tell me Granny ....

"tell me Granny, a story about a boy named Everett ..."  (an amazing conclusion to a wonderFULL day!)

My day has been full - an early morning walk with giant snowflakes landing on my cheeks as I walked alongside of my husband.  "Seeing the lazy snowflakes loftily falling down, is relaxing" my husband said.  "Yes" I agreed.  "If only it wasn't always that easy" I added.
Seems I haven't been as relaxed lately.  Hmmm wonder why.  There are a few things that have been surfacing for me lately, although I am somewhat stumped as to why some things are happening, and just this morning, I journalled about my life, asking God to help me out here.  He always does, but for some reason, I have felt a little, let me say, "amiss" so to speak.  Perhaps it is the combination of losing a friend, but running to keep up with life at the same time, that has me feeling somewhat in a turmoil.
Perhaps it is seeing our almost 3 year journey of selling, moving ... moving... moving again, and then finally moving into the house that we have been working on since fall of 2010.  Seems the tiredness has caught up to me, and the realization of what I am about to embark on - has been a little, let's just say, "overwhelming" at times.  (been talking to the Lord about that alot to!)  SO the walk this morning, was good.  It is also one of the things that we have tried to incorporate into our days, and if we can get it done first thing - well, it is done and out of the way!

The walk done, the day just proceeded on.  Breakfast.  Some paper work.  Some email responses.  And then I just started to get the soup going (Hamburger soup made with Italian sausage instead of hamburger!) when in came half of my kids - Ash, Mike and little Matti!  She is just so cute - and well let me say, I am loving the abundance of PINK that came with her arrival!  She was so bright, and it was just so good to snuggle with her again (babysat last night). We hung out all day, ate lunch, drank coffee, chatted and had more coffee (along with a visit over coffee with our friend Arnold). Then it was time for them to head home, and time for Alvin and I to head over to Josh and Leah's to spend the evening with the boys.

It is so good being literally 3 minutes away from our kids, Josh, Leah and our sweet boys.  AND within the year, we will be 3 minutes away from ALL of them, as Michael, Ash and Mattie will also be living out here!  (It is really like when I lived in Anola and sold some acreage to my sister and brother in law, and they shared a drive with us.  Our kids were loved on by Auntie and Uncle Nels, and it was wonderful, topped later in 1997 with having our parents (mom and dad K) build and move right by us too.  Seems our kids loved the family living so close idea, and have adopted it for themselves, which totally thrills me.  (And well, I can drive, walk or bike over to see them all!!)

Anyhow, the evening was fun, although our little Rogie went to bed early as he seems to be fighting off a cold.  And Ev, our night was full of storybooks, and playing pretend.  And at bedtime, Poppa did the preliminary stuff, and I came in to finish the stories, read the bible story, and pray with him.  And then was his little request, "Granny cuddle with me".  (melt, melt)  "Okay, just for a while".
I loved cuddling with my kids, as it was in those moments that we could talk.  Even when the kids were too old to "cuddle" so to speak, they still often came in and laid on the bed to talk.  I loved that.

Everett knows a couple things about this Granny.  He knows that I will tickle his back if he wants me to, or draw on it (pretend pictures).  He also knows that I will make up silly songs (like Mr. Bumbo), and I will make his stuffed animals "talk" to him (like I used to do with Josh and "ricky klassen" his trusted teddybear).  Everett also knows that I will tell him both REAL stories about his daddy and maybe his auntie Ash, and I will also tell him made up stories.  So tonight, his request was "tell me Granny, a story about a boy named Everett" to which I recounted true stories about his life.  One after another after another.  And, he laid there, happy to hear about Everett's antics.

And now, Rogie is asleep in his crib.  Everett is asleep in his bed.  Alvin is asleep on the couch, and me ... well, I am here blogging about my day which has ended with the most amazing realization, that I may be somewhat tired, and a little stressed, and often very overwhelmed, but the best realization is that I am so blessed by my children, and especially my grandchildren - my "sweet ones" as I call them.

Blessed.
So
very
Blessed!

And, very very thankful!!  Thank you Lord - for this blessing, for the joy of my family being around, for the delight I see in the eyes of my grandchildren, and for the amazing realization that in life - there is nothing greater than the love and fullness of family!  Alvin, Josh and Leah, Ashley and Michael - Jay Benjamin, Everett John, Roger Thomas and Matilda Joy - YOU ARE MY LIFE AND MY LOVE!!
I am blessed, and thankful