Home tomorrow!

It’s been a terrific couple months – time flies and yet it feels like I’ve been gone soooo long! Am ready to get back and be normal…if I can figure that out! I’ll be back in AZ tomorrow night….gotta sell that house of mine!

I was able to go the Billy Graham Library (in Charlotte) before seeing my sweet Uncle Willard and Norberg cousins. Both were wonderful stops and special times. Both humble men of GOD…Uncle W is also known as Bill Norberg…two Bills in one day!

That one photo of the Library is the same view you’ve probably seen on TV or postcards, but it was so beautiful there I had to take the pic.

Oh, and Barney Fife too….at a welcome center in Tennessee….

See you in Sweet Home Arizona!

Resurfacing! ‘I am so exciting…’

I PLANNED on writing short little bloggy things every couple days, but …. life! Between managing business (yay!) from afar and that precious time with the grands, the time for writing a blog just evaporated.

Have been to Michigan for reunion with Cousins in Kzoo, nostalgia trip to Purdue for Ken & Shari to show the kids (seems like not that long ago Gary & I were dropping him off there for Freshman year!), quilt show and lots of grand time & adventures.

Today (Gary’s bday – lots of thinking as I drove from Ohio) I’ve arrived in North Carolina; tomorrow I get to see Cousin Janice and Cousin Patti and special treat Uncle Willard. He’s a beautiful man of GOD, an amazing Naval vet/alumni of the USS Enterprise, author of his book of experiences (It’s Been a Merry Whirl), father/grandfather/great grandfather. Am blessed that I can call him Uncle and am in his timezone!

 

This is so funny….I had another fun day with 3yr old Hudson on Monday, the day before his 4th birthday. He says so many things that just crack me up – he’s full of personality! Instead of saying he’s excited he says ‘I’m so exciting!’ Over the weekend his Dad bought starter compound bows & target for Layla & Lincoln; Hudson was asleep in the car but he’s too young for that sport anyway. Back to Monday, at lunch the waitress asked him how old he was and he was delighted to share that he was three but the next day was his birthday and he would be four. She congratulated him and Hudson responded with …. ‘Unfortunately, my brother and sister both got bows.’ She & I roared!

Am westward bound after tomorrow…..sweet home, Arizona!

These boots are made for walkin’…

One would think that I would have no cellulite with all the walking these ‘kids’ of mine have made me do….DC with Gary & Julie & Ken & Shari & grands, Ohio State Fair, COSI Museum in Columbus, Cedar Point (rollercoaster park) and waterpark. It’s been a busy several weeks. Too busy for the Queen to make it out of the car!

One small step….

The Ohio Milhous family (& I) drove to DC to enjoy some time with Gary & Julie. We’ve already squeezed a lot of wonderful, laughing memory time in together….along with some good food!

Last night we joined thousands of others at our national mall to watch the NASA salute to the Apollo mission. – 50 years ago – and just six days before our 50th Anniversary. (I bought the Lego Lunar Lander for myself for anniversary gift….with the grands’ input to put it together :-)) Images were projected on screens and ON the Washington Monument. It was a terrific evening shared by all those people who cheered enthusiastically at lift off & the giant leap for mankind…..outstanding evening!

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Happy Birthday, Linker!

Eight years ago Lincoln James Milhous was born early at 4# some ounces. To remember that sweet teeny little delicate boy hooked up to all kinds of tubes … a challenging time; but GOD. Isn’t that just a great expression… ‘but GOD’. He had plans for this child and we are so thankful for the boy he is. At dinner (we have been eating a lot!), Shari suggested that we share something about Lincoln that we notice & admire & appreciate. Each of us said some variation of his tender heart and care for others; that’s our special boy! Of course, he is a Lego maniac and a Minecraft addict too but trumped by his character. So thankful I am able to be here celebrating birthdays & life with family.

OHIO! Yay….

Greeted by the Grands waiting on the front porch with welcome signs & hugs & kisses! Joy, joy, joy! That was a mere two days ago but we have been hustling getting their home ready for sale….bc Ken got a job offer in SF. A Realtor mom ….

Enjoying time – beautiful green scenery bc of the rain; fabulous thunderstorms; laughter & love….

Lexington, Kentucky!

Great trip to hit MO, IL, IN and then KY all in one day! We live in a wonderful country – I want to know everyone’s story & why & how they chose to live where they do. Small towns, farms, small businesses – have met lots of polite young people who say please and thank you! IMG_0878

Kansas to MO!

Another wonderful divine gift – a visit with Nancy & Rick in Wichita, with the bonus of Katherine & Joe. Terrific meal and laughter and memories and joy of life together!

I ‘lost’ another hour as I traveled East from Colorado or I would have taken two photos –maybe should have jumped out of car and done it anyway….stockyards n stockyards (I tho’t the Queen’s picture there would’ve been hysterical) and also a very log span of outdoor yard art at a person’s farm….next time I get out of the car!

Today I head to Springfield MO where Gary & I had our ‘farm’ for several years. Nostalgia trip to Springfield….