A snapshot of Lilly's summer with Gramma and Gramps

refusing to smile ;)

happy in Girlfriend's jewelry

This is a game we call "Hello?"

cheerios and Unka WeeWee
Aunt Kara visits



Sunday with Gramps.......................... loves her purse

a walk with gramps
.... ask Gramma

Lilly's drawer .........................................swimming

which color? ............................everything in , but Lilly

blogging with Gramma
........dreaming of ducks

reading to Anna
*******Gramma's girl

finally walking!........................................."bean juice"


loving great-grandma

swinging

naptime....................................
....... great-Uncle Don


happy girl ......................reading the sunday paper





Pizza night! ..................................................Lillys' chair

The joy on her face is
because we are there.
Lilly loves us
and
Lilly knows she is loved

We miss her.

We have spent time cleaning this weekend - inside and out. We concentrated on floors. I did most of the carpets with my Little green Machine.
I have over-done, but cleaning seems to be something I can control. It always fixes a problem and satisfies a need.

The current problem with floors is Girlfriend and it is getting worse daily. She is refusing to go outside for elimination. Or when she does head there, will do her duty on either side of the door; inside or just outside - on the landing.
This dog has been one of the best, as far as going outside, for years. This has never been an issue with her before, ever. I know the stairs aren't a problem for her.
She just ran downstairs to hide when a few minutes ago, I stepped barefoot into a new wet spot on the deck. I'm now keeping the gate shut so she can't go downstairs anytime she wants. When I go to work tomorrow Girlfriend and Kizzie will be locked in our bedroom.
Rand and I have debated whether stress is affecting her - but we tend to agree it is a serious sign of her age.
It's getting a bit scary thinking about it.
There's is no right answer on the subject of how old is too old. But we do believe at some point we do need to make the humane decision for our old friends.

Kizzie is a dog of little brain and which means less worrying about rules. She is the reason I have my green machine. She will go outside willingly, but if you're late getting home from work - No problem. She has no guilt association with her doings.
But Kizzie is losing her eyesight and hearing. She is handling this by barking at everything that might have a noise. And running full speed until her head hits something.

This book has a pop-up Elmo on the last page.
Last time we read this Lilly ripped his head off. I bought packing tape and fixed it.
Look at all the teeth marks on top!

Guess which of Lilly's play balls Smaug liked best? 

Lilly's swing was dusted today. Usually not neccessary due to use. 

I need to find the pictures of our kids at this table when they were young. It was hand made by a grandfather who tested everything on his grandkids before he sold it.
We bought quite a bit of children's and doll furniture from him.
We still have all of it too!

Today I shampooed the benches.
There is a perfect Lilly handprint on the window.
I left it there ;)

Lilly's room at Gramma's house
It's staying too quiet and too clean these days.
Note the messed up blanket in the crib.
Camper likes sleeping in the crib when Lillie isn't.

Happy Birthday Sunshine

Twenty-three years ago, three weeks over due and three full labors (two induced), I finally coaxed you out to greet the world. Your birth date is the hottest day on record in Iowa ever. The thermometer outside my window read 120 degrees that day.
You hollered pretty good the first few minutes as you were examined. As soon as I held you in my arms I told you, "It's okay, Mama has you." You quit crying immediately and gazed quietly into my eyes.
Your first visitors that day were Grandpa Bill and Grandma Donna. When we found out we were expecting you, we also learned we were losing your Grandpa Bill to cancer. He wasn't expected to live long enough to meet you.
I always said you were the inspiration that kept him around much longer than the doctors said possible.
We said good-bye to him 6 months later.
You spent no time in the nursery or the hospital's acrylic bassinet. From the very beginning you were always by my side.
As our daughter your name was chosen with great care.
Sandra (a dear friend from early childhood) and Jean (your Grandma Donna's middle name).
Your names' meanings were also considered as carefully.
Sandra - God's grace; Jean - helper of mankind
You were the best baby. You slept all night by a few weeks of age, rarely cried, and were most content in a baby carrier hanging off of me as I did the daily housework.
You became my emergency room child by your toddler years. You could climb before you could walk and Lilly comes by her Indian name (Don'tEatThat) very honestly.
You were always outgoing, always ready to face a new adventure, and never knew a stranger.
Your first day of preschool you excitedly ran into your teacher's arms and never looked back at me. Probably for the best, I wasn't as brave as you at letting go.
You were never afraid to question authority and straighten them out when necessary. You once put your first grade teacher in her place after she mistakenly tried to punish you. You were right, she admitted her mistake and was quite amused with your boldness.
By your junior high years, you were begging me to homeschool you. You were on fire for God and didn't want to be surrounded by the worldly things your peers were experimenting with.
My approach in homeschool was inspired by Yeats: Education is not the filling of a bucket, it is the lighting of a fire.
I didn't just want to fill you with "state required" information, I wanted to inspire you to seek the truth always.
At fifteen, you conquered age barriers to take Christmas to lepers in Vietnam with Brother Charles. I was afraid to let go of you (again) - and refused to help when you got this "calling".
I told you if God wants you there, He can send you. You single handedly raised the funds necessary in less than a week. Okay God, I get it, but you had better take good care of her.
You were an inspiration to all on that trip and had found your calling.
You made the trip again the following year.
You were just a teen and you were a world traveler, a missionary, and a true woman of God.

Lilly was a surprise and a most awesome blessing.
Being parents was something we leapt into with blind faith.
Being grandparents is something we long dreamed of.

We are hoping and praying you take all help offered to you and use this as a life changing moment. In life we have got to use the tools we are given.

We want our daughter. And, yes, we do adore our granddaughter.
There was a time when I didn't know if I would get to live long enough to see my grandchildren. God has granted me this blessing and we want to cherish every moment we can with her.

We speak almost daily. We haven't talked for a week now. I miss you. It's your birthday.
I keep picturing that moment at your birth when you gazed at me. I wish those same words could work now. It's okay, Mama has you.

Love, Mom

P.S. Give Lilly Gramma kisses for me.

The only shot I got of the wedding. That is the bride, Crystal; I think that is the groom, Robbie. It was dark and there were strobe lights. It was a great wedding from beginnng to end! and I think everyone was in agreement - what a pig! 

The guys. No more explanation needed. 

Breathe!
It has been an impossibly busy week at work. (for a couple of weeks now) A new computer program was dropped in over the weekend to replace our current payroll system. The install went great, but the program refuses to recognize I have security clearance to even look at it. Someone else has to fix this problem as I can't really give myself the clearance needed. I've been "borrowing" an identity today to finally get caught up in my work.
I have started training in two other new duties as well. One only requires perfect accuracy in bookkeeping, the other is orientation of new team members. Perfection doesn't worry me, I'm good at that! It's the follow-up paper work and filing. I don't have a lot of time to train before I am on my own.
I loved the orientation training. But I also love a captive audience and teaching. There is also the fun of making new friends! Two friends are leaving our store to pursue other interests.
I put in an extra long day today to catch up. (Boss was out of town. I can get busy without worry of getting redirected) I worked the late shift last night. Up again this morning for a super long day, and I get to show up again at 6 am tomorrow. That means my alarm is going off in less than 5 hours. Crap.
I'm hoping to get off early Friday. I'm hoping to fetch Miss Lilly early in the afternoon. We have an event to attend this weekend.
This Saturday is niece Crissy's wedding. She is marrying a nice fellow named Robbie. The weather looks like it will be wonderful for the event.
I finally got pictures from last weekend posted. We had Lilly for the weekend and Smaug for the enitre week. Rob did that vacation in Colorado thing.
Lilly's highlight had to be finally cutting through the molar that has been bothering her for weeks.
Smaug was mean to the other animals for a day or two and then everyone was fine. We had a good week with him.
And Smaug has decided he likes Lilly. She can lay on him or do just about anything else and he is happy with it. Smaug loves Lilly's bath time. He mostly just watches, but at one point Lilly managed to get Smaug in the water - to his surprise! He took it pretty well.

Willie has done another job shift. Still doing the same night job, but doing a new day job.

For those not paying attention; I had a letter published in today's Des Moines Register:

Go prepared to enjoy beauty of Ledges

Regarding the July 29 letter complaining about the lack of facilities in Ledges State Park (“Won’t Be Back”):

“No paper products, no electricity and no soap in the only restroom we could find…” I’m guessing the writer was never a Scout or a camper. When approaching nature, always go prepared. For slightly better amenities try a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area. Examples include Saylorville and Coralville. A motel might be more suited to your needs.

No portable toilets? Did you notice the incredible landscape of Ledges? The bluffs, streams, any of the beautiful nature surrounding you? A portable toilet would be an eyesore in this wonderland. The easy-to-access maps of Iowa state parks, (available online, in parks and other tourist-type places) show no less than six restrooms in the park.

On the lack of trash cans: (From the Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s own Web site) “Iowa state park and recreation area picnic and other day-use areas normally do not feature waste receptacles. Visitors must carry out their trash and are encouraged to bring bags for such purpose.”

Waste receptacles are normally provided only at campgrounds, lodges, group camps, cabins and beach concessions. Going prepared also includes knowing the rules — or at least reading the posted signs. My family and friends have found Ledges to be one of the most beautiful spots in Iowa. And there are very few spots in this lovely state we haven’t visited.

I had to protect Ledges reputation! That place is so beautiful! Not to mention it is where our "kids2", Eric and Renee were married.
Being a normally sarcastic person and with stupid being a personal #1 pet peeve - I thought I did a great job of keeping it civil and informative.
We did manage to squeeze in small birthday celebration with Rob and Dana.
Randy and I got to see each other today! It had been a few days since our jobs allowed our paths to cross. Wow! Is he cute or what!
I think I will go take a nap before work.

My new avatar. She's so pretty! 

Lilly found the dogs' collars. She was not happy until I let her wear Girlfriends for awhile. I finally convinced her to let Girlfriend wear it again. We take them off the dogs periodically. They use their tags to make noise to get our attention, all day and all night!  

Unka WeeWee and Lilly playing with her Cheerios book.