Mardi's 13th year portraits

This is the picture we will put up on the wall.

But there were several other really nice ones too. Here are just a few.

Helen Irene Barber's funeral

Helen Barber

Joel's grandma Barber passed away today. She has been having a real hard time the last few months with ailments and mistakes made by hospital caregivers. She has been struggling with pneumonia and finally her lungs couldn't work properly anymore. They took her off the respirator on Monday. Joel got to express his love to her when he called his father on Monday and his dad held the phone to her ear so that she could hear Joel. It was a tearful and heartfelt goodbye. I wished he could be there. He has his own thoughts and feelings about all of this and has had two days to ponder.

As for me, I found myself sad at the lack of opportunity to live closer and know her better. Both of Joel's paternal grandparents have passed on. I never knew his grandfather and hardly knew her. My maternal grandparents have passed as well. But Joel knew and spent time with them since we lived close enough to visit. Now I will have to hear stories and try to imagine what she was like.

Reflection on 2009

As 2009 ended, I heard or read a lot of people bidding it "good riddance." It made me think. And my thought was, "What was so bad about 2009?"

The Economy

I will admit that I don't understand money very well. And though I am aware of the condition of our country's economy, we were not harmed. Well, o.k., we can't sell our house. Too many other people lived beyond their means and walked away from investments and got away from their debt and now the value of our home is too low for us to be able to sell and get more space. So, we stay in a house that is a bit small for 6 people and we are expecting another one. But we have a house and we can afford the utility bills.

At work, Joel does more than he was told would be expected and is given excuses why he won't get a raise (even though higher ups will!) But he has a job. And we saved for and bought a new couch, we are saving for new beds for the big girls and Christmas was good!

We still eat out on occasion, though not as often as we used to. We go to movies with friends or as a family. Joel still takes all 5 of us out for our dates.

It's not just the economy people are bothered by, but government, morality (for some of us), war in other countries and the environment. The list goes on. We live in the last days. We are encouraged to LIVE. It won't get better. But consider this. Have you ever heard someone older than you say, they just don't know how they would have coped if they had to deal with what you deal with? Do you worry about the future of your children and then see little examples of how they will be blessed to withstand? The Lord has promised the righteous that they will be fit to the task. We already deal with and withstand amazing things. But, we adjust, seek help and are blessed, little by little. And sometimes we don't notice how amazing the Lord helps us be.

If 2009 is a year you are glad to see go, then I hope 2010 seems a bit easier on you. But 2009 was a good year for me. And I don't expect anything less from 2010.

Mardi's b-day

At our house, 13 is a birthday party year. Mardi wants a pool party. Unfortunately we don't have rich friends with an indoor, heated pool. No can do. She also wanted pound cake with fresh strawberries and whip cream. They cost an arm and a leg right now, but as Mardi can't have the party she wants and she rarely wants much, I splurged on strawberries. Only I placed them between two layers of chocolate cake and added whipped cream in the middle with them. Yum. Wilson's came over and gave her a gift card to Aeropostale to go with the one we gave her. Then she opened my music jewelry box because I wasn't sure what kind she would like. So, we will go online together at some point and order one for her. She has decided to invite several friends to a movie night party which we won't be having until the end of the month or beginning of next depending on when we can get the clubhouse.