She's the highlight of my summer!



There have been few updates on this blog because of one computer problem after another.....and FINALLY I have my computer back and working.  Joy!  This means I can now get phone messages again (after a year or more!). That's right!  I have not been able to access Voice Mail messages in forever!  No idea who has called me!  Probably all telemarketers.  So I have relied more and more on my antiquated cell phone, soon to be upgraded to a smart phone. :)  It means I can access Facebook on something other than Kindle.  I can check my hometown  newspaper each day.  I can check email and reply.  I can google subjects I am exploring.   Well, you get the picture.  Among other things, I can download all the photos of Ally onto my computer, edit  and share them with you!  And I can blog again!  At least a little more faithfully than a post here and there.  Life is good. 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave benediction at RNC and DNC

With a “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” let us close this convention by praying for this land that we so cherish and love:

Let us Pray.

Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation. Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States. Help us to see that a society’s greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us.

We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thus do we praise you for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected. Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life’s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.

We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love. Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom’s defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform.

We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness. Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God. Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community. May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries.

We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office. Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country. Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy.

And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice. We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom’s cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war.

And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country.

For we are indeed “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust.”

So dear God, bless America. You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen!

A Room of Her Own

Ally and Friends 

Could not resist taking this picture off Facebook, where Shannon had posted itl  Ally is over joyed to have her own room.  Although it looks to me like she's sharing it with a couple of characters who are bigger than she is!  

This smile is what I saw everyday this summer.  

September 1st.  Labor Day Weekend.  The month begins. Not sure what it will hold, but here are a few things to look forward to - or not:

1. Jury Duty notice.   Beginning Monday night, call in daily to find out if I have to report.  (groan)
2. Jayme's visit.  Not sure when, but we have plans this month to go over to the coast and  park our chairs on the beach at Cayucos and sit and read for days!   Of course a Jury  call could change all of that.
3. Tuesday Night Women's Bible Study at my house starts up again on September 18th.  Intro session with a light supper and lots of talk.  It will be just fun to see everyone again.  
4. Precept class starts on Tuesday morning, September 11th.  II Thessalonians and I can't wait.  (of course a Jury call could change that for me too)
5. I plan to work the phones  and walk the precinct for a particular political party's candidate for president.
6. September is my month!  It's my birthday!  And there is something that just feels good about that! 

These photos from 2011 are in anticipation of September 2012 and some time at the beach with Jayme.  

Leaving for Utah

Cody 

Cody's leaving for home for a couple of weeks

Packed up Ally's toys from this summer

1. More summer memories were packed away this morning.
2. Ally's dolls and dollhouse, her baby stroller and puzzles and blocks and books and Minnie Mouse are in the truck and traveling to Ogden, Utah.
3. Would love to see Ally's face when she sees her toys!  She is at the age where she plays and plays.  
4. Would love to see Ally's face when she sees her daddy!  
5. Would love to see Ally's new bedroom........this is the week they are moving into their own place.

So many favorite times this summer and swimming was on the top of the list!

I won't sit down in  the bathtub, but a swimming pool is different!

Love this water!  Just plain fun!

Not ready to get out 

TA DA!

A couple of months at great-grandma's.....my kind of summer!  

Today Alex left for U C Berkeley

Already moved in to her dorm room and decorated!

Speaking at her High School Graduation

2 and a half months seems so long ago!

Yes sirree!!!  She was one of  the speakers! 

Congratulation!s Alexandra!

ee

Happy Birthday Sarah Rogde Walker!

My  Aunt Sarah....baby me. ....and my mom!  the year is 1947

1. I grew up with my aunt Sarah.  Her parents were my grandparents.  
2. I have many wonderful memories of those early years!
3. I never called her "aunt", she was more like a sister, growing up in the same household.
4. It is so odd to me now, but I don't remember celebrating any birthdays with Sarah.  I think my grandma (my beloved grandma) was not big on birthdays.
5. I remember things like winter ice skating together on our backyard rink.  Summer swimming at the Wahpeton City Swimming Pool.  Going with her to her best friend's home (Janice Bjornson) and loving it. Sitting with  her and the family around the dining room table for the Sunday dinner after church.  (There was always church and there was always a special dinner on Sundays)  We are seven years apart so most of my memories are the times we had as a family.
6. Sarah is a woman of faith, my friend and my aunt.  Happy Birthday Sarah!  Love you!

Knock, Knock!

Who's there?

Olive.

Olive who?

Olive you!

Visiting Auntie Char

Fresno forecast....more vitamin D than I can handle!

TODAY

Hi: 109°

Lo: 78°

FRI

Hi: 109°

Lo: 80°

SAT

Hi: 110°

Lo: 78°

SUN

Hi: 107°

Lo: 76°

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Saying good-bye is so hard to do!

Today I put my camera up on the top shelf.....far out of reach of little hands with sticky fingers.  Then realized no need to do so.  Those adorable little hands and sticky fingers have returned home.  No more jabbering and child laughter echoing throughout this house.  No more toys and books and boxes and spoons and makeshift instruments and little chairs.  No longer dolls lined up in a row on the couch.  No blocks to trip over in the middle of the room. No more doll house with a little girl ringing the door bell or flushing the toilet (yes!  it really does that!)   Pretty empty!  Yet, I can hardly call it empty when I have had such fun and constant activity since July 1st!  The memories are tremendous and every time I start weeping, I look at pictures and memories flood any emptiness that tries to enter.  I have been blessed with one of the busiest summers and my heart feels GRATITUDE!

We drove to Sacramento on Monday and they left from the Sacramento Airport on Tuesday morning.  As you can see, Ally had a ball staying in the hotel.  She is always happy and the trip wasn't hard on her at all.  My sister went with us (thanks Char!  that was sacrificial giving to be away  from home this week!  love you!)   This all reads about Ally, but saying good-bye to Shannon was just as difficult.  She is and always has been #1 granddaughter!  Miss you Shanna Banana! and thanks....when I got home discovered all the towels had been laundered and folded, sheets changed and washed, bathroom cleaned up.  You left it spotless! xxoo to you! 

This staying in a hotel room is fun!

One of many favorite books

Favorite because it has a mirror on the last page!

Having  fun with Auntie Char

Showing off in my Fresno Chaffee Zoo t-shirt..

It was REALLY special having great auntie Char with us

Making  silly faces on the airplane - turned out to be a good trip

Home again!

Shannon and Cody

Nice necklace Shannon!

oooohhhhh!

Such excitement!

Shannon and Ally

Saturday morning story time at Barnes & Noble

Video 3

Video 2.........Videos are in reverse order because I am so inapt at figuring out how to move them~!

Video 1

first to arrive

story time soon to begin

taking a break from the storyteller 

much more interesting to find my own book. 

definitely prefer my book to the story teller's

my chubby little legs carry me faster than grandma can catch me

trying out the chairs and even moving them around makes this a fun store

see above videos for the chair arranging

love my morning at story time!

She's the highlight of my summer!

Computer continues to frustrate me!

I am on my kindle fire, which I love by the way. But I don't love it for posting and no photos on here to download. My computer problem is entirely my fault. While downloading a photo editing program, I went too fast (interpretation: In such a hurry, didn't slow down and read instruction as I went along)...sad way to learn! Will be a day or two before up and running again! In the meantime, I have discovered posting via kindle. My verse for the day: "Oh come, let us. Worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Merivah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work."

They're here! And all's right with the world.

Shannon and her Ally!

It has been a long time since I've posted.....all the way back to May. My computer crashed back in May and that is why no posts, no pictures, no updates.  Back up and running now, so here's a quick list of the time that has passed so quickly since May.  (More details to come soon.  More photo's too!)

Di and Beth - beach at Cayucous...windy & cold in May!

I furloughed from government work and the next week my lifelong friend,Di, whom I only reconnected with at Christmas after many years of no contact, came for a visit.  Such fun we had, including a few days at the coast.

My friend Alexandra Smith graduated from High School.  She's Vivian's daughter.  Therefore, Graduation Party on Saturday, Baccalaureat on Sunday (where Alex spoke),  a Dinner at Viv's before graduation & Graduation on Tuesday night!

Alex speaking at graduation



My friend Barb came from San Diego for Alex's graduation, stayed with me....wonderful time!

Beth - Vivian - Barb

Visits from Dutch and Cody a couple of times in between all that's been going on.  I say visits, because they are usually here only for a meal, or a day or two.  Working all over the state keeps them on the road.

Di, Cody and Dutch

Bonnie & Roger came from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a visit as they travel across the country.  (Dutch's sister).  It was great.  Loved my time with them.

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law

Sunday, July 1st, just as Bonnie & Roger hit the road again, I left and drove to Sacramento to pick up Shannon, her friend Aurora and my precious Ally! It made the last leg of their journey a little easier.

Shannon, Ally and Aurora

These summer days are precious ones.  Busy and wonderful.  Ally and I go to the library for children's programs, Music programs, Barnes & Noble for story hour, Bible Study and church where she's in with other kids and loves it.  Saturday is the Zoo and next week Santa Cruz!  My house has been taken over by this little one and at times you'd think a tornado had passed through. But it's all worth it!

And here they are...Cody, Ally and Shannon.  The work crew had a day in Fresno which made for one happy family!