Grandy's heart is filled with joy!

There are not enough words to describe being a grandparent. I have said this before...it is all about experiencing the joys of parenthood without the day to day pressures of raising a child. It is...as my friend Joyce said...the closest thing to heaven on earth.

Baby Carter Alexander came into this world on June 10...much to Auntie Leigh's dismay who was not so fond of "sharing" her birthday! A beautiful baby boy...truly God's miracle...perfect in every way...innocent...sweet...an angel. Sister Cailyn is not so sure about sharing time with Mom right now...but we are hopeful that it will get better as time goes on.

I have been so blessed by being present for both of their births. I just cry thinking about it. I don't think it is anything that I could tire of...and I hope that I have more opportunities to see the birth of future grandchildren. Thank you, my sweet Carrie, for letting me experience such pure joy!

Funny to you, maybe...

My good friend, Laura, has just moved from Minnesota to New Jersey, about one hour from me. I have been so excited...anticipating this move for months now...and yesterday she and her family arrived on our doorstep on the way to their "new" home. You all know how happy I am to be back here...and it is just the "icing on the cake" having some of our friends from Minnesota living nearby. Another good friend is expected to arrive some time this summer. Thanks, Verizon!!!

While here Laura reminded me of a story I had told her a few years back about a funny thing that happened to me in my other Pennsylvania home. I thought it was time to share it with you. It is a most bizarre story!!

I had a neighbor...who shall remain nameless, of course...who once had a squirrel for a pet. Yes...you read that right...a squirrel. Apparently they found an abandoned baby squirrel on their property and decided to "raise" it as a pet.

Now this neighbor loved this silly squirrel...and had been spotted at the township ballfield with "Timmy" nestled in her shirt between her breasts! Oh..."Timmy" was the squirrels name. Weird story, you say??? Gets weirder!!

One day I was out in my green minivan depositing the children at their four separate destinations for their four separate sports activities which I would some how try to be present for an equal amount of time. Whew! Those were the days!! I saw a lot of two-inning games back then.

On this particularly warm and sunny day I had to return home because one of the kids had forgotten their glove...or ballcap...or cleats...or something of great importance. Mom had to "save the day".

I parked in the back of my house...ran and got the item...and hurried back and got into the van. Every moment was crucial here. As I turned the key...suddenly...out of no where...there appeared...IN MY LAP...a squirrel!! I screamed...opened the car door...started running frantically up the street...with the creature clinging to my pant leg for dear life!!!

There, at the edge of her yard, stood my favorite neighbor...with her two adorable children...laughing hysterical...saying it's only "Timmy"!
I am not exactly sure what happened after that...shock set in I am certain...but I do know that "Timmy" lived there for a while before he was finally released to search for his squirrel mom.

So...there you have it...my bizarre squirrel "tale". Thanks, Laura, for reminding me!

It's my Mother's fault!

This morning I was thinking about fruit during my workout...

yes, cyberfriends, I finally got around to starting a daily workout routine. I must say it took me so long to get motivated because I was crushed with the response to my polka aerobics idea...("Roll Out the Barrel" blog, March 16th)...with only one interested party!

...anyway...back to the fruit. I wasn't really thinking about fruit...but rather making a comparison. My honey has never understood my reluctance to workout...and my frustration with the results once I do. He has found an exercise routine that all around "works for him". He can lose...maintain...fit it into his busy schedule...and still eat whatever he likes!! He has also only ever had, at the most, 10-15 lbs. to lose at any given time. And...as all you female readers know...guys shed it more quickly.

I...on the other hand have...let's say for the sake of this blog...30-40 lbs. to lose. A far cry from 10-15 lbs!! I may do good for a while...but then hit that plateau...and get discouraged....which causes stress...and I am a stress eater...you get the idea.

It also has a lot to do with genes...here's where the fruit comes in. My honey comes from a banana family...tall and lean men on both sides of his family. I come from a pear family...where the women on both sides of my family are a bit rounder about the middle.

Although a banana and a pear are both yellow, sweet fruit...the similarities end there. Yes, my honey and I are both adorable, sweet people...but I will never weigh my "20-something" weight. Don't get me wrong...I know I can lose weight with some really hard work and a focused...dedicated mind. I know that I could be healthier carrying a little less baggage around...and definitely would enjoy my reflection just a tad more. But most days I would rather not break a sweat or pull a muscle for the sake of vanity.

We all know that a bruised piece of fruit is not as tasty!!

P.S. My friend, Gerrie, just sent me this in an email...and I thought it was the perfect ending punctuation...

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on
nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and
fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Dreams or reality?

I had the most bizarre thing happen to me this morning...and I just had to share it right away.

We have all experienced those weird dream moments right before waking up...like when in our dream the phone is ringing and then we realize it really is....you know those moments. It is a surreal feeling to experience our subconscious working at that level. I have never studied the mind...I guess that is why I am, at times, mindless...but I am certain it would be a fascinating study!

This morning I was deep in dreamland...I was working in the front of my house planting my new shrubs...one with nature. Cailyn was there just playing and laughing. It was a glorious moment and I was enjoying two of my favorite "pass times"...gardening and watching my granddaughter just do the things she does!

Suddenly a thought came to me in my dream. "It must be time for the alarm to go off right....(my thoughts paused)...and then I thought...NOW"...and the alarm went off!!!

I hit the snooze button...gradually coming back to reality...understanding that I was not in my flower bed...but my warm and snugly bed with my honey right beside me and no Cailyn in sight.

But how did I know when the alarm would go off???? And even better...why was that thought even in my head while I was gardening??? That is the ONE time that I rarely think about time...I mostly just get lost in my thoughts...mindless.

I will ponder this a bit more I am sure. Tick....tock...tick...tock...