December 31 Goodbye 2020

Thursday:  I haven't quite wrapped my head around it being the last day of 2020. It's been such a strange year. Kaity and I were talking about it being the last day of the year and she told me she liked 2020 very much! I guess it is reassuring to hear a young child say that--perhaps the realization of the terrible stuff that went on in the world this year didn't quite reach to Kaity's age. Children are pretty resilient ... but still. 

I picked Kaity up from Jesse today at 3:00. She was so excited to show me her "loft" bed! I should have taken a picture of it to post here, but I'll do that yet this week some time. She is so pleased to have a ladder up to her bed and she has it all set with her favorite stuffed animals and everything. Kaity is a very dear little person.

Kaity and I played a few games tonight. We played a round of Headbanz, which is always fun. Matey kept close by as we played. He was trying to get the little minute timer and knock it onto the floor--that was HIS game while we played the REAL game. 

We also played two games of UNO, both of which I won--an unusual occurrence around here! We did a few puzzles together in the playroom. We ate our usual hotdog meal, and for awhile, we sat at my desk playing with Silly Putty while watching "Home Alone" and laughing together.

We had a lot of fun with Matey-Bird tonight too. He is a sweetie. 

SO ... 2020 is over. One year ago ... I never would have come close to conjuring up a year like this one was. I was somewhat prepared for the political upheaval being that it was an election year--but I hadn't any idea it would be THIS ... dark ... politically. And COVID knocked everyone off their feet on so many levels. I truly don't know who to believe about much of it anymore, so I try not to worry and I try to follow the guidelines and use kindness with people who disagree with me or with others ... 

I also did not expect to have surgery this year. I am relieved everything went so well and thankful for good health. I know that can change with my next breath ... as it did for so many this year. 

I'm thankful for what the Lord taught me through Monday Night Bible Study and our time in Daniel during the fall semester. Daniel was so faithful. Also, I've really been challenged by our study in Revelation at Calvary. I'm trying to be more careful, thoughtful at least, about abiding in Christ--not self-satisfied, but seeking to know Him and by known BY Him throughout the hours of my everyday life. This is super hard for me. I tend to just "do Jesus" in the morning during my time of study, which I love very much. But He has invited me into a relationship with Him that is more than that--I want to learn more about what that means--how to stay connected throughout my hours and minutes, seeking His wisdom and His ways, asking Him for His opinions and for help in making decisions, sharing my life with Him in meaningful ways. 

The words to this song by Steve Green have been going through my head this week:

Oh, I want to know You more!

Deep within my soul I want to know You

Oh, I want to know You

To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind

Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me

Cries that say I want to know You

Oh, I want to know You more

This is my prayer this New Year's Eve. 

 

December 29 The last Tuesday of 2020

Tuesday:  As I thought of having the children here today, I wondered just what exactly to get off the shelves for them to play with. I store the garage/car wash way up high on one of the playroom shelves--that way it can't be played with way back there where there is no supervision ... it's a little bit fragile in its structure--if someone inadvertaintly stepped on it or sat on it (Erin), or walked on it (Brendan), it would break into many pieces. I wasn't going to get it down today, but then I remembered how much Aidan loves it. He got his very own car wash (toy) for Christmas--the one made by Melissa and Doug--which is VERY sturdy and portable. I would have ordered that very one--except it was out of stock at the time.

I set it up on my coffee table this morning and affixed it with painters tape, making little roads and avenues for the cars ... plus, the tape extended around to the wicker on the coffee table, keeping the glass top in place. All of the children played throughout the day with this little set-up, so it was well received.

Aidan loves to play back in the playroom by himself. He uses the little Hot Wheels mat to pretend all kinds of scenarios with rescue vehicles, airplanes, race cars, etc.

Matey flew by and landed ON Aidan's back. Erin was so pleased about this! She was using her magnifying glass to take a closer look, but Aidan wiggled Matey off just as quick as a wink.

Erin has a rather BOLD habit of climbing on top of my wooden table to visit with Matey ...

Erin is a born climber--heights do not inhibit her whatsoever. Here she is telling Aidan something--she is quite verbal for her 2.5 years. I love to listen to her talk. She has the cutest little voice.

Aidan has NEVER failed to get the trains out, no matter what else is being played with around here. He is a TRUE train lover to the core.

Aidan is rather bossy about the layout, the engines, the bridges, etc. He doesn't take kindly to anyone messing around with "his" train stuff. I have to keep reminding him that they are "grandma's" and that he can share and that sharing is SO MUCH FUN.

Dear Erin was HUNG-ary and ate some Chocolate Frosted Flakes while watching Aidan add to his layout. Aidan was super glad Erin was out of the way. I tried to entice him to eat some cereal too, but he was not at all interested.

I got out my foam alphabet letters/numbers and put a few by each child's place around the table. Erin received the letter "E" and the #2. I also gave them their alphabet robot to play with while they were waiting for food to be made and served. This was later in the day, and the first time Aidan was at all interested in eating anything.

Aidan had his "A" robot along with his foam "A" and alligator and the #3 to play with.

We played for a very long time with the MagnaTiles this afternoon. Aidan wanted help with his engine and requested that I design a "cow catcher" on his. I asked Brendan several times to clarify what exactly that was. Both boys kept telling me it was just like the one on the Polar Express. FINALLY, Brendan made this triangle contraption and put it on Aidan's engine. Wow. Good job, Brendan. You are an amazing builder! I would never have thought of this in a million. Aidan was very pleased ... except MagnaTiles do not stay together with rough play ... so Aidan had to rebuild his engine about a billion times.

I see that I do not have ANY pictures of Brendan from today. That is regretable! At Brendan's request, we did watch "The Peanuts Movie" this afternoon. It is such a cute story, and all of the kiddos enjoy it so much. I was thankful for the "break" and rounded up loose toys while we watched it together. It was a good day--a lot of activity--and this grandma is one tired lady tonight--it's a GOOD tired, though.

December 27 My heart is full ...

 Saturday Night/Sunday:  I switched Kaity out for Emma at about 7:30 Saturday night. We came here and did our usual--except here is what took place during the day with Emma--she finally MOVED into Jesse's house! YAY! I have to state here and now what an absolute miracle this whole entire "house" thing has been from start to finish. Lord! You have been SO FAITHFUL, so KIND, to answer the prayers of many people who prayed for this very situation and are STILL praying.

For Jesse to be able to rent a house right next door to his dear friend, Scott. For Scott to PURCHASE the home so that could happen ... for Scott's little girls to be BEST friends with Kaity-Girl with whom Kaity can play with by just running next door ... for Scott and Larry renovating a 2-bedroom home into a 3-bedroom home so that there would be a place for Emma to have her own space ... what GIFTS these are!

Saturday night, Emma and I just hang out together. We get in our pj's, eat some snacks, talk a bit, laugh a lot, and settle down to watch a show or two together. We have been watching, "Once Upon a Time" which is an intriguing series--darker than I usually watch, and I have struggled with it ... Does the Lord want us to watch it? So I have been asking Him to show me/us whether or not it is OK. One thing, though, the "good" in the series does triumph over evil. The MAGIC is most often used for evil--not good--it is not looked upon as a good thing ... but magic always bothers me because of what the Bible says about it. Emma has noticed my hesitancy and we have decided to limit ourselves to two episodes at a time ...

Sunday's service at Calvary was a really refreshing one. Pastor Jim gave a "devotional" about kindness and how absent that has been from our 2020 world. He took us to Jesus, naturally, to show how KIND Jesus was when people disagreed, challenged, mocked, and sought to destroy Him. We thought a little bit about the man with the shriveled hand and how GOD healed the man on the Sabbath in front of religious leaders who were challenging Jesus. It was wonderful to watch Jesus in this situation (yes--Pastor Jim teaches SO well that you can almost SEE the story take place) ...

We then had a prolonged New Year's communion service. It was lovely in every way. We sang beautiful songs about what Jesus accomplished for us--He paid it all!

After church, Emma and I went to my place to eat and figure out the rest of our day. I had studied last week and had gotten ready a review from our third message in the Book of Revelation. The Lord helped me review my sermon notes, look up some Scripture passages, and get it typed up to share with Emma. We had a really nice time together talking about the lampstands (menorah) and the vision John saw of Jesus in Revelation 1.9-20. Thanks so much, Lord, for the way Emma participated in this time in Your Word.

THEN, we went shopping for a few items for Emma's room. Since Emma has a good job, she can now buy items for her room that reflect who she is and what she likes! We got a curtain rod at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Their curtains were ridiculously over-priced--PLUS they really didn't have anything Emma liked. We went to Target to look at THEIR curtains, only to find they had ZERO bedroom curtains. Where to go next? Menard's or Meijer? We chose Menard's! We were able to get curtains, a 9-cubby unit, a 3-unit cubby window seat, some small containers to organize the bathroom drawers ... SUCCESS! 

After our shopping was finished, we drove back to my house and ate a nice bowl of Peppermint-stick ice cream (a gift from Jesse--thanks!) and more Christmas cookies while we watched ONE episode of our series. Matey joined us and tried to eat our whipped cream ... we finally turned off the lights and Matey was content to sit on my oval mirror and talk to himself while we watched our show ...

My heart is full tonight as I think back on this happy weekend. Nothing profound took place. We just did life together ... I'm so happy we did!

December 26 The wedding

Saturday:  When I picked Kaity up from Jesse today, she announced: "This is the wedding day, Grandma!" I was completely in the dark as to what she meant, so I of course asked--"Who is getting married, Kaity?"

Kaity rolled her eyes at me and said: "Paco and Lily, Grandma! THIS is their wedding day!" Oh my. Well ... what on earth is a grandma to do with a precious granddaughter who loves to pretend with her dolls? I'll tell you what THIS grandma did ... I staged a wedding as best as I could. Here are the pictures to prove it.

We first needed a place to hold the ceremony. Kaity suggested our lovely coffee-table. I quickly grabbed my Christmas table runner to define the aisle where our bride would walk ...

Kaity gathered "guests" for the wedding. I helped! Afterall, we nearly forgot Cocoa (our cat puppet), who has been best friends with Paco for YEARS.

I grabbed a pipe cleaner and fashioned a quick bow-tie for our groom ...

Kaity announced that Liam would be the "flower boy" but ... where would we find flowers?! Ah! My bin of art stuff in my art cupboard had some very old "sticky" flowers from about 10 years ago that were no longer sticky. I grabbed one of my cute tiny buckets from the playroom and arranged the flowers for Liam to scatter down the aisle.

Here is our barefoot bride, Lily, dressed in her new dress--she is waiting to come down the aisle ... BUT FIRST--the flower boy! This next series of pictures is Kaity trying to get the blasted flowers OUT of the little bucket while holding Liam at the same time ... it was rather reminiscent of how the flower-thing usually works at actual weddings--hilariously! 

Finally, Kaity just turned the bucket over and dumped all the flowers out at once. Look at her dear face--isn't she precious?

Paco is waiting at the front of the aisle for his lovely bride. Matey evidently thinks he is the pastor, with his beak in the Bible ...

"HERE COMES THE BRIDE" ... we even had the music playing on my computer as Lily walked down the aisle ...

We had a little ceremony, promises were made, the wedding kiss happened, and then they were pronounced husband and wife--I couldn't really pronounce them MAN and wife ...

Here is the happy couple (look at Paco's face!!!) ...

Kaity wanted to know what happened after the wedding ... so I told her that people usually hang out together for awhile after the wedding and then the bride and groom go off to their honeymoon. Thankfully, Kaity never requested a wedding cake, although it would have been fun to act that out!

We took Paco and Lily to my room and pronounced my comfy round chair to be the "honeymoon suite." We closed the door and left the couple to themselves. Kaity and I then played a rousing game of UNO, ate a bunch of junk food, played hide 'n seek for awhile ... and then Kaity went back to Jesse!

Christmas Day

Friday:  First of all--HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! I'm so thankful You were born!

I arrived at Dylan and Kelly's this morning at about 11:15. The kiddos were excited to show me the presents they had received. They are SO cute! Erin's favorite was her "spirit fire" reptile from Frozen 2. When it is squeezed, it lights up, makes sounds and actually hobbles along really really cute. Erin is SO delighted with it that every time she squeezes it, she goes off into peels of laughter. 

Look at her happy little face! And look at Brendan's happiness watching Erin's happiness and mine! 

One of the gifts that I brought for Brendan was the second Zelda book. I wrapped it separately and placed it on top of his bigger box of presents. Brendan opened the book and immediately began reading it. He didn't even attempt to open the bigger box! He sat there and read his new book for about 15 minutes (!!) before he could be coaxed onto other things ...

Little Aidan was VERY pleased with his three transformer trucks. Actually, I was very impressed with how they were made--very sturdy and easy to transform--PLUS, when you rev them up, they zoom away! Very cool.

Dylan helped baby Cal open his gifts. THIS picture (below) is very significant to me and here is why: See Callaghan's face? I have an almost identical picture of Dylan when he was this age. I HAVE to find that picture and post them together! I really never saw the resemblence before--although Dylan has said right along that this baby looks like him.

Brendan was finally begged into laying aside his book and opening his bigger box of stuff. Aidan and Erin watched in anticipation ...

Oh! When little Erin opened up her light-up Dinosaur (a pink T-Rex) ... she ran away! "That's too scary, Gwamma!" she said. Aidan opened up his GREEN dinosaur, pressed the "light" button and laid it down. He was entirely UNimpressed. Sigh. 

Shane came over at about 12:30 with perfect gifts (!!) for the kiddos. Erin was very pleased with her "Mama penguin and baby penguin"--look at her happy little face! Aidan received a very cool LEGO set that lets you choose which models to make. After we ate lunch, Shane very kindly assembled the helicopter as well as the airplane for Aidan. I loved watching Shane and Aidan interact. It is apparent that they spend time together and enjoy each other and it warmed my heart very much. Shane got Brendan a very unusual TINY box of cards that I did not at all understand, but which Brendan obviously asked for--I think it might be something to do with Pokemon, but I am not sure. 

This is the "fire" airplane from Aidan's LEGO set ...

The kids received a nice mini-tramp for their basement playroom. Erin demonstrated it for me!

I bought some little doll clothes and some fake food, bottles and other doll things for Erin. Aidan enjoys this kind of play as much as Erin does--so that's good--because they do almost everything together.

Erin eating a Christmas cookie ...

These pictures did not load in order, so I'm struggling a bit with narrating them ...

This is Erin's QP doll. We dressed her in some of the new doll clothes.

Apparently all of the kiddos had matching Christmas jammies ... but Aidan didn't like his and changed into other ones before I arrived. Look how darling little Cal is!

This face! Those blue eyes!

And WHAT did we eat for dinner? 

DELICIOUS and absolutely YUMMY Chinese food! Thank you, Kelly and Dylan! I ate a huge plate-ful of it--I could eat Chinese every single day. ALSO:  I received a very beautiful pair of earrings from Dylan and Kelly. Kelly found them over at her friend's store--Nestology--in Eastown. However, I had so much stuff with me that I forgot and left the earrings in the box near their front door. Pooh. I'll have to get them Tuesday when I pick up the kids.

I went home briefly from about 2:30 to 3:30 to gather dinner stuff together to take over to Jes and Emma. We decided to have a casual Christmas meal and just hang out for awhile together. I had gotten a ham at Meijer--they were practically giving them away--and I brought over a cheesy potato casserole. We still had plenty of Christmas cookies to consume, so we did!

Oh! I forgot to mention that it SNOWED Christmas Eve--YES!! We had a lovely, powdery-white Christmas 2020. I love a white Christmas, don't you?