Fanciful Quilts

2 July 2006 Today was good. We spent a good portion of the day with our son, his wife and our grandson. God gave such a gift to parents when He made it possible for them to become grandparents. We get so busy when raising our children. We focus on work, paying the bills, rushing from soccer practice to basketball games to swim meets - and the next thing you know, the kids are grown and they leave home. Both of our children found their soul mate (mothers just know those things) and then blessed us with grandchildren. And this is where God's magnificant plan comes into being. When we become grandparents, God gives us time to slow down and enjoy. I've been given this precious time to pick a flower and hand it to my grandson - and watch him slowly pull the petals off the flower and afterwards holds it out to his mommy as if it were still whole. And then moments later, when he has the now bedraggled flower back in his hand, smiles when I said it was okay to let it go and it f...

4 November 2005 Rheya Docie Sylvia was born on 24 October 2005 at 10:59 AM, weighing in at 9 lbs, 3 oz and 21 1/2" long with the most beautiful deep blue eyes and dark hair. I had the privilege of watching Rheya's entrance into the world. It was an experience I'll treasure my entire life and I'll be forever grateful I was invited to be part of this wonderous event. Grandpa was settled down in the waiting room - he was almost forgotten in the thrill of the moment. I would have never imagined the depth and richness being a grandparent brings to one's life. We've now come full circle and it simply makes me smile. No day can be bad when you've got that smiling baby photo on your desk. Since I've joined the esteemed rank of Grandparenthood, no one is safe from the praises, bragging and ever ready photos of the "grandkids". No location or event can prevent whipping out the latest photos ... and every conversation is steered towards the latest...

October - a month of a lot of activity for this family. Our daughter and her husband are expecting any day (no, they do not know whether or not the newcomer will be a boy or girl - their decision for which I applaud loudly), our grandson had his first birthday on the 5th of October, same daughter had her birthday on the 4th of October and my beloved father will have his birthday on the 13th (over 70 years of age and power walks every single day - no small feat in Oshkosh, WI!) So now our grandson is walking and crawling is a lost memory for him. We're anxiously awaiting another grandchild. The leaves are turning and weather has gotten colder. Each day I'm a day closer to retiring from a 30 year career with federal service. Yet, even with retirement looming very close (a year and four months - but who is counting?), each day brings new discoveries and a sense that it can only get better. I would not trade today nor any other day for a chance to be 20 or 30 or even 40 again. If y...

Today is Sunday...the last day of a two day chess tournament we're hosting. I say "we" but it's really the brainchild of my dear husband Riley of 33+ years. Over four years ago we bought a building in downtown Dayton; life hasn't been the same since. It's been a time of change, frustrations, wonderment, joy...but most of all, challenge. A lot of people have come and gone; some have revisited ...some came once, never to be seen again. Others come back on a regular basis. If you ever are curious about how people view life, how they treat others...or just plain curious, you need to visit the Dayton Chess Club. That's what our building houses. Imagine...people pay to play chess. At any rate, I have learned so much from just watching the people who come here to play chess. Far better than taking any psychology class...and far better than paying for therapy. When you think you're at your lowest point, someone will come in and your low point seems v...

It has occurred to me that we live in a world of insanity. Terri Schiavo's plight has far exceeded the limits of all human decency ... and just when you think you've heard it all, you hear another story about her dear husband whose plug I'd gladly pull without a moment's hesitation. Hardly a Christian's way of thinking...which brings me to another point. Events have a way of influencing even the most steadfast of humans. Years ago, I could not have told you who the Vice President of the US was. Enter stage right, William J. Clinton. Suddenly, my total lack of regards for politics was no more. What a wake up call. (Actually, nightmare is a more apt description). Over night, politics was tangible ...and horrifying. While I'm not at the level of political submersion my husband exhibits daily, I'm at least out of the cave. I cannot say that I like living in a world of insanity.

Isn't it funny how technology changes the way we look at life. Years ago I kept a dairy and I recorded poems, feelings ...and it had this little key that guaranteed my privacy. Then the dairies were no longer in vogue - but journals were... So I kept a journal - but no key this time. Journals just don't seem to have keys. Now - welcome in the blogs. Electronic dairies for the world to ponder (that is, those who have the time to read those million of blogs across the world). I took an English class years ago and one discussion we had has remained in my fondest of memories. The instructor asked what words we knew would require a definition in order to be understood. A strange request...but we gradually started to throw out names. Churchkey (this was before the invention of pulltabs on soda cans - remember?) ... and how long ago was ".com" an unknown? And so now I start on the adventure of the blog. Life is amazing, isn't it? It presents us with so many adve...