August 17 KT and a Rainbow!

Saturday:  Have I ever remarked about how nice it is to have Kaity come to my house TWO times every single week? Have I told you about how easy she is to be with? How fun it is to have her here? How "chummy" she is, even with her old grandma? Well--if not, consider it done! 

It's not that we do anything so completely special together ... it's just that Kaity hangs out here, relaxes, plays games on her phone, watches short videos (that she shares with me), we play UNO--which we did this afternoon and Kaity beat me 2 games to my 1 game. We have a lot of fun playing a simple game like UNO. Kaity is competitive, but she isn't a sore loser (she wins more than she loses anyway!). You can play "mean" with her in a game of UNO without being accused that you are MEAN--you are just playing the game to win it! 

We drove over to Altitude and arrived at about 6:30. I even brought a pair of Altitude socks so that I could "test" out the trampolines a little bit, if I was brave enough, that is. Kaity urged me on a bit, and this is actually ALL I did: I "bounced" on the firmer trampolines (I hardly left the ground)--so I would bounce three times, and then come to a stop. Kaity approved it and urged me to try a few more things. I actually DID jump a few times, but never more than 2 in succession. Kaity's favorite trampolines are the yellow ones--there are four of them in a corner area surrounded by ledges. These trampolines are much bouncier than the harder ones, so I had to be real careful. I sat on them for awhile and bounced while sitting--just to see how difficult it is to actually get OFF the ground while seated--it's difficult!!! I never did succeed. I just "worked out" a bit and tried to get used to the different "feel" of each trampoline. Kaity mocked me a little bit, but she did okay--she was watching out for me, and I didn't want to give her any cause for worry.

While driving Kaity back over to Jesse's, Kaity pointed out a rainbow--big and bright and beautiful. We were driving on Lamoreaux at the time and trees kept blocking it from our view. After I dropped Kaity off, I prayed that the rainbow would stay visible until I got to a more scenic place where I could take a decent picture of it.

I knew if I could just make it to Northland and Cannonsburg, I'd have a good chance to see it ...

The clouds were AMAZING too ... look at this sight!!! 

Thank you, Lord, for sharing a rainbow with me. I am always reminded of Your faithfulness, Your promises, Your oath that binds You to never again destroy the earth by water. 

I was trying to find the best Biblical passage EVER to put on this photo--and the ones in Genesis ARE very nice; but I've just finished reading the book of Ezekiel. He describes a vision where he saw something that looked like a throne made of blue sapphire and high above this throne was a "figure whose appearance was like that of a man. From his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, LIKE A RAINBOW, shining through the clouds. This was the way the glory of the LORD appeared to me. When I saw it, I fell face down in the dust, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me." (Ezekiel 1.26-28 NLT). In the book of Revelation, I've also read about a rainbow that surrounds God's throne--I can't wait to see it some day! 

August 16 EMMA

Friday:  It's Emma's 22nd birthday today! Seems so entirely NOT like it should be ... perhaps she is still just 10? But no, she is really 22 today. I got to see her this evening over at a birthday party for Kaity's friend, Kenzie (who is 13 today). I made Emma's card a few days ago and wrapped her presents yesterday so that they would be all ready to give to her.

This is a very recent picture of Emma and Koda -- they just celebrated their one-year anniversary on July 3. Doesn't Koda have such a nice smile? 

I don't see much of Emma nowadays. She is all grown up and on her own now. I miss her a lot, but this is how it is and I know the Lord is watching over her because I've ask Him to do that. I also ask Him to remind her of His Word and His ways ... and to give her a sound mind and help her walk in His Truth. 

Here is the card I made for her this year. I didn't have any "recent" pictures of her (the one above I "stole" from her mom's FB page), so I made her card from a place she and I visited six years ago when we were celebrating a long weekend together for her 16th birthday. We actually went to Mackinac Island, spent the night in Mackinac City, drove across the Mighty Mac (!!) and upwards to Tahquamenon Falls and then up to White Fish Pointe where the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in 1975. It was such a fun time with her.

I went onto Amazon's Wishlist for Emma and was able to pick out a few items she had listed--so at least I know what I ended up purchasing she will like! I gave her the wrapped up box and her card last night at Kenzie's party--out in the parking lot where our cars were parked. Emma and Koda were meeting friends for her birthday celebration, so she asked if she could open the box later on at her house--she said she would video it and send it to me ... and she DID! It was so nice to watch you open your gifts and card, Emma--thanks so much.

August 15 with KT

Thursday:  It was nearly 4:00 before I picked KT up from her dad today. Evidently the meds I am on cause a lot of extra sleepiness. Anyway, I felt a definite and strong urge to take a nap right around 2:30 today--and I'm glad I did because I felt so much better afterward.

Jesse has now been named the acting coordinator of the Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Grand Rapids. He was telling me all about it and showing me the fliers that have been printed for the occasion. Good work, Jesse!

Kaity and I drove over to Meijer on the way to my house because both of us needed to buy gifts for the birthday party tomorrow night--Kenzie turns 13! The very same day Emma turns 22!!! It wasn't too difficult to pick out a few gifts for Kenzie, and Kaity even picked up a gift for Emma while we were at it.

We ate our usual hotdog meal at my house and today we did not play a single game of UNO. We DID got to Altitude, though, a little earlier than usual.

For some reason, the last few weeks we've been at Altitude, I've had an almost overwhelming desire to JUMP on the trampolines! I used to jump when I was in high school (gym class only), and they taught us good technique, etc. I remember how fun it felt to be flying high in the air! I watch these kids having a blast every single week! I feel left out! So, I got to thinking ... what if I asked my doctor when I see him in mid-September if it would be okay for me to get a membership at Altitude and just jump little jumps? It's not like I want to jump over the moon or anything. I just want to be able to do controlled jumps. Wouldn't it be good exercise for me? 

I never should have said a word to Kaity about this--but I did--and she went into hysterics--laughing so hilariously that I could not help but completely crack up. She was in absolute MOCKING mode, told me I would wound myself irreparably, LOOK like a complete idiot, with tragical results. I persisted in stating that I was "going to learn to jump" and join right in with her some week when she least expects it! That statement set her off once again to hysterical laughing--me too--several people were kind of watching us and began to laugh too (probably because they were enjoying our cackles). 

I told you all of this just to say: It sure was a lovely thing to crack up with Kaity tonight. I love her to pieces.

August 14 These Four Kiddos

Wednesday:  I picked the grands up from Kelly today (over at her office) shortly after noon and we drove right over to my place to play. I had missed the prior two Wednesdays due to being too sick to function. I am so thankful to be better enough to at least do the minimal stuff that life requires.

I didn't take many pictures today because we were just too busy for me to think of that. Aidan requested that I get out my "space" LEGOs, so I did--and I told him that most of these "space" LEGOs used to belong to his dad! Aidan was very impressed that I still had them! 

The kids all had fun making spaceships--Erin was a little put-out that there were NO female astronauts; but I had forgotten about a special bin of LEGO people that I had high up on a shelf. We didn't find any girl astronauts, but we did find enough girl LEGOs to satisfy little Erin's heart.

These kiddos played a solid hour with these LEGOs--how wonderful! How good for their imaginations and creativity! 

Even little Cal was super into designing his own spaceship--he did a very good job at it too!

It was kind of a warm day inside of my house, so I was glad the kids just sat and played for this long!

 

Brendan did a little bit of building too; but mostly he drew some interesting pictures and checked out a few books. I'm so thankful I have interesting stuff around here for kids to play with.

We had such a nice time today! We did finish watching the "Minion" movie we had started 3 weeks ago; but mostly, we had NO videos or electronics going on at all.

We drove back to their house by about 4:30 and it was decided that since we had done SO well NOT watching videos at my house, that they could watch a 35-minute video about trains and PACO the pig was in the video! They didn't call him PACO, but that's okay--because it was really PACO!

Kelly came home at 5:15 and I left to come back to my house shortly thereafter. I still don't have a very high energy level; so I came home, cleaned up the house and went to bed early--but it sure was nice to see the kiddos once again and be able to have them over. Thank you, Lord.

August 12 TREASURE

Monday:  I had the nicest kind of surprise once again (!!) this morning when I received a text from Chris wondering if it would be OK for him to stop by sometime today since he is leaving town tomorrow to return to college.  

"Yes! I WOULD BE DELIGHTED!!!"

It's difficult to describe this to anyone who is NOT a grandma or grandparent ... but no matter how many years go by, no matter how "grown up" grandchildren become, no matter if you only see them a few times each year, there is NO ONE in the world--not one single person--you would rather spend time with than them. To have Chris initiate this without any prompting from me is beyond ... amazing. 

Here's the thing: not all people are alike--not even close--so it's not always easy to "connect" with each and every grandchild in exactly the same way. And the years fly by so quickly--and people change--they DO! 

One of my favorite things about Chris is that he is honest and genuine. He tells me what is going on in his head, and I really appreciate that. He is also quite a confident person and has always demonstrated a strong personality ... AND he generally likes people -- not all of them -- but he is pretty good about making "allowances" and being decent to people even when they are difficult to be with. 

There is no putting into words what it means that Chris took the time to drive out here today, on his last day in town for awhile, just to "catch up" with me. What a gift this was to me--better than anything else!

Some favorite pictures of Chris from long ago ... I love these photos so much.

This is a more recent picture of Chris, from about a year ago. I totally MEANT to take a picture of him today when he was sitting at my table eating watermelon and fruit dip ... but I didn't! I completely forgot because I was listening to all of the interesting things going on in his life. I learned stuff about you, today, Chris! I like it when that happens. 

This last picture is from last Christmas when all of the kiddos came over to have a game/gift night--that is a nice memory too. 

I double-checked what Chris's major is--let me see if I can get this correct: hmmm ... not physical therapy, but ... something to do with physical training, athletic training--I'm close, but I can't think of the exact word for it. It sounds like this year will be one of the most challenging academically. Football training is intense and pretty much year-round. He has done a good job with all of this and I am very proud of him.

I will continue to pray for this my oldest grandson (he will be 21 in November!). When "home" here in Grand Rapids, he and Ella attend a Bible-teaching/believing church in Rockford (CityChurch) regularly. I see Chris growing in his faith and trust in the Lord and it brings me the most joy of anything else. Because nothing else truly matters. We only live one time: 30, 40, 70 ... even 80 years ... and then if we belong to Jesus, have made Him Lord and Savior of our heart and lives, then ... forever begins ... living in a NEW world that God is preparing for us to enjoy. 

Please continue to teach Chris Your ways, Lord. Give Chris a heart to know You and follow You no matter what. Surround him with Christians who will enrich his walk with You and encourage his growth in Your grace.

August 10 with KT

Saturday:  I picked Kaity up from her mom today at 3:30. We had to do an errand over at Menard's to replace my piano light on the way to my house. We did that without any problems whatsoever--AND I managed NOT to lock my keys in the car this time.

I am still not 100% health-wise, so we didn't have any big plans today. I showed her ALL of the 100+ pictures from Deer Park that I had edited with my computer photo program. She liked them very much!

We did play a couple games of UNO, both of which Kaity won. We ate a decent dinner and had such a nice time talking and laughing together.

We left my house a little earlier than usual to jump at Altitude tonight. None of Kaity's chums were there, but she showed me a few new "tricks" she has been working on. Kaity has a lot of athletic ability born right into her skin. I love watching her be physically strong--because God made her that way--and she seems happiest when she is active like this.

We didn't really meet any new friends tonight; but I got a small kick-in-the-rear from the Lord. You see, I noticed a girl who was sitting down by the big trampolines (her back was to me, so I had no idea how old she was)--she had a Barbie doll with her and she was pretending that Barbie was jumping up and down on the trampoline, doing flips, etc. This girl was super INTO it. It was very odd to watch, and for some reason it struck me funny. I caught Kaity's "eye" across the room and nodded in the direction of the girl pretending with her Barbie, and then Kaity and I both cracked up. I am pretty sure no one saw us cracking up ... but then it happened. The girl with the Barbie (whose name we found out is EVA) stood up and turned around. When she did that, I could easily see that she was at least 13, was taller than Kaity and was mentally deficient--you could see it by the expression on her face. And I had LAUGHED at her! YOW. I sure felt ashamed of myself and I called Kaity over to try to explain. I'm not quite sure Kaity understood the gravity of laughing at a mentally deficient person, so I tried to explain. Anyway, when our time was up at Altitude, we ended up leaving at about the same time as Eva and her mother. I did quietly tell her mom that she had a beautiful daughter--which somehow made me feel better about myself. But she truly WAS beautiful when I understood that her mind was not "normal" and that she was just a little child inside.

August 8 DTJ Part Four

[CONTINUED]:

This will be the last posting of our few hours at Deer Tracks Junction ... I don't have that many more pictures to show you; but they are GOOD ones of Kaity and Gabe with the Budgies ...

I purchased 3 feed sticks for us to use inside the pavilion. Gabe was definitely NOT a fan of having birds land on him--he did okay if there was ONE bird at a time; but they are rather excited little creatures and tend to FLOCK on people without much warning.

Gabe did a real nice job remaining steady, though--look at Kaity's tongue (below)!

Gabe lasted about five minutes before he gently put his feeding stick DOWN on the ground where the birds could attack it without landing on him ... at one point, I picked it back up and put it in his hand again--but that was before I realized he was getting a little creeped out by the birds. When he put the stick down the second time, it finally registered in my brain that he did it FOR A REASON (duh!).

Kaity and I love these birds. I do believe Kaity would take every one of them home with her if she were permitted to do so! She especially favors the pretty blue and white ones.

Aren't they beautiful? Kaity too!

I actually had a cockatoo land on my stick--a beautiful light grey with yellow markings. I wanted a picture of it so badly, but I couldn't operate my camera and kiss it at the same time--so while I had the chance, I took the opportunity to kiss it all I could! The cockatoo gave me a few "how dare you?!?!?!" stares, but as soon as he put his head down to eat more seeds from my stick, I stole another kiss. His feathers were SO soft!

After the birds, we wandered past the tortoises ... aren't they pretty? Look at how cool the design on their shells is! Only God can be awesome enough to create such beauty and detail!

We spent a very little time here with the little goats, fed them all, Kaity declaring she "WANTED ONE!!!". She thankfully missed reading the sign stating that the baby goats were for sale! Gabe wasn't too sure about the goat thing ...

The two of them climbed around on this playground for awhile ...

... and then we walked back to the little pig place with another playground and tractors too ...

We received a text from Jesse that he'd gotten word from Gabe's dad that he needed to be HOME by 6:00! We looked at our watches and it was nearly 5:00 already! We had to walk back through the gift shop to exit the park, so Kaity and Gabe played in the JAIL while I checked out prices of puzzles at the gift shop (WAY overpriced, so I did NOT purchase!) ...

This was when Gabe scraped just below his knee on one of the jail bars--to the point where it was bleeding!

We refilled out water bottles--the people at the counter just took our empty bottles and filled them up without $$ charge--how kind of them. We used some of the water to cleanse Gabe's wound, and then I was thankful to find some medicated ointment and bandage in the First Aid box in my car--which we applied to Gabe's leg. 

Our ride back to Jesse's was unremarkable--except, you see, I didn't realize Gabe would have to be home by 6:00 and had planned for us to eat dinner over at my house--that was NOT going to fit into our narrow timetable--so Plan B was implemented. However, I silently talked to the Lord about this quickie Plan B--which was to drive almost to Jesse's, pull in the drive-thru at McD's to get the kids some food, and then still get them to him with 20 minutes left for Jesse to get Gabe back to his house! But what if the drive-thru has a long slow-moving line?! 

I asked the Lord to give me wisdom about what to do: If there WAS a long line at McD's, perhaps I could just give food money to Jesse and hope that he would have better success finding a fast-food place that wasn't crowded ... however, I really didn't want to do that. The kids were hungry now!

As we turned into the parking lot at McDonald's, there was NO LINE AT ALL [at 5:35pm!!!], so we were able to order nuggets, fries and drinks for KT and Gabe and still make it to Jesse by 5:40, with time to get Gabe home at the requested time. It's important when you have a guest (who is a minor), to comply with what their parents have asked you to do! Thank you, Lord, for making it possible for me to still feed the kids and get them to Jesse in a reasonable amount of time.

ALL AND ALL ... this was the best three hours I have lived in over two weeks. Happiness! Joy! Laughter! Photographs! Animals! Friendship! Memories!

We owe it all to you, dear Lord. Thanks for taking such good care of us today.