Gratitude!

What a fun weekend this was. The girls were here for a two day sleep over. We did lots of things like let them have their meals out in the play house.

They even put little birds in the window! :)

 

So fun to watch them pretend!

Ellie got a new jacket and headband for Memorial Day!

Miss Josie got a new outfit too! I knew I should have been making outfits a long time ago...just in case they ever got into dolls!  But we had fun picking out fabric from my stash and Angie was reading the pattern to me the whole time. She is learning!

I ask the girls to write down or draw about what they heard in church yesterday.

Jenny was trying to draw the people up front that were speaking, but it was too hard she said...so she just drew a Monkey family in church speaking instead!  Love it!

Jeff spoke in church yesterday, so Angie drew him speaking. She even put creases in his jacket! Amazing!

Then we got up early this morning to go to the Memorial Day Breakfast and Ceremony, that we had at church. I am so glad the girls went with us and learned about all the sacrifice that the Service men and women have given and still give for our freedom.

As young as they are, they still seemed to be touched! 

Then a dear friend of mine and her litle boy came over to visit for a bit. I am teaching her how to crochet, and he played blocks with the girls! He is too cute!

 

After dinner, we celebrated Jeff and Amy's Birthday early...since we were all together. Jeff's birthday is Weds. and Amy's is just 3 days later. They have really celebrated many birthdays together and they really don't seem to mind! We put 9 candles and the candle number 1 on their cake. Because between them they have 91 years together! That was my idea :)

Like Father like Daughter... they both love to sing and enjoy music!

 Audrey helped them blow out the candles!

Presents time...Audrey helping out again! More craft supplies for Amy... she is alot like her Mother too I guess! Look at that happy face!

Here is what it looks like, when you picked out the right gift!

Audrey had to help Poppa too!

It was a fun weekend. Lots of creating and celebrating. I am grateful for both!

Good Night dear friends!

Happy Birthday Lee!

Happy Birthday to our little Lee, thanks what everyone used to call him when he was a toddler. Actually his sister Lauren called him Wee and then she said she was Wauwen. They are only 2 years apart and they have been buddies their whole life.

One thing that Lee wanted me to make him was bow ties, I really didn't think he would use them after I made them but...as you can see it did work for him!
It is hard to believe that just 19 years ago, they rushed me into the surgery to hurry and do the c-section because Lee's heart rate was dropping too fast! Just in minutes they place our 8lb 12oz baby Lee in our arms. Lee was our last baby and we were all crazy about him. He was our fussiest baby at the beginning but after about 3 months, he calmed down and became quiet the dream of a little baby. Of course life was busy for him with all of his siblings, still he didn't seem to mind it. He was either in the car seat taking his nap while we drop off or picked up his brother or sister, if he wasn't doing that then he was usually getting in to some kind of trouble with his very creative and mischievous sister Lauren.

He has been a tenderhearted boy and even though life right now has been really tough for him, we all believe he has it in him to figure it out and to grow and stretch from this trial in his life. Plus, their isn't any reason he shouldn't succeed,  because he has a big family behind him. We love you Lee! Happy 19th Birthday!

"Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new."
Sammy Hagar

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."  ~Jane Howard

"The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."  ~Erma Bombeck

Memorial Day / Birthday!

Today is my daughter Amy's birthday! Yes, she was born on Memorial Day, she was our first and we couldn't imagine how much love this 10LB 10Z dark haired girl could bring into our lives. Even though we were brand new parents, and didn't have a clue what to do, we were so in love with her ...it didn't matter. Some how we figured out all the baby details, and we absolutely loved every minute of it.
Now I look at this beautiful blonde haired woman and realize, not only is she a dear friend of mine, but my daughter too! How lucky could a Mother be?  She is now a Mother too, and so the generations have begun and I feel blessed.

I also feel blessed when I think of all the men and women ( and their families ), who have served... and now serve our country. Words cannot not express the gratitude we feel! How glad I am that we have this wonderful holiday to remember and honor them by.

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Memorial Day!

It is the Soldier

(Charles M. Province)

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag, who
serves under the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag, who allows the
protester to burn the flag."

"Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits."

"Birthdays are good for you.  Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."  ~Larry Lorenzoni

Birthday celebration!

Today was my oldest granddaughter's, 5th birthday party! As I watched her sweet face during all the different things they did, I was reminded again of how very much I loved her. How could it be that she is already 5 years old? She will be heading off to school this coming fall, will she be ready? The truth is... I wonder if I am ready?  :)

After the party she came over to my house.  We talked about all the wonderful gifts she got and then she asked me when we were going to do our monthly SLEEPOVER? I smiled, I am glad she still thinks it is a really big thing to come and do sleep-overs at Nana's house. I hope she and Jenny, never get too old for that!

Read this sweet story, and it reminded me of the kindness of others and how if we watch for it...we will find it everywhere!

Good night dear friends!

Balloons And Angels

Sometimes, it is the smallest acts of kindness that are the most memorable. It was several years ago that this particular event occurred; the reason I remember it because it was my daughter Kathy's birthday.

My children and I were finishing the last minute preparations for Kathy's birthday celebration. At one store we had bought colorful helium balloon with Kathy's favorite character design on it. We had to make one more stop at another store to complete our purchases. I sent out my older daughter and her little brother out to our van while my other daughter and I were waiting at the cashier line.

A very short time later, my older daughter with little brother in tow came running back into the store; upset that Kathy's birthday balloon had escaped while they trying to get into the van. I was tired from shopping, but I sent them back to the vehicle telling them not to worry we would get Kathy another balloon. I paid for our purchases all the while trying to think of the most expedient place to obtain another balloon.

As Kathy and I approached our van a mature looking lady with kindly face came up to us almost of out of thin air. She pressed some folded bills in my hand. She related to me that she had seen what had happened and did not want my older daughter or my younger daughter to be upset at the loss of the balloon. She told us that she was mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mind you she looked barely old enough to be a grandmother much less a great grandmother.

I thanked her for kindness and attempted to give her the money back; as it was not a problem to get another balloon. She was most insistent because she said "I love children and I like to see them be happy." I was overwhelmed by the kindness of a total stranger that my daughters and I hugged the lady thanking her for kindness. She left so quickly that I was unable to even ask her name. Finally, I looked in my hand what I found was not just a single one dollar bill but four one dollar bills.

I was very touched not by the money, but by this lovely lady's act of kindness and generosity. Because of her kindness it made Kathy's birthday even more special. I truly believe that dear lady at the very least is one of God's earthly angels and who is to say that she wasn't a real angel. How often is it said that we entertain angels unaware.  -- Copyright © 1998 Ruth Mack

"Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you."   ~Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

"The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone."  ~George Elliot

"A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend." ~Author Unknown

The Easter Bunny and Lee!

I am a BIG BELIEVER in tradition! However, since I became a MOM...I realized that I also need to be a BIG BELIEVER in Plan B. Things don't always go as planned, and so whether you like it or not, there better be a Plan B in your hip pocket. This week was one of those, Plan B type of weeks.
For instance, the Easter Bunny has always stopped by our house on Friday Nights ( by our request ). We thought it would be easier to teach the kids between Spring/ Easter Bunny and the real meaning of Easter, if we separated them by a day. It has worked quite well for all these years, however...when you have a tradition like that, you have to stay on top of it or...before you know it, it is Friday night already. I don't believe that the Easter Bunny has ever been late coming to our home in some 27 years, but he didn't make it last night!
We were surprised, but soon realized that this has been an unusually cold and wet Spring and so...he probably was sick. I can sure understand how hard that would be to deliver all those baskets, when you don't feel too well! Lucky for us, by today...we had word that he has finally visited all of our kids and so we are grateful, that even though it was a day or so late...we were able to keep our tradition!

Today is also Lee's 18th birthday. We got to celebrate it with all the kids together (when we were in Idaho). Then today we had Amy, John and the girls and then some friends and neighbors over to celebrate with Lee. He has turned out to be an incredible young man, and how blessed we feel to have him in our family. He will graduate in a month or so and before we know it, he will be off to college...wow, I am just not ready for that yet! I think one of the greatest joys of a Mom, is to see the love that the kids have for one another. Now when they were little, there were days that I thought they would kill each other but... that was just on hard days. It has been enjoyable to see how they connect now that they are all young adults. They are each other's friend, and that is what I prayed for...for years.

So Happy Birthday Lee, and thanks Easter Bunny for keeping our tradition... of coming before Easter Sunday!

 

"It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- J. K. Rowling

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."  ~Proverb

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."  ~Anne Bradstreet

Unlimited Potential!

Today is Jenny's first birthday! Jenny is our second granddaughter and another lively, beautiful red-head. We are so grateful for her and the sweet,energetic spirit she has. It seems just like yesterday that we were waiting till the wee hours of the morning for the phone to ring, to let us know that she had safely arrived, and that Amy was ok. Now a year has been here and gone, how I wonder what she will do in her life here on earth? Just like each one of us, our potential is limitless! I can hardly wait to see what she and Angie become when they grow up.
I some times have a hard time explaining my feelings of love for my granddaughters. It has filled a part of my heart, that I didn't even realize was empty. They have taught me so much, is such a short period of time. Once again, I thank my Heavenly Father for letting another beautiful little spirit, come into our family. Happy Birthday dear sweet Jenny! You like all of the girls in the world, are a PRINCESS...don't ever forget that! Love, Nana

"Let her sleep for when she wakes...she will move MOUNTAINS!"

"A baby girl...one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in your world today."
-- Author Unknown

"A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give."
-- Laurel Atherton

"A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance."  ~Author Unknown

51 years and counting!

Today was my 51st birthday and I was very grateful for it. Yesterday, however was hard for some reason, I kept thinking of all the things I wanted to do and accomplish this past year but didn't. I dwelled on the cup being half empty instead of half full, so yes...yesterday was a bit of a tough day. However today, I realized that I might not accomplish everything I wanted to; but there is nothing to say that I can't accomplish it this coming year. It is a new year with all kinds of possibilities in it, so....I need to make some changes, try a little harder, be more diligent and have more faith, so that anything can be possible!

I am thankful for the chance to have had 51 years here on earth. They have not all been easy or happy years, but each one have taught me incredible lessons for which I am very grateful.

Thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes, calls and cards! I feel loved... and that is no small thing. I do wonder if I have made a difference in the world at all by my being here? Have I helped someone, been kind enough, has my example been good or bad? Yes, these are questions that have passed my mind, but instead of dwelling on that too much, I have decided to set some new goals this year, so that I can hopefully be better, stronger, healthier, happier, wiser, kinder and more obedient. Yes, I have another year to improve and I am so glad that I do! I am glad it's my birthday!!!

"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him." ~ Aldous Huxley

"Don't regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."   ~ Unknown

"May you live all the days of your life."  ~ Jonathan Swift

"It takes a long time to become young."   ~ Pablo Picasso

"We turn not older with years, but newer every day."  ~ Emily Dickinson

Where did the years go?

Twenty seven years ago I was in the hospital having my first baby. The Doctors didn't do many ultra-sounds then and so they were guessing it was a boy. I however was privileged to know all my kids before they were born. I had told them all along it was Amy coming, they begged to differ. At one last appointment the nurse said "Mrs. Woodard, I hope you aren't going to be disappointed, because by listening to your baby's heart beat we are almost for sure it is going to be a boy" then she added "and I think it is going to be a big boy at that!" My confident remark was " Well, I hope he is going to be real big so that he can defend himself, because we are going to name him Amy!"

I went into labor on Sunday morning and by that evening we thought Amy would be here. No such luck, I had the labor pains and contractions go off and on for over 20 some hours. Around 2:30pm the doctor comes in and tells us that he thinks the baby is just too big. After a few more exams they realized that the baby was no where in sight. After explaining all the options to us (which weren't many) he said " I think you are going to have to have a C-section." I was so upset, one because he was a jerk of a Doctor and was so rude to us, he was put out because he had to deliver this baby on Memorial Day and he had planned to go golfing, plus I was upset to have major surgery. I had never been in a hospital for overnight at all. I was terrified, we went to all the Lamaze classes and this isn't how we planned it. The last straw was when they told me that they would cut me from hip bone to hip bone for the C-section, I cried...scared yes plus, I never even got one stretch mark and now I would have this enormous scar. ( I soon realized later that would be the least of my worries.)

They put me asleep for the surgery, so around 3:30pm or so, I remember Jeff trying to wake me up to tell me that I was right, it was Amy. He then told me she weighed 10 lbs 1oz and had lots of dark hair! I was thinking that maybe he is the one that had the drugs... how could I have a 10 lb baby, isn't that consider a toddler? Plus, where did the dark hair come from, we were both blondes?

 

Next thing I knew they put this huge beautiful baby in my arms and I was amazed. After imagining for 9 months what she would look like...I was still surprised. I couldn't believe that my Amy girl was finally here, safe and sound. Having been asleep when she was born, I was a bit concerned, what if they gave me the wrong baby, how would I ever know? Then Jeff told me to look at her little feet, she had webbed toes, just like mine. Yes, surely this was my Amy girl that I had been waiting for! :)

Now here we are 27 years later and I sometimes still look at her ( as well as all my kids and now my grand-kids) and I am amazed that they are really mine. How grateful I feel to be able to be their mother and Nana. Amy is a beautiful grown woman, with a family of her own now. Where did the years go? How thankful I am for Amy, she is one of the happiest people I know. She truly loves life to its fullest ( a great lesson for me ). She is a hard worker, a true friend, a talented lady in music, art and just about anything she decides to do. She is a bit O.C.D. but that works out pretty well for me because I am a bit A. D. D. It is a good balance. She was our first and so likes she likes to put it...she was our guinea pig. Ok, so we did learn a few things that we would or would not do again after trying them out on her. But remember we were new at this parenthood game!  She was a little mother to all the rest of the kids and still to this day can organize anything and anybody. She has been the love of our life for over 27 years. How grateful we are that she is our Amy girl! Happy Birthday sweetheart, we love ya!

"A parent's love is whole no matter how many times divided."  ~Robert Brault

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone

"Growing up is a process, not an event."

Where did the time go?

I can still remember well the day Lee was born. He was welcomed into our home by 3 other siblings. Lee was everyone's baby. Lauren who was only two years old when he was born called him "BABY WEE".We fought over who was going to feed him and change him. He was a colicky ( not sure if that is spelled right? ) baby for the first 3 months, but after that he was one of our happiest babies. From the time he could sit up, he could throw a ball. He loved any kind of ball, that was his passion as he grew. He has always been quite the athlete.

Today Lee turned 17 years old. Where in the world did that time go? I looked at him today and thought what a great, handsome and kind young man he has become. He is still loved by every one in the family. We celebrated his birthday tonight with Amy, John and the girls. Felt weird not to have the rest of our family with us.

How grateful I am to have one more teenager left at home. It is nice to be able to have an adult conversation  with him, do activities with him and go places with him. I can still remember when all four of the kids were young, I worried that I would never have the time and energy I needed to teach and be with each one. I did ok, but still I have memories of days that I felt someone went to bed feeling neglected. I wonder if I invested enough in each one to let them know how much we love and appreciate them? Did they know that our life would never be the same without them? Parenthood, it is tougher than it looks.

For 28 years I have been a stay home mom. Some of you probably don't even know what that is, we are not the majority out there. I am grateful, (although there were many sacrifices to be made because of it) ...that I got to be home 24/7 with my kids. I realize that I was blessed to have the opportunity to do that, many do not have that luxury. I have enjoyed being Amy, Brad, Lauren and Lee's mom. Even though I have fallen short many times on doing the right thing as a mother, I can at least said I tried and that they were the most important thing in my life...right after their dad. :)

So I need to remember  when I go to bed tonight to focus on the wonderful 17 years we had with Lee and not dwell on the fact that in a year or two, he will be leaving home too. No, I can't go there right now. Good night dear friends.

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body."  ~ Elizabeth Stone

"I thought my mom's whole purpose was to be my mom. That's how she made me feel."                                         ~ Natasha Gregson Wagner