Where Did it Go?

Yes, I am blogging.  It's 1:38 a.m. and my brain is racing so to the keyboard I go.  The past year has been very full and very blessed.  Let me just give you a 12-point overview of the past episode of 2011/2012, or since I last blogged!  Do I get a grade reduction for late work?

1. Our son-in-law, Leonard, was transferred to Ramstein AFB in Kaiserslautern, Germany.  Our daughter, Victoria, granddaughter Kate (then one year old) moved to Germany to be with him on July 10, 2011.  They will be stationed there for at least three years.  (possibly the reason that my last blog was June 2011)  

2. Scott, Alyssa, and I visited Scott's mom in Pennsylvania later in July.  On the way we had vacation time in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Williamsburg, Virginia.  We had a wonderful time with his brother and sister's families and celebrated our beautiful niece's (Katelyn) graduation.  I have five nieces - all beautiful.  Our nephew, Nathan Petticoffer became the brother that Alyssa never had and she still misses him almost every day.  Have I told you that I have a nephew who's a firefighter?  They actually fit the name "Petticoffer" on his helmet.  We are so proud of him!

3. Alyssa began homeschooling in August.  We use the same curriculum as her church school friends and stay on the same schedule and calendar.  Having two adult children has made me keenly aware of the short time I have left with the youngest child.  With counsel from our pastor and family we decided to keep her at home to be educated.  We have thoroughly enjoyed this past year.  The flexibility of the school day worked well to spend time practicing music, doing art projects, sewing, going on ministry work with her "bachi" and also allowed her to have oral surgery and keep up with work at home.  That was a real blessing!

4. I have again had the privilege of teaching at Texas Baptist College.  During the fall semester I taught the Christian Womanhood class, Concert Choir, Hymn playing, and TBC Chorale.  During the spring semester I taught Music in a Soul-winning church, Concert Choir, Hymn playing, and TBC Chorale. I also teach ten piano students.  The Lord has blessed us with young people who are teachable, spirited, and willing servants.  The word that describes them best is "amazing".

5. Scott will reach his 19th year of employment at Weatherford International Lift Systems in a few months.  His schedule is arranged so that he works three or four long shifts each week and has several days off in a row.  He has tackled several projects including, but not limited to landscaping and resurfacing the back yard and patio, refinishing furniture, cleaning out the attic, and remodeling the main bathroom in record time.  Our bathroom has moved from 1962 (coral pink tile) to at least 1999.  I'm just kidding we are at 2008...

6. Our handsome nephew, Joe Simmons and his fiance' Liz Violett, were married on October 17, in Corpus Christi, Texas. We enjoyed being part of the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and wedding celebration.  The couple was beautiful and the wedding and reception turned out lovely.  We had a few hours to visit the USS Lexington Air Craft Carrier.  There are a lot of ladders to climb!  Alyssa ran out of steam before her two old parents did.  We had a great time.

7. Our other handsome nephew, Craig, got engaged to his girlfriend Devyn.  They will be married in a few weeks in California.  My sister Paula will get her girl and will be a mother-in-law.

8. Our daughter Jessica and her husband Martin had our second granddaughter, Emma LuAnne Meave, on January 5, 2012.  The fall was filled with doctor appointments and tests.  We praise the Lord for her safe and healthy arrival.  She is such a beautiful and good baby....lol, this is a grandmother's opinion!

9. Scott and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in San Antonio, Texas.  No plans, no meetings, no one to see, praise the Lord.  We went to church on Wednesday night and did whatever we felt like doing or not doing for the rest of the time - that was neat.  Our hotel sidewalk led us to the Riverwalk so we enjoyed walking to our destinations most of the time. 

10. My other beautiful niece, Meagan, went away to Hyles-Anderson College. We sure have missed her.  She is very good about calling and skyping, so three cheers for her.  

11. My brother Mark and his wife Kimberly will be moving to Shreveport, Louisiana due to his recent job promotion with the Brookshires grocery chain.  We are so proud of his accomplishments even though we will miss living so close to them.  

12. We are now preparing for a big occasion - My cousin and her husband are coming to visit us from Japan.  I have never met any of my first cousins and they are excited to come to America, what they are expecting I do not know... Well, I'm excited to meet them even though we won't be able to communicate very well.  I'm sure we'll drink lots of hot green tea and laugh a lot.  My cousin, Emi, is 60 years old and probably half my size.  I'm praying that she and her husband will be saved on this trip.

If you are reading this you must be a very dear friend or just plain bored.  I will do my best to keep up with the day-to-day happening and major events.

"Last Days"

Today is our last day to spend with Victoria, Leonard, and Kate.  We have been busy watching the sweetest baby on earth while her parents clean and pack.
I'm taking time to blog to ask you for your prayers as they travel to Kaiserslautern, Germany.  Ramstein Air Force Base.  They have a three-year duty there.
Victoria has always been near home, attended the same church all of her life, and has had the same circle of friends.  Your prayers will help her with this adjustment.
I will post their new address and some pictures when I find out the details.  Their email addresses will not change - lenandtor2008@gmail.com (Victoria), lrcg1988@gmail.com (Leonard).
Thank you, dear friends and family!

Family Togetherness

Our family has been counting the days until Leonard's return.  On Saturday, Alyssa and I spent the day running errands to prepare for this week.  We went from a typical summer week schedule to a Nascar pit crew schedule!
Sunday, June 19 was Father's Day.  So after church we celebrated Scott's day and my birthday, since my birthday is on the twentieth.  Monday was the beginning of the Teen Convention.  Wow! That was exciting! Days began at 5:30 a.m. and finished around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday was our other son-in-law Martin's birthday.  We gave him his gift and had his birthday cake the following Sunday!
Finally, on Wednesday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.  Leonard arrived at the Longview airport.  What a blessing!  We got to give him a hug take pictures and make it in time for rehearsal for the Teen Convention service that night.  My whole family was there. Hallelujah!
Thursday morning was the closing day for the convention.  The young people were such a blessing but we were exhausted!!  (physically and emotionally)  I was looking forward to some time off - then Scott called and told me that his van broke down, so I had to pick him up from work at 6:00 p.m.  I got to be his ride for the next two days!!!
Alyssa got her quality time when I took her to the orthodontist on Friday morning and then we spent some time shopping at Hobby Lobby and Mardell's.  Friday afternoon was spent getting ready for Kate's first birthday party.  Victoria invited a few close friends and we enjoyed watching Kate eat her birthday cupcake!
On Sunday we hosted a family dinner for the Costas and his Dad, Leonard, Sr.  Martin got his birthday song and cake and we had a great time!  Alyssa came down with a virus and is still recuperating.
Just when you're a little down or lonely God pours out his blessing of family togetherness!  I think I need a nap now!

Brave Girl

Victoria has been looking forward to seeing Leonard since he was shipped overseas.  He left for Korea in March of 2010, Kate was born in June of 2010, and she hoped to see him this week.
Because of paperwork, passports, military protocol, Leonard's return has been put off again.  Victoria has been "holding on" bravely, but is now getting a little impatient.  Please pray for all of the little things that will make a difference in him coming home.  The Lord knows the exact timing and when will be best.  Victoria just needs a little strength to make it through the last long days.  (even though we as grandparents are enjoying Kate, we know it's time for her to see her daddy!)

Enjoying every minute

This is my first post for 2011 and it is April 9!  Life has been busy and good.  Scott and I have been busy being parents and grandparents.  Lots of fun.  To catch up on events, we've done the following...

• travelled to Joy Britt's and Robert Bleak's winter wedding in Oklahoma - beautiful!
• Enjoyed going with Meagan to her last teen banquet
• Snow days
• celebrated Jessica's 24th birthday in February
• celebrated Mom's 83rd and Mark's 43rd birthdays on March 2
• helped hostess a bridal shower for DeAnna Gray, to be married to Josh Doyle
• Spring break
• celebrated Scott's 51st birthday
• put in new landscaping in the front yard in two areas
• we work with Alyssa on her homework, piano playing, art work, and goofing around time!
• we've spent time with our granddaughter, Kate at least once a week!

Scott has been going through several changes at his work including schedule cuts, machine changes, management changes, etc...  I have been honored to teach four Texas Baptist College classes this semester: "Church Music Administration", "Music Appreciation", "Music in a Soul Winning Church", and "Marriage and the Christian Home."  

In February, Scott's mom fell and broke her leg in two places.  She is still unable to put any weight on her leg, walk, or get around on her own.  She is in a nursing home for daily rehab and care.  Thankfully, she enjoys the company, the caretakers, and the food!  What a blessing.  We hope she will be up and around my the end of the month.

A highlight of this month is our church Spring campaign.  It is a "Spring Thing Fling" - (a Dr. Suess theme - Thing 1 vs. Thing 2) Our family is on the Thing Two side.  It has been a very fun campaign.  We are looking forward to each Sunday to see what's coming up!  We had a lot of visitors the first week.

Quiet Last Days of 2010

I have to say this past week has been very peaceful and quiet.  There have been no couples to chaperone, no weddings to plan, cantatas to practice, deadlines for classes, packages to wrap, or major family happenings.  Mom and I have been sick with head and chest colds, so we take turns coughing and sneezing.  Victoria and Kate have dropped by for dinner several times this week, which we've enjoyed very much.  Meagan Simmons spent an afternoon with us watching old tv episodes on dvd.  Alyssa gave herself a "spa" facial tonight.  Scott has fallen asleep "watching football" several times after working 14-16 hour days.
As I pondered our peaceful state, the phrase "and it came to pass" kept coming into my mind.  The trials and seeming hardships of 2010 are behind us, we have passed through them.  We went through many valleys through the grace of God alone. Thank the Lord for several mountain top experiences that helped to balance out the depths.  For today there has been some peace, well, except for the sneezing.
Scott and I are thinking there may be some more difficulties around the corner, but we can't focus on what may happen, just do our best with what is at hand.  We are thankful that our two oldest daughters have their own places with husbands who love them very much.  We are thankful that Leonard has been safe in South Korea despite the turmoil there.  We are thankful for Alyssa's health, attitude, and loving spirit.
Thank God for this peaceful retreat at the end of 2010. Whatever 2011 has in store, God has His perfect plan and will for each of us.  I just need to take a deep breath and trust in Him each day. Happy New Year dear friends!

Wedding Over, New Chapter Begun

Yesterday was our oldest daughter's wedding day.  I believe everything turned out as wonderfully as possible for Jessica and Martin.  They were surrounded by family, a pastor, and friends who were very supportive and who gave of their time and resources to show their love.  Wonderful people cleaned, set up chairs, decorated, hung dozens of snowflakes, lights, and tulle.  Family members cooked a rehearsal dinner and reception dinner with food, cake, and drinks to spare.  Dear friends helped un-decorate, un-set up, clean, organize, load, and transfer hundreds of chairs and props.  Scott and I were there until the last light was turned off and door was locked.  The best man and crew were still placing chairs in the church building at 11:00 p.m.  We came home very grateful for our wonderful friends and church family.
Today was day "one" of our lives without Jessica in the house.  I did keep looking over my shoulder, wondering if she'd zip through the kitchen or burst through the door - nothing but quiet.  Jessica's wedding gear and several boxes of odds and ends still occupy one corner of her bedroom (until her return from the honeymoon....).  Alyssa now has her own bedroom which we organized and cleaned today.  She has the entire closet to herself!  This frees our hall closet for our coats.  Hallelujah!  I am trying to focus on the "bright" side of the change, although it seems like the second wedding in our family was a little harder on me emotionally than the first.
We have already hung her bridal portrait next to Victoria's in the living room.  There is space for one more, but we won't go there.  I have praised the Lord for bringing Jessica into and through our lives.   The road has been a challenge but it has been an exciting journey.  Someone asked me what was different about mine and Jessica's relationship.  I had to answer that I have had to chase, pull, out-think, out-plan, out-smart, stay a step ahead of this child since we brought her home from the hospital.  There has never been a dull moment, there could not be.  Every day brought hundreds of questions and comments , "Let's go, Mommy", "What's next, Mommy?", "Why that, Mommy?", "I'll do it myself", "Let me try", etc...  My standby response to Jessica since she was two was "Remember, I am the the mommy and you are a child.  Repeat - I am a child"....  Since she was five-year's-old I've never had to call in a pizza order, answer the home phone, order at the drive through, take drink "orders" from guests, program the VCR, or give her order at a restaurant.  I may have to start doing these things now, but I don't have to stay a step ahead or outsmart her....I think.
What's next in our future?  It's a little more simple - candy selling, an orthodontist appointment on Monday, and piano lessons.  Merry Christmas!