The Family

I've been combing through all the pictures to make a book of Mark. Here is a picture of the whole family taken in 2001.  It's a big job...but the memories are wonderful.

The Big Fun Splash

As an adult,  I have felt this 'city' splash in Fort Collins very inviting. No, I wouldn't don a bathing suit in public; but it surely looks like a lot of fun... especially on a hot day. 

Not only did  I find these pictures posted today, but there was also a short video.  I did screen shots of them, but they didn't come out clearly. Glad  I had the stills as well.

It was a beautiful spring day here in Ohio today, but I spent most of it indoors. Not because I wanted to do that, but because in addition to  going to Curves and produce shopping,  I had to have a blood test as well as making a visit to my doctor. No, she never sees me outside...just in that little office without windows.

But counting my blessings, I'm not the doctor and I didn't have to stay indoors all day long.  I spent some time with Maggie swinging and watching the boats go by on the lake. So no matter how much I complain about the little things, it is a wonderful life at the lakes.

I am confessing my sin of complaining.  I'm sure  our  God thinks  I'm ungrateful at times...and so does my husband, but I  really don't want to come off that way; so I am publicly proclaiming the goodness of our God and father, who has created a wonderful place for us to live. I can't even imagine how much better heaven with be, except the absence of evil will be more than wonderful.

Sibling Rivalry

Sibling Rivalry, if there ever was any here, has gone away. Not Brittanie and Brandon are buddies.

It was great that Brittanie was able to visit with her dad and brother in Florida this month. It is a lovely time to be there. It is generally good beach weather, but not yet extremely hot.

Brittanie, who is very different  from me, was built to greet the heat, while I hide from the sun.

Clown

Julia is learning a lot from her brothers...And sometimes she exaggerates. This  tickled me, the gramma.

I would write more, but I'm having a lot of trouble with my new MAC.  I feel like I poured all that money down the drain since I can't use its blue tooth keyboard.

Young Grad

Our great granddaughter, Ava, just graduated yesterday...from preschool. It is hard to believe she will be in kindergarten already. She was just a baby a couple of years ago. Can time really go that fast?
If it gets any quicker, there won't be any use in getting out of bed in the morning.

Ava has a graduation picture as well, but I have a major time consuming project going on right now and haven't had time to make a layout of her big day. I can tell you though, she looked like a little princess.  Perhaps I'll post it here in the next month or two....hopefully before she finishes high school.

Mother's Day Review

Mother’s Day was filled with flowers, a lovely Italian dinner, cards, calls, sweet words and even a surprise video starring April and Chelle’s whole family. It was a very special day for me. I didn’t realize until Wednesday that we didn’t get any pictures. We tried that night, but due to difficulties,  

it didn’t work out well. So on Thursday,  I was able to take a couple of snapshots at my computer.

Thank you all for the special day. I am blessed to have such wonderful caring children.

Stylin'

Mason just got his hair cut and styled. Of course he's added shades as well, but WOW  look at the difference!  I van hardly wait to see him in person...or even on FaceTime without the sunglasses.  I want to see if he can still charm me with his eyes. That and his wit is what I celebrate. 

He, his brother and sister will be turning 16 in 2 months.  There could be some big changes in that household with more than 2 drivers.

I pray for them to take driving a 2 ton vehicle seriously...no texting, etc. We certainly don't need any serious injuries in the family.

Sunshine in Pennsylvania

Early spring in Pennsylvania was very much like it was here. Both Pennsylvania and Ohio had a lot of weather that didn't seem like spring at all. But there were a few good days. Lauren and her good friend Annie Olson were able to get out and enjoy some sunshine on April 18. They looked lovely.

Chelle Paints

I'm not sure how  I kept this photo hidden so long, but I found it in my files and couldn't resist making a layout...just in time to publish a new book, with pictures taken from the end of December  through May 27 of  this year.

Chelle is very artistic.  It is a talent that has been passed down from my mother, to me, to her and now her daughter, Ashley.   It may not pay well, but it surely is rewarding in another way...it is a lot of fun.

Following is something I have posted before in a more simple form.  It  consists of a Bible verse that is very important to me. Thus I share it as often as I can. I hope you will understand the purpose of this verse and pray this comes into being with our nation. As I see it, we are on the right path, but there is still a large segment of the population without morals, which are necessary. Sadly these immoral people are trying to  teach our children to live despicably selfish and wicked lives.

3 Little Kids

Yesterday we stopped to admire a little bee. Today we appreciate little kids...my little grandchildren who are learning to appreciate little things as well, with this little friend, a goat.

Befriending animals  is also a good way to bring calm and joy into ones life.   Just be careful. Don't start with bears or tigers, not that you might do that.

Well today is Mother's Day and I had the surprise of my life today.   I was at church where we had gathered between services for muffins, coffee and a tribute to mothers. There was a little humorous entertainment and then they started a video.  It was quite cute with the little children of the congregation guessing how old their parents were. Oh was that cute! There were more questions. Then the children started telling their mothers Happy Mother's Day. That was darling. Then some older people were speaking about their mothers. I didn't know any of them, but I thought the things they said about their mothers were sweet...then all of a sudden...there was one of my daughters on the video. It was April, who lives out of state...they all do. She was saying the nicest things about me, including that I had brought all 6 of them up to know the lord, etc.  By that time I was crying. I need to see that film a few more times, so that I can take it in better. I didn't hear much after that, because  I couldn't quit thinking about what a nice surprise that was...then all of a sudden I saw another daughter, Chelle, with the triplets up there,  saying I mean the world to her and that they love me. That was it.  I could not control my  tears, but then Chelle made me laugh with a little thing we used to always tell each other..."I love you more than you love me." She started it with her children when they were little and added, "yours is fiction." I cracked up. Sorry, but the rest of that video just didn't register with me. I need to watch the whole thing again. Hope I get that chance.

Well  I just got to watch the first part of Chelle's video. She posted it on FaceBook. Now to get the part by April.

I found out the other three were invited  to take part; but John, for example, couldn't at that time. He was not feeling well when he got the message. He had a big knot on his lower lip and he said he looked like he had been punched. He didn't think that would be wise. Probably a wise decision.  I saw him on FaceTime  today and he was right.  It was still swollen.

It was a wonderful day, filled with roses and a good dinner and cards. Thank you all so much.

The Simple Things

Many times we get so busy with the chores of the day, activities, or even anxiety to just look for the simple things. 

Because our daughter in law is observant and notices these 'little things' she was able to capture this beautiful  picture of the bee gathering nectar. The flower even has more detail than I would generally see going about my daily routines.

These simple things that God put here for us can bring us  a sense of peace and comfort in a world that is often hard to take. Stop and 'smell the roses' at least once in a while. Don't be too busy to do that. Observe the little wonders of our home here on earth. Just try to imagine what He has in store for us in heaven.

Mud, Plus More Mud

I realize the title sounds like Fake News... mud, mud, more mud. But I'm talking yet again about mud...REAL MUD!  I've never in my life seen anyone play in the mud...at least not more than some made with a bucket of water in a sandbox. So this has been very interesting to me to see these kids enjoy it  so much. especially since Julia is a girl.  But a picture is worth a thousand words, and all the pictures we had of them that day add up to about 22,000 words.  Guess anything  I could write will be superfluous, more information than you need.

Dr Joseph Hamilton Vanderbilt University

Aussie was blessed to meet up with Dr. Joseph Hamilton of Vanderbilt University a couple of weeks ago.  He got a lot out off their conversation. The doctor would make a wonderful roll model for any young man to emulate.

You should read the little bit I wrote about Dr. Hamilton on the layout. He is quite a fascinating  man who has co-discovered  the last three elements on the periodic table. 

Of interest to me is the one he named Tennessine, number 117. 

Muddy Farm Day

Being a boy, Oliver  really enjoyed his muddy day at the farm. After getting REALLY muddy, he decided to get into the pot of water that was there for washing hands.  I'm wondering if this was  just meant to be a muddy hands day and turned into a mud from head to toe day. Whatever the case, Oliver and  his brother and sister all enjoyed Muddy Day.

Julia did like her basket on Easter morning.  I think she liked her chocolate as well.  I like her little cuddly jacket.  It is like her grandmothers...and I'm wearing it right now. I run cold frequently now at my age.  I glanced at the thermometer and surprise, it reads 75. Guess I need to shed the pink jacket.

International Scrapbook Day

Every year  I look forward to National Scrapbook Day. It is a day to set aside other pursuits and live it up with your computer and hopefully with some scrapbook friends as well. However, it never seems to work out that way here. If I were an island, I would pour myself into it all day; but I am not.
There are always other things to do as well. At least I can say, I am not lonely.

I did manage to do a couple of pages today and start a few more.

The one above tells of my pleasure of getting a new desktop computer in April, with a picture of it on  your bottom right. I have already donned it with many post it notes of shortcuts, etc. Although the screen looks small, it is not.

One of the interesting parts of our day included  dinner with friends and a free show.  We witnessed a man being arrested across the street from the restaurant. Although we hadn't noticed him inside, we were told he had been there and for some reason left in a huff and sat on a bench across the street, staring at us through the window.  We were not in a bad part of town, so we were not afraid. But obviously we had missed something because the police were called.

The fellow was a large guy. He was wearing socks, but no shoes. He looked strong. The policeman was small in comparison. But it went well. Even though the man was struggling after being handcuffed, and the taser gun was drawn, it didn't have to be used. The policeman called for reinforcement and then an ambulance. We had ring side seats there at the window.

I wish I could quit thinking about the poor man. Obviously, from what we heard, he was not thinking straight, perhaps he was on drugs or mentally ill. It is sad to see people behave in such strange  ways.
Hopefully, he will get the care he needs, even if it means staying in jail a while.

I'll be praying for him and his family...if he has one.

Portage Lakes Dam

I could write a lot about this project that will affect our lives through the summer boating season and beyond; but the main purpose of my blog is in being a creative outlet...not a history. I prefer to spend my time at present creating layouts, not writing; although I do enjoy writing and would like to write at least one book as well.  There just isn't enough time in the day.  

If perchance you would like to know more about the fascinating subject of the Portage Lakes Dam Project, you can google it to get the history behind it, the purpose, the work being done and what could happen in its absence.  

There are also some good stories associated with it like, while digging under the lake, they accidentally cut a large copper cable that belonged to the phone company and phones were out for quite a while until they could take care of the problem.