We Danced

"Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her tryin'
She's so beautiful
And I tell her everyday"

Music was playing in the kitchen. We'd been sitting outside, reflecting on our weekend.

"Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her, she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay?
I say"

Standing there in the kitchen, he hugged me tight and whispered in my ear, "we have to dance."

"When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are"

 Tears rolled down my cheeks, as we swayed to the music.

"And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are"

Happy tears, sad tears.

"Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful
And I tell her everyday"

I caught a glimpse of the two of us in the large mirrored wall. Who were these two people, dancing, laughing, crying?

"Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for, then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay
You know I'll say"

Out the kitchen window, I wonder if the neighbors can see us dancing. This man, this wonderful husband of mine, he doesn't dance.  But he keeps the beat of the music and we dance.

"When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are"

My heart aches for Ethan, who spent Saturday night in the Emergency Room. I had picked him up from school on Thursday and cared for him until Saturday. Fever, labored breathing, this boy struggled against illness. We watched a movie together Friday night.  He chose "Heaven Is For Real" the true story of a boy who experienced heaven during emergency surgery and nearly died. This worried me a bit.

"And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are"

Saturday morning, after the Blue Shoe Run (for prostate cancer, in which my son-in-law took first place) and after the ALS walk in honor of Brian's father, we had a crowd of over 30 people here. It was revealed that Brian and Elisabeth are having a baby boy.

"The way you are
The way you are
Girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are"

We had a short video chat with Christopher, Lauren, and Ivydee. I miss them so much.

"When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are"

Except for the music, the house was quiet. Christina, having had very little sleep, had packed up both boys and driven an hour home.  Hilary drove back to Fort Collins. Nobody else was here. Michael and I were home alone.

"And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are, yeah"

 

And we danced.

Truthfully,

Joanne

(music lyrics: Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are)

 "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy" (Ps. 30:11)

Best Friends

Above my desk, sits this photo:

It makes me smile, and sometimes laugh. The kids made this photo collage for my husband, Michael, a few years back. He had a habit of sitting in his recliner and in a sing-song voice would ask, "who wants to be my best friend?" When the kids were very young, and before they were wise to what was up, they would offer, "me, me, me!" His answer was always the same "will you run downstairs and get me a Diet Pepsi?" One of them would jump up to be his best friend.

Michael continued to ask "who wants to be my best friend?" for many years after, more in fun, yet always hoping he didn't have to get out of his chair and walk down the stairs to get a diet Pepsi.

I can't remember when exactly this collage was created, but we've added several people to our family since then: Ivydee, Josiah, Travis, Brian, and we also count Ryan-although he is not official yet.

And for those who haven't heard, we have a new grandbaby coming next year.

Truthfully,

Joanne

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Seven Things You Might Not Know

About Me

1. I lived in Winslow Arizona for one year.  It was the same year the Eagles' song "Take It Easy came out" (you know the one, "standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona...")

2.  I was 10 when I lived in Winslow.  That was also the year I knocked out my two front teeth. My theme song for the year was, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

3.  I was one of those kids who got good grades and who followed the rules.

4.  Because I was that kid, other students would often try to copy my test answers.  I grew tired of trying to hide my answers. Instead, whenever I noticed another student copying my paper, I'd write down the wrong answers.  After they would turn in their test, I would erase the wrong ones and put in the right ones.

5.  When I was in 3rd grade I got in trouble for using too much scratch paper.  When we finished our work, we were allowed to draw on scratch paper.  I longed to be praised for being a great artist instead of getting good grades. I thought when my teacher saw my 2 inch stack of papers, she would declare how beautiful my artwork was.  Instead I was chastised for wasting so much paper and told I could only use 3 sheets per day. Okay, most of them were tracings of my hands and then I would spend time adding beautifully colored nails and adorning my fingers with brightly colored rings and bracelets.  Imagine if this was today, I'd probably have added tatoos to the back of my hands. It turned out to be a good thing though, as I began using my free time to read.

6. In Kindergarten, on the first day of school, I begged my mom to let me walk home by myself. We lived a mile away, but she let me do it. I only knew the route the car drove. Later, my siblings shared a short cut with me. I was very thankful for that shortcut.

7. On that first walk home from school, about halfway, I was hot, lonely and tired of walking. I believed in magic, so I took off my sweater and laid it on the ground.  I sat down on the sweater, making sure not even a toe was touching the ground. I closed my eyes and wished for the sweater to become a magic carpet and fly me home. I imagined soaring off into the distance and how surprised my mom would be when I arrived. I spoke every magical word I could think of, but both my sweater and I remained firmly planted on the asphalt. I have no idea how long I sat in the in the road wishing, but eventually I picked myself up and trudged the rest of the way home.

Truthfully,

Joanne

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Cor. 13:11)

In The Garden

Some of my favorite pics from the last couple of weeks, and a beloved hymn:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

 
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

And He tells me I am His own

 

(P.S. I can't take credit for the photos, as I only took one of them.  Thanks family for all of the wonderful pics!)

It Is Well

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Truthfully,

Joanne

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" Psalm 34:6-8

Promises

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep 

Come Lord Jesus
Come

Truthfully,

Joanne

 (Song by Kutless)

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)

Counting My Blessings

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

 For His mercy endures forever.

Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

  Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

 I called on the Lord in distress;

The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?

You pushed me violently, that I might fall,

But the Lord helped me.  The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

 You are my God, and I will praise You;

You are my God, I will exalt You.

 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Happiest Of Birthdays Ethan

Dear Ethan,

Twelve years ago today, I first laid eyes on you and fell in love. I was so excited to be your Gramma.

Your first year, your hair became curly and your blues eyes sparkled.

By year two, your happiness and laughter filled our hearts with such joy.

You were curious about everything, and loved anything of your Aunties, including shoes and purses.

Long before you turned 3, your love of dogs was apparent.

You and your mom made a great team in everything you did. At 4, the two of you had moved 90 minutes away and we missed you so much.

Thankfully, you visited often and your favorite thing to do was mow the lawn with Grandpa.

It didn't take you long to move from lawn mowers to fast cars.  I still am not sure how you got your car seat into the driver's seat of my car, but if you could have, I'm sure you would have found a way to drive.

First it was Power Rangers and Spiderman, but once you found out about Transformers, you and I spent a lot of time shopping. No matter what store we went into, you knew exactly where to find Transformers.

Your great grandparents took you on your first trip to Disneyland when you were 7.  I am so thankful I got to be a part of it.  Not having any expectations, your genuine surprise and excitement was priceless at seeing the characters and riding the rides. Your favorite part was watching the kids be Storm Troopers and fight against Darth Vader with Light Sabers.  You practiced for years afterwards, no doubt awaiting a turn to do the same.

You and your mom continued to be best buds.

You loved baseball,

And we continued our quest to try to buy every Transformer ever made.

 And then it wasn't just you and your mom.  You had a new dad.

But still loved your Aunties & Uncle very much.

 You became a big brother.

 

At 12, you are the best big brother ever!

And you still love Transformers!

Happy 12th Birthday, buddy! 

Love,

Gramma

"Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!" (Ps. 66:1)