The "Gramma" Queen

 

 

I will miss everyone as they leave tomorrow.  With Chuck still being in Toronto for another day, I will be by myself for the first time in twelve days.  There you have it---The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Most memorable for me has been the fun I've had with three of my six grandchildren.  Sometimes, it's been quite the challenge to find a spot where I could slip away for a quiet moment; our house being a small bungalow. 

Thinking about it, compels to write the following poem because sometimes, I can't help but laugh over some of the circumstances.

 

Grandma's Dilemma

 

They find me in the kitchen,

They find me at the pool:

They find me in the laundry-room,

Perched upon my stool.

 

They find me in the bathroom,

They find me nearly bare;

They find me doing push-ups,

They find me everywhere!

 

As I close my bedroom door

And lay upon the rug,

My sit-ups I must put on  hold;

They've come in for a hug.

 

They find me sometimes sleepy,

They find me in my bed;

They find me often on the phone,

"Grandma, we need to be fed!"

 

When I am in my office,

I make sure the door is closed;

Then, I hear a voice outside,

"Please help me find the hose."

 

"I want to squirt my sister'

She's being such a pest."

"Ah, Graham not now, honey,"

I've come in here to rest."

 

They find me 'cause they love me,

They find me 'cause they know;

I'm Grandma with the open arms,

Because I love THEM so!"

 



A Blend of Family Activities

                                                                                                                   Grandchildren are God's compensation for grey hair and wrinkles. (anonymous)   
                                                                           

 Bringing in the new year with enthusiasm!

 Jocelyn and Grandpa together as we played golf.  Jocelyn was fair in that she shared a cart, first with her Mom and then with her Grandpa.

 An evening of fun with Taryn, Jocelyn and Graham.  Hanging out without Mom and Dad.
So well-behaved were they, we may do this more often.

Christmas morning

                    Chuck was up early Christmas morning.  Everyone enjoyed his pancake and bacon breakfast.

"M-m-m" ponders Taryn.  "What can this be?"

The children haven't stopped smiling since they arrived.  Graham is patiently waiting for his cue to begin opening the first gift.

Oscar received a new toy--one he wasn't going to let anyone throw for him to run and catch--no-sir-ee

The Light Came Into the World

 

"I am the light of the world . Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

As I began putting our gifts away last evening, I found myself examining the  present given to us by dear friends.  There was a cord attached to the mosaic glass vase-shaped holder (shown above).  I plugged it into the wall and flicked on the switch.  Then, I place the cylinder-shaped piece of scented wax into the recess at the top of the container.  A few minutes later, the heat from the light began to melt the wax. There was a fragrance that filled the air with the sweet, soothing aroma of mildly scented coconut. 

Jesus Christ came into the world over two thousand years ago.  The celebration of the Messiah's birth, every December, is a remeinder of Jesus who is the light that illuminates our otherwise dark world.  The sweet fragrance of Christ will always be with those who love him.  As we continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we remain walking with the one who is the light of the world.

Christmas in Florida

Our Home in Bonita Springs, Florida

Chuck and I have been in our new home for four days, now.  So far, we have enjoyed the area and also the warm weather---little humidity and lots of sunshine.  Unfortunately, I came down with a cold but staying put in the house is not a hardship.  What is a hardship is trying to keep all germs away from Chuck who, as many of you know, is susceptible to pneumonia. 
Oscar is adjusting well to his new surroundings.  In fact, we were a little worried about him what with being drugged and on a plane for three hours.  Then the poor dog would be plunked into an unfamiliar house.  Because of the hour of arrival, 6:00 p.m., we hadn't eaten dinner, so we decided that we would go to a local outdoor restaurant at Coconut Point and take Oscar with us.   If any of you have been there, you'll know that Coconut Point is one of the most beautiful outdoor malls in North America.  With five or six restaurants to choose from, we decided to go to the Blue Water Bistro.  Oscar was fussed over by all of the servers and given a little bowl of water but he sure stuck close to Chuck's leg---it was all a little overwhelming for him.  He had the intense look of fear in his eyes---worried that Chuck and I would go poof into thin air and he'd be left alone in this strange and foreign land; although, he had been to Florida more than a few times.  He has always been suspicious when he sees suitcases laying about on the floor of our bedroom at home and usually, the sight of them means Aw-w, they're leaving me, again  for Oscar.  He's been quite happy and obedient here.  We think he's fearful of being sent back to Canada if he isn't well-behaved---that is assuming he has thoughts.  It surely is what his body language conveys.

     Oscar knows how to get comfortable and feel secure.                                 

  This is the living-room.  The cabinet faces our couch and two chairs.                            

Living-room.  In background, where people are standing, that's the dining-room area.                

        Our lanai faces the ninth hole of the women's tee blocks. Beyond that is a lake. As this open area faces directly east, we can have a view of the sunrise.              .

   Master Bedroom ~bathroom to the right.

   Partial view of the pool area ~ bathroom door leads out to pool as does the living-room sliding doors.                            

   Our kitchen ~ we like that everything is on one floor.                                    

   The guest bedroom is a good size

 Living-room
The photos on my blog aren't of all of the rooms in our house.  The dining-room, study/third bedroom/ kitchen nook, ( where we eat) and also the bathrooms (but if anyone is really curious about the bathrooms, I will post them on my next blog. )  How interesting can a bathroom really be, though?---essential but not very interesting.

Our Home in Bonita Springs, Florida