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!