Montage Monday:) A Week In New Year Peek

“New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.”

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

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A wonderful Christmas holiday with friends and family. Of course, the best part was welcoming another new baby into the world. Our little family is growing and my heart is ten times bigger than it was last year. Don’t worry, I have plenty of more room for more love. My heart won’t explode.

A week in a Peek….HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sunday Sermon and Snuggling With Sophie

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”

~Desmond Tutu

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I wasn’t sure what my Sunday was going to look like. This was my last full day here with the grandchildren, so I didn’t make any plans. I just wanted to be here if they needed my help. When they decided to all go to the mall to get out of the house a while. I was asked if I wanted to come along. I opted to go to 11:30 Mass at St. Norbert’s instead. I didn’t remember the way we went last week, but thank goodness for my iPhone google maps.

It was nice to sit at church and hear that today was the Feast of the Holy Family. A special day to recognize the blessings of the family. I felt especially blessed, being able to spend so much time these past few weeks with my family.

Today’s Gospel was the story of the Holy Family going to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover when Jesus was twelve. Joseph and Mary assumed Jesus was with the others when they traveled home, but He had stayed behind in the temple. They returned and searched for Him, finding Him three days later, with the teachers in the temple, listening and asking questions. They were upset with Him…

“Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And he said to them,

“Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But they did not understand what he said to them.

He went down with them and came to Nazareth,

and was obedient to them;

and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor

before God and man.

My take on it… it is important to be obedient to your parents, and to respect them, even when you think you may know better than them. Always respect your elders.

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After Mass, I stopped to light a candle for my own special family and dear friends. The church had emptied out, so I was able to take a few pictures of the beautiful altar, statues, and stained glass.

When I got back, I walked the crazy dog that yanks and pulls me every step. It was a little snowy and icy in some spots, so I had to be careful as not to fall and be dragged five blocks home.

The rest of the afternoon and evening, I tried to spend as much quality time holding little Sophie as I could.

GAMMA TIME…

Saturday:) So, The Irish Didn’t Win🍀 That’s OK

“Every endeavour pursued with passion produces a successful outcome, regardless of the result. For it is not about winning or losing – rather, the effort put forth in producing the outcome.”

~ Matthew Syed

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Today was the big day, the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame vs Clemson. It was kind of ironic because here I am in Chicago and the game was in Dallas, just a hop skip and a hop from my house. My son, ND class of ’03 grad, was so excited about watching the game with his family. They had a great season, undefeated 12-0. I’m not a big football fan, but I do watch ND football occasionally, and I was really looking forward to watching this game on TV with the family.

Even my two year old grand-daughter got into festivities of the pre-game fight song and march.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEDMUdMgmDI

Well, the Irish didn’t win, but you know what? It was a win-win here. We were together, having snacks, marching along to the fight song, and watching the game. I held the baby and danced along, smiling and laughing, cheering and groaning as the game progressed.

If you are blessed to be able to spend time with your family, that’s the big win for the day. GO IRISH!!!! 🍀 KEEP DANCING!!!

Friday:) Final Friday and Days With Friends and Family

“You don’t want to get too wrapped up in that final destination. You want to enjoy the journey, enjoy the process, and just take it one step at a time.”

~Carli Lloyd

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The time here with family and friends has zip-lined past me in a haze. This time next week I’ll be sitting at home, looking at pictures, sipping my Friday night Black Russian, and missing the sweet warmth of a new born baby lying on my chest, and a curly haired toddler saying, “Gamma come!”

I’ve posted a zillion pictures of grandchildren these past few weeks, so these will be the final installment.

It was a great Friday. My dear friend Debbie came over for a visit. We went to Northbrook Mall and did some shopping and had lunch. We stopped at the grocery store so I could pick up some snacks for tomorrow’s big Cotton Bowl game. Notre Dame vs ? I don’t know who they’re playing. I’m rooting for Notre Dame. My son Joe is so excited, he said he may not be able to sleep tonight. ND Class of ’03.

I also needed to pick up some Kahlua and vodka and ice cream for Black Russian Friday. Would you believe they didn’t have those vital beverages for Gamma?

You know this will be hard to leave, but easy to remember.

Belle is such a good little mommy. She is changing her baby’s diaper. Sweetness personified.

Now, Gamma is done sipping her Black Russian and just about to hold a fussy baby. Loving every minute.

Theme Song Thursday:) Child of Mine

Child of my child, and heart of my heart

Whether together, or miles apart.

A grandmother’s love is what it implies

It’s grander each day, and just multiplies.

The warmth of her heart will never grow old

The gleam of her eye, more precious than gold.

Stars up in heaven could never outshine

This child of my child, now child of mine.

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I find that a poem can often express ten thousand words in just a few lines. As I sat for hours holding my second grandchild in my arms, it made me realize that the more children and grandchildren you have doesn’t divide your love, but rather multiplies your ability to love. There’s something very special about holding the child of your child. And, I look forward to living long enough to hold their children in my arms. Blessings are only multiplied as the years go by. My wandering thoughts inspired a poem to express how it feels to be a grandmother.

This has been a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. When I try to count my blessings, I realize that I can’t count that high.

Carole King’s song “Child of Mine” is the song that I chose for the mother/son dance at my son’s wedding. I softly sang it in his ear as we danced. And now, I softly sing it to my grandchildren when I cradle them in my arms.

Wednesday:) Words of Wisdom From Facebook

“All my wisdom, knowledge, and vital information was ascertained on my Facebook page.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Thought I would share some words of wisdom that I found on my Facebook page just today. Some very great quotes shared by some very dear friends.

Words to live by. Hope you are having a great Wednesday and day after Christmas.

OK! Just one more Gamma picture for good measure.

Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”

― Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day. I spent the day with my family. It was so fun to watch Belle open her presents and drive in her Little Tykes car. I got to hold the baby and enjoy a lot of quality Gamma time.

Montage Monday:) A Week In A Peek

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…

Blessings and live to all.

A week in a peek…

Sunday Sermon and Other Stuff

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe..”

~Saint Augustine

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A beautiful day here in Northbrook. The sun was out, the air was crisp and cold, and we made it to church on time. I forgot all the steps and drama of getting a little one ready to go anywhere. There are diaper bags, diapers, wipes, books, snacks, baby dolls, and a lot of patience required. Belle was a trooper and was quiet and cooperative for well over an hour. Very unusual for a two year old. Plus, it was an extra long Mass with two baptisms during the service.

Today’s Gospel was the story of Mary visiting her cousin, Elizabeth, who was also with child…

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

“Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”

My take on it…Mary was very brave and faithful, accepting that she would give birth to the Lord and Savior. Her husband, Joseph, also accepted the wishes of God. And Elizabeth, knew that Mary carried a special child the minute she heard her voice. That’s what faith is all about. Accepting what God has chosen for you, and having faith that you will be blessed.

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After Mass, we went over to light a candle. I said a prayer of thanks for our beautiful growing family. We are truly blessed.

We stopped at the store to pick up a few last minute essentials, then home for lunch and a nap. NO! I didn’t get a nap, but I could use one. But, I did get to spend more time holding and rocking baby Sophie while Mom and Dad ate lunch or attended to household chores.

Being a Gamma is only a part-time job, but the pay is most rewarding.

Saturday:) Sittin’ Around Some More

“pretending to do something when you’re doing nothing is an art form in itself.”

― sue grafton

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Sometimes, just sitting around makes for a perfect day. And it was very nice to just sit around with my family, rocking the baby and playing with my two year old grand-daughter.

It’s wonderful to be a Gamma, with no agenda, and not a worry in the world. I do keep busy with a lot of counting…counting my blessings.

Let’s not forget keeping busy playing with our baby dolls. This one was wanting to wear her Notre Dame helmet today. Go Irish!

Even the dog was sitting around all day. Yep, a lazy Saturday. It’s a good thing.