The past month has been a whirlwind of life for me. We're back home again in Indiana, after a cooler-than-usual winter in Florida. I didn't get nearly as much time surfing the waves and didn't have a chance to get out my windsurfing kit at all. March simply flew past me while I tried hard just to keep my panties from being tossed 3 sheets to the wind. I was late posting a "Happy Birthday!" to older Daughter, Ahsley, who turned 33 and has the first celebrated day of our family every year on March 23rd. That last week, I flew up to New York (with a layover in Atlanta) to help the younger set of Kids while Brett spent a majority of the time with annual Shut Down/Restart of his Nuclear Facility- his first as the Big Boss of the plant! He's the youngest in the USA to achieve this and I marveled at how he handled the stress like he was born to do it (and I really think he WAS). I had a great time joining the younger Grandbabies in their Homeschool lessons (Jamie has mastered his 'plus 1s' and is on the 'plus 2s' already at 4 &1/2 yrs!) and singing with them at the Library. And, we actually got the chance to color Easter Eggs BEFORE Easter this year instead of the usual AFTER the holiday. Princess Rose was a bit shy with me when they picked me up at the airport, but by the time we got into the house, she was running into my arms again- and that felt SO GOOD! She's got this finger-in-her-mouth-and-other-finger-in-her-belly-button phase going on. I'm ok with that, and just laugh when she switches hands. :) I flew back to Florida (with a layover in North Carolina) on that Friday, attended several lunch/dinner dates with everyone as they had planned, then got a whole 12 hours to pack and close up the Florida house before we headed up to Birmingham, AL, to spend the night with our dearest, sweet family, the Kizzires, before finally heading up to Indiana. The next evening, the older Grandbabies invaded the house with gleeful shouts and chaos for an overnight Spring Break visit. Peanut, Princess Chloe, and Jamie Pecan all three surprised the heck outta me: they can READ to me!! Peanut has the largest library of words he can now recognize- as well as spell in writing- but both Chloe and Jamie are not too far behind. I was reminded how fast they can grow in just four months! Princess Chloe turns the big 5 years old as of Wednesday; April 3rd (the very day of this posting), so they celebrated her party on Saturday; March 30th. The Birthday Princess received what she'd requested... a real saxophone. She also opened up a Barbie Mansion, 5 Barbie Doll sets, several 'groceries' for them, and got her wish for a "big girl" bicycle. The best part was taking rides with both Chloe and Cole on their "Mario Kart" go-cart; they really ARE good drivers! (I kinda got whacked by a low branch when Princess got distracted once, but..... ;) The next day was Easter Sunday: JESUS is risen!! How blessed we are!! Amen!!
The sobering part of March was going from the surprise and joy of finding out we would be Grandparents for Grandbaby Larimore #5 come October... to the deepest hurt of despair flying up to help prevent the miscarriage of that little precious Soul, but The LORD had different plans. Holli suffered a loss that many women, including myself, go through at least once in their lifetime of childbearing, But, being one of those many doesn't soften the blow and the hurt can take a person down to their knees in grief. I stayed strong until the middle of that night- and keep the picture of "Jules" in my mind and heart. I know that One Day; we'll finally get to meet face to face. I hate it when my Daughters have to go through so much hurt and pain being women, yet I am grateful they allow me to help them with those burdens of pain- as well as the joys. Sometimes, there are just no words, and the best we can do is just BE THERE. This coming weekend, Brett and Holli's Alma Mater, Purdue University, is enjoying their first trip in 44 years (1980- the year before the ChiefHubby's Frosh Yr began in the fall of 1981) to the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Pheonix, Arizona. Brett called to ask if we'd switch our weeks and come up to stay with the 2 Grandbabies while they fly out to meet up with some other college Buds for the games. I think it's a great idea for a happy trip- especially after such a devastating loss It's a FAMILY thing: all of us, save for myself, have gone to Purdue at one time or another for school. This kind of opportunity comes once in... well... 44 YEARS! So we're headed back up to NY on Thursday...
BOILER UP and HAMMER DOWN... HARD!!! See you all on the flip side WITH TROPHY!!
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