Daily Thanks...

As a kid, I honestly thought I'd never pray when I grew up. There was no need, and I was already up to my eyeballs in prayers. After we lost Larry, Dad had a transformation. He accepted Jesus as his Savior, and just as suddenly, his, Mom's and my life changed. Every facet of Dad's life now included how to better serve the Lord. Reflecting back, it was quite amazing to witness how different Dad patterned his life after giving it to Jesus. Though I was only 8 years old, it was impossible not to notice.

Dad taught Shannon how to pray by age 2, 1972...

Over Medium, Over Hard...

Think I might be near the finish line resolving an issue that's been bothering me for 5 years. Quite an amazing feat since my list of irritants rambles on like the side effects of the latest and greatest drug commercial. Twenty seconds how this new wonder drug will cure everything that ails you. Followed by 90 seconds of stern warnings: buyer beware, taking this medication may cause deep depression-or worse. Yikes.

Someone actually got a picture of me by Lake Michigan...

AAU, Family Style...

It's not something I partake in often. Once Pioneer High School's basketball season is done, I'm pretty much done too. Landon (Drew-t-t-r-o-t-w) dives head first into AAU ball (Amateur Athletic Union). A traveling basketball league located in many major cities with tournaments almost every weekend. I believe they start around 4th grade, but the group participating in the tourney's we've attended are 15, 16 & 17 year olds.

Landon cleans up nicely for his emcee gig for Black History month...

The Offer...

I warned Ariana over and over. Carefully explaining the last month of pregnancy might feel 6 months long, but the second that baby girl made her appearance, life would start moving at warp speed. Still great grandma's have a tendency to exaggerate, and Ari thought her maternity leave would last a lot longer. Ha-ha I thought, wish it would, but my whole encounter with the early years of motherhood in general went much too fast. Those years flew.

Jovi Marie, 2 months...

# 3, Season 2...

Well Landon's (Drew to the rest of the world) sophomore season of basketball at Pioneer is done. It went much too fast and I'm not ready to give it up yet. Probably my feelings of guilt because I missed 2 games while on vacation. Some grandma I turned out to be. Slacker. Should be taking vacations during the summer like normal people. I've never been normal and I detest winter with a passion. Living in Michigan doesn't help. Long winters. Very long.

Landon taking a shot, 2017...

Jantje...

I recently became a great-grandma. I thought I was a bit young to become a great, yet I eagerly anticipated having a baby in the family again. Our youngest grandson, Graham is 7 already. Jovi Marie, our darling little babe of 2 months has the whole family smitten. She smiles, coos and has a language all her own, which she uses frequently.

Jovi Marie, one month...

Sin City...

The first time I hit Vegas was 1961, at the ripe old age of 10. I didn't see the inside of a casino, but I remember the night like it was yesterday. Mom, Dad, plus two renters of 2/3 of our (my) backseat. Squished in our 1958 Chevy Biscayne 2 door. With me. We'd been vacationing in California and were driving home through the desert. With no air. At the time Las Vegas had a population of 64,000. It was getting dark as we drove closer, yet none of us could speak. There ahead, quite narrow but very long was a sprawling, sparkly city of dazzling lights. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

This sign still stands, welcoming all to Sin City...