Life has gotten busy again. Oh, not just the busy-ness of church meetings, and house work, and cooking and the like....but REALLY busy.
Kasey is here, and "the girls." Mya and Bella, lovable chocolate labs, and our Lilly make 3. Mya, the senior citizen of our family pets, is 11. The sweetest dog you'd ever want to know. With a little bit of hound in her, she kind of reminds us of one of the mystics from the movie, The Dark Crystal. Then there is Bella - sweet, and slightly rambunctious at just over a year old. Whenever you look for one of them, the other is sure to be close by. Lilly just tries to go with the flow and as long as nobody takes her spot on our bed at night, well, it's okay with her. Kasey loves them dearly....Mya was around for a few years before he was born so she's known us all for all of her life.
And then there is the little man. Getting bigger every day - a little boy, but old for his years because of what life has brought his way in all the separations from his mom and dad. Still, and you only need to see Ron's man cave to know, that Legos and racing car sets, and books I (and a comfortable fuzzy blanket for watching movies with Grandpa) are still the things of little boys who are 8 years old. I love this.
With Laurie and Stephen being gone, yet again, and even though they are together in a place where there is no war, it is still a hardship on all of our hearts.
Sometimes things get a little difficult - especially at home work time, and I have to remind Kasey that we need him to do exactly what his mom and dad expect him to do at homework time....finish it!
Now modern math - ugh - it can be cruel. Seriously. The words don't make sense, we both get frustrated, but when this happens, we leave an example and come back to it later. His report card came about two days after Laurie and Stephen left Colorado. It was awesome. I am afraid to see what it will be like the next time around. Of course I am only judging by what happens during home work time. :-)
And yet, the most important part of this guardianship isn't in the homework, or the meals I plan, or the morning wake up. It's the time we have with him as his grandparents. It's in being Laurie's and Stephen's mom and mother in law. In sending them their mail, and letting them know what's going on in our day (Facebook is such a blessing for accomplishing that). It's taking care of their little boy, and in making sure that he gets love and attention, a bowl of ice cream at night....or an occasional vanilla milk shake with Reese's pieces in it. :-)
It's also in being Scott's and Violet's mom, and Veronica's grandma too. In getting the house ready for their visit in two weeks. And in praying for them all during every set back Vi has in her Crohn's disease.
It's in loving a husband and father and grandpa who does so darned much around here even though he doesn't always feel well.
Then there is friendship. God has blessed me so in the friendships that He's given me. Not just in all those I know and love here in CO, but long distance friendships....sisters, cousins, former co-workers I stay in touch with. There are strong Christians who touch my life daily, through their prayers and love for me and for my family. And a little boy named Kasey - I want him to know that Grandma is his friend too. Every day, to share something funny, or awesome, or just plain fun.
Can life be any richer, or any more blessed than it is now? I know that it will be someday, when the greatest victory I have in Jesus is realized. Because of this, every new day - from sunup until sundown - there are opportunities to BE a blessing.
Lord, let me bless others as You have blessed me.
