Wednesday's Walk...Special Memories...at Christmas

Jenilee is hosting Wednesday's Walk ...click here  to link up your special memories

Last week I was busy with life and totally forgot to join in on Wednesday's Walk with Christmas Memories.  You see I have a very special friend who recently found out that she has stage 4 cancer that has settled in her liver and other organs.  I have been walking down Memory Lane, re-living special times that I have had with my special friend over the past 34 years of our friendship.  Here is a picture of my friend Myrna from when we went to lunch one time for her birthday at the Rib Crib.  We always celebrate special times together.

 

So, this Christmas is hard to think of it being our last Christmas together.  I really can't stand the thought of not having her in my life, BUT... I know she is a Christian, and that she will soon be face to face with Jesus...and that makes me happy for her.  Myrna's husband went to heaven 7 years ago and she has missed him so much!  She will get to see him soon too...and that will be wonderful for her. Here is a wedding picture of Myrna and her husband Lonie.  They were married for 40 years.

Myrna asked me if there was something that she had that I might like to have to remember her by...and I couldn't think of anything.  She has given me so much over the 34 years of our friendship.  I just told her that I would treasure her family...and be there for them.  After all, she is so much like a sister to me...and that makes me Auntie Linda to her kids and grandkids.

Christmas is all about love...and we do need to remember to share Christ's love with others.  This is something Myrna has done for many years!  She has always helped people and loved them...and displayed the love of God in her everyday living.  She is one of the kindest people I know.  As a matter of fact...the fruits of the Spirit flow from her so easily.  And isn't that how we all should be...especially at Christmas time.

Here is an article that I wrote for the local newspaper when my special friend opened a new antique store a few years back.  Many years ago Myrna had a resale shop and that is how I met her...and we just hit it off so well, and we became fast friends!

Myrna's illness came on so quickly and we really haven't had time to adjust.  This morning she asked me if I would be able to speak at her funeral.  I told her that I don't think I would be able to get through it because we are so very close.  But my husband said if I write it out, he will read it for me.  I pray that God will give me the strength to even put all of my feelings down on paper, so that I can honor my special friend.  Please pray for all of us as we go through this very hard thing.

The picture above is from the day Myrna was leaving the hospital to be moved to a care facility.  My three  daughters and three of my granddaughters went with me to see Myrna and she was just leaving so we all walked down to the parking garage with her and one of Myrna's daughter's Jill and Jill's young friend.

Through all of this that Myrna is going through she has remained peaceful, and she is still gentle and kind and she is still concerned for everyone around her.  She now has 7 grandkids and they have been visiting her in the care facility.  Myrna is going to do Christmas with them there this Saturday and Sunday.  I know this will be a "bittersweet" gathering.  I pray that God will give them all strength and peace as they go through this last Christmas together.

Six Word Saturday!

Six Word Saturday!

My six words:  Will You Help Sufficient Grace Ministry
(With your votes not your money)

Here is the link, click here
 
This link was working...but it gets bogged down with so much activity...so if it doesn't come up, please try again later. :)  Thanks


This is a worthwhile ministry who helps grieving parents.  They are in a contest to get votes so they can win 5,000.00 to help with ministry expense.  This is a non profit...and your votes will be appreciated.  :)

Vote in the green vote box on the site as many times as you can...it all adds up to help them.

Thanks!
Linda

Adventure in Kansas City with Family!

(I wrote this last week...but I am going to use it for this week's Six Word Saturday!  :)


Adventure in Kansas City with Family!


Last February our middle daughter Lynnette and her husband Kyle and their 6 kids moved from the Wichita area to Kansas City.  Even though it is only a 3 hour trip...it sometimes seems like they have moved very far away, and we miss them a lot!  We have been there 3 or 4 times already...and they came here once, so it is really working out fine...and they will also come here for Thanksgiving.

This is the country house they moved from.  They had lived there for 14 years, and hated leaving it, but they are adjusting to living in the suburbs of Kansas City, Mo.


This picture below is from our last trip this summer to see the Kraft's for Jonas' 10th birthday.  (He has on the camo shirt!)

We took our 18 year old grandson William with us on our last visit, and he enjoyed the time with all of them, but also liked hanging out with his 20 and 23 year old cousins Abigail and Jared.  We all went to the Farmer's Market, and then we went down to the River-Walk.

 

Will and Grandma

 

Jared and Abigail gazing at the river

 

Outside of the Farmer's Market before we went on the River-Walk  (Lynnette was there too...but she was taking the pictures!)

 

We saw a few trains, and one went over this bridge when we were standing there

 

Our beautiful daughter Lynnette and her husband Kyle!

 

Their sweet 6 year old son Harrison!

 

It was chilly and quite breezy...as you can see from my messed up hair...and from how I am all bundled up in my shawl!

 

The boys liked exploring the area

 

 

 Their kids range from 23 yrs. old, down to 6 years old!

 

Grandma with 7 of her 11 grandkids

 

"Fly time" for Harrison!

17 year old Cecily standing by the elevator that took us down by the River-Walk

Cecily and Harry

Abigail buying some Ghost Peppers

 

Kyle is such a great son-in-law

 

A good day in Kansas City!

 

Our Daughter Wrote A Great Book!

Our Daughter Wrote A Great Book! 

These are my six words!

Good Morning...I wanted to do a post about our daughter Lynnette's new book called,  "Ingrid".  It was a family effort because her adult composer son, Jared made a companion CD for the book, and her adult artist daughter, Abigail did all of the artwork.  They are involved in a Kickstarter Campaign to get their funds to publish the book and cd.  They only have 11 more days to raise the remaining 9,000.00

Perhaps you would like to pledge a little to this worthwhile project!  For just 35.00 you will receive a beautiful hardback book and the wonderful music cd that was composed to go along with the book.  Larger pledges receive larger rewards, which are listed on the site.  I am including the website with all of the information.  Please help if you can!  Thanks so much!

Click on the link below to view the Kickstarter page and to read all about this project.  There is also a video on there where my daughter and grandkids tell the story of the creative journey they have taken!

Link

Of course I am very proud of them...and very hopeful that they will succeed

Please help them realize their dream if you can. 

Will turned 18...and got a Tattoo in Memory of Anna!

Tattoo In Memory of Sweet Anna

On August 26th my grandson Will turned 18.  It was a milestone birthday for our boy who turned into a man.  Will is a quiet guy with soulful eyes...and I often wonder what he is thinking.  He is such a loving and caring guy.  He gives grandpa and I the biggest hugs, and we feel the love flow between us!  He towers over grandma now and makes me feel little and fragile when he wraps his strong arms around me and says..."I love you grandma!"  My heart melts when he does that.

I remember the little baby boy who spent the first year of his life with us when his mom and dad moved in, so they could save money for a house.  I took turns with his mom walking the floor with him in the middle of the night when he had colic.  We would also lay him in the infant seat on top of the dryer so the noise and the vibration would lull him to sleep as we stood there watching him.  He was a beautiful baby boy, and we loved him so much it hurt!!!

He went everywhere with us...even to our women's Bible Study in the evenings, since his daddy worked nights...and we didn't want grandpa to stress out if he got fussy!  (Even though gramps was very good with him, and loved him every bit as much as we did!)

As he got a little older and could sit up on the floor, we would give him some toys and watch him play.  He would make the funniest faces.  His Aunt Lisa would call him the "face makin' baby"...and we were all amused at his antics.

Will was to be the oldest of the four siblings...and they came quickly all in a row, so they were all close in age.  His momma had to buckle four little ones into four car-seats everywhere she went, for the longest time.  As most first-borns do, Will took it upon himself to be the "leader" of the others....you know, the boss!  I think that through the years he always has looked forward to the day when he would be an adult!  And now that day has finally arrived!

Will lives up to his name...he does have a strong will sometimes, and when he makes up his mind to do something, it usually happens.  I think when he was little, his mom read...."The Strong Willed Child"....by James Dobson, trying to understand her oldest son...and learning how to accept this as a good character trait, and that it can certainly be one.  I think that to the Lord we are all "strong willed children", wouldn't you agree?   

Will is so smart, and very capable.  Like his mom, his grandma too is also sure Will can do whatever he sets his mind to do.  There are times when I have wished I were as secure!  My insecurities still surface in my life, and I am 63 years old!  Ha!  But there is a soft and tender side to William, and we all know it is there inside this quiet guy.  He loves in a big way!  And we all love him so very much!

One way that this has recently been displayed is how he wears his heart on his sleeve...or should I say, a new tattoo he wears on his arm!  Now like I told you, I am 63..and not all that fond of tattoos myself,...but this one touched my heart.

 

It says Anna Gabrielle Kraft...1998-2004

Anna is our Granddaughter....Will's cousin... who died at 6 years old to heart issues.  Will was about 9 years old when Anna died.  I know it affected us all so very much to say good-bye to that precious little girl...but I think Will has never said, or been able to say just how much it affected him too!  This tattoo may be an outward display of love and affection...his way to express his inward feelings of loss.  He designed it, and has wanted to get it for a long time.

I think part of the tattoo thing for him is also being able to decide to do it, and not have to ask permission at 18 I guess...but I also kind of see it as a passage into manhood.  I mean look at all of the soldiers who get tattoos first thing when they enlist.  It is like they are saying that if they are man enough to fight for their country, then they are man enough to get a tattoo if they want to!  I agree.  As adults we are all free to make our choices.  Hopefully we will put thought into what we decide to choose..and hopefully our decisions won't hurt other people..or ourselves.  And as a Christian I also want my choices to please God.  I think judging others does not please God, and I am trying to improve in that area.

We have 11 living grandkids and 3 more in heaven.  Life is not always easy...and we do face trials in this life.  Sometimes big trials...life and death trials! Tattoos are not a life or death thing. Tattoos are a personal choice and even though I choose not to get one, (wouldn't that be a shocker if I did choose to get one?  Ha!) but God has shown me that I should not be the judge if others decide they want one.  To me it just isn't a big deal anymore.

I love my William, and I loved my Anna...and I think this tattoo is kind of a step into manhood for Will...and a lesson in understanding in this grandma's life.  I know lots of people who have tattoos, and I love each and every one of those people...some of them sit in church with me...and some are friends, and some are members of our extended family, and I don't think they expect me to approve or disapprove...it is not my place...it is their choice.  If people reading this have tattoos, I pray you won't be offended in any way by me speaking on this topic.  No offense was intended for sure!  It is your choice....and that is perfectly fine with me.  :)

This post is just a personal expression of my love for my grandson Will.  When you get right down to it, we are all different aren't we?   Some people choose to get tattoos, and some choose not to get tattoos...some have their ears pierced like mine and some don't, and some people wear makeup, and some choose not to wear makeup, or dress the way I do, or they don't dye their hair etc., etc..  We are all unique, and we are all loved by God.  And that's what really matters!!! And it is important to love others always!  Have a blessed day.  Love, Linda 

 4 Monkeys in a tree!
 

 Will and Grandpa!

Our sweet Anna!

Six Word Saturday...Our Trip to Estes Park Colorado

Today is Six Word Saturday...and my six words are:

Had a lovely trip to Colorado!

We wanted to stay in a little cabin on the river!

 We had a nice big deck, and ate all of meals outside

 This was the view from our deck

 John would go out in the mornings in his pajamas with shoes and a jacket to fish

We had our 37th anniversary while we were there

Our 20 yr. old grandaughter, Bailey was with us

 We loved to get out and enjoy the views and take pictures for our memory book

 Our daughter Lisa and her husband Brad had their 25th anniversary while we were there!

 Here's the crew...and Grams is taking the picture.

 I stuck my feet in the freezing cold water!  :)

 This was a lovely valley just beyond Twin Owls Rock

 This is Twin Owls Rock!

We got up early one morning and hiked around Bear Lake!

 Beautiful Bear Lake

 Brad, Bailey and Lisa

 My favorite picture of the serene beauty!

 We went to Alberta Falls...But John and I only went part way up!

 The rest of them went to the top of Alberta Falls!

 Estes Park is so pretty..and we enjoyed all of the pretty flowers!

 John liked this retro sign for our cottages!

 On our last evening there, an elk came in the front yard!

 Trail Ridge road to the top!  Looking down on a valley!

 Lush greenery by Alberta Falls

 I loved the big green ferns!

We took the free trolley around town to shop in Estes Park!  Had to buy some mementos!  :)

We had a wonderful time!

Happy Saturday everyone!