Midweek Musings

It's Wednesday - the day that many call "hump day" and since it's almost 8 PM I can say that I've made it over half way through the week.

Here are just a few thoughts from the week so far:

• Yesterday was my mom's birthday. If she was still alive she'd have turned 85 yesterday. I can't really say that I wish my mom was still here ... not with all the physical health issues and mental health battles that she had for the last 15 or so years before she went home to be with Jesus. I am happy that she is whole again in the arms of Jesus. But there are times I long for a mom to go shopping with, bake cookies with, talk late into the night, etc. There are questions I want to ask mom about how to grow old, when to let my hair go gray, how to trust Jesus in the next season of my life, etc. My mom was a great mom when she was well. She loved life, she loved to make every occasion a special one. She loved her kids (me and my brother) and her grandkids.
  
• I went for my second motorcycle ride tonight. My first ride was years ago, in north Minneapolis when we were at a party and a friend had his bike there. Craig took me for a ride. Now Craig has his own motorcycle, and we went for a short ride. We have to write it on the calendar - "April 9 - first ride of the season." It was a little cold, but it was a celebration of the fact that winter has (finally) lost its grip on northern Minnesota, and spring isn't too far away.
  
• I have been working at my current job for 21 months now. I know a lot more about it than I did when I started, but still often feel in over my head. The biggest problem is not having the time to really learn things - there are so many deadlines, so many interruptions, so many crises that demand my attention. I rarely have time to celebrate finishing a project. I guess I miss that most from my former job as elementary school secretary. There was a beginning and an end each year - tasks that were only done once a year. All the staff celebrated the beginnings and the ends of each year. But maybe I need to learn from my mom and make my own celebrations?
  
• It's so easy to become a couch potato. I have found that by the time I get home from work, help make supper and clean up, that all I want to do is sit on the couch and read until I doze off, or watch TV, or surf the web. And so the evening melts away and too quickly it's time for bed. I had such plans last fall to do crafts in the evenings, to make things that I could sell this spring. This week I decided that I need to get some fresh air and exercise in the evenings. At least the sun stays in the sky longer now, so I can get outside and take a walk ... and so I have.
  
• Our grandchildren are coming up for a visit this weekend, and I'm so excited to see them. We haven't seen them since Christmas. I always wanted to be the grandma who is at all the ball games, the concerts, going to school to have lunch with my grandkids, being there when needed. And here I am, over 4 hours away! So I will try to make this weekend special... savour every moment with them. I hope it doesn't rain!!
  
• Next week is Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Guatemala. It's a super big holiday in Antigua, Guatemala where my daughter and family live. Last year I was there for Semana Santa. My grandson had just been born and I went down there to help my daughter and her husband for a week. Next week I will be remembering the parades, the flower carpets on the streets, the costumed people, and all the festivities. I will remember our Easter Sunday lunch at a restaurant high on a hill. Somehow I think we're missing something here during this holy week. We treat the week as we do every other one instead of stopping to remember, reflect, and celebrate the fact that we have Easter because our Saviour, Jesus Christ willingly gave His life up on a cross to pay the penalty for your sins and mine, and then He rose again, having victory over death, so that some day you and I (if we believe in Him and make Him Lord of our lives) can go to heaven to live with Him eternally. Will you join me in taking time next week to make it a holy time - a celebration - an offering of thanksgiving to Him?
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Grandbabies are a Gift

Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord"  If children are a gift from God, grandchildren are extra special gifts. it is a blessing from God to see your children's children. (Psalm 128:5-6)

 I am blessed because I have 4 wonderful grandchildren. (There is nothing quite as special as a grandchild.)

These three live about 4 hours from us. We don't get to see them as often as I'd like, but we usually get to enjoy them and love on them for a whole weekend at a time.

 They are coming to our house next weekend and we are so excited. We will play games and make crafts. We will watch movies and play outside (weather permitting). We will shower them with love, and they will love us back. It's going to be grand, having our grandchildren visit.

Our 4th grandchild, the newest grandbaby, lives much farther away... in Guatemala and he's only three weeks old. I have been fortunate enough to have spent the last week with my daughter, my son-in-law, and my newest grandbaby Micah. He can't talk to me - or even really see me yet. But I have been speaking love to him for the last week. I have been cuddling, and rocking, and just watching little Micah. The next time I see him he will have changed so much. He will be able to focus his eyes, and control some of his movements. He will be awake for longer moments and sleeping better too. So this week I am just soaking him in - and loving on him as only a grandma can do. I am amazed at how perfect he is - and I am praising God for another grandson.

The most important thing I can do as a Grandma, however, is to pray for each of my grandchildren. And so I do...
"Father God, thank you for the gift of grandchildren. Thank you for these special little ones you've given to me. Watch over them and protect them. Reveal yourself to them.  I pray that they would know you as their Saviour, would trust you, and serve you all the days of their lives.  Give their mommies and daddies wisdom and patience.  Amen"

Crocheted With Love

I wanted to make something for my new grandbaby that he could have for a long time, something that his momma could tell him was made by his Nana in Minnesota.  So I decided to get out my crochet hook and make a blanket. I had already made him an owl hat... and remembered how much I loved to crochet. I found a pattern online for the blanket. Then I made a visit to the great yarn shop in Outing and found just the right yarn. I finished the blanket just in time to pack it for my trip to Antigua, Guatemala.

Here's the blanket I made.

Micah seems to like his new blanket!

Thank you, Craig, for allowing me to spend most evenings crocheting so that I could finish the blanket.

Friday Photo

Guess where this is.....