It's July and we are days away from the birthdays of my two youngest children, Nikki and David. This is the year that David will turn 18 and Nikki will be 15. Wow, where did my babies go? Unlike their older brother and sister, these two were born to more "mature" parents. Dave and I were 38 when we had David and 41 when Nikki came along. Having experienced how quickly babies turn into young adults, I was determined to enjoy every moment of their lives. I'm happy to say that there has never been a regret or a dull moment involving these kids.
David recently graduated from high school and this achievement has filled him with confidence about his future. He has had a life-long love of cars and he's developed a lot of knowledge and ability when it comes to fixing them. I know he's also looking forward to getting his driver's license (his appointment is July 21 at 10:15 a.m.) At this particular moment he's teetering on young adulthood and I'm in the early stages of opening my hand to let this little bird test his wings. My heart is beginning to ache but it's time to give him over to the Lord and let him fly. Soon a new relationship with my son will begin to form and I'll be reminded that if you do a good job as a mother, your children leave your side and prosper on their own. It's one of the thorns of motherhood. I must remember to tell that to my daughter, Candie.
Nikki started high school last year and will begin her sophmore year on August 30. She loves sports (volley ball and softball), the beach and hanging out with her friends. She's a pretty normal kid, despite the fact that she is my baby and has been treated accordingly. I've loved watching her grow from a curly-headed toddler into the straight-haired teenager she is today. She has struggled with normal issues and a couple that most kids don't ever have to face, but she's come out on top. She's a good student, great athlete, and a sweet, loving daughter, sister and aunt. She will be my last child to graduate and I'm going to treasure each moment of her remaing years in high school.
I remember reading somewhere that you always remember the "firsts" but seldom remember the "lasts". As I grow older I realize that it's true. Maybe I will make a greater effort to remember the "lasts" these two children have. God bless everyone and cherish each moment of your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
On Being a Grandma
One of the areas in my life that has changed dramatically is transitioning from "mom" to "grandma." How is it possible that I feel so young, yet am a grandmother? Happily, my darling Ray has helped me adjust to this new and very happy stage in my life. Being grandma to his grandpa actually feels good. We cherish every moment we have with our grandsons. I haven't had the opportunity to spend lots of time with Augie because he lives in Oregon with his parents. Despite the separation from him, I'm happy to be a part of his life and love that he knows who I am.
Noah lives a 2 hour drive away so I try and visit him at least once or twice a month. What I've noticed is how quickly children change. When Noah was born he looked just like his daddy. Now, he reminds me of his mommy, only in a different color. Noah has also grown like a weed this first year! He was so tiny when he was born such a short time ago. Now he's turning into a little boy before my eyes. He definitely knows who I am and has started calling me "G." His name for Ray is "Papa." Watching him run around my house gives me a good feeling. I thank God for every moment I have with this precious child He's entrusted to my daughter and her husband. Grandchildren are definitely a gift from God to be loved and appreciated.
Noah lives a 2 hour drive away so I try and visit him at least once or twice a month. What I've noticed is how quickly children change. When Noah was born he looked just like his daddy. Now, he reminds me of his mommy, only in a different color. Noah has also grown like a weed this first year! He was so tiny when he was born such a short time ago. Now he's turning into a little boy before my eyes. He definitely knows who I am and has started calling me "G." His name for Ray is "Papa." Watching him run around my house gives me a good feeling. I thank God for every moment I have with this precious child He's entrusted to my daughter and her husband. Grandchildren are definitely a gift from God to be loved and appreciated.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Back to Blogging
It's been a very long time since I've even looked at The Jade Page. Things in my life have been going very well and I'm feeling particularly blessed these days.
Noah, my grandson, has reached the ripe old age of (almost) 18 months. How can I describe the feeling I get when I see his little face, feel his hand in mine, or listen to his laughter? I can't...the miracle of Noah is beyond description. I've watched him grow from a very tiny infant to a curious toddler before my eyes. Candice has also transformed from a young wife into a loving, nurturing mother. Watching her take care of Noah has made me realize that the gamble I took when I quit my job after she was born was well worth it. She is really, really good at taking care of her son! One of the things that especially impressed me was the way she taught Noah how to "sign" so he can express himself a little better. As a result, Noah is growing confident and good at letting us know what he needs and wants.
Thomas is still in the Army and due to separate later this year. However, the job market in tough these days and he is a responsible husband and father. He will not leave the Army until he's confident that he can support his family. I'm praying that he will find something soon so they can stay close enough for me to see them.
My youngest son, David, graduated from high school on June 10! He's never done anything the easy way and high school graduation was no exception. After spending half the school year at the continuation school, making up unearned credits, he beat the odds and was able to return to his regular high school in January. From then on, he had to work hard to maintain his grades and earn his credits to graduate. In order to do this, he even had to join the chorus and sing! He finally got word Friday before graduation that he'd passed his classes and would be allowed to walk with his class. I promptly got on-line, ordered his cap and gown (paid $45 for expedited shipping too) and then began to pray it would arrive on time and that it would be the right shade of blue. Thank God, it was! We got ready and left to get the boys (David and Gabe, my foster son) to Azusa Pacific University at 4 p.m. After we parked the car and made our way to the auditorium, the emotions began to hit me. Once the music started, my tears came fast and plentiful. I thought about taking him to kindergarten for the first time, the loss of his father 2 weeks later, and all the years in between then and now. I hope my late husband, Dave, is watching from Heaven and is happy with the way I've raised the children. Anyway, David accomplished a task that was nearly impossible and he graduated from high school with his friends on time! I'm so very proud of him. Thanks, Lord for all your help!
Please keep praying for our troops. I hope to blog a little more often than I have recently. In the mean time, God bless everyone!
Noah, my grandson, has reached the ripe old age of (almost) 18 months. How can I describe the feeling I get when I see his little face, feel his hand in mine, or listen to his laughter? I can't...the miracle of Noah is beyond description. I've watched him grow from a very tiny infant to a curious toddler before my eyes. Candice has also transformed from a young wife into a loving, nurturing mother. Watching her take care of Noah has made me realize that the gamble I took when I quit my job after she was born was well worth it. She is really, really good at taking care of her son! One of the things that especially impressed me was the way she taught Noah how to "sign" so he can express himself a little better. As a result, Noah is growing confident and good at letting us know what he needs and wants.
Thomas is still in the Army and due to separate later this year. However, the job market in tough these days and he is a responsible husband and father. He will not leave the Army until he's confident that he can support his family. I'm praying that he will find something soon so they can stay close enough for me to see them.
My youngest son, David, graduated from high school on June 10! He's never done anything the easy way and high school graduation was no exception. After spending half the school year at the continuation school, making up unearned credits, he beat the odds and was able to return to his regular high school in January. From then on, he had to work hard to maintain his grades and earn his credits to graduate. In order to do this, he even had to join the chorus and sing! He finally got word Friday before graduation that he'd passed his classes and would be allowed to walk with his class. I promptly got on-line, ordered his cap and gown (paid $45 for expedited shipping too) and then began to pray it would arrive on time and that it would be the right shade of blue. Thank God, it was! We got ready and left to get the boys (David and Gabe, my foster son) to Azusa Pacific University at 4 p.m. After we parked the car and made our way to the auditorium, the emotions began to hit me. Once the music started, my tears came fast and plentiful. I thought about taking him to kindergarten for the first time, the loss of his father 2 weeks later, and all the years in between then and now. I hope my late husband, Dave, is watching from Heaven and is happy with the way I've raised the children. Anyway, David accomplished a task that was nearly impossible and he graduated from high school with his friends on time! I'm so very proud of him. Thanks, Lord for all your help!
Please keep praying for our troops. I hope to blog a little more often than I have recently. In the mean time, God bless everyone!
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Water Wiggle
For a couple of weeks now I've been remembering something that happened when I was a girl and it was so funny I just have to memorialize it in my blog. First a little background...I was filling out one of those "get to know your friends better" surveys when the question came up, "What was your favorite toy as a child?" To be completely honest, I don't really remember playing with toys very much. I know I had some toys but the only toy I could really remember having was the Barbie game. I remember having fun playing it, but it really wasn't my favorite toy to play with, mostly because you had to have at least one other person to play the game with you.
Suddenly I remembered playing with a toy that was so much fun the memory brings a smile to my face to this very day. It was a Water Wiggle! I'm not quite sure where the Water Wiggle came from but my guess is that my Aunt Chita probably brought it home from work. It was a hot summer day and my best Beatle buddy, Marie, was staying at my grandmother's house with me. We were bored, hot and sitting on the front porch when my grandma and grandpa decided to hook the Water Wiggle up to the hose. If you're not familiar with a Water Wiggle, it was a tube that you attached to the water hose, then there was a cup-like piece of plastic with a silly face painted on it. The water shot up from the hose, into the long tube and then bounced off the top of the cup which made the water propel this contraption all around, shooting water everywhere the whole time. Marie and I were wearing capris and poor boy tops and we were, of course, barefoot. Once the water was turned on, the Water Wiggle wrapped around us, chased us and soaked us from head to toe. We were laughing so hard, the thing would wrap around us and we kept running around getting wetter and wetter! When we finally stopped, my grandparents were sitting on the front porch with tears running down their cheeks from laughing so hard. I'm not positive but I think my aunt was there as well.
I'm sure we were quite comical to watch and I wish we'd had a videotape of that event but there was no such thing in those days. Sadly, quite a few years later I heard they stopped manufacturing Water Wiggles because they were too dangerous. Maybe they were dangerous, but it didn't stop us from having a great time with that silly toy.
God bless everyone this Thanksgiving and please pray for our troops and their families.
Suddenly I remembered playing with a toy that was so much fun the memory brings a smile to my face to this very day. It was a Water Wiggle! I'm not quite sure where the Water Wiggle came from but my guess is that my Aunt Chita probably brought it home from work. It was a hot summer day and my best Beatle buddy, Marie, was staying at my grandmother's house with me. We were bored, hot and sitting on the front porch when my grandma and grandpa decided to hook the Water Wiggle up to the hose. If you're not familiar with a Water Wiggle, it was a tube that you attached to the water hose, then there was a cup-like piece of plastic with a silly face painted on it. The water shot up from the hose, into the long tube and then bounced off the top of the cup which made the water propel this contraption all around, shooting water everywhere the whole time. Marie and I were wearing capris and poor boy tops and we were, of course, barefoot. Once the water was turned on, the Water Wiggle wrapped around us, chased us and soaked us from head to toe. We were laughing so hard, the thing would wrap around us and we kept running around getting wetter and wetter! When we finally stopped, my grandparents were sitting on the front porch with tears running down their cheeks from laughing so hard. I'm not positive but I think my aunt was there as well.
I'm sure we were quite comical to watch and I wish we'd had a videotape of that event but there was no such thing in those days. Sadly, quite a few years later I heard they stopped manufacturing Water Wiggles because they were too dangerous. Maybe they were dangerous, but it didn't stop us from having a great time with that silly toy.
God bless everyone this Thanksgiving and please pray for our troops and their families.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
November Sunsets
It's November again and I'm enjoying the sunsets through my office window. November sunsets are especially spectacular because of the various colors that are displayed in the sky. The setting sun causes a rich yellow gold and the clouds become tinged with various shades of pink and peach. The remaining sky takes on deep blue, light blue, grey and periwinkle. I've watched the November sunsets out of my office window for a few years now.
The first time I noticed a November sunset, I was struck by the beauty and was convinced the Lord had painted the sky with such beautiful colors as a present for me. As Novembers came and went, I began to look forward to the evenings when the "painted sky" would appear.
In November of 2004, I had just become engaged to my husband Ray. We were planning our wedding at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ventura, CA for February 2005. As I sat at my desk in my office I caught a glimpse of the November sunset and decided that the colors in the sky would be the colors at our wedding. This year, when I noticed the November sunset, I looked at a picture of my two daughters dressed in their bridesmaid's dresses and held it up against the sky. The two different shades of blue (sky blue for Candie and periwinkle blue for Nicole) matched the blues in the sky perfectly!
Now a few years have passed and Candie is living at Fort Irwin with her husband. We visited them last weekend and, late in the afternoon, a November sunset appeared. I was pleased that she had noticed the splendor of the sky herself and even took a picture of it.
Please take time to look at my November sunsets. You will not be disappointed! Please pray for our troops and their families.
The first time I noticed a November sunset, I was struck by the beauty and was convinced the Lord had painted the sky with such beautiful colors as a present for me. As Novembers came and went, I began to look forward to the evenings when the "painted sky" would appear.
In November of 2004, I had just become engaged to my husband Ray. We were planning our wedding at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ventura, CA for February 2005. As I sat at my desk in my office I caught a glimpse of the November sunset and decided that the colors in the sky would be the colors at our wedding. This year, when I noticed the November sunset, I looked at a picture of my two daughters dressed in their bridesmaid's dresses and held it up against the sky. The two different shades of blue (sky blue for Candie and periwinkle blue for Nicole) matched the blues in the sky perfectly!
Now a few years have passed and Candie is living at Fort Irwin with her husband. We visited them last weekend and, late in the afternoon, a November sunset appeared. I was pleased that she had noticed the splendor of the sky herself and even took a picture of it.
Please take time to look at my November sunsets. You will not be disappointed! Please pray for our troops and their families.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Grandma-In-Waiting
Yesterday I spoke to Candie and was pleased to hear her routine doctor visit went well. She said the ultrasound showed that nothing had fallen off and the baby is still a boy. I'm glad to hear that, not because I have a preference between boy or girl, but because so many things we've purchased and made are geared for a boy.
This is such an exciting time. I remember being pregnant with my children like it was yesterday. In my lifetime I've given birth to 3 boys and 2 girls. My pregnancies with the boys involved lots of nausea and blotchy skin. With the girls, my hair grew long, thick and luxurious, my skin was aglow and I was never nauseated once. I know that the medical community would not agree, but I know my body definitely reacted differently depending on the sex of the baby.
My memories of all 5 pregnancies involve the excitement and anticipation of giving birth, then discovering what kind of personality each child had. The comforting thing for me is that, even as adults, each child of mine has the ability to put a smile on my face and bring joy to my heart just by being who they are.
I wish all the best for Candie, Thomas and their new little person. And I'm looking forward to getting to know the baby and, maybe, being able to add to his life experience. It's like God has given us a present to open slowly so we can savor every moment.
Please continue to pray for our troops and their families. With the Holiday Season coming upon us very soon, there are many who will be separated from their loved ones. They, especially, need our prayers and support.
This is such an exciting time. I remember being pregnant with my children like it was yesterday. In my lifetime I've given birth to 3 boys and 2 girls. My pregnancies with the boys involved lots of nausea and blotchy skin. With the girls, my hair grew long, thick and luxurious, my skin was aglow and I was never nauseated once. I know that the medical community would not agree, but I know my body definitely reacted differently depending on the sex of the baby.
My memories of all 5 pregnancies involve the excitement and anticipation of giving birth, then discovering what kind of personality each child had. The comforting thing for me is that, even as adults, each child of mine has the ability to put a smile on my face and bring joy to my heart just by being who they are.
I wish all the best for Candie, Thomas and their new little person. And I'm looking forward to getting to know the baby and, maybe, being able to add to his life experience. It's like God has given us a present to open slowly so we can savor every moment.
Please continue to pray for our troops and their families. With the Holiday Season coming upon us very soon, there are many who will be separated from their loved ones. They, especially, need our prayers and support.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
My Year So Far
I realized that I hadn't posted anything since last January. I will update what's gone on so far this year.
On January 21, my husband was let go from his job. He began looking for a new one immediately. Then in May, we discovered that a hot water pipe to my shower had broken. Long story short, we had to undergo a complete demolition of both our bathrooms, mold/asbestos remediation, then reconstruction of the bathrooms as well as one wall in my daughter's room and one wall in the hallway. We spent 6 weeks at the local Best Western while all the work was taking place. Thank God Ray wasn't working and was able to rebuild both bathrooms with the help of some of his friends.
Also at the beginning of the year, I found out that Candie and Thomas were transferring from Hawaii to somewhere on the mainland. The possibilities included Colorado, Washington and Fort Irwin in California. On Mother's Day I was overjoyed to find out that they were being sent to Fort Irwin, which is a 126 mile trip from my house! It was a very good Mother's Day knowing that next year they will be home. Then on May 23, as I was getting my nails done, my cell phone rang with Candie's special ring. I answered and she said she had another surprise for me...she told me she was expecting a baby! It was just too good to be true-they were coming home to live and I am going to be a grandmother! The Lord has really smiled on me this year.
It's been a wonderful time looking forward to Candie and Thomas moving home and the new baby. We've since found out that it's a boy and appears to have all the necessary parts. Now that they're home, Candie is in "full bloom" and looking radiant, happy and healthy. Thomas is also looking forward to having his son and has been supportive and loving during this huge transition. They recently moved into their home at Fort Irwin, which is roomy and perfect for them.
Ray found a new job in September and was put to work immediately. He likes what he's doing and is busy learning all about his new company. This job is also two blocks from our home so it's very convenient. He is also busy studying for his contractor's license. I encouraged him to get his license because he enjoyed rebuilding our bathrooms so much. He is happy and I'm very grateful that I have him as a partner in life.
The lesson I've learned this year is to always trust that the Lord knows what He's doing. The dark cloud that appeared when Ray was let go from his job turned out to be a blessing and now every thing is better than it was before. Until next time, God bless you!
On January 21, my husband was let go from his job. He began looking for a new one immediately. Then in May, we discovered that a hot water pipe to my shower had broken. Long story short, we had to undergo a complete demolition of both our bathrooms, mold/asbestos remediation, then reconstruction of the bathrooms as well as one wall in my daughter's room and one wall in the hallway. We spent 6 weeks at the local Best Western while all the work was taking place. Thank God Ray wasn't working and was able to rebuild both bathrooms with the help of some of his friends.
Also at the beginning of the year, I found out that Candie and Thomas were transferring from Hawaii to somewhere on the mainland. The possibilities included Colorado, Washington and Fort Irwin in California. On Mother's Day I was overjoyed to find out that they were being sent to Fort Irwin, which is a 126 mile trip from my house! It was a very good Mother's Day knowing that next year they will be home. Then on May 23, as I was getting my nails done, my cell phone rang with Candie's special ring. I answered and she said she had another surprise for me...she told me she was expecting a baby! It was just too good to be true-they were coming home to live and I am going to be a grandmother! The Lord has really smiled on me this year.
It's been a wonderful time looking forward to Candie and Thomas moving home and the new baby. We've since found out that it's a boy and appears to have all the necessary parts. Now that they're home, Candie is in "full bloom" and looking radiant, happy and healthy. Thomas is also looking forward to having his son and has been supportive and loving during this huge transition. They recently moved into their home at Fort Irwin, which is roomy and perfect for them.
Ray found a new job in September and was put to work immediately. He likes what he's doing and is busy learning all about his new company. This job is also two blocks from our home so it's very convenient. He is also busy studying for his contractor's license. I encouraged him to get his license because he enjoyed rebuilding our bathrooms so much. He is happy and I'm very grateful that I have him as a partner in life.
The lesson I've learned this year is to always trust that the Lord knows what He's doing. The dark cloud that appeared when Ray was let go from his job turned out to be a blessing and now every thing is better than it was before. Until next time, God bless you!
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