Easter!! He is risen!!! He is risen indeed!!!

Today was the warmest Easter day I can remember. I believe it was 75 degrees out! It was also one of the most low key quietest Easter days I can remember. When I was a child I remember my mother planning weeks in advance for our Easter celebration. There was shopping for new shoes, a new hair cut and perm,we would search through the Montgomery Wards or Aldens catalog for dresses,or look at patterns and have my aunt sew me a dress. Spring cleaning was done,waxing floors,washing windows,cleaning out cupboards. There was special menu planning.We would usually have a bone in ham,scalloped potatoes,jello salad,baked beans,home made rolls,and of course Lemon pie!!! We boiled and dyed eggs on Saturday of course.

Easter Sunday Morning started early,waking up to a nest of Easter eggs at the foot of our bed, with a small toy!!! My earliest memory of this was when I was four. My brother and I sleepy eyed started eating our candy and all at once felt pain in our jaws and started crying!!! My mother looked us over and told us we had the mumps! 

We always attended church and Sunday School!! It was fun to see my friends also all dressed up special for the day.Of course there was always a story about the death and resurrection of Jesus. My child mind was always obsessed with nails,and the cross,and the crown of thorns. It was way many years latter that I caught on to the resurrection and what it meant for me personally.We went home and after our meal and visiting all day would go back to church in the evening and the day would finally end around 10:00 p.m.

When I got married and had a family, my husband and I carried on many of these traditions. Easter was always about Jesus dying for us,because he loves us so much,and coming to life so that we can have eternal life. We had dinner at my husbands folks home, and our childrens cousins would be there from out of town 

We now have Grandchildren. Ten years ago or more I started collecting bunnies,and enjoyed sharing them with my Grands. We've had many family dinners at our home and my daughter and daughter-in-laws have also shared their homes at Easter. I still believe Jesus died for my sins,so that I can live beyond the grave. This week I've been mindful of this Holy holiday and what it means,and have tried to look past some of the commercial ways we celebrate the day.We haven't attended a church Easter service in several years,and we didn't today. We went to brunch with my Daughters family at a lovely winery, I got the Grands Easter baskets, everyone was spit shined. It's now after the day is almost gone that I wished I'd said something about why we celebrate this day so big.I hope they knew why, I'm sure they did.  . 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Today I walked all through the mall for an hour and a half without limping and without much pain. Yeah!!  I got a my first cortisone injection in my right knee on Tuesday. My knee has osteoarthritis in it which means the cushioning has worn out and so it's bone rubbing on bone.ouch. I also have rheumatoid arthritis,I'm just so lucky !!!!! Seriously I get to have the chance to see how much pain I can stand and still keep doing everything I've always done.Things like keeping my home very clean,cooking healthy meals,keeping myself well groomed,shopping,and enjoying my three beautiful Grandchildren,and trying to stay positive.

I have also had my fair share of emotional pain in my 69 years of life. I used to think that the heart ache of emotional pain ( crying the moment your eyes opened in the morning,and waking up in the middle of the night crying) was the worst possible pain one could have,it is awful. My experience has been though that with professional help,much prayer and time emotional pain does get better and things are not as painful,there is a recovery.

RA doesn't have a real cure.There are chemo drugs, injections,and all kinds of pills to take that slow the progression of the disease down,while all the time weakening your heart,lungs liver and kidneys. Fun huh? I could just have a "real pity party". but I refuse to!!! Everybody has something,many things like cancer,diabetes,heart disease,blindness,hearing problems,marriage problems, financial problems. This is my thorn to put up with for the rest of my life!!! It could be so much worse. I plan on doing whatever I can to live the rest of my life to the fullest that I can,shaking of negativity,staying positive,enjoying Gods creation,savoring every word my Grands speak,loving and forgiving. RA is really a gift that I get to experience, to grow me hopefully into everything God wants me to be.

So today was pure joy walking with no pain or limp. I bought a pair of shoes with a little heel today. The shot of cortisone will wear off in a few months,but you can bet that I will be wearing my fancy shoes every chance I get with joy in my heart and a smile on my face.

Christmas Balls

My husband and I were invited to our daughter and her husbands house for Christmas Dinner.They gave birth to two of my grandchildren,Jake 12 and Ella 9. We love visiting them in their home.We go visit their rooms and sit on their beds and talk while their mom and dad are finishing getting dinner on the table. It's fun seeing what books they're reading and how their rooms are decorated.

My daughter prepared an absolutely delish roast beef dinner,with twice baked stuffed potatoes,carrots and cranberry salad. So perfectly yummy!!! We had peppermint ice cream and some really special cookies for dessert. After dinner we played Apples to Apples.

Between dinner and dessert I was admiring their Christmas tree.They have so many different ornaments that they have collected over their 18years together. I commented that the tree had a delicate feminine feel about it,my daughter said we didn't put balls on it this year. I said, Oh yes I see! Twelve year old Jake from across the room said Yeah! it must be a girl tree because it has NO Balls!!!!!! We just rolled in laughter!!!! Kids are so much fun!! That was the best laugh I had during the Christmas season.

Good things come in small packages

How do you explain  to an innocent 9 year old girl what happened at the horrible massacres that happened in the mall and grade school this past week??

This weekend I had the privilege  of spending some alone time with my granddaughter. We went shopping and saw a movie and then had Mexican food! It was a very stormy,windy, rainy,day. We got our movie tickets first,and then ran for the closet mall entrance. With movie tickets and credit card still in hand we sat down on the nearest bench in the entry way leading into the mall. As I was opening my purse to put our movie tickets away for later,I became aware of my Granddaughters earnest words expressing her feelings about the past weeks shootings in a school and mall. I told myself "be quite and listen she needs to talk." We probably sat on that bench for 10 to 15 minutes while she talked. I can't even remember everything that was said,because I was so struck by her candor and I was so focused on keeping my mouth shut. I do remember we ended the conversation with we have a God that loves us, and someday when we go to heaven we won't have to worry about any of this kind of awful stuff happening.

We went shopping and bought a couple of cute things for her to wear.We laughed ate popcorn and candy. She ordered a virgin mango margarita at the Mexican restaurant and ate tamales. We had a good time.

It makes me sad though that  part of my Granddaughters innocence was robbed from her by the selfish, self-centered act of two mentally disturb people. I can have some peace knowing that this world is not the end of our lives,and that when we die our lives really just start!!! That I got the rare privilege to share that with her in a very,very simple way is the best Christmas gift that a grammy could get.

Vulnerable

December 14 2012

This past week I went to a movie,shopping and out to lunch with a dear friend.We have been neighbors,walking buddies attend the same church,and best friends for over sixteen years.I have shared more of my heart with her than  with almost anybody else I know.She has always been very supportive and  non-judgemental. She lives a life that most other women would envy. Beautiful home with all the bells and whistles,nice car,frequent trips to the beauty salon,nail salon,massages,pedicures,laser treatments etc.etc.she also has many friends that she can call any time for coffee.She spends every winter in Palm Springs for 6 weeks,I think you can get the picture.Like I said I've shared my heart with her and been vulnerable.Sometimes I've felt like she must have things in her life that aren't perfect, I wish she could share them with me,not because I wanted her to have something wrong,I just knew that noone has that perfect of a life.At lunch this week she shared with me how this time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas are really had for her,because she has no family that lives here.She was very earnest in expressing  her feelings to me.I felt bad for her,and tried to put myself in her place and imagine what it would be like to year after year not to be able to have my grandchildren and children to my home for the holidays or almost never.It is just a heartbreaking thought for me to think about.Yes there are phone calls,and skyping ,and she visits them once a year in their home,but it is just not the same as them coming to visit her! To me it would be such a sense of being abandoned.I felt so bad for her,and so dumb that I have so joyfully blabbered every detail of every moment and even bragged about how much fun we have with our family.I'm so glad that she shared her pain with me.I will think twice before I envy her again. I will also curb my bragging. I am so thankful for the family that I have,no it's not perfect all the time,in fact we have had our fair share of heartbreak,but we still do have each other.I'm thankful also to have such a good friend that has put up with me all these years.

Amending previous blog.

I've noticed lately that I don't always get things right.My memory isn't as good as it used to be.My mother always praised me on what a good memory I had. I'm forever leaving little reminders for myself and now days when I think of something I need to do at home I do it right then!! For years I've b,ought calenders that have big numbered squares so I can,write the highlights of each day down,and I keep a journal as well however I don't write in the journal everyday.My hearing isn't as good as it used to be either.My Grandchildren get the giggles when I repeat back something they've told me and it's all cray cray.Ageing is very interesting.All the things that the medical profession tells us to do are true,but when were young we just believe we'll beat the odds.Things like:
                                         1.Eat your veggies
                                         2.Exercise
                                         3.Stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen
                                         4 Don't smoke
                                         5 Women drink only 1 glass of wine in a day.
                                         6 Floss your teeth
                                         7.Keep a healthy weight
                                         8.Exercise your brain
                                         9.Eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast
                                        10.Meditate


All this to say----My handsome,prince of a son-in-law celebrated his 40th birthday this year!!!!
                          My handsome,prince of a SON turned 45 this year!!!!

This amends my previous blog. I'm not really sure what the ages of the rest of the fa,ily are. Just kidding

Summer Highlights

It's October already!!! Where did this year go? We had a busy summer, so I'm just going to highlight some of the things we did.

1.Ella tuned 9 in May, we went roller skating in Portland!! It was a beautiful day!
2.Aimee's mother hosted a graduation dinner for her at wonderful Italian restaurant in Sellwood. Another warm day!
3.My handsome,prince of a son-in-law turned 45!! We went to Mcmenimans in Portland!
4.June 8th Aimee graduated from St.Helens High School. Our whole family went and clapped and hooted loudly.
5.Mark,Aimee,Tom,Erin,Jake and Ella came for Fathers day.We grilled and hung out on the patio. Nancy was at her daughter's graduation from nursing school.
6.Mike and I took a day trip to Sisters,Oregon on May19th .Found a great place that does delicious Bbq!
7.May22,23,and 24th. we went to Newport and stayed at the Elizabeth street Inn we had beautiful weather again!
8.Doug,Linda Tanya and her girls came for a visit.We met at Bush park.
9.Tom,Erin,Jake,Ella,and Aimee came for the 4th of July,we had pulled pork sandwiches! We did a ton of fireworks in the street!!!!
10.Took Aimee,Jake and Ella to see Ice Age.
11.We went to Medford for Marks birthday!! Went to Crater Lake!!! Beautiful weather,we had a great time.
12.Aimee has decided to attend Southern Oregon University in Ashland!!
13 Had breakfast at the Morning Glory cafe in Ashland!!
14.Ella and I had lunch at La Margarita she had her first tamale!!
15.Day trip to Lincoln City.Ran into the Hills.
16. Went and got Aimee on August10th.
17.Everyone came for my Birthday. It was  a really warm day.The kids got Christos Pizza,we ate outside on the patio,and drank lots of wine and laughed. We had Peach shortcake for dessert!!!
18.Erin,Jakeand Ella took me to the Original Pancake house for my Birthday Breakfast on Aug.15th.
19.Went to the Enchanted Forest with Erin,Jake and Ella!!! Mike got to go too!
20.Took Jake and Ella shopping and out to lunch Chipotle.
21.Jake and Ella stayed overnight!!! We went swimming at the Kroc center!!!
22. Took Jake and Ella to Izzys.
23.Erin,Jake,Ella and I had lunch at Caseys Hot dogs!!! Cool place,must take Mike.
24.Went to St. Helens and got Aimee.We had lunch at P.F.Changs and did some cloths shopping.
25.Ella came for dinner!!!!
26. Aimee is back from Europe!! Went and met her at Sheryls work. Met up with Mark around Roseberg.. She starts college on Monday!
27.Mike and I went to the beach for 4 days,we stayed at Inn at Spanish Head!!! Highlight of this trip was the Bijou!
28.My friend Lynn and I went on our yearly tour of homes. This year was Illahee golf course. We had a very nice time.
29.Went to Jakes swim meet. He came in first in the back stroke!!! We went out to pizza afterwards.
30. October20th went to Ella's volley ball game.So proud!!! She did very well.

So guess that's where the summer went!!! It's cold and raining this last week and my drive way is full of leaves. I've been cooking comfort foods like butternut squash and meat loaf,pulled pork,beef stew,pumpkin pie.I can already feel my jeans getting tight!


 .

May17,2012

Wow so many things have happened since I last wrote. My daughter had a nightmare of an experience with her dentist,then got the flu along with her two children they have been sick forever. Thankfully her husband had a flu shot so he didn't get sick and was able to take over. Life doesn't stop when we have tough patches.... that's the problem...there are still anniversaries,birthdays,mothers days,on and on. Well finally I think things are taking a turn.My grandchildren are back to school and my daughter got a root canal today that seems to have gone well. Thank You Jesus!!

On a lighter note last Saturday Evening I was invited to celebrate my oldest granddaughter Aimee's High School Graduation with her mother(my ex-daughter-in-law),her husband,and the Masoni's some friends of Aimee. Aimee's Mother planned the party at A Cena an Italian Restaurant in Cellwood a suburb of Portland. It was a small,cozy,spot with excellent food and service. We had lots of wine and laughter remembering  Aimee's and Amy Masonis past school years. Time does heal. 7 years ago when my son and Aimee' mom went through a devorice there were such bitter feelings and sadness. I was so worried for my granddaughter....I determined that I would maintain a relationship with her mom for her sake and mine.Kids are the losers when their parents split up. They have to pack up every other weekend and travel to a differant home with differant rules and ways of doing things. I think when devorice happens kids should get the house and the parents should take turns living with them. I got on a tagent. Aimee has turned out to be an amazing,beautiful,smart young woman.She will be graduateing with honors!!! Thank You Jesus again.

May 17 2012

April 16th 2012

April 11th was my husbands and my 45th anniversary. We left early on a beautiful sunny day to enjoy a few of our favorite places on Oregons central coast. Just as we were driving into Lincoln City my cell phone rang.It was our 18 yr. old granddaughter Aimee calling to see if she could come over and visit us for awhile. She happened to be in town with a large group of kids at a thespians convention. I was disapointed that I was not able to see her, as it seemed she was really needing a break from all the activities!!!! So I suggested she may be go visit her younger cousins Jake and Ella that live very near to where she was. She wanted me to call them. Ten year old Jake answers the phone......he's playing video games,his Dad is out to lunch with freinds,and his mom is in the shower!!!! After alot of huh? and what? and beeping video game he says it's a "strong maybe" that Aimee can come over. But wait... he has one more question will she be by herself? haha So after several more phone calls Aimee was picked up at the convention center,and enjoyed a couple fun hours with her cousins and time away from a bunch of silly teenagers. I was so grateful that my grandchildren are close and love to spend time with each other. It gives me great comfort to know when I'm not around any more to encourge their relatonships,that they will reach out to each other. It makes me happy to know that the dinners and sleep overs and times that we have spent together as a family will live on and on. I'm a very happy Grammy.

March 28,2012

Today is Wednesday the 28th, I can't believe how fast time goes!!! Last Friday we went to St. Helens and got Aimee my 18yr.old granddaughter and took her to pdx so she could fly to Medford to visit her dad and step mom. This is spring break and it's already half over!  We hadn't seen Aimee for a month so we had some catching up to do.Although we text and do face book as well as talk on the phone it's not the same as being able to see her. It's always fun to see her! She is very transparent and blunt in her style of conversation. She has always been this way,since she was little. She would say she is shy around her peers. Our time with her this time was spent talking about college. She graduates this year from highschool. Her choices are Portland State,which is close to her mom.or Southern Oregon Universary in Ashland which is close to her Dad. She'll have to live in a dorm it is required for freshman. I think she is alittle afraid of all this change. She's an only child and has been a little overprotected so this is going to be a big transition for her. I have confidence in her that she will do fine and end up loving college,she's a strong girl. So when we pick her up from the airport this Sunday it will be fun to see her again,and find  out if she's made any decisions after spending some time with her dad. To be continued...

Thursday,March 22,2012

Two nights ago I got to go to my grandsons orchrestra concert. He is in fifth grade and plays the cello. His family came over and we had pizza before the concert, so we got to get in on him getting ready in his black pants and white shirt and tie. He looked so cute, so we took pictures with him and his cello before we left.

The concert was held at the North Salem High School. I had never been in the school before,it's huge!!!! I think maybe it was built in the 40's. The concert had kids playing from 4th to 12th grade. It was really fun to see how they improved through each grade level. It was alot of fun to watch my grandson interact with his friends. I was so very impressed with his behavior while watching other students play, he really paid attention!! His sister who attended the concert was also well behaved during the concert. The concert lasted about an hour and a half,the teachers did a remarkable job. It must be hard work to be a music teacher to that many kids!There were probably 200 hundred kids to keep organized.! So I went home a very proud grammy,and felt like I got a little culture in the process.

March 18th, 2012

See something happened...Anyway

Yesterday Sat. March 17th 2012,Papa and i went to the "Original Pancake House" with Jake and Ella. Jake who usually likes savory food ordered buttermilk pancakes, Ella who loves sweets ordered a huge ham & cheese omelette and hash browns. I suggested they sorta share, but they were having none of that! They hovered over their plates and ate very, very well hahaha. They both excused themselves half way through and proceeded to the rest rooms.....hahhaaahaha. They came back and resumed eating.Sorry guys this just had to go down in history..

After Brunch we went to the Lancaster Mall and viewed the new movie the Lorax. It is a Dr. Seuss story about a young boy,who wanted to win the love of a beautiful girl,by planting a tree in their "perfect sterile, treeless town." Jake and Ella are such well behaved children,that it just amazes me!!! Before the movie started I leaned into Ella and asked: "Did your parents give you instructions on how to act?" She shook her head No!! I said really? She said no. I then asked her "do you get spanked?' she said "No not any more." I told her I used to get really hard spankings with my fathers belt. Don't know why I felt this conversation was important..... it just reminded me of a conversation my grandmother and I had had about 58 yrs. ago. I loved her for it,because if she got spanked then it was o.k. that I got spanked to. crazy I know.

March 18th 2012

Hi! When I started this blog I thought it had to be some smart sexy thing with pictures and hip words to entice hundreds of people to read it. Of course then I would beleive I was the coolest Grammy alive. Well screw that...

This is for ME and my grandchildren(if they ever see it or care),it's just going to be a journal about our times togather.

Yesterday I went to the "Original

It's The Weekend!

I love the weekends even though I'm retired,maybe it's because all the people that are important to me are either still working or go to school.Today I got out and did a little shopping...the first time I'd been out since Christmas! Before Christmas I saw this cute little armless,black and white chair with lettering on it,that I fell in love with. Today I went back to that store and walked around and around and around, all of a sudden I saw it! It was meant to be... So that cute little chair is now stting beside my fireplace. Tis going to be a good weekend....Well now it's time for "Happy Hour!" See Ya..

My Grandchildren

   Being a Grandma is the best! I've been a Grandma for 18 years! I've got 3 grandchildren, 2 girls and a boy. It's been wonderful to be able to live close to all 3 of them,so I get to see them pretty often. It's also been so much fun to watch  them become good friends with each other,two are brother and sister, one is an only child. They get along with each other and have sooo much fun. I not only love them very much,I really like them. They make me laugh, and they teach me things. They are all "pluged in" and know more about elctronics than I do.... the youngest is 8!!!! 
  
   The nice thing about being a Grandparent is just relaxing and enjoying these people just the way they are. I don't have to dicipline them,(they don't need it any way) or get involed with how they do in school,or with there friendships. I feel so lucky, and yes "blessed" that my Grandchildren and Children are really kind, honest,lovely human beings. It makes beining a Grandma a very rewarding time of life!

My Grandma

   I had one grandma,my paternal grandma Klein. I was her first grandchild,and she was crazy about me as I was her. I came along ten years after her last child.I was the only granddaughter for fifteen years ,with a string of six boys, before Debbie and Tammy arrived back to back.It was fun being the only girl while it lasted!!!


  Grandma was a tall, strong, woman, with a quiet voice, and seemed timid, but,once you knew her learned she had her opinions. She had light blue eyes, long blond hair, and very fair skin,which she washed every night before bed and applied Noxzema to.


   I loved going to her house. It was in the country,two miles from town.Her one hunderd year old house was on a tree lined lane next to a creek. Her white kitchen gleamed, smelled of geraniums and home baked bread.  The clock in the dining room chimed on the half hour and hour. Her buffet was adorned with dolies that she made,and a bowl of her homemade anise red candies. Her living room was wallpapered in a pretty green and white lily patterned,her piano,took center stage lined with framed photos of her children and grandchildren. She did her daily devotions in the living room.Reading her bible, playing her piano and praying for every child and neighbor or freind. I know this, I was kneeling beside her on the times I was visiting.


   Her bed room was upstairs.A cozy room with slanted walls,and big fluffy quilts that she and her freinds had made. I loved sleeping with her in that room. In the morning before sunrise she would get up and go help my grandpa milk their four or five cows. She would tell me the night before not to get up.until she got back! How exciting that seemed to me. Her room was above the kitchen, and the wood stove pipe came up through her room. Her and grandpa would come back, and she would crank up that stove and start making breakfast. I loved peeking down at them through the grate in the floor.


  I know this sounds like "Litttle House on the Prarie"and it kinda was. I have so many wonderful memorys of that time in my life when Grandma was around. Those days are gone forever....times were so simple, but so rich then. I don't want to forget them, I want to remember where I came from. Just a simple little girl from South Dakota. You know that is where the Ingdalls from House in the Prarie were from? South Dakota.

January 2,2012

   This is a New Year!!  Whew!!  Life moves fast!!  Seems like I was just done basking in the glow of a wonderful Thanksgiving,when it was time to get started on Christmas. Christmas...Celebrateing the birth of Christ,it's just not your ordinary holiday. I don't know of any other birthday party that is celebrated by so many people all at the same time. Shopping,cooking, bakeing,decorateing inside and out,new cloths,partys,church services,concerts,parades,it goes on and on an on. We love it! It's fun! It's pretty and very exciting and yes romantic.

    Like everyone else I want a new beginning, a make over, changes in the way I do life. This little blog may just be the start of something new. I want to learn new things this year,be a better Grammy to my Grandchildren, learn how to connect with them in a new way. Of course like everyone else I'd like to live a healthier life,so I'll be working on that too. This little blog is new today!! A new learning experiance for me. I'm actually just learning how to use the computer,so this may be a little rough,but thats o.k. its a new journey and a New Year!!!