Grandma Heaven

Friday night was a big event at our house. I had both granddaughters over for the night.

I went right from work to pick them up. I wanted to make it exciting enough that Elise didn't have time for second thoughts as this was her first time to spend the night here.

So, we started off with a trip to Taco Bell. 

I found it a challenge to get a good photo of them there.  Oh well. They were very entertaining dinner companions.

Cordelia had a special request. She wanted us to visit a particular park because she and I had stopped there one time when she spent the night with me.  Kids do that. They like to recreate special adventures. So, off we went! 

When we got there we discovered a large part of the play area was now a pond. Of course, I told the girls to stay out of the water. Of course, both went right for it! 

Still, there was lots of playing.

Which means lots of Grandma photo opportunities! 

After a walk/run, we went home to see Grandpa, read books and just be silly for awhile. 

We got all jammied up and the girls got into their little sleeping bags. They were pretty  excited... For about two minutes. Then Elise announced she wanted to sleep on the bed with me. That wasn't a big surprise, but then Cordy wanted on the bed as well. She was conflicted, actually. She wanted to sleep in her sleeping bag, but she didn't want Elise to get all the Grandma snuggles. 

We all got on the floor for a bit, the girls in their bags and me in between. I guess I was hoping they would fall asleep quickly, silly me, but my back started complaining first. 

So, we all got up on the bed, which was too small for three.  Grandpa came in to sing a good-night song! 

Cordy agreed to snuggle until Elise fell asleep, which didn't take long, then she crawled down to her sleeping bag. This all worked well.

It was 5:15 when Elise's little hand grabbed my face, turned  it toward herself, and said, "I wuv you, Gwandma."  Is that not awesome way to start a day?....a very early day? 

Cordelia slept on for another hour...

But Elise was ready to party! 

Once Cordelia got up, we made and enjoyed some pancakes.  Cordy learned she loves strawberry syrup, just like Grandpa.

At some point, Mike asked me if I was in Grandma Heaven.  Yes! Grandma Heaven... So much fun! 

It's About Choice... for Life

As many of you know, I'm not an abortion advocate. I hate abortion and I can not wrap my mind around how our country came to this place to say it is ok to kill a baby.  So many women are suffering remorse from believing the lie that it was just a blob of tissue, not a life. Abortion is a source of so much pain.

Recently it occurred to me... I'm pro-choice! I mean it. I have no interest in confronting anyone at an abortion clinic but I do have a desire to help provide a choice, a better choice than abortion. That is why I serve on a board for our local Women's Resource Center. Our goal is to provide a choice for women and girls who feel they are backed into a corner. Through our work there we have learned that many choose abortion feeling that it is their only real choice. They are often pressured by their boyfriends, parents or someone else to make that choice. We like to provide them resources so they can choose to carry their baby to term, whether it be to raise the child themselves or to provide it life with an adoptive family. We want to obliterate the "perceived need" for abortion, simple as that.

Besides providing support to pregnant women and their loved ones, we also offer support to those who decided to abort. No, we do not encourage an abortion. We do welcome them back for abortion recovery programs if they need help dealing with their decision. They do this with kindness, not judgment.

I am currently raising money through a Walk for Life we do once a year. I am collecting sponsors for my part in the walk. It is easy to donate. Just send me an email, at onlythemanager@yahoo.com, telling me your name, address and amount you want to donate (by June 6, 2015) and you will receive an invoice after the walk.  If you are a Facebook Friend, you can just message that information to me.

For those readers who don't really know me, perhaps you would consider offering a donation to your own local crisis pregnancy center. Most are operating on donations only and would appreciate your help.

It is about valuing human life, no matter how young.

Weather, Wildlife and a Pot of Gold

Ok. So, I am just going to get right to it without any more  words.

North to Montana!

Mike and I often do not have the same days off. I have week-enda off while he takes Sunday afternoon and Monday off... if no one needs him.  Well, we both had today off so we took off after church yesterday and headed for a quick trip to Montana. A really quick trip.

I dressed appropriately.

We almost talked ourselves out of going but I am glad we didn't.  We were gone only about 30 hours but we had a great time and saw such beauty!. It does a soul good.

The first part of our drive was wet. It was very wet. In fact, it rained so hard there was hydroplaning. We saw two vehicles that had gone of the road!  I have never seen so much water in Wyoming! All the dry ravines had a lot of watering rushing through them. There were new ponds everywhere! We knew to slow down and had no big problems but it was not an ideal time to go on a pleasure drive.

About the time we entered Montana, the torrential rains were done so we carried on. First, we went to Billings. We enjoyed a little sales-tax-free shipping, explored parts of Billings we'd not seen before and talked. I love when I get that kind of time with my husband. 

We spent the night at a hotel in Billings. I really love staying in hotels. I know some people hate it but I love it. I feel relaxed as the responsibilities of job and home just slide of.  

Our hotel had a pretty indoor waterfall. We don't have one if those at our house! 

This morning we drove West a ways and then headed South to Red Lodge.  I will just show you photos from along the way...

Isn't that a pretty scene? 

The sky was lovely.

The area around Red Lodge was gorgeous. 

Just gorgeous.

I took a zillion photos.

Mike thought I should be in one.

I thought he should be in one as well.

Not one of these photos truly captures the beauty. I wish everyone could experience such a place.

We walked around and enjoyed the smells and sound, especially the meadowlarks singing.

Downtown Red Lodge was busy. Really, we didn't even find a place to park.

This is where technology saved us a lot of trouble. Our daughter, Maria, texted us that our planned route home was blocked by a rock slide and the highway was closed. She saved us hours by warning us ahead of time! 

So, we left Red Lodge and headed back into Wyoming by going into the Big Horn Mountains. It turned out to be my favorite part of the drive! 

We didn't really take that dirt road but I liked the photo anyway.

I will give you a hint regarding the rest of the trip but you will have to wait until tomorrow for it. Here's the hint: Tomorrow's title is "Wildlife, Weather and the Pot of Gold".

For now, here's one last photo from today. I thought I was pretty artsy when I took this one. I think fences are cool. I think mountains are magnificent. I don't mean to brag but I think the combo in awesome! 

Brrrrrr!

Yes, it is May. Yes, that is snow.  Yes, this is Wyoming.

Earthquake Destroys Giada Village In Nepal

This is Patrick, from Vision Beyond Borders. He was already in Nepal when the second big earthquake occurred.  

Mall Lunch Hits the Big Times

You know how our family has the weird tradition of meeting at the mall once a week or so. We each get what we want to eat and gather for a quick break together in the middle of a work day. It is a quirky tradition but it works for us.

Well, last week we took our mall lunch to the max! Yep, you guessed it! We were at the Mall of America! I went  into exactly one store there, but I had a delightful time.

Maria and the girls enjoyed the merry-go-round.

Cordelia and I rode together on a little kid roller coaster, with Maria and Elise just in front of us. It was a bit too tame for Cordelia.

The ferris wheel made that girl pretty happy.

Maria, Eric and girls on the ferris wheel.

Mike took this artsy photo of the escalator, looking into the amusement park.

Another artsy shot by photographer Mike.

What a wonderland for kids!

This project was made out of legos.  The photo doesn't accurately capture the true size of it but notice the people walking down below.

Later, Cordelia and I rode on that roller coaster that went over the top of most of the amusement park. It was a bit TOO much for her but she handled it well with just a bit of reassurance that the car we rode in would not go flying off the rail.

It was kind of a carefree time.  Nice.

There's Cordelia on the big kid roller coaster with me.

Honestly, everyone was not on their phones throughout the entire lunch!