Thinking about Family Ties

Today it is warm and sunny and has been for several days. I thought I should probably note this fact since I spend much time complaining about the weather. I doubt that my wishing for warmer climes will cease, however, so don't get too excited about today!

What I am thinking about more is various family members who rarely get notice in this blog. It occurred to me that I have not mentioned Dan, even though I wished a public happy birthday to each of my other kids in 2009! That was just an oversight that I thought I would correct before we celebrate another Thanksgiving - wouldn't want him to pretend that I am not his mom because I snubbed him. And, after all, he is the one who set up this blog site in the first place so that I could complain to my heart's content! His birthday was in June and I promise that next year I will note it properly. He is such a good kid and deserves many blessings!

I have spent many hours in prayer this past week for my sister in New York. She is my only surviving sister of the 7 girls that God gave to my mom. She lost her husband 2 years ago and has had a hard time getting through that loss. Each passing of a family member has been hard on me, as it is for everyone. I have 2 brothers left and at least one of them has had a rough year with family and finances, so I have been thinking much about all of them lately.

I also have 2 daughters-in -law who are a treasure to me but who get little notice in this blog. Stacy and Katy, I love you both and thank God daily for the support and love that you provide for my sons and for your love and care of Dad and me! May God give you peace and joy and any other requests you currently have out!

Holly, Julie, Claire - I love you much and pray for you daily, for your present and for your future. May you find Jesus sufficient for all of your problems today. I think that covers everyone that I have not mentioned previously - just so you know that I do think of you and thank God for you. Please take time today to thank God for our family - all of them - and remember that as life goes on you all will become ever more important to each other. Don't let anything get in the way of your love and care for every brother and sister you have been given. I know that I really miss all of mine, and I also know that I did not treasure them all while they were around. I was too human all those years and I would want better for you kids and grandkids and great-grandkids of mine! So, God bless and be ready for Thanksgiving Day this next week - make it the best one yet!

In all things, give thanks

It's not like I have been so busy lately that I don't have time to write. I just have other things on my mind! Lots of friends and family have been sick with this flu-like stuff and everyday more people succumb. So far, all are recovering and I pray that it remains so. October has not acted like October this year - people getting sick too early, snow coming too early, hardly any beautiful Fall weather! I know, I know - I have been counting my blessings in the midst of all this, but let me have just a few moments to wish it were otherwise. Our coffee buddies are heading South this week and that gives me pain. We have used up all the available room in our living area and really need more room or more creativity. Lately we have too much month for the money, as someone once said. I was hoping to be someplace warmer by the time cold weather really settled in, but it is not to be. Okay, that is enough complaining for awhile.

The good stuff is that Damion's tubes in his ears seem to be coming along nicely. I have been learning all sorts of new things about family members living in California, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York, because my Facebook site finally came back up after 14 days. Also, my weight seems to have stabilized and I have perhaps even gained a pound or 2 in the last few months. My newest grandkids and great-grandkids continue to get cuter as the days pass and I have the assurance that God has good things in mind for each of them! I keep seeing Gaither videos that I have not seen before and the songs bring joy to my heart. Many answered prayers remind me of God's love for me and mine. I have a new Journal to record my private thoughts and praises in. I guess I could keep on and on because I have many more good things to say. This Blog site reminds me regularly that life consists of good and bad, happy and sad. In everything, though, Jesus is enough! I hope that you are finding it so.

The future looks good

This month has been full and it is only 12 days old! First of all, my Facebook site has been down for a couple of weeks while they work on some problem on their end. I really miss being able to check up on friends and family far away and feel really out of the loop! Here in Custer we have been seeing much sickness and lots of cold snowy days - and that is not a good thing. We never did get any Summer here and Winter is usurping our Autumn days. So much for global warming, as they say. We did have some fun Summer days, but it seems like they were few and passed too quickly.

This last weekend, though, was a very satisfying one. Jenni and Ashton got married in Minnesota on Saturday. It was so sad that none of us could be there, but the pictures are good and we wish her all the best! It is exciting to see your kids embarking on a new life, but this grandchildren stuff is all new to us. So, 2 down and at least 4 more to go. Just look at Zac's most recent pictures and you can see what a heartbreaker he is destined to be - too, too cute!
I should mention that Jenni has her new teeth now. We pray and trust that this will make life just a bit easier for her. Next, on Sunday we had a young missionary family in the a.m. service, a very satisfying pot luck afterwards, and then a baptism and fellowship time in the p.m. We all agreed that it was a wonderful day, except for Dad's gimpy knee (caused by the 5 miles he walked on his Saturday hunting trip). So, life is a little bad and a little good, but there is always promise and always hope for the future - especially as we entrust the next generations to God's wonderful care and provision. As my mom used to say, the g'g'kids are worth living for if only to watch how God can make our mistakes come out right! Maybe we didn't do it all right, but we leave it all in God's hands.

Rainy Days and Sundays

Today is a rainy and chilly (to me) Sunday. Memorial Day weekend isn't supposed to be like this! We need sun and warmth and cookouts! Well, someday it will be nice in Custer for more than one day at a time. When everything comes together, this is a beautiful place to live. Upstate New York, where we come from, is a lot like this area, scenery and weather-wise. When you are young you can adapt to most anything, but the older I get the more I long for nice weather. Some would say that we have nice weather here in the Black Hills, but I am not sure I agree with that. This past year has been colder and cloudier than I like and I am not sure how much hope I have for the future, since everyone around me is already warm most of the time! I thought hotter days outside would help me, but then the air-conditioners came on and negated everything.

Well, on the positive side, I am enjoying my new eyeglasses. I can see so much better and I think I probably look so much better, though few are willing to comment aloud on that! I'm hoping the insurance will help a little on the expense. Now if I can only figure how to get some new tires for the Explorer, since I had to use some of Rol's money for the day in Rapid at doctor appointments, lunches, and my glasses. Extra bills took the rest and now his tire money has vanished.

All in all, today, I am feeling thankful for God's provision in our lives. I am also feeling thankful for my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. They bring laughter and smiles along with the usual concerns. They mostly bring assurance that life goes on and that life will always be worth the living. I used to hear my mom say that and I wondered how she could look forward to the future without my dad, and with the Parkinson's that so affected her quality of life. She said she was just living for the great-great-grandkids. Well, I guess now I can see how that happens, but in case anyone is wondering, I want my husband around for far longer. And I want to serve my Lord for far longer and I guess I just need to get busy and quit my whining...........!