Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's so delightful!

     I think that winter snuck in the back door last night...really. No kidding...no fun-ing...no warning. Any other time, I would be saying, Bring that baby on!", but not when James is out of town. Somebody is going to have to snowplow the driveway this afternoon or at the crack of dawn in the morning before 6:45 so I can get Caleb to work. And I say somebody knowing good and well it will either be Jon or Caleb doing the plowing. Caleb can do it, but bless his heart, he has another cold and he is coughing up a piece of lung every time he coughs. And I can only imagine how hard it is to snowplow up the hill of the driveway when you have a prosthetic leg. My poor angel boy...he will try but I am afraid he will fail. Which means my future son-in-law will have to do it. Lucky Jon...or not-so-lucky Jon. Poor fella....does he really know what he is getting himself into by marrying into this crazy family of ours? He can't run away now, as he is going to be a daddy to my grand baby, and we are going to have lots of fun in the next few years with that dear baby...and he is going to want to be around for it all. Jon is such a good guy. He adores my Ryan and he is going to be one great daddy.

     I miss James. I wish he wasn't gone so much but we understand the job and the rigor it is putting him through. Just wish he was in town more, especially around the holidays. I am just thankful that he WILL be home for Christmas, for sure. The company he works for makes sure their employees are all home for the holidays. YEA! We have been blessed by this company as they really seem to care about families and our needs. It is good to work for a kind company. After running our own company for the past four years, it sure is good to have someone pay US, and on time! That is the best part!
     Amos is still so lonely for James but I think he has finally adjusted to James being gone a bunch. When James is home, Amos sticks right by him, like maybe he can stop him if he tries to leave again. He has learned how to do his business outside in RECORD time...he hates the cold and snow and he is now tugging at his leash to go back INSIDE! It is pretty cute to see him choking himself, literally, to get back to his warm bed. Still spoiled rotten, but better.
     We had such a great Thanksgiving here in Juneau. I miss my family very much. I wish I could just snap my fingers and my mom would be standing here with me. Mama says it is much too cold for her to come up in winter ( that's why we have houses with heaters, Mother!) so she will just wait until the great grand baby is born to come this way. That is just fine with me, as long as she gets here to see my grand baby and her GREAT grand baby!!!! We have to take one of those four generations of women pictures!!!! Mama, I know you are reading this...start booking that flight right now for July. And I mean it, little missy!!!
    Better run before my mama sees this and I get in big trouble....:)

A GRANDBABY and Caleb turns 18...yes, 18!!!!!

     I am going to be a grandmother. James is going to be a grandpa. Caleb is going to be an uncle. My precious baby girl is having a baby of her own. I am going to be a member of the Grandparent's Secret Club. For the past 10 years or so, I have watched my friends become grandparents. I have ached for a grandchild. I never put any pressure on Ryan as I really wanted her to be ready to be a parent. The job of parent is full of joy and love, but it is also very tough on a young mother. Especially if the young mother has to work outside of the house. In the past 4 years or so, I have seen Ryan marry, divorce and become engaged to the father of my grandbaby, Jonathon. Ryan and Jon had been planning a March 2013 wedding in Las Vegas, and had even sent out "save the date" cards. Well, that Vegas wedding is not happening. By then, Ryan will be 6 months pregnant and unable to fly, we are pretty sure. So in the next month or so, Jon and Ryan will be married at the little log chapel that we all attend every Sunday. Our pastor will marry them and we will celebrate in a small but very special way.
    And then we will wait....we will wait till the end of June, 2013 for this baby to appear. At this point, I am not sure who is more excited...James, Ryan, Jon, or me....oh, wait...I know who is the most excited...Caleb!!!!! He has already bought the baby it's first lovey, which is so soft and silky. He can't wait for this precious little baby to get here. It is going to be a long 8 months, waiting for the arrival of our angel.

     And speaking of angels, my angel boy will be 18 years old tomorrow. I can't believe he is going to be 18. I know everyone always says "it seems like just yesterday that I had him" and "enjoy him while you can for he won't be little long". I want him to "be little" for a whole lot more time. Caleb has been such a joy to me, and of course, to his daddy. He has made me a better person. He has taught me what unconditional love, extreme strength of character and what grace is all about. He faces obstacles every single day, but he keeps on keeping on. He never, never, never, ever gives up. I wish I had his faith in God. He shows me every day what life is really all about. He steps up to the plate when his daddy is out of town, and he is a fine "man of the house". He is brave and strong in ways I can only imagine, and he has been my hero for the past 18 years. He loves his family with his whole little heart, and he takes great pride in being" just like his Gandad". He and my dad could have been twins. I truly believe that my daddy's soul is right there inside Caleb. My dad was the greatest man I have ever known, and Caleb is patterning his life after my dad's life.
     James and I feel blessed by our children and "soon to be" grandchildren. Thank you, God, for giving these two children to me...I needed them.