Gift #141- My Grandma

My Grandma passed away very peacefully this morning.  She was 94 years old.  Until this past year, she was active in her church, singing at the rest home, and hanging out with her girlfriends down at the river.  She fully lived her 94 years.  Her body finally gave out, but her mind stayed sharp until the end.  She loved to make people laugh.  She spoke at many senior citizen church events where she told funny stories and jokes.  She also loved to make homemade cards for people. She spent much of her days cutting and gluing and making treasures for those that she loved.  Serving others helped keep her young. 

One of my favorite memories of her was a Valentines Day that we spent together.  Hank and I were not married yet and he was away at college.  I was fixing up the little house behind my parents house when she called me and asked me if I had a Valentine.  When I told her that I did not, she asked if she could be my Valentine and came over with lunch.  She had drawn hearts on paper plates and brought pickles, heart-shaped pimento cheese sandwiches, and a mason jar of sweet iced tea.  We had lunch together in the little house and she shared with me about how she had met my grandpa.  I have always treasured that day with her.

Today she is with Jesus.  Upon arrival at the pearly gates, I can imagine that her first words to St. Peter were "What took you so long?"  And then I picture her smiling, telling him a joke and reaching into her pocket and handing him a sucker.  A big part of my heart is heavy.  But an even bigger part is so happy that she is finally Home.

Gift # 140- Fridays

I love Fridays!  They are my favorite day of the week.  The kids get up a little easier in the morning and they come home from school so excited.  They hang their backpacks, grab a snack, and they are out the door.  They play until dinner time or until it gets dark.  There are no baseball practices or swim lessons.  Just fun!  We have been trying our best to cut out sugar.  Some days are better than others.  But on Fridays, we treat ourselves to a homemade dessert.  Today we made chocolate chip zucchini bread.  I am quite sure that the 2 cups of zucchini cancel out the 2 cups of sugar.  Right?  This Friday was extra special because it was the high schools Homecoming Parade.  It is such a small little school that the parade only lasted for about 8 minutes.  But it was a parade none the less!  We will take it.  As I type, the zucchini bread is cooling, Josh is at the skate park, Macy is playing with her friend Sarah, and Jack and Sam are playing with a group of kids in the front yard.  I love Fridays.  But I have to admit, I  always smile a little when Monday rolls around.  :0)

Gift #139- The Japanese Military Band

Last Saturday, Hank and I had the opportunity to go and hear the Japanese Military Band.  We were very fortunate to get tickets for this event.  The residents of Iwakuni had to put their names into a lottery to win a concert seat.  Our Japanese friend Missie had a few extra tickets and she was kind enough to ask us to go.  The band was incredible!  The first set of music consisted of beautiful classical pieces.  The second set was much more upbeat with songs like A Hard Days Night by the Beatles.  Towards the end, the band members got really animated and came down into the crowd.  They were so lively and fun.  It was neat to share something in common with the people of Japan.  Hank and I laughed and clapped our hands right along side our neighbors.  Most of the songs were Japanese, but a few were familiar including the song  Close to You by the Carpenters.  One of the female band members sang her little heart out-  "Just Rike me they long to be... "  It is hard for the people of Japan to make the English L, Th and V sounds.  The song was beautiful and it truly made Hank and I smile.  We had a great time as we shared yet another wonderful cultural experience in the land of the rising sun.

Gift #141- Freedom

I know that I have already counted freedom as one of my 1000 gifts, but, over the past few days, I have been reminded that freedom comes at such a very high cost.  Freedom is a priceless gift. 

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/mobile/news/2012/09/marine-camp-bastion-afghanistan-attack-taliban-091712 

Gift #140- Dermabond

Sam took a little spill at the skate park today.  He is fine.  The Dr. thought that he needed a few stitches, but decided to try to glue him up first.  The glue worked!  Thank you Lord for the man who invented derma bond!  In a family where the dads' nickname is Crash, this mama is extra appreciative!

Gift # 139- I Love You Most

Little Sam can be a little handful, but there are 2 times each day that he is perfection.  The first time is when he is leaving for school.  He puts on his Lightning McQueen Helmet and gets on his little bicycle and then it begins.   Every morning without fail:

Sam:  "Bye"
Me: "Bye"
Sam: "I love you"
Me:  "I love you too baby"
Sam:  "I love you most"
Me:  "I love you most"
Sam: "Bye"...

This little dialogue is repeated a minimum of 12 times.  Sometimes when I can't even see him anymore, I hear his sweet little voice yelling out "I love you most".  It never gets old.  Every single morning I can literally  feel my heart swelling inside my chest.   It will be a sad day when he grows out of this little habit.  The second time of the day when Sam is perfection is when he is sleeping!  :0)

Gift #138- Princess Parties

Macy is a bit of a tomboy.  I guess that having 3 stinky brothers will do that to a girl.  But on her own, with 12 other little girls at a princess birthday party, she happily slips into a satiny dress and dabs on as much glittery eye-shadow as she can get her little fingers on.  She came home from the party with blue eyeshadow, purple fingernails, and the pinkest pink lipsticked-smile I have ever seen.  She was beautiful.