Weston's 4th Happy Birthday Letter

Nov. 28, 2014

Dear Weston,

     Happy 4th Birthday big boy!  I cannot believe how fast you are growing up.  You will always be my baby even when you are older.  You love riding your new bike.  This summer you learned to ride your bike without training wheels.  In August you learned to do tricks on your bike, like ride with only one hand, and riding with your feet up by the handle bars.  You love doing all the typical boy things like jumping in puddles, making mud pies, climbing up high on things and then jumping off, or being stopped before you could jump.  When we were in Niagara Falls in Sept. 2013 you climbed up on a huge rock behind your mom and Angie while they were not watching.  Mom did get you down before you slipped or fell.   That happened on our Trip of a Lifetime #2.  Trip of a Lifetime #3 was this past summer to Co., while #1 was to Washington DC to visit Angie fall of 2012.  I call them trips of a lifetime after our first RV trip, and mom said she would never again go when we got home.  She since has changed her mind.  #4 was to Florida during this fall.  She was just talking about our future summer trip to Indiana Sand Dunes.  So maybe a #5 will be this summer.  I do love going on trips with you.  Hopefully you will remember these trips now that you are getting older.  If not you can look back on my writings and read about what you did on these trips.

      You love camping and we have taken many short camping trips.  You also love fishing and won a fishing pole by catching the ugliest fish.  You are learning to shoot a gun and bow.  You talk about going hunting with your dad since you stopped pooping in your pants many months ago.  You play really well with Easton, and have always been best buddies.  Jocelyn also has always been the special big sister.  She still watches over you like a mother hen.  When you were a baby and we were babysitting you, she could always get you settled down when you would not stop crying.  Katelyn loves you also.  Just this past weekend we came to Grand Island for the McQuinn family Thanksgiving, and you woke up from your nap.  You went over to Jocelyn for your wake up hug.  She loved and hugged for awhile; while I thought get this over, so it will be my turn for your hug.  I later got my hug, but it did take some begging on my part.  

        We left for the Trip of a Lifetime #4 on Oct.26 –Nov. 9.  We met Angie in Tampa.  She and mom went on their first cruise.  Your dad does not like cruises, so she went on her 10 year wedding anniversary cruise with your Aunt Angie.  She is hoping to go on a cruise to Alaska with your dad on her 20^th.  Mom was gone for five days and that was hard on you.  You are really a mama’s boy.  It is easier now that you are older.  You had a couple of melt downs because you were tired and missing mom.  Jocelyn got you quieted down.  At times you just said you wanted to go home.  I then asked if you were missing dad, since he was the one home.  You said, “No mom.”  I then tried to explain that mom was not home but on a cruise with Angie.  You were so excited when she got back. 

     When you were younger and mom would have us babysit you, many tears were shed.  We have pictures of you looking out the upstairs window while watching mom and dad drive off.  Mom also had troubles leaving you in a nursery with other kids.  You are a big boy now and still miss mom, but enjoy playing with your friends.  Jocelyn was always around to hold and comfort you.  Sometimes I slip and call you my baby, and you correct me by replying that you are not a baby but a big boy.  Little do you know that you will always be my baby, as you age.  

     For your 4^th birthday, grandpa went out and bought you a scooter.  This way you would have your own when we went on the trip.  You were a pro on your new scooter.  You had no fear and went zooming around our campsite.  You even tried some of your fancy tricks like riding with one leg in the air.  Yes, I worried about you when you went speeding down the hills.  Most of the car traffic in the camp ground was by golf carts, so they watched out for little ones.  You kids and maybe a couple of others were the only kids staying at Lazy Days in Seffner, Florida.  Your favorite thing to do at the camp ground was swim in the pool.  You are such a fish.  You still wear the swimmy thing that fits around your arms and chest.  This allows you to float and swim in deep 5 ½ feet water that the pool had.  We went to the pool every day except one day that I thought was too cool.  You swam and played in the water from after lunch to dinner time.  I would think that if you did not have naps those days then you would go to bed early.  I was wrong.  You and Easton slept on the table that you boys folded down into a bed at night.  You boys would talk and play until it was late and Grandpa would tell you both to go to bed.  I was in the back bedroom watching tv or reading.  Grandpa was up front watching tv, and the girls played on their iPads.  You also would play on your iPad doing games or watching cartoons.  

     You are into the Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles.  No girl shows for you.  On this trip we had to take turns watching girl and then boy DVDs as we traveled down the road.  Mom has some ABC sound games that you enjoy watching on your iPad.  You know all your sounds.  So if mom says what sound the L makes you will sing a little song, “the L makes the ____ sound.  You know some simple math also, not sure how far you can count.  I did not do much school with you during the five days that I had you.  We did work on your sounds.  You can spell and write your name.  

     You are a tough little boy.  On this trip Angie took you and Jocelyn out, and on accident you got hit in the head by a bag of dog food and Jocelyn slammed the car door on you.  Angie asked if you were fine, and you said you were ok.  Later you told Angie you were bleeding, Angie looked but the blood was only tears without the crying sounds.  Last week, mom noticed that your fingers had blistered.  You told her that you had touched the fireplace a couple of days ago, but did not want to get into trouble or take medicine so you did not tell her about the burns.  They added a fire screen so it will not happen again.

   You come up with some funny sayings that I can’t remember now.  I guess I should have written them down.  The one I do remember is that you asked me at the pool if you needed an attitude adjustment.  I asked if you had done something wrong that you needed one, but you said no.  I did have to ask your sisters if they needed an attitude adjustment a few times.  I only had to give you one which was a timeout on this trip.  At times you don’t want to take the time to go potty, so I will ask and you would say you did.  I then would ask to see if your tongue was purple.  Purple colored tongue means lying.  Once when I told you it was purple you blamed it on the candy you had just eaten.  This weekend mom asked if you had gone potty because we were going out.  You answered by saying, “See my tongue.”  You then stuck out your tongue to show mom it was not purple.  

     Last Fri. evening we went to the Grand Island downtown tree lighting activities.  Places had activities for children to do. In one huge crowded antique flea market place of three levels we lost you.  We had all walked downstairs to go to the cookie decorating area, while mom noticed that you were missing.  We called around but could not find you.  The kids said that you came down with them.  Mom thought Jocelyn had you.  Mom found you on the middle floor crying.  I then made you my seeing eye helper.  I told you that I did not want to get lost, since it had gotten really dark out.  I really did need help.  Usually Katelyn helps and holds my hand and guides me, but Friday night it was your turn.  You did a great job.  You told me stairs and then counted the stairs as we went down.  You told me curb, pole, and other things that I may have not seen in the dark.  

     Now that your family lives in Grand Island we don’t see you as much as we did.  When you lived in Pleasant Dale you came in every Sunday for church and dinner.  It was nice spending time with you during this trip to Florida.  The highlight of this trip was not spending time with grandpa and grandma but to be able to ride the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney World.  It was your first time visiting Disney World and Epcot.  You met your Aunt Danee and cousin at the park and then stayed at a hotel with them. You also saw Epcot.  When Angie flew in the next day, we all went to the beach.  You loved finding sea shells and playing in the sand and digging holes.  The beach was on the Gulf side of Florida.  It was called Fort DE Soto Park. We had warned you not to drink the water, by telling the story of mommy at age three drinking the ocean water and then throwing up. 

 

    You are my little helper, and at times you will not run off like the other kids do and will take my hand, and say, “ Grandma you can’t see because you had a stroke.”  One day after swimming I was helping you dress and gave you Katelyn’s shorts instead of yours.  You went outside to ride your scooter and the kids were yelling that you had your shorts down.  Sure enough you were trying to ride your scooter with the shorts around your ankles.  I pulled them up and it took me a while to figure out why they had fit earlier and not now.  You are very understanding when I call you Easton instead of Weston, or when pouring drinks I miss your cup and the drink lands in your lap.  Once this trip  I mixed your yogurt in with the second helping of mac and cheese with hot dogs.  You do bring those mistakes to my attention.  When you were really young, you were on the back porch and I was refilling juice and missed your cup, you sat covered in apple juice with the strangest look on your face.  You were probably thinking, why is Grandma wasting that apple juice?  Or mommy does not do this at home!

      You love animals.  You and your family have a dog Maggie a Silky and a male cat called Tiger.   You also have a fish named Blue.   You love my dogs Missy and Riley.  You love Riley more than Missy since he is a boy dog you said.  When we all go for walks you want to take Riley, and you have gotten really good at walking him.  You were even in charge of throwing the poop bags into the pet trash at the RV resort that we stayed at.  Riley will snuggle up with you to get his belly rubs.  You give out really good dog belly rubs according to Riley.  Missy just wants to lick the food off your hands and sometimes face, if she can get to it.  Missy used to jump up and steal food from your hands when you were smaller.  You would cry as she went off to eat your snack.  Riley was a good boy and just sat at your feet during meals waiting for food to drop.  Maggie knows that you sometimes will forget to close the door or the fence and then she can escape and go for her own walk around the neighborhood.  She has gotten out a couple of times at our house and we had to go hunting for her.  She is a very fast runner.

     I always write about the birth of my grand children, in their birthday letter, so now it is your turn.   Your family moved into our basement before you were born.  Mom wanted to be near her hospital in Omaha.  You were sitting ready to come out. Your due date was Nov.21, and mom was worried about the winter weather.   It was great to have everyone here, but 17 days!  Mom and dad had made a trip to the hospital but were sent home.  Mom was ready for you to come out and when they went in on that Sunday she was not coming home without a baby.  I got the call, so Bernie came to watch the kids.  I got to the hospital at 10:30 AM.  Mom was doing well and did not want to take any drugs.  Around 11:30 AM Dr. Matthews was checking mom and her water broke.  You were born at 11:56 AM on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010.  You weighted 11lb and was 20 ½ inches long.  Mom had to push a few times to get your shoulders out.  The nurses had not seen such a big baby in a while.  You did not look like your family.  Your hair was black or very dark brown.  You liked like an Eskimo baby.  You are now blond and look like your siblings. 

  On Monday, we took the kids up to see you.  Jocelyn cried and cried when we had to leave.  She had bonded with you and did not want to leave you.  Tues. afternoon you got out of the hospital and everything was packed into the car and truck.  It had been 17 days.  I even sent a few meals home with your parents.  You were such a cute baby.  Mom said you had a personality like Jocelyn did.  You cry when you want to eat or when you are wet, you are a very content baby.  When you were a baby and cried when we were babysitting, grandpa would rock you and settle you down.  You did not like to sit with me.  You will always be grandpa’s little buddy.  When we were at a fireworks show, you had a hat on that had some writing on it.  Grandpa asked what your hat said? You answered, “Grandpa’s little fishing buddy.”  It did not say that, but it sure got us laughing. 

      I took you and Easton to the pond at Walnut Grove.  The poles were in the RV, but you boys made your own from pieces of wood and pretended to catch a variety of things mostly sea weed.  Once you slipped and your shoes got wet.  We were at the park and it got cool, I had forgotten that your shoes and socks were soaked, and you did not say anything until we got home later.  If you said anything I may have taken you back home and you and Easton were having so much fun exploring and finding things like a dead fish that you had pretended to catch.  I love watching you both play together.  This last weekend with the McQuinn’s Thanksgiving get together, I loved watching you play with your little cousins Graham and Ryker.  You are getting pretty good at sharing your toys with them.  They live nearby a few miles away.  Next month you boys are going to have a sleepover at their house in Wood River, while mom and dad go to a Christmas work party.  

     You thought that this last Saturday Thanksgiving get together was your birthday party.  You boys had helped mom make a cake for the dinner and you thought it was a birthday cake.  Last Thanksgiving get together we did celebrate your birthday with a Turkey cake.  Now that you are older you want to have a friend party, so mom had a family come over for a lunch birthday party before Thanksgiving this week.  Mom made you a Ninja turtle cake and piñata.  Your cake had trick candles that you could not blow out.

      Your dad shot a deer and kept the head to mount for his office.  You enjoyed watching him work on the head.  When we were over it had been skinned down to the bone, and about finished with the process.  It is just part of that home school lessons that dad is working on with you along with gun and bow shooting, fishing and other activities.  

    Happy 4^th Birthday!  Love you my Snuggle Bug.  I call you my Snuggle Bug.  What is the password?  I had to give you the answer three times this weekend or you would not let me pass.  It is T O N.  Jocelyn told it to me and it seemed to work, so I could pass.  Not sure if you knew what T O N spelled.  You must have watched some cartoon that asked for a password to get by.  I wish I would have taken a picture of you in your Spiderman costume this weekend but I did not.  You wore it around for an hour or so.  I would have posted that picture. 

Love you,

Grandma

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving 2014

     I am calling this my Thanksgiving Blog.  I have really been busy, so I have not done much writing.  We have been doing a lot of camping and traveling. We just got back from our fall trip to Florida with Julie, grandkids, and Angie.  We came back to freezing cold NE weather and snow.  I miss sitting outside and soaking up the warm sun.  The grandkids loved spending the afternoons at the pool.  All four are like little fish.  Easton was so excited that he did not need to wear his floaters in this pool.  It was great seeing Angie, since she flew in from DC and met us in Tampa.  Then Angie and Julie went on their first cruise.  When the grandkids get older we will have to do a family cruise suggested Angie.  

     Thanksgiving is a time to stop and think about the blessings in our lives.  I tend to think more about the negative things going on in life vs my blessings.  When I was younger I would listen to the older folks talking about their aches and pains.  I recently got together with friends to play cards, eat, and visit.  Someone from the card playing table remarked how our conversations in both groups were centered on those aches and pains, and in my case the ER visit on our travel for an eye infection.

     I got off track in my mind thinking about how painful that infection was, and how sick I was from the drug that the ER doctor gave me, so we could leave and get back on the road.  BLESSINGS - So what am I thankful for?  FAMILY!  Beside family I am thankful for the Lord.  He is always with me when I am down, stressed, in pain or in the hospital.  I know I am not alone.  He is there, and I can talk to Him.  I sure have done a lot of praying with the eye problems that I have had.  I am blessed to have that little bit of vision in my so called good eye.  I can still be independent and write and read my Bible.  It is just not the same as listening to the Bible as it is to read God’s word.  Reading God’s word and praying allows one to survive this thing called life.  This life on earth is so short compared to eternity in heaven or hell/Lake of fire.  

    To my  family, friends, or former students that may be reading this blog, I am going to share some information that could and will change your lives here on earth and eternity.  I know I will be spending eternity in heaven with no pain, illness, blindness with loved ones who have believed.  How can I know that I will be spending eternity in heaven?  It’s not because of being a good person, doing good deeds, going to church, religion, or any of the other ways that people think their works get them into heaven.  I am a sinner, Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  Back in 1975 I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead.  In short “God, who is holy, made us in His image to know Him.  But we sinned and cut ourselves off from Him.  In His great love, God became man in Jesus lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in Him.  He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us had been exhausted.  He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone or our forgiveness (not our good deeds, works, religion, church etc).  If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, by Faith,we are born into a new life, an eternal life with God.”  Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  John 3:15  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that  whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

    Some of us are closer to eternity than others.  I sure was a couple years ago but it was not my time yet.  There is a reason that I did not die back then.  I may never know but it is God’s timing not ours.  He gave us life and He takes it.  Where will you spend eternity?  If you do believe that only Jesus gets us to heaven, died and rose again. I will see you in heaven along with the ones who believed in Christ vs those who are trusting in a church, religion, and/or their good works to earn their way to heaven. 

    I used to think that if I was a good person, went to church was baptized as an infant in a religion that would get me to heaven maybe.  Once I started reading the Bible, I sure was wrong.  It is God’s Grace not my works.  So my faith in His word is all I have on this earth to keep me going when times are hard or painful.  But He promised to be with His children, and I am His child.  He will listen to His children’s prayers, so my prayers are with my family and friends.  I pray that you will be able to find God’s love and peace to get from this world to eternity.  This is a Thanksgiving letter.  Thank you all for being part of my family and circle of friends.   I pray that I will see you all in eternity in heaven, some day. I pray that you will pick up your Bible and read more about God’s plan for your life, and come to accept God’s free gift of grace through faith.  

      Have a great Thanksgiving, and feel free to let me know about what you are thankful for.