Blessings in 2013

It's October 2013 and so many amazing things have happened!  However, first and foremost is to welcome Wyatt Ethan Grandy to the world!  Our 4th grandchild is a handsome and happy little guy.  We feel humbled to be so abundantly blessed.  Thank you Lord for these most precious of gifts.

We also enjoyed a great trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia with our family.  Hoping that this code works properly for the photo album!  Here it goes...

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So Much New!

How amazing to revisit posts from over a year ago!  Some how life and probably Facebook took precedence over blogging.  But it's nice to revisit today.  While anticipating writing again, I need to share two important life events.  After an extended illness, last March 7, 2011 my beloved Mom passed on.  Going through the complexity of feelings involving Hospice and Palliative Care had been a struggle but also a refining of my spirit.  I learned to lean on and many days cling to God.  Meanwhile, during this sad time, an indescribably joyful event was also unfolding.  Our beautiful daughter-in-law was preparing to give birth to our third grandchild.  Two days after saying good-bye to my mother, we were welcoming precious Selah Karsyn Grandy into our lives.  Such joy!  Selah means "Ponder God" and we certainly had much to be grateful for with the gift of this sweet baby girl.  Soon, very soon, her first birthday is approaching.  Sweet Selah will be 1 year old on March 9, 2012.  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of such a blessing in our lives.

Snow Day!

As snow is a rare treat in eastern North Carolina it was exciting to wake up to the splendor of a transformed world.  Bundling up we took a walk in the soft quiet - till the dogs raced up scattering a powdery spray!  Back to the house to let Peachy into the warmth again.  While our dogs communicate with laughing eyes and wagging tails, Peachy just uses her sweet kitty look - and behold, the doors are opened.  ;)

Thank you Lord for a day to rest, for a chance to behold creation anew in your world - and for a warm house to recuperate from the cold outdoors!

New Year - New Music!

Rather than automatically playing you may select a song at the bottom of page to begin the music.  The first one is an oldie that you'll want to keep on humming.  :)

Quick Look Back

Abundant blessings over Christmas

Rejoicing at church and loving times with family

Caleb liked his Zippity and Karis - whatever he was doing!

While Tommy, Ash, Lesli, and I danced on the Wii

 Our Lillington trip a time of joy

Fun renewal with extended family
Smiles, hugs, abundance of food
Sweet memories

Merry Christmas!

As Christmas Day approaches and time will be of the essence, here are some special quotes to all our friends.  Be blessed - and remember Who provides the blessings.  :)

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It's lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy a vital part. It's higher thought and a greater plan. It's glorious dream in the soul of man."   ~ Wilfred A. Peterson (The Art of Living)

...

May God grant you:

the light of Christmas, which is faith;

the warmth of Christmas, which is love;

the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;

the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;

the belief in Christmas, which is truth;

the all of Christmas, which is Christ. Amen

Author Unknown

To be or not to be...

... up on the stage that is!  This decision was Caleb's choice the day of our trip to his church in Greenville to see their children's Christmas performance.  Would our two and a half year old grandson sing on stage with his friends... or perhaps wander the aisle?  For Gigi and Grandpa, we anticipated the joy of time with family, whatever the outcome! 

Upon our arrival and snack time while his mommy helped to organize the performance and his daddy served as an usher, his parents warned us that the last practices he has refused and they didn't think he'd go up today.  Grandpa (helping to hold our granddaughter, Karis) and I made much ado over how fun it would be on stage singing and playing the little instruments.
"Are you going up with the other children?" we whispered hopefully.  Swinging his little legs he firmly replied, "No."

Gradually as the children lined up, he slid from my lap and shyly worked his way towards the foot of the stage and his mommy.  When it was time to process on stage however he plopped solidly in her arms, thumb in his mouth!   Still he was every watchful and when the music began, his little feet wiggled and he began to sing.  And just like a light beam he climbed to his place to join the chorus while making all the little hand motions for their sweet presentation!

We were beaming and grinning like only grandparents can do to see him perform with the others!  Thank you, Lord, for this precious moment in time.