Nana

My grandmother said it. My mother said it. I didn't understand until it happened to me. The moment you become a grandmother is nothing shy of miraculous. Eight years ago yesterday at almost midnight, I saw him for the first time. Eight years later I still marvel when I look at him. He is my future.

I could fill pages with the joy he brings me and at the same time, I am speechless.

I have others now—other grands. They, too, fill my heart with wonder.

But he is the first. He opened that portal. He introduced me to that joy.

Eight years and I hope to enjoy many, many more.

So why haven't I blogged this week?

Because, I was at track camp.

With this guy.

Watching him throw the shot put.

And try the long jump.

And run.

With lots of water.

And most of all, loving every minute of being his Nana.

Some things I've seen

A few weeks ago, my Hero and I set out on an adventure. We were driving around in east/central rural Illinois looking for an ancestors grave. As it turns out the tiny cemetery is on private land and we haven't been able to contact the landowners yet but we know where it is now.

While we were driving around we saw this:

Fogottonia, USA! Isn't that funny? I'm not a city girl even though I married a city boy and I've lived in the city for the past 30 years. My heart is "where the blacktop ends." I've said for years that my dream home would sit on 20 acres somewhere that you had to be going to my house to get there. I would love to live in Forgottonia, USA but the city boy I married would go crazy. So I go in adventures in the country and take pictures.

How about you? Would you rather live in the city or in Forgottonia?

My Dogs

Brody, my 17-month old Lab/Golden Retriever mix

Birdie, my six-year-old mutt who hogs the space heater!

I have a confession

It's something I've been covering up for years.

First, I used my own children as an excuse. Now I use my grandchildren. But I can't keep denying it forever.

I am a child at heart.

When I was young, I would stare for hours at the clouds, the horned toads, the spider building her web. Then I thought I had to "grow up." Grown ups didn't lie on their belly in the grass staring at clover flowers. Grown ups didn't lie under a tree fascinated by the patterns the sun made on the leaves gently dancing in the soft breeze.

I figured out, though, that grown ups could lie beside an 8-year-old daughter or a 4-year-old grandson and do those things and call it "education." But sometimes, there isn't a kid available and I stumble across something captivating.

At 48, it's time to face it.... I never lost the wonder. This cicada had just emerged from its skin and was drying its new wings before it flew away. I sat down and watched (and took pictures)... without a child anywhere around.

I loved it.

Adoption Day

Twenty-three years ago on this day, my Hero and I stood in a courtroom in the Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Worth and finalized the adoption of our first child. We had brought her home when she was only a day old and on this day she was nine months old and finally, legally ours. She has blossomed into a beautiful young woman and I feel privileged to call her my friend. She is also Beau's mommy and that counts for something!

Happy Adoption Day, Girlie!

Happy Flowers

My flowers make me smile.

New Flower Pictures Posted

I posted some new photos on Nana's Lens. There are pictures of honeysuckles here and wild roses here .

My Lovebug is ONE today!!!

I can't believe it's already been a whole year since she entered our lives.

Happy Birthday, Lovebug!

Beau graduated preschool

He will climb aboard the school bus in a few short months and march off to kindergarten. He and his classmates will go their separate ways. His preschool had a ceremony marking the end of preschool. I took a little time off from work and went to watch. I'll admit I'm a sappy Nana. I cried.

Singing "Skidamarinky dinky dink"

He was a little nervous at first but he got over it.

Looking to the future!

Memorial Day and Mom

My mom is buried in the National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas. I've only been to her grave a few times so while we were in town over Memorial Day weekend, I went to visit her again. 

I certainly wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions, not at visiting my mother's grave but at visiting a National Cemetery over Memorial Day. Amidst the sea of flags and headstones I felt an overwhelming awareness of the sacrifices made for my freedom. 

Mom didn't serve in the military but for 18 years of her marriage, she shared her husband with the whole country.

Thank you, Mom, and thank you to all the men and women who gave of their lives to maintain our freedom.

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it."

— Daniel Webster

Lots of pictures to come

I've taken a lot of pictures over the past month or so and I will be posting them in the next few days. Most of them I will post here on Nana's Faith. Some I will post on Nana's Lens so look both places!

A Walk on the Riverfront

Last Friday morning, my Hero and I took a few minutes out of our day to walk on the riverfront in Davenport, IA. The weather was perfect and we so enjoyed the time together.

These are some of the pictures I took.

Nana's Lens

Some things are just hard to photograph

Like fireflies (or lightning bugs). I love watching the fireflies right at dusk, so last night I ran out with my camera hoping to capture the magic. Eighty-five clicks of the shutter later, all I have are these two little yellow spots.

I have to work on this.

He is so funny!

Last night, Wendy had something to do so she got Elisha down for bed and left to run her errand. She had put him to bed earlier than normal so she was letting him watch a movie to get sleepy. (I know, good families never do such things, but what can I say?)

I went into the room to retrieve something and he asked for more milk in his sippy cup. I got it for him and got him situated. A few minutes later, I had to go back into the room and he was holding his eyes wide open with his hands.

I said, "Beau, don't do that! It's not good for your eyes."

His answer was, "This is the only way I can keep my eyes open to watch my movie!"

I had to leave the room quickly in order to laugh.

Just a picture

More pictures of flooding: Davenport, IA June 2008

Here are more pictures I took in Davenport of the second flood of 2008. All of these were taken on Saturday, June 15. The Mississippi actually crested on Monday, June 17.

The cars in the background on this first picture would have been under water at the crest.

Flooding in Davenport, Iowa June 2008

The red line on the far right in the picture is the usual bank of the river.


Just a guess, but I think the trains will be running a little late today.


I didn't know the name "River Drive" was a literal term.


The name "Levee Gone" might be more appropriate.


Exit to where?


I think the detour signs are a bit unnecessary, don't you?


Aw, why not?!


Maybe Jetski parking!


Where's his snorkel?