Christmas Pictures

Well my daughter has asked me to put some pictures of the our Christmas together. Here's one of all the gifts under the tree.

And, Noah, being 19 months old just can't seem to keep his hands off the ornaments on the tree. He would always bring them to me, but he was always a little curious.

And, here's Ryan with his famous smile. Whenever I see him, he always lights up a room with a smile.

And, I'm not sure why Adam is scowling at, but something must have gotten him a little out of sorts. Oh well, it was probably waiting for opening of presents.

Finally, the kids get to open presents. Adam is checking out his sister Destanie's gifts. Nothing like seeing them get along.

A few from upstairs of the mess after opening all the gifts. Looks like everyone enjoyed what they got. Bailey looks a little bored though.

Ryan and Adam playing with one of Adam's toys. I think that there's nothing like cousins playing together and enjoying each other's company.



And, Grandpa is holding Ruthanne trying to get her to play with an "old" toy from the toybox upstairs. Come on Grandpa, get real, I want my NEW toys to play with.

Trying to get the five grandkids together with "happy" faces was a challenge. Maybe as they get older, it will be a little easier. The kids are dressed in matching PJs by family. You can tell who belongs to who this way.


Well, it was a very Merry Christmas after all. Looking forward to next year!!! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too.

Giving

I started a post almost a month ago, but never posted it. Now it is a little dated, so I will start fresh.

The holidays are almost over with and I must admit that I'm a little relieved. I love the season of giving and getting together with family, but it has been a trying season this year. Without boring you with any details, lets just say I'm looking forward to the new year.

The blessings of this holiday season have been my five grandchildren. They truly light up my heart when I see them. Watching them open their gifts and playing with them take me back to a time when my own children were young. Back then, we didn't have the finances to give them as much as we wanted too; but, they never complained. Now with this new generation, I can give without worrying about where the next dollar will come from, which is a wonderful feeling as I love giving.

Giving is what the season is all about. Not the monetary value of things, but the thought behind the gift. God sent His only son, Jesus, to be born at Christmas. He gave us the most important and wonderful gift of all. He is the reason we have the gift of life through accepting His only son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior.

Thank you God for giving us your Son. He is truly the most wonderful blessing of all.

Same child... believe it or not!!!

What a face!!! This is my youngest granddaughter, Ruthanne. My daughter-in-law sent me some pictures a week or so ago, and this was one of the pictures. I laughed so hard when I saw it. It doesn't even look like her. Such a face... I'm guessing that maybe she didn't like what Mom or Dad was feeding her for dinner.



Now this is more of what she looks like all the time. A precious little angel. She is a beautiful little girl that is happy all the time. I'm not sure what got into her in the first picture, but if I close my eyes I can almost see little horns sprouting... LOL. But no matter what her expression is, she is one of my blessings that I cherish each day. Grandchildren are WONDERFUL!!!

Thanksgiving

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone. Yesterday was a very busy day with family. Our children and their families were here for a big turkey dinner. My daughter and daughter-in-law helped tremendously in the kitchen helping prepare the meal. After dinner their husbands helped clean up while I sat and enjoyed the grandkids.

Since I am not back fully after my back surgery in September, I am still limited to what I can do. And yesterday, was not one of my better days. I went back to work half days this week, and I feel like I am paying for it.

However, it gave me time with my grandkids. Even though I can't pick them up, I am still able to enjoy them. The two youngest, Noah, who is almost 18 months, and Ruthanne, who is almost 8 months, were put into my lap so I could hold them and love them to pieces. Ryan and Adam, who are just over 3 1/2 were busy running around, and Destanie, my 6 year old granddaughter, would just come and lay by me on the couch.

My husband stayed out of the kitchen except to help take the turkey out of the oven and make the gravy. Other than that he sat and watched football and played with the grandkids.

It was a wonderful day with my family. I am so blessed to have them around.

My daughter's two sons, Noah and Ryan, spent the night last night so she could get up early and go shopping with her friend, Missy. Having her kids spend the night on Thanksgiving is becoming a yearly ritual that I look forward to. They make me feel so special and they certainly brought more than one smile to my face today. Even giving Noah his nebulizer treatment was enjoyable. He just sat calmly in my arms.

I am thankful for every minute I can spend with my "beautiful blessings" from heaven above.

Back to Work

Well, it has been five and a half months since the last time I "officially" worked. Yes, I worked at home as my body let me, but I hadn't been sitting at a desk at a work location. Yesterday, I worked for about four hours at the Fremont SC. And, four was enough time for my body to take. I couldn't wait to come home and lay on the heating pad.

It felt good to be back to work, but at the same time, I'm not sure how productive I am going to be with my limitation of only lifting 10 lbs and alternating between sitting and standing for 1/2 days. I guess I will have to wait and see. However, I am confident that each day will get better.

I feel better than I have in several months so I know that I am on the road to "full" recovery... whatever that may be.

Encouragement

Yesterday, I was blessed with both my children and all my grandchildren visiting. We had a houseful and at times very busy. During the visit, I noticed that my son was very quiet. I asked him what was the matter, and at first, he tried to say everything was okay. As being the mom, I knew better, and sat down on the floor next the to chair he was sitting in. I grabbed his hand and told him I knew better and asked him again.

He finally gave in and told me that he thought that his dad and I were disappointed in him because of where he worked. He is a manager of a Wesco station up in Benzie. He thought we were disappointed because he didn't have a "better" job having a college degree. I told him NO that I wasn't disappointed, but I was very proud of him. I explained that if he didn't have the degree, he wouldn't be a manager but just a sales associate working the cash register and stocking shelves. He has worked one or more jobs since the time he was 16 years old. He worked his way through college. I am PROUD of him, not disappointed. I will never be disappointed in him. No matter what job he has I will always be PROUD. I am proud of both of my children. They both work hard, love and nurture their spouses and children, and they both love God and the Lord, Jesus Christ. And, they both call frequently and tell me they love me. How could I be disappointed in them? They are both blessings from heaven.

I learned something yesterday that even after our children are grown and on their own, they still need the encouragement from us as parents. They still listen to what we say (probably more than they did when they were growing up), and what we say means a lot to them.

I thank God everyday for my children and grandchildren. What a blessing that I have been given. And, I will try to continue to encourage them every time I can.

Smiles

It's funny sometimes what a short and friendly email can do for you from a friend. Today hasn't been the best of days for me. I have had a few "good" days physically in a row, but today has been another "bad" day. Hurting more than usual today, but I know that I am on the road to recovery. At least I'm having more good days in a row than I have had since I had surgery.

I just checked my email and got an email that I wasn't expecting from a very close and dear friend... there was only one word in the email, but it put a big smile on my face. It made me feel good knowing that I was being thought about.

It was truly a blessing that I needed today. Thank you!!!

Sleepless Nights

Not sure if I can call a sleepless night a blessing, but last night was one of those nights. Woke up at 1:30 am and never fell back to sleep and find a comfortable position. I am hurting this morning because of all the tossing and turning in bed just trying to get back to sleep. I guess it wasn't meant to be. I finally gave up and got out of bed around 5:15 am after my husband left for work.

One thing about sleepless nights is that you tend to do a lot of thinking and praying. So, in many ways, it can be a blessing.

Too bad that I can't go to sleep anywhere like my grandson Noah. All a child needs is the comfort of bed or being held in loving arms, possibly a thumb to suck, and sleep comes without a problem, unless they are sick. Sometimes I wish I only had those things to think about to get to sleep.

Even if a sleepless night isn't a blessing, this little guy is.

Life

Do you ever wonder why we go through the things we do. I do everyday. Right now I feel as if my life is in a hurricane... totally disrupted, in a windstorm, and raining all the time. I try to be level headed, like I should because I am an adult; however, I seem to be floundering relentlessly... like a child. I guess that is okay.

Today I had physical therapy, and the therapist said that I am doing good. Movement in my legs is better than it was a week ago. I guess I need to look at the little things instead of the big mountain that I have felt has been before me.

Another wonderful thing was stopping to get fresh "brown" eggs. I talked for awhile with the couple like knowing them for a long time. We exchanged stories, and I find that my life isn't any different than anyone elses. We all have our problems, whether physically, spiritually or mentally, and life goes on.

I thank God for the blessings that he has showered me with today. This morning, I enjoyed the rising of the sun and the golden glow on the trees. It was truly a blessing for me to think about God's wonderous love and grace. Sometimes we tend to overlook the small blessings that He gives to us daily.

I pray that I can look past my shortcomings and live the life that God gave to me...

Emotionally Charged

I haven't figured out yet if being emotionally charged is actually a blessing or more of a curse. I guess at times it can be either one or both. I am a highly emotional person. I seem to wear my heart on my sleeve as the old cliche goes. I seem to cry at the drop of a hat; and when I shed those tears many times, if not most, I actually hate that I do that. I am not able to control that part of me that God made. Maybe I'm not supposed to, but there are times I want to be able to.

After the tears have subsided, another emotion will surface; depending on what reason caused me to cry will depend on what emotion will arrive next. Sometimes it is anger, sometimes it is fear, sometimes it is bitterness, and sometimes it is a combination of all of those plus maybe a few more. I am not sure, since I am not a psychiatrist, but I believe that is part of my defense mechanism, especially if the tears come from something that has hurt me either physically, spriritually or emotionally. Sometimes I get totally frustrated with myself because of all the different emotions that I can feel at one time.

After time passes and I am able to work through the different phases of my "emotionally charged" personality, I can get back on track and deal with whatever it is that caused the emotional tears to begin with. I will never say I get back to normal, because what is normal? I don't think I am normal; I believe that God made me in a unique and wonderful way.

So, I guess I will have to admit that who I am and my "emotionally charged" personality is a blessing because that is how God made me. Even though, sometimes, it really feels more like a curse.

A letter to Mom

Mom, what can I say? You are missed more than you will ever know. I have been scanning all of my old pictures, and there have been so many that you have been in that have made me miss you so much. And, you were always there when I needed you for Jackie and Kim. So many memories. Here you are holding Kim the week after she was born; right after giving her a bath with Jackie looking on. I remember feeling bad that she was crying after the bath, but it didn't faze you one bit. You never complained.

Do you remember the trip to Houston with Jackie and Kim in 1988? Jack drove us to Grand Rapids airport in a snowstorm with continuous whiteouts. We left around 3 in the morning. It was a long trip, but we did have a lot of fun, even when I had to walk Kim into the bathroom at the Dayton airport because she was acting up; and when Jackie, threw up all over Barb's carpet... what a nightmare that was.

And remember the trip we made to Houghton Lake? We stayed in a kitchenette at a motel called Holiday on the Lake. We played shuffleboard, went fishing, and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. You and the kids fell asleep in the back seat on our way home. I guess we were all a little tired out, but we did have fun on that trip. I was so happy that you enjoyed spending time with my kids.

You were always there when I needed you. In many ways, you helped raise my kids. They spent a lot of time with you. And you were always there for their birthdays, most Thanksgivings and every Christmas while they were growing up. I will never forget the laugh we enjoyed when their dad made the homemade strawberry ice cream, but he failed to crush the strawberries. They were like rocks. We laughed so hard. And the Christmas when you choked on the Turkey, and I had to bring you into emergency. Now that is something I would just as soon forget.


You never failed to surprise me with your antics. You were never too "old" to have fun. The kids always knew they would have fun with Grandma Fles. S0metimes I felt like I was the mother and you were the daughter. My kids always loved to spend time with their grandma and the love that they shared with you will last a lifetime.

You are truly one of the most cherished blessings that I have.

You gave me life, and you gave me love. I miss you everyday. I wish you were here to enjoy your great-grandkids. God has blessed me with two more grandchildren since the day He took you home to be with Him. On that day, I said good-bye when I had to leave for Ryan's first birthday. I told you then that I would see you again and to say hi to daddy for me. I love you and I miss you. A day doesn't go by that you are not in my thoughts.

"You and Me"

Ryan... my daughter's oldest son. What a sweet boy. He makes me feel like someone special when I see him. No matter where we are, he smiles at me and runs and always gives me a big hug and kiss. He is one of my very special blessings. A couple of weeks after I had my back surgery, while my girlfriend Ann was taking care of me, my daughter called asking if we could watch Ryan as she had school and her husband was in Grand Rapids for work. Ryan was running a temperature and couldn't go to daycare. Since he is 3 1/2 and very easy to take care of, Ann and I said that would be fine. We ended up watching him for two days. He stayed the night one night and during that time, he acquired one of my stuffed animals, a duck, since he left his dog, Bailey, at home.

He brought the duck home, and the next day, he had to bring the duck, which he thoughtfully named "you and me," his doggie, "Bailey," "Laura" the elephant, which by the way he acquired from my house in 2006, and "Alex" the bear. While he was with me, he let me know that he was going to leave Laura and Alex with me, and he would take home Bailey, which by the way is his favorite and most cherished toy, and "you and me," or "Grandma Bailey and me" if he tells someone else the duck's name. When his dad picked him up that evening, he was adament that he leave Laura and Alex; however, his dad grabbed Alex and brought him home because he wasn't sure Ryan really wanted to leave him.

However, the next time my daughter's family came over, Ryan brought me Alex the bear to keep. He wanted to share his toys with me, which I feel is wonderful for a 3 1/2 year old to even want to do. And, how special it made me feel when Ryan named the duck, "You and Me." Ryan, you are a blessing from above.

Rainbows

Rainbows... they are blessings from above. What do you think about when you see a rainbow? I think about God's promise from the Bible that He would never send another flood to destroy the earth. I also think about the myth of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, something that I will never find as an actual "pot of gold." However, I believe I have found that pot of gold in all the blessings that God has given me. He has blessed me in so many ways with my children, my grandchildren, my family, my friends, and first, and foremost, His Son, Jesus Christ. I praise Him for everything that He has given me. Everytime I see a rainbow, I think about all the blessings that I have. My "pot of gold" are the blessings that God has given me through His saving grace. Where is your "pot of gold?"

Sweetest Day

Sweetest Day... what is that? Today, I realized it was sweetest day. It brought back memories of my daughter, Kim, getting married. She was married on Sweetest Day, 2000. She was actually married on October 21, 2000; however, it was Sweetest Day. I guess that no matter what date in October sweetest day falls on (it is always the 3rd Saturday in October), I will always remember that she was married on that day. She was a beautiful bride, and it was a beautiful day. I guess that is what sweetest day is all about... something to remember... something that is special... and someone who is special. My daughter is very special to me, and I am glad that on this day in October, no matter what the actual date this Saturday falls on, will always be the day I remember that she was married. Kim, I love you... I thank God for blessing me in such a wonderful way. I thank Him for you as being my daughter and as you being my friend; you are a true blessing in my life.

Bless this Day

I woke up this morning thinking about how I don't thank God enough and glorify Him enough in my daily routine. This morning a verse came to mind, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in in." I think that we forget somtimes that each day that we have is a gift and a blessing from God. We are not promised that we will have a tomorrow. So we need to live our lives as if today may be our last because it could be. And, in doing that, we need to remember to put our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father first on our list of priorities as we begin and end each day. This is not always easy to do. I know I fail miserably on a daily basis.

As I sit here looking out at the beauty that God has created and placed before us for pleasure, I want to remember to put Him first in my life. Not second, not third, but first. I want to glorify Him in what I do, and I want His light to shine through me. I pray for His forgiveness in not doing that on a daily basis. I will keep on striving to give Him the glory in my life. And I thank Him for this day that he has placed before me. It is truly a blessing.

Friends

I just got a call from my best friend, Ann. It is late, but she just got home and needed to check up on me. She is one of my blessings that I thank God for daily. She is there to listen to me and not judge me even if she may disagree with me. She prays for me daily, and she calls me to make sure that I am not overdoing things after my surgery. She is there for me when I am feeling sad and when I am happy. We have shared a lot of dreams, griefs and happy times together. Everyone should have a friend like Ann. We have been friends for a long time, and we will be friends for a long time to come. On a side note, she married a wonderful man who takes care of her and loves her unconditionally. After Ann and I finished our conversation, Wayne talked to me briefly, which is not unusual. By the way, he thinks that I have great legs. Not sure if I have great legs, but I know I have a GREAT friend in Ann and Wayne. I thank God for the blessings he has bestowed on me in their friendship.

Too old to blog?

This is my first attempt at blogging. Hopefully, I'm not to old to try. My daughter, Kim, and son-in-law, Rob, have been doing it, and I enjoy reading their entries and those of their friends. I have had good intentions of doing this for quite some time, but have never had the time to do it. I have been off of work since the first of July due to a herniated disk in my back that required me to have surgery on September 7. I have been spending lots of time on the couch reading, doing email, crossword puzzles and sleeping. I figured what a better time to start. Hopefully, now that I started, I will continue. I look forward to sharing all of my beautiful blessings. Most of my beautiful blessings belong to my children, Jack and Kim, and their spouses, Danielle and Rob (I think you can figure which one belongs to which... LOL), and all of their children: Destanie, who will be six on November 1, Adam, who is 3 1/2, Ruthanne, who is 6 months old (these three are belong to Jack), Ryan, who is also 3 1/2, and Noah, who is 16 months old. Well, I won't bore you anymore with this post, but I look forward to sharing more of my family and friends... by the way another important blessing in my life is my best friend Ann.