The Rest of the Story (or Mama Jo Lives On)

This is going to be a tough posting to follow because:  I (Deke) am writing it and because you almost have to be in the family to get it.  But if you want to give it a try, you must do a little blogging homework.

1. First you will have to visit the Verbal Infusion posting titled, "Remembering Mama Jo" (http://www.verbalinfusion.com/2012/05/remembering-mama-jo.html).

2.  Now come back to this blog and read "Wel Glry 2" and "Memorial Day."

Consider this an addendum to the "Memorial Day" posting.  I thought it would be a good idea to link the license plate to the grave of the one we remember so fondly, so I sneakily (if that isn't a real word, just think of it as a texting abbreviation) took the plate off the van and placed it on the head stone.  I told Cindy we could use it in the blog if she wanted to.  Now look at the sequence of three pictures.  Study them carefully to see the subtle change between picture one (that I thought was just fine) and three (that was as it should be).

 MAMA JO LIVES ON!!!!!!!!!

Back Home in Indiana

Memorial Day

Mom and Dad

Grandma Mary at John Paul's grave

WEL GLRY 2

A few blogs ago, I told you the story of this license plate.  Well, Saturday, Deke and I were working in the yard doing really hard, grunge work.  I was exhausted and had just put away the last of the garden utensils when I turned around to punch the outside remote button to close the garage door.  There, right in front of me, I saw this license plate on the van that I normally drive.  My husband had ordered the plate and installed it on the van 3 days earlier, and I had just now noticed.  It brought tears to my eyes to think that he would be that sensitive to the things that are so deep and meaningful in my life. I turned to see him smiling at me and well... you can imagine the scene.  

He has done this sort of thing countess times in our marriage. He thinks of things to make life fun and meaningful.  He surprises me , woos me, dates me, prods me, helps me, encourages me, corrects me (although I'm rarely wrong), loves me unconditionally and in general, makes my life rich. He is the husband that looks exactly like the Lord. I won't worship him or bow down to him or ask him to be my savior, but I will accept the gift that my Savior and Creator has given me and I am grateful. And forever I will say

WEL GLRY! 

Outerbanks

For a glorious week, Deke and I were with Erin and Lori and the 8 grandchildren at the Outerbanks in NC. The dads were unable to join us because of work.  We were on the island near the town of Corolla.  We spent our days swimming in the ocean, bicycling, playing cards and games, shopping, sightseeing and enjoying being together.  

  

All of the precious grands with Deke and me

John Mark in a shopping basket

Megan and JM playing

Sightseeing at Kitty Hawk

Sightseeing at Appomattox

Our rental home

G-Pa with grands on the beach at dusk

Lori, Erin, Deke and all of the grands

Grandma Mary is 91

Grandma Mary celebrates her 91st birthday Tuesday but the family got together last evening to kick off the occasion. We ate Arni's pizza with salad and tomato soup cake. Couldn't ask for anything better than that!

Grandma Mary with 3 of her sons: Max, Keith (Deke) and Ken

Take a big breath...

Whew! Enough smoke to start the detectors!

My Baby Fix

Mark, Lori and the babies came to see us this past week.  What a wonderful surprise to learn that they were coming in the dead of winter for a short visit.  They came on Monday and left on Friday but we packed as much hugs, love and kisses as possible into those short, few days. Deke and Mark even got in some paragliding.  It was a wonderful time to play with Clay-Bo and hold little JM.

Little JM

Smiling JM

Absolutely adorable pic of C and JM

C-Bear ready to play in the snow

Playing with Daddy

Making the most of the snow day

Can it get any more precious?

Nana and JM

Wearing Emily's Rothschild coat and hat

Final picture of the family before they left to go home