Spring has Sprung…well, maybe…

Welcome to the West blog, it’s been awhile  since an update so I’ll fill in the gaps.  We (Mom, myself, & Allison) made a trip to meet Cathy in a far away town, where people wait on us…and we cool our toes by the pool..

Here is Cathy and Allison…guess what they just did?!?

Then there is the Mama, oh she was a “Big Winner”,,,

Can I just say that I enjoy being with these women…they are so much fun!

Allison was being silly…imagine that!!!

Mother & Daughter

When we got home Jim & I headed for southern Oregon to see our grandson, the jockey!!!!  We enjoyed watching Bryson with the horses…

Jim was one proud Papa!!!

Jim giving Bry a “leg up”…  it was so hot there, we enjoyed  our time by the pool & Bry hung out with his Papa & Gram…and may I just say, to paraphrase the Mama….”And a great time was had by all!”

 

Signs of Spring

The crack of the bat, the blooming of my japanese maple; not to mention all the robins showing up, are definite signs of spring!  Oh, how grateful I am for the warming of the days & the wonderfully warm sun!  It’s glorious, I tell you, God’s grace extended to us.

May 7th was the National Day of Prayer.  In our community, we had the priviledge of coming together for one hour & praying for the leaders of our country, state & city.  How great it is to be able to gather together & pray with like minded people for our country.

Here are some of the signs of spring I found today!

And then…

Aren't they pretty?

Also….these…

I do believe that spring has arrived!

We have finally had some dry days so that we can mow the lawn, Jim is on the rider & I use the self propelled to get next to the fence…Molly, the pug, attacks the mower, she does that also with the vacuum cleaner….Here they are enjoying the sun…

Hilde (aka Tilbe, Hilbe) & Molly

Spring has sprung, finally in the Pacific Northwest & oh how beautiful it is here…We love the warmth of the sunshine, not to mention the moss between our toes is drying out..hehe!

Now is vacation time for the next two weeks & I am sooo ready.  We are excited to have Jim’s sister, Cathy with us for awhile, and we get to go visit our grandson, Bryson, the jockey!  Life is good…

 

My Life, T-ball & Others

Jim and I picked up Tanner from home yesterday & took him to T-ball practice.  If you haven’t visited a t-ball practice lately, go, no really, you need to.  I didn’t count the number of little boys & girls as they filled the field, but little they were, and funny they were!

If I remember, the first order of business was to stretch out those muscles…

The little guys & gals were “very” fun to watch…

More Stretching…

Tanner

More Stretching…

stretching

Here's Tanner, practicing catching...

Let me digress just a tad, our daughter, Allison turned another year older this month…We had a luncheon party for the girl!  Grammie, Dad & Mom & Sister….

They are scary looking, don't you think?!?

Grammie & Allison *pose*

We had cake, ice cream & a whole “lotta” fun…As you can tell, the fam is a bit wacky, but harmless enough!!!

Enjoy your day Cathy!!!

 

Snow, More Snow!?!

It is a winter wonderland again, again, I say!

Snow this morning, Sunday, In Montesano

I can’t quite believe it, but oh, yes I do…when I went walking with Aimee yesterday, it was a mix of snow & rain…today, just snow:)

Snow days:)

Oh Yes My Friend, Snow Happens

This is beautiful really, I do love how the snow makes everything white, clean & really, breathtakingly lovely.  In my younger days, it meant, heading over to a friends’ house, usually Allison’s & maybe some sledding.  It hardly ever meant a day off school, seemed like those school buses could make it through anything!  I do remember when we lived in Glendale, OR, & we were often snowed in.  My step dad showed us how to start a fire in the snow if we were ever lost or stranded…funny the things you remember.  I remember my pup, Snoopy, taking a leap off the front porch & going down so deep in the snow that you could barely see him!

Jim is still recovering wonderfully!  His blood sugar continues to be “normal”!!! Oh, how glorious!  He has shed about 12-13 lbs & is feeling great.  Tomorrow he will start driving again..yea!!

Mom’s working her morning crossword puzzle, I help once in awhile by looking up a clue online:)  I  am useful for something, (I  say smiling:)

Take a good look at God’s wonders – they’ll take your breath away.

 

On the Mend & Other Things

Jim with his morning coffee(in the mug Cathy sent, it has a chicken holding a sign that says, "Get Well, Eat Veggie Soup"

Well the patient is on the mend….he is feeling very good, & enjoying his morning coffee….here is the balloon that came with the mug..

the balloon that came with the mug(Tanner wants this!)

Anyway, Jim is doing very well, he can’t drive for another week(that is what he is looking forward to, driving again)…it’s been two weeks today that he was discharged from the hospital.  Tomorrow we go to see his cardiologist, I’m sure he will tell us everything is going well…

Mom goes to see the eye doc tomorrow as well, to get her perscription for reading glasses…these two keep me running!  Here she is playing with the new shredder she ordered(she likes gadgets:)…

Mom with the new shredder...

We woke up this morning to snow on the ground & about29 degrees out!  It’s warmed up already & the snow is mostly gone..I should have taken a picture for you, but I was just enjoying looking at it in the early morning quietness..

Since Jim can’t lift yet, I’m busy keeping the Mama in wood for the woodstove, chopping kindling & all the other things that require lifting:)  I’m building muscles(I hope), between that & keeping up with Jim’s exercise routine, we should both be in pretty good shape by the end of the summer!  Anyway, that’s the saga for the West clan for this week!  I’ll quit rambling…til next week…bye……

 

A Bypass & I’m Out……..

Well, Jim did it, this last week he had a 3 way heart bypass.  We were both pretty nervous about it, many told us that bypasses are done routinely now & quite successful, which is good.  But let me tell you, it’s a whole ‘nother story when it’s you or your loved one!

Jim went in last Thursday & surgery was at 8am…after they finally gave him some “happy juice”, ( he was quite funny:)  He made all the nurses & anesthesiologist pray (he did the praying) with him before they started surgery.   Just before they wheeled him off to surgery he said, “mare, this stuff is making me pretty bold!”…

He wouldn't pass a drug test!

After surgery Jim was taken into ICCU for the rest of that day.  When they let Allison & I into see him he still had the breathing tube in place, so he couldn’t talk to us.  Our pastor, Steve came in & prayed with Jim too, that was great.

The next time we went in to see him, I fainted…Well, it was a very stressful day, to say the least.  I was a bit dehydrated & mostly overly stressed!  So I was carried out of ICCU & taken to the ER.  Our daughter, bless her heart, had one of us on each end of the hospital!  Jim was in ICCU, Room 18 & I was in ER, Room 18.  They kept me there for four hours while they checked out my heart & gave me fluids!

We’re home now, Jim is walking 4 times a day, 10-15 min to start out.  This now has to become a lifestyle for us.  I read online today that diabetes really should be classified as a cardiac disease.  You don’t realize what damage it can do until you come up against something like this…

Our church family has been great, praying for us, watching over Mom while we were at the hospital & now preparing meals for us.  We have never felt so loved & cared for.  Our praise goes to our Heavenly Father, Who has brought Jim through this & continues to give us strength for each day!  Thank You Father!

 

Life’s Turns & Paths

Well, the Mama got her second cataract surgery behind her, ya-hoo!!

Mom waiting for cataract to be removed

This went off without a hitch, she was so glad to have all this done.  We were in & out of there in an hour 40 minutes!

We’ve had fun, well, at least I have, watching the little sparrows this winter.  I put up a feeder outside of our kitchen window…

Bird at the feeder

Also, they are so funny, taking baths in the puddles along side the road…

Bird Bath:)

They provide alot of entertainment for me…they really make me smile..

The next life turn we have is Jim, we recently had a visit with our friendly heart doctor, he really is friendly:0) & have discovered Jim needs heart bypass surgery.  So we are gearing up for that this week.  I’m so thankful for God who gives us what we need, when we need it…for us this week, what we need is His peace & courage…& He is supplying it for us.  His word says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him & He will direct your path.”  Also,  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  So as we give all this to Him, He supplies the peace.  How grateful we are….

 

Life, All It’s Turns & Paths

I can’t believe that I have updated this since the 14th, oh my goodness(says the Gramma, with much *chagrin*)  We have been following the rising career of my grandson, Bryson, the jockey.  We have watched him on TV(the racing channel on Dish, at our daughter Allison’s house), went on-line to find out how he did in all of his races, and sent family to go watch him!  I think Jim will get to go watch him this Tuesday(wish I could go:(

Jim was helping Mom put her earrings in this morning(her hands still have a touch of neuropathy from the chemo she had last year).  Poor Mom, he had her ear stretched out like a bat wing!

Jim helping(well, yeah, okay, he was helping) the Mama!

Okay, Cathy you will appreciate this, here is a picture of Hilde(Tilbe) doing her imitation of “Garfield”

Tilbe the Pug doing her imitation of Garfield

The things that make my days really wonderful are always seeing God’s creation, be it mountains(my personal mountain, Mt Rainier), or animals, birds in the wild…On a really good day I see the mountain on the way home & then as I drive off the highway into Monte, on the off ramp, there is my friend, the hawk…He is so beautiful…Today on the way home from church, we saw him fly into the brush & go after some dinner.  He must have missed, cause he didn’t come up with anything.  I got a picture of him as he landed on the underside of the highway….Here, as I affectionately call him, is Hawkie…

My Friend, Hawkie!

I don’t think he likes his picture taken!  He is beautiful to look at..

We still are playing lots of Rummikub, what a fun game.  We need to have a game night soon & invite over some friends & have a tourney….:)

That’s it for today…love to the fam & friends!

 

My Grandson, the Jockey!

I am so EXcited!!!  I was able to attend my Grandson, Bryson’s first race as an apprentice jockey(they are called ” a bug “

Here he is as he came in 3rd in his first race…(he is #5)

My Grandson Bryson's First Race as an Apprentice Jockey!

He came in third & the trainer & owner were both very pleased with how he handled the horse.  I’ve got to tell you that as the “jockey’s Grandmother”, I was a little weak in the knees when he started, but once I saw him coming down the homestretch I was yellin’ along with all the other folks there!  It was so exciting!  His Mom & step-dad Mike were overcome with emotion too!  What an exciting day for all of us!

Here are some pictures from our day(we couldn’t take pictures of Bry on the horse or racing, it was against the track rules)…

The Proud Mama(Allison) & the Jockey! Bryson

We are all so proud that Bryson is living the dream that he has had & been working diligently toward.  God has gifted Bryson for this…

Mike & Bryson(Mike's so proud he's bustin' his buttons!)

And this blog wouldn’t be complete without Gramma & Bry together too…

The Gram & The Jockey!

Papa wanted to be there too, but was unable to because of work.  We called him as soon as we could with the results…oh my gosh, I think I busted his eardrum I was soooo excited!

Allison & I went again for Bry’s race today.  He had to go a mile(once around the track this time).  His horse was out like a shot & he was in the lead for probably the first half of the race, then his horse gave out(the owner said this horse has a tendency to make a great start but flake out late in the race), so Bry came in 6th place.  Tomorrow he rides his 3rd race…so the story will continue.

Here’s a picture of Allison in front of Portland Meadows..

Allison at Portland Meadows

 

Life,Holidays & the Fam

It’s been a few days since I’ve written anything, only because life gets busy….Mom’s eye is healing up, she is doing great.  We had a great time the last couple of weeks, we went out to dinner(alot) & we cooked, a little, & we even shopped some…

Tyler,  the youngest grandson was over the other day.  Grammie gave him cookies & here he is asking “Ted” aka Teddy Bear, would he like some…

Sharing a moment with Ted E Bear

We had so much fun with Ty & Ted…I’m so grateful for my grandsons, we have 3 really wonderful boys.

This morning as we were all getting ready for church, our “girls”, Molly & Tilbe, aka Hilde shared a moment as well.  Most days Molly just tolerates Tilbe, the younger of the two…Here Molly is getting personal with Tilbe.  I can imagine her thinking, “what is that perfume Tilbe?  I must get some.”

My dear what is that perfume?

From there on to church.  What a great worship team we have, I loved, loved the worship today!  From there we went into a great message, it took us from Genesis to Revelation, all that God has for us.  All that Jesus purchased for us.  It was a great message to trust in Jesus, & fear not!

Have you ever had a day, you leave church, you are feeling great, God has spoken to you through the worship & the service, only to go away & find yourself battling an area that is troublesome to you?  I had that kind of day.  When I think of where we were last year at this time & then where we are now, it is overwhelming.  Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, the first of November.  She went through a real battle, & we as her family followed suit, we prayed with her, for her & against the cancer.  I think all of that has caught up with me & at times the “old” feelings encompass me.  All the decisions that were made were tough decisions, & all the while you are praying you are making the right ones, & trusting God to give you wisdom.  All that to say, the waves of being overwhelmed sometimes come back when you least expect it.  I tell myself, “You have so much to be thankful for” & we do, Mom is 100%, God has been gracious to us.  Wonder of all wonders to me, God loves us!

I think we must have worn Mom out today, after church we went to lunch & then needed to do some shopping.  We went to WalMart, then over to Pennys….The woman can shop, I’m not kiddin’!!  Then on to home, a bite to eat, then Mom found the couch (Tilbe

is never far behind)…

Sleep tight dear ones…..