Back to school

A new school year is upon us ;-) and because of the nature of education, of course we have changes within the building; BUT the changes are not as drastic as many of us feared when the 2008-2009 school year ended! I applied for an administration position, quickly discovered I am meant to continue teaching! God has a different plan than I have... imagine...lol. He reminds me quite often that I am not in control, every now I then I forget and challenge His plan ;-) Outside a few situations, I am content with Him being in control!!! I really try serenity for those situations ;-)

I was reminded again this morning, while listening to a friend of Russell's, Jeff Aldridge speak at church about how great God is in his family's life... He is fighting ALS, his wife is having tests for colin cancer, and one of his daughters is in remission from leukemia after 27 months of chemo! He told his doctor that God will decide how many steps he will take in life when his doctor told him he had 2-5 years to live! WOW, what an inspiration you and your family are Jeff Aldridge!!!!

Alyvia and Zoe share the cradle for a second at Tasha and Josh's on Zoe's homecoming day, August 16th. I am grateful the family got together at our house last weekend for hamburgers on the grill. I don't mind being an "empty nester" with my husband, but I do miss our children and their families. I truly love being part of their lives and am grateful for every second I get with them/though never long enough! Looking at our calendar wondering when they will be able to get together in September!!!!

Six months old; still something new everyday! She'll be bopping around in the spirit of the holidays in a blink of an eye...

and then I look at this picture, remembering when Russell and I brought Tasha home 23 years ago.... we have shared her and Devon with so many friends and family members. We are sooo proud of the adults they have become, the families they are creating, and they lives they continue to influence!!! including mine ;-) x0x0x0

Introductions

Josh & Tasha's family wait together for "Baby B" to arrive...

.... Zoe Maddison ;-) born to Natasha and Joshua on August 13, 2009 @ 8:46 am weighing 6# 8oz; 19 inches long!!! Has a head full of hair and darling cheeks ;-) Welcome, our second beautiful grand-daughter. We have so many blessings!!!

Uncle Devon took the day off work to be with your mommy welcome you into the world ;-) How loved you are already!!!

..and your God sister, Logann couldn't wait to meet you! She waited 40 weeks with mcuh anticipation to see you and learn your name ;-)

Planning

Alyvia is 5 months old already... as beautiful as ever ;-) We don't see her everyday anymore ;-( and I miss her terribly; but Devon is very busy with working two jobs, going to paramedic school and studying. Megan has a full-time job at a childcare in Amanda where Alyvia can also attend. We will try our best to value our "quality" time together whenever it can happen!!!! Well.... Tasha and Josh will be proud parents most likely on August 13th around 8:15 am!!! The baby is breech so Tasha needs to have a c-section. Tasha says the likelihood of the baby flipping is pretty low because she has been in this position most of the pregnancy/evidently her comfort zone ;-) Regardless of a c-section or vaginal delivery, we pray for health and safety for Tasha and the baby, we all will be grateful!!! Josh will be getting a tattoo somehow related to the baby, so he encouraged me to go with him to get mine since I have TALKED about it for years! We'll see ;-)

The fair was exciting... My niece Abigail and her friend Ashley, Tasha, the girls (Abbie and Logann), me and RUSSELL-the lucky man-all spent the day together! The weather was beautiful, the animals were serene, and watching the girls on rides was entertaining :-)

Auuuuugggust!!

"Always do what you are afraid to do."Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can't believe June and July have passed and August has arrived! 23 days and school will be back in session. I am ready for the students; however, I still have a "to do" list @ home... mostly painting! Russell (and Josh) laid wood floors in the livingroom which brought on painting the livingroom;

Devon and Megan moved in to their own place-which brought on painting two bedrooms, laying more wood floor and moving furniture from our sunroom to the bedrooms!!! We have redecorated without planning to redecorate, imagine that ;-)

Baby B could arrive any day and Alyvia will be six months old the 17th. Tasha's doctor said she will induce on the 20th if she doesn't deliver by the 19th. Tasha and Josh are ready, and so are Granny and Poppy!!! Count on pictures being posted ;-)

We will be taking Logann and Abbie ("my girls") to the Ohio State Fair this coming Monday; the Ross County fair next Monday. Rides, animals, food, and (hopefully) lots of sunshine!!