kids in a box . . . 30 years later

 I have wanted to recreate this photo for years.  The original was taken I believe in 1989 . . . 

It has always been one of my favorite photos of the four of them.

We had gotten a new tv . . . and of course being kids, they were more excited about playing in the box than watching the tv.

We finally did it!  Richard pieced together a bunch of cardboard . . . the kids recreated their clothes.  They were good sports doing this for me.  I laughed so hard when Sarah walked out in her pink sweats and black patent leather shoes.  Then I laughed again at Jacob's expression when he saw her. 

30 years . . .

They have grown up . . . most of them have become parents themselves.  I have watched them become adults . . . but they will always be my kids.   

Peace ~ Love ~ Grandma Dona

What a Spring Break!

7 days . . . over 3200 miles . . . 6 states (twice) . . . snow . . . rain . . . wind . . . fun stops along the way . . . junk food . . . some good food . . . 

. . . and my mom now lives in California.

Life changes . . . so you may as well enjoy the change and have some fun!

God's timing . . .

My son Luke . . . 

Sitting here looking at this picture of him I don't even know where to start and have been going back and forth on how to share this photo.  I mentioned in an earlier post that the end of last year brought some changes.  One of those changes was my son going into rehab. 
Obviously this is very personal . . . but feeling like I want to share it. 
There are of course a lot of negative perceptions commonly associated with substance abuse and addiction.  But what about when the addict is someone you love?  What about when the addict is your child?  What about when you can see past the addiction and see the hurt and pain and it nearly kills you because you can't help? 
I have spent years trying to figure out why this happened to him.  He really was not an "at risk" kid.  I have been through guilt and embarrassment.  We tried tough love . . . We enabled him (I can be very good at that.)  I have tried to figure out where love and support ends and enabling begins.  I think anyone who has been in this situation wishes they could figure that one out. 
The last few years . . . he was trying.  I could see that he was trying, but I could also see that what he was doing wasn't going to work for the long haul.  I do believe he could see that also . . . but hadn't really faced it.  Last summer he told us he was going into a rehab.  They recommended he stay 30 days . . . he told them he wanted to do 90.  He ended up staying for 60.
He is 7 months clean and sober.  I wish I could say it was easy . . . for him . . .  and for me.  There is a reason they say . . . "One day at a time." 
I will never give up hope . . . and then there is this feeling of being afraid to get my hopes up. 
What gets him through?   Prayer and surrendering his life to God.  Does he struggle?  Yes.  Is he fighting?  Yes.  Do I worry?  Yes.  Am I learning to turn it over to God?  Yes.


So about this photo . . .
Luke has always wanted to perform his music in front of people, but never was able to get the courage up to do it.  This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago at the church he attends.  He also was a part of the worship team at another church this past week where he attends Celebrate Recovery.  I thank God every day for his recovery.  I also turn my son and his journey over to God every day.  It is his journey . . . but oh what it has taught me. 

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  
And the peace I five is a gift the world cannot give.
So don't be troubled or afraid."     ~ John 14:27

celebrating . . .

I tend to take very few pictures at weddings . . . especially when it is someone I love.  I want to enjoy and celebrate.  So I have very few pictures of Sarah and Daniel's wedding, but will share a few that I  do have.  This is Sarah and her Uncle Whitney . . . an emotional dance . . . with Sarah missing her father on her wedding day.  Sarah was such a beautiful bride!

There were these two "Bridesmen"

 . . . and these three characters.  

How they make me smile!

. . . and always some crazy Grandma love!

Beautiful wedding!  Fun night . . .  celebrating love and family!

Halloween 2017

This is why I love Halloween . . .

. . . because I have a Mom who will dress up like a witch.

. . . because these kids just make life amazing!

. . . because there is nothing cuter to me than a 7 month old Minnie Mouse.

. . . and because Cinderella comes with her own fairy godmother and Jaq.

When you love what you have,

you have everything you need.

still here . . .

FAMILY

For where your treasure is.

your heart will also be.

~ Luke 12:34

I haven't posted here in a month . . . how did that happen?

Life has been busy . . . mainly because I started back to work last month and the first few weeks of school is simply a busy and chaotic time.  I love it . . . but I am glad things have settled down some.

We have had some time to play in a tent . . . play with skeletons . . . 

. . . and play with some skeletons in the tent.  LOL!  Lily is really into the skeletons this year . . . I have a feeling she will be helping me decorate for Halloween.

Charlotte is very much into painting and coloring these days and Avery is busy being 5 months old.

Life is busy, but Life is Good!

love when they are all together . . .

starting a new year . . .

Busy day today . . . but doodled a little with some paint this morning.  Busy in a good way - lunch with a friend, some shopping, some projects, and time with Charlotte.

I found the list below at  Meet Me At Mikes . . . I think these are fun!

Making:  dolls and doodles . . . journal pages . . . and crocheting a beanie

Cooking:  13 Bean Chili

Drinking:  coffee . . . always coffee (but tonight it is decaf)

Reading:  The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler . . . just starting it

Drawing:  doodles

Wanting:  warmer weather . . . not a lover of cold weather (I consider anything below 60 degrees cold . . . yes, I am that big of a wimp)

Looking:  at my closet . . . thinking I need to clean it out . . . UGH!

Deciding:  if I should go to Starbucks in the morning . . . decided – it’s a yes . . but it will be cold outside. :(

Wishing:  the best for everyone in 2017

Enjoying:  quiet mornings . . .

Waiting:  . . . about 3 more months for a new granddaughter

Liking:  Instagram

Wondering:  where a few photographs are in my house . . . I stuck them away and can't find them

Loving: . . . the time I spend with Charlotte

Pondering:  a road trip . . . 

Listening:  to nothing . . . nice and quiet

Considering:  a new camera

Buying:  a new purse . . .

Watching:  Game of Thrones

Hoping:  for some good news tomorrow

Marveling:  at how quickly last year flew by . . . and here we are starting another new year.

Cringing:  at seeing Winter Break end . . . but I getting back into a routine can be a good thing for me

Needing:  that road trip I am thinking about

Questioning:  someone’s mental state

Smelling: the new lotion I bought today

Wearing:  leggings and a flannel shirt

Noticing:  it is getting late and I should really be getting to sleep

Knowing:  life is short . . . enjoy every minute!

Thinking:  I am going to drink coffee and be a bum in the morning

Admiring:  so many creative people . . . .

Getting:  obsessed with avocados . . . 

Bookmarking: some ideas for baby shower favors and a Project Life Album 

Disliking:  getting sick . . . finally starting to feel better

Opening:  a letter from my Aunt Olive

Closing:  my book for the night

Feeling:  INSPIRED!

Hearing:  nothing but quiet . . . 

Celebrating:  a new year . . . a new beginning.  I love new beginnings!

Pretending:  that people don’t piss me off
Embracing:  FAITH

Also found this website . . . according to them - here are my nine best Instagram images for 2016.
I'm seeing a theme here . . . 

Happy New Year!

rainy day pizza . . .

Charlotte loves rain (what 4 year old doesn't?)

She also loves "rainy day pizza" . . . and being silly for the camera!

I love spending time with these two.  

holiday fun . . .

Christmas isn't a season, it's a feeling.

~ Edna Ferber

She did a fantastic job on her gingerbread house . . . and of course there was a lot of tasting.

Tasting is the best part of making a gingerbread house - right?  

christmas tree farm

The light in a child's eyes is all it takes

to make Christmas a magical time of year.

We took Charlotte to pick out a Christmas tree on Saturday.  It was a beautiful day . . . a day of train rides, suspension bridges, rusty tractors, stone castles, flowers, and Santa Claus.  We found a beautiful tree . . . (which I didn't even get a picture of.)  

My fake tree is boxed up this year . . . after the great day we had I may never use it again.