Another fun party day...

It was finally time for Anna's birthday party with her friends.  Let me tell you, the time is gone where kids just have a party in the backyard!  Seriously, this was an incredible party and I was pleased to know they do these events even for adults!  There is a wonderful bakery near us called Blessed Little Kitchen that just added a "party room".  Mary Holzkopf, the owner, welcomed Anna and her friends into a cookie decorating experience like none other.  Every girl got cookies to decorate and several piping bags of delicious icing.  Mary (a mom to many kids), talked to the kids about being "cookie artists".   It made for a great experience for the girls since nobody was afraid of making a mistake.  They could choose the colors used at each step and there were step by step instructions.  Anna had picked a "Stich" theme and was so pleased to see a Stich cookie to decorate.  

Lia and Ellie were there for part of the cookie fun, but then left with their boyfriends to go to a play.  Birthdays are always a fun cousin time and Grace had a great time
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There were kids at this party from Kindergarten age up.  Everyone was able to create their own special cookies to take home.

After Lia and Ellie left the party, Gwen got called in to finish Lia's cookies.  Ellie wanted to finish her own at home!

The party concluded with everybody singing to Anna and then cupcakes all around!  It was a sugar heavy party, but you could hear a pin drop as they concentrated on the decorating.  It is pretty fun to find a  new way to celebrate a kids party.

Blessed Little Kitchen provided such a welcoming environment for a kids party.  Mary reminded the kids that everyone has their own gifts and talents and everyone could create in their own way.  I love that this bakery supports their local food panty and this family blesses my church with baked goods at their coffee bar almost every Sunday.  Lately. you are hard pressed to find a Christian establishment that isn't afraid to show their faith.  Mary has Bibles and other Christian material available in the Bakery not for purchase but just to take!  All of the baked goods are really "home" made and taste amazing.  This is a business that is good to get behind.  

That is one of the hardest things for this grandma -  finding places that you can support (or on the reverse side, boycott).  I am incredibly thankful for businesses that are not afraid to be who they are.   This is a kind of witness that takes a true gift of faith.  Especially when your business is your families livelihood.  What a lesson for all of us.   I have been praying that in 2024 I would be able to more openly express the things that are the foundation of my life.  Recently at my church we are encouraged to take a "self evaluation" called a  Faith Check Guide.  It is a tool to help you continue to grow and find areas of your Christian walk that might need a little encouragement.  I have found this helpful and something that has helped me figure how to not feel so "stuck" or lost at times.  I encourage you to take the time to at least look at this guide.  It is eye opening for sure.  

Jesus, thank you for the joy and wonder kids and the celebrations that fill our hearts with love.  Pour out your continued blessing on Blessed Little Kitchen and Mary and her family.  Holy Spirit, give us all creative ideas and ways to express our faith to the world.  Fill us with the desire to know you better Jesus, and to be willing to examine our own faith walk.  Most of all, thank you for great tasting cookies! Amen

A few days of fun remembering being a "parent"!

Gwen and Tim took Lia to San Diego for her Senior Trip.  All of these events just make it so much clearer that Lia, in fact, will soon be 18 and leaving for college!  I got the chance to stay with Ellie, Zeke and Anna while they were away.  Of course, this also includes my "granddogs" Chandler and Sunny!  It was only 5 days, but included plenty of activities. You forget what its like as a parent taxi service after you haven't done that for a while!

The first day was kind of quiet.  We were gearing up for a few very busy days to come, so the kids took it a bit easy on Grandma.   We had lunch at Culvers, which is always a fan favorite.  The weather was incredibly warm for February, which was a wonderful surprise.    Anna and I took Sunny for a long walk down to the lake.  It was a bit muddy but Sunny was glad for the outdoor time and I sure appreciated the warm walk.  Anna is an expert at walking Sunny and he has become really good on the leash.  

Zeke asked to have a friend over on Friday night, which was fine with me!  The boys played video games while Anna and I played a bunch of board games.  I really didn't see much of Ellie.  As a typical teen, she spends a lot of time in her room!  

 On Friday, we knew that we would have the beginnings of a busy few days, but Zeke and Anna really wanted to see the movie "Migration".  I didn't know anything about this movie, but it turned out to be really cute.  Ellie had no interest in this movie, so she stayed home.  

It was interesting that we saw this movie about birds, while Gwen, Tim and Lia were actually seeing the real things at the San Diego Zoo!  

While the movie was fun, I know that they had a much better time seeing the animals in person!  I enjoyed the part of the movie that takes place in Central Park, New York City!  Since I now have actually seen those places, it was fun to have those memories flash up on the screen.  

Friday continued with bringing Ellie to serve at a Girl Scout Cookie Booth with her troop.  While it had been warm during the day, the temperature dropped when the sun went down.  It was a chilly time for her for sure.  Anna, Zeke and I went to Zeke's basketball practice.  It is so interesting to see 7th and 8th grade boys together.  Some are still very small and young looking while others look like grown adults!  His team sure includes some of both, with Zeke falling comfortably in the middle of the pack.  

That is Zeke taking a shot at the basket.  I didn't get many good pictures. It was a long practice that ended at 9:30pm!  This grandma was tired just watching these kids run up and down for a solid hour.  By the time we got home and settled, it was after 10:30!  The kids weren't tired at all.  Sigh.

We had an early start to our day on Saturday.  Ellie had to be at a cookie booth at 8:30am and Zeke had two basketball games - one at 9:00am and one at noon.  Ellie had a second cookie booth in the afternoon, but thankfully her Troop Leader transported her to that one (thanks Lianne)!  

Anna and I watched Zeke's first game, which sadly, his team lost the very close game by two points.  I took the kids for a quick lunch before Zeke's second game.  After that game, we picked up Ellie from her second cookie booth.  There was a very cold wind and the temperatures were only in the 30's so she was really glad to get into the warm car.  She said her toes were numb!  But they sold 249 boxes of cookies at these cookie booths, so it was well worth the effort!

Sunday we had church, as usual.  Zeke was serving in production that morning, so we had to be at church by 8:00am.  Most people are pretty used to seeing me as the "substitute" Gwen/Tim.   I am so thankful for this amazing church, that has been MY church for the last two years.  Being there with the kids is so wonderful.  After church, we geared up to watch the Super Bowl!  Zeke was surprised to know that I actually understand football and even knew what some of the penalties were.  He was extremely excited for this game, but his favorite team didn't win.  I haven't watched a Super Bowl in countless years, but it was worth it to see Zeke's excitement about the event.

Monday morning the kids wanted to go out for breakfast.  I love doing this!  Ken loved going out to breakfast and I miss this.   Whenever I get the chance, I love to do breakfast out.  

We went to a family restaurant that is pretty close to their house.  There used to be a nice park across the road from this place, but it is currently under construction!  It looks like it will be much bigger and include a spray park!  I for one, miss the quiet small park right on the lake.   

Zeke made plans to meet a friend at a park to practice his basketball shots.  Anna wanted to go to a playground.  Thankfully, there was a nice playground right next to the basketball court.  Anna had a good time and especially liked playing with the "digger"!  This was a new park for the kids, and I am sure we will be back there.

I spent some time sitting in the Sunroom.  While the sun was shining, it was still a bit nippy.  Sunny and Chandler were really missing their "people".  After a few days, they are ready for them to be home.  Gwen spends a lot of time in this room and the dogs took their place in Gwen's favorite chair!  I couldn't get them to move!  

Later on Monday, there was dance!  I picked up all of the Girl Scout cookies that Ellie needed to deliver, while bringing Anna and her friend to their dance classes.  I unloaded the cookies from my car and helped Ellie separate them for delivery.  Gwen, Tim and Lia got home in the wee hours of the morning from their trip.  It was a full five days!

As I was driving home on Tuesday morning, I was recounting all of the driving that happened in those few days.  I remember, so well, doing the same thing when Gwen and Doug were in those years.  While there was just one of me over this weekend, it is so nice that Gwen has two other drivers to take some of these trips!   I have forgotten just how busy parenting is.  And these kids are each only in one activity.  I can't imagine trying to juggle two or three different things with two or more kids.  

It is really good to be put into someone else's shoes.  Even if you once took care of kids 24/7 a few (think a whole lot) of years ago, things are different now.  Some things are so much better.  Everyone has a cell phone.  You can always get a hold of a child, they can always get a hold  of you.  In Gwen's house you don't even have to go downstairs to get the kids up!  You can just ask Alexa to "drop in".  At Doug's house,  I never have to worry about Jimmy when he is (supposed to be) napping!  Thanks to an amazing app on my phone that lets me SEE Jimmy in his crib.  I didn't even have an audio monitor when my kids were little. This time with the kids has reminded me, just how much work children are!  I am incredibly proud of Gwen and Tim and Doug and Susie for the amazing job they are doing with their children.  All four of them work full time jobs that are stressful and demanding.  Yet they have made family life a priority.  All of my grandchildren expect to sit down at the dinner table and eat together.  In both houses, there is a lot of love and care for each other.  There is also room for being sorry and receiving forgiveness.  Every generation seeks to do better than their parents.  It is a wonderful thing to experience the joy of knowing that your kids have succeeded in that!  Truly, there is nothing better than spending time with family.  You can always rest tomorrow!

Jesus, thank you so much for smiles and laughs and fun with children.  Holy Spirit, help us to let go of old ways and expectations for things to always stay the same.  Jesus, keep us looking ahead and not back.  Give us courage to try new things and wisdom to see the good in the changes around us.  Surround children with your protection and fill them with your love.  Amen




 

Rolling along in Birthday Party fun!

 Grace decided to have a Roller Skating party this year.  She has a pair of skates and had even gotten an entire unit in Gym class at school in roller skating.  So this was a great year for this.  

Her party was at Funway, a local very fun place that includes skating, arcade, bowling and so much more (when the weather is nice).  My kids loved this place when they were young and now the Grandkids are loving it as well.  Even Jimmy got in the skating action!

There was a very long time to skate followed by time in the party room!  Pizza and drinks were followed by cake!  Every kid got a card for the video arcade so there were many happy kids. It was a loud, crazy time - but one very happy Grace.  Lia and Ellie had a Spotlight show (Anna elected to do Grace's party and missed the Spotlight performance).  As the kids are getting older it is harder and harder to get them all together for these events.  

Anytime my kids are together I try to snap a picture.  It doesn't happen that often and it is worth having the photographic evidence that they actually do sometimes get together.  

Several of the kids asked me why I didn't roller skate!  That is worth an entire blog!  At close to 70 years old, I certainly wouldn't risk breaking something!  It occurred to me that I was roller skating even before I rode a bicycle.  I had a pair of metal, strap on skates that actually used a skate key!  I am sure that some people reading this blog would have no idea what I was talking about.  I found the following picture on the internet...

These look exactly like my first skates.  Since I was child number five, these were not new but rather hand-me-downs from one of my older siblings.  They were adjustable with your shoe size and I remember that when I started skating my feet were actually smaller than the smallest size.  My dad had rigged up another strap around my toes to old my shoes on the skates.  From the time I was four until I was twelve, I spent much time on those skates!  In the winter (in Minnesota) I would skate in our basement!   I was thinking about this long-lost skill.  I haven't been bike riding years either!  

Getting older is not for the faint of heart.  While I might have been ABLE to skate, I also might have fallen.  And when I did fall, I could have been seriously hurt.  So, it was much smarter to admit that I SHOULD NOT skate.  It's not easy - but it is smarter.  I have noticed that many things are getting a bit more difficult.  I can't get up and down off the floor quite as easily now with Jimmy, as I did when Lia was two.  A lot has changed in those 15 or so years.  It is good that God designed families with young parents who could keep up with the kids!   While I'm not quite ready to sit in a rocking chair and watch all the action from afar, I do welcome the occasional time to put my feet up and relax.  

Every one of these events reminds me how grateful I am that my health is very good.  It has been a bad winter around here with many families going from one sickness to the next.  Here, at the middle of February,  I can report that I have somehow managed to avoid all the sickness.  While winter is not over yet, I believe that the worst has past.  I am looking forward to warmer, sunny weather and more time spent outside.  

 One of the best parts of this birthday party was talking to some of Grace's friends from school.  I was telling them that I always skated when I was their age!  I could tell by the looks on their faces, they were surprised that an old grandma like me knew how to skate.  My rather long-winded account of the skating party comes with a reminder to be kind to us folks that are getting older!  While we don't need to be treated like REALLY old people, it is good to have some understanding of our (new to us) limitations. And always listen to our stories.  We love to tell you about the olden days.  Sometimes there are valuable lessons contained in those stories and they are worth hearing!

Jesus, thank you for children and their excitement and joy.  Holy Spirit, you give wisdom to us even when it is difficult.  Give us courage and boldness to continue to do hard things - when it is the right thing to do.  Thank you Jesus for helping us preserve memories and pass on stories and lessons from the past.  Give us all hearts that are open to hear wisdom from others.   Amen

January/February Birthday Celebrations

Our family has two birthdays that seem to rapidly follow Christmas.  Before we turn around, it is Anna's birthday at the end of January.  And then just two days later, Grace has a birthday!  This makes for a few busy weeks with parties and presents and fun happening.  This year Anna turned ten.  I just don't know how that happened!  Suddenly she is "double digits" and on her way to being a teenager.  It also didn't seem possible that Grace was turning seven!  Yet, here we are!  

Anna loves all things "Squishmallow" and had requested this Stich Squishmallow specifically.  So, Grandma obliged!  She is such a creative, artistic and kind girl.  The best part of spending time with her is watching her practice her dances for the Spring Recital.  It is amazing how much confidence she is gaining as she works hard to learn, perfect and perform difficult dances.  She loves playing games and one of her current favorites is Guess Who.  She always manages to win, no matter how hard I try.  

Grace's birthday was next.  I just love spending a few special moments with each child, apart from their actual party.  I always feel as if special memories are being made during these celebrations.

Grace is such an amazing first grader.  She loves reading and I found a really interesting book series about campers in National Parks.  This is right up her alley as she has visited a large number of parks already in her 7 years!  She has such a sweet personality and has made so many friends in school.  This is her second year as a Daisy Scout and she has earned lots of patches for her vest.  Grace is such a good big sister to Jimmy.  Jimmy misses Grace so much when she is at school.  He can't wait to go to the bus stop to pick her up.  

Around the birthday's I always think about how much these girls have changed!  These are a couple of my favorite pictures of Anna and Grace....

This is me with Anna when she was only a few days old.  I love this picture of us!

And this was Grace and me when she was just a few weeks old!  This one I have a magnet on my fridge so I look at it every day!

More than anything else, I have realized the importance of spending time with these precious grandchildren.  In the last few months I have gotten busier with other things and I needed this reminder of just how important it is to really be present for my adult children and their children!  It is one of life's greatest blessings to be included in the growing up years of our grandchildren.  Knowing all about their day to day activities and being able to pray specifically for them is a powerful responsibility.  Thanks to electronic communication, even if you don't live nearby, you can still keep up with them.  Every day is another chance to help them learn and grow in Jesus.  There is really nothing that is more important.  

I recently had the privilege of serving in the nursery at church.  There were two sweet babies that I got to play with and cuddle.  One of them settled down in my lap in the glider and promptly went to sleep.  They just seem to know when a "grandma" is holding them!  What a wonderful way to show the love of Jesus to  the babies, but also to their parents.  If you get a chance to help out a young mom and dad with their baby or toddler, take the time to do it!  You will be blessed in the helping!  

Jesus, thank you for allowing me to be a part of my grandchildren's lives.  Holy Spirit, remind us to find meaningful ways to help those around us.  Give us courage and boldness to reach out and volunteer.  Remind us to pray for all the children - in our neighborhoods, our towns and the world.  Thank you for the joy and love of children.  Amen