Heaven is for Real

I know, I know, I have been so missing on the blog. It has been a busy, sometimes hectic, month. When we last "talked" I was headed south to LA to meet my sister-in-law and bring her north with me. And it indeed happened...what a great week. She came, we saw, we conquered. It's hard to imagine squeezing more into our time together. But as much as we did and saw, the most important time for me was our morning coffee time together, in jammies, talking and talking.

We thought and talked about my brother, her husband, who moved from earth to heaven four years ago yesterday, at a very young age of 58. Our family had time to say the long goodbye, and none of us would have wished him to stay with us one second longer than God planned for him. Yet we miss him every day.

His illness, later diagnosed as early-onset Alzheimers,began when he had an auto accident and sustained two severe blows to his head. Within six months, he began having short-term memory loss. At that time, now 14 years ago, there was no known medical link to head trauma and Alzheimers. I was blessed to represent our family at his memorial service, and one of my stories was that he was my first "baby" since I was nearly 9 when he was born. I practiced my mother love on him before I had any of my own to love.

It's not a coincidence, I believe, that last week I was given a copy of the book,"Heaven is for Real," written by Todd Burpo. It is a simple, short story of a little boy's trip to heaven and back, as told from his three-year-old perspective. It was a comforting, uplifting feeling to think of my brother now with so many family and friends, as well as his finally meeting his Savior and his God. My feeling of loss and tears disappear when I think of his joy and contentment, and new life.

His wife, my sister-in-law, has a new life as well. She remarried a year and a half ago, to a man we all love and respect. When I met him, one of his first questions of me was how I felt about having a new man in my sister-in-law's life. Up front, honest, strong--he's now a wonderful member of our family. I am happy for them both, that they found each other.

I am hoping others have read the book...if so, what are your thoughts? Did you find comfort, as I did, if you read it? But for today, for the record, I still miss my brother. And love him lots. This is in his memory, Jan

GO!

I will leave this morning for Southern California to have some Gramma time with Birthday Boy before he leaves to join the Fisher Boys in Idaho. He takes his last final for his summer school classes today and I think he'll be ready for some spoiling time. I'm really, really good at that. He will reciprocate by taking me to Nordstroms--how good a grandson can you want? His words: "I would love to do that, Gramma." Tonight we'll have dinner, and probably a back scratch will figure into the evening too.

THEN tomorrow morning my sister-in-law flies in. Are we excited? Oh yeah! Hunky Hubby says I am teetering on the edge of hyper-scheduling her time here. Okay, I agree. But (1) she's never been to the Central Coast and (2) it's my turn to treat and spoil her. One thing I know: we will have fun!

So off I go. It will be a while before I post again. You know, fun and all. I promise to share with you when I can but we plan to talk, shop, sight see, talk, shop, sleep when we have to. I hope summer fun is finding you too...Jan

Get Set...

I'm ready for fun. I've spent the last week and a half cleaning, sorting and reorganizing the house and garage. I'm done. I may not be finished, but I'm done. Let the fun begin!

This afternoon long-time friends (40+ years) drive south from Northern California and will be with us for three days. They are now officially and totally retired. Like we were, they are ready for change. They have looked at properties in Las Vegas, Tucson and now will be checking out Central California. I know it will be a hard but well thought out choice for them...

But while they are here, we will have fun. The Mid-State Fair is running, whoo hoo! We'll check out the midway (from the ground), exhibits, pet some cows and horses, and of course, eat. We will also sit around and talk...a lot. No matter how much we get to see them or how little, the decibel level is pretty high when we are together. I love their company, obviously, and we would love to have them living closer, but in the meantime, I am thankful for their visits and our good times.

THEN...next week I drive south to see the one grandson not in Idaho! BECAUSE...my beautiful and beloved sister-in-law (one of two) flies in from Nebraska to stay with us for a week. The top of our list is talk...do you see a trend here? She has been so gracious and giving when I visited with a grandson the past two summers and stayed with her, and now it's my turn. I can't wait. Our to-do list is long and time is short but I know whatever we do, it will be good. Now...let the fun begin!

How is your summer turning out? Travel? Family? Work? I keep close to my heart and in my prayers so many who are not having fun. Health issues, work problems, relationship changes...let me know how you are...Jan

Get Ready...

Again, many days have slipped by between my posts. I keep hearing about the lazy days of summer but where are they?? Not here, for sure.

Since the last post, the fisher boys have departed for Idaho. Okay, I guess they have the lazy summer days. Both sons and two grandsons are now in Idaho, having lots of time to do guy stuff. Fishing (big, beautiful trout), campfires, hiking, sleeping. That being said, they have no electricity (propane only), no running water and outhouses.

I think you see now why I'm here, not there. I look forward to hearing from them and experience their good times vicariously, and am quite content with that. Maybe one year hunky hubby and I will join them for a week but find a nearby lodge to stay in...maybe.

The "birthday boy" grandson is not with them yet. He enrolled in summer school, and is now taking his first college classes. O My. That's love/hate for sure! He loves the college experience and is proud to claim it. He kinda hates the speed and pressure of the 18 weeks compressed into 5. But so far, so good. The plan is that when he finishes his classes, he will fly up to Idaho and his brother will fly home.

I love and appreciate that they can all enjoy this rare opportunity and experience. That they have the time to do it, and that they all love it so much. Our eldest grandson (with autism)may love it the most, but then who's to say. Today, in Idaho, elder son and youngest grandson are hiking together, younger son and oldest grandson are sleeping in and then going fishing. It does sound pretty wonderful, doesn't it? You can count on fish for dinner anytime you want to go catch some.

And I'm here, happy, and (by the way) still withdrawing from Paxil. Grrrrr. I'll see the doctor next week and will I have a story for him. Meanwhile, enjoying summer...even if it's not lazy. Jan

The Last "Baby"

I've looked over my posts and see a glaring missing member. My "baby" grandson, who is sweet 17. He is the only one of my four granchildren who was born in Central California. Since his mother had such a difficult birth with her first baby, caution was the watchword of her second pregnancy. Would the pre eclampsia happen again? Could it happen again? What if...what if...so many questions and thoughts.

It was decided that pregnant mama and baby boy #1 would move from Michigan to California and live with us in Central California until baby #2 was born. Thus, they were with us for three months before baby #2 was born. Our son relocated to Southern California in the meantime and visited when he could. It was a totally crazy three months but it worked perfectly. Mama went into normal labor a few days before her due date and baby boy #2 smiled on his way out. No big cry, no drama, just looked up and seemed to be saying "Howdy folks!"

As wee as baby boy #1 was, baby boy #2 was lusty and strong and fat. And content. I believe so many personality traits are there at birth, but our eyes are so full of joy that we can't look deep enough. Now 17, he hasn't changed much--except he's sure not fat anymore! He's well over six feet and like all teenagers, can't eat enough to fill his tummy or fill out his body. His contentment is still obvious. He loves his Gramma and Grampa and claims his "babyhood" happily and proudly when he visits us.

I love to have my "baby" hug me, I barely come up to his shoulders now. He looks so grownup, really older than his age, but he (shh, our secret) claims his points of childhood when he's here with us. He wants THE SAME placemats, THE SAME plastic plates, bowls, glasses, THE SAME games we've always played. I'm so proud to see my "favorite" baby so grown up...but tears creep out when I think my baby is really going to disappear sometime. I so hope not.

Do you have your "favorites" to share? Tell me and our tears will mix together...Jan

Birthday Boy

You know how when you are a mother, each child becomes your "favorite" in special ways? Why should I be surprised that I have the exact same feelings for my grandchildren? They are extra special from the day of birth and (so far) continue to grow more special.

Today is middle grandson's 19th birthday. Eldest grandson was born in South America, so Gramma missed #1. I was blessed to be with my son and daughter-in-law when my granddaughter (now 21) was born. When middle grandson was born I flew to be there ASAP. He was born 3-4 weeks early, due to the pre-eclampsia of his mother. It was a very, very hard birth and he was not ready to meet us. He was the teeniest baby I had ever handled, at a little over 6 pounds. (That's not saying a lot though, since my two sons and my other grandbabies were 8+ pounds!) He snuggled his way straight into my heart and has stayed there ever since.

Some children are so loving and expressive, I've always said if they could find a way to crawl into your skin to stay close, they would. My granddaughter is that way. So is our birthday boy. Thankfully, they never outgrow your hugs and your kisses. At least not yet.

We won't be with him to celebrate this weekend but our hearts are sure there. He's our "favorite," after all. Jan

4th of July & Fireworks

It is indeed the day of flags, fireworks, fly-bys and freedom. I love the flags, we have one flying in the wind in the front of our house and I have another as a table centerpiece. I also love the fly-bys (after 50+ years of watching hunky hubby wave his wings), but fireworks is a viewing choice only. Is it me or does the male species have a gene that says "It is and always will be my duty to create noise (fireworks) and booms (fireworks again). I sure don't have it but it comes out (with pride and duty) every July 4.

I was raised in Nebraska where the fireworks duties were taken very seriously. My dad always had a cache to shoot and my mom always sat looking at her three kids wondering if this was the year someone would lose a finger, hand, toe or foot. I guess that's the opposite gene.

In California, it's trickier since fireworks are illegal. Except there is always one little community where they are legal to be sold but illegal to shoot. Right. We will buy them and just leave them in the garage waiting for the law to change. Right.

When our sons were young, we had lots of displays. None that we could shoot upward but anything that stayed under 50 feet was considered fair game and worth the risk that someone would call and report us. What great fun--once we even had a party at our neighbor's house--shot about an hour's worth--the next day all the guys had to return to the neighbor's house and scrape soot, ash and debris from their swimming pool. Was it worth it? Oh yes!

Today hunky hubby and I will drive to the coastline and pray for no fog. And hopefully we will watch a splendid display of fireworks that shoot way high in the air over the Pacific Ocean. Last year it was fun and beautiful.

There is also a little nostalgia for us. Hubby's mother lived to the age of 97 and her birthday was July 3.(photo is of her 96th birthday)

For many, many years, we flew to celebrate the birthday and the 4th with her in Idaho. We have wonderful memories but miss her too.

I hope your 4th is a happy one. Enjoy and remember "Freedom is not free" and many are keeping our USA free for us, even today. Jan