On Turning 76 !

The years just seem to fly ! It appears that I have totally neglected the year , 2010. I'm sure Facebook tended to take it's place. Although sometimes it becomes depressing enough to keep me away from it for days, even weeks or months. At other times , when I get to look at pictures of my loved ones - - or hear good "family news" - Facebook give me joy for a time. I have noticed how e-mails have slowed down to a snails pace - - and I miss the days in the past , when that was our only "Sharing" (Outside of holidays or celebrations and Telephone) Well here it is - -2011 - and I have just passed my 76th birthday! Sometimes almost startled at my relatively good health at this age. Startled , I suppose - because of those that have gone on - so much younger!! My sister-in-law, Carol,(64) My friends from childhood, Sharon(64) and Marianne(about 62) and our son, Edward John(53) (I miss them all) Life goes on - and still I am reminded that "EVERDAY is a GIFT" !

Frank Schaeffer: Open Letter From Jesus to "Christian" America

Frank Schaeffer: Open Letter From Jesus to "Christian" America

Labor Day Weekend - -

It has come all too quickly! Even though we look forward to 14 days on a cruise ship to Hawaii, it is kind of sad that our time up here is ending. Each summer goes faster!
Especially in the evenings, we can tell that Autumn is well on it's way - -

Two storms in 3 days! The ground really got soaked! Yesterday's thunderstorm included a Hail storm - - very noisy - kind of exciting! and it sure was good for the ground and the fire dangers.
Woke up at 6:10 a.m. to an overcast sky - - the first time in a long time --- but now at 8:40 the sun has broken through and once again -- a beautiful day! (Not that even overcast days aren't beautiful - but there is something about sunshine filtering through trees -- - -:)
It's time for Rebel and me to go on our "morning walk in the woods" - - in fact it's a bit late for us - it's warming up quickly out there -- should be out by 7:30 --
Got looking up old letters - got a bit nostalgic - had fun reminiscing here in my computer - - tsk tsk -- should get dressed and go enjoy romping in the sunny Forest -- so yes -- I think I shall!
Til another time - - -
Joni

Happy 4th of July! - 2009

On this quiet 4th of July - - Ralph and I look back on so many that we have spent together -- that weren't "quiet" ! 55 years ago - and for many years after -- we walked our 4 offspring down to the corner of Shepard Ave in Kenmore, N.Y. to view the annual parade - - ! Then back to Grandma Judge and Aunt Babe's family -- for yummy picnic fare! Fireworks at Sheridan park!
Then came the years of "camping" with our family and usually with several other families. Campfires! S'mores! Corn on the cob!
Then our 4 grew up -- and began having families of their own -- and our move to Arizona brought a pool into the equation - where for years, ours was the only pool - - so not only on the fourth of July -- but often every Sunday - it was a pool party - - with hamburgers, hotdogs, etc. -
And then - for 8 summers -- we experienced our Cottage on Round Lake in Ontario, Canada!
Where the 4th was celebrated with our friend Sharon and her family - the John Jacksons and often Jill and her family . Fireworks off the dock and into the lake! yummy food! lotsa laughs!

Times change and we change with them, as the saying goes. As families "expand" with grandchildren and obligations of their own --
2008 found us at our latest small "abode" - - in Show Low. A Park model cabin - just big enuf' for two.
Our son Eddy came up with his dtr.(our Granddaugher) Missy --and his granddaugher Sophia, and Eddy stayed with us. And we had visits from Connie and Dan - - And Vanessa - Eddy's granddaughter (our great grand) - and her mommy, Amanda! A busy weekend! And fun! They all went to fireworks - - we watched them on TV ! :)
Now it's 2009 - - our son Eddy has left our world -- and we miss him - and we're thankful for the memories -- .
Today on this fourth - We had KFC with side dishes (Pot luck) by all of us in our little RV community - in the clubhouse.
There were decorations of red, white and blue -- - - and an hour or so of "socializing" with our neighbors - -
yes - "Things change, and we change with them " --
We've adapted --and are grateful for each other. 57 (almost) years "together" - -and I love this man more than ever! (if "more" was ever possible)

There will be fireworks tonight in town -- but - -we'll watch them on TV, thank you! :)
And! We are content -- (and thankful) - after years of busyness and yet quite happy for this time of "not so busy" - and rather "quiet" - -

Tis March-2009

- -and there is sadness in our space - - We have lost the fun of our Son Eddy , in our lives.
A very sudden passing - - and the shock of it almost unbearable. But Bear it we do -and will.
We try daily to concentrate on all those things about and with Eddy that we have - to be so thankful for , and which give us wonderful memories. We are thankful that today would have been his 2nd year anniversary of Sobriety! His 6th month of smoke-free living!
We are thankful that the past Holiday season was spent with so many days with him , right here with us in our home - while his brother , Johnny also visited us.What fun ! What laughter! what craziness!
We're thankful that we were with him on February 8th - to celebrate my birthday, and had such a fun and GOOD visit! I am thankful for the book he "Gifted" me with - titled "Listening is an Act of Love" -but a little angry with him for not signing it as he usually does :)
But that's ok --I'll get over it. I'll treasure all the other books that ARE signed lovingly!
So - this is just a little "therapy" for me -- and to help me remember to be thankful - always - for the sparkle and zest for living that our first son so often brought into our lives. His Dad will miss, so very much, their hour long (or more) telephone talks about cooking, shopping for the cooking, cars, Bicycles (and putting them together:) - that took place at least once a week!
We'll miss his visits to our place in Show Low that he loved so much! We'll miss SO much of Eddy!

More on my birthday -

Sure wish I could "do" the pictures as I want to -- -! But anyway - messy as it looks - all those precious Great Grands are represented.
It's a beautiful day! Sun is shining - ! It's cooler this week - almost cold enough to convince us that it's winter - but I'm looking out at red geraniums and purple petunia's and various other green vines -- and flowers and sunshine, always make me happy! :)

It seems I continue to be lax in my blogging - somehow - Christmas has come and gone - WHOOSH!

The season was beautiful - and while I would say I cut down quite a bit on my decorating - -not yet quite enough. :)

We enjoyed individual visits with each of our great-grandchildren families - either at their homes or ours -- to give them their Gifts. It was fun-

And now a new year! 2009 !

We enjoyed our annual N.Y.'s eve get-to-gether with our friends , the Petrini's and the Willmons, at Petrini's home. (above right)

Now it's February - and our annual Superbowl gathering at Willmons has passed -

And today is the 10th -! My birthday! (How come I feel so young inside?)

I woke up , forgetting this was my day --and came out to a wonderful handwritten "greeting" on our pass through- after which Ralph instructed me to go further into the kitchen - where there on the island was waiting a waffle - with pecans! Strawberries! Whipped cream! my favorite breakfast when I veer from my usual "coffee with protein powder and Irish cream Splenda" breakfast. It was yummy! (why can't I insert a picture HERE? instead of at the top?) grrr

So - - a birthday is, I suppose a time for introspection -- which in my case isn't what I'm in to today -but rather my realizing all that I have to be thankful for -- The first being that I have lived this long - in good health - ! (74! years!) Next - that I have been blessed with a kind and loving husband who demonstrates his love and loyalty , daily! 56 years!

We have 4 healthy offspring! Three who have produced 10 wonderful grandchildren , and many of those, have produced 10 incredible Great-grandchildren for us to enjoy and watch grow.

I think I will add here - that I'm glad to be an Arizonan - after my first 41 years being in Buffalo, N.Y. - because my birthday month in Buffalo was often surrounded in slushy, brown/gray snow - gloomy skies and not much sunshine all month - sunshine that I NEED!

So thank you God and Western Electric -- for giving me wonderful sunshine and flowers in February! :)

Autumn??? I don't think so - -

Thanksgiving is just four days from now! And still!!! our temperatures here in Mesa, AZ. are hovering between 76o and 880! Thankfully, mornings and evenings are much cooler --!
There is a football game going on , on our tV - so it must be Fall!

We're looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with Debbie and her family - We don't see Courtney and Hayden Tramundanas real often, now that mommy and Daddy aren't living together any longer :( - so it will be fun to see them for the first time since last early summer , when I took them and their mommy MIchele, to lunch.
RAlph will make two kinds of trifle -- our regular "Grandma Jamieson" kind that we all grew up with -- and then a newcomer to the family -- a pumpkin trifle! Yum!

Johnny won't be home for Thanksgiving this year - but says he'll be here for Christmas.
He is loving North Carolina -

Kathy and Ricks family keeps growing and growing - and they will most all be together - Six grandchildren now! It should be a fun gathering over there!

And so - no matter the weather! or the economy! All of us, together in our several gatherings, will continue to be thankful for so many things!
"Each day is a gift!"

Since I'm done with "Facebook" -- I think I had better get some updated pictures on here - -especially a few from the picnic we had with Jenna, Jonathan, Noah & Eden - when we met them in Payson in October.

Pictures from our morning! Isaiah's 4th Birthday!

A "catch up"

It's been too long -- it's now summer/fall of 2008! The family have mostly changed their blogs or album spaces - - so it's hard to keep up. it seems many are going to Picasa - - should I , I wonder? I have some posted on Kodak , some on Snapfish (Most) and some on Picasa. And probably a few others too - Shutterfly maybe? photo bucket? maybe.
Anyway - we are up in our park model in the relative "cool" of the White Mt.s of Show Low - -and the Mogollan Rim. While we miss Round Lake, Ontario - and our friends there - we are adjusting and enjoying.
Made a few new friends -- and have enjoyed some who have come to visit us on occasion.
We only have room to sleep 2 on a hideabed - -so there are limits to our "guests" -- for overnight - however , we have served up to eight on our screened in porch - or inside on TV trays or end tables, etc. Lack of space has never left us hungry!

A Girl for Sarah and Eric ! Gabrielle Celeste Martin

Gabrielle was born on August 19th, 2008! She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz and is 19 inches long. She joins big brothers, Isaiah and Nathanael who are very happy with her. Her cousins, Aunts n Uncles, grandparents and great grandparents are also so happy that she has joined our family!

ourphotos

ourphotos

December! Twinkling lights! Candles! Carols!

How have we gotten to this month so quickly?? How did I miss writing in November? The days and weeks slip so swiftly past!
I'm going to try to post pictures of our 9 great grandkids - - "GREAT" in Two ways - :)
lets just see if I can make this work!

been bird watching in the cool Pines

Just spent another few days at our new little "abode" in Show Low.
We're enjoying the antics of all the different birds that we've attracted to our bird feeders!
We needed the airconditioning on for about 2 hours in the afternoon on 2 of the days.
On Friday nite we went to the community building for our 32 units in the over 55 RV section of our park -- to play Mexican train Domino's -- We had been invited on several occasions but this was the first we were able to get there -- we enjoyed it and it was a good opportunity to get to know a few others in our park.
The next morning (Saturday) - we met again there for Coffee and do-nuts - - and met a few more people.
The picture above is of two of our "hairy Woodpeckers" -- these are both Males we believe, since they have red on their heads. The female is really quite pretty, even tho' she doesn't have any red on her. :) I did get a picture of her also -- but 2 birds are enough!
It was very nice to be outside most of the time -- and tend to some flowers I've planted and take a walk etc. -- -
Now we have come back to Mesa and 110o heat -which today matched the record of 28 days of 110 degrees! We are still waiting for our Moving van with our "stuff" from Canada! Wondering if it will eVER get here!
Labor day weekend is upon us and I was hoping that we'd be "settled in" up in Show Low by then -- - for a few weeks! Tomorrow was the last promised day - - we shall see!

Welcome to our world and family - Eden Elizabeth Kellso

Eden Elizabeth Kellso weighed 8 pounds !
She is healthy - -and the family is so happy to have her here with us .

G.G. Papa and GiGi Joni got to see her when she was only about 2 hours old. We took lots of pictures - - and so did everyone else who was there to see her :)

Her Grandma Dara and G.G. Joni finally just had to open up the blankets and look at her chubby little arms and legs and make sure there were 10 fingers and 10 toes!

Her Be-pah Kathy and papa Rick both had to be out of town - but the were sent pictures right away . They would see her soon.

It was so nice to finally be in town for one of the Kellso baby births. !

Goodbye to grandson, Michael!

Mike with his 4 nephews -
Jonathan, Isaiah,Nathan, Noah




Grandma Joni-Michael-Grandpa Ralph


Bye Bye Dear Michael!
Have a great school year! We probably don't even need to tell you how much you are loved and how much and often , you will be in our thoughts and prayers! We can't wait to hear from you!
We send you off with our love and lotsa hugs!