Being a grandma has it's moments. Being in San Diego and being with Jude Christopher was great. I was thinking I have been at most of my Grandkid's births. I missed only 4of 9! I was just a bit late for Georgia's so maybe I can whittle that down to 3- Arwen, Violet and Kaelyn.

I think tho' that Jude's was the easiest yet. I keep saying it was all that Red Raspberry tea I kep bringing to Nadia.

here's where I am.....

San Diego has captured my interest. I just had to be here for the arrival of Jude and it sure was a exciting experience. I don't have my camera wire so my camera is full of pictures but with no way for me to share them as of yet.

Days are full but somehow time passes so slowly. I can't figure it out. Is my life at home that intense. It seems time passes ever so quickly there. I did start to panic a bit as my days were seeming to zip pass. I needed this time to slow down and appreciate all the beauty, new people, places and events. I am getting to know San Diego.

I did enjoy Balboa park but was itching to spend a day just getting lost in it and wandering around. People are so friendly here. It's easy to strike up a conversation and I have met some interesting people- mostly young parents. Violet and I are spending a bit of time together in the park!

Updates

Still, we just had to have a birthday party for Allen. His ice cream all melted but he sure had fun anyhow and is now 3!

These houses were all on our street.

Well, I will break my silence. It has just been a bit crazy in Houston. Ike barreled through town, and left us a lot to do. It's path came right up the 45 corridor IKE kept his eye on us a bit. It did get calm after a bunch of big trees blew down. Then it all started up again. Somehow, we were brave enough to take a peek outside to see what was going on and then got everyone to come downstairs in case more trees came down. All, in all, a lot of folks had it a lot worse than us. All over this part of Texas, we lost a lot of really old trees.Our cars were parked in the cul-du-sac and the trees not only just barely missed our house but our cars too!

We went 2 weeks without electricity and phone service. It was funny just being outta touch but it was great- getting more time to help our neighbors and live the simple life. When the lights came on, we had a bit of adjusting to do. I still headed to bed at dusk for a while and kept on drinking soy milk and crackers. Count your blessing.

"We are fine.... who needs electricity anyway?" (post written by Maya)

Hello everyone,
Mom asked me to put something up on her blog the other day, but I have just recently gotten around to it. Everyone is fine there in Houston, although they are still without electricity at their house they do have the use of Tim's (my brother) apartment for what it looks like another month. They have electricity there. Thanks Tim for your generosity. The cooler (somewhat) weather has been a nice treat from what I have been told. The cell phone towers have recently been put on line in their area - I have been able to contact them at least once daily.

Thanks everyone for all your prayers. Do pray that the electricity get re-instated real soon, and that there won't be such difficultly finding gas stations that have gasoline and are up and running.

Good night.
Maya

Yikes Ike!

It seems we may be in for a bit of a wild ride. Ike seems to be inching towards Houston. We will know just how close real soon. People here are taking it seriously however and the battle is on at the grocery stores. Carts are rare and it takes a bit of bargaining to get one. Today, one lady had a list of who she was passing the cart on to. I couldn't secure one but Jeannie is resourceful and took out after an empty cart- running full speed in her high heels. People moved aside and let her have it.It gets brutal when hurricanes threaten. The Katrina people here are leading the way. They know what's up.

The piles of water bottles were nearly blocking the entrance to the stores and I think the loggers are in a rush to cut down more trees so they can supply the demand for plywood! They say we will get 100 mph winds and lots sof rain here in Spring and the Woodlands. Teresa is outside constructing some kind of raft out of anything that looks floatable and stuffing her rabbits with food so they won't blow away. I don't know what I can possibly do with the poodles. They love water and chasing things so much that they may be totally in their element.

As for us, we are pulling out our matching blue shirts and Disaster Relief Badges and we will follow our mighty commander into the aftermath, that is, if we can find our way through the maze of water bottles to get out of our house. Our Vans are full of gas and ready to go. We even have Jason and his trusty ax so we can quickly take care of any trees that fall in the roads. He's been in training out back. Our oak tree that came down last year has given him a lot to do.

Well, that is enough for now....got things to do!

Happy Birthday Tim

It sure is nice to have Tim home for his birthday. He told me last night that his last birthday he was flying in a helicopter next to the open door, buckled in but feeling like he was falling out. They were on some tactical air mission. Maybe I got the terminology wrong. but anyway, I do remember his Blog at that time and him explaing it.

Well, it is wonderful to have him home and safe. Thanks to everyone who prayed for him and I know there were many doing just that!

He is in school now. He likes some of the professors and some not. He seems to be doing well adjusting to life in Houston.

Happy Birthday Tim amd We love you!

A visit from Joplin

Maya , Georgia and Valorie dropped by for a weeks visit. Hurricane Gustav's threats shortened their visit however. What a price to pay to stay in Houston. UGH! Hurricanes have very little respect. Well, we did get missed once again. For some reason, the bad weather seems to aim for New Orleans. So sorry for the Louisiana folks tho'. Speaking of paying a price, they sure pay a hefty one for living in the Big Easy that in reality- isn't all that easy.

We had a great visit and the girls are so vivacious and fun. we visited just abiyt everybody we could think of and then some. Sheba deceided to bless us with 5 goldendoodle pups. We are now raising hybird dogs!

The kids love life! and we had miles of giggles, smiles and happy times in those few short days. I was struggling with a summer cold so they did a bit of sacrificing by hugging and putting up with my sniffles. It sounded like Valorie and her grandma "me" were in a continual coughing contest.

Well. all good things do have to end and they finally located a few horses they felt good about, saddled up and rode off into the sunset. Missouri has quite an influence on folks. Bye kids!!! Bye Maya!!!! sniff.....sniff..... when you are a grandma,a never ending supply of tissues is a plus.

Thank God that most of my tears are tears of joy tho'. I heard you all arrived home safely- don't forget to return the horses soon. OK?