Welcome! We are a Christian family who cares for elderly individuals in our home. There are so many quotes, stories, and photos that we wanted to share with our precious "Golden Girls'" families, which they could view quicker and could be updated easier on this blog than we would ever have time (and memory!) to share with them personally. We also thought others might enjoy reading and viewing along with the families on this great adventure of their loved ones' golden sunset years. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your visit with us and "The Grandmas"!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

25 Years Together

Mike & Diane
****
May 25, 1985

Dad with his parents

Mom with her parents
Lovely bridesmaids (Mom's sister Susie is on the far right)

Dashing groomsmen (Dad's brothers: Jim is 2nd from the right in back, Bob is left kneeling, Dave is right kneeling; Mom's brother: Tim is far right standing)

"Look into my eyes"

Don't you love the cake?  It actually has a real fountain flowing underneath it.

Saying farewell

Starting a new life as one in the Lord

Happy 25th Anniversary, Dad and Mom!  

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bear Hug


...More party pictures coming soon!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Good-morning, friends!

Mama in the making :)

Grandma Jan visiting

Lorry helping me out with supper

It's May...it's sunny...it's hot...can't you tell?

Our new toy!

Grannie taking on Curly

Score!

I'm guessing Johanna plays better on one leg...what do you think?

Resting after supper

A quick "hello" from Ruth and the clan!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Lord's Day

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!


Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.


I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.



For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.



Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.



~Psalm 57:7-11~


Photo Courtesy: Jesus Loves Me by Kathryn Fincher
Photo Courtesy: Rising Sun by Leon Wells
Photo Courtesy: In The Mountains by Albert Bierstadt
Photo Courtesy: Mt. Whitney by Albert Bierstadt
Photo Courtesy: The Domes of the Yosemite by Albert Bierstadt

Friday, May 14, 2010

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Grandma Lorry made her famous Italian spaghetti and meatballs Sunday night.  It was yummy, yummy! 

And here is the photo I promised...Dad, the meatballs were great -- a little big, but delicious all the same. :)  He had to multi-task while we were gone: forming and frying meatballs with Grandma Lorry, fixing parts of the fence pickets, checking in on Grandma Ruth, working on some bids for work, *and* calling his mother!!  My, you have come far, Dad.  Thanks for making the day wonderful for so many people!

Mother's Day 2010

Good-afternoon, friends!  Hope all you mothers had a delightful day, Sunday.  We certainly did!  Mom had breakfast in bed ~ omelets and cinnamon bread ~ and we all had an enjoyable time just resting, laughing, and talking over our food.  Later on, June went to her Vic and Linda's house with all the family for lunch, so we had fun dressing her up in her lovely Mother's Day outfit (gift from Mrs. Linda), putting some make-up on and fluffing up her hair.  We then headed out to lunch (Chuy's), shopping (Belks), and dessert (Steak 'n Shake) with Mom while Dad stayed home and took care of the ladies (everyone say it together now, "Aww!").  Not to mention, he did the unthinkable, totally incredulous task of helping with Lorry's pasta!  I had to catch that moment on camera, have to share it with the others from spaghetti and meatballs night.  And later on Mrs. Kathi (Lorry's wonderful niece) stopped by for a visit (...sorry, entirely forgot to snap pictures!).  So below are the Mother's Day photos...enjoy!

When Dad and Johanna ran out to grab some water and a Mother's Day gift, they picked up these gorgeous azaleas!  I must add that Johanna is the one who picked them out. :)

Johanna's ladybug dress...thanks to Grandma!

Junebug looking fabulous as she heads out on the town!

June's sweet grand-daughter-in-love, Paige coming to take her to the party


On her way!

Before heading out to the restaurant, we attempted to get a self-portrait...this was the only one that seemed to get us three in there without much cutting out.

We had a wonderful, relaxing time on the patio.  When we got inside, they said the wait would be over an hour, so on our way out we were discussing where else to go and a man eating outside suggested asking for the patio, which we got in directly!  It had been super chilly and windy out, so I don't think anyone else thought of eating out...many thanks to "The man on the patio"! :)

So this is what Johanna looks like when she's been out dining, shopping, and desserting (is that a word?)...without a nap :)  Poor thing, her nose was squished and I don't know about you, but I would have a terrible crick in my neck if I slept like that!

So that was our Mother's Day in photos...sorry, I always forget to take pictures at the most important times!  That should be a warning sign that I was not meant to be a professional photographer...definitely don't ask me to shoot your wedding!  I might get the before and after pics, but during all the action...?? 


Thursday, May 13, 2010

Our Newest Therapist

Bella Bean!

A week or so ago (sorry, when a few days, a week, or two have passed, they are not only gone as history, but from my poor memory as well...oh dear), Dad had us all gather in the family room.  He told us he had a surprise and for us to sit on the couch with our eyes closed.  We heard him open and close the garage door, then after a suspenceful moment or two, he came back in and told us to open.  From my perspective (I apologize it has to be me telling this story...my "perspective" is usually rather wild) the first thing I saw was a giant centipede!  Okay, so that was a rather quick first thought (as all my thoughts are...fleeting would be more acurate); my second (yes, I had a second thought :) : a giant guinea pig???  Ha!  So you can see how surprised and incredulous we were of Dad bringing home a lap dog...out-door dogs are fine, but indoor??  Nope, it's always been out-of-the-question; that is until sometime last week, or two weeks ago... :)  He went to a home to pick up a craigslist item (yet another one of his surprises...a treadmill!) and they happened to have this little creature who was too...well, I don't want to be mean or hurt poor Bella's feelings, but the word would have to be "lazy".  They were a young couple with two retrievers, they liked boating and fishing, and this poor little shih tzu just could not keep up.  So, they *gave* this $700, 1 year old black puppy to him!  Dad had told them about our home, how we care for the elderly, and it was just a perfect fit!  PTL!

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." ~ Ben Williams

"How I see it, Bella, if I have to sit here quietly reading my books, you'll have to suffer along with me."

Her first bath with us

Getting dried off

Small dogs are such good therapy for the elderly...something to stroke, to lay your head upon, a major stress-reliever and anxiety suppressant

If you walk around our home now, you'll find a clump of black fur sprawled out on the floor...if you're looking for your fur coat, look elsewhere...it's our Bella Bean.


"I dream about her when I'm napping, and then wake up to her licking my face!"

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for [wild creatures] to dwell together in unity! ~Psalm 133:1

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tuckered-out Tuesday

Dad crashed on the sofa after a long day's work, dinner, and a shower.  Johanna (being the motherly little gal that she is) made sure he stayed warm and cozy...uh, well at least part of him did. :)

Logging off for the night!  Sleep tight!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

To Mother

I would that you should know,
Dear mother, that I love you — love
you so!
That I remember other days and years;
Remember childish joys and childish fears.
And this, because my baby's little hand
Opened my own heart's door and made
me understand.
I wonder how you could
Be always kind and good!
So quick to hear; to tend
My smallest ills; to lend
Such sympathising ears
Swifter than ancient seer's.
I never yet knew hands so soft and kind,
Nor any cheek so smooth, nor any mind
So full of tender thoughts. . . . Dear
mother, now
I think that I can guess a little how
You must have looked for some response,
some sign,
That all my tiresome wayward heart was
thine...

Photo Credit: Mother and Child by Frederick Leighton
Poem Credit: To Mother by Fay Inchfawn