By The Sea, By The Sea, By The Beautiful Sea

Last Friday, my two grand kids, Alexis and Gavin, and I flew into San Antonio, Texas. We are having a really great time. We went to North San Padre Island in Corpus Christi. The next morning, my two grand kids and I awoke early and went walking along the beach. It had rained during the night and there was a freshness in the air. The beach was just awakening. The waves were washing up its treasures of broken sand dollars and shells and depositing them on the shore. The seagulls were flying above us and we watched the pelicans diving into the ocean eating their morning feasts.

It was a beautiful day.

When I see an ocean or a mountain, it always amazes me and I can't help but think about the power of God and all the beautiful creations He made for us to enjoy.

My son, Mark, Maria, Gavin, and Alexis

Sisters

I grew up not having a sister. I always thought I would like a sister. Someone who would be my friend, who I could share secrets and dreams with. She would always be there to listen and we would always lift each other up when one of us was down.

I wasn't blessed with a biological sister, but God has blessed me with some great sisters by marriage who I have grown to love. They are always there for me, they always have a listening ear, and try to lift me up when I need that extra encouragement.
On Jerry's and my anniversary date, they journeyed with me as I took a stroll back into the past to our favorite place, Indian Hill, in Newburgh, Indiana.

Jennifer and Janine

 

Pfafflin Lake in Newburgh, Indiana  where we spent the summers 
swimming when we were kids.

Our Last Dance

Today, June 9th,  would have been our 46th Wedding Anniversary. Also it's the 2nd anniversary of when we found out Jerry had acute leukemia.

I'm so thankful for our 45th anniversary that we were able to celebrate together. I remember it as if it were yesterday. In our hearts we knew that it would be the last anniversary that we would celebrate together here on earth. Each day Jerry had been growing a little bit weaker. 

We had planned on just a quite evening and I was going to go pick us up something for our dinner that night.

Around 3:00 in the afternoon, Jerry said, "Go get ready. We are going to go celebrate."

He had been resting all day trying to get up enough strength for us to go out to eat.  I drove us to Outback and I managed to help him into the restaurant.  We sat across from each other, with tears rolling down our faces. Our minds were full of thoughts of all the years we had spent together and what a fulfilling life God had given us together. All of our adventures, and ups and downs, raising four boys, getting to welcome grand children into our lives, all the friends we had made. God had blessed us so much through those 45 years.

When we returned home, I knew he was so tired. He sat and rested a little bit.

 We had a tradition and every year on our anniversary, in the privacy of our home, we would always dance a slow dance together. He said, "I think I owe you a dance." We held each other and danced our last dance that night to the song, "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons." 

June 9, 2012

 

It was a great day. 

I'm so thankful for all the blessings that God has given me and for all the wonderful family I have.

Graduation Days

I was so happy to get to attend my granddaughter's fourth grade graduation and my grandson's high school graduation. 

Graduations are always memorable events. They mark a beginning of a new adventure in our lives. My grand daughter, Emma, will be in middle school next year. My grandson, Greg, will be starting college in the fall.

Emma Rice

Greg Rice

With each ending there is always a new beginning.

Isn't is wonderful that God knows what our future holds and He is there walking beside us.

I always have liked the song "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow." 

 And I don't worry about the future,

 'Cause I know what Jesus said.
And today I'm gonna walk right beside Him,
 'Cause He's the one who knows what is ahead.
There are things about tomorrow,
 That I don't seem to understand. 

But I know who holds tomorrow,
 And I know who holds my hand.

        -Written by Ira P. Stanphill.

On The Road Again

Memorial Day was spent driving for 11 hours  to Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a grandson graduating from High School and a grand daughter graduating from the 4th Grade. 

You know my driving adventures are always exciting. My GPS took me on  even a different route this time. It was a highway I had never been on before. I didn't know there were so many routes to and from Cincinnati. For a while I was not even sure where I was at. Also I call it No Man's Land. For about an hour or so there is no cell phone coverage.

While I was driving I had a visitor. I was driving along, minding my own business, trying to figure out where I was at, when all of a sudden I saw these flashing lights coming up beside me.  He was  nice and could tell I wasn't for sure where I was at, let alone knowing the speed limit. 

And they always ask that important question, "Do you know why I pulled you over? You were going 73 in a 60 mile speed zone."  Thankfully, he only gave me a warning.

All in all, it was a beautiful drive with beautiful weather. And I always enjoy seeing my family

Please pray for safety as I travel.

Beautiful Wild Flowers in Virginia

Traveling through Virginia

Out of the Mouths of Babes

My grandchildren add so much laughter and joy to my life.  They are so honest.

 

One day one of my grandsons, Gavin, told me that when I died I was going to be in the ground for a long long time because I had "Lines and Dots" and that meant that I was really old.  The other day, Hayden told me that I was old because I had "Dots."

For you who don't know what "Lines and Dots" are - it's "Winkles and Age Spots."

I keep telling them the "Dots" are freckles.

I'm so thankful for hair coloring. I don't know what they would say if they saw the gray hair along with the "Lines and Dots."

 

I think I'll start telling them that the dots are wisdom spots. As I get older, I become wiser and the dots show how smart I am. I wonder if they will believe me.

 

 

 Proverbs 9:10-11

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

 

 

 

I Love Being A Grandma

Grandchildren are God's way 

of compensating us for growing old.  

~Mary H. Waldrip

 

The other day I was at the school. I was in the K4 classroom and all the kids were hugging me and calling me Grandma Rice. I thought what a wonderful name to be called - GRANDMA.

To my grand kids I'm known as Grandma, Grandma from 'Tucky, and MeMe.

The Grandma from 'Tucky was from when we lived in Kentucky.  Some of them still call me that even though we haven't lived in Kentucky for about eight years.

Being a Grandma is one of my greatest joys in life. With my grand kids I can act crazy, laugh a lot, forget about sadness, and share lots of love that I have inside for them. 

I remember my Grandmothers and the love they had for me.  They were all hard working women who raised large families without all the conveniences we have today. I still have letters that two of my Grandmothers wrote to me, even after I was grown and married with children of my own and had made them a Great Great Grandma and a Great Grandma.

My Great Grandma Creekmur lived to be 96 and my Grandma "Mammy" lived to be 91. 

I'm glad that they were a part of my life.

My Great Grandma Creekmur's  Wedding Day

My Great Grandma Creekmur

My Grandpa "Poppy" and Grandma "Mammy"

My Grandma "Mammy"

9 of my 11 Grandchildren and Me

I always pray that I'll be a good example of a Godly Grandma and my grandchildren will have wonderful memories of all the times we spent together and  always remember how much I loved each one of them.