Wordless Wednesday: Lake Michigan Dreams

Wordless Wednesday: Rock River Flood Plain

31 days later

I like my freebies. A lot.

So, when 2011 was coming to an end, I made sure I kept my eyes out for free calendar offers for 2012. And, because of my tendency to forget what or how many I requested, I ended up with several extra 2012 calendars laying around on my desk.

I had also been reading and re-reading One Thousand Gifts over the 2nd half of 2011 and really wanted to be more aware and more thankful for the little things each day that God provides and blesses with me.

So, one of those new calendars found a home next to my bed. Each night, before I turn off the light, I fill that day's square with 3-5 things that blessed me during that 24 hour period. In the month of January, I ended up listing over 120 things! *big smile*

At that rate, I'll have over 1400 things by the end of 2012! I think Ann Voskamp would be proud! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Fox Den Vikings

One of my saddest days.

I had one of the very best grandmas. Ever.

Granny B. was a classy lady who lived through some pretty difficult stuff. The one that sticks with me most is that she outlived two husbands - one who died suddenly when her kids were still

little and another on Christmas Day many years later when I was in high school.

Despite stories I heard to the contrary, my experience remained that she never, ever was anything but a classy, positive, faith-filled lady.

She grew up a lady from a good family who attended a Catholic college and graduated in 1941. During those college years, she appeared in

modeling jobs in the photos you see here today.

She was her grandbabies' ever-present cheerleader. She was present for a ton of concerts, plays, performances, and church services in which we all appeared. As far as I could tell, there was nothing in the world I could have ever done that would have dim my apparent perfect-ness in her eyes.

When I had only known my future hubby 5 weeks, I asked her how would I know if he really was "the one"? With a twinkle in her eye, she just smiled and said "you'll know." And, she was right.

She got to meet DaHubby and attended our wedding the following year. She got to hold Flicka when she was a few months old and it was captured in a "four generations" picture I treasure.

Seven years ago today, she opened her eyes in Heaven. I miss her so.

Wordless Wednesday: Walking

Wordless Wednesday: Meet the Neighbors

Some of our neighbors...Chuck, Round, Roast, Filet, and Prime! ;)