It was a busy weekend around the house. We papered and painted a bathroom. The weekend ended with some fun as we were all together for dinner. Gina humored me and tried on a Finnish costume that my grandma had made for me. I wore for it for a model UN event in high school. Perfect for her! Does need to be pressed, though!

Still here

Daily blogging will not happen with me. Seems there are not enough hours in a day to add that to my list. Funny though, I love to read others' blogs as a way to unwind. I am disappointed when they don't post each day. The weekend is here and as usual we have projects going and a time crunch to finish them. Always gets done but we really need to add more down time on the weekends after the hectic weeks we endure. Felt like Spring today- for the few minutes I could be outside!

Grandbaby countdown is getting close and I am excited! I was listening to James Dobson last week- a voice from the past. I grew into motherhood listening to Focus on the Family. What a blessing his ministry is to families! Anyhow, last week he was discussing being a grandpa and what names he and Shirley have decided to have grandchildren call them. I've thought about it too and really don't care. Think I will let the grandbaby decide! A name is not what is important to me, it is the relationship that I want to focus on.

Everyone tells me you notice everything about your grandchildren. As a mom time seemed to fly by in a blur. I spent too many hours working and not enough time taking it all in. When the boys were little I ran a childcare center which was great- they could go with me but it also meant very early starts to very long days and total exhaustion at night. On the weekends we worked with a Saturday youth program and taught Sunday School. I look back and wonder how we managed!

I am just so amazed to watch my sons be men. Today my husband said, "I taught my kids things but I never taught them how to be a father and now Joe will be a dad!" I told him to relax. He taught them how to be a father with every breath he has taken. He has been a wonderful father and they have learned by his example. I still say the best thing he has ever done is to love their mother. I believe that loving our spouse is about the best gift we can give our children. They need to see parents in love in order to feel secure and loved themselves. I am so thankful to be loved.

I was also thinking about prayer and how I have prayed for my sons' wives since each of them were born. From time to time I would wonder how those little girls that would someday become wives to my sons were doing . Now those little girls are married to my little boys and I am so thankful for both of them! My task now is to pray for the little boy who will someday be with my granddaughter. What a thought!

Posts with pictures are so much more fun than my rambling but at least it is a post. I put the camera nearby so hopefully I will capture something to post this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend!

Getting ready for baby

I am still waiting for Spring! These pretty flowers were at SAMS Club and marked down post Valentine's Day which made them even prettier. I cut a few pussy willows to add to them and to remind me that Spring is around the corner.


The flu hit last week. Why is that I never can get sick on quiet weeks? Instead, it is always when things are busiest at work. I was glad to feel better for the baby shower! It hit me when I signed the card- I am really going to be a grandma! It was fun to watch Joe and Sharon. They are going to be great parents.

I am waiting...

for Spring.....

Aren't you?

Happy Weekend!

I don't know how to find time to add to this blog on a more regular basis. Work takes up too much time I guess! We have had a contractor in three days this week adding a shower to a powder room, hanging a chandelier and adding an outdoor light to the side door. Amazing how much dust gets spread about from the work. I know what I am doing today! I will try to add some pictures before the weekend is over.

Longwood

We had a chance to enjoy a touch of Spring on Saturday. Longwood Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit. We spent time walking through the gardens. Although most of the plants were asleep for the winter, there was still the hint that Spring would soon be here. The plants in the conservatories were clueless of the weather outside and gave the perfect needed boost of color on a January day. A visit to Longwood is like a trip home. It is one of the few places I can visit that holds memories to being a child. I loved going to Longwood then and I love it now! Now if only I could move next door!

Will be back soon!

Life takes twists and turns and right now the path has taken me to be with my parents. I am thankful I can be here with them. One of these days I will be able to post on this blog in a more consistent manner!

Christmas Eve

We celebrated our family Christmas day today. It was a wonderful day and such a delight to have everyone together. We had guitars going and lots of laughter- like the boys had never left yet better as we now have daughters by love!

Sh! Don't tell them what I was up to! I know, I know, I should not have been stirring but I just could not help it!

Christmas is coming!

The gifts are purchased and wrapped. Tomorrow we will make peanut brittle and cookies and look forward to visits with our children and parents.

Maybe later we can take a peek at who is typing!
This year I added poems related to birds to our bird tree. We have 3 trees in our home, each different.

Around our home

Beginning a blog at the busiest time of year is probably not the smartest thing to do! I thought I would learn how to add photos and use blogspot by adding some photos from around our home. I am married to a wonderfully talented man who has helped to make our home cozy with his great creations!


Joe painted the stairway about 10 years ago and I have yet to pick up the pearls!


We had so much fun creating this faux fireplace in our dining room. Purely decorative, we painted each "shard" by hand. Each brings back a memory of a dish we've owned at one point in our lives. We had so much fun sitting together and painting this!


Once our boys married, Joe painted a picture of each from photos taken in childhood. This painting is of our oldest son Joey standing by the big tree at my parents' home.


Tom loved to go to the playground with my mother when he was little. This painting is from a picture she took of him on one of their adventures.