Ashley/Annie and Maggie/Lake

While Ashley's brother was in the hospital with pneumonia and her parents were spending many hours with him, Ashley had to carry on. She had play practice. Her acting academy was putting on a Broadway Revue of three plays, Annie, Charlie Brown and Carousel.  When opening night came, her mother had pneumonia, but the show had to go on...so Ashley pulled it off. She made it through.

I know it was particularly hard for Chelle to miss it.  I wish I could have been there. So happy there are good pictures. 

This layout is of the first part where Ashley plays one of the orphans in Annie.

Well, I have to tell you what happened while we were boating this evening. I'm certainly glad it happened before it got dark.  We were in a small lake that branches off 'our' lake. It was not far from home. When out of the blue, our little Havanese jumped off the front of the boat. She had only been in the water once before and that was when she fell off the dock at home two years ago and a friend, Don fished her out of the lake.  Of course, I panicked, especially when my friend, Bernadette and I heard her hit the bottom of the boat. I was sure she would be knocked out and run over by the motor.  But all is well. Ron was able  to stop the boat. She was about 20 feet behind us. She swam to us and he was able to pick her up by the hair on the back of her neck. Talk about a wet dog, so necessarily...four wet people as well, after she shook like crazy. We had no towels, except for a small tea towel. So after I let her air dry for a while and she started chilling, I finally wrapped that little towel around her and held her close until she warmed a bit and stopped trembling.  I figured she had learned her lesson. She's never liked to bathe. But, after she dried, she started to the front of the boat again. At that point, I grabbed her leash and collar and put them on her, so that I could hold on to her.  I pray she never does that again.

Now, for the good news I want to print each night. I'm sure there is some out there, and I may have read it earlier in the day, but the incident shook it right out of my head. I'll be back to that train of thought, hopefully tomorrow.

This Happened

I'm not sure you can read this page...so here is a repeat:

I’m hoping that many of you 

can enjoy thumbing through my books. I certainly enjoy living the experiences and creating layouts, while learning many artistic tricks along the way. IPhones, and computers combined with  Photoshop, make anything possible. Using my iPhone Photo Booth’s effects, I was able to get this uniquely styled photo of myself and my ever present bottle of water. Next  I found a cool patterned paper and with PSE (Photoshop Elements) I was able to change the color combinations. Adding a mask to the photo gave it a new shape. Another mask to lay down some paint underneath was a good touch. Then I layered a frame over all. This all happened because I’m an old lady who has caught onto the techy side of life.  May 27, 2016

I used Scrapgirl's Syndee Nuckles' (SNU) Framed Mask for the mask, frame combination.

I want to post at least one piece of good news  every day. So for this Friday, May 27, here it is. 1. Indian tribe in NE Montana passes new  transgender bathroom policy. Leader says  he would rather be physically correct than politically correct.

Leah Poses

Yes, it is summer, especially in North Carolina.  Can't imagine how warm it is down there today. It is mighty warm here in Ohio.

Leah is taking a break from her job and her acting to pose. I'm so glad, because she provides me with some very good photos...like this one, for example.

I've kept completely out of the sun today. Trying to finish another book for publication. Have to get this one out before I can start on the next one...the one that will begin with our trip to Colorado early this month.  I didn't want to start it and then have to finish it in a separate book.

Maggie Tom Boy

Maggie is a typical Tom Boy. She likes to work and play rough. I finally made this layout trying to show her preference for playing rough and tough. She has certainly clung tightly to her daddy. As much as I would really like her to favor me. It isn't going to happen. Her daddy plays the way she  does. 

This layout shows the bag that he bought for her, so that he could take her with him more places...like riding on his big tractor. What fun they have this time of year. There is plenty to do outdoors. And we were lucky there weren't many rainy days...at least many hours of rain at any one time. So Maggie was always ready any time someone asked he if she would like to ride in the car.

FaceTime/ Light Sabers

FaceTime is a wonderful blessing for those of us who live far from our grandchildren. It really is the 

'next best thing to being there.'  These pictures are not particularly good, but they will remind us in years to come of our times 'together',  through our iPhones and computers. I always prefer to get out the computer so that I can see everyone nice and large; but generally, we look at these active boys on a smaller than I like screen.  

Since I got my new iMac for Christmas, we have not been able to use my huge screen to see our family. Now it is usually on Ron's laptop.  You can see us up in the corner of the screen.

Light Sabers play a big part in their lives.  This was taken in early April. Sunday when  we FaceTimed, Caleb had a brand new light saber. He had gotten it for graduating from kindergarten.

Droid Vx. iPhone

Read it to get the story. I've nodded off about 5 times already tonight. So, think I'll go to bed before I end up sleeping on the floor.

Pneumonia Hits Home

It has been a sad time in our daughter's household. Aussie has been sick for a month, hospitalized for 11 days.  He felt really bad that his mother had to celebrate Mother's Day in the hospital, since he was there. Of course, there was no place else in the world she would rather have been that day than with him. His brother, Mason and sister Ashley joined the 'party'.  Glad to say, he has since recovered and been  released. However, his mom is now suffering from pneumonia herself. But then, hers is only a walking pneumonia and she is home with the rest of the family.

Back Street Boys Revisited

There is  no story for this layout, except the one that is written on it. But you must read it. It's pretty exciting for these young ladies.

I would have remembered them if I had only listened to them. I just checked them out online, so I would know something about them, at least. I guess Quit Playing Games With My Heart wouldn't have meant anything  to me in my 50's, even if I had heard them, but is surely  attracted my granddaughters.

Now, this is a FUN picture. First the fun color clothes really don't look like they belong on a ranch. Next would be the big laughing smiles on Lauren's and Pat's faces.

The most interesting to me is...the reflection on Pat's glasses. We get a double selfie view!

The occasion was the wedding of Pat's sister. The reception was held in a very pretty setting... with a Georgian manor house on a 50-acre farm and Grace Winery in the Brandywine Valley, on Sweetwater Road, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.

Genesis 2:24 ...a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

I Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ethan's Wedding

April and Tim are called Granddaddy and Bam, a unique name for a grandmother. But then, she is a unique grandmother.  Here they are with their grandchildren at the kid's Uncle Ethan's wedding.

Spread Sheets

I've fallen into the same pattern again. Working on layouts until my head starts to nod, then fall asleep. Shortly after that, my brain goes blank. So if you see misspellings, etc, please overlook it for now.

Aussie was making good use of his time in the car. He was working on spread sheets which kept track of the scores of Rubik's cube competitors.  Math is not my thing. (You may be wondering what is. I am as well.) Anyway, I'm glad someone wants to do spread sheets...likes to do spread sheets.
I like to know statistics, but I don't want to have to work at it.  Thank you, Aussie.

Julia's Big Day

When Julia was 1 month old, she accompanied the family to the Denver Zoo where they fed the Lorikeets...such colorful birds. It's good to see them out and about. It's wonderful to see Julia so comfortable.

I had written quite a bit more, but Blogger decided to obliterate it...well, at any rate, I lost it somehow. It is only 10:30 PM. but I have let myself get broken down with this bum knee, so I'm going to bed early.

I'm posting the newsletter I received from Max Lucado this morning. We tend to call on God when we are in big trouble, but otherwise try to run our lives on our own. You might like this:

Keep in Step with the Spirit

I believe we can make the same mistake the Welsh  woman made. She lived many years ago in a remote  valley, and felt it worth the cost and trouble to have  electricity installed in her home. Several weeks after  the installation, the power company noticed she had  barely used any electricity. A meter reader went to see  her. “Is there a problem?” he asked. “Oh no,” she  responded. “We’re quite satisfied. Every night we turn  on the electric lights to see how to light our lamps.” We’re prone to do likewise: depend on God’s Spirit to  save us but not sustain us. We turn to him to get us  started and then continue in our own strength. Scripture  urges us to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).  He directs and leads; we obey and follow. Plug into his  power and leave the switch turned on.

Two Months Old Today

No time to write, but I did do a layout of our sweet granddaughter, Julia  today. She turned two months at dawn this morning.

Cousins / Happy Together

It was nice that Beth's sister, Sara was able to take her children to CO the first week of May to see the new baby Julia and to help out a bit. Caleb and Oliver were very happy to see them.  It's wonderful when cousins are together enough to grow in love for each other. Katie and Patch have been very good  to Caleb and Oliver and now Julia as well. It is a shame they don't live closer to each other.

Family is a wonderful unit planned by God. It was such a great concept, that he used it to describe the way He wanted the church to be. He is the head of the church, our father, just as your dad is the head of your home.  It is a unit, united by a common love for each other.

One thing I've noticed as a Christian is that when a person of family is transferred to another  town or  state, they can find a church family wherever they go, plug in and feel at home there. It worked well for us first when we moved to Mt Vernon and then when we moved to Massachusetts. We've come 'home' to our congregation several times. God is good. His plan is perfect. He loves us and wants the best for us.

Proud Daddy

Blessed is the child who lives with his/her father and mother. It was God's plan. His plan is perfect.

We are thankful for our children. They are loved by us, but more importantly, by God, the God of the universe who knit them together in their mother's womb. Thank you Father for your wonderful plan.

Please pray for those children who for some reason not their own, they are separated from a parent or even worse, separated from both their parents...please bring them a family that cares for them. Give them a home where love is the key and God is honored.

Trim Healthy Mama

Chelle is a very busy lady...home schooling three teenagers is enough, even if there were nothing else  to do, but we all know that isn't the case.

I love this picture of her with the two ladies who developed what they call Trim, Healthy Mama Plan the easy does it approach to vibrant health and a slim waistline. Chelle likes it so well. It isn't like a diet that deprives a person until they can't take it anymore.As a matter of fact, it isn't considered a diet, just a plan for eating healthy. 

They have recipes that, from what Chelle says, are scrumptious and filling. It certainly is a different approach and it has been working for her. she's feeling much better.

I need to go on it myself, but at present we eat out too often...so I'm filling myself with salt that my body abhors.  Sad to say, I'm paying for it.

Pneumonia

In April, Aussie and a friend in England developed a game that got 20,000 hits in just a few days.

Now, almost exactly one month later, he is in the hospital with double pneumonia. 

Today, he is much better,  moving out of ICU; but for several days, he was very sick.

So glad to see his spirit lifting and a smile on his face.

We've had many, many reasons to pray hard recently and pray we do. 

Thank you Father for what you have done for us and thank you for what you will do in the coming weeks...for our family, for our friends and for our country which is being attacked from within as well as from outside our borders by those who do not respect you. Amen

Waltzing Kangaroo

Waltzing Kangaroo is a unique name for a restaurant, at least I had not heard it before. Did you know that Kangaroos waltzed? 

I've always thought it was nice that Beth has lived in other countries and has had experiences to which most people are never exposed. I know she and her sister were young while they were in Australia, but they still remember.  

John and Beth both knew German. Beth spent a school year in Germany taking the fifth year of their high school. That gave her the opportunity to learn German.  John had learned German the year he lived in Vienna, Austria while he was in college. He studied Spanish through elementary and high school.

Beth  and John also lived in Bulgaria while in the Peace Corps.  Thus, they both speak Bulgarian.

I have found that a language may seem lost, but will come back when needed.

Back to the Waltzing Kangaroo... Beth and her sister, Sara, took their children there in March.  They found it to have an authentic Australian bakery with pies, which are all savory and mostly meat based. 

The food looks absolutely scrumptious.

Welcome to the Farm

Children in Ft Collins are blessed with a City Farm and a Farm School , where they can meet the farm animals and learn how to take care of them as well as many other facts and skills which are valuable for children to know. It's much better to learn by experience than from a book or video...at least in this case.

The boys never tire of visiting the farms.

We were so happy to be able to visit with them once again, even if our time was very short; for we were also anxious to see their new baby sister.  

The trip was a quick one. We are already home and I'm already missing them, while confined to bed with a knee that grew progressively worse all week. I thought I would be all right since I took such good care of it at the airport by riding in a wheel chair.  But, I managed to finish it off  after we got home. So now, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Am praying he doesn't say an operation is needed...It's the best time of year here!!!

Praying daily for common sense to rise it's head here in the states.