Tempus fugit: Time flies!!
And it truly does, it seems like only a few weeks ago I was planning my winter escape from Maine because the Farmers Almanac predicted another harsh winter filled with lots of snow and "wicked" cold temperatures. So far I hear from family and friends snow fell in November and nothing but cold in December so I guess so far the Almanac was right.
Anyway, my road trip began on November 15th with my daughter Jodi, as we left the LumberJack Lodges in Harmony I seemed to be at peace with the decision to head south and spend time with my children and grandchildren and become a real grandmother, something I had never had the opportunity to be as all my children lived out of state.
The road trip was perfect, no snow, no bad weather to speak off, minimal traffic, of course I was not driving so to me it was minimal! Two dogs in the back seat, one who was prepared for the long trip and one who thought she was headed for an hour trip to see Aunt Vicki. Shanti did so well though I am truly proud of my little girl.
We arrived at my son's home in NC on Friday, the day after we left Maine, we should have waited for him to arrive home from work as his dog Liam, the boxer Pit, was doing his job in protecting his home and bit Shanti!! Fortunately it was nothing serious and she healed in a few days.
At my son's home I was able to get to know his two boys and to also see what a wonderful dad my son is. His life is composed around work and his boys, as it should be also caring for him home. Lots of work for a single dad but he does it without complaint.
Andre, Johnny and I had much fun together, getting to known each other is so many ways, AJ is an extrovert who loves to watch football and any other sport that come on TV. He kept me updated on plays and players since it had been about 12 years since I even watched a football game. Johnny on the other hand is an introvert and is usually off by himself playing a war game in the "bonus room". I am amazed at his "eye of the tiger" skills, however, I knew he had that skill when Bill told me long ago that Johnny is truly a marksman.
Life at Tony's was good, cooking for my three boys was great although I quickly learned that my cooking skills had depleted much since Bill died, a no brainer bologna sandwich is good enough for me when at home. I watched 3 dogs, Liam the boxer pit who chews anything and everything except the toilet and he would do that if he could drag it to his pillow near the fireplace. Liam a lab and pit who is gentle as an angel on four legs, her ultimate goal is to be a good girl and pray that Liam wont destroy anything. And of course my little girl Shanti who had a big adjustment to city life, neighbors, squirrels and other dogs.
Time fled by quickly and Shanti and I were on the road to my daughters in Georgia, where we will spend a few weeks. Her home is lovely and it looks like a nice neighborhood for her to be in, she is not too far from work and Shanti and Gomer, Jodi's dog get along fine.
And so my journey continues for the winter. Stay tuned for Chapter 2 in a few weeks.
In the meantime please accept my wishes for a wonderful 2015! May all your dreams come true!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Out of the mouth of babes!
Children are God's gift to us and although some times you could pull your hair out because of how they act there are more times in life when they pull at your heart strings and fill you with love and pride, and that is just happened to me on Thanksgiving Saturday.
My daughter Rebecca and her two boys Nick and Jack drove down from Virginia to my son's home in NC to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with us, arriving late in the evening. On Saturday morning the turkey was stuffed and placed in the oven which soon filled the home with the scent of turkey. Yumm!! Vegetables were peeled and set in pots of water on top of the stove waiting for the proper time for the burners to be turned on.
Thanksgiving #2 without my husband had begun! We gathered 'round the table and while the plates were being filled to the rim we gave shout outs of thanks each one of us thanking for good health, family, and a home filled with love. Laughter and love filled the room as we ate to our hearts content, stuffing, potatoes, squash, fruit salad, and of course cranberries to help cleanse the pallet from turkey and way too much gravy.
All too soon dinner was over and a new celebration began, remembering Grampa Bill and his 68th birthday, his second in heaven. Helium balloons had been purchased earlier in the day and words of endearment written on them for Grampa to read when they reached the heavens. I shared my "energy bag" which my children made for me prior to their leaving Harmony in July of 2013. A poem was found that was given to me by Margie "Softspoken" Decker, a native American therapist who helped Bill become at peace with life. Andre, my grandson, shared the poem with us all, it bought tears with not only the words he spoke, but they way he spoke them, with so much love.
Johnny my youngest grandson had scooted upstairs where he spends a lot of time playing games, but once the poem was done he spoke to me over the railing and said, "Grammy can I show them something from your room about Grampa Bill?" "Of course you can Johnny." Now I was thinking a photo I had brought with me, however, as I heard him coming down the stairs I saw he had urn in which Bill's ashes were placed. I watched as he held the urn close to his body, being so very careful with each step so as not fall and break the vessel. He placed it on the table gently scooting it away from the edge and said, "Grampy Bill will be with Grammy forever." And then gave his me a warm and gentle hug! My heart melted and the tears trickled down my cheek.
It was now time for the release of the balloons, so the seven of us went out doors and sang happy birthday to Grampa Bill and released the balloons watching them as they gently floated away to who knows where. I'd like to think they went to heaven where Bill smiled as he often did when the boys did something that touched his heart.
The Thanksgiving celebration of 2014 was two fold, both of them filled with love!
My daughter Rebecca and her two boys Nick and Jack drove down from Virginia to my son's home in NC to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with us, arriving late in the evening. On Saturday morning the turkey was stuffed and placed in the oven which soon filled the home with the scent of turkey. Yumm!! Vegetables were peeled and set in pots of water on top of the stove waiting for the proper time for the burners to be turned on.
Thanksgiving #2 without my husband had begun! We gathered 'round the table and while the plates were being filled to the rim we gave shout outs of thanks each one of us thanking for good health, family, and a home filled with love. Laughter and love filled the room as we ate to our hearts content, stuffing, potatoes, squash, fruit salad, and of course cranberries to help cleanse the pallet from turkey and way too much gravy.
All too soon dinner was over and a new celebration began, remembering Grampa Bill and his 68th birthday, his second in heaven. Helium balloons had been purchased earlier in the day and words of endearment written on them for Grampa to read when they reached the heavens. I shared my "energy bag" which my children made for me prior to their leaving Harmony in July of 2013. A poem was found that was given to me by Margie "Softspoken" Decker, a native American therapist who helped Bill become at peace with life. Andre, my grandson, shared the poem with us all, it bought tears with not only the words he spoke, but they way he spoke them, with so much love.
Johnny my youngest grandson had scooted upstairs where he spends a lot of time playing games, but once the poem was done he spoke to me over the railing and said, "Grammy can I show them something from your room about Grampa Bill?" "Of course you can Johnny." Now I was thinking a photo I had brought with me, however, as I heard him coming down the stairs I saw he had urn in which Bill's ashes were placed. I watched as he held the urn close to his body, being so very careful with each step so as not fall and break the vessel. He placed it on the table gently scooting it away from the edge and said, "Grampy Bill will be with Grammy forever." And then gave his me a warm and gentle hug! My heart melted and the tears trickled down my cheek.
It was now time for the release of the balloons, so the seven of us went out doors and sang happy birthday to Grampa Bill and released the balloons watching them as they gently floated away to who knows where. I'd like to think they went to heaven where Bill smiled as he often did when the boys did something that touched his heart.
The Thanksgiving celebration of 2014 was two fold, both of them filled with love!
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