However, on December 12th our family received the most wonderful blessing of all: our beautiful 4th grandchild. Paityn Marie, Dave's first child, is so adorable and cute. Despite that we only spent a little over two days with her, she has found a permanent home in our hearts. Now that we are back at home in VA, we already miss her.
Not only did Sue and Dave become parents, they also bought and moved to a 16-acre farm in PA a couple of months ago. The 150-year old farm house, despite having been built well, needed a lot of work. Sue had to be in their old home taking care of the animals, while Dave was getting the new place ready and still working his job as a farrier. It was not easy, but having accomplished it, is a testimony to Dave's and Sue's determination and willingness to work hard and share in their dream to have a place of their own to share with all their big and little critters (horses, dogs, bunnies, etc.). Thank goodness, they are pretty much settled now. We wish them good health, much luck and happiness in their new home with their new baby and their little zoo.Another beginning is on the horizon for John's family. Our oldest granddaughter, Cally, has been applying to colleges and now the wait for acceptance letters begins. Unfortunately, she had to spend the Christmas vacation recovering from ACL knee surgery. She was injured playing soccer. Luckily, she is basically a healthy, spirited girl who is already "hopping" around on her crutches. Hope all heals well, Cally!
Tim and Megan also are entering an exciting new year with their upcoming wedding. We all are looking forward to celebrating with them. Closer to home, Alison will finish her teaching program this spring and will enter the job market. Good luck, Alison!
On the other end of the career ladder, Bob is now totally retired! We are waiting for the confirmation letter from the Social Security office that they, too, are aware of his new status ... and, of course, send the checks. :)
Yesterday was my grandfather's birthday. (He would have been 122 years old.) What I remember most about him was his sense of humor and his love for music which helped him navigate through troubled times. My grandfather's life was filled with hardship. He lost his first wife when my mother was just a baby, he had to live through two wars, lost all his savings 2x (and continued to save again and was able to financially help my parents). Both my grandparents were survivors. I think another secret to their lives was that they were basically content with what they had, they never needed much, lived within their means and thus always managed to have a little left over. My grandmother's nature was more serious than my Opa's, but she never despaired. She was a wise, kind lady whose faith helped her through extremely difficult times. She was warm and caring to others, but in her own life she stoically faced the road she believed she was destined to walk. My desire is to be more like them: to worry less and to accept the world as it is; to sing more (even if it's off key), and to tend to my garden and to share its bounty.
So, these are Oma's reflections this January, the month she will for the first time receive Social Security... certainly another beginning, another milestone!
If you want to know more about our life here in VA, check out Bob's blog, Nelson County Rocks.
