Our Grand Children's Nicknames

" Sweet Pea," "Spiderman,""Pixie,"

"Princess,""Boo," and "Wonder Woman."

Can you guess which is which? Spiderman is not such a mystery.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. ~Robert Louis Stevenson~

I spent Tuesday in Newark at my parent's home. It was a pretty rough day for my Mom and Dad. They are both worn to a frazzle by the ups and downs of illness, multiple and confusing medication changes, and waiting for their house to "close" and preparing for moving. No one is sleeping much. There is plenty of sadness and frustration and exhaustion for both of them. Prayers would be much appreciated.

Gentle and compassionate Father, save us from our lack of knowing. Give us peace and joy and gentle words, even as our time here away from you grows shorter. Hold us up a little longer, gentle Father. Keep us safe in your loving arms, and give us peace. Amen.

Today is one of those days.

Thirty-fours years ago my dear Grandma passed away, and exactly one year later our sweet baby girl was born.

Grandma, I still miss you.

Chelle, you have filled my life with love and joy. Happy birthday!

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Lord!

I forgot to add that Charlie and Steve won the "Corn Hole" tournament at the family reunion. They were loud and proud and only mildly teasing cousin Tim's daughters about their corn hole skills. No one would believe that Steve had never played the game before. Did they think he had been taking corn hole training somewhere? Too funny.

We had such a wonderful day on Saturday sharing memories and joy with our big "Krumm" family at our first ever family reunion. My husband's brother and sisters, and most of all their families were there to meet and greet one another after several years absence in some cases.

As the giant Krumm family (all sixty or so of us) sat and stood in the hot noonday sun posing for a big family photo, dear husband and I were a little prideful of the fact that our whole clan was present and accounted for, all twelve of us smiling and only mildly grumbling about how long the process was taking. Spiderman was yawning on my lap...after all, stillness for a three year old can only mean sleep, otherwise perfectly good wiggling, jumping, and running time is being wasted. The grand girls were gracious and kept posing and smiling, and the clouds just never came to make the picture "perfect."

Our grown kid's aunts and uncles and cousins got to meet our grand children and lots of hugging and smiling was taking place. I liked introducing my grand children to everyone. I think our eighty-six year old Great-Grandma Krumm was enjoying seeing all of her family together. We have all wanted to do this for a long time. Gathering at holiday times is too difficult, so this seems a wonderful alternative. We look forward to next year's gathering.

On Sunday we were able to gather and celebrate Spiderman's third birthday with lots of laughter, lots of presents, and lots of goodies. He quickly figured out how to open presents and not worry too much about tearing off the paper. It is wonderful to see how much we all love him. And how in the name of heaven can he be three already!?!

Now comes Monday, and the greatest blessing for me is that I do not have the stress and pressure of running off from my home to go to work and be filled with anxiety over deadlines and expectations. I dread my husband going back to work, but I always get a little leap of joy in my heart when I remember that I get to stay here at home and keep the house for all of us.

Blessings to all. Have a great Monday.

The Cordle Kid's Mealtime Prayer

(as taught to us by Dad's Aunt Ann)

Thank Thee Father for this Food,

And all the Blessings, Amen.

Several of the blogs I read participate in a joint expression of gratitude. If I were to list my blessings I would hardly know where to start. My life is blessed beyond imagination.

• I was born into a home where my parents loved one another and loved God. They blessed me with sisters and a brother.
• I was blessed with a wonderful Grandmother who fed us when we were hungry and provided a farm for us to explore. All my aunts and uncles were that "salt of the earth" type you read about in great books.
• I went to a small school in a small community and took piano lessons from a Welsh teacher who taught me to love music.
• We almost always had enough, never too much, but always enough.
• My parents made sure I learned to cook, clean, and take care of babies.
• I fell in love with and married a wonderful man who (after thirty-seven years) still thinks I am funny, smart, and pretty. Go figure.
• I had two terrific kids who were so great it made me look like a good mom. They married two terrific people who are very tolerant of me.
• I got to work in a church with families of young children for twenty-five years and I had people fooled that I was smart and stuff.
• I live in a great house with a green yard and I even have a deck!
• I have six unbelievably wonderful grandchildren who I adore.
• I love God and He loves me.
• Boy, oh boy! I got it all!
• Undeserving? You bet! Blessed and saved by Grace? Absolutely!

PSALM 139

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely,
O Lord."

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Romans 8: 38 and 39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Please pray for my sweet and gentle mother. She is struggling with stress about life changes and illness. She is simply overwhelmed, and sometimes feeling like an unbearable weight is on her small shoulders. She is in a dark place, and needs to feel safe and loved. Thank you.

"O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home!"

Eternal God, give me wisdom, kind words, patience, and joy in each day. Keep me safe and centered in your will for my life. Teach me your ways, and guide my steps. Amen.