Big day

May 30th, 2008 is a big day in the lives of two young women I am crazy about.

Half way around the world, our beautiful granddaughter, Ashley, will be graduating from the International School of Kuala Lumpur! I still clearly remember getting hold of Greg by phone just minutes after Ashley was born down in Houston. You could hear the wonder in his voice. And now that sweet baby is all grown up and starting college! This is such a milestone that I can not still get my head wrapped around. Ashley is now a college student!

And in a few hours Stephanie will walk down the aisle and marry Andy. Steph's mom has been my friend even before Steph was born. Our families are tightly tied together...much joy, too many tragedies and always love. This last year has not been easy for their family to navigate, losing John last summer was such a hard blow. So tomorrow a day of joy. I can hardly wait!

Coveting prayers for both these gals as they both move into their new lives.

12:00 noon addition: Greg has just posted on his blog, here. pictures of the family.Since his blog is public again, click on his blog

Ashley graduates!

Stephanie and her awesome dad.

Ahh, the glorious baseball season begins...

Season ender...

You Never Let Go...

There is a new David Crowder song out entitled "You Never Let Go". From the first time I heard it, it resonated with me. It begins:

When clouds veil sun And disaster comes Oh, my soul Oh, my soul. When waters rise And hope takes flight, Oh, my soul Oh, my soul. Oh, my soul. Ever faithful, Ever true, You I know. You never let go. You never let go. You never let go. You never let go.

Pete got me a CD of the song and I play it often, so often that when I play it and the grandkids are in the car, they sing along. It is so amazing to glance in the rearview mirror and see a 4 year old singing "You never let go, you never let go..."

Today was one of those days I needed to hear it again. The sad news of Steven Curtis Chapman's little girl's death; concern for a dear uncle with a bad health prognosis; worry for one of my best friends who lives in Windsor CO where a monster tornado struck (They are safe!); general weariness at people lacking compassion; a sweet friend Jackie who just lost her dad. I have been sad about the events in Texas that abruptly took over 400 kids away from their mothers and fathers. I would cringe wondering what in the world those poor kids must be feeling. I am reminded God never lets go, He never lets go. Tragic circumstances are a chapter in our lives, not the whole book.

And lighter, much lighter, good news. Greg has taken his blog public again. Their lives in Malaysia are so amazing. I am glad he made this choice. And for general fun, I got to have dinner with my daughter-in-law and two cute grandsons to visit Grandpa Pete as Parky. We had so much fun, I forgot to take pictures. Only downside is young Hayden is sporting a cast on his recently broken arm, the result of a schoolyard collision. Now I'm really glad I got to go to his T-Ball game a few weeks ago; looks like he'll be down for the rest of the season.

How much can one weekend hold?

This weekend was bursting from Friday to Sunday night. Friday we helped make last minute preparations and purchases for Saturday's big move...more on that later. I had some grandma fun earlier with D and M and I until it was time to go to the wedding of our friend's daughter. The ceremony was lovely, the food fabulous and the DJ wonderful.

Same DJ got home about 1:30 AM only for us to get rolling bright and early Saturday morning to Pete's parents' home to help them move. After 50 years in their house, they needed to downsize to a very cute apartment. Our friends and family were amazing troopers as we squished a houseful of stuff appropriately into a one bedroom plus den apartment. The den is now the new "basement". One can only imagine the emotion for my in-laws plus the incredible discovery of how much of a little pack rat my mother-in-law is. We had to keep sneaking out stuff no longer good (food date codes as far back as 1979, Katie sorting out all their meds, some good, some dangerous.). I think I was the only one who actually bled...a board for the trusty new med cabinet fell on my shin and nurse Kristin tended the wound. (FYI to my kids, I promise I will begin to purge my belongings.)

Saturday ended with dinner out for Pete and me, only to anxiously discover the folks were not answering their phone. So back we went...all was well.

And Sunday, Maya's birthday! Yippee for being seven. Her other grandma and Aunt Wendy got the longed for American Girl doll, Mia. How perfect! We were got Maya and Mia matching outfits and a promisory note for brunch at the American Girl store. A fun after-church breakfast at our favorite after-church restaurant with 10 of us was great with the whole place singing Happy Birthday to Maya. Sweet.

Of course this day was not yet done. I had volunteered Pete and I to participate in the final Feed My Starving Children food packaging event for Willow Creek. Soooo, from 5 to 7 we sealed measured packs of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavoring to be sent to Zimbabwe, Africa. Willow activated 15000 volunteers to make 3.5 million packets. Impressive. Maybe not quite as impressive as us squishing all that stuff into the new apartment but almost :)

Maya is the birthday princess and the whole restaurant sang!

Maya and Mia on Maya's 7th birthday!

The boys...

Mother's Day dinner. Way fun.

Proud dad with our grad!

Gail, this is for you. Loved the rubber chicken cake!

4 year old Hayden and his T-Ball opponent play at 3rd base

Happy Mother's Day 2008

The two pictures below represent five generations of my family. And I really tried to search for the old photo that had me as the baby with my mom, grandma, and great grandmother. We are so lucky to have the wonder of photos and all the technology to reproduce and copy them. I can really look at my mom and grandma and remember.

And the picture of my mom, me and Grandma Pope with me holding Greg, I distinctly remember the day it was taken...the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. No thoughts of blogs, home computers, cell phones, etc. back in those days.

To all the mom's that have made themselves part of my life, some way or another, may this be a day of blessings and one where you can hug your kids to let them know they mean everything to you. Mine do.

Three moms and Maya.

Three moms and a baby.

Greg the newborn with his admiring (to this day) mom.

Greg's 1st birthday...38 years ago!

Greg as a little guy.

Greg all grown up.

Twins learning to play "Take Me out to the Ballgame."

Holy Cow! Greg is 39!

How can it be that I now have a son who has just turned 39? I only feel 39 myself; must be new math. I am here to report that all of us are doing well. Greg is in Bangkok today, but I think I understand he was home in Kuala Lumpur for his birthday. ( New math again, or at least, world time differences...very confusing.)

Ashley graduates high school May 30th from the International School of Kuala Lumpur. This will be an historic day as she crosses the high school finish line with all kinds of amazing honors. We are looking forward to the Malaysians coming in a few months to get Ash settled in her new IL digs as she begins college! Whee.

And in the college theme, Kristin will be graduating from UIC this weekend. I could not be prouder of what a grace-filled, compassionate and now highly educated young woman she has become. Surely I will have follow up pictures to post following the ceremonies. I am anticipating having a lump in my throat and teary eyes not just for Kristin but remembering that Laurie and Kristin had always planned on graduating together and starting their next phase of life together.

Katie and all the kids are well. In fact right now Katie, Denver, Maya and Isaiah are at the Cubs game for a sort of early Mother's Day celebration. The twins are here with Pete and me, both wearing little Cubs jerseys. Katie is a dedicated nurse caring for 97 developmentally disabled adults at a live-in shelter. Her job and apartment are only minutes apart so at least for that portion she saves on gasoline bills.

Hey, here's a good birthday present for Greg. The Cubs just won! Happy birthday, Greggie.

Happy 19th Anniversary, honey...