We LOVE Fridays!

 We love Fridays and Saturdays!!!! The "work week" is over and we breathe a big sigh of relief. We had just settled into Friday after-school when Arielle and the boys surprised us. 

Baachan - look! I'm floating.

Benny jumped in and helped Stacia make brownies. I made some sugar free brownies.....

Papa helped with the mixer...it was a multi-generational project! LOL 

It occurs to me I have several Benny in the Kitchen photos where he is sampling the goods. 

We did not simply have a sugar attack. We knew we were having Aaron and Elise for dinner and Cy and crew are coming out tomorrow.  Brownies - and a sugar free option - were called for.  I was glad we had opted for pizza for dinner. There was no fussing or worrying about dinner. We were able to drop and while the afternoon away with CoRielle and still be ready for Aaron and Elise. They are expecting their first in one short week. We added a salad and fruit plates and were ready.  The laughter and conversation was perfect to send us into a relaxing weekend. Grandpa loves having folks drop by. It was a win win.  The only "sad" element is Nolan and Krista weren't able to join us. 

Nope, I didn't take one single picture. 

Winter P. E.

Stacia is perfecting on new skills. The driveway is a good spot to practice a bit of an incline...I knew she would like cross country skiing if we could make it happen. We found all but the boots for me....must make a trip to Play it Again Sports soon. 

Millie is not 100% sure Stacia should be outside without her. At this point Stacia doesn't need the chaos factor of our whackadoodle. 

While Stacia enjoys a bit of winter PE, Nolan works away on his new class at Western Governor's University. 

Sun. We have sun. We have 12 hours and 11 minutes of light to be exact. It would be an error to think we have warmth, tulips, or green shoots; but we have sunlight. It's been -2* the last few mornings when I take Alex to work. 

Seriously, do you get it? WE.HAVE.SUN. We can get OUT in it - and soon it will warm up enough nostril hairs won't freeze when one plays in it. LOL 

A Visit from The Boys

 This, of course, is the highlight of our day.  Arielle and the boys visited.  Nothing else to say. LOL  

📷by Arielle

Benny was game to try a new game....he invented his own rules as he didn't like the bouncing ball effect. 

The face of success!

Danny is full of smiles and giggles at 4 1/2 months old. 

We love having Nolan home more often - though it means he is working very late nights....GG made Benny a balloon with the bag his newspaper came in. He promptly turned it into a weapon to get an uncle. 

Benny LOVES Papa's late breakfasts. He can always score a bowl of cereal. 

Playing with G. G. 

Baachan's heart is captured. 

📷 by Arielle

📷 by Arielle 

March has been a hard month for our family since 2011. Playing together is good for all of us. 

Millie Gets a Trim

 

We need to get Millie into the groomer...things got way out of cycle with covid and quarantine and then LIFE since quarantine....her hair was so long on her face she couldn't see again and it stood up several inches all around her head....Krista clipped it all down. 

It was hilarious to watch Millie. As the hair disappeared, she laid on the floor, and her eyes moved around and around and around the room. She seemed to be amazed at all there was to see. LOL 

We are currently on a plan of snipping any matted bits we can't comb through with the detangler and getting her in from a shave again. Hate to do that with the snow outside but really don't think she'll make it until the snow melts. LOL 

Tea with Brenda

My goal is to host at least one person a week for tea...small groups allow for social distancing. Distance is "mostly maintained"...Hmm that famous line from Princess Bride leaps to mind..."Mostly dead is not the same as all dead." ::snort:: OK - except for the photo and maybe one brief hug, social distancing is maintained.  I am clear to let people know there are no hard feelings if they are uncomfortable meeting in person, and  we CAN wear masks if they'd like...with all disclaimers in place... 

Today, BRENDA joined me in the nook, the sanctuary. Again, like a broken record, it's been a year since Brenda was here at the house.  To sit, reminisce, collect our thoughts for now - is good. God has blessed me with so many dear friends and rich relationships in this season. 

I'm loving Mom G's "Hutch." I'd never considered the need for a "tea hutch" but it is great! The front pulls down to make a little table, and closes to hide tea "stuff". Today featured fruit, peanut butter (for the apples), chicken salad, milano cookies and someone to share it all...a small slice of contentment on this bright winter day. 

Sugar free syrups - I KNOW what you say
about sugar subs - works for me. ::wink:: 

Love this little sign - looking for one for each season. LOL 

I am enjoying my weekly "breathers."  I'm thankful for women willing to drive out to sit with me. Summer, with non-stop work and activity will be here soon enough. I'm content to savor the last bit of winter - as long as I stay away from spring social media.  We plan to share our home with other families at least once a month. 

Hello, March

 

What just happened? 

It's March 1st. 

March 2021. 

A year ago our state/country went into lockdown. Community which was building in so many areas (church, county, family) was wildly disrupted.  In some ways, I feel like I lost a year. Though we are "back" things still feel disconnected in many areas.  I turned the page in my planner, spent some time reflecting, and confirmed, "Yes, we, the Gherkins, are done." 

We are alert, cautious and will social distance as wise. However, we are DONE with the disconnect. The church is called to be a community. Jesus called us to relationships. We are commanded to show hospitality....we have done what we could during COVID...we have loved by distancing...but it's time for us to take wise steps to getting back to who we are called to be, doing what we are called to do....

To be clear there were many benefits to being locked down, to our months of quarantine....slowing the schedule is good, recognizing how important relationships  are is good, I discovered walking and walked MILES,  there was peace and margin and joy in the midst of the unfamiliar....

The winter has been long and we're a long ways from spring (you know GREEN spring) up here, but I've turned a page. It's time. I'm done isolating. 

February was hard in many ways....I haven't been able to work out for a month due to plantar fasciitis, Grandpa is getting cabin fever, four months of 24/7 caregiving and we are wearing down and out, a month full of family celebrations led to too much sugar consumption....

I'm turning a page. 

Hello, March! I welcomed you too casually last year, I welcome you with respect this year. 

Let's do this! 

Sunday spent in Silence and Solitude

Grandpa woke up with a headache and sore throat about 5:30.  He was concerned he had COVID again and was more worried than he had been when he actually HAD COVID.  Krista was drilling at JBER. Michael and Stacia headed to church. Nolan's schedule was such he was able to make it too.  Grandpa slept. 

I suddenly had a morning of silence and solitude. I sat in the nook, with tea and my Bible. I set the Bible down and simply sat, watching the mountain out my window and talking to Jesus. 

A few magical snow flakes began to fall. They weren't "falling,"  as much as floating in the air.  It reminded me of standing in the midst of swirling cherry blossoms in Hirosaki.  I told Jesus they were pretty amazing...

...and then we began to get a lot of flakes...swirling outside my window. I decided to simply sit with Jesus. 

Everyone got home about the time Grandpa was waking up and we moved into an afternoon of  being together.  Grandpa said he was fine when he woke up....

It's hard to believe it's the last day of February 2021.....