Busyness and Business

I have been so busy lately that I know that this blog is getting neglected!  I'm checking in today with pictures of what I have been up to and will not be able to check in again for another week, probably.  Some of our house guests have just left, my mother is still here visiting--hasn't been in this area for five years-- and I'm swamped with the final end of the year holiday apron orders for my wholesale buyer!  So here is a recap of my last week's activities:

Son, mother and hubby watching baseball 

Grandson, Indiana at bat

With Sister-in Laws at the Seattle Space Needle.     

 Visiting with family:

Daugher, granddaughter, daughter with mom and me

Now, I need to get to the sewing machine . . . . see ya next week!

Mom's 84th Wordless Wednesday!

Me and mom a few years ago!

Today is my mom's birthday!  We are all very pleased to celebrate her 84 years!

Mom, is that you?

This picture was originally posted by my friend Laurie, on one of her lovely blogs. She collects all kinds of odds and ends and makes beautiful things! I don't know where she got this picture, but the two gals on either side of the lamp stand look exactly like my mother and her sister!  The brunette looking like my mom, Jodine, and the blond like my aunt Wilma.  Both sew, and have all of their lives.  They are both in their eighties now.   My aunt Wilma, even altered an evening dress for herself the other day, because she wanted it short, not long for her granddaughters wedding!

Wouldn't it be a hoot to find out that this IS a picture of them!  Mom lives far away from me, so I am re-posting this for her to see on my brother's computer.  We will see what she says!  

Better by the (two) dozen!

Did I tell you I am a grandmother! My twenty-fourth grandchild arrived this weekend! That's right--#24. But when you have raised 10 kids, that's not too many! Little Ada Margaret arrived late Saturday night -- a home birth. She has a brother and sister. Brother, Roman 4 yrs, sang to her: "Happy Birthday" and brought flowers to mommy and to little Ada.

Little Blessings!

We are so privileged (and BLESSED) to be the grandparents of 23 grandchildren!

Andy and I have a blended family of ten children, so 23 grandchildren is not so many! Of course they range in age from 3 months to 21 years! They grow up so fast! I've written about several, from time to time in my blog-- see previous posts. With mother's day coming up soon, I decided to write about my blessed life as a mom and grandmother!


What is a mother? To me,without writing a WHOLE BOOK!, it means having unconditional love for your offspring, regardless of their ages, and regardless of how you obtained them -- biological, adopted, or 'step children'--although we NEVER use that term in our family! If they call you mom, they are your children and I choose to love them! It also means, being there for them when they need someone to affirm them and ALWAYS forgiving slips in behaviour! (I always told them, when they were growing up: "I might abhore your behaviour, but I will always love YOU!") I read a little book by Jerry Cook, called Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness. Although it is specifically about Christian love in the church, it's become my motto. (I've added it to my recommended books section in the right column.)


My kids? I'm truly blessed with three homemakers, two who home school our grandchildren; a financial advisor, an IT guy, a graphic artist, a children's pastor, a financial trainer, a math teacher and a project manager. All of their spouses are awesome people and I love them just as much. Are they all done having kids? Well, no . . . several more grandchildren will be on their way, including a few that will be adopted! A new experience for me!


So . . . be sure to honor your mom this season and if you are a mom, recount to yourself all the little blessings, all the memories, all the surprises and you will find that you, too, are truly blessed!


P.S. Photo taken by Mommy Annie of my grandson Roman with his daddy, Aaron.