Frogs and dirt, bumps and scrapes, fun and laughter...and so much more.

( Thanks for posting the photo, Linda!) 24 years ago today, Keith Alexander arrived. All 10 pounds, 4 ounces of him. He was such a delight as a baby and a little boy. A new baby for his sisters to "mother". A great playmate for brother Scott. (We still call them "the boys".) They were such good buddies. If Keith was offered a treat (cookie, whatever) from me or anyone else, he'd wait until we'd ask him what was the matter and then he would ask if his brother could have one too. He played hard in all the little boy ways he could think of. Scott was the cautious one, climbing slowly and carefully, etc. Keith just jumped in and took the knocks and bumps and bruises in stride. What happy, full years they were watching him grow. And today, as a young man, he continues to make me happy and so proud. Happy, happy birthday, my precious son.

A Dove and some swans

Little Dove Erica turned two yesterday. Her little family "party" will be tonight. Wish I could be there! I've missed being there for so many of these months of her first two years. I'm very thankful for a special time when she was about five months old, and she and Amy and I had a wonderful visit in England. Back to the house in Christchurch where newborn Amy was brought home from the very old Victoria Hospital in Boscombe. Sitting at the table in the front window watching people pass below, on their way to the train station, or to the shops in town. Down the steps, out the door, onto Twynham Avenue, along Bargates, under the roundabout, down the High Street. Now Amy was the one behind the "push chair" and Dove the one riding. To walk the same streets again, enter the huge door of the Priory, watch Amy climb the mound of the castle ruins, ride the Noddy Train at Hengistbury Head in an English drizzle, walk along the Quay. And those swans. We sat on a bench as some huge swans wandered very near. One grabbed the pacifier Dove dropped! She wasn't afraid at all as one came quite close for a good look. We wondered what in the world was going through her little mind. A visit with "The Aunts" in Dorchester and an unexpected overnight stay, sleeping in Aunt Vigee's lovely nighties, going along to Watergate Cottage close by, that Eric loved to visit so much. (How he would have enjoyed doing it all with the little granddaughter he will meet one day in Heaven. ) The kindness of dear Mr. Harris, who looked after us so well. The adventure of a British Rail train ride ("Mind the Gap!"). One of those unstoppable bouts of laughter watching a lone commuter chuckling out loud at his newspaper. Another bout on the bus as the little old couple in front of us tried to retrieve their water bottle rolling around under the seat ("There it is, Jack!"). And will we ever forget the Indian lady who without speaking a word of English, couldn't get enough of holding and loving little Dove in Heathrow Airport. "Help the Aged." And our neighbors' send-off our last morning, in their bathrobes and slippers. Hugs and "tatas". Dove won't remember but Amy and I always will.

..."when you nuggle me"...

Heather and I were brave yesterday and took all four kids to Friendly's for lunch. We thought they would be better "contained" in a booth so all squashed into one. Addie and Heather were on one side with all the "stuff" -- diaper bag, purses, jackets, etc. Caleb was against the wall, Eden on a booster between him and me. Lily in a high chair on the end. Lily isn't over her hospital experience yet and panicked every time the waitress came near. Guess she thought she was a nurse ready to poke and prod. The waitress tried to sneak up and almost throw the food on the table. Yet, all went surprisingly well. Then came the monster sundaes. I had my arm around Eden and had her right side pressed up against me. It was crowded. Wondered why she wasn't eating her sundae faster, until this raspy little voice said, "Nana, I can't eat when you're nuggling (snuggling) me." Eden just turned three on Monday. She is a real little picture. Dark hair falling around her face, curling across her shoulders. Chubby little cheeks. Beautiful shade of blue eyes that sparkle and twinkle. And a deep voice for such a little one. Has she only been with us three years? Can't imagine a time without her presence in our lives. Addie sat behind me on the way home. She warmed up with "Trust and Obey" and then gave us "Puff the Magic Dragon". Music to close our little afternoon out.

Dinner with a young gentleman

He hurried ahead and held the door open to the Kountry Kitchen. We were seated at a small table by the window. Our dinner conversation was not about politics or current events. It was about the yellowness of forsythias. About God not giving us new bones when we grow but making our old bones stretch. This is experiencial knowledge for, "One day I think I could feel my bones trying to stretch." About thinking of a good guess-my-show-and-tell to puzzle Holly who always guesses "because she knows everything." About Easter and that Jesus is alive. .....Caleb is six years old today. He is totally, totally all boy. His pants get holes in the knees almost as soon as the price tags are cut off. He loves dirt and water and planting things. And fixing things and trying to make things. He is the protector (and once in a while, tormentor) of his three little sisters. One day he will be the hero of the baby brother soon to arrive. And he has a remarkable gentleness about him too. A very special little guy. A few weeks ago when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he answered, "a tree". His Pop-Pop would have liked that reply. May he plant trees and watch trees grow and blossom while we watch in wonder as he grows and blossoms into just who God intended for him to be.

A dance with Meadow

Perhaps it was the way the sun was shining today, or the way a warm breeze touched my face. A memory came to mind. It was last spring or last summer when I had taken Meadow (almost 5, or just 5) and Oak (6) for a ride on the Southern Belle along the Tennesse River. Not many were on the little boat for the short river tour that day. We sat at the very back of the deck. The guide gave information about what we were passing and then some lively music came on. No one was looking our way and Meadow got up and started to twirl and dance, with the deck as her stage and the river and mountains in the background. A spontaneous expression of a child's light-hearted joy. I wish I didn't have such a hard time moving around, but had been able to get up and twirl (in my totally ungraceful way) and participate in those moments with her. She would have been too young to be embarassed. And it wouldn't have bothered me if anyone had noticed a rather eccentric Nana. But then, as I remember, I think I did dance with her in those happy moments, at least part of me did. The part of my heart that belongs to Meadow.

Ride on in majesty!

Palm Sunday and we remember that the King of Kings rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) ... "All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King, To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!" (Theodulph of Orleans, c.820) How different the shouts that greeted Him just a few days later. Still, He set His face toward Jerusalem and the completion of our salvation. "Ride on! Ride on in majesty!"