Another Birthday in the busy month of May... this time Jimmy!

Jimmy's third birthday came rolling in right before Memorial Day.  Susie and Doug decided to have his celebration on the Saturday of that weekend.  It made for a much quieter party since not many people pick the holiday weekend.  But it was fantastic!  The play place was empty except for us and the kids all had so much fun!  There were three different areas of play - a climbing playground, a sports field (complete with all the various balls and fun toys - even a parachute), and then a bounce house section.  The party ended in the party room for pizza and cake!  

The kids had an amazing time - even the big kids!  Anna and Zeke started racing on the sports field and pretty soon Lia and Ellie had joined in!   It was so much fun watching all the kids celebrate Jimmy.  While the day was warm and sunny, Doug and Susie had (smartly) opted for an indoor party, given the weather track record on Memorial Day weekend.  And it was a wise choice.

Sunday brought a steady rain and very cold temperatures.  It could have just as easily happened on Saturday, which made their party location a good decision.  Doug always likes to remember Ken and celebrate his birthday (which was on the 14th) by taking me to Ken's very favorite Barbeque place - Uncle Bubs.  

Ken loved this place so much and I think it was one of the last places we actually ate at after the Covid restrictions started to ease up a bit.  A love of  good barbeque is one of those things that Doug shard with Ken.  I love that we got to combine Jimmy's birthday and Ken's birthday with a trip here.  I love it is almost as much as Ken and Susie also loves it.  What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day.  After our fill (and lots of leftovers) we came back to my house and Jimmy opened his birthday presents from me!  They included his first "transformer" (car into robot) and the airplane Everest from Paw Patrol

This toddler safe transformer is really neat.  It is simple enough that it doesn't break easily, but also is a real transformer.  Jimmy loved it.  When you have a three year old boy, any car, truck, robot, airplane or rocket is a big hit!  

Jimmy is a busy, active, always running three year old.  His imagination is out of this world.  Spending time with him is like watching a series of movies happen and you are sometimes asked to play a part, even though you don't quite understand the plot!  With just a few sticks and a backyard to explore the story line goes from Batman (or Spiderman) out to capture some bad guys (usually one from the Spidey series), to Buzz Lightyear exploring the universe and discovering a robot that is chasing him.   This week the added storyline included a Danny go "Floor is Lava" event that required me to keep my feet off of the ground!   It is so much fun for sure!  This grandma is tired when the day is over!   He helped me clean and organize some of this toys this week.  He loved to sort his cars by size which brought us hours of fun. He is such a loving little guy, who runs to greet me when I arrive. He knows me so well and the first task of the day is helping me make my coffee!   I can't believe he is already three and will soon be starting preschool.  I really don't know where the time goes!

While Jimmy carries Ken's name (James Kenneth Rowley), it is sad that he will never know him.  Grace has lots of memories of Ken and often talks about him.  I can't wait to share memories of Ken with Jimmy as he gets older.  People often ask me if he reminds me of Doug at this age.  Sadly, Doug was so sick at this point that he didn't have the energy to run around.  I do think that if his health would have been different, Doug would have been a lot like Jimmy.  In some ways, I can sure see Doug.  For your viewing pleasure - Doug at three!

He got the "real" bike for his third birthday and the bottom picture was taken at my Dad's funeral.  Doug was just one month over three years old!  So yes, I think you can see the resemblance!  

Most of all, I pray that Jimmy would grow into exactly who Jesus has created him to be!  I believe that his energy and curiosity will help him to explore new things and new ways of doing things in the future.  His determination will help him overcome obstacles and his persistence will keep him from giving up when things are difficult.   The favorite song that he still asks me to sing is what he calls the "whole world" song.  It is the old Sunday School favorite, "He's got the whole world in His hands".  It is my continued prayer that Jimmy would know that God has him in his hand and that Jesus loves him!

Jesus, thank you for little boys and their boundless energy.  Holy Spirit, continue to draw Jimmy into a relationship with Jesus.  Remind us all to continue to pray for the children around us.  Help us to see them through your eyes, Jesus.  Holy Spirit empower us to love and to care for all the children - those we are close to, those who are far away, those who have no one, those who are hungry and those who are sick.  Thank you for your plans and purposes for children!  Amen

Believe it or not.... another birthday (Actually TWO)!

Here we are, only in March and it seems that we have had one birthday after another!  It was Ellie's birthday next.  Fun fact.... Ellie and Doug share a birthday!  Ellie turned 15 this year and Doug turned 42!  How is that even possible?  I was with Ellie a couple days before the "actual" day and I got to see Doug on his actual birthday! 

Ellie has been collecting these specific stuffed animals for a long time.  Here is the Grandma explanation of what they are- there is some YouTube creator that has a show that Ellie watches and somehow these are part of that show???? Anyway, I think this one is named Fred the Plant.  She was happy with it.   Ellie is not very happy being 15.  It means that she will be taking Drivers Ed this summer, and she is a bit anxious about it.  I'm sure when the reality of being able to come and go on her own hits her, she will warm up to the idea of driving.  Her other presents represented Ellie's unique personality and interests including crocheting and painting, and theater.  There was a specific paint brush cleaner that she has had on her "wish lists" for several years that was always out of stock.  Somehow, I managed to snag it and she was especially glad to have it.  I also gifted her some special "character shoes" that are used for play production. It is much harder to figure out what to get kids, once they are teens!

I have especially enjoyed driving Ellie to dance this year since it gives me time alone with her every week.  She has taken a real interest in stage theater, especially musicals.  Currently she has a role in the play "Honk" which will be performed at the end of April.  I heard all about the possible summer production of  "Mean Girls" that Ellie and her friends are all planning to audition for.  Ellie has worked hard this year on her home school material and plans to be done with school in April.  Quite a good accomplishment for her freshman year of high school.  One thing is for certain, she is going to miss Lia when she leaves for college next fall. I am so thankful that I get to spend time with her.  She is an amazing young kid that I'm sure will surprise us all in the years ahead!

I didn't remember to snap a picture of Doug on his birthday, but I did get this photo of the gift bag I found.  It was one of those times that you just can't pass up a perfect gift bag!

It looked like a fishing vest, covered with fishing lures!  It was perfect to hold the book I ordered for him, which was some kind of instructional book about tying flies for fishing.  At any rate, he was delighted with it!  On the weekend following his birthday, I took Doug, Susie, Grace and Jimmy out for a celebration birthday breakfast. Again, I totally forgot to snap any pictures of the event!  (This scrapping grandma is really slipping up!) Afterwards, Susie and Doug trimmed the tree in my front yard.

This nonfruit bearing crabapple tree has really grown in the last few years.  Some of the branches were so low and hanging so far over the driveway that it was a hazard!  Not only did they trim so many branches, they also cut them up and bagged them.  To top it all off, they even took them home to dispose of them! (I have to pay for my yard waste and theirs is free).  It is a wonderful thing to have someone like Susie who knows how to do this!  The tree looks beautiful now, and assuming that we don't have any late winter snow, should soon be in full bloom!

I watched Grace and Jimmy inside while Susie and Doug handled the tree trimming.  We had a week of rain, so it was much too wet for us to be outside.  Afterwards, we had a quick visit.  Jimmy begs to come to my house.  He really hasn't had much time here, so there are lots of things to explore.  As usual, Grace went immediately to my scrap room and found paper, tape, fancy scissors, and markers to make an art project. 

So, here we are in the middle of March.  This year has really gone by quickly.  Easter is so early this year, so I am anticipating a much colder than normal celebration for our family.  I look forward to Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter every year.  But it is hard to feel very "spring like" when it is still March!  

Four years ago our world came to a halt with all the Covid restrictions.  During those days and days of isolation and quarantine, the uncertainties loomed over us.  How long would this last?  How could we keep from getting this terrible sickness?  How could we keep Ken safe from this when he was already so sick?  Would we run out of supplies?  Yes, it was a scary time.  I remember sitting in my scrapbook room, trying to imagine the future.  It seemed an impossible task when surrounded by all the unknowns.  What I have come to realize this year, is every day is actually exactly like those early days back in March of 2020.  In reality, we don't know what tomorrow will bring.  We can not say if any one of our family or friends will fall ill.  We don't know with certainty what the future holds.  But we can know exactly who holds our future.  It is such a comfort to know that Jesus is my provider and my refuge and my strength!  In my daily Bible reading yesterday that seemed to be the theme!  I always find it interesting when the verses I read fit perfectly with what is happening in my day.  As I considered those verses last night, I realized how appropriate they are for today.  Everyone who went through those weeks and months in 2020, feels that stomach clenching fear, thinking about those memories.  But the very good news then and now is that God's got this!  So, I will end with these verses from Psalm 46:1-3,7....

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Jesus, thank you for birthdays and time to celebrate together.  Holy Spirit, remind us during those times of worry and fretting that You are always with us.  Give us courage and boldness to remain calm when tings are shaking around us.  Thank you for providing helpers around us when we need them.  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

May birthdays, Dance Recital and more!

 Trying to capture events that happened weeks ago is hard1  I am learning that I need to stop and make the time to put these words on the page - when they are happening.  For now, I am catching up! 

Zeke turned 12 on May 15.  That seems so hard to imagine.  Especially difficult for me since I had no idea what I got him for his present!  There was some computer "things" that he really needed since he is currently "building" a PC to use for gaming.  I simply ordered what I was told to get (Thank goodness for online ordering!  You don't have to go into a store and look foolish trying to get the correct items!)  I didn't even have to wrap these since I had them delivered right to Gwen's house!  Zeke asked me to please bring him "Chinese Chicken Nuggets" for his birthday.  This is actually just Sweet and Sour Chicken from our favorite, hometown Chinese place that is also Gwen's favorite!  I was happy to bring him this special treat.

Between Zeke's Birthday and Jimmy's birthday was the jam-packed Dance Recital weekend.  Anna only danced on Sunday so Susie decided to bring Grace that day. Lia and Ellie danced at all three recitals.  I always try to imagine the hours and hours of practice that these kids do in order to perform this long recital.  

This was Lia's 14th Dance Recital.  It hard not to get misty eyed thinking about the years that she has worked to get to this point.  It was Ellie's 9th recital and Anna's 6th recital.  Anna decided to dance in the special dance troupe "Spotlight" next year so that she could finally get to dance with Lia for one year!  Ellie has been dancing with Lia in Spotlight for a couple of years.  I love to see the commitment and patience and endurance these girls have shown off at the end of the year recital. 

Jimmy's birthday was next.  These two years have flown by.  Every week he has some new skill or new words or new activity.  They had a Dino themed party for him at a little play place that was perfect for two year olds.  He ran and played and just had a wonderful time being the center of it all.  

Lia turned 17 the next day.  It is hard to even write that number!  It makes me feel so old!  Given the busy life of a 17 year old (and Memorial Day Weekend) we settled for a lunch after church at Portillos to celebrate!  

Her gifts included a special backpack that she wanted for college -  yep - college.  She has already been taking some classes on line, but next fall she will be going in person.  Again, just where did the time go?  She also wanted these cute shorts and hoodie and modeled them for me!  That's one proud daddy for sure!

On June 2nd, Gwen and Tim celebrated 22 years of marriage!  Again - How did that happen?  So Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna came to my house tor the day/night/day so that Gwen and Tim could actually have some time to celebrate.  They opted to stay home, but went out to dinner and then also kayaked on their lake and went for a run together.  Hopefully soon, they will plan a better trip away to celebrate their anniversary!  Needless to say, the kids and I had a great time.  Lia actually drove them to my house.  That's a first!  We went out to dinner and played mini golf.  There was a zipline in the park near the mini golf and the kids had a great time pushing each other!  The next morning we went out to breakfast and followed that up with a trip to Target!  

It was a busy 24 hours  - but so much fun.  I can't think of a better way to spend a couple of days.  

These blogs are really like my journals.  They help me keep track of everything that goes on in my life.  So doing these catch up blogs may seem silly, but I love seeing pictures that help me remember exactly where the time went!  And seeing Jimmy at 2 years old and Lia at 17 years old on the same page kind of takes my breath away.  I cherish every picture of all of the grandkids together. It won't be long before it doesn't happen very often.  Yes, time marches on.  

Somewhere in this busy time frame, I passed by Ken's and my wedding anniversary.  May 18th was our 49th anniversary.  Next year would be 50.  I remember having so many conversations with Ken about this milestone and we really thought we would get to celebrate that one together.  Yet, here it is three years that he has been gone.  These many events/pictures just remind me that we should never miss an opportunity to be with family and to celebrate even the small things.  I am so incredibly grateful that I am able to be with each of my grandkids every week.  It is a privilege to watch them grow and change.  I can imagine how much more of an impact these birthdays would have for me, if I didn't see the kids all the time. Its all about having a relationship with them.

I have several friends that I have lost contact with over the last few years.  I have been trying to reconnect with them, but schedules and illnesses and just general tasks have seemed to get in the way.  I have been considering just how hard it is to maintain a relationship when you don't have contact with someone.  This is a lesson that keeps coming back to me whenever I start to feel distant from Jesus and wonder if he is with me at all.  And don't we all have times when that is the case?  Often it is because I have fallen away from Bible study, gathering with other believers or even just listening to worship music.  I haven't given up on getting together with these friends and will continue to try to make contact happen.  And I know that getting back to that place of closeness with Jesus is a journal entry, a worship song or picking up my Bible time away.  As I have been playing catch up with these blogs, it has been a good reminder for me about what is important! 

Jesus, thank you for children and grandchildren and families.  Holy Spirit remind us of all those who may not be related to us by blood but are still like "family" to us - the neighbors, the friends, the co-workers, the people that we see every week.   Help us to make time for relationships that really matter. Holy Spirit, give us courage to let go of those relationships that are not important and remind us all to draw closer to you.  Give us patience with ourselves when we fail to put you first Jesus.  Give us grace to start again and determination to continue to learn and grow.  Amen