"You're Not Getting Older..."

"...You're Getting BETTER!"
At least that is what the commercial in the 70's used to say. Yea, right!! I don't know about you, but I don't think I'm getting "better", at least not physically or mentally. Perhaps spiritually, because by the time my birthday rolls around I am one year closer to being with my Lord! The last time I wrote in my blog on August 19th, 2010, I was 49. Well, just one day shy of 50. And now I'm 50 PLUS! My guys used to say, "What the blazes???" I'm constantly amazed at how the days turn to weeks, the weeks to months, and well, you know the rest. It seems I just start consistently writing the RIGHT year on my checks and then it changes on me.

Well...it's time to start writing again.
I have no idea what I'm going to write about, so I'll start with the most current and work my way backwards at some point. So, currently I am eating a large arugula salad, with a whole chopped tomato, half a cucumber, gorgonzola cheese and light Italian dressing. I'm enjoying a small glass of Moscota (mmmm....)and enjoying the singing of Paul Potts. I have a special velcro arm band around my left elbow (tendonitis) and a custom, padded cushion on the ball of my left foot (morton's neuroma). At least I balance myself out. I've cheated on my "weight watcher" points today. (Did you know that a Pot Pie is 11 W.W. points? Whoa!) I have successfully avoided my laundry for about ten days now. I started reading "The Vow" - just for me! John and Michele treated us to the movie this week, and I'm already convinced the book is far superior to the screen version. My 72 year old Mom, brother, sister-in-law and niece are in Hawaii this week and I'm so happy for them! Someday I'll go. Dan wanted to take me a few years ago, but I'm afraid of flying over large bodies of water. I've decided I need to get over that. Today I've been thinking about making a photobook from last weekend, when Randy and Amanda came for a visit. It was so much fun! We had brunch here for 22 people. Our extended family, which I absolutely adore, is really loud and we eat a tremendous amount of food. I'm so relieved that my Dad and mother-in-law, Shirley, are doing so much better with their health challenges. I've been spending alot of time in Hebrews lately. My favorite devotional currently is a book Lisa Crouse gave me: "Take My Heart, Oh God". I guess that is enough current stuff on me.

Danielle' just returned from work and put a bunch of coconut oil on her head (helps with the dryness?) and she's foraging for food. (Watch, she'll be making popcorn soon.) Michaela needs picked up from Natalie's pretty soon, so this entry will be short. Seth, Moke and Zac Green are at Snowtrails snowboarding for perhaps their last time this season. I'm predicting that Moke will be grumpy tomorrow. Dan is doing what he has been doing for months...working!!! He is heading out on a trip tomorrow to Indiana. However, we did steal away several hours to walk hand-in-hand around the "Home and Garden Show" today at the Fairgrounds. It was definately a fun, romantic date. We have lots of ideas! (For the house) Oh dear. We've found that generally speaking, we may have the time, but no money. Or the opposite, money but no time. Still, we've completed a lot of remodeling this year and I'm very grateful. I will have to learn how to post a picture on here.

Oh, and Gunner and Quinten are running around here like kitty idiots. We love these crazy cats. I've decided that people that don't like cats obviously never had the good forture to live with a great one, like these two.


The BIG news of the day is that we think that our middle sons will now be referred to as: PFC Micah and PFC Zachery Frederick! The 13th and final week of Marine Boot Camp began at 2 a.m. Thursday morning as they began their march into the infamous 54 hr. grueling "Crucible" If all went well, they were awarded their new title this morning around 9 a.m. How I have missed these guys. Usually I am awake sometime around 3 a.m. praying for them and their platoon, and wondering how their day was. "Was that Drill Instructor nice to them today?" : ) They've sent so many letters that will be treasured by me always.

So much going on with Nathanael and Jen, Caleb and Amy. I could write an entire blog about all the things going on with them, but just for this short blog, I'll say that I'm so incredibly proud of the godly, young couples they have become. It never crossed my mind that I would enjoy my adult children so much. I truly consider them among my closest friends and love them so much. (As I do all my kids...it's so great being a Mom.)

Last but not least, our first grandbaby, Eliana Rose went home to be with Jesus on Nov. 21, 2011. Again, I could fill another entire blog about this tiny, sweet babe that left this earth at the young age of 22 weeks, 2 days in Amy's womb. As Danielle Niemann said of her baby Madeline, "Her life was short, her impact great." I think about her every, single day, and imagine what it will be like when I finally get to meet her in heaven. We've all shed many tears over this little one, but we've learned so much about leaning on the Lord in our times of sadness.

Here are some up-coming Blog titles I plan on writing about:
"Lessons learned from my Grand-daughter"
"My started..but not completed...Bucket List"
"What on earth happened to 2011?"

Until next time...keep your eyes focused on Jesus - THE AUTHOR and perfector of our faith! (The rest of us are just ramblers on blogs. ; )