END - what does that stand for?

So, one of my nephews asked me what does END mean? I was thinking, since he's 11, maybe this is a joke? And I couldn't guess anything.

He said he read on the back of a Blackeyed Peas CD, that end means:

Energy Never Dies.

I thought that was pretty cool.

Happy Birthday Sean!

Happy Birthday to the child that always made me laugh when I tried to discipline him. Can anyone figure out who that might be in the above photo?

It's been a great 23 years. I am so proud of you. I am proud to be your mother, and I thank God for blessing me with you in my life. I will love you forever.

Best wishes and many happy returns. You rock, Sean!!

That is Sean in the White Jacket.

Ending the Year with a Darling

The above is my granddaughter a few hours old.



This is Shaylin, at home, 4 days old.

I've been told the experience of GrandMother is like no other. So far, it's wonderful. I have the good fortune of watching two loving parents working together to nuture and care for their darling first daughter.

Blessings to you at Christmas

With the help of Charlie Brown, with whom I grew up --

May you always find,

All the warmest feelings of love and kindness both given and received,
Satisfaction of wealth in many ways ~ love and even money or whatever else it is you need,
That you will be kept free from harm, and if something unforeseen should cause you to fall or stumble, may you feel the love from around the world reach out to catch you and steady your step.

May you always find,

Blessings of Peace and Love for your Doorsteps
A Drop of your Favorite Yuletide Speciality in Your Cup
And a Warmth in Your Heart that never ever leaves,
I wish for you, this day and always ~

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Merry Christmas!

You are Only Twelve Hours Old Once.....

I have been promoted. I accept this new responsibility with great pleasure. I am so happy right now. It is just a place to be that is so overwhelmed with love and joy. I am a reigning Grand Mother.

Just some updates -

Correction on my granddaughter's size -- Shaylin is 20 inches long, not 22, as first reported.
Her eyes are blue, but she was just 12 hours old when I commented on this.
She is so, so cute, not just cute!
She is already on Facebook! In a Video!! I will have to speak with these parents to find out _just what_ this might lead to.

I will say, I don't get, totally this younger generation and the techno connection, but look at me here blogging, bragging and all ...

Today, I had to make a decision. You see, I have a cold. What to do about seeing Shaylin? I asked my sister in laws, and we asked a nurse at the desk at the hospital, and they all concurred with my thoughts -- err on the side of caution. (Grrrr, I detest it when I am right,)

So, I didn't hold my grand-baby or get to really see her.

I had driven down to The Center, with Madam B who (happily) went in and was crinkling with excitement and had no plans of leaving, even though I was respecting my decision not to go in, her mama would have to just suffer the grandma-blues, as she, OTOH, had an Auntie-jones going on, and was meshed into it like how pizza melds together in a hot oven. Looks like pieces that don't match in the beginning, and after it melts, you just love it all together like that!

I waited there in the lovely lobby for a while, then became overcome with a need to communicate my feelings, so I sent a text message to my son, "I just gotta look at her" ...

A little bit later, I could see through the cracks of these large doors that have to be buzzed open, some movement that looked like my son's shirt going back and forth. After a little bit later again, my son came out and said, 'come with me, mama.'

He lead me around this corner to an area where glass windows are. The blinds are inside. They don't use the room there to much any more because all the babies are with their mothers in the rooms for the whole time after they are born. (How cool is that!).

The blind was pulled up, and there was The New Mama, Auntie Scarlett, and Shaylin Nicole! It was just a beautiful moment. The tears did fill and over flow, and I did the happy dance.

But, we weren't alone out there in the hall! It seems, to our right, a hall opened up for a ward for elderly people, and somehow, there being a baby there in that window, drew at least 15 or so, people over there! They came over in little packs like a signal was drawing them! It was freaky - funny, but freaky. All smiles and amazed at the child in the window.

They were all uuoohhhh-ing and awwwwww-ing, and Scarlett said --when Shaylin would make these really cute little faces,-- they would all make *the sound* in sync, and so from their side, it sounded like a choir!

I told my son, "well, I guess this is like her debut?" It was cute. Twelve Hours old, and there she was, capturing a crowd.

It put me in the mind of that expression about God's meanings and what He thought babies represented to us, His good opinion that the world should go on...

And seeing these strangers there in the hall, Ooohing and Awwwing over this sweet, little baby with us, no questions asked, that's exactly what I felt. God's Good Opinion has been passed on to us.

This baby is here now, and the world must go on, so we may as well be happy about it, or be pegged for fools! Even strangers in a hallway know to be overjoyed in unison at the site of a newborn baby. Sounds like a plan to me. A really good plan.

Texting!!

Texting during labor!! I love my cell phone! My son keeps doing a Mass Text -- updating us as things progress! All the phones go off, and we freak!

He sent us a jumble of the name. I think I got it ~

But the last text he wouldn't confirm, but the midwife is there, and we are at 8 CM ~

We are so excited over here! We wish we were there, but it's better that we are here, even though we wish we were there!!

I
am
going
to
be
a
GRANDMA!!!

Kenny had a Birthday!

Dear Kenny,

Happy Birthday to one of the way coolest kids I know, and that is taking into consideration the entire planet! I am proud to be your Great Aunt and friend. I truly love you, (and your mama and your daddy and your big brother!) I am proud of you. I am proud that you show your love for your family, and that you make a great effort at your school work.

I still remember going to the hospital the day you were born. You have grown into such a great kid. Remember to keep trying hard to be the best you can be. You were born into a family of people who love and care about you. Don't ever hesitate to call any of us should you need anything.

You will do great things. You are one of the best!

Love you greatly,
The Great Aunt Sasha

Note: Re: photo --
Kenny and his brother Kody had a great baseball season! We enjoyed some of the best baseball we have ever seen while attending one of their games. They have continued to show improvement. You can't ask for any more than that! Our family looks forward to good things from both these young men!

You're never to young for a ....

Pacemaker? Well, apparently not. See that fellow in the blue shirt and the khaki pants up there dancing? ...the one coming around in the swing with a smile...

Yeah, that guy,

That's my father in law. He's 91. He's been having trouble with his heart not pumping right for a little while now, so in an effort to stop going to the ER at 1 in the AM, like we did again this Sunday, the doctors put a pace maker in his Irish heart this morning.

Hope to see him dancing again soon!

Happy Birthday, Nanette

Today is my sister's birthday.

I'm not even sure how old she is any more! I just know she is a very special person to me, a really terrific friend, and someone with whom I can share the deep things of my life.

I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. I am extrememly happy when she comes to visit, or I can visit her. We always have a good time, drink some wine, share some jokes and gain weight. (drat! why is that!)

As my younger sister, she has had to put up with me always, always, _always_ nosing into her business. She tells me something and I say, "well, here's what you should do...." Poor Nana, never has a chance. Big sister is, like, in the roll of being "in charged" of her. But, I did find out from her, recently, that she is very used to my doing that and doesn't resent it all that much. That is a load off my mind!

So, Happy Birthday my darling, beautiful sister. May this day and every day be filled with joy and love. May the sun shine sweetly at you in the morning and may the stars bid you a restful night's sleep. Know in your heart, that all is well.
And may the Lord continue to bless you and keep you close.

Thirty two years ago today,,,

...my heart was opened wide, and it seems like it was placed outside of my body, and given into the hands of a tiny, little being. I became a mother for the very first time.

I am sitting here trying to think of how to describe the part of the world that became alive to me. I can't find the words to capture or frame how it felt to hold in my arms that small precious infant being.

I am glad that God has allowed me to remember all the details of those days, those first moments, those first everythings. I am forever thankful, forever blessed, and forever will I feel special to have the experience of being a mother. There is no other experience to replace it, none like it, none as fulfilling that I have known.

I love my children. They have my heart, and they always will.

Happy Birthday to my first born son. Happy, Happy Birthday.

A house in my childhood

My parents were married in this house. The house was built by my great grandfather. We are not sure when. It's fun to try and figure out the dates and all. My family was one of the early Key West families. My grandfather was born in 1908, so somewhere before that, this little white house was built.

It was weird when I saw it this weekend. Somehow, along the lines of time, the house got tiny!! I remember this house as HUGE -- running through it barefoot with my cousins in tow. Those were the days when Key West was, well, something it's not today. It was just a small beach town and we walked everywhere in our bathing suits and in barefeet that never complained. Not worrying about one thing in the whole wide world.

Christmas Eve 2005

This is our house with our Christmas lights and one guitar player out front.



These are two of our family guitar players. The third one couldn't make it for Christmas, but we will all be together for the New Year. (The really good looking one is my handsome son Sean)


We built a little patio outside. But that lovely fire just would not keep going! We kept trying and trying to blow that fire to keep it going!


Finally we got totally serious. Our blower can blow winds up to 170 mph. So we thought, hey! this will surely work!



And this is us .... smiling through the smoke...

Christmas Lights by Madam Blueberry