Letting the sunshine in...

A young friend has been encouraging me to get back to blogging... Okay Taylor, this is for you!

I have survived another Ohio winter. I'm thankful for that. The sun is shining. It's Easter week. I have joy in my heart. Sooo many things in my life to be grateful. Sooo many things I treasure in my heart...

Recently I was in Oregon to visit my precious granddaughter, Adiela and her mommy, Shannon. It was a wonderful time with them. I am so thankful to have them in my life. Unfortunately I only get to see them once or twice a year, but we just have to make the most of the times we do have together.

I also got to travel to my old hometown, Beaufort, SC with my daughter, Jessie who will soon be graduating from seminary. She desperately needed a spring break and I was happy to sacrifice for her and take her to the beach for a few days. I think it was the shot in the arm that we both needed. It was a fantastic mother/daughter thing, and I'm pretty sure we will be doing more of that... road trips... tooo fun!!!

Summer will be here soon, so I'm just going to try to enjoy this beautiful spring before things get crazy. Summer is always very busy for us!!! But I love it!

Keep a song in your heart and remember, Jesus loves you. He came to earth for you. He died for you. He lives again for you. And one day... maybe very soon... we will all be together with Him!!! HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!!

Girl Time!

Today is a good, good day. Jessie surprised us and came home for a weekend visit and that is always just delightful! We enjoyed a time of shopping and had lunch at one of our favorite places, Red Lobster for the endless shrimp. It was delicious, of course, but now that I've been to South Carolina for the local, fresh shrimp, Red Lobster just isn't the same to me. I've become truly spoiled!

Now we have another surprise visitor, my granddaughter Nina. She is here for the night and is busy serving us tea. She is an adorable, giggly 4 year old, and what a delight. Nina and Jessie are the best of friends, and I love it when they are together! Lots of silly times! Nina has lived near us since she was a baby, and it has been awesome to watch her grow up. She is turning into a precious little lady. Her mommy and daddy are doing a wonderful job of raising her and we are so thankful to have them in our lives.

I talk about my family a lot, I know, but they are the most important thing to me, this side of heaven. I pray for them, and love them, and I'm so thankful that one day we will be together for eternity.

My Girls

I'm experimenting with posting and photo sharing, so please enjoy this lovely photo of my favorite little 4 year olds. This was at Build a Bear and one of the happiest days of my life!!!

My Favorite Day of the Week!

I was with some of my family today. It's always the best part of my week when this happens. You see, every Thursday I meet my parents, my sister, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter for lunch. Each week someone picks the place, but it's always Thursday because that is the day Mom gets her hair done, then she and Dad get their groceries, then we meet for lunch. After lunch we go to Mom's and play Hand and Foot for the afternoon. Sometimes other family members are able to join us, but we are the regulars.

Today my sister and I won the game. It never really matters who wins, and I never remember from week to week who wins. It is very unimportant to me. What is important is these few hours that we have to be together to tell our stories, laugh a lot, and just be ourselves, knowing that we love each other in spite of our silly selves. I love Thursdays! If it looks like we are going to have a hectic week, Mom says, "We're still having Thursday, aren't we?!" Sometimes my daughter-in-law calls and asks, "Will there be a Thursday this week?" I usually respond something silly like, "Of course there will be a Thursday. Every week has a Thursday." She doesn't laugh much at that.

Today we ate at Friday's, (I know... on Thursday). It gets complicated.

Well, the leaves are stunning today, in spite of the cold, wet air. Fall is here and winter right behind it. I'm not a big fan of winter, but I guess I can handle whatever comes my way, as long as I have a Thursday to look forward to. Thanks Mom and Dad for this special thing you do for us!

Beautiful Beaufort by the Bay

One Happy Grandma

Who Am I?

This is a very new thing for me. I don't know very much about computers, and even less about blogging. I don't think I'm a very important person, but there are aspects of my life that I would like to share with anyone who would care to listen; in particular, a precious little Oregon girl (my granddaughter Adiela Mae), who I only get to see about once a year. So, this blog is mostly for her and my other granddaughter, Nina Noel. These angels are the joy of my life!!!

I am a preacher's daughter, married to a preacher for 34 years. My faith in Jesus Christ is my life. My involvement in His Church as a Christian/pastor's wife is my faith in action. This blog might be an opportunity to speak out about the joys and sorrows that go along with such a life.

I worked for 10 years as an L.P.N. (licensed practical nurse) after graduating from nursing school at the age of 40. I'm a late starter! I'm no longer working, and enjoy being a full time homemaker again, taking care of my preacher husband (which IS a full time job).

We have 3 wonderful grown children and 2 amazing little granddaughters from our 2 sons, born 10 weeks apart! As I said, they are the joy of my life.

Our oldest son is a graduate of Bible College and works as a Corrections Officer in a private prison facility. He is divorced, but we are in close relationship with our ex-daughter-in-law and Oregon granddaughter. It's an interesting situation, but we do the best we know how. We will always love them!

Our middle son is married to a sweet Texas red-head and they are parents to our first granddaughter. They live near us and we are together often. For that I am most thankful. Our son is a computer geek, disguising himself as an Olan Mills photographer. I have a close relationship with my daughter-in-law and have come to respect her in many ways. (I'm not the typical mother-in-law). I actually love my girls!

Our youngest, the only girl, is in her last year of graduate school and will soon be looking for a paying job. At this time she is doing internship as a Christian Counselor. Talk about a needed vocation, with our world as it is today. My daughter is my best friend, next to my husband, of course. We talk about EVERYTHING and I am SO thankful to have her in my life. She plans to move home after graduation, and I can't wait!!!

I guess that's about it for now. I wish God's blessing on anyone who reads this, and I look forward to sharing my life with you.