A Precious Milestone

While staying with So Cal daughter, JJ, and family for Mother's Day I was a witness to a milestone moment in CD's life. He learned to tie his shoe! I watched him struggle and struggle to push that second loop through the hole and be able to pull the two loops tight without having the whole knot fall apart because it was too loose. I told him I'd give him a dollar if he could do it perfectly three time in a row. (It's amazing how a bribe works!) He was so persistant until he finally got it! And, of course, he collected his dollar and turned around and spent it at the snack bar at JD's baseball game that same day.


But the best part, for me, was when he climbed into his bunk bed that night with the lights out and ready to fall asleep, I heard him say with a big sigh— "Now every one in our family can tie their shoes!" Oh . . . how precious is that!

Life is good!

The End Of An Era Is Followed By The Beginning Of A New One

In our family Mother's Day has in the past been a lot of work and was, at times, quite stressful. For the last 35 years a Mother's Day Ping-Pong Tournament was held with four generations of family members competing for the trophy. For twenty-five years it was held in our back yard and another ten in my sisters back yard. This year was the start of a new era! This year a wonderful Mother's Day weekend was spent relaxing with JJ and family.

We got there Friday afternoon and as the sun was going down we headed over to a nearby Farmer's Market where we bought some of the sweetest strawberries we've ever had, some delicious Asian pears, and various other goodies. Then we all sat down and had home-made tamales for dinner, listened to some oldies music, and watched the various vendors sell their wares.

Saturday starts early in that household —having to be up, dressed, and ready to go by 8 a.m. to get to the ball field for two little league games lasting until 1 p.m.

First up was six-year-old CD with the MuckDogs! He sure has improved since last year's T-Ball team. He's pretty serious, most of the time, and keeps his eye on the ball. It was great fun watching his dad help the coaching staff too. We were real impressed with the positive attitude of all the coaches, always praising along with teaching the boys about the strategy of the game. At the end of the game each of the boys presented their mom with a flower bouquet for Mother's Day.

Then came JD's game. He is a member of the Red's and played left field. He nabbed a single with his first time at bat! A great game . . . they played the number one team and they lost, but the score was 12 to 11 . . . a very exciting game!

Here's CD ready to go and I think he was happy we were there to see him play.

They call this pose "Baseball Ready!"

Father and Son ready and waiting for the game to start.

CD kept his eye on the ball and was a fast runner when it was time to run!

Strike One!

Happy Mother's Day!

And here's JD trying desperately to win $20 from me for a home run!

After an inspiring church service on Sunday, we came home to just kick back. SS called from the midwest to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and it was great to talk with her. JJ and I finished up the queen size quilt top she started in February. What a great way to spend Mother's Day. After a trip to JoAnn's for the backing, the quilt is all ready to go to the machine-quilter.

We stopped at Green Acres, a local market, and picked up pork and beef ribs for PD to barbecue. After dinner Sunday evening was spent playing Pegs and Jokers with the men beating the women two to one.

Here is KL ready to go to school Monday morning just before we headed north for home.

An end of an era and the start of a new one. Good times with family, great time with the kids, a fun time with my daughter—all this and stress free. Life is good!