One of My Favorite Poems

Barter
by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up,
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like the curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Random But Precious Moments for Our Family

The Mystery

I'm reading an interesting book called Castles in the Sand. It's about a woman, a pastor's wife, who finally lets herself be genuine, imperfect, and forgiven. There's a line in the book that I really like and which totally explains how I've felt for years. I've never understood why God loved us so much to send His Son to show us how to live and to die for us. But I have to "accept the mystery...that GOD is real and yet unexplainable." Thank goodness. I don't need to understand everything...what a peace that gives me. I'm so uptight sometimes and feel the need to be as perfect as I can be. But it's just not possible. Do I hear another Thank Goodness? Ha. Like Rose in the cartoon Rose is Rose, I just need a let things be tree. Gotta find me one.

Goin' Through the Motions

I like this song by Matthew West. I consider it in a different manner than perhaps the reason it was written. Christ is my reason for living and I know I couldn't survive without Him. But I tend to be very unobservant and am not sensitive to the needs around me, nor the beauty and blessings that come from the Lord. I pray to become more aware of what the Lord sends into my path and not just "go through the motions" of daily life.


This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Just the Usual

I love these photos of the kid! She is getting such personality. The one with her mommy is pretty appropriate as she is smug about her mom. We are loving getting to know her and just lately has she started trying to roll over, she is laughing loud and long, just a lot of fun when she's not fussing.
We had a little trip to Illinois and St. Louis for Brad to be in his best friend's wedding. That went well except that Erin came home pretty sick with mastitis. She's better now. I was very happy to babysit for them but I was so tired when we got back.
Now, tonight, I am having the solitude that I crave so often...silence. I love it. I'm so sleepy...could sleep for days I feel.
Still praying for my boy...for God to place his feet on the path that the Lord would have him take. I miss him.

May Days

I love this picture of my baby Madison. I'm so enjoying my Fridays off now that the office has our new schedule. Erin and I go shopping at the Avenue and stroll with Maddie in the sunshine. We stop and shop or eat at a little bakery there. I enjoy Erin's company so much and I feel like I'm useful to her when I go over and she gets some extra sleep or does the errands she needs to do while I handle Madison.
We had a nice Mother's Day...I gave her a Willow Tree figurine called "Our Gift" with a daddy, mom, and baby. So pretty. We had lunch at their house with the family, including Stephen.

Springtime

It is beautiful here in the Atlanta suburbs. Easter was lovely with dogwoods, azaleas, and gorgeous lime-green trees. We are having a great time with our granddaughter. I've helped Erin a good bit so she could sleep some. Maddie's a big eater. Little piggy. She's up a lot at night but should slow down soon, I hope.
Our Good Friday program was wonderful even though severe thunderstorm sirens were going off at the end. Stephen didn't come home for Easter. I miss him and I pray for him constantly as he looks for God's will for his life including job, future wife, etc.

SHE'S HERE!!

March 19 was the due date. The little perfectionist came on her due date! Madison Elise Evans weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz and was 19 inches long. That was our first shock...so tiny. We have big babies in our family usually. She has reddish hair and white blonde eyelashes and eyebrows. Will she be our redhead? That would be wonderful.
The story went like this: Erin and Brad ate at Scalini's on Tuesday night...legendary place for making women go into labor. Sure enough she lost the "plug" during the night and water started leaking Wednesday morning. She went to the doctor but tests showed that this was not amniotic fluid. Ugh...we were so frustrated. That evening it happened again so she called and went on to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. This time tests were positive and she was having contractions even (she didn't know about these). They started Erin on Pitocin at midnight and by 3:00 she got an epidural due to them trying to break her water and not being successful...her pain went up then. I wandered into the room around 4:30 a.m and both she and Brad were asleep. At 5:15 I got a call from Brad to get back in there...that it was time! Erin was ready to push. She pushed for 45 minutes and Madison was born at 6:17 a.m....it was an amazing experience watching that baby come out. Erin is my hero. We are so blessed and happy. All are doing well and now John and I are enjoying being grandparents to that little sweetie.

Still Waiting!

Let's just say that I've not gotten a really good night's sleep in a while. I wait for the phone to ring, I pray for them and for Stephen in his travels! WOW! Thanks, Lord, that Stephen is home safely now in Gainesville. He left last Friday for Colorado with Dan Fran and visited Denver, Arches,and Canyonlands, plus other parks and then drove for 38 hours to get home with an occasional stop. He dropped his phone in a hot tub... ha ha and so I couldn't get in touch with him for several days until today. He called and is home. One of his first questions was about Erin...had she had the baby yet. I liked that!
And, no, she hasn't had that reluctant girl yet. She was the same on Wednesday's appointment and so is approaching 40 weeks. She'll go to that visit and they'll decide when to induce if she doesn't go into labor within a few more days. So, hooray, we see the light at the end! Erin's so ready. Gmommy is also. :) I'm praying for safe and healthy times for all.

Getting Close!

I love this picture of my girl. She's a mommy now...and we'll see the real Madison within the next 21 days or so. Erin is now 80 percent effaced and a tad dilated so things are moving along. I pray, Lord, for a safe delivery for Erin and Maddie...just a joyful day (or night) whenever she comes. I feel so blessed. I'm hoping she'll wait maybe 2 or 3 more days since we're supposed to get some snow/wind/rain tomorrow and both her Lito and her other grandmother are laid up with some health problems. Ha. Ah well...it'll happen when the Lord deems it is time. Thank you, Lord.

Answered Prayer

The doctor sent Erin for a sonogram on Wednesday to determine Maddie's position. ALL IS WELL! Hooray. Thank You, Lord. She is head-down and ready for "launch". Ha.
The bumps we feel on Erin's tummy are her rear and one knee. Kind of a weird position but we'll take it. So exciting...just within the next four weeks she'll be here, Lord willing. I'm working ahead at work so that when all of it happens I will be in good shape to take off some days to be with Erin at the hospital and at home. FUN stuff. :)

Transverse Lie

Interesting title, right? Well, that's the position of my granddaughter right now at 36 weeks. This is not a good thing. She needs to be head-down. There are things that could happen if she doesn't get moving before her mother goes into labor...so I have prayed this afternoon that God will turn her tonight. I pray He will. He loves Madison more than we ever could so I trust her little body in His hands. I'm amazed at the amount of love that I feel for this person I've never met. God gives us that wonderful capacity to love like that. That's what makes life such a precious thing and such a joy and, of course, can bring such sorrow. And that leads me to the certain knowledge that we will all be together with Him one day and that I should not be afraid.

Baby Shower!

Such a nice day today with family...all the aunts and cousins came out from near and far. Erin received so many beautiful clothes for Madison and a variety of other things. She has 6 weeks to go...can't wait to meet that sweet girl.
I have learned to appreciate in my "old age" the role families play as we all get older and have our children, grandchildren, etc. We may not see each other much but we make the effort for the weddings, baby showers, etc. It means a lot and makes me more aware of how important it is to go to these special events. It's worth it!

51

On January 14, I "ticked over" to 51. Well, nothing is like turning 50 so this was a piece of cake. There will be quite a few changes this year for me. Kinda cool to have a January birthday. I can reflect on the calendar year ahead as well as my own personal year ahead. I'm a grandmother this year...about 8 weeks from now I'll meet that sweetie in person. Stephen is going through quite a bit and I can't wait to see what the Lord has for him. He's finally dating someone (Rachel) and I'm so pleased for him. We'll see what the Lord has in store for all my family and extended family. I pray that health will be good, safety for all, spiritual growth abounding, and that close family fun and fellowhip will continue. Lord willing, we plan to go to Siesta Key this July all together. I pray a blessing on that week. The Lord has blessed me so much through my parents. They have honored Him throughout their lives and I'm reaping the benefits as the blessings are passed down through the generations. I pray that I may cause my own grandchildren to be blessed also. I pray that I'll stay strong in what's ahead for me...trials, bad health, etc. I get nervous but I know that God is with me and nothing can touch me that He doesn't allow. It goes through His hands first. So let's see how 2009 goes.

Such a Mix of Feelings

Yes, these are my precious folk taken on Christmas Day. I love them so much and yet get so frustrated. They are young adults...those are two key words: "young" and "adults". So how far can I go in advising, etc? My son has brought me much joy in the past and some questions lately. I pray for him the right friends who will keep him accountable and close to the Lord. I pray for his future wife...that the Lord will bring her soon and that she'll be a wonderful, strong Christian. I pray for him the job he needs to find himself and what he wants to do.
Whew! For my daughter and son-in-law I pray patience and love for each other, especially as Madison makes her appearance very soon. I pray for good health for Madison and Erin and a safe delivery. Then I pray for sensitivity on Brad's part as he helps her daily and that he will be a godly father to my granddaughter. I am so blessed. So here we go, 2009!

FUN!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Madison in 3-D

Erin and Brad had a 3D ultrasound done a week ago. So cute. You can really see her nose, mouth, facial features even though she wouldn't move that little arm down from her face. It was fun and things seem good and she IS a girl. Waiting to see if the decision is Madison Elise, or Madison Nicole, or Madison Faith.
Meanwhile, things have been crazy busy with Christmas parties nightly and trying to do 3 weeks of work in one. Looking forward to Christmas with the family and I hope we'll get some good talking time with Stephen and that he'll be very open with us.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Today we celebrate 29 years of marriage! Seems like quite an accomplishment. Ha. Next year we plan to do something really special, Lord willing. Tonight we went to The Cheesecake Factory. That was it although John did bring me some roses. So sweet.
In other news, Stephen now lives in Gainesville at Jake Webster's house (basement apartment). He is looking for a job. I pray for him pretty constantly.
Erin had her 3rd glucose screening today. She managed to hold it down. We should find out soon if she has gestational diabetes. We pray not. Meanwhile she's in her 26th week now!

Stephen

I love my son and I pray for him in this latest change. He's been in graduate school for physical therapy for 18 months. He has now withdrawn from school saying "I don't know what I want to do but I know what I don't want to do" and that's this career. So he has started the ball rolling on all this and has plans to move to Gainesville to live with some friends from UGA and see what happens from there. I pray for God's direction and that he'll seek it seriously and listen carefully. I'm sad but yet I am also proud of him...that he had the courage to stop and turn around. It would have been easier for him to stay with it I think. So, here we go again. We're having a lot of changes lately. Thank You, Lord, for being the constant in my life.

Madison Evans

Such a cute little profile! What a wonderful 10 minutes today as we watched the ultrasound and found out that a granddaughter is coming in March! Ginger came also and we crowded in the room and watched. As soon as Erin saw that little face she started crying. Brad was very quiet...very unusual for him :) Ha. We feel so blessed. All is well with the baby so far. The measurements of the femur, head, and abdomen show that she is due anywhere from March 16-20. Erin gained 4 pounds in 3 weeks and is feeling wonderful. We pray, Lord, for continued good health for mom and baby Madison.

Peace for a while

Ha Ha...what a picture. But, seriously, we had such a nice time with Stephen this weekend. He turned 24 last Thursday so we went Saturday to visit him. Gave him a GPS but I bet he puts that up for sale...didn't seem all that interested in it. We visited Tybee with him..that was beautiful. Got back last night and I have to admit it was a nice break from work and church. We went to church with him but it was nice to be anonymous.
I'm feeling well except a TB cough. John's having some of his usual problems. Erin is 15 weeks pregnant now and feeling okay. They got a 2005 Honda Pilot today...I'm proud for them! Mom and Dad are in Charleston on a little break.
All seems to be calm at least personally. Out and about there are gas shortages, long lines, panic-buying, financial crisis in the country, and the possibility of getting someone named Obama as our president. Ugh.
Fall is here and it's beautiful...leaves are beginning to turn. So I'll just concentrate on God's beauty during all this hoo-ra. I love You, Lord. Thanks for the mountains and the valleys.

Relief!

Today I feel almost normal. Amazing because it's been so long since I've felt well. Thank You, Lord! I am still experiencing nerve pain throughout my face and sore gums but it comes and goes. Poco a poco.
Evan has his GED now. Another big praise and a relief to his folks!
Erin has gained one pound and is 13 weeks pregnant. Heartrate of Jake or Maddy is 150bpm. That's good.
Mom turned 71 yesterday...we will celebrate tomorrow at Longhorn and also maybe celebrate Evan's accomplishment.
John's not been too well this week but hopefully that will be resolved soon.
Life is never dull and I do NOT take for granted feeling well and having little and big blessings both! Again, thank You, Lord! I love YOU.

Hopefully Moving On

Ended up going to the endodontist and finished up root canal "therapy" today. Ow! Ow! Ow! The procedure itself is not painful after the 6 shots I got...just the aftermath. My whole face hurt, headache, gums, etc. Horrible. I'm feeling a little more human tonight after taking 9 Advil since 10:30 this morning.
Better news...Dad did great in the heart cath situation. No problems whatsoever. All is well, thank the Lord.
Stephen got the Applebee's job...waiting to talk to him.
Erin is now 12 weeks. Going to the doc next week.
I pray next week is a normal productive week for me with no leaving to go to a dentist or doctor.
Lord, I know you work all things together for my good.

Time is Passing Slowly in Pain...ouch!

Well, here it is 2 weeks later and I'm still on ibuprofen and tylenol. HA. I finally got the permanent crown on but am still hurting so much. Yesterday I was pretty much in tears after the procedure. I feel like every nerve in my face is screaming at me. I'm praying that all this will pass as things settle down. In other news, Stephen's car died on him and we'll pay 340 dollars to get it fixed. Thank You, Lord, that he was near the school when it conked out. He is also going to get his thumb looked at tomorrow and he actually has a job interview at Applebee's for a server position. I'm so glad about that...will help us out and him, too. Erin is still doing well...11 weeks pregnant now. She's very tired already of her job of nannying a 9 month old. She's going to have to stick with it until December. Dad is going to have a heart cath next Tuesday. I pray for protection for him, Lord. So, anyway, life is not exactly dull right now. Oh, for some good health and dullness. But, as always, thank You for Your many blessings, Lord. I'm thankful for all.