Natalie

We have been eagerly anticipating the birth of Natalie especially this past week. Kim was "ready, ready, ready" and so we packed our bags and drove to Kim and Chris' when labor started. I smiled thinking that she would be born on her great grandmother's (my mother) birthday, April 23. But like many pregnant mother's have experienced, what seemed like active labor slowly subsided and became an occasional contraction. We spent the next morning at the park with Jack and Chris & Kim got out for an evening dinner before we left for home the next day.

Less than 24 hours after we left them, Chris called with the good news that Natalie was born. She is 9# 14oz and 20.5 inches long. Since Kim's parents traveled during the night to take care of Jack we drove to the hospital to meet our littlest grand daughter.




She drew us like a magnet, we couldn't keep our hands off her. There is nothing as precious than a newborn and to think she is one we will see grow and flourish and enjoy for years is almost more than a heart can hold on to. We are so blessed with her birth and so thankful that God watched over her as she was formed and gave her a safe and healthy start.

Now it is time for her mom and dad and big brother to spend some time as a family to cherish these memories. So Natalie Beth we will come again in a couple weeks to cuddle you and see how your big brother Jack is enjoying his little sister.

Easter

With Easter coming so early this year, we really didn't expect such warm weather. Conley is standing near the daffodils we planted last November.

We had a wonderful day beginning with a beautiful praise filled worship service at church and a visit from Mike Joy and Conley. Later in the day we enjoyed a delicious ham dinner with our neighbors and their family who came in from New Jersey.



For the past 3 years we have taken Conley's picture in the same chair and it really demonstrates how she has grown. The first year her feet were still on the seat of the chair. Oh, the years past quickly and growth in a child is a true marker.



Easter and spring time signify new beginnings. At Easter we are reminded that Christ died to give us a new life so the flowers, too with their fragile blossoms poke up through the ground after cold and frost to announce a new growing season. Tom and I with our graying hair hold onto Conley, a new generation born to praise God and enjoy Him forever.

Cruisin

The trip had been in the works for over a year by the time we met in Miami and sailed off to the seas of the Gulf of Mexico. Lindsay, having been on 13 cruises took the initiative with offering several different cruises on different cruise lines and different dates and number of days. We finally settled on a 5 day cruise to Cozumel and Belize City. It was a good choice.

We left Miami on a Monday, after an all day rain but the skies were beginning to clear and stayed clear for the remainder of the trip.


Judi, my roommate gave each of us a hat so we could find each other on the ship. It just seemed so natural to spend time with and talk to my old friend, a friendship beginning 50 years ago.

The rest of our group met in the Windjammer restaurant on the ship. We all had our travel stories to tell. Susan had her flight canceled the night before at 11 PM. How does that happened? She and her husband were up until 2 AM getting another flight and now she has two return flights!



Well, it didn't take long to settle in and enjoy the sun and amenities on deck.


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Donna had a bit of a stumble on her first morning walk and spent day one in the stateroom. But, we were not going to let her miss dinner and the evening shows.

Each evening we changed seats at our table next to the window so each would have a different view and sit next to a different friend. I loved trying meals I would never take time to fix at home. And all the desserts! One night we asked and they gave us an extra key lime pie to enjoy later! Each night we went to a show, the ice show was in our opinion the best! Some tried their luck in the casino and others of us played "name that tune." When we reached the towns, each had a different plan; stay on the ship, shop, take a tour or snorkel. Although I don't have snorkeling pictures we saw beautiful coral and fish. We took this picture for our home news paper in Alpena. The hats we are wearing say "Divas at Sea 63" a gift from Donna and Ginny.

This last picture is my very first friend, Susan. Even though we can go for months and years not hearing from each other, we know we are forever friends.

After 5 days and many sea miles we have great memories and closer friendships. I thank God for each of you dear friends.