ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK

Join Me in my New Dugout!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 16:48:00 +0000

The Ballpark has moved!

Join me in my new dugout:

ADVENTURESINTHEBALLPARK.COM
Once you're there, you can subscribe to the new site!

Get my free newsletter here: Notes from the Dugout. Then, you'll always be connected, no matter where I am. :-)

I look forward to reuniting with you!

Marianne

Back-to-School Haircut

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 19:59:00 +0000

If you've been checking in at the Ballpark over time, you know we have a chemistry teacher daughter who, for some reason, ends up teaching religion and forensics and math on occasion. She's open to filling whatever slot needs to be filled, so they find her if there's an open slot with no teacher.

This is why teachers need to be paid more.

Anyhoo, when the new school year approaches, our favorite teacher usually gets a hair trim, or full cut, if needed. For the past three years, she's let her hair grow, because she likes to donate her locks to kids who need wigs for various reasons, usually illness. Here's the before shot. Golden, auburny, caramel locks...

And after the first chop...

My husband and I are both dark, so we've never been sure where this reddish hair came from - we're assuming my Irish grandmother, who didn't have red hair either, but did have the light skin our girl has and beautiful blue eyes. Our teacher has green eyes, so it doesn't really fit, but that's all we've got. God has a vast color wheel, that's all I can say.

Here are the squirrel tails on their way to donation.

Cool, huh?

After a bit of shaping, here's the finished look in the sunshine.

Our girl says she feels 5 pounds lighter. How great it would be if it were that easy - hey, Doc, can you chop 5 pounds off these thighs? Sadly, that's not the way the world works. But, wouldn't it be a magical place if it did?

The sheared locks are going to CHILDREN WITH HAIR LOSS, whose motto is "covering young heads to heal young hearts." Check it out. Seeing innocent youngins who need hair is a most touching thing. After the political conventions this month, don't we need a sweet sight to remind us of what truly matters?

To all teachers out there who are heading back to school soon - I love ya! Don't forget you are in the most valuable profession on the planet. Nobody learns anything without a teacher being involved. From pre-K to Ph.D., teachers lead the way. They need more money, they need more support, and they need more school supplies, from crayons to computers. God bless ALL of you!

And God bless the little ones who will receive hair from our Goldilocks.

What Dreams May Come

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 19:56:00 +0000

Our grandson is a few days away from being 6 months old. As I hold James and envision his life and pray for blessings to come his way, it takes me back to my own children - how I held them and prayed for them.

My three children are now adults, and looking back, it's surprising how my dreams for them...well, let's just say I was naive. Or maybe selfish. Life is full of surprises.

When our oldest was seven, his IQ tested very high. Gifted classes followed, and I assumed he would pursue a very academic path. He quit college after two years. What he loved was art and music. (He played the violin as a youngster, the guitar as a young adult.) He was very talented there as well, so I shifted my thinking. He joined a band and moved to Arizona. He found work in a pharmacy and became certified as a pharmacy tech. Oh, medicine! I thought. Maybe he'll head to pharmacy school.

He was not the least bit interested. The band folded, but he met his future wife, who is also musically gifted, and they married a few years later. They are very happy. I thought they might have a baby soon, but they shared recently they don't think kids are for them. Okay. I clearly have no idea what God has planned for our son.

Our daughter grew up loving science, and in her senior year of high school wrote about wanting to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. She got a full scholarship to college, but two years in, discovered chemistry and changed her major. After college, she worked at a health food store. How did we go from med school plans to being in charge of produce? She dabbled in youth ministry, and then...stunned my husband and me when she decided to enter religious formation to become a Catholic sister. Huh?

God worked on my heart, and I came to love the idea. After three years, she left the convent and began teaching high school science. (She's great at it, and the kids love her.) When she was younger, I assumed she would marry and have children some day. However...in her early college years, she developed an endocrine problem that derails the reproductive system. I have to admit, I have grieved about this. But, when I see how God is using her and all her gifts, I have peace.

Our baby, who's 30, married right out of college with a history degree. I thought he would teach. He ended up working in retail for Gucci. Gucci?! We thought it would be temporary, but he moved up in the company and was there seven years. Of our three, he seemed the most ready for kids, but did not have baby James until after seven years of marriage.

He and his wife were prepared to moved to KY to a new position with the job when his store closed suddenly and he was out of work - two weeks before their baby was due! They had to move. Just hours after they moved to a new home, her water broke. Curve balls, one after another. God, what are you doing? I have wondered more than once.

I share all this because I've realized, since baby James has arrived, that my dreams/expectations for my children apparently have no bearing on what God has planned for them. This makes me smile.

A mom's dreams for her child are lovely and, well, "dreamy," but looking back, I see I didn't remember that my children don't really belong to me; they belong to God. I can wish all I want for my children, but I don't know everything. I don't know what God knows about them. My husband and I made them, but God made them first. His plans are going to trump mine.

God is the ultimate creator who has divine plans for each of my children - for all of us. I want only success and rainbows for my kids, but God knows their journey is going to contain disappointments and detours, because that's how we grow. My dreams for my children are to be happy. God's dreams for them are to be holy.

Four generations - my mom, myself, my son, and baby James when he was just days old.

I wonder what my mom dreamed for me, and what my son dreams for his son. Time will tell, but in the end, God will win. And we certainly can't do better than that.

So James, my dream for you is that you love God and seek His dream for you.

REMINDER: Last week for the Christmas in July sale of my ebook "The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure." 50% off for the month of July only. Check it out HERE. Do something different this holiday season!

Happy Birthday, America!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 00:26:00 +0000

A few years ago, we received this homemade card from our son and daughter-in-law. Both of their fathers were Air Force career men, so they remember the sacrifices that military families make.

I pray, as a nation, we never forget the men and women who have served and sacrificed for this imperfect, but still the best, country on the planet. It's true that freedom isn't free. Today, because of those who have served, we can:

1. Grill and burn as many hot dogs as we want.

2. Fight over the last corn-on-the-cob.

3. Pellet each other with water balloons.

4. Drink too much beer.

5. Display the American flag on our property.

6. Own property.

7. Enjoy all kinds of red-white-and-blue Jello salads.

8. Raise the water bill by running through the sprinkler all afternoon.

9. Follow the town parade down the street.

10. Write our name in the dark with sparklers.

11. Spend too much money on firecrackers.

12. Annoy our neighbors with firecrackers.

13. Injure ourselves with firecrackers.

14. Sing America, the Beautiful.

15. Spit watermelon seeds at each other.

16. Vote.

17. Argue over whom to vote for.

18. Enjoy the DVD John Adams, the excellent (originally HBO) mini-series.

19. Make a patriotic pinwheel out of a paper plate, a pencil, and a thumb tack.

20. Remember that we are all created equal.

Have a patriotic day!

I'm Moving. And I'm Nervous.

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 17:19:00 +0000

I'm getting ready to attempt a scary thing. It involves an arena that intimidates me and, frankly, confuses me. It's a change I have to make, but I'm dragging my feet.

I have to move to a new blog server and get a domain name email address.

See? I hardly even understand what I just wrote. I'm about as technically savvy as a worm. And when it comes to technology, I move about as slow.

I've loved being on blogger, it's a great site for beginner bloggers, which I was in 2010. Six years later, I have things I want to do I can't do here. This means several not-so-fun transitions will occur:

1. Formatting a new site. UGH. It took me six years to get this site to work as beautifully as it does. It's like my first little house. I know all the glitches, the cozy spots, and when to clean out the dugout. At the new place, I'll have to place and rearrange the furniture all over again. For a non-tech worm like me, it's kind of exhausting.

Source

2. Moving readers. If you follow Adventures in the Ballpark now, you'll have to re-subscribe at the new site. It's not hard to do that, you just have to remember to do it. If you read a lot of blogs (as I do), it might slip your mind (as it has mine on occasion) and pretty soon, Adventures is off your radar. I hope you'll follow me to the new site, because I don't want to be over there all alone.

3. Losing readers. You might come here looking for the old Adventures, and due to some temporary cyberpsace glitch (they do occur now and then), the link to the new one won't work, and you'll just say, Oh, forget it. I pray you don't fall into a black hole during this transition. I'll tell ya - I'm gonna worry about this. I don't want anyone flailing around in cyberspace, longing for the Ballpark Brownie recipe and not having access to it, or wondering how my parents (93 and 96) are doing.

4. It will probably be a few weeks before all the kinks are worked out. I could be wrong on this, but I have NEVER known any Internet transition to be without hiccups. Sometimes big ones. ~~Being the pessimist I am, I'm expecting the worst.~~ I'm going to be positive about this and pray God directs the entire thing. Then any mess-up will be His problem.

So....because you guys are my buds, I'm sharing my heart about this move, which feels like I'm ~~ripping out bleeding roots~~ off on a new adventure! This is my summer project. ~~I'd rather be getting a root canal.~~ I'll keep you posted here, or on facebook/twitter as to how the move is going.

If you get my newsletter, I'll keep you updated that way too. (If you don't get it, you can sign-up HERE.)

What are your projects this summer? Probably fun stuff like hanging out at the pool, making Popsicles, and catching up on summer reading.

I'm so jealous.

Memorial Day - How We Can Honor the Fallen

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sun, 29 May 2016 13:49:00 +0000

This blog site is no longer operational. Currently, this post is only available at my NEW SITE HERE. Re-pin this post with its new URL, so you don't lose it!

10 Things I Needed Quiet Time to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sat, 21 May 2016 15:32:00 +0000

It's one of those "I'm so grateful" days. Nothing spectacular has occurred, I didn't win the lottery or anything. I simply had some quiet time this morning, and I noticed the many blessings in my life.

Do we need quiet time to recognize all that we've been given? Yes.

When life is frantic and I just run from thing to thing, my overall mode is "hurry up and finish this, there are ten more things I have to get to." That's a perfect recipe for becoming cranky and then resentful. When I can't really pay attention to the task I'm in, I'm certainly not going to appreciate what I'm doing and why it's important. Think of Road Runner's legs. Spinning and spinning, moving through everything instead of being fully present.

So, this morning, it was quiet and I read Jesus Calling (several days' worth, because I was behind.) And in the quiet, blessings bubbled up.

1. Today is our daughter's birthday. She's a blessing in so many ways, and also a feisty testament to life. As a toddler, she had a severe seizure that caused her to stop breathing. If not for one doctor, well...you can read about that HERE.

2. Grandson James. This sweet child gives me the opportunity to just stop and hold a baby. If he's fussy, or feeding, or sleeping, he has my full attention. He puts life in perspective.

3. Our older son and his wife visited recently. They drove to Florida from Virginia to meet James. We took lots of family pictures (because we're rarely all together) and I got lots of hugs. I have to say, there is nothing a mom loves more than having all her youngin's together. All the pieces of her heart reconnect. And if the youngin's don't gripe about getting numerous family photos, that's icing on the cake. Thank you, youngin's!

4. After four months of unemployment, our younger son has a job. This son is the father of James, and husband to our sweet DIL, so we all had anxious hearts about how this new little family would manage. But, our son is resilient and our DIL is supportive, so they are working it out. We're so proud of how they are growing through this challenge.

5. After a head injury this week, the hubs is fine. At work, a piece of equipment hit him in the head. He needed 6 staples in his scalp, but has no other damage. He doesn't even want me talking about it, so don't mention it.

6. Mom's treatment for lymphedema is working. Her legs looked like tree trunks, but after two weeks of special wrappings, she's on the mend. Once treatment is over, she'll have to wear compression stockings, which she's not looking forward to. Life at 95 is not as much fun as it used to be.

7. Dad is getting new glasses. After sitting on/rolling on his wire frames a thousand times, they were shot. Pliers and duct tape didn't work anymore. He's getting titanium frames. Seems fitting for his titanium spirit.

8. We're getting a new dishwasher. In comparison to loved ones and jobs, this is an insignificant thing. But once the current dishwasher starts depositing rust stains on the plates, it's time.

9. My Visa bill is at 0 again. This only happens about twice a year, so I like to highlight it when it occurs.

10. I'm eating dark-chocolate malt balls for breakfast. I really have to stop this, because my inflammation numbers are up a little, and I know sugar is the culprit for me. I'm my own worst enemy. The good news is that in heaven, I won't have to deal with any more of this nonsense.

What blessings have you missed recently because life is too hectic? Make quiet time a priority (that's the only way to do it), and you will be reminded of how much God loves you.

** Don't miss my newsletter NOTES FROM THE DUGOUT.
Get a copy of my essay "Who's the Boss?" (five things I need to remember about God.)

MacGyver, Where Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Tue, 17 May 2016 18:45:00 +0000

I took a three-hour nap a few days ago. My husband was watching reruns of MacGyver while I dozed. Every time I stirred, Mac was rescuing a hostage, racing through shrubbery, or stuffing potatoes into exhaust pipes. That guy was so cool.

We need to resurrect Angus MacGyver (yep, Angus was his first name.) He could help with so many things here in the Ballpark:

1. He could rig the dishwasher to load itself.

2. Ditto for the washer.

3. He could fashion a drive way track that would guide the trash cans down to the curb and back again.

4. He could make a safe grapefruit peeler out of a razor blade and a toothbrush. It takes a long time to peel a grapefruit like an orange, but that's how we like 'em.

5. He could make a lizard catcher. We're just too slow when it comes to getting them out of the house here in Florida.

6. He could create a hanging rope that would allow me to swing down to the first floor instead of risking tripping down our 14 steps, which I did recently. He'd probably need more than duct tape to accomplish this one.

7. He could wire the kitchen cabinet so when I'm tempted to steal a piece of dark chocolate, I get a shock. Drastic times; drastic measures.

I'm feeling overwhelmed these days. Writing is calling me, my adult children and their spouses have become fun adult friends to hang out with, baby James is around, allowing me smooches and snuggles, and my parents are becoming more fragile every month. And then there's all this stuff MacGyver could be helping with.

I love the people in my life, and I want to be available to them, so I'm thinking something has to change.

Therefore, I'm creating a newsletter.

HA! It sounds like lunacy, but I believe it will streamline my writing, which will free up some time to love on the people I love, peel grapefruits, and catch lizards. (Doesn't look like MacGyver is coming anytime soon.)

I'll keep blogging, but less frequently, and the newsletter will alert you as to when a new post is up. There are so many things I want to write about and touch on and research...my newsletter will have quick updates, inspirational morsels, links to projects/recipes/news items, my favorite books, and more. I hope you'll sign on, so we can stay in touch.

I promise it will take less time (because you probably have grapefruit/lizard issues too) to read my newsletter than to read a blog post. You may want to click on enclosed links, or not; I'll just make them available to you. My goal is to bring practical, grace-filled, substantial, and humorous treats into your life. You might be overwhelmed too, and just need an encouraging face in your inbox.

I value your input and would also like to know what topics bring you to the Ballpark - the caretaking issues, my faith journey, DIY projects, chasing wellness, or whatever (even the ex-clown.) If you want to hear my thoughts on something new, write that in the box. We'll take this journey together!

As always, thank you for sharing in my life.

I just did some research and discovered MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) is 66 years old now. He's probably tired of saving the world, so I guess I'll have to let him off the hook from helping me out around here.

I do think he could make a grapefruit peeler while he's plopped in his recliner though.

93 and Counting...

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sun, 08 May 2016 02:15:00 +0000

Dad is 93 years old today. I can't believe I just wrote that.

I've never really known anyone who was 93 years old. I can't fathom all those years. So much history, so many lives encountered. So much laughter, and heartache. Here he is in the Navy, a period of time he loved, with a buddy. Dad is on the right, with the big smile.

My dad has lived a full and energetic life. He has lived longer than his father did; he has outlived five of his siblings and one child. He has seen this country change in ways that make him disheartened.

He wants to be 25 again. He believes, somehow, some way, some doctor will make that possible. He is eternally optimistic about this. His doctors tell me that's why he is still with us: he has hope.

I have never met anyone with such unflagging faith that heart disease can be turned around and Parkinson's can be cured. It's just a matter of time. And he'll be here when those discoveries occur.

Dad with my brother, who had a broken arm.

I'm a bit ashamed to admit I'm not that optimistic. About anything. I pretty much think life is one ridiculous stumbling block after another, and at some point I'm going to wear out and be ready to be done with all this foolishness. So much of what we do here on the planet isn't that important (how many movies can we watch on Netflix?), so I'm not that attached. I'm already tired.

Then, I spend time with Dad and feel a bit guilty I don't wholeheartedly embrace every day, every hour as an adventure. I don't know how he does it, gets up every day, looking for the next fun, exciting, miraculous thing. He fights the aging process, the fatigue, the disabilities. I have to think, as a child, he was probably a handful. I bet his mom was tired.


Dad with our daughter, who is now a science teacher. They are very much alike. They have a weekly date.

Today is an amazing day, because Dad will be embarking on his 94th year. There will be so many opportunities for more adventures. We are giving him a gift card to Home Depot, so he can buy some new plants (gardening is one of his loves) and tickets to choral concert (music is his other love.) We cancelled the big Hershey bar, because he was told by two separate doctors this week that he needs to give up sugar.

Dad told me recently he thought it would be great to make it to 100. I asked him why. He replied, "I'd sure get a lot of attention." Then, he grinned. Dad loves people, he's an extrovert to the core. Life is one big party that he does not want to end.

Dad with one of his 8 great grand children

I'm so grateful God gave my Dad to me. He has always been a wonderful father, a man of conviction and great humor. It is very sad to see him decline, and I know someday the party will end. I pray daily that it will be quick, and that he will be in heaven before he realizes the door is closing on this gig.

Here's a picture of Dad on his 90th birthday. Can't you just see the five-year old in there?

BOYS TO MEN

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sun, 01 May 2016 18:08:00 +0000

My two boys have birthdays every summer, about two weeks (and 9 years) apart.

We were all together recently (which is rare) and took this picture.

Our oldest, on the left, used to be bigger than our youngest, on the right. And the hubs (in the middle) used to be bigger than both of them. James, the baby here, is in the 100 percentile in height for others his 4-month age. Everybody's growing.

When did that happen?

Our oldest son used to look like this. He was three when lava lamps were cool.

Our younger son used to look like this.

He wore vests and bow ties and Redskins caps on Easter.

The older one is no longer blond. The younger one has not been seen in a bow tie since this picture. Both boys loved baseball, Legos and macaroni and cheese. Those things are still true.

Now that we have a grandson, I'm reminded of the days I changed diapers on and gave raspberries to my own sons. When I was home with my children, the hours seemed long at times, but looking back...they are but a wink of one eye.

Somewhere along the line...boys turn into men. They work through challenges, try to figure out women, change jobs, move, try to figure out women, make mistakes, mostly figure out women, and settle in to the game of life.

They begin to resemble their father, their grandfathers, their uncles. Not physically (although sometimes), but in action and habit and character.

It's supposed to happen, of course, that they grow up and onward, but it kind of happens when you're not looking. And then...one day...you just see it.

With my sons, it was choosing marriage that added a new depth to their lives. They both met women who sparked in them a willingness to be vulnerable, to sacrifice, and to commit. These are honorable - and sometimes rare - traits in a man.

It's heart-warming to see.

My sons are not little boys anymore, but strong, hairy adults who give me great bear hugs, which I love, love, love. My prayer for them is that they continue to grow in tender-heartedness, courage, and conviction.

Because life will continue to throw them curve balls now and then.

I want them to know we will always been in the bleachers rooting for them.

Three Super-Cool Things This Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 20:49:00 +0000

Life is exciting these days!

1. There's James of course, who is the light of my life. Here's a picture of this sweet boy, in case you've missed seeing him lately.

He's the coolest thing since sliced bread. He's actually way cooler.

2. My sister is visiting this week and we're staying up late and laughing like we always do. We often wonder how long we could be together before we're "talked out." Hasn't happened yet. If you have a sister, you know what I mean. Here we are just yesterday.

OK, maybe a few years ago, but we can still fit into these dresses.

OK, I don't even know where these dresses are.

Our smiles are the same. And that's the truth.

3. My ebook, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE has been chosen to be part of an "e-bundle" of very creative and colorful resources for homemakers!

Look for this badge over the next two weeks. I'll be talking about this in more detail starting this Tuesday, the 19th. I made a one-minute video about it you'll see soon as well.

This is not the video link, just a still in the video of yours truly wearing Christmas gear in April. There's always something kooky going on here in the Ballpark.

I hope your week has been as super-cool as mine! And if not, just scroll back up and look at baby James. How can you look at that face and not smile?

What Standard Guides Your Life? (You might be surprised.)

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 19:59:00 +0000

This blog site is no longer operational. Currently, this post is only available at my NEW SITE HERE. Re-pin this post with its new URL, so you don't lose it!

Ten Things I'm Thankful for This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 20:45:00 +0000

Those big eyes. Those smoochy cheeks. That soft, flyaway hair. That's actually three things.

2. Neither of my parents have been in the hospital this month. Or last month. I cannot tell you how much easier life is when they are both living in the same place.

3. The batch of organic greens that was delivered to the house this week was particularly good. The kale was fluffy, but not too toughy, cukes were big and smooth, Romaine was sturdy. I can't remember what else we received because it was all good and disappeared quickly. I love having organic produce dropped off at our house every other week. If you'd like that too, and you live in central Florida, check out SPACE GIRL ORGANICS.

4. I'm thankful I finally have enough sheets for all the beds in the house. For years, I've had mismatched, worn sheets. After 40 years of marriage and three youngin's, this is to be expected. Over the past two years, I've slowly restocked the sheets shelf in my linen closet. I now have complete sets and enough sets to spread around.

5. My Visa card balance is 0. I'm sure this won't last.

6. I had enough leftovers in the 'fridge over the weekend that I didn't have to cook once. I'm going to stretch that into three days by having cereal for dinner tonight.

7. I happened to see this guy today.

Mr. Rubio himself stopped by a small local diner not far from my house this afternoon. My son and I got pretty close. I like Marco, even though he will likely not go further after we Floridians vote tomorrow. Maybe he'll just come back to Florida and hang out at the local diner.

8. I love my aqua-fit class. I've been exercising for 30 years and I'm still fighting the same 15 pounds. When I got sick two years ago, I was carrying 20 pounds in addition to that dogged 15. Through aqua-fit, I shed the 20, so I'm really just back to square one, but I have to wonder...what kind of weight would I be carrying had I not begun shaking my booty in the water four days a week?

9. I'm grateful for cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread. I've adjusted to the mulch-like consistency, and it satisfies my carb craving. I've really come to enjoy Ezekiel bread. Toasted. With cream cheese.

10.

Oh. I already mentioned him, didn't I?

He's on my mind because I got to babysit the boy this past weekend. I held him and rocked him and sniffed his soft head and sang to him. We had a date. And it didn't cost either of us a dime.

Our Newest Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 20:24:00 +0000

This is what has my attention this weekend.

James was blessed with a full head of hair.

It's similar to the color of his Aunt Sara's hair.

James is three weeks old and almost 8 lbs. this Valentine's day weekend.

He wasn't due for nine more days, but he was eager to meet his family, so he poked his water sack and announced "I'm coming!" His parents had moved to a new home just hours earlier. They thought they'd have a month before James appeared, but I guess he didn't want to miss anything.

So, today we have a new Valentine to celebrate. He's sweeter than any box of chocolates.

In three weeks of being a Nana, here are some things I've learned.

1. Parents with thick, dark, abundantly curly hair can have a child with light, straight, silky hair. God loves to surprise us.

2. Things that seemed important before James arrived - like cooking and cleaning - are suddenly on the back burner.

3. Holding James makes me think of my parents (who are 95 an 92.) The age span and the contrast of new life to old - it's very philosophical.

4. Our son and daughter-in-law are naturals at caring for a newborn. I'm sure they have moments of being unsure, but they handle James with tender, unhurried confidence. It's a beautiful thing to witness.

5. Having a newborn in the NICU for a week allows the nurses to get Junior on a schedule. This has turned out to be very beneficial for James and his sleepy parents.

6. I can't express how much I love and adore this little boy. It came immediately, like the rush of a waterfall. When I snuggle him close, the worries fade, and life is perfect. He is so tiny, yet brings big joy to my heart.

For Valentine's Day, my husband and I got each other the Willow Tree grandparents statues.

We are so grateful for the gift of James.

Baby James - a Month Early!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:15:00 +0000

Hope everyone is having a good 2016!!!

Since Christmas, I've been wanting to spend some time blogging, but life has intervened. We've had a job loss, a move, a snow storm and THIS precious event...

Baby James arrived one month early!!!

By the hand of God, he was 6.15 lbs. upon arrival, so he was not in any danger, but he was wheeled into the NICU anyway, because, well...he was a month early! He spent five days there under a blue light with nurses getting him on a wonderful schedule, and his parents holding him whenever they could.

I WAS STUCK IN MARYLAND IN THE SNOW BLIZZARD!

I can smile about it now, but at the time...my heart was breaking because I so wanted to be here to see our first grandchild arrive. I figured traveling a month before James' due date to see my sister, I would be fine. James had other ideas. The best laid plans...

I met James the night I came home. We drove straight to the NICU from the airport, where I got to cry over this beautiful child with a full head of hair. He was wrapped up like a burrito and as warm as a baked potato. I think he winked at me in our time together, but I'm not positive.

I looked at our son, who was now a father, through tears, and I cried as I embraced our daughter-in-law, who did a marvelous job of handling labor (she pushed for only about ten minutes before the boy was free - who gets that?!?)

I don't even have words to describe our love for this child, who is now home. Every grandparent knows the feeling. I'm now in the 'I'm nutty about my grandchild' club, and yes, you'll have to tolerate photos now and then of this sweet boy.

A side note - I had a great visit with my sister, even once the snow began. I've not seen snow like this in 25 years. It was beautiful, I must say. And we had fun digging out.

TWO CARS BURIED

MY FIRST MESSAGE TO JAMES FROM MARYLAND

It was an emotional week. The day James Daniel was born in sunny Florida, even the skies in Maryland celebrated, raining down two feet of angel flakes.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

A Special Book Review: "Kissed by an Angel"

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 04:31:00 +0000

This blog site is no longer operational. Currently, this post (Kissed by an Angel book review) is only available at my NEW SITE HERE. Re-pin this post with its new URL, so you don't lose it!

Happy New Year, Baby James!

noreply@blogger.com (mare ball) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:54:00 +0000

Dearest baby James,

We celebrated Christmas last week, and your mom and dad came to visit. They like to sneak little smooches when no one is looking.

Or, they think no one is looking.

There you are, being held by both your mom and dad. You're 32 weeks big and before long, they will hold you, skin to skin, and finally be able to smooch on you too. (I'll be smooching on you as well, just so you know.)

We had a great Christmas with too many holiday goodies, and now I'm having withdrawal symptoms from not having a Christmas cookie every thirty minutes. Boo-hoo.

I wanted to share some of the year's events with you, as 2015 has ended. The most beautiful thing that occurred last year was that YOU were created. You weren't here in 2014, and now you are just weeks away from being born. Isn't that amazing?

Here are some other tidbits you might find interesting.

1. In this family, we visit the doctor a lot. Between your grandparents and your great-grandparents, we had 140 doctor visits this past year. 140! You need doctor visits all your life. You're getting a visit with your doctor once a month already. I'm grateful for doctors and nurses and all the people in the medical field. They know a lot of things, and do things I would not want to do. So, thank you, Jesus for health professionals!

2. Your great-grandfather (my dad) turned 92 years old. Your great-grandmother (my mom) turned 95. You and these great-grandparents are almost 100 years apart!

When you are born, you will need lots of tender loving care and help doing everything. Your great grandparents are a bit like that too. We all get older, and we all need more help. So, babies and great-grand parents are alike in many ways. They are both very dear to God's heart, because babies come straight from heaven, and the elderly are getting close to returning to heaven. We each have our turn at being a baby, and getting older.

3. I, your Nana, published a book this year. It's a great story/project I love to talk about, and when you're older, I'll tell you all about it. I hope you love to read, because you can learn so many things about the world and people and trucks and dinosaurs and baseball, if you love to read. We'll read together once you get here, and you'll see how fascinating it can be.

4. Your grandpa and aunt jumped out of the plane this past year! I thought they were a little nutty, but they love adventure, and they had a blast floating to earth with parachutes after free-falling for a bit. Your dad and I watched from the ground. I bet someday, you'll want to jump out of a plane too!

5. Your Grandpa and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. That might not mean much to you until you're married yourself, but one thing that made it extra special was that we knew you were coming. We have been very excited about that. I bought a baby boot for my charm bracelet and I started making you a quilt. These are the girly things grandmothers do for their grandchildren.

6. I lost a friend of mine this year to an awful disease called cancer. People get sick sometimes, and they don't get better here on earth. God takes them home to heaven with Him, and that's where they become healed and happy again. So, even though this life has some heartaches and losses, we find peace again in God's loving arms. Always remember this.

There are things we learn every year of our lives. Your first year of life, you will learn an amazing number of things: the sound of your own name, how to wave goodbye, how to roll over, how to sit up, how to say a few words. You will learn that your mama and daddy will take care of you. They will make you laugh and keep you warm. You will meet the family animals. You will learn what oatmeal and bananas taste like. You will learn that growing teeth can be painful. But, also that gnawing on a frozen bagel feels good.

And that's just the beginning. Every new year, you will learn exciting things. God has a life full of adventure planned for you. "Plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope," He tells all His children. He's a really big God with all kinds of crazy ideas, so trust Him and look forward to what is coming next.

Happy New Year to you, sweet baby James! (I will see you in just a few weeks. I'll be the one with tears in my eyes.)

love, Nana

Baby Jesus and Baby James

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 22:44:00 +0000

Amy Grant's Home for Christmas, Josh Groban's Noel and the soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas...these are the tunes I'm listening to as I write. These CDs, along with a few others, are on a loop in our house during the holidays. Especially this year. I had to turn off the news and away from the reports on terrorism and random mass shootings. My heart couldn't take it any more.

I'm kind of a news junkie, but over the past month...the violence has been nonstop, and I became so discouraged by the worst of mankind and the hatred that is rising across the globe. Only God can change the hearts of the brutal, the greedy, and the lost. I can be kind in my own small circle, but I cannot fix much. So, I deliberately turned to setting up our nativity set and remembering a miraculous night an infant King entered a just-as-troubled world in a cold stable surrounded by smelly livestock.

There might have been a pine cone or two at the scene as well.

How brave God was to send an innocent child into this filthy world. What an investment He made in His children, who had already failed Him so.

Such is true love. To engage and invest in and commit to something when all past evidence proves the object of affection is untrustworthy. It's only through this sacrifice that I understand anything. If not for the love of God, I would have no hope in human nature at all. On our own, we are aimless and wasteful, fearful and self-absorbed. We truly are immature children. Once God gets a hold of us, though...we have such potential.

The Christ child reminds me that God still invests in us. With every new life, He says, you're all still worth it.

Which brings me to our 30-week in utero grand baby, James. Here's what he looks like now, via his beautiful mama.

Innocence and wonder hidden in a warm belly, almost ready to emerge into the world in the form of James Daniel; another sweet life that comes from heaven with the message of here you go - more hope, new dreams, vast potential, and likely curly hair. Babies are straight from God, so we get the closest glimpse we can get in the flesh. I still believe in you, God says. Look at this.

Baby James doesn't yet know how loved he is; how fearfully and wonderfully made he is. I'm going to tell him as soon as I meet him. And I'm going to tell him every time I see him. In this often dark world, it's important he understands that his heavenly Father is bigger than any tragedy he will ever see in his lifetime. I want James to always have hope as he grows and faces life's disappointments.

I will tell him about the baby Jesus and what hope He brought to the world. I will tell him that babies have great power to soften adults and prompt maturity and sacrifice, and how these things can change a family, which in turn can change a community, and then, yes, the world.

Ten more days, baby Jesus; ten more weeks (maybe less), baby James.

No matter what circumstances into which a child is born, he has the potential to change a human heart. That is the miracle of life.

Our FAVORITE Holiday Tradition! (going on 23 years now)

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Merry almost Christmas! So happy to be a part of this holiday blog hop! Thanks to the gals at BLOGS BY CHRISTIAN WOMEN for orchestrating this festive event!

I'm excited to tell you about our favorite holiday tradition!

It started over twenty years ago when our family was anonymously given 12 days of surprises over the holiday season. The daily gifts were small, but precious. The following year, we gave this 12 days adventure to someone else. We have been doing this every year since. The project has evolved and can be altered depending on the recipient. We typically choose an individual or family who's had a rough year, but gifts can be given to celebrate something great, like a new baby, as well.

Gifts can be anything, large or small, but over time, our gifts became more based on the lyrics of the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. This is when the fun really began! Four years ago, I started documenting the gifts because some were so "punny." We also include a homemade greeting card with each gift, which links the gift to that day's lyric, so recipients get a chuckle or two.

I'll share a few of our favorite gift ideas here, but the beauty of this adventure is the way it can change hearts. We received this gift in 1993, when our kids were 7, 13 and 16. From the first delivery - when our doorbell rang, but no one was on the doorstep, just a solitary fresh pear - our kids were hooked. They loved the daily surprises and repeatedly tried to catch the giver.

The following year, when we gave the 12 Days to friends, our kids loved being the "ring and run" deliverers. From then on, every December, our hearts turned from discussing what we all wanted from Santa towards choosing our "12 Days adventure" recipient. Our focus shifted to giving rather that getting. This is the miracle of The 12 Days Adventure.

Recipients are always moved by the project. Everyone we have given this to is so surprised and warmed by the fact that someone has thought about them for 12 days in a row during the craziest season of the year. I tell you, this gift spreads the love like nothing else.

So, onto some gift samples!

For Day 1 (a partridge in a pear tree), a simple pear works just fine. OR, create a partridge in a prayer tree with construction paper and art foam. Write scripture verses on the pears. Your giftee can hang it up year after year.

Day 2 (turtle doves): shape turtles out of pipe cleaners and 'o' shaped cereal. Loop on tree branches for the birds to enjoy during the winter season.

Day 3 (French hens): Three French fries - and some of their buddies! Make a simple tree ornament out of art foam by gluing strips of yellow between squares of another color. Punch a hole in the back square for an ornament hook.

Day 4 (calling birds): Play on the number 4 and create the four seasons! From cookie cutters, pie tins, and acrylic paint, cut out ornaments representing the four seasons. Tape a loop of fishing line or sturdy thread on the back for hanging.

Day 5 ( gold rings): for the man in the house, 5 rings of tape! Thread them onto a candy cane for a festive look.

Day 6 (geese-a-laying): play on the egg theme here and give six hard-boiled eggs! A fun homage to Dr. Seuss can be added as well.

Day 7 (swans-a-swimming): create seven beautiful origami swans from wrapping paper! There are easy instructions online.

Day 8 (maids-a-milking): how about 8 Milky Way candy bars? Of 8 packets of Swiss Miss cocoa?

Day 9 (ladies dancing): there are many movies with dance numbers in them; from the classic "Singing in the Rain" to "Mamma Mia!" with Meryl Streep. A DVD musical is just one idea for this day.

Day 10 (lords-a-leaping): how about 10 leaping reindeer? 10 sugar cookie cut-outs fit the bill!

Days 11 (pipers piping): Pipe jewelry! Rotini pasta looks like little pipes - dye dry pasta with a mixture of hand sanitizer and food coloring, and thread onto yarn or fishing line.

Day 12 (drummers drumming): anything with drums! From cardboard, I created and colored a little drummer boy. For the head, I pasted on a photograph. Tape a paper clip on the back to create a hanging ornament.

If you are tired of and frazzled by the holiday chaos that accompanies Christmas (I was) and are looking for a way to create a different atmosphere in your home during the month of December, The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure is something you might want to try. It's a very hands-on way teach your children that Christmas is about giving, not consuming. It's a fun, sneaky, holiday project that we get excited about every year! (If you want more gift ideas for this project, check out this colorful, inexpensive ebook: THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.)

I hope you are enjoying this holiday blog hop from BLOGS BY CHRISTIAN WOMEN! I love reading about how different families celebrate Christmas. We all have so much to share about how to celebrate the Christ child in new and wondrous ways! If you missed yesterday's holiday hop blogger, you can catch her post here: LOTTIE BROOKE. Try to catch all of these lovely holiday posts!

Thank you for visiting today. I pray you have a blessed and peaceful holiday season!

A Simple Advent Wreath! If You're Five or 90, This is For You!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 01:55:00 +0000

This blog site is no longer operational. Currently, this post (Advent Wreath) is only available at my NEW SITE HERE. Re-pin this post with its new URL, so you don't lose it!

My 2015 Grateful List - from the Handy Man to Baby James

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:55:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's like Christmas, without all the crazy shopping and overspending. And Easter, without all the candy. It's a day that refocuses my mind - for at least a week - on what's truly important. We need more holidays like this.

I want to share with you how, despite some heartaches this year, I am still mindful of how blessed I am. These blessings are in no particular order.

1. I still love our 25-year-old house, despite the fact that the kitchen is about the size of a walk-in closet. This dear home has raised three kids to adulthood, weathered copious Florida hurricanes with no flooding, housed many, many friends and family, and tolerated one lovable dog who liked to drag dead squirrels inside.

2. I'm so grateful for dark chocolate-covered malt balls.

I don't know why it took someone so long to create these, but they should get the Nobel peace prize.

3. I'm grateful I have a handy husband. Between the two of us, we can manage most home repairs and updates. Recently, we re-framed an old, industrial-grade bathroom mirror.

(If you want to do this, here are detailed instructions: GETTING FRAMED)

4. I'm beyond grateful that my handy husband is finally recovering from vertigo - a condition that made him so sick a week ago, he was sleeping on the bathroom floor. It's an odd inner ear imbalance problem that is completely debilitating, and it often springs up for no apparent reason. Whoever figures this one out really deserves a prize.

5. I'm grateful the little fender bender I had two weeks ago hurt no one and no one else's car either. Only my own, which is fair, I suppose. Luckily, I have first-accident forgiveness, so I have only my deductible to pay, and I can move on with my life. Thank you, USAA.

6. I'm grateful for a week in a condo on the beach last month to celebrate our 40th anniversary. This was a gift from many family members and we have great photos to remind us of this time away from our own lives. Here's one of my favorites.

Thank you, son Jeremy, for taking so many lovely photographs.

7. I'm grateful for my nutritionist, who by muscle testing keeps me on track with eating well, despite my occasional cheating with chocolate-covered malt balls.

8. I thank God that Dad is finally recovering from his fall six weeks ago. He had several set-backs, and we wondered if he would be able to return to his ALF, where Mom is. Looks like that will likely happen now.

9. I'm grateful that my ebook about our family Christmas project (HERE: THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE) is finished and was published in July. I felt called to write it and share it with the world. What happens with it now is up to God.

10. I'm grateful for our local thrift shop. It reminds me that "stuff" is recycle-able and share-able and trade-able. I love taking a bag of things there just about monthly, and I love finding an item there I need. We could all save so much and probably help the planet too, if we would just rotate our stuff.

11. I'm grateful for good pie crust. I've never been able to master it, so I really love and admire a baker who can do it. JOAN'S PERFECT PIES here in Melbourne has the best pies I've ever tasted. Joan won second place in a national pie championship in 2014, so you know there's only one baker better than her in the nation. If you're ever in Melbourne, FL...check out this pie shop.

12. I'm grateful for Champion brand sport bras. For various reasons. Enough said.

13. I'm grateful, delighted really, for our first grandchild James, who is six months, pre-born. Here he is with his folks, our son and his wife.

Isn't he the most beautiful pre-born you've ever seen? He looks great in plaid, don't you think? Clearly, I'm going to be one of those nutty grandmas, but I'm OK with that. James and I will be buds.

14. I'm mostly grateful that I know there is a sovereign God who loves me and has a plan for my life. Without that, nothing else makes any sense.

This is What Your Christmas is Missing! (guest post by Stacey Lozano)

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 22:05:00 +0000

Stacey Lozano from STACEY'S DAZE shared her thoughts about my holiday craft/project ebook this week. I had trouble linking her post to facebook, so I transferred her post to my blog to see if the kinks are on my end as well. TESTING!

She's giving away a FREE copy of my ebook, so check it out! Winner announced Friday the 20th! To enter the contest, leave your comment on STACEY'S BLOG HERE.

From Stacey...

This is what your Christmas is missing!

It's coming up on Christmas, my friends. And those that are parents are wondering what to do this year. Three gifts, or Santa gifts? Elf on a shelf or one of the many alternatives. And those without children are wondering if there is any magic in the season. Have I got a treat for all of you!

My friend wrote a book sharing a Christmas tradition her family did and she still does. The twist is it's about doing for someone else rather than simply receiving. It's called the "12 Days of Christmas Adventure."

Marianne and I came to know one another during a Blog from A-Z campaign. On her blog, she writes about "grown-up babies, seasoned parents, chasing wellness, chasing God, and dropping the meatloaf in the dish water." And now she's written an ebook about their own Christmas tradition someone once shared with her family, but they carried on and she still does.

Based on the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, the idea behind the tradition is that you give a daily gift and card to someone for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Each day you give something fun, practical, creative, or crazy that is closely or loosely based on each day of the song.

Now, you might be thinking. "Stacey, that sounds great. But I'm not that creative, and I don't have that much time." I get it! And so does Marianne! She has given a wealth of ideas in the book for you to use. And she gives you ideas on what the fun cards should say as well. And she gives you alternatives on how you can do the entire tradition. Generally I always say to do what fits you best. She helps you find what fits you best.

Here are some benefits of this book:

Your children learn that it truly is better to give than to receive.
Someone feels remembered and loved through the season.
Relationships are formed or tightened.
You have an activity to do with your children.
You don't need children to do this for someone!

You need to go pick this book up. I do not receive anything for suggesting this book to you, nor am I paid for this post. I thought it was a really good idea, and am deciding who should be the recipient for my 12 days as I type. THAT might be he hardest part of this entire thing, as there are always people who are hurting.

You can read what Marianne says about the ebook at her blog. You can purchase "The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure" HERE at Smashwords or HERE at Barnes and Noble (who gives you a sneak peek) right now.

I am SO thrilled to be able to give away one copy of the book to one of my friends here on the blog. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition growing up. How easy, right? I'll draw a name out of the hat and announce the winner this Friday, the 20th, which will leave you plenty of time, as well. The 12 days starts on Dec 13th. Get ready to start what will surely become your favorite Christmas tradition for years to come.

Stacey

A Great Stocking Stuffer!

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:09:00 +0000

A sweet blogger friend of mine has written a book called Shock the Clock: Time Management for Writers and Other Creatives. I whipped through it yesterday and took a page of notes on time-saving tips for writers specifically, but everyone, in general.

This is my kind of instructional book - short paragraphs, bullet points and a few wacky graphics for fun. This is Jeanette Levellie's third book of tips on how to manage life from a spiritual perspective. There is always a dose of humor tossed in.

Shock the Clock opens up with helping readers recognize themselves based on the four temperaments first defined by Hippocrates: choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic. I was a bit of a mix (as most people are), but dominantly melancholic. Based on your temperament, you can easily see how you best work, what your weaknesses are and how to overcome them. Isn't all of that good to know?

Jeanette then writes about how to remain steadfast in your writing (if you are a writer) and how to de-clutter your life in general, (writer or not) because cleaning out your life gives you more time to do whatever it is you love. There were my favorite tips:

1. "Don't buy clothes that need to be dry-cleaned." Yay! I always avoided anything that had to be dry-cleaned because of the time and money involved. I just didn't want to mess with it. Now, I have confirmation that I'm as smart as I thought I was.

2. "It's OK to do nothing for an hour a day." I loved reading this. I think most of us operate on the premise that if we are busy, we are important. We tend to think we are indispensable in all our activities. But, if we take an hour off, the world really does go on.

3. "If you had two years to live, what would you spend your time on?" Wow. Everyone could benefit from answering this question. I'm still thinking about my answer.

Jeanette offers many suggestions to help writers organize their schedules and stay on task. Writers tend to get side-tracked with social media. We also tend to doze off while reading a great book or studying the writing of a favorite TV show. It's not important how I know this, but Jeannette's tips might help you, if you have this problem. She's got great ideas on time management, in general. When I finished her book, I hopped up and organized my work station. No joke.

Check out Jeanette's website for more info. on this talented writer and speaker: www.jeanettelevellie.com.

Visit her facebook page here: JEANETTE's FACEBOOK

You can pre-order her gem of a book here: SHOCK THE CLOCK. (Release date is Dec. 14.) It's a quick, easy read that would make a great Christmas gift. Gain some tips on how to start fresh in the New Year.

Thank you, Jeanette, for sharing your book with me!

About Jeanette Levellie: A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Greater, a popular feature in her local newspaper since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars. She is also a prolific speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL, with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

Life at Both Ends 2

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:43:00 +0000

Isn't it surprising what can happen in one week? When I last wrote, I was on the sofa with an ice pack on my knee. I had tripped down the stairs, and my knee was the size of a softball.

Today, the knee is back to normal, but for a couple red spots where I had skin contusions. As I was getting better, Mom was getting sick. She developed bronchitis, and we made a visit to the doc so he could listen to her goopy, wheezy, crackly lungs. We started levaquin that night, and she's now hacking a bit less. However...

Two days later, she developed a patterned rash on her back that was creeping around to her side, and the ALF nurse was pretty sure Mom had shingles. We headed back to the doc, and yep, shingles. My mom is 95 and a half and the size of a twig. Yet, she weathers illness and injury like a soldier. I was off my knee for two days when I tripped down two stairs; Mom, with bronchitis and shingles, keeps tooling around in her wheel chair, straightening her room and sifting through paperwork. I get tired just watching her.

On the Dad front, he's still in rehab after a fall four weeks ago, and then a small stroke Oct. 7. They're having trouble stabilizing his involuntary movements, which make PT difficult. He's really tired of the whole thing, and he alters between wishing God would take him and telling his therapists his goal is to walk again, unaided (which he has not done in over a year.) I try to console him; yes, it's hard to be disabled. God loves us anyway, even if we don't feel "useful."

I don't know what else to say because I don't get it either. Both of my parents have been worker bees all their lives. They have served and shared and contributed so much to their world. Now they are in wheel chairs, watching the world pass them by, and they are still with it enough to fully understand what all they've lost. Only by the grace of God does our family keep plugging along. It doesn't make sense to the mind or the heart why they are still here, but we are not the authors of life and death, so we just keep going as long as God allows. I trust someday I will understand. I pray I will look back on these years and say, I get it now.

Dad moves to a new rehab facility today, where he will have another thirty days to recover. We don't yet know what "recovery" will look like. There are some new deficits that might be permanent, but we won't know that until he is unable to overcome them. I pray he can return to his ALF with Mom, but we just don't know yet. So, we wait and watch and take him strawberry milkshakes on bad days.

On the sweet, glorious front, our daughter-in-law came down for a visit this past weekend and spent some loving time with Dad. She brought him a book he's been wanting and some chocolate and put lotion on his arms and chatted with him like he was her best friend. She's wonderful that way.

She's also carrying our first grandchild, James, who's the size of a large mango. Here's a picture of the three generations, although James is not yet visible. He's warm and snugly under his mama's blue dress. Dr. Ben Carson made it into the picture as well.

I love pictures like this because they hold the full spectrum of life. A new budding babe sharing a seat on the bed with his great grandpa, (who's middle name is James) who has lived a full, adventurous life and is longing for peace of mind and an end to all struggles. Both of these lives are fragile, yet full of expectation. I pray in February, I can get a picture of Dad holding baby James.

So, in spite of the challenges of aging, I am blessed by the thought of holding fresh life in about four months. I'm excited for our son and his sweet wife. I'm grateful my knee is 90% back, and I'm glad all the Halloween candy is finally out of the house. I ate entirely too many Milky Ways.

The adventures continue here in the Ballpark...

I Had Great Plans for Today. Now...What I'm Really Doing.

noreply@blogger.com (Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:01:00 +0000

I just tripped down the stairs and hurt my knee.

Don't think anything's broken, but I'm now plopped on the sofa with an ice pack. I had many things planned today that probably just got pushed to the weekend (I hope.) Who can ever afford to hurt a knee and then stay off it for an afternoon, or a day? My sister and I talked recently about how sometimes God literally knocks you down (she developed a UTI in the midst of a move) so you just have to sit around and stew about stuff while observing the mess around you, because who ever injures themselves when the house is in perfect order and all the errands are done? UGH.

Excuse me, I think I need a pain pill.

I'm back. Anyhoo...we're refinancing our home, and the appraiser is coming early next week. I wanted to dust all the fans, hose off all the blinds and polish the wooden cabinets today. I debated painting a bathroom and washing the outside windows. But, now I'm just blogging with an ice pack on my knee. I think I'll watch the senate hearing on Benghazi in a few minutes. Or maybe read TIME magazine and fall asleep. You don't realize how useful a knee is until you trip down the stairs and land your full weight on it. I should not have had that cookie last night.

Something sweet did happen early this morning, before the fall. My friend, Christine, from A Fly on Our Chicken Coop Wall (wonderful blog, by the way) wrote a review on my ebook, The 12 Days of Christmas Adventure, and she is giving away a free copy. Check it out here: REVIEW and FREE COPY.

Sample of a pear in a partridge tree. HA!

Christine has a fun life with her husband and six cute kids living on a pig farm in Indiana (go Hoosiers!) Isn't that a funny sentence right there? Read what she's doing this holiday season with The 12 Days. Really sweet.

OK, I have to stretch out and shift around again, this fat knee is now starting to burn. Hope your day is productive and pain-free. Watch out for stairs that move on you.