A New Year and how to ride the coaster

So, since October, the roller coaster of living with aged parents has taken a few too many dips for my comfort and it's been much easier to not get in line and ride again by writing about it.

But it's a new year (even though January is almost over!).  And with that, comes the joy of thinking back on the great memories that finished the year out and began this new one!

I suppose, then, that I might call this post a list of things I'm grateful for and not a list of the struggles I endured...BECAUSE THE VERY STRUGGLES ONLY STRENGTHENED MY RESOLVE TO BE MORE GRATEFUL!

Since I posted in October, I've written three drafts that were never published...sigh.

Yet, after reveiwing the past year's posts, the one recurring theme is definitely gratitude.  Perhaps I need to continue to learn to walk this out and that's why posting was impossible.  Whatever the reasons, I'm hoping to be back for a while.  That's not to say things are better, easier, or fun...but there's always a silver thread running through the tapestry called my life.

In November, Love and I got away to the cost.  Galveston.  It was marvelous and we thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.  We ate, played, ate some more and then drove home the long way...

Then Christmas came.

I believe we put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving to make mom happy.  She just loves when the decorations go up! This year, I did not have extra time to make cookies like I usually do, so she and dad took it upon themselves to make them two different times...lots of sugar!

 

Seeing a smile on her face is a rare occurence.  To have been able to capture it is nothing less than a miracle.  Glory to God, great things He has done!

 

 

We had our traditional New Year's party this year.  But the Sunday before that, our church did the "Walk thru the Old Testament," complete with interaction, as well as lots and lots of hand motions. An entire church full of people experiencing a fun way to to learn God's Story.  I really enjoyed it!

On to New Years...lots of new people came and some of our close friends, as well as my grandbabies...

We played a lot of Banangrams, ate a lot of food, and just enjoyed being together.  It was a great night.  The only sad thing was my dad heading to the ER because he did not feel well.  He did come home about 1:30, but then went back in two days later and stayed for three days...which...

 

Was challenging, because we embarked on a very long drive to Akron, New York, to see our daughter and her family....but God!  He provided help.  Our wonderful son, Dan, stayed here to care for my mom and dad, as well as our dear adopted daughter, Amy, coming and cooking and caring for them on the weekends.  It was a lesson in trusting God for their care and getting some much needed R & R with our NY grandbabies!

(These are the dresses I made for them...it's always challenging to know what size since I'm not near them!!!)

 

 

I admit that driving more than 3600 miles isn't what I would call rest and relaxation, but we were most grateful and thankful for a safe trip and the time that we got to spend with family and dear friends was well worth the inconvenience of being squooshed in a mid-size car for twenty three hours and then another ten hours one way!

My prayer was that we would not have bad winter weather!  We did have rain and we hydroplaned several times, but the only true 'winter weather' was near the border of Ohio/Pennsylvania...it went from this as the sun was setting...

 

to this...

 

But then it warmed up enough that, by the time we got to the toll booth in West Seneca (toll prices have gone up and wasn't the toll supposed to be temporary?), it was only raining. 

Thank you, Jesus. 

And the cool thing was that it just kept warming up each day!

Words cannot describe the depth of joy I experienced when my 'girls' would giggle, or Trinity would say, "My gramma!" and squeeze my leg or around my neck!

I took a Zumba class with Rachael!  It took me back to my teaching years...the same moves, only with Mexican music, so I felt like I was back in San Antone, in my thirties!  That was so much fun because Rach's best friend, and our other daughter, Rebecca, came, too!

 

There were some games...

 

a visit with my in-laws (which I treasure since hearing that my mother-in-law is in the hospital right now with a severe UTI and a white blood cell count of 1.2!)

 

...a trip to Strong's Museum in Rochester...wonderful place for EVERYONE!

 

dancing...

 

 

 

 

 

and lots of story time together.

 

Things have gone back to normal (well, that depends on how one would define 'normal'!) 

This semester I am teaching a photography class at school, as well as continuing to teach sewing to three of the sweetest sisters, and then there's teaching another six students on a Sat. morning...

I'm also working on helping the boys raise money for camp this summer.  I am making Valentine aprons and other little fun things. 

 

Life is truly great as I read this morning in Ecclesiastes 5...

 

^"18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. ¹⁹ And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. ²⁰ God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past."

 

...until next time.