Anah

I delight in the company of my granddaughter, Anah.  She is almost 7 now and still as bright and surprising as she was on the day of her birth. 

She loves to read and is at the head of her class in language skills.


Enjoys being outside and is learning how to plant seeds.



She is a fierce and awesome warrior girl when her mother paints her face.



And, a tender love of animals of all kinds.



I am grateful that this beautiful young soul is my companion on my journey.  She teaches me so much about unconditional love and enthusiasm for living.

Being a Mooma.. it's just the greatest thing that ever happened to me!

Magic House was Fun

http://www.magichouse.org/

Took the granddaughters to the Magic House in St. Louis, Mo recently. They have added new attractions and the girls really had a good time.

We've been going to the Magic House since the early 80's and every time we find something new and wonderful to learn and experience.

If you're in Missouri or visiting check it out.. a great place for children and for those of us who never want to grow up!

On Second Thought

Ok.. so I reread my post yesterday and felt like I was whining.. and what I really want to say is that I do so realize how difficult this whole thing is for my grandson. He is going to a new school, strarting his first job, and has been deserted by his mother. And, he is holding up really well.

I am proud of his resilience and his smiles in the face of so much change.

I appreciate his offers of help, love listening to him playing his guitar, and want so very much for him to succeed in his new endeavors.

I Never Imagined

I never imagined that I would be raising a teenager again.

Throughout the summer there have been many incidents of my son-in-law physically abusing my 17 year old grandson, Dylan. Dylan has come here for refuge several times. Now he is living here.

His mother, who had come to me for help and with every intention of divorcing the abusive husband has moved away and abandoned Dylan. I do know she is alive after talking to one of her neighbors, and I have found out that she has gone to a city about 400 miles away with said husband taking her two small children with her. She has left her job as a nurse, her very nice home is sitting empty and her dog and her son are with me. She has changed her cell phone number and has not been in touch with anyone in the family. Am I worried? Yes!

We converted what was the little kid's playroom back into a bedroom for Dylan and he is back in school. His mother let him drop out last year. He also has a job and we are all working to adjust.

Gosh its hard having someone in the house all the time. I find myself with little time for the computer, for making jewelry, for having fun. I know it will get easier as we settle into a routine. I hate to admit it, but I am being way too hard on myself for not feeling differently right now, not giving myself enough time to get used to all this it seems. Its just hard.

I am grateful that my husband and I have the room for this kid. He's bright and he's had such a hard time of it.

I wish my daughter would call. I hope she's doing ok.

And, I've got to go do laundry.

Swimming Pools

Just back in the house from a little dip in the pool. Now when I say pool don't get the idea that it is a huge inground pool.. nope nothing like that, but it is 12 ft in diameter and plenty deep enough to get good and cool in. Heck, I can even swim back and forth across it. And the grandgirls love it!

For years I had wanted a pool of this sort because *gosh* Missouri sure does get hot in the summer. Even the AC doesn't seem to keep me cool enough. My husband was adamant that a pool would #1 be too expensive, and #2 be too much work. When we tore down our old garage what remained was a large concreted pad.. hah I thought... the perfect spot for a pool. Thus, last year I just jumped in and went out and bought a pool. It was great. I loved it. One day all the water went out in a giant *whoosh*.. oops.. Big leak in the ring at the top, couldn't find the leak, couldn't fix it. So, I bought another pool, different syle, bigger, better and within two days it was ready to go. It has lasted thru the rest of last year's season and so far so good this year.

Husband.. who never gets in the pool... takes care of it, keeps it clean and everything in working order! He seems to have forgotten or let go of all his arguments against having it. Today I am grateful for the pool, for the husband who takes care of it and pays for the water, and the grandgirls who enjoy it so much.

Here's a pic of my first pool which is a bit smaller as am I, and the grandgirls enjoying the one I have now:)



xposted to LJ "Rosegardenfae"

Anah's New Hairdo

Anah has been talking a lot about wanting straight hair, not liking her curls, wanting to have hair like her mom's.. an awful lot of thinking too much about what she looks like for a six year old. Not wanting to chemically straighten the child's hair, her mother purchased some "stuff" with natural ingredients and headed off to the beauty salon where said "stuff" was duly applied and then her hair was blow dried and flatironed with a whole different girl emerging.. It lasted only a day. By the second day the high humidity was causing the curls to return, but for that one day Anah was very happy with her new look. She tossed her head this way and that and ran her hands through the long strands. Personally I prefer the curls, and have spent a lot of time and money on perms for my hair to get them. Perhaps it's just that we always want what we don't have?

Gardens are Growing

I have just been so slothful when it comes to blogging but I've been really busy and it just seems to take a back seat sometimes.

Still working steadily on the socks.. almost finished with the first pair!

Here's what I've been working on outside:

First the garden path.. the whole thing had to be lifted and new sand put down underneath.. and we did one of the brick patios too!

Right now the iris are blooming and they are certainly beautiful:)

I've been picking salad greens for a couple of weeks and they are delicious..

And the girls are loving the new hanging chair too!

Rain and Spaghetti

I've let this blank page sit here for hours now because I don't have a catchy title for today.. weird I know, but that's what has happened. While the temperatures are warm it is raining outside and I believe that I delayed my scheduled walk a bit too long and unless it clears I will be exercising in the house again.

I have really enjoyed our Wii Fit and it keeps me in line as far as working out goes. I let go of quite a lot of weight during the benzo withdrawal and am happy with this unexpected side effect so am trying hard to keep the weight off. Along with the Wii fit I am using a DVD by Leslie Sansone that is based on walking with a lot of upper body involvement that really gets your heart rate elevated. I am up to doing two miles with Leslie and if I walk in the park can now do close to 3 miles. I am happy to be back to exercising on a regular basis as it lifts my spirit while maintaining good health.

Last night was Anah's basketball practice.. what a hoot! Most of those kindergarteners and first graders are pretty clueless about how to play and I laughed and laughed at their antics. Family members were invited to play and I even got out on the court with her and Erin. Now that was a sight to see as I haven't played basketball in 35 years or more. It was FUN!

Planning to make spaghetti later. Rogie and her family are coming over and Anah will be here after school so spaghetti seems like a good meal for a hungry horde like that. It's wonderful to feel like cooking for folks again.

and a few grats..

I am grateful for the rain. It's been a dry winter.
I appreciate my family and the joy of grandchildren.
I love being able to go to the grocery and get whatever I need.
I am grateful to feel good enough to play basketball with my granddaughter and to be a part of her life.
I am super happy to feel spring in the air and to see signs of its advent everywhere I look.

Namaste`

Another Step Forward

As I continue to reinvent myself I was able to take another step forward and volunteer at my granddaughter's Valentine Day's party. If I can handle a room full of squealing kindergarteners then I can do anything! Hooray for healing and progress!

I am grateful for grandchildren and their unconditional love!

And while I'm thinking about grandchldren.. I am also grateful for great grandchildren and the wonderful way in which Baby Josiah, my second great grandson is growing.. born at 27 weeks gestation, he now weighs over 12 lbs, is cooing, gooing, and smiling up a storm.



May you all be blessed today and every day~
Namaste`