What We Are Reading

We have been reading a lot this fall especially since it seems to rain continuously here. We had planned a pumpkin painting with pony rides and animals last Sunday and it rained and rained and we had to cancel. Now we are supposed to have it tomorrow and again - rain is in the forecast. The kids are so hoping the forecast is wrong and so am I. 

I will just mention a few books we have read lately. We read Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John and that is a favorite here. We do tend to read books more than one time. It is the story of a little girl, Elaine, that is sent to the country to live with a family while her mom is traveling.  Elaine is not pleased with the arrangement and does not like the children or the country at first, but she does make some discoveries that help her change her mind. She ends up loving the country and the Owens family and wants to stay there forever. It is a sweet story and every one of us loved it. 

We also read Squanto - Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Bulla. I don't think I need to really give a description of this book but the kids did enjoy reading it. 

We are now reading Haunted House by Peggy Parish. We have just about finished it. We chose this book because it was close to Halloween and the kids thought it sounded like a good Halloween book and because one of my readers suggested this author. I don't think we have actually read any of Peggy Parish's books so I was glad for the suggestion. The kids are really enjoying this book and we will finish it tomorrow. This book is about a supposedly haunted house that the Roberts family just bought and are getting ready to move into. After they move in the kids realize that something weird is going on at the house and they try to figure out what it is and if the house is haunted. 

This next week we will start a new book and I already think I know what we will read - an old friend that we all love. But, I will wait to share as I could change my mind. 

Sunday

I had a long post thought out and a lot to say but it has gotten late and now I am just going to try to get our day documented and some pictures up of what we did. I had promised the kids we would make ice cream so today was the day we did it. We mixed all the ingredients together and heated them on the stove for a few minutes, chilled it and then put it in the ice cream maker on the porch. I guess it took about 35 minutes and then it was done. It turned out great and we all loved it. I think we will make it again next weekend. 

We also made peach cobbler with some of the peaches we just got. We are going to use them in the ice cream next weekend. Anyway, the girls did just about all the work on the cobbler and it turned out great and they loved it. 

Bethany and Tess have really gotten into knitting and I have gotten them yard and needles finally. They are having a lot of fun knitting and talking about all the scarves they will knit this year for Christmas. I'm really happy they are loving this so much. I have always wanted to knit, but never learned - I guess they could teach me now. 

It was also a great day as my daughter brought over my new granddaughter, Kennedy, to visit and we sat on the porch and rocked and talked. It was really nice visiting and I'm hoping we will do more of that this summer. This is actually Abigail holding Kennedy - not her mom. Abigail is getting married in 6 days - Saturday the 27th. 

A New Baby

Our oldest daughter, Meredith, had a beautiful baby girl on Friday - baby Georgia. She was a small one - or at least for our family she seems very small - 5lbs 11oz and 19 inches long. She is also a miracle baby according to all the doctors that saw her because she had a true double knot in her cord. According to them she could have died and it was a good thing our daughter was having some blood pressure issues so they decided they needed to take the baby early. We are just happy that she is here and doing well. Welcome baby Georgia!

What's Going On Here

Things have been pretty slow here since we are home all the time. But, we have managed to stay busy and find things to do and we have been pretty content.

We would have been going to our daughter's graduation this month except, of course, there are no graduation ceremonies going on right now. But, our daughter, Abigail, has worked very hard and graduated from nursing school this month - minus the ceremony. We are very proud of her and a little sad she had to miss out on her graduation as we know she has looked forward to it. But, she graduated summa cum laude and has a job starting in July. We are so proud of her and now we have two nurses in the family. 

I was thinking about doing this post the other day and asked Abigail to send me a few pictures of herself. So, she sent me this. It's her when she was probably 2 - I'm not even sure. And next to her is her nephew, Finn that is almost 2 - we think they look a lot alike. 

This one is of her and Jonathan - they will be married this October. We feel so blessed that Jonathan will be joining our family. 

Most of our time lately has been spent reading aloud and cooking. We read every day several times a day and it has been a very relaxing time. We have also been cooking a lot. Definitely a lot for us. We have tried lots of new recipes and I think we have liked everything we have made. Today we cut up a ton of onions, green, red and jalapeno peppers - new dinner recipe. Tess helped me cut a lot of the peppers as she loves to be in the kitchen. All the kids like to watch though. It was a very pleasant day as we sliced and diced veggies and mixed 6 or 7 different spices and then more veggies while we played music on the record player that Abigail and Katie gave me for Christmas one year. The kids loved it and it was so nice to all be together in the kitchen as it rained and rained outside. 

Not only do we cook inside, but the girls have started cleaning and working in their outdoor kitchen. It was a real mess and a lot of their stuff from last year seemed to be missing. But, they cleaned and swept and rebuilt their oven and got a lot done. Now they need to put up their clothesline and get a few old dish towels from me. They always love doing this every year. 

After they cleaned and raked and got things looking a little better, they did actually play in it for a little while. Sometimes the cleaning and getting it ready can be as much fun as  playing in it later.

I'm glad to see them back in their kitchen working and playing and just having a good time together. 

I would like to end my post with the most important thing going on in our lives right now. Though we have had a lot of quiet and peaceful days here lately, we have also had some sad and hard times. One of our very dearest friends is so very sick right now. He is in ICU on a ventilator in a drug induced coma with COVID19. We pray continually that he will get better soon. Our families have gone to church together more years than I can remember. He is one of the kindest and most thoughtful men we have ever known. We pray and hope you will all join us in praying he will get better soon and go home to his family. 

A New Baby

Yesterday evening our daughter, Katie, had a beautiful baby girl. We are so very happy. It was a little sad as I had wanted to be there with her when she had the baby, but they have new restrictions at the hospital right now and only one person is permitted and no other visitors at all. So, obviously her husband was with her and he is great so it was a good experience for her regardless of the new rules. We got to FaceTime not long after the baby was born, and all the kids were so excited they crowded around to see. It was not the same as being there, but next best. I did feel a little sad that Katie could have no visitors, but these things happen and she really didn't seem to mind much at all. She just took it in stride. 

Katie left the hospital this evening and was glad to go home. We can't wait to see new baby Kennedy in person. 

Finn

Look who came by to see me today - my grandson, Finn. It was so nice to have Meredith and the kids stop by for popsicles and bubbles. I love this time of year. 

Grape Pixy Sticks

I kept Asher - my grandson - on Friday so his mom could take his sister, Reagan, out to get something to eat and go to the bookstore. Reagan had earned her white belt in karate and gotten all As on her report card so it was a special trip with her mom all to herself - except baby Finn. 

Anyway, this was Asher's face 10 seconds after I poured 1/3 of a grape Pixy Stick into his mouth. He obviously loved it and asked me to do it over and over. 

End Of The Year

We ended our year quietly with a small party for my first grandchild - Reagan. Six years ago today I spent the day and night at the hospital with my daughter in labor. It was a beautiful day and my first grandchild was born. I was there to see her born and I was so very thankful. Happy Sixth Birthday, Reagan. 

Not a great picture I got with my phone tonight, but she looks so happy. 

I found myself this evening going back and looking at the pictures I took when she was born and decided to post one of her that I took at the hospital. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 24

Today our special thing was to go to the candlelight service at church. It is a beautiful service and our entire family goes every year -- well, Joey and his family did not. I love sitting in church surrounded by family and singing carols. It was a beautiful evening and I am blessed. 

I took this picture of my grandson, Luke, holding his candle in church - so sweet. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 16

Well, we are over half way there and we have managed to find some small enjoyable thing to do each day. Today was easy - we had our Christmas program at church. The kids really look forward to doing it each year and so do I - until around November when I realize how much work we need and how few kids I have to work with. But, it is always ok, and the kids always enjoy. I want them to have this every year. 

First I have a picture of my youngest grandchild - Jakob. He came to see the program today along with big brother, Luke. 

Baby Jesus was my next youngest grandson - Finn. He did a great job - slept in the manger the entire program. 

The kids did a pretty good job considering how few of them there were and Sarah even sang a solo. She was so happy. That is what I like about a small church - everybody gets a chance. But, I am definitely glad it is over. I usually say about this time of year that I will never do it again. But, I always do. 

Reagan was the Angel of the Lord and is also Finn's big sister.