New Beginnings, Connections, and Prayer

Yesterday was a good day. It was an answered prayer day in many ways. Tanner started a fabulous job and Nate got a job offer which will have him starting in a week or two. New beginning for both of these sons of mine. Thanks to all who pray for them and their families. I could tell Tanner was tired but excited at the end of his first day. God is good!

There is a way back from even the darkest moments. Now to continue to pray for my children to be in relationship with one another. God can do all things and even this. The family trips we took when they were young should be a catalyst to conversations. I know it will come until then I will be patient and pray. 

Lots of new beginnings as school starts and families prepare for getting back into routines. Kayla is off to college while her family adjusts to her being a few hours away. Life moves from season to season. I am no longer stepping to the front of a classroom but can spend some time praying for those who are. What a gift my life with students was to me. The beauty is that many of my littles are still in my life as adults, parents, worker bees. Each of us continues to have a role to play even as opportunities shift and change. There wont be lesson plans or behavior goals for me to write but there are other tasks for me to engage in. I hope to stay connected rather than fading into the background. Whether from coffee dates, social media presence, or quietly praying and reminding others I still care. My job is not finished even though I am retired. God gives each of us opportunities in all phases and stages of life. 

Nate and Tanner are beginning new adventures that will plug them into a work family. The right job is not just about a paycheck but who you interact with during your working hours. I pray for these new opportunities and the relationships they will create. Now I need to go sit at the park and let our Cora dog chase birds. Perhaps a new friend will walk by and chat for a bit. Or better yet, I can take her to the dog park and have a meet up with other dog lovers. I hope you have a wonderful day whether you are on a time clock or at coffee with a friend. 

In Him,

Joyful

8-6-26

 

Felix Time is the Best of the Best

This kid……Nate and Natalie gifted us with Feli time. He left with us on Father’s Day in our Goldie rv from Washington and here we are almost a month later in New Mexico. Our time together is coming to an end but oh the laughter and joy we have shared.

This picture sums up our six year old grandson’s personality. He may get frustrated or entitled just like each of us but with a bit of time and reflection he is all good. Here he is in the er where he ached all over and had a high fever. Thirty minutes before this picture our little man was miserable. A bit of Tylenol and multiple tests and he let us know that he was all good. So Felix!

I have learned so much from Felix this past month. 

1. Each of us works better when we get enough sleep.                                                                                   2. Boundaries keep us in a good mood better than getting what we want when we want it. Tantrums come when others  bow to our desires rather than when  rules are kept clear.                                                                  3, Trying new things can be hard but with the right reward we can find that new things can be fabulous rather than frightening.                                                                                                                                     4. Learning is exciting and sharing what we are learning is even better. Khan Academy shows me how brilliant little man is and while he reads I learn. He prefers nonfiction so I now know more about alligators and crocodiles, planets, and so much more.                                                                                                    5. When we are secure in our relationships with others, it is not worrisome to be away from them. It may hurt Felix’ parents that he isn’t homesick but the truth is it shows that he is confident in their love. His place with Ronnie B and I is comfortable. That is a tribute to how loved he feels. 

6. Don’t lead with what your goal is. There will be negotiation so inflate and then there is room for negotiation.

7. Laughter is infectious. 

8. Having the confidence to approach others whether at a park or in a grocery store gives us connections to others and makes life more

 

Lastly, it is the best way of life when everything is viewed as over the top wonderful. There have been two people in my life that truly believed that every meal is the most delicious, every gift is the best, and every person is their favorite. Grandma Co Humpton not only said this but felt it with every fiber of her heart. Felix is this way as well. He truly embraces and loves life. There is nothing fake about his joy as he walks through his days. Felix just finds joy in the moment and all it comes with. Well, maybe not taking medicine or getting his toenails cut. 

People like Felix and Co lift others up and remind us to look for the positive. I hope to turn up my enthusiasm for life in my days ahead. After all, our attitude does matter is true. 

 After receiving what I have prayed for I ask for the discipline to maintain it and the wisdom to make it grow. This time with our grandson has been such a gift that we treasure more than his parents could know. Now that we have enjoyed all the adventures and moments it is time to be more intentional with all our grandkids to FaceTime, call and stay connected. Personally, this Noni needs to get a strategy to connect regularly. Who knows, perhaps we will get to build our relationship with others not with a glorious month together but conversations. Sharing life is the answered prayer and we intend to be more intentional about nurturing this gift. 

full.

In Him,

Joyful

7-14-

Moving on up in a Variety of Ways

 Moving on up………tis the season. Graduations, retirements, new jobs, summer trips are moving us from one bowl to another. Hopefully, bigger is better. My third grandgirl is graduating high school and her families home life will never be quite what it is right now. I remember thinking that turning forty would surely be my favorite since all my four kids were still home. Here I sit at seventy in my son’s house helping with the bustle of turning the page on high school for now his second daughter. My hope is that this bigger fishbowl and new adventure is not only filled with more water but color, light, new relationships and joy. Whether someone is graduating from kindergarten or retiring from a loved lifelong career, there are mixed emotions of anticipation and the grief of moving away from relationships that have meant so much. Life is full of hellos and goodbyes, new beginnings and last moments. Treasuring all with photographs and memories that may fade but will always be a part of the fiber of who we are is key. Even when the path gets rocky there are lessons to be learned and even an occasional smile at the oh shits of life. All the tears of the final moments are accompanied with shared smiles over what came before. 

Kayla is moving off to college a few hours from home. Felix is going to first grade to learn even more about reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, Lissa completed phlebotomy and will start nursing school in the fall. Our grands are moving forward in wonderful ways to embrace the world. As I write this blog, Millie, my four year old grandgirl is reading over my shoulder and tells me she wants to ride her bike, do crafts, and learn to swim this summer., go camping,, and spend time with her Noni. I may have prompted her on that last one. 

Life is good but it can also be challenging. Thankfully, we have others in our lives to move along the path with us. Even when we are states apart there is always busy chats and phone calls to share what the heck is going on. I am so glad that Papa and I can travel in our little rv. It is best when we visit families of our kids with our own beds just outside on the street. Papa’s code for he is going to take a much needed nap is that he is going to feed Cora her dog food. I believe they are on to us old folks and our need for a bit of quiet and rest. See even we are in a different season of life. Enjoying family but also time to recover and kick our feet up. 

My hope is that you have a sincere filled with others. People you love and want to spend time with. Summertime is just what we need to throw on our flip flops and crank up the barbecue for a bit of charred food and friendly conversations. 

In Him,

Joyful

5-31-26

Let’s welcome June and the warmer weather with a look to the future and all that it holds. 

Tanner’s Words. His Heart are the Best Gift Parents Could Receive

 Yes I got it…… Thank you mom and Dad. I cannot express how grateful and thankful and how lucky I am to have been given to two of the most kind, caring, loving, generous people on this earth. It does not surprise me when I run into shitty people, who lack all morals, who always only think of themselves and how they and everyone around them can enrich their lives, because that type of person seems to be almost everywhere we look I feel like. What does surprise me however, is when you meet, run into, work or best yet, get to be raised by people who actually care, love, support and give the shirts off their backs if someone else was in need of it more than themselves. And God blessed me and Natalie and Cameron and Ryan all with the most beautiful and incredible and brilliant couple to be raised by because he knew that you two had the strength, the courage and most of all, the love that is required to not just raise a family, but to help us grow into who each of us are today. You loved me enough to say no even when it hurt you the most because you knew it’s what was best for me. You had the wisdom to know that just giving me everything I ever wanted in life wasn’t going to help me. 

This time I have spent being sober again, finding myself again, has given me a lot of new perspective that I hadn’t seen before(probably because I didn’t want to see it), or deal with it or take accountability for.  Using drugs for a decade really takes a toll on a person’s body, psyche, faith…. The amount of shame and guilt and disgust and disbelief I had about myself and my actions made me sick to my stomach all the time and continuing to use drugs just continued to numb me and keep me sick in my mind and body. And I finally have found the true me again, and it is all so clear to me now that if I were to ever choose to start using again would mean I have given up in humanity, I have given up in faith, I have given up in love and care and compassion. 

But then I think of my parents… and think of how they raised 4 kids without ever having “idiots guide to…”. I think of how you guys have endured so much pain in losing a son, a brother, a mother, a father, best friends…. And you still have the strength and the courage and the faith and love that you show all of us children all the time in your endless love and giving and it empowers me, it strengthens me and gives me resolve and today I want to be a good person, I want to be a best friend, I want to be a loving boyfriend and husband, I want to be a brother that my sister and my brother can always not only reach out to but can look up to and admire the qualities that my parents have instilled in me and that I try my best to mirror every day. 

If it weren’t for such a loving and caring Dad I wouldn’t know how to do anything… You are one of the smartest people I have ever met Dad. You showed me how to fix cars, ski, camp, scuba dive, build literally anything I want, shown me how to have patience and take my time with everything I do. 

If it wasn’t for you Mom I wouldn’t know how to be a risk taker, take chances in life, I wouldn’t know that it’s ok to be vulnerable and let my guard down. You showed me how to learn to listen to myself. Because of you I learned what my skills and strengths are and that I am very smart and talented and confident and a true leader. 

Both of you instilled in me what it is to love unconditionally.  I literally could go on for days giving you both example after example of what you have taught me or shown me how to learn for myself. With every day that passes and as the years go by quicker and quicker the more I admire both of you. The more I love and appreciate you and wish that we could just spend more time together. 

I know that with all of my past transgressions in this life words may fall flat, texts don’t truly portray feeling, and that I am never going to exclaim that I will never mess up again or fall short being a son, a brother, a father, a uncle, a friend because I know the sometimes reckless, risk taking does not always do the right thing or make the right decisions. But I just want to make sure that for the rest of my life I will never take you guys for granted, I will never doubt your love and compassion you have shared with me and I will spend the rest of my life  striving to be more and more like you two because you are the people I love and adore more than anything else in this life and I don’t want you guys to ever forget it. Even if you have to print out this text thread and slap it on the fridge to forever remind you guys I love you, I appreciate everything you do, I appreciate the people you are and the person you have raised in me.  

Mom I hope your 70th Birthday was something memorable and Dad, I hope something you do on your 70th b-day will be something unforgettable as well. You guys deserve anything and everything you want in this life. 😁😁🥰🥰🙄🙄🫶🤟Your son, Tanner

Best gift parents could receive. 

In Him,

Joyful

5-17-26

Deer, Deer Everywhere from My Backporch to the Front of My Car

The deer in our town are everywhere. Here is one eating apples on my backporch. This is early morning taken out my kitchen door. They are not afraid of us and seem to just live among us. It is great to see these magnificent creatures until they eat our flowers and destroy our trees. They also bring the mountain lions into our neighborhoods.I love seeing the deer but do get annoyed when they just stand and look at me in the middle of the road. I just have to sit and wait for them to move along at their leisure.

Recently, I have been driving past our golf course at 5:30 in the morning. It is still dark as the sun is just coming up. I have been heading over to get my great grandkids off to school since Elissa needs to be at clinicals by 6:00 for phlebotomy. There are dozens of deer roaming every morning. They bolt across the street and a couple of friends have even had them run into the side of their cars. I won’t even drive my Miata since I am terrified of hitting a deer or being hit by one. Well, a couple days ago my luck ran out. One ran so fast across the road I barely had time to brake. It was not enough to keep me from hitting the poor doe. She got up instantly and ran off seemingly unharmed. I was okay but my car has deer fur and dents that may cause them to total it.  The damage doesn’t look that bad but being an older car it may not be worth the cost to repair. I thought of Ryan when I saw the deer fur/hair. He would have gathered it to tie flies for fishing. That made me smile in a stressful situation. 

I don’t know if I will get to continue driving my perfect car for me. But I do know that I am grateful the deer seemed okay and that nobody got hurt. Even when we are alert to a possibility it doesn’t mean we can prevent it. This is true not only with deer crossings but other situations in life. What I do know is that when bumps or deer in the road happen, God is there to walk beside me and carry me through. It will be an adventure to deal with the insurance company and determine if I continue driving the car I longed for or if I find a new ride that will keep me safe on my adventures. I’m so glad I was smart enough to not drive my Miata/Fancypants early in the morning. This could be a much different post if I hit the deer in her. Grateful~blessed~feeling fortunate today and always. 

In Him,

Joyful

5-7-26

 

Oops! I Said it Again

 Ok, that is a bit of a stretch but I do have random thoughts at all times. It is true that some, not all, of them need to be shared. I am learning that the weirder they are the more selective I must be in choosing who to share them with. There are laws you know about when, where and to whom we share our inappropriate thoughts. 

A couple days ago, Jenn showed me a video from a couple years ago. I was at the doctor and she and Lissa were with me. They were both on their phones while we waited for Michelle, my friend and primary care to come into the room. In the video I started chuckling and said…….Don’t make me laugh Barb. Ok, yes I was talking to myself. These are two people I am most willing to share what probably should not be shared so either it was that bad or I recognized they were engaged elsewhere. I ended up having a herniated disc and was in so much pain. It just shows even agony doesn’t stop the weirdness in my head. 

Natalie says that my randomness is an attribute that she loves about me. Here I am a seventy year old, great-grandmother and I still can’t control my mind. Perhaps it is time to quit trying and just embrace who I am and hope that as I age my filter of when and with whom to share doesn’t slip. I would hate to spend my eighties in prison for offending the wrong person. 

So can I just ask if I am the only one? Do you think about asking strangers for a bite of their food or if you can get a picture with them? Does it cross your mind to give candy or cards to people you encounter but do not know? No, I am not that weird….I don’t give candy to children from my car. Even I have my guardrails. I send puns to my grandkids and scratch my head when one is a bit over the top for a teen from their Noni. The last one I sent was within the acceptable range. Sure, Alexander Graham Bell was great, but I’m more impressed with his brother Taco. Innocent, not off color and it passed the sniff test. Chalk up one for Noni. 

So I will continue being me and listen to Ronnie B when he says Filters, Noni, Fiters. Because each of us and especially me needs that person who cares enough to be the filter that doesn’t quite work as well as it should. Thank you Ron but you don’t need to shush me from my peeps that may roll their eyes but love me in spite of my wandering mind and words that escape. Love you all and thank you for your generous acceptance. 

In Him,

Joyful

4-20-26

70 will Surely be the Best Decade Yet!

 Apparently, I am no longer in my 60s. I love that my grandgirl decided to celebrate me with this gathering. This seventy decade promises to be the best one yet. Not that I didn’t enjoy each decade along the path to this one. They all had their own joys and heartaches but ultimately led me to who I am today and the community I get to enjoy. 

Before this birthday,  believed that 40 was the best and it was. All my kids still lived at home under one roof. I knew that by 50 they would be out finding their own path so I relished our time as a family of six. 

Those were the good old days and here I am heading into my older days as a retired Noni to grands and great grands.What a gift to have Ronnie B, the love of my life, beside me to enjoy a beer at our hometown pub, trips overseas and in our Chinook casita on wheels, and all the family and friends that make up our community along the way. 

A couple days ago I was treated to a massage. It was incredibly relaxing as well as eye opening. Here I am at 70 and I have no chronic pain, no incontinence (tmi), and a health that I doubted only a few years ago when I was tethered to oxygen. Well, the oxygen is just at night now and I have joined a gym and walking with Ronnie B once again. That season of long covid taught me that the world won’t fall apart if I slow down and don’t micromanage every little thing. 

There is more time for Bible studies, writing and hopefully podcasting at some point. I love the life I live now and am so grateful for all the life that has come before to get me to this moment. The heartbreak of losing our son and too many loved ones have had silver linings that we never expected. Losing Ryan gave Ron and me the opportunity to walk beside other families through loss. It provided me with a boldness to share my faith through the journey of losing Ry with the book of blog entries that catalog how Christ stayed close through the decade after. Easter Sunday, tomorrow, marks sixteen years since we lost our son. The lessons we learned and the lives our story has touched could never bring Ryan back into our arms but we know that it matters that we shared our grief and faith with others. So I want to share a few lyrics from a song that is my truth about what the future holds for each of us when we are finished having earthly birthdays. 

This is our last goodbye. 

We won’t have to say it again.

The next time we meet in heaven we will be.

This is our last goodbye. 

Last Goodbye Spotify

Until then, I look forward to life in my seventies and hope I am still sharing my stories at eighty and beyond. Today will be a glorious day of good food, friendships, and a whole lot of laughter. I guess it is time to jump in the shower and get ready for the decorating crew to arrive. I will post pictures in case you aren’t here in person. Again, thank you for reading my heart, my faith and my story.

In Him,

Joyful

4-4-1956 oops! 2026

Let it Be and Just Breathe

 This is easier said than done. Mom’s spend their kiddo’s early days caring for them and meeting their every need. Then as they grow it is pretty clear that our job is to lean back and allow them to do more and more for themselves. But how is it possible when we see their choices as not as good as if we continue to decide for them. It is hard to let go of control and trust that even bad choices will lead to learning and growth. 

Their growing independence is challenging us to release the reins a little more with each new stage of their life. Trusting that others can live their own lives regardless of what we think they should choose is us continuously releasing them. 

Our grandchildren are twenty-one years old to twenty-one months old. There are ways we interact differently with each one of them because of their ages and also their personality. Our youngest, Mayve, is going to be two in May. She is the most self reliant little girl. She puts on her own boots, jacket and wants to buckle her own car seat. Her mom is needing to allow her to be independent quicker than she hoped. Her older brother is potty trained and Mayve is extremely interested in going potty on the toilet. Elissa wants to keep her a baby a bit longer.

 It is hard to transition from one phase to the other when we feel like we are not needed as much. But the truth is our kids need us in different ways. My adult children may not need me to wipe their noses (thank God) but they do call and ask Ron and I to babysit. Even though we live in New Mexico and two of our kid’s families live in Washington state, I went up twice to look after kiddos while the parents had a much deserved break. It is a pleasure to fly to and be with my grands. I hope they never stop asking. Oh wait, they are moving more to not needing a sitter all the time. But hopefully, they will pick up the phone and share what is happening in their lives. 

So let’s all enjoy where we are and where we are going. Ronnie B and I turn seventy this year. We are not as old as Susi but we are moving into a new decade of life. Our routines are not as packed full of activities and even include a nap now and then. But it is an exciting time that we are embracing and enjoying. Schedules allow for more time for road trips and breakfast with friends. Now if I can just live what this message says and trust others more. It is something I pray for daily. To give advice when asked not unsolicited. My job is to support and encourage and celebrate the way those I love are living their lives. After all, i am sure my parents scratched their heads at many of the choices I made throughout my life. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-4-26

Maddy and Justin and an Old Rotary Phone with My Mom’s Number still on it

 Ronnie B and I had a surprise visit from our Goddaughter yesterday. Maddy and her dad came up and stopped by for a quick connection. What a joy to spend time with these two catching up and remembering when her dad was her age and such a big part of our family. Maddy heard a lot of stories that may or may not have been R rated about the Barber boys and her dad. She handled it well. 

I gave her a couple of heart items to remind her of her Noni’s love for her even when we don’t see one another. She and Justing were interested in my gramma’s rotary wall phone in my dining room. I gave them my mom’s old phone that Maddy had no idea how to use. It was a hoot to see her try to dial a number. Later, Justin posted a picture of her acting like she was chatting away on that outdated device. This picture reminds me of Ann Margaret in Bye, Bye Birdie. I will have to make a date to go down and watch it with her soon. 

It is fun to share what we have with those who we love. Our time, talents, and yes, even a dirty, old phone that isn’t connected bring joy when shared. I feel so honored that Justin and his sister, Jennifer, still call me Mom. Our families spent so much time together while they were young. Now he is this incredible dad who is raising this beautiful young woman. Life keeps rolling along and what a gift that we get to move through it with others. 

Justin will never know how much his love means to me. That he shares Maddy with Ron and me is the best gift. Thanks for the visit and connection my chosen son. It just shows that hearts are connected even when we don’t get to see one another as often as we would like. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-23-26

A Lifetime Seahawk Fan, Don’t Ask Me Why!!

The Seahawks are fifty years old. Jim Zorn started my devoted fandom to this team in 1976, What was the criteria to pick my perfect team to follow for most of my life? At twenty years old, I was extremely scientific about my process. Zorn, the Seahawks quarterback, had the best bootie in the NFL I proved this with much research checking out all the backsides in the league. It was a grueling job but someone had to do it. 

Now here I am fifty years later approaching my seventieth birthday and still a 12. They are going to the 60th Super Bowl today with a quarterback who is young enough to be my grandson. To be honest, I have never once checked out his rear end. With age comes wisdom, I suppose. Now I am a fan out of loyalty and the love of lime green. I am sure that they added this touch of my favorite color to their uniforms just for me in 2009.

So today, I am watching the game with Ronnie B and making snacks ahead of time. Because during the game I don’t even to miss a moment to go pee. No distractions! Just the game and texting to my son who moved to Tacoma and became what he said he would never be. Yes, he is an avid Seahawks fan like his mom. No, he did not pick the team for the backside of Russell Wilson who was qb when he became a fan. He became a fan because how can you live in Washington and not be one. Especially since the year he moved there our Hawks went to the Super Bowl. They beat his old team, the Broncos. That cemented the Seahawks as not just my team but a bit of a family team. I love that!   Go Hawks!

In Him,

Joyful

2-8-26

 

From Our Family to Yours Let the Adventures Begin

 Yesterday, we said goodbye to our 1975 camper van that we purchased in 1994. This fan took our family from Key West, Florida to the Arctic Circle in Alaska. We toted our four kiddos and my mom on too many trips to count. It also served us locally here in New Mexico at baseball games, skiestas, hot air balloon fiestas, and Fourth of July celebrations. We would make hot cocoa to share or just have a place to rest between events. 

Now the Barber Yellow Submarine will get a refresh and bring another family a lot of memories. This is the end of our time together but not the end of our van. It still runs but needs some love. The inside looks as good as when we purchased it. I only wish we could see how the next owners enjoy it. Will it become a camper or a living space? The truth is this old van has a lot of miles left to drive either way. 

We are now onto our new to us rv. Since Ronnie B and I are just the two of us on most of our trips the 2000 Chinook that is now our casita on wheels is the perfect fit. There are nine seatbelts so family can ride along with us but one king size bed for the two of us to share. We have named this Goldie or the Golden Nookie for our senior trips. No doubt, we will travel to family, take it on adventures and even crawl in the back along side a road after a couple beers with friends. In fact, we take off Tuesday to visit family and friends in Arizona where we will sleep outside in front of houses in our own bed after an evening of catching up. 

Ron and I love getting on the road in our little cocoon and spending time together. What a gift it is to have this time together for adventures. The memories of our kids traveling with us are precious but so are the memories we are creating just the two of us.

In Him,

Joyful

2-7-26

Scatter Rather than Gather

 It feels a bit unkind that Ronnie B and I have been taking pictures that my mom wrote on and placed painstakingly into albums out and divvying them up for our kids. Mom always felt a need to write on every picture and place it into albums. She stressed over getting this done. The reason it was such a daunting task was that Mom so many pictures to document our lives. I know dismantling her photo albums is the right thing to do so we can gift each of our kiddos the ones that will mean the most to them. But it still has me quietly asking for mom’s forgiveness. 

Susi says she has albums for each of her kids so they will be able to take them in tact when the time comes. Ron and I put our photos in Rubbermaid bread containers that fit 4x6 pictures perfectly. They are mostly sorted by year and easy to thumb through. When one of our kids comes we encourage them to take any memories with them now. 

As we go through our home ridding out what we no longer need, it is always with the thought of just what our kids and grandkids would want to preserve. There is too much that has been accumulated over almost five decades of marriage for any of them to incorporate into their homes that are already full of their own belongings. Now is the time in our lives to donate more than we keep and beginning yesterday was a good start. It sure makes us miss those who are no longer living and appreciate the times we share with those still here. This started out as a task to clear out our home of our junk that could be someone else’s treasure. It quickly led to us sitting down with photos and memorabilia to reminisce.

Gathering people is the phase of life we are in. Not so much of gathering stuff. My hope is to be quicker with my phone camera to capture a moment than to need a trinket to place on a shelf. Time to scatter what we no longer need and preserve what our kids and grands may want to keep. The truth is that they want very little of what collects dust in our house. That is a truth that we need to keep in mind when we are putting more than less in the donate pile. 

We don’t need Gramma Peabody’s fish tank or tea cups to remember her or our times at her house. But keeping one or two teacups and having a fish tank does remind me of her. Mom’s California Raisin people are fun but my kids passed when I took them to share. So I have been gifting them to friends on their birthdays. After all, as seniors we could be considered raisins with our well earned wrinkles. 

This cleaning out closets used to terrify me since it seemed so overwhelming. But now it feels like a labor of love as well as a hug from the past. Scatter rather than gather is the time of life we are in. So let’s scatter our love and possessions on others and gather new memories along the way. 

In Him,

Joyful

1-25-26

Jumping Fun with Courageous Cousins

 What a goofy, over enthusiastic smile. I always try to not smile so BIG in pictures. But how can I not be overjoyed with three of my eight grandkids on my lap and my gorgeous daughter beside me. We met at a trampoline park that was full of life and activity. Yes, we kept the kiddos hydrated as they jumped into foam block pits, swung across the abyss and jumped their little legs off. 

This is going to be a photo blog because I need to share some of the highlights and you know what they say. A picture is worth a thousand words. 

Auggie is two and was so brave and not intimidated by the big kids who were swirling around him. He finally tuckered out by the end of the two hour time but boy did he go hard until then. 

Millie was a fierce four year old.  She held onto the swing and soared into the foam pit. She and Felix were awesome at helping Auggie when he had a hard time climbing a vertical trampoline. Mills and Felix had the best cousin time ever! Pizza and dipping dots after our time were devoured since they worked up such an appetite. 

Felix is almost six and just lost two teeth in two days. He is the big cousin and so full of love and life. He so loved spending time with Millie. Nate and Natalie and I enjoyed watching them and they even had a fight on the balance beam with giant boppers. Natalie fill into the foam pit first but not until there was so much laughter and fun. 

This was a wonderful outing for a chilly, winter day. It is always a joy when we can get cousins together to hang out and play. I just love this. So I am going to give myself a break about my over smile in all the pictures. 

                                                                                               In Him,        

                                                                                               Joyful

                                                                                              1-19-26

More Laptime Connections Please

 

Whether it is our daddy’s lap or our mom’s, there is comfort when we crawl up into the protective comfort of their lap. Wiping tears away from a tumble that scraped our knee, to read a story or to let our eyes drift closed into a snuggly nap, the lap is the place to be. It is not always practical to sit on someone else’s lap as we grow into adults that seem to big to perch there. But the warmth of a hug or sitting beside them in an embrace can feel lap like. 

This new year starts with most of us setting long term goals that we will celebrate accomplishing or feel defeated if we fail. Wouldn’t it be lovely to consider what is in our lap this moment and embrace the connection that entails? Although it is good to look into the future to better ourselves, it is also important to see what is right here and now. I don’t want to miss this moment because of a to do list or the bigger picture that is life. As I write this morning snuggled under my soft blanket/throw, my cat is curled up on my lap. She believes it is her task to help me punch the keys on my keyboard. It takes her a bit to calm down and settle into a catnap. The warmth of her resting on my brings me joy. I love the images I have in my memory of time spent on my parent’s laps and of my kids, grandkids, and now greats on mine.

 For my lap to show up means I must sit down. There is simply not a lap present when we are standing, walking or scurrying about. Already the concept of a lap is rest. It is a pause to life to stop being a human doing and relish in being a human being. So here is to more lap time and the connections and conversations that brings. 

In Him,

Joyful

1-6-26

You are the She to my Nanigans for that I am Thankful

 And oh what a gift you are. To all those special someones that make my life more like living a perpetual childhood of tomfoolery, I thank you. Each of us needs those people in our lives that can cry and commiserate over the hardships that life deals us. While these are the people who also can give me a shirt that says.,,,,,,That’s a horrible idea, what time? That person who will lay down in the snow to make snow angels while belly laughing. Someone who loves you even when you drop the ball or give them Covid before a major surgery. I love my shenanigan partners who also have shoulders big enough to support me when I don’t need a crutch but a stretcher. To each of you, thank you. Thank you for living life with me, for wiping tears and making me laugh till we pee ourselves. 

Not all these friends have walked the decades with me but some have shown up in the past few years or even days. I want to be a gatherer of people. This week Ronnie B and I have shared a table with new friends who will potentially join our chosen family. There are those who came to rent a room in our home that used to inhabit our kiddos and have remained a part of our family even after our under one roof season came to an end. What a better way to live gathering people rather than more clutter that I don’t want to dust. So here is to 2026 and the spending time with others one chuckle or teardrop at a time. 

In Him,

Joyful

1-3-26

Elissa and Natalie Fighting Over Taxidermied Me

 I don’t know whether to be honored or terrified. My grandgirl, Elissa, told me that I need to be in her life for the next thirty years. Well, at sixty-nine I am not sure that is going to be a wish I can fulfill. Then she told me if not she will stuff me and sit me in a chair so I will always be with her. GROSS! Our conversation got a bit out of hand when we chatted about adding some mechanicals to make me have huggable arms. Arms in, arms out, arms in, arms out. She told me that my kids would always be welcome to come visit. 

When I shared this silly conversation with my daughter, Natalie said she gets first dibs because she is my daughter. She said she will tell Elissa that she can visit at her house. Crazy. How about I just get turned into ashes that everyone can share. Or better yet a hologram of me singing with my most beautiful voice. 

I am choosing to be flattered rather than disturbed by these disturbing conversations. Knowing that God has my days numbered in my human form is a comfort. Nobody really needs me hanging out all taxedermied up in their homes. Be happy with your memories, photographs, and videos of my laughter. Until then, I will sit in your chair and give you embraces that still have my warmth as the best part of them..

In Him,

Joyful

10-28-25

Adult Children-Life’s Greatest Gift

 One of the fondest memory I have of when my kids were little, was how excited they were to see me when I returned from an outing. The pure joy of seeing their mom just lit up their faces. Now my face lights up when I get a FaceTime call or when a trip is planned to see them and their families. 

I am sure they feel like my heart is all about the grandkids but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Watching my kids live life, parent and adult fills my heart with joy. Seeing their kiddos grow reminds me of their childhoods. What a busy, chaotic, joyful time it was having four within five years. They were mischief makers for sure. If one didn’t think of a questionable adventure the others would. It was always a challenge to keep them engaged and safe at the same time. Okay, I admit my kids had more ambulance rides than the average family. I blame it on their being active and curious. Raising them outside and independent came with risks but I wouldn’t change the opportunity to parent my four. It was and is my greatest accomplishment. 

My kids have grown up to be my best friends in so many ways. Our growing family assures me that I never have to be alone in this world. Infertility made me doubt that I would get to be a mom. My kids are proof that families are formed in many ways and blood doesn’t make the connections stronger. Besides, none of them had to inherit my bad traits. For that we all are grateful.

In Him,

Joyful

8-13-25

Coffee with Jesus to Thank Him for Allowing my Cup to Overflow

 This has been a wonderful, fabulous, family-filled summer of travel, adventures and chit-chats. Ronnie B and I left in mid June for a family reunion in Los Angeles. It was so great to be with others who are weirdos like us. Good times and lots of catching-up conversations. After that connecting weekend we headed back to Arizona and Ron took off for a conference on archeology. I scooped up Lissa and our two great-grands and we headed north to Washington state. 

The trip was eventful and not quite what we planned. Caleb, who is  almost three, stated from his car seat that he had a fever and was sick. They had just been with family on Lake Powell for a week so we ass-u-med he was just tired and had too much sun. Nope! He was sick and so when we got to the hotel in Barstow I stayed on the hide-a-bed away from them. Note to self: Don’t use the bedding in a bag at even a very nice hotel. I got bed bugs. Luckily, the rest of our traveling circus did not and we were able to irraticate them with an intensely hot dryer set for a couple hours. This broke our hearts because we could not chance stopping in Stockton to see Aunt Helen who just turned ninety-nine and her family. Yes, we did pout a bit but could not chance getting them sick or introducing bed bugs to their home. So we beelined for San Fransisco to spend the day exploring and eating way too much sourdough bread. 

Onward and upward to Nate and Natalie’s to be there in time to celebrate Lissa’s twenty-first birthday. She was able to go out with her willing aunt at midnight and again the next night. Clubbing and dancing and a bit of alcohol consumption marked the day. We also had a lunch with family that involved chasing kiddos since we didn’t have a sitter to watch them. The following week we were at Cam and Britt’s and Britt finally gave in to going clubbing and taking an uber. Both novelty choices for her. She swore she would have her head on her pillow by midnight. I heard them come in at 2:45am. Boy did they have stories to tell. 

When I came home to New Mexico I had to rest for a week. All those wonderful kiddo times and travel caught up with me.. So we saw Felix who is 5, Auggie who is almost 2, Millie who is almost 4 and we had Mayve who is one and Caleb who is almost 3 with us. What a gift of family and friends. 

I reflect back on infertility and a couple adoptions that placed babies in my arms but weren’t to be in my life and all the heartache that I experienced. Now here I am with my cup running over. My life is filled to the brim with this family of over twenty. God definitely answered my prayers above and beyond. 

In Him,

Joyful

8-8-25

My Grandkiddos are the Best because They have My Kids as Parents

When I say to my grown kids that their kids, my grandkids, are such better kiddos than they were, there is one response. Mom, it is because they have so much better parents than we did. No, the truth is my kids were the best and so are my grandkids. But too often I get caught up in the struggles of raising mine when I was overwhelmed and the calm of spending time with grands that of course is relaxed and enjoyable. It is no longer my job to make sure teeth are brushed, homework is done and boogers are tended to. My role is to spend time with, communicate my love and let their parents do the heavy lifting. That is why I am thankful I never have to be a full time babysitter to my grand kiddos. That would put me back in the parent role rather than the luxury of being their Noni. After all, parenting is a young person’s sport and I am swiftly approaching seventy which does not make me a young person. (Younger than Susi but not young) 

Watching my kids be parents to these precious kids is one of my greatest joys. They are certainly doing a much better job than I ever could. So I may not be a young mom anymore but I must say that I love the age and stage I am in. Them sharing their children with me proves I did a few things right as their mom. 

In Him,

Joyful

6-28-25

Nap-itizer and My Ronnie B

 Everyone knows Ronnie B can and does sleep anywhere and everywhere. It is his gift to sleep in the midst of chaos, quiet and storms. Others are amazed at how he can nod off in any circumstance. I have been aware of this talent since high school. His best friend, Dave Jansen, would get so stressed before a race in a track meet. Then he would look over to see Ron snoozing on a bench without a care in the world. Dave was amazed. 

This has continued throughout our lives. Through raising four kids, teaching grandkids to drive and beyond. Lissa was eleven when Ron took her out in the forest to teach her to drive a stick shift. When they returned she tattled on him and said Papa was sleeping while she was driving. His defense was that he would have woken up if she hit anything. Logical and after all it was his truck she was driving toward possible tree impact.

 I can say Ron is a fabulous Papa to all our grands and great-grands but babysitting is not always his strongest gift. After all, he just may doze off while the kids are playing at the park. Papa waswatching Kayla while she plays in the sand. Luckily, the park behind our house is safe and Kayla was well behaved. His thought was…….I’ll wake up if she screams.   

Here Felix is patiently waiting for his Papa to wake up from his nap on the porch swing. It is clear that playing with Papa is worth the wait! In the evenings, Ron can be watching any program and just shut his eyes for a few minutes…..nap-itizer begins. Then he wonders why he isn’t tired when he comes to bed a few hours later. Hmmmmmmm.

I adore this man and his many talents. Sleeping is definitely one of those talents. I envy his calm nature that allows him to rest so peacefully. Now with all this chatter about naps, I just may need to crawl back in bed and have an early morning nap.

In Him,

Joyful

6-27-25