This is the only time Leland would let me take his picture on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the state fair in Hutchinson, KS.  This woman was allowing people to come up and pet her goat.  Leland is growing up so quickly.  Maybe Leland will want to join 4H and show goats.  We had watch goats being judged and his favorite was a black and white goat.

On the way to the fair I asked Leland what he was hoping to see.  Papa and I had already told him that there would be farm animals.  Leland told me that he wanted to see a turtle.  Of course I told him that turtles are not farm animals and that he probably wouldn't see a turtle.  The first thing that we stop to look at was the petting tent.  Low and behold the first pen held a Turtle and a kangaroo.  Wow.

We walked through the poultry, rabbit, cow, etc barns.  Ate good junk fair food.  Cotton Candy comes in a bag not on a stick.  Who knew certainly not me.

We had met Josh, Kate, Ayvah and Malachi for breakfast in Emporia and we all had a good visit at the fair.  After 4 hours I was done and we left.  Josh and his family stayed a couple more hours.

Leland taught us a knew song on the way home.  "When we all work together".  It was a song that he had learned several weeks ago at church.  We don't take him to church often enough and I was extremely impressed that he knew all the words to the song.  He likes to sing.

Life is passing by too quickly.  I need to figure out how to grab hold of what it important and let go of the things that don't matter.

Lord, forgive for when I make mistakes and help me to remember that your LOVE can carry me through every day.  cathy

Yesterday, June 16, 2017 I went to the quilt show at the Overland Park Convention Center with my sister Julie and her daughter Jennifer.  Wonderful show.  I overheard people talking about how the show gets better every year.
I hope it's not an age thing with me.  Pretty sure that it is a weight problem, anyway I digress.  I had a hard time walking around the showroom.  Pain in my feet, knees and hips keep me from fully enjoying the show.
Julie and Jennifer had a great time spending time looking through the booths.  I bought 2 patterns.  One was a Lori Smith pattern.  I love her patterns but don't think that I've every made one of her quilts.  The other pattern was a "this and that".
I'm working on the red and white blocks that Lisa Borgean posted last year.  I'm on block 19, only 6 more to go before I start the set together.  I'm using these as my leader enders.
After being sick for almost 6 weeks in April and early June I'm finally getting caught up on my blocks of the months and my gardening.  With Tim's help the flower beds are looking great.
Well, I don't have any pictures to post today.  But maybe this is a start on using this blog.
P.S.  Tim's Katy is 6 weeks pregnant.  That will truly make me a great-grandma.  Oh my.

I don't take enough pictures.  This of course was Easter Sunday at Bill & Joyce's.  The grandkids hunted eggs in the building.  They and we had a great time. 

Mom wasn't able to leave Presbyterian Manor for Easter.  She is so dependent on the lift to move her that the manor advised us not to transport her.  The last couple of weeks Mom has said that she is exercising in the rehab room so hopefully on the next holiday she can come to Burlingame.

Josh & Kate still have Ayvah and Malachi and I'm still staying with them on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Their Mom had a baby last week so the time of foster care for them should be coming to an end.

Tom's mom Rita Jane Shepard died on Good Friday, March 25, 2016.  She would have been 92 on the 27th of April.  Tom, Jeremy, Phillip, JoAnn, Joshua and I traveled to Arizona for the funeral.  3 separate cars and 3 different travel schedules.  Rita's Catholic Mass service was well attended by people who's lives she touched during her lifetime.  Tom was also allowed to talk at the end of the service.  He did a wonderful job.  Tom talked about how important relationships are.  Relationships with others and with Jesus.  

Tom & I stopped and saw Aunt Charlotte on our way home.  It had been too many years since we had stopped. 

Relationships are IMPORTANT.  It is how I get through everyday life. 

Here's hoping that I take more care in the way that I relate to others.   

Here I am again trying to figure out how to post pictures and comments.  Someplace in here I have 2 pictures that I couldn't add comments to.  Eventually I'll find them and delete them.
I had a great Christmas.  I had my doubts a few weeks ago.  I was suffering from a big funk that I didn't have the ability to get over.  Lots of prayer & lots of crying.  I think that my turning point came when I dragged the Christmas tree up from the basement on a Monday night.  The next day I was at Josh & Katie's and when I came home Tom had decorated the tree.  Thank you Tom. 
On Sunday before Christmas I contacted 3 sons to let them know that they were welcome to come to Christmas Eve service with us (Jeremy is the only one who went) and that after we got home that we would have our traditional Christmas time with them.  So thankful that all 4 sons were here.  Katie was missed by all.  Young Katy's boyfriend Bryan came & Danny was here also.  Lots of coffee was consumed.  And Leland spent special time with Uncles Jeremy & Josh playing in the living room. 
God made families and I am so thankful for mine.
If I can get them posted I have 2 pictures of gifts from Phill & JoAnn.  A Beautiful memory book of Billy.  And a picture of 1 of the 4 bricks that Phill & Leland made.  I never dreamed that Phill would become so creative.  Homemade gifts are the best.  (Note to self - today is the day to start for next year).

Sister in law, Lisa died on December 16, 2015.  She will be missed by all.  Her memorial service was on Sunday the 20th and an overflow crowd of family and friends came to say goodbye.  So glad that she made a last trip to Burlingame to visit with our family a couple of weeks before her death.  Always her positive self she was dealing with her upcoming death.  A strong woman to the end who knew that she would be welcomed into the arms of Jesus.  Faith makes the difference.  A strong faith can make anyone strong.  Glad that we got in one last game of Shanghai with her.  Lisa I will miss YOU.  And I will try to remember to pray daily for your daughters as they figure out how to get through this life without you.  Praying that they will find the strong faith that you had.
Josh & Katie have 2 foster kids and I have been spending Mondays and Tuesday with them for about a month.  I can't write her the emotions that have been affecting me through this journey.  But all is not well in their (J & K) home.  Ayvah turned 3 on the 19th and Malachi will be 2 on Jan 1.  So far they have visited their mom every Saturday staying the night.  Ayvah acts out because she is old enough to know that her life is not normal.  And it takes me until Tuesday to settle in with her.  Malachi copies everything his sister does.  Needless to say many days are trying.  And it is not the kids that make the days trying.  As Josh's mom it is hard to see his faults in what is going on.  But as Tom often says "we don't know what goes on behind closed doors".  In my mind after 8 years of marriage Josh doesn't think that they will have children of their own and so he is exploring the options of possible adoptions through the foster system.  And Katie just wants her own flesh and blood baby.  I've already written more than I should have but not enough.
Leland is his bubbling personality.  His Christmas school program (3 year olds) was adorable.  When Leland is here Jeremy comes first, then Papa and lastly me.  Doesn't he know who takes care of his physical needs.  Oh, he does come to me when he is hurt.  He spent Tuesday night with us.  Such a good boy.  Slept soundly all night.
I haven't been sewing.  But I have been doing counted cross stitch.  Nothing that I'll finish just something to keep my hands busy.
TODAY I'm baking.  I made pumpkin muffins and bread last night.  I just took ginger bread out of the oven.  I'm hoping to make cranberry and blueberry muffins today.
Today is Christmas Eve.  MERRY CHRISTMAS.  Times are changing but Thank God, He is still in control.  I just need to live the life that He has called me to live.

It must be time to blog.  I always thought that I would use this as a journal but I just can't seem to make myself create posts.
The last few months have been rough.  Mom had a stroke in September and her health appears to be quickly declining.  It is so hard to watch the changes happening in her health and mind.  She moved in to Presbyterian Manor.  I don't think that is a choice that she ever would have made on her own.  But she is safe and well cared for there.  The 3 sisters tried caring for her at home for almost 3 weeks and we were unable to properly care for her.
My sister-in-law Lisa is dying of cancer and will leave behind 3 daughters.  The youngest are 10 & 12 (I think that's right).  Hospice has already been called in to make life more comfortable for her. 
And with the death of our grandson in April it has been a tough emotional year.
I have to try to tell myself and remind myself that God is still in control.  God isn't going to change these situations BUT HE will make it so I can bear them.  That last sentence is negative Because I do believe in miracles and I believe in the grace of God.  But somehow in my heart I know that these situations are the way they are.  BUT prayer still helps.
On to positive stuff.  Oh, that's correct I'm almost always negative.  Tom and I started rearranging furniture last Friday so we could put up a Christmas Tree.  We should be finished by the New Year.  Wonder if that would be too late to put up a tree.  Just kidding.  It should only take another week to finish. 
I need to get up the tree so I can find my sewing room again and get back to sewing.
Tis the season to celebrate the birth of Christ my King.

This is a new block of the month that I have started, Stitcher's Garden.  I have had a month to do this block and finally worked on it yesterday and finished this block this afternoon.  Applique is not in my comfort zone.  So I spent a whole month procrastinating.  This is made in my colors but I also have material to do light/bright blocks also.  This evening I need to prepare my background for tomorrow's class.

This is our Leland being Leland.  We were at Olive Garden and the stickers went on his neck instead of on the paper.  Always a great day when we have him.