A Quick Family Update Post

Good morning,

I woke up really early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and had breakfast. There were no clouds when I first got up and now the fog has rolled in. It really feels like fall and for some reason I'm excited for it this year. The older I get the more I'm enjoying the cooler temps and rain. Maybe I'm becoming more like a hermit every day!

I finally got Beth signed up for Speech Therapy, something I've wanted to do for years. I needed to get a referral from her doctor and now that's been done. I'm hoping to get her started in the next few weeks. She can talk, but she really struggles with articulation and she knows people can't understand her so she just doesn't talk. I'm hoping this gives her more confidence and helps her interact with people more.

I did some shopping earlier this week and when I came out of one store the sky was incredible! The white clouds against the blue sky with the fall leaves... the colors were so vivid. The trees are a little dark in this picture but they were bright!

We got to video chat with Diana this week. Adelaide is growing so fast and her communication skills are way beyond a two-and-a-half year old. Oliver was asleep so we didn't get to see him this time. We love being able to visit with them.

Sharaya's birthday is on Monday so we'll be celebrating her this weekend. We'll take her out for dinner, then if we don't do gifts at the restaurant we'll come back here for cake and presents. I posted these on our family text a few days ago:

Yellowstone

Sharaya's on the right

At the Grand Canyon

Sharaya's wearing the hat

  Visiting my mom

We went on a long western U.S. road trip through eight states, and it was one of our biggest vacations while the kids were growing up. 

And Sharaya is older now, than I was on this trip. It's crazy to think about!

That's about all for now. I should close this and get my day started. I hope you're enjoying the beginning of fall. 'Til next time! Have a wonderful weekend!

This and That

Beth caught a cold right before we left for Pennsylvania. We spent four hours in the walk-in clinic the day before we left but thankfully she tested negative for covid and strep. The doctor said she just had a regular head cold.

She felt fine during the trip but knew she wouldn't be able to hold Oliver. He was just too young still. But I think they had a moment one day at the dining room table, it seems he was listening as she talked to him.

We stopped for ice cream the day we went to Princeton University and they have a mirror there that used to be at the fun house at Palisades Park around 1933. Beth certainly couldn't pass that up!

At work today we had our annual First Responders Appreciation Lunch. We invite them from all over the county and it seems each year there's more. There are police officers, fire fighters, animal control, EMTs... plus their administrative staff. We're so grateful for the work they do and the lunch is one small way we can say thank you.

August 14 we were flying home so we didn't get to celebrate on that day. This year marked 43 years for us. We ended up going out to dinner this past weekend and on Monday we got to go to a Mariner's Game. We won so that made it even more fun!

You know, 43 seems like such a huge number but it's hard to measure the time. I was 21 and he was 24 when we got married but it seems like we've just always been together. We dated for six weeks when he proposed and we were engaged for one year. 

We've been so grateful to have so many adventures in our lives, we've gone places we could only dream of and seen things many people wish they could see.

New York

Cabo San Lucas

Israel

And our girls. We were able to give them a good life and as adults, they truly love each other.

And now grandkids. We are just blessed beyond measure. I'm so grateful for the life I get to live.

Family Stuff

 Hey everyone,

There's a lot happening in and around the family these days.

Diana is due any day now. The midwife says the baby is 'really big' so Diana's hoping he/she comes soon! We get to visit her and Peter next month and can't wait to see them and hold that new precious baby! Plus Adelaide! We're so excited!

We video chatted with them the other day. Adelaide is so articulate I have to keep reminding myself she's only two!

Sharaya and Ally have been exploring this summer. Sharaya always finds the best places. Summer school has started so she's driving busses, as well as doing dispatch. They came over for dinner last weekend and we played Mexican Train afterward. I didn't take a single picture. 😞

She took this of Mount St Helens. It's about 4 hours south of us and erupted back in 1980.

Beth continues to bowl and sing karaoke every week. Plus she works one day a week, and grocery shopping on Thursday. She's still trying to make better choices when she buys food. 

Here she is at work, getting disinfecting wipes to go clean the door handles, push bars, light switches... all those high touch areas around the church.

Hmmm, which orange juice to buy?

All done and heading for the registers.

Chuck and I are doing well. Jobs, yard work, house work, and watching TV fills our days. Course we just got back from Iowa and are planning for Pennsylvania next month! Chuck pulled a muscle in his back last month and was on L&I for a week or two but he's not in pain anymore and is back at work. 

I started to get sick in Iowa, but it was different. Just a cough for the first day or two. Then I had a sore throat for one day. The next morning my throat was fine but I had a stuffy nose. It's been a month and I still have the occasional cough but everything else is gone. I feel fine and am back to work.

We're having warm, sunny weather and that's always nice! Certainly lifts the spirits.

The alarm on my phone keeps going off, I need to go read the Sunday school lesson for this weekend. I'm teaching the kids about Samson. I know the story but I like to write out what I'm going to say so I stay on track and don't leave anything out. I should close and go get that done.

It's always great 'chatting' with you! 'Til next time -

Remembering On This Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day weekend and I'm remembering my mom even more this year. This Tuesday marks 20 years since she passed away: May 13, 2005. 

She married at 16, had two kids before she turned 19 and thought for sure she was too old and her life was over when she had me at 25.

She was elegant, trustworthy, and loved her family passionately. 

When my sisters and I were growing up she sewed all of our clothes. Every Easter brought new dresses, shoes and hats. She kept the house spotless and worked magic with the money my dad would give her to buy groceries each week. Meals weren't fancy but we ate well.

She married young (her mom was physically abusive) and never graduated from high school so when I started Kindergarten she went to night school and got her diploma. Even at that young age I remember being so proud of her.

She gave her heart to the Lord in her forties and walked with Him the rest of her life. She was only 69 when she died. 

I'm really missing her this year. I wish I could just sit down with her and talk about life. There's so much I understand now that I didn't when she was still alive. She would say things like: "The hardest part about raising kids comes after they turn 18." Or "Getting old isn't for sissies." I miss her advice. I miss her laugh.

If you're celebrating and/or remembering this year, I pray for peace, joyous memories and a very blessed weekend. 

Such a Fun Visit!

I flew home from my sisters late on Monday the 10th, worked the 11th through 13th and Diana and Adelaide got here late on the 14th. Those few days we finished getting the house baby-proofed, setting up all the toys I had (I saved a few for later in the week) and making sure the den was ready for them. If I remember right, Saturday we just stayed home. 

We went to the aquarium, went out to lunch, went to an indoor play place, we played cards, watched movies, it was a fun, full week! I'll share just a few of the photos:

Making bracelets with pipe cleaners

Adelaide and friends watching Bluey

It was the first time I'd been to our aquarium in many years. It's changed a lot. There were different sections, multiple stories, and even separate buildings. There was a lot to see.

If you ever get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.

We left there and took the new Overlook Walk to go get some lunch. Seattle used to have a double decker highway that ran right through the city. We recently tore that down and put in the tunnel, then built a beautiful area to view the waterfront and easily get to Pike Place Market. It was supposed to pour rain that day but the Lord answered my prayers and we only had clouds. And wind. Lots of wind.

As they were heading to the airport, Adelaide grabbed the little Tigger (I have the whole set) and never let go. Tigger lives with her now.💖 

Have you heard of the Wingman Program or Visitor Pass? SEA has a new program that allows visitors to go with you through security and to the gate. Peter was able to get it at their airport and Sharaya got it here, so she could help Diana get Adelaide through security and all the way to the gate. 

 It's okay to tell you now that Diana is four months pregnant! Due in July. You can see it in this photo, they were playing hide and seek:

So having that help through the airport was a Godsend! We're planning a trip back there after the baby is born.

It has taken me such a long time to write this. There's so much I want to tell you about Beth and my job and Sharaya's promotion, but I really need to close and start getting ready for work tomorrow. I'll try to write again soon.

Hope you're all doing well. Take care!