Running again ....

Teri's girls were out running again today -- in a two mile run. Regan told me that she thought it was a one mile run until she got there and found out it was two miles!! But, she did very well.

Marley ran it in 17 minutes, Bailey in 19 minutes (and seconds on each one of them) and Regan in 23. (She has the shortest legs!!)

Rudy would rather stay home and eat!! Teri told me that he mumbles some words which then ends in EAT!

It looked like a bomb had exploded ...

I have heard that term/description of a tornado/hurricane or a war zone. But, not quite a description of a leg!! Yesterday was my final follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. George Canizeras, above). Whew -- I can finally spell his name!! I had just decided to call him "Dr. C" since I couldn't seem to ever get it quite right!

He shook his head as he described what he had seen on the x-ray -- "It looked like a bomb had exploded in your leg." He followed it up with, "All I can say, someone upstairs was certainly looking out for you!!!"

When he came in the room, I already knew from his assistant that it had been quite a morning with other patients. So, he had just picked up my chart, was a little quiet and then looked up with, "Oh, hi!!" Bright and cheery .. He asked, "How are you doing?"I said, "I think great since I walked from one end of an airport to the other." He said, "You're kidding, right?"

I assured him I was not and I'll have to admit, the walk had been a long one. (lol!)I really don't have a super pain tolerance but I guess I have him fooled. He said, "I couldn't believe it when I talked to you in GA and you sounded bright and chipper. You should have been in horrific pain." I assured him that as long as I didn't move my leg, I had no pain. Moving it -- well, that was an entirely different story.

He still is shaking his head -- but we know and he knows that his hands were guided by the great Hands of a healing God!!! I am so blessed!!

The little gal is growing!!!!

While the picture quality is not the best (taken with my cell phone), Ava seems quite content to sit on her Poppy's shoulder ... okay, I am not sure how they spell Poppy .. but you get the idea. She's resting her arm right on top of Chris's head. Do you think he enjoys being a grandfather??

Ava is a good baby -- rarely cries unless she is hungry and quite content to study people ... she watches and jabbers away. Oh, she enjoys when her mommy plays a game of 'peek-a-boo' and giggles quite contentedly.

It is COLD!!!!!

I am up in Indiana and I wonder if I am ever going to feel warm again ... it is to be 13 degrees tonight -- isn't it supposed to get a little warmer in March?? Ha!! Teri and Jeff are stuck in Las Vegas because all flights were cancelled today. It seems that the weather in the northeast have affected the flights in the west -- go figure! They are quite appreciative of family who are watching their four young'uns!

Sandi told me it is cold in Florida .. okay, so it is a relative issue ... cold in Florida is not the same as cold in Indiana. It's VERY cold in Indiana and I know when I touch down in Florida on Thursday afternoon, the temperature there will feel VERY warm and I will be so very thankful.

Okay ... so I'm spoiled! Very spoiled ... and I know that some will say, "Oh, but I'd NEVER live in Florida because it is soooo hot." I'll take our nice gulf breezes and upper 80's summer temperatures any day ... in he meantime, my teeth will chatter and I will try to stay warm ..

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday!

Teri's Christmas Card arrived about in time for me to say "Happy Birthday" to her -- okay, so it's not related at all but her birthday is on Friday ... and it is so hard for me to believe that she will be 35! It was just yesterday that she was walking around on her tiptoes -- just like Rudy does now!

So, I'll share three sides of their Christmas card here ... and also say a special "Happy Birthday" to our daughter #3!!

Difficult days ...

Teri headed to Orlando to the Florida Hospital yesterday morning as her friend from childhood, Lisa Pannell, was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a mass in her lung. It was malignant although the doctor was fairly certain he had been able to get it all. He removed the bottom lobe of her right lung.

Lisa is just a little older than Teri so needless to say, this really had an impact on Teri. Also, Lisa looked to Teri for support so Teri needed to put her own feelings aside to be strong for her friend. I am so blessed by daughters who take their role as friends very seriously. Bob and I talked about that last night -- that each one is always "there" for whomever needs them and for that, we are so blessed.

Teri said that when Lisa called her a few weeks ago, she realized that she sounded a little unaffected at first and felt a little badly about that. She was just processing the info ... Lisa knows Teri pretty well. She told her boyfriend, "Give Teri about an hour and she will call back very upset" ... it was almost an hour on the nose! Teri called ... and she was bordering on hysterics as Teri can do.

Will appreciate your prayers .. it seems so many have been going through difficult times recently. We have received word of several who have died -- one as young as 7, one in his 30's -- another in his 50's. So many need prayer!!

On a lighter note maybe -- it's cold in Atlanta!! I have traveled from Atlanta to Indianapolis to the middle of PA -- and the fluxuations in temperatures seemed almost unbelievable! From 59 degrees in PA in the middle of February ... to snow a couple days later. Fortunately, it didn't stick!! I HATE driving in the snow!! Okay -- that sounds strong but I have strong feelings when it relates to driving in snow!!

However, we have our own version of 'black ice' when it rains after it has been very hot here in Florida. The oil on the roads comes to the surface and can become very slick. So, I guess I can't get completely away from driving challenges .. still, I'll take my Florida weather -- I hope to be back there on Monday afternoon -- for about 3 days. And then it's back to Indy again!! I am meeting myself coming and going!! I am anxious to get back to see Ava ... oh, and all the others, too, of course. I think Tyler is afraid that I was going away for a long time so I assured him on the phone that I would be back soon!!!

So much for now ...

Running ....

Teri ran in a mini-marathon this past weekend .. it took her about 2 hours and 20 minutes to run 13-1/2 miles. That included several stops along the way so she was quite happy with her time.

A bright, brisk morning in central PA ....

Now I sound like a radio announcer ... actually, it is a beautiful, clear day in central Pennsylvania. Last night, I wondered if it would be when Rachel and I were attending a wedding in Sunbury, about 15 miles from here. We were getting ready to leave the church for the reception and opened the doors to snow! It appeared it might even stick to the ground but it didn't last too long so I breathed a sigh of relief. I don't necessarily like to drive in it -- especially when I can't remember the directions well. Am I directionally challenged ... sometimes. Oh, I did a great job in mapping out the directions to the church and on to the reception. But, I put aside the directions to the church after we got there .. and then couldn't quite remember how to retrace our steps. So, I just took off north on one of the road I assumed lead to somewhere - which it did and it didn't cost us too many extra miles -- maybe one or two, or so.

The wedding was beautiful ... Esther Hobbs and William Straight. I knew Esther's parents since I was a teenager -- when a lot of 12 year old girls thought Mike (Hobbs) was one to pursue ... it's pretty funny in retrospect. He didn't choose any of those girls to be his wife -- Joann was one beautiful lady (inside and out) and went to be with Jesus about three years ago. William and Esther have quite a love story which can be read here ...

This morning, Teri is running in a half-marathon (13-1/2 miles). I was a little concerned since she has had bronchitis but her doctor cleared her to run so I am praying she will be okay. She sent me this photo to make sure I knew she was doing fine!! So, it's off to church soon and then heading west a few miles for the rest of the day!

It has been fun to be in these parts which we called home for a few years in the late 70's and early 80's. How the years have flown by but friendships remain close!

We are truly blessed!!

Fluctuating ....

Well, it was -2 somewhere this last week -- today it was in the upper 50's. That would be Indiana weather. I have never seen snow melt more quickly than it did yesterday.

I am now at my sister's place -- which means that I have been bombarded by three kids who want to play video games! And, of course, they know they will probably beat me! However, I did lead for a few turns until someone stole a star from me ... for those of you who know Mario Brothers Party for Nintendo 64, you probably know what I'm talking about. And, yes, I know that Nintendo 64 is now very outdated but for this great-grandmother, they have to take things a little slow! :)

I did get to see old friends ... actually, why do we call them 'old friends' when they are still great friends. I have no clue! It was great to see Bette Towle and two of her four children, Derek and Leanne. Derek told me his title -- I think he is Deputy Chief in the city of Greenfield, IN. And I'm sure when he is in uniform, he can be quite scary. However, when he is son and brother, he can be quite the harasser!! But, Bette and Leanne seem to love him a lot so I guess they can overlook his irritation. (I think he did it for the reaction rather than because he had any bad motives!)

Today, Rachel and Allen drove up to surprise their two oldest daughters at Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois -- my birthplace. I sort of interrupted my mother's college plans while my dad was attending Olivet. The girls were very surprised and pleased to see their parents today. Rachel is going with me to Pennsylvania for a week and the girls will be coming home during that time. So, her Valentine's Day request (early) was for Allen to take her to see the girls. I stayed here with the rest of the kids .. and got a trip in to see my dad, also.

So ...I'm winding down for the evening .. a little tired-- maybe a lot tired ... and I hear the kids fussing about going to bed ... reminds me of years gone by!

Brain freeze!!!

It was all of -2 this morning in Indianapolis IN -- and why did I pick February to come to Indiana? If it weren't for family and work, I probably would wait until it was warmer -- but even so, I'm glad I came! Along with being pampered by a great mother-in-law, I got to visit my sister and her family and spend some time with my dad. Roxanne is with me and doesn't get to come often so it's been a special treat. (See the photos at the end!!!) Roxanne attended kindergarten at the Nazarene Christian School in Beech Grove, Indiana. She was able to find a photo of her volleyball team that she could take a picture of -- she was thrilled! Most people never guess that she is 38 years old! (What does that make me???)

I've been busy yet wanting to blog -- but thinking I'm too tired -- but visiting it again and so glad that blogspot actually saves what you have been doing when you forgot what you were doing and left it -- and then thought, "Oh, no ... now what do I do?" Thankfully, blogspot must understand those of us who just don't always remember where we are ...

I started this and didn't get it finished but am posting it as it is ... how's that for rambling and confirming that my brain is certainly frozen -- at least, it's a good excuse!!

With my sister and her family

(minus the two in college)

Always have to have a funny photo! Always!!

Roxanne wanted to be sure to get a picture with them, too ...

And a funny photo again ....

And the photo of her volleyball team!! Can you see where she is??