wonderful Little-One-On-the-Way. And His plan for me. You have taught me much about the love of God, His richness, His endless pursuit of us and His awesomeness throughout your life Kevin. I am blessed to call you son. I am blessed to have dedicated you to God and come to see that He has done exceedingly abundantly above all I could have asked for or thought of in my prayers for you. May His Name be praised forever!

1 Cor 16:13-14 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”