February 2012

Last summer Joe and I flew to Raleigh, NC to visit our son Mike and daughter-in-law Maria. Their remodeling project was nearly done, and the house is lovely. Joe especially enjoyed the sun room, which is in the back of the house with a lot of trees. They obtained the wood from an old warehouse so it keeps the historical charm of their home intact. The kitchen is huge with all the modern appliances, of course. They have also added a new bedroom and huge bathroom to the house. Mike and Maria came to see us over the Thanksgiving vacation. Then at Christmas their home was part of a tour of the historical homes in Raleigh. 

During the summer we enjoyed going to swim lessons and sports activities with the grandchildren. We get to keep them a little more often during June and July when Joe is not working. We love having them all night so we can spend more time together. 

Sophie is in the 3rd grade this year and continues to do great in school. She is in a running club after school once a week. This year she is going to participate in a Bible Bowl over the book of Genesis. She reads well and remembers a lot. I have helped her with the questions a couple of times. 

Barrett is in pre-K this year. He is reading some and enjoys school. Keaton is four. The boys both enjoyed being in the summer ball games and swimming. Joe and I got them some Legos for Christmas and they like to put together their own creations. 

Joe is still teaching and coaching even though he turned 65 in December. He is in great health and plans to teach one more year. 

I now have 20-20 vision thanks to my cataracts and Dr. Bradley! He told me when I had the cataracts removed the insurance would also cover having my lenses removed and artificial ones inserted to improve my vision. He operated on the worst eye first, and I could see without glasses, but things were not real clear. The next week after he did the other eye my vision was great. Now those of you who know Joe will realize this is really "something" for him.... He helped with the laundry some and even vacuumed twice during my recovery. You won't be surprised, though, to learn that he took me out to eat a lot and pampered me, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Last summer Joe bought a shed for me to store some of my Hanna Publications books in, as they won't all fit in the office. He got three sets of heavy duty metal shelves and I have the books in plastic boxes. Because they are also shrink-wrapped when I have them printed, they store nicely in our dry weather.

Actually it has been WAY TOO DRY. We need more rain badly. We have a lot of dirt storms, but the worst one was on Keaton's birthday. Joe was at track practice and I was at the party at the Lee's (grandparents) home between Lubbock and Shallowater. Joe called me and told me to have everyone get inside right away. We did and about that time the wind picked up to about 60 mph and the dirt cloud we saw in the sky hit where we were. It was so bad that it made national weather news! Not a fun way to get in the news. Now we mostly have little dirt storms that make the blinds brown with this Texas dirt, and some of it sifts in the front door. Needless to say, I don't enjoy cleaning! But it is worth it to be here where we can see our three grandchildren. 

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth -- Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:1-3).