Cloudy With A Chance of....

Rain!

 

Another trip to the Napa Valley.

Hoping to get more accomplished on the job this time around.

However, just like in December, we were greeted with some scattered showers again!

 

 

 

Did I write a post about that trip?

My mind draws a blank so I took the time to go back and check it out.

Appears I didn't, sometimes I just can't get everything into a post when they are so far between each other. That should be changing or at the least improving. 

Regardless, it did rain while we were up there the first part of December...

 

Torrential rain to be exact!

 

 

 

 

So much so that the rain halted the work hubby needed to do, so we had to go back up.

 

No argument from me!

 

 

Cloudy With A Chance...

 





SADNESS!

 

 

You see, in December I learned that this wonderful lady I thought had already passed, actually hadn't.

She had been very ill, another stroke. She sent a Christmas card with her new address, but the rains in December kept us from journeying over to find her.

 

We'll surprise her after the first of the year, we told ourselves.

 

As we rang the bell, the big iron gates between us opened, we announce who we are there to see.

The minute the words left my tongue, and I saw the look of the assistant, I knew.

 

We missed seeing her by a week.

It was quick, she had another stroke. Though we all were prepared, it's still hurts!

 

I don't remember a lot after, except that I was in remote control, thankful, received information, you know, the things that are always said at a time like this.

My husband took over for me, allowing me the peace to absorb the loss.

 

Tears after memories, after tears as we drove off.

Driving on through the middle of town.

It was by her spirit we happened to turn onto a street that lead us right past a place

were we had some great memories.

 

There, across the street, in the nursery, a set of wings glistened, and caught our attention.

 

 

 

As we approached, a gentle breeze came over us, allowing this majestic set of angel wings to spiral.

 

Oh, Aggie, thank you.

 

Thank you for sharing your Faith.

Your Love.

For being the best stand in Great Grandparent to our "Grand's"

 

You are with Ed, Mom and Dad, and many other's. You all can continue to watch over this family

you shared so much love with.

You all set such a great examples to so many.  

You all are missed so much here, no more laughs or hugs,

but we will see each other again.

 

 

Cloudy With A Chance of...

 

FAITH!

 

 

 

 

We've been spending a bit a time back where we use to call home.

My home for 38 years before we packed up everything and moved to the desert.

Honestly, I never thought I would ever consider moving back.

Still don't, but this could get us close, without the cost of being in the valley.

If this is going to work, it must be a part-time thing.

A place where my family can congregate for weekends or weeks.

 

A retirement plan?

Adding another journey?

Since I can't yet part with my little oasis in the desert, we would be like, Snowbirds!

 

God has always done some awesome work in our lives

and has presented us with so many opportunities.

We took a leap of FAITH over 20 years ago, and here we are again.

 

Our Journey Through LIFE is just that, a journey!

 

 

 

 

Another Year Over, and A New One Has Begun! (Part 3)

Sorry to take so long to continue from the previous post.

I came down with a cold and boy did it knock me down. Last year I got a flu shot and made it through with flying colors. When the races didn't do them, we meant to go get one but kept putting it off. I will surely be taking care of that here soon since we'll be traveling to New Orleans by train, I don't need to catch something along the way. We'll be receiving our 20-year plaque as owners. So excited!

As the year ended, many emotions were flying about. With the loss of someone so dear, so young, and so quickly, the loss her mom is experiencing, is unimaginable. Just a thought would make the tears flow for her. That would then lead to pray for comfort and strength for her, her family, and for God to embrace us all. It brought back memories of our own losses at the exact time of year.

2003 was our year of healing and growing after 2001-2002 when we lost all 3 parents within 11 months. As novice grandparents, we were catching on to this new role of ours on this journey. I also went through a lot of physical and occupational therapy back then and over the years after, continue relearning what I could, accepting what I couldn’t and getting stronger for the road ahead. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since this journey began. I revisited my very first post from 2007 that briefly outlined parts of this journey and how some prior injuries and new illnesses created some long-term effects. In 2004 we made a BIG choice that many didn’t believe was right nor did they understood why. Looking at where I am now because I made that choice, I praise God daily for this journey. The consequences from that choice were not all bad, in fact, I think some pretty awesome stuff has happened and continues to happen from those choices. With each consequence, we turned a corner to a better life. Oh, yes, there were times I wanted to throw in the towel, but something, that being God’s Love, was more significant than any man-made remedy on earth. I went after QUALITY instead of Quantity, and I think I have received both!

The Journey still moves at God’s pace. My abilities are diminishing and getting harder to cover up. My mind has it’s own reaction to this, and some days I am swimming against the current, while other days I’m flowing with it. I rest, plan, and prepare for all types of adventures, from doctors to travel. Spontaneous activities can cause some unwanted emotional reactions or outburst. Long-Term activities can land me flat for a few days, but in the end, I wouldn’t have wanted it any different, well maybe less drama, but the moments in between the difficulties surpass any discomfort. The memories made outshine the few moments of disruptions.

All is forgiven, all is understood, and the Journey continues on!

What is still consistent, are the some Holiday traditions….

Like building a Gingerbread House and decorating Sugar Cookies at Grandmas. Usually, we get our house from Bountiful Baskets, a food co-op, but this year the sign up-date came and went while we were preoccupied with heavy hearts and family life. So we found a house that was just to decorate (NOT TO EAT – once you’ve had fresh made gingerbread, there is no going back) and of course I made our sugar cookies from scratch.

    

On the even years, the “Grand’s” are with the ex’s and their family. Before we use to create a magical holiday before they went or when they got back. It was crazy fun! But as the “Grand’s” grow up, teaching them to wait for the holiday is more important now than creating the day like we did when they had no idea what day it really was. Christmas with under 5’s are the most magical to me, and when they grow to learn the truth about the Big Guy, and the reason for the season, other traditions begin as well. Church on Christmas Eve. Keeping secrets. Help in wrapping. To Christmas shopping and decorating. The list has endless of possibilities. Having 4 and a half in this age bracket, teaching allows them to set an example for the younger “Grand’s” which then gives them the feeling like they are a part of this journey. How can I not be a happy grandma? Watching these 8 “Grand’s” enjoying life, enjoying the holiday, is just magical.

The photo above was from 2012. Time to get a new one taken, hint, hint! For now a candid collage will have to do. It just amazes me how much each of them has grown. Similar in many ways, yet different in many ways too. Our Journey Through LIFE is so blessed!

The New Year is going to bring so many more memories,  treasuring each and every one of them.

Over the last few years while being tested, poked and pricked, you meet many people you wouldn’t have met if you weren’t going through what you are. Each of them leave something with you and I believe I leave something with them. People who are going through a certain journey see life a whole lot different. You are never who you were in the beginning, and you have changed and grown as the journey needed, into who you are today. How is that not a gift from God? Along this journey pray has been the beginning and the ending to each day, and sometimes numerous times during the day if I need Him, or if someone else needs Him. I love that of Him, anytime, anywhere!

Life is a Journey, Not a Destination! That has become our motto over that couple years! If something is in our way, we’ll either move it or go around it, or just plow right over the top! Nothing is going to stop us now!

Our Journey Through LIFE will grow in a direction this year that God has been preparing us for. I’m excited to see the view along the way. All we can do is enjoy the ride!

May the New Year bring good things to all you who read me. Thanks for taking the time, I’m glad you did.

Really, It’s Already Over! (Part 2)

When it rains, it really poured!

    

Thankful that the storms around here always move by quickly. A sign that even hard times will again be a thing of the past. Sometimes the path has bad weather, but it too shall pass!

October

I LOVE the fall!

The weather is changing.

Crops are being harvested.

Leaves are beginning to fall.

Plus there are “Grand” baseball games to attend!

  

Sometimes it’s even a family thing…

This year, his team won their way into the playoffs as the wild card. And just like the Giants, they brought home the trophy! Our grandson’s first trophy and boy was he excited!

As always October brings our Annual Boo Bash…our 6th Annual be exact. It’s always a lot of fun and the work of putting it together seems trivial when during the festivities the giggles and gratitude make it all worth it! The older “Grand’s” even enjoy helping to set up and create. The girls had fun smashing Oreo's to use as dirt for our pudding cups.  The boy’s seemed to enjoy the building of things. We didn’t have as big a turn out as other years, but it was still a blast.

November

Immediately after the Boo Bash, and I mean like 2 days later, we were packed up and heading to NASCAR with the new trailer.

For almost 10 years, the old lady served us well! 

Our New Journey will make the next 10 just as memorable.

It was so nice to be there early. No stress in trying to park with other’s already in place. It was tight with the old trailer when we arrived later. Not that the hubby couldn’t park it right on the line, it was me. I am so thankful he knows just how to do it! It also gave us time to goof off some before the “Grand’s” arrived.

Of course we need our annual pre-race picture!

Being down on the start-finish line was awesome and the kids had a really good time.

All packed up, ready to head home!

We barely got her unpacked before our world was rocked again with some tragic news.

Yes, last year we had a similar thing happen. This one was even worse. For the next few weeks, who am I kidding, I still grieve and like now, it was and still is minute by minute. One little thought can set off a memory and the tears just flow. It is times like this I miss my mom’s, even after 13 years, it isn’t any easier.

A loss is a loss and to know what the road ahead will be like, for those closest, I can only imagine. However, I am not superwomen and I have my days. If you have been reading me since the beginning, you’ll understand how hard this stuff can be.

With that, I need to do this in 3 parts. I really thought when I began updating I would be able to get past this part. Maybe even leave it out. But then that would be leaving her out, and she is someone who shined bright and had great love to share.

Please, just pray for my family. For their loss of someone so young and that God continues to heal her 3-year-old son. No words will ever fully explain the pain so many are going through. When her celebration of life has been planned, maybe I will share more. Till then, your prayers mean the world to so many!
Tomorrow I will conclude the Holidays on Our Journey Through LIFE!