Finally Spring!

Wow, I have not blogged much lately. I just have to get a little of the spring beauty in here. I have wanted to change my layout to a brighter one, but I just can't settle in on one. As you can see, one of my azaleas is being a bit "showy" this year....something they have not done before. I have not had good experiences with them at all. I am not sure, if this is one I replaced last year or not. I have one that has never bloomed. I think they have a mind of their own. I am enjoying this one while I can. Okay...add on....I came back and changed the layout to my new...old one. Green works for spring! The grandsons had a chance to play in the little spring that runs across our property. They loved it! The water was crystal clear....at least before they stirred it up.
They moved on to the sandy, muddy area after a while. If there is mud---they will find it!
These boys can play continuously and are so creative and adventurous. They make fun out of anything....whether pretending, playing in water, knee deep in mud, or just kicked back laughing....they have a ball....NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

"Crabby Old Man" Poem

This is a picture taken last Thanksgiving of my daddy. Please don't be taken back by the title of the posting. My daddy is NOT a "crabby old man", but I think it is more interesting to add pictures along with the written words. Please hang with me here. My daddy is now 89 years old and really gets along fairly well. He still lives independently in his own little apartment and continues to drive. I searched my pictures for an older man...I do have several, but I did not want to post a picture of someone who might object to their picture on a blog. I don't think Daddy will care. Now to the point.....Since blogging is like journaling, I sometimes like to add things that touched me, made me pause, or so impacted me that it causes me to change my actions or thinking.

The following is part of an email I received this week. Because of the detail I believe it to be true. It is a story of an elderly man who died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida. It was believed the man had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. The staff was so impressed that they made copies and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Assn. for Mental Health (I have not verified this). At any rate I thought it worth the read.

What do you see nurses? What do you see?

What are you thinking...when you're looking at me?

A crabby old man, ...not very wise,

Uncertain of habit....with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food....and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice..."I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice...the things that you do,

And forever is losing....A sock or shoe.

Who, resisting or not...lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding...The long day to fill.

Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse...you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am...As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding,...as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten...with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters...who love one another.

A young boy of sixteen..with wings on his feet

Dreamin' that soon now...a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at twenty...my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows...that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now...I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide...And a secure happy home.

A man thirty...My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other ...With ties that should last.

At forty my young sons....have grown and are gone,

But my woman's beside me...to see I don't mourn.

At fifty, once more,...Babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children...My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me...My wife is now dead.

I look at the future...I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing...young of their own.

And I think of the years...And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man...and nature is cruel.

'Tis jest to make old age...look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles...grace and vigor depart.

There is now a stone...where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass....A young guy still dwells,

And now and again...my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys...I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living....life over again.

I think of the years all too few...gone to fast.

And accept the stark fact....that nothing can last.

So open your eyes people...open and see.

Not a crabby old man, look closer...see.....ME!!

I sent this to some of my nurse friends, but anyone may need to be reminded of this poem the next time they meet an older person who they might brush aside without looking at the young soul within...if we live long enough, we will one day be there too!

Sorry, I tried and tried to format this poem and I guess because of the length the computer just did its own thing.

More of My Week

Our grandchildren left to right-

Joshua 6, Andrew 4, Gracie 8, and Gillan 10

and we have a new grandchild due in late September -

How much more blessed can a grandma be?

Now this is where the fun comes in. I have said it before

and I will say it again.....I have never known any other little boys

just like the two below. They can make a bigger mess with mud

than I have seen anywhere. If they see it, they must play in it.

They took their rubber boots off to dip the water out of this ditch

that was recently dug to get water to my greenhouse

(the ditch was flooded with rain water). Before it was all over

Josh put his boot back on and it was stuck. It took much pulling and twisting

for Grandma to get it off. By this time the boys were "cold and crying".

What a Mess!

But don't they have fun?

We thought this was hysterical....after Josh was cleaned up, Katie slicked his hair down.
We thought he looked like Alfalfa on the Little Rascals, so she pulled the little piece of crown up. He was really making some funny faces.

Spring Break

Andrew and Gracie pictured at the Shark tank
Below is one of the new Beavers - a new addition at the aquarium.

Otters have been added, as well.

The events of spring break have been many. I started out last Friday for Texas to see Gracie's soccer game to be played on Saturday. After the game we headed for Oklahoma. Sunday, Gillan sang at our church and it was great. Monday, the kids all got to play around the farm....one of their favorite things to do. Tuesday was a really rainy day, but a large family group took off for the Oklahoma Aquarium. Josh & Andrew with their Mom & Dad, David & I, along with my sister, brother-in-law, five of their grankids, and a friend of one of the grandkids went along. We enjoyed a big Mexican lunch along the "wet and cold" Riverwalk after leaving the aquarium. I am not sure the restaurant was happy to see six adults with ten kids following, but we had an enjoyable time. Wednesday was the trip to McDonald's on the Indian Nation Turnpike to meet Gillan & Gracie's Mom. I have traveled a few miles this week and I am worn out, but I would not trade a minute of the fun. It is always good to spend some time with the grandkids.

Pucker Up Pony

Okay, it is well into March and I have wanted to add something....I just love this picture, but if you read Katie's blog...you know that I stole it from her blog. Actually, I learned that trick from her stealing from mine. Stealing is a harsh word.....we are just enjoying and sharing pictures, right? Anyway, Andrew puckers up to kiss me just this way too....just gotta' love it.

I had hoped to post a video of Gillan playing the guitar and singing, but I don't think it is possible due to the size and route it was sent. I have enjoyed viewing it myself.

Spring break is next week and I can't wait. We plan to have Gillan and Gracie to visit and we are planning some fun. I will have more to post after that visit.

I just came in from planting the first seeds to be grown in my greenhouse. We made that purchase some time back in the winter....around Christmas. The water and electricity is not all up and running, but I am improvising for now. I am anxious to see if there will be any success since I am very "green" with starting from seed in a greenhouse.....and I don't mean "green thumbed". Spring can't come soon enough for me. We have not had a severe winter, but the weather has jumped from snow on the ground, only to disappear abruptly, to almost hot in less than 24 hours.

Spring is coming and with that is always a sense of "new and fresh" or overs, if you will.... with the beauty of green grass, budding trees, and blooming of flowers. Easter will soon be arriving and we will once again celebrate our Risen Savior, though mindful and thankful for that gift everyday. Stop a moment and listen to Chris Tomlin sing, "Amazing Grace"....beautiful words.

Catching up with the Folks

Nice cake! Rudy celebrated another birthday this month. I'm feelin' old. It has been a while since I have posted. I hope to be back soon. I just have not had much to write about recently. I am so ready for spring. My poor little Gillan was sick this past weekend and Gracie needed some entertainment, so she helped Dad build a frame for new swings. She is a great helper....did you notice her "Helper" apron above?.....So cute! It looks like it was a cold day in Texas. I hope spring is around the corner. Rudy also sent a picture of Gillan sleeping on the couch, sick. I wanted to post it, but I just couldn't bring myself to do that to him...even though he is handsome sleeping or awake.

We are missing you all! Hope to see you soon. I will be ready to play ball and swing in the new swings.