It all started with her

Grandmother hugs and Grandmother kisses,
Hot oven cookies and holiday wishes,
Attics with treasures of children grown old,
Stories of magic and princes so bold,
Oceans of patience and rainbows of love,
A bright ray of sunshine sent from above,
You stirred my childhood with rich, golden days,
Touching my life in so many ways.
When shadows are dark,
I reach through the night,
The love of a Grandmother shines like a light.

...Author Unknown

Today we celebrated, we celebrated having grandma near and dear to us for 85 years.  Just sitting back thinking about all the adventures she has had in her life, all the changes that she lived through, and the losses she has had to endure...wow...I couldn't imagine seeing the differences from the beginning of her life to today.  To me she is still as beautiful as she was in the picture I so often looked at of her when she was a young adult.

I looked around the room and relished in the happiness that surrounded me but still missed her special someone...grandpa.  I know in some way or fashion he was with us today but I missed his presence, his hugs, his laugh...his smile, I know she misses him even more. But onward we must go in hopes of one day being all together again. 

 I ask everyone if we can take generation pictures, I was happy to hear many yeses.

We first gather grandma with her daughters.  Mom is on the right and Karen is on the left.

I then add in the husbands, dad is on the right and Terry is on the left.

Then comes the grand kids.  From back left to right:  Jake, DeDe, me, Tara and Lori.

Then the grand kid's spouses...I see a pattern here :-)

Jess (Jake), Blaine (me), Troy (DeDe), Jason (Tara), John (Lori)

Then last but not least, the great-grand kids.

Back:  Jordyn (DeDe, Troy), Justin (Me, Blaine), Brett (Lori, John), Garrett (Lori, John)

Nick (DeDe, Troy), Mandi (DeDe, Troy), Makayla (Me, Blaine), Talan (Tara, Jason),

Abby (Lori, John), Brinly (Tara, Jason)

Wow!

5 grand kids

10 great grand kids

So the day was wonderful in the fact that we were all together, all smiles, the sound of little kid laughter (who doesn't like that) and delicious cup cakes.  The best part to me was hearing mom and grandma singing "You are my sunshine", a song that was sung to in the past to the little ones in our family and was the song that was found for the card that we gave her today from the Kellers.

I loved this day just because it was a day to remember, reflect and rejoice.

It was a good day.

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift open it up and enjoy it....

...and today I did just that.

Baking with my boy

As busy families are well aware of, a night at home even if only for a few hours comes rare; and as luck would have it Justin and I found ourselves with a few hours between drop off and pick-ups of Makayla and Emily.  So with our time, the lawn was mowed, dinner was cooked, dishes were done, Rhubarb cut and errands ran.  What to do with the remaining time....per Justin "let's bake a pie!"

This was a first for both of us, his first pie and my first Strawberry/Rhubarb pie.  He looked up a recipe on the Internet while I started the chopping of the fruit.

Justin mixed all the ingredients himself while I put the first layer of the crust into the pan.

Looks good already!

Then came the top crust, this can be a little tricky when your first learning but he did a great job!

I didn't plan things as perfectly as I had hoped as the pie was still in the oven at 8:15 when it was time to leave to have the girls picked up...but off we went hoping all would turn out OK if we turned the oven off and left the door open just a crack for the last 10 minutes.

Once home, we found the house filled with the delicious smell of our baking, and I was pleased to see no burnt edges and no doughy bottom.  Now to let it cool.

Dad got home from softball just in time for the cutting, how lucky can a guy get!  After sinking our teeth into our new found recipe it was decided we will have to make this again...hopefully my rhubarb plant can grow a bunch more stalks for us because this first one barely made it through the first night.

Tonight it's off to Moorhead Youth Hockey...yep...it's summer and 75 degree's outside and we are heading to the rink.  Jordyn is in town for a tournament for her summer league, should be a good time!

Grattitude

This past weekend was a blissful weekend of shopping, roller coasters, great food, wonderful conversations and remarkable memories.

The weather started out a little questionable for the weekend but turned out to be the best it could have possibly been.  Saturday was sprinkles all day long but we spent the majority of the morning in the car anticipating all the events that were soon to come.  Our first stop was at the Mall of America, starting out with a few small rides to get the adrenaline pumping for the kids, we then split up some so that everyone could get to a few stores that they wanted to hit and then join backup at Bubba-Gumps.  YUM!

Sunday came bright and early as we all set off to wish dad a Happy Fathers Day.  I love the idea of spending a day like this with my dad...all smiles and everyone together.  My dad is one of a kind, he is the kind that will warm your heart just by his being present, he tells you he loves you without having to say the words by wanting to spend time with you, he hugs you without having to touch you by his generosity, fairness and all around great nature.  He is the kind of dad that you would stand up in a crowded room to yell, "hey everyone, quiet down now...my dad has entered the room, give him room to find his spot...next to me!"  My dad is a one of kind because he will tell you he loves you and hugs you and will do it anywhere at any time.  I love you dad.

Valley Fair turned out to be a beautiful day not only because it was Fathers Day but the weather itself was perfect.  Warm, slightly cloudy and slight breeze; the lines were at most a 5mn wait.  The kids were able to ride their favorites rides multiple times and I can say...they rode every ride possible.  By the end of the day each and everyone of were exhausted but each one of us had a story still to tell and laugh about at supper.  Oh what a day!

Mandi getting an early ride.

 Look who we found!

Mandi and I rode a swing together, it was fun for me!

Nick getting a little shower

DeDe snuggeling

Jordyn feeling the rush!

Mom just before pulling a wheelie!

Blaine sending me all his love!

Jake posing with...oops, how'd this get in here!

Justin seeking out the next roller coaster ride!

Troy getting close to nature

Monday, generally not a day on the top of anyone's list but once again we joined together in the morning to chat about the weekend and even talk about the next vacation together.  The planning can be just as fun as the event...ok maybe not so much but it is still fun!  We said our good-bye's to mom, dad, Jake and Jess and the rest of us ventured off to the Minnesota Zoo.  Man that is a good time as well.

Today, we took another trip to Melby, MN or better yet Evansville to visit Michele.  After her last surgery it was found she does have some tumorous activity growing but hopefully a little radiation will stop that again for a few more months.  It was nice to see her again but somewhat of a let down to see that not a great amount of speech was returned as was hoped.  Makayla was given a wonderful gift that someday she will realize is priceless.  She was given her Great Grandmothers diamond ring by her grandmother.  She will receive this gift as something "old" on her wedding day.  Tears me up just thinking about what a very special gift this is...wow.

Back to work tomorrow, but can't complain after this past weekend!  Thanks mom and dad for giving us all such great memories, priceless laughs, and hurting cheeks!  Love you both!!

A roller coaster ride

After a brief call to check on Michele yesterday Blaine found out that Sheila was going to be taking her to Georgia on Friday.  Yes, I said Friday.  Blaine hurridly wrapped up work and took a quick trip to St. Cloud hospistal, well as quick as you can make a 2.5 hour trip, to find out what was going on and why the quick move.  After talking with everyone that was there is was confirmed that everyone thinks they have her best interest and insist that Michele is getting what she wants.  Problem is with this is that Michele doesn't really know what she wants.  This is a very tough call for her to make.  If she goes to Georgia she more than likely will not see the rest of her family again as well as Wayne and his daugher Sheila that have been taking care of her since this started...if she stays she will not see her sister as much as she would like.   For now, this decision has been decided for everyone by the neorosurgeon that has been performing most of her surgeries; he is not releasing her as of yet for travel.  This last surgergy reveiled some cancerous materials in the mass that was removed and he would like to giver her a few more shots of radiation.  So for now, no travel other than to home.  I believe this will be revisited again in the very near future.  Our hopes are that she stay's but we will have no influence on her in any way as we want her to live her remaining time where she will be the most happiest and comfortable.

Now, with this decision behind us and a brief moment of relief...let's get ready to vacation!!

Tickets are bought, motel is reserved, boarding is scheduled for the pups, bags are being packed, and the questions are being asked..what are we doing Saturday? Can we go to the zoo? Can we go to the science museum? Are we going to Bubba gumps?  And of course naming every ride that is going to be ridden at the fair. Oh, to be a kid again and ride those rides. Sure isn't fun to get older and get dizzy just watching the rides. Ho-humm....guess I'll just "have" to take pictures...oh darn.  Ha-ha!
I can't wait to have another fun filled weekend away with my entire family.  How lucky can anyone get to get away all on the same weekend with almost everyone that means the world to you.

Here's wishing the weekend will have sunny skies, many smiles, and much laughter.

Today is a day of prayer

Dear Lord,

Please keep a watchful eye and a guided hand over Dr. Sherr as he performs surgery on Michele today.  Help him to remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing any further damage.  I pray that this surgery brings back the speech to Michele so she can once again have the communication that she so desires with those that she loves.  I pray that she finds peace in the fact that her radiation and chemo will now be stopped since they are not showing any results.  I ask that you guide the oncologist to a new path of treatment that will help her to live a full life in whatever amount of time you have decided she should have left.  I pray that you watch over Blaine on his travels to and from the hospital.  Please give him the strength that is needed to be a supporter to her yet also be supported.  I pray that you bring peace to the remaining family that will be there and help them understand that they need to put differences aside and come together.

Dear Lord please watch over Jake in his travels to Nebraska to transport a felon.  Guide him to and from without incident.  Please have this persons warrant be that of something small that will cause no issues for him or Jake.  Please bring peace to this person so that he or she can too resolve their issues and become the person that they should be.

Please watch over my dear friend Vicky that I am missing dearly.  Make sure she feels the warmth of love and the strength we are sending to the moon and back for her.  Please guide the oncologist to provide her with the best forms of medicine to remove all traces of her cancer.

Dear Lord give me the strength to be the person that all those around me need me to be, help me to know what to say and when to stay quiet, help me to know when to be supportive and when to carry them, help me to know when it is ok to just not be ok.

Thank you for the blessings and guidance that you have provided me, for giving me back my health and please continue to bless those around me.

I thank you Lord in the name of Jesus

Amen