Pitter Patter & Prom

This morning I woke to the pitter patter of little feet.
I'm in Kearney with my oldest daughter and grandsons.
Life is good.

While I am glad to be here, my thoughts are also with Caroline #6 as she prepares for and attends her senior prom back in Salem.

I have struggled for years with having to choose.
Having 8 kids means I can't be every where I want to be at the same time.

Most days I like having choices.
I like options.
I like things open ended,
but not in situations like this.

I am blessed to have a big family and I am especially blessed today knowing my older sister is stepping in for me back home in Salem.
Knowing she is tending to #6, so I can be 'home' here in Kearney with #1 & #3 is a huge comfort.

Happy Easter to all!


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:W 4th St,Kearney,United States

Kansas City

My day has been a busy one.

It began with packing up in Wichita and detouring on our way out of town to visit my 97 year old grandma, Zelma.
I love her so much!
Grandma loves baseball and so do I. When I was very young I would spend the night with her and grandpa and they would take me to watch the Wichita Aero's Minor League Baseball games.
That is where I first learned how to keep stats, and learned about baseball strategy!

I sure hope today wasn't the last time I get to see her and hear her wonderful stories.

Every time I visit her I try to ask a different question,
or at least ask the same question in a different way.
By doing so I learn more about this amazing woman each time I sit at her side and listen.
She is sharp as a tack, but her hearing isn't quite as good as it was 5 months ago.
And she seems a bit more tired, perhaps even weak;
physically, not mentally.

I have tried to capture as much of her life story as I can...
While I can.
I hope to see her again soon.
As I said before...
I love her so!

We made our way to Kansas City by mid afternoon.
We unloaded the car, then packed boxes, cleaned cupboards,
(am I the only one who uses the word cupboards any more?)
vacuumed, cleaned some carpets, cleaned the oven & stove top, did laundry, made dinner,
and hauled more boxes to the garage.
All in all a very busy, productive day in Kansas City.
Tomorrow will be even more so,
I hope!


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Roe Ave,Mission,United States

Kickin' back in my childhood home

I've been in Wichita for  just over 4 days.




Tomorrow its time to head to Kansas City and help my daughter (child #3) move to Oregon.

The past 4 days have been a good mix.

There has been time to visit with and catch up with family
and
there has been lots of hard work outdoors in the yard and garden.
I love working outside especially when I can work outside in the warmth of the sun.

I have had a perfect time.

There are still a lot of things to be done around the house for my mom,
but that is okay.
I will just have to make my way back here again soon.
But for now,
at nearly midnight,
I am kicking my feet up,
enjoying a beverage,
and looking back on my visit.

I am glad to have accomplished so much with the help of my awesome siblings.
I am blessed to have 3 incredible sisters,
and
3 incredible brothers!

All of us were home again the past couple of days except one.,
but even the missing one was with us in spirit.
{Love you "Otto"}
And on top of that I have been able to spend time with my 2 oldest daughters, a son in law, two grandsons, and my 97 year old grandma.

Tonight, with the help of many hands we shared another family dinner....
34 enchaladas  (beef, chicken and veggie) with all the trimmings;.

It was exciting to have most everyone here to share a meal.
We had grandmas, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, kids, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, pets,
and just about every aspect of family life in and around the table.
It was a true communion.
We were just missing Papo.

I am so blessed to have such a rich and wonderful family!
I hope to make it back here again soon.

Tomorrow it is time to head north to Kansas City where there will be more time with family and friends
and more hard work.

By the time I get back to Salem though,
I imagine I will be thankful for my new job.
I imagine I will be needing a break from my 'working' vacation!.

Life is good!.


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:N Coolidge Ave,Wichita,United States