Time with Lola

Lola and I went to Central Park today.  Just not "the" Central Park you might be thinking.

The first time she went down this slide she was holding on to the bar above and just plopped down and I believe it surprised her because it surely surprised me.  But have no fear!  She got over that immediately.

It was a lovely playground made by the city near us.  We enjoyed visiting.  This was our first time since the day started out so cool (77 degrees).  We plan on making this visit many more times in the future since cooler weather is coming with the fall.

I am busy planning and working on our backyard for my youngest daughter's wedding.  We, at least, are going to be able to put our money in our own landscaping.  We're building a pavilion for the ceremony and later will use it for grilling and a hot tub.  I am excited about that.

The week after her wedding she and her husband will be honeymooning and we will watch Lola.

But the following week we are leaving with our RV for a short trip to Arkansas four-wheeling.  That will be a welcome relaxation from all the wedding plans.  Then on to planning our oldest daughter's spring wedding.  This time it will be held at a mansion.

Alpha and Omega

"I am the Alpha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."  Revelation 1:8


Today we celebrated Easter.  All of our family went to church together and afterwards had dinner there.  Lola, my granddaughter, got to hunt eggs with several other toddlers.  


My oldest daughter got engaged earlier in the week and we were able to visit and see her ring.  She was very excited and happy.  We really like her fiance.  He called her dad a week ago and asked to come over for a man-to-man chat.  They got together and he asked permission to ask Melissa to marry him.  


Time really seems to fly these days.  They will be getting married next year in April.  Lots of time to plan the wedding.


When I was a child we had a large family Bible that I would read.  There was a passage that always intrigued me.  It was from the book of Revelations chapter 1 verse 3:  "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;  for the time is near."  At the time I was especially interested to know that I would be blessed for just reading the Bible.  

Blizzard Brings out Memories

I never read the Little House books until I home-schooled my children. We read through the series and I cried at the appropriate places (couldn’t help it). That blizzard was the saddest part. I thought they were so brave and strong. We also loved the series on tv with Michael Landon. I have all the books. The Long Winter was all about the blizzard. Here is an excerpt:


“This life is a difficult riddle,

For how many people we see

With faces as long as a fiddle

That ought to be shining with glee

I am sure in this world there are plenty

Of good things enough for us all

And yet there’s not one out of twenty

But thinks that his share is too small.



Then what is the use of repining,

For where there’s a will there’s a way.

And tomorrow the sun may be shining,

Although it is cloudy today.



Do you think that by sitting and sighing

You’ll ever obtain all you want?

It’s cowards alone that are crying

And foolishly saying, ‘I can’t!’

It is only by plodding and striving

And laboring up the steep hill

Of life, that you’ll ever be thriving

Which you’ll do if you’ve only the will.”



On the Banks of Plum Creek has a chapter about The Long Blizzard in it too.

My favorite books from childhood were the Little Women series. I loved Jo so much. I also loved Heidi. But I believe my favorite books as a child was The Boxcar Kids. I could make-believe that life all day!

Also we had a magical time in the fourth grade with our teacher Mrs. Gray. She would read to us after lunch for an hour. She read Silver Chief Dog of the North by Jack O'Brien to us. We waited excitedly every day for her to continue the story. I loved that book and that woman.

Too Much

     You can never spend too much time with the ones you love.  I remember the times spent with my children so clearly now that they are grown.  There were times we played in the sand.  Times we tinkered with blocks.  We went for walks in the pasture.  Took a fishing pole with us.  Good times we spent swinging on the glider of the swing set singing, "How do you like to go air in the air?  Up in the sky so blue?  I think it is the most delightful thing ever a child could do."  That was only yesterday or so.  We played with Barbies, built Legos and Duplos before that.  We drove our firetruck and hot wheels and tricycles all around the porch.  We sat on the rooftop.  Baked the tasty cookies together.  Swam in the pool on hot sunny days.  Trips were made to the zoo and parks.  With picnics here and there.
     There was bath time, supper time, bedtime, stories to tell, nursing time, rocking time, and days to fill.  There were tears to dry, laughter to share, hearts to hear, and time to listen.  We played dress up and make believe, and forts were built.  In winter we made snowmen and snow ice cream.  In the fall we raked leaves.  But spring and summer were always the best.  Trying to skate with roller blades was difficult for me but I tried.  We played basketball and softball.  Attended a lot of football games and watched a certain cheerleader proudly.  There were parades to watch, proms and dances, contests and competitions.  We drove many miles and shopped many hours.
     Trips made to shop for groceries, time spent reading books aloud, especially enjoying Little House on the Prairie together.  We read the Bible together, prayed together, and attended church together.  We went to many concerts and even won tickets for backstage passes a few times.  We stood in lines to meet our favorite music artists and get their autographs and photos taken with us.
     Time was spent learning to drive.  And taking that driving test.  Whew!  Three graduations from high school and three first time trips to move into colleges.  This mom had the hardest time with that.  Moving them several times through the years since.  All these years and all these joys have never been enough.
     You can never spend too much time with the ones you love.
     You will never look back and say it was too much.