"Can I Sleep Over Tonight, Grandma?"



It's one of those nights that I can't sleep. We slept in this morning, only til 8:30, but that seems to have been my undoing for a good night's sleep tonight.
We had a great weekend with the kids. We went to Kasey's soccer game on Saturday morning and then did a bit of grocery shopping and then Stephen, Laurie, and Kasey were going to come over for dinner. About 45 minutes before we were expecting them, my cell phone rang. Laurie's cell number came up on my caller id and when I answered, there was a little voice on the other end and he said, 'Hi Grandma! Is it ok if I sleep over at your house tonight?' 'Ohhhh Kasey,' I said, ' you tell your mommy to pack some nice warm jammies and some toys and movies and ABSOLUTELY you can sleep over.' Laurie needed to do some studying for an exam, and so we were more than grateful to have Kasey here. He sleeps in the middle of our bed since it's too cold down in the living area during the night. And so, we had Ron and I, Kasey, and Lily. Too cold even for Lily to sleep down here. Dinner was a big success, and although Apple Crisp was on the menu, the cook :) just didn't have the time to peel the apples and put it in the oven since I had to do stuffed peppers too. I was telling my friend Betsy the other day that I've had to get used to only having one oven - and a microwave/convection oven at that. There are times when I miss my two ovens in the kitchen back in Hamburg (and to be honest, I sometimes miss the five burners I had on my cooktop there too), but I'm still able to put a decent meal on the table for the kids - and I generally cook every night for Ron and I. This is good - saves money and I think it's better for the waistline. I digress.
Anyway, Grandma made pancakes and hot chocolate for Kasey on Sunday morning - Ron preferred his usual eggs and ham on a bagel. (Tonight while we were watching 24, Ron mentioned that he had a craving for pancakes, and I told him there was leftover batter in the fridge. He laughed because I am not usually THAT ready for his cravings).
I have to admit that I love catering to Kasey right now because when we have guardianship of him, I will be expected to be in guardian mode, instead of grandma mode. I can understand Laurie and Stephen feeling like this but, well, SIGH.
Ron spent at least 2 hours with Kasey (and Lily too, who took off after a cat because Ron was helping Kasey who had fallen and his nose was bleeding) at the playground, then they came back and Kasey helped (and I use that term loosely) Ron set up the sattelite dish. I called out the screen door and asked the guys what they would like for lunch. Ron asked for turkey and cheese on dark rye bread, and Kasey asked for buttered noodles. Of COURSE Kasey could have buttered noodles - oh and he wanted two dill pickles because his Grandpa had two dill pickles with his sandwich.
Laurie came by and picked him up around three just as my boys - big and little - were coming back from their second trip to the playground. They just so happened to take with them a stash of Oreo cookies. Ron gave Kasey one when they left, and then put two more in his shirt pocket. When they got to the playground, after he had played for a few minutes, Kasey asked Ron if he had any more cookies. Ron said he had two left. 'Grandpa, could I have just ONE?' And of course side by side on the bench, they sat together while Kasey ate both cookies.
Do I sound happy? I sure hope so. It's so good to be here with the kids and as Ron said tonight, that we just need Scott and Vi and Veronica here and we would have everything we need. Stranger things have happened. You just never know.
In a few days, our Laurie will be 30 years old. We will take them out for dinner of course and I will make her a cake. I have a few things to get her yet, so that means a trip to the mall - YAY!
The one thing I have noticed is that - despite their separation of a year and a half (except for
R &R, and brief visits after Stephen returned from the sand), I love watching Laurie and Stephen (and Kasey) together. It seems like they haven't skipped a beat - just picked up where they left off. They love each other and are not afraid to show this. Just the little things like sitting side by side on the couch with Stephen's arm around Laurie.
I smile just thinking about them - and thank our Father for His grace in their lives. Stephen's next deployment is coming up sooner than we realize. And then there will be Laurie's to occur sometime during Stephen's trip to the sand.
We don't think about that right now. We are just thankful for the times we have in the present - and the moments when I hear that little voice on the other end of the phone line asking, 'Grandma, can I sleep over at your house?'
I'm going to make my grocery list in the morning, and two items on that list will be a variety pack of cereal so my Kasey can pick out his breakfast next time he sleeps over....and some marshmallows for his hot cocoa.
Ahhhh, isn't life sweet?

Honey, We're HOOOME!



At 4:30 in the afternoon on Saturday, I dialed Laurie's cell and when she answered I said, "Hi Honey - we're hoooome!!" We are back home in Colorado in a very nice campground with a view of the Rockies right out our back window - we moved here this morning after spending Saturday and Sunday night in a very overpriced, & poorly cared for campground. We'll be at this one for a few weeks, and then go to our summer campground where we will be Camp Hosts at a Colorado State Park. The best thing is, we're going to be here - in the state of CO - for a long, long time. And Scott, Vi, and Veronica are coming out for a 10 day visit in July. Am I beaming from ear to ear? YOU BET!
After we got set up on Saturday, we stopped at Pizza Hut and picked up some pizza, wings, and breadsticks and headed over to Laurie's. Stephen was at his Saturday night poker game, but we had a great time with Laurie and Kasey....in fact, Kasey spent the night with us on Saturday. Then yesterday, we drove around to find this campground and made the arrangements to move here this morning. Kasey was with us, so of course lunch at McDonald's was in order. Then we went to Laurie's and she invited us for dinner - chops on the grill, with wild rice and thick grain bread to go with it. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. Then we headed home to do get ready for this morning's move. Stephen had to work yesterday - we could hear the guns firing as we drove to our campground on the way home last night. One of these days we will see Stephen. Seven and a half years ago, when we first set eyes on Pikes Peak, we fell in love - with the state of CO. We always hoped we could live here someday - and here we are. Of course Western NY and our family and friends there are always very, very close to our hearts and our visits back there will happen too. After all, home is where the heart is, and our hearts just happen to be in two places.
That's ok, right?
God bless our troops and those who love them.

HE IS RISEN!!!

He is risen indeed.