The Blessings of Grandchildren

In each of our lives we rarely consider or think about grand children...until the day that we realize...wow our children have grown up and some of them have gotten pregnant!!! Then they start. Our first thoughts may be...."I'm too young to have grandchildren" or perhaps it may be "it's about time". But no matter what our thoughts the reality that our family is growing becomes a warm and touching part of our lives. Maybe it is because it is "Pay Back Time" for all the challenges thrust upon us by those who are new parents. But more than likely it is because we can see an extension of ourselves in our grandchildren from a different perspective than we did with our own children. I don't know about you but when raising 5 children I didn't have much time for perspective other than getting them fed, clothed, bathed (occasionally), and generally looking out for their physical and spiritual welfare. But with Grandchildren you can see into the future, your perspective on family and life are enhanced by the opportunity to truly contemplate the greatness of family and what it really means not only now...but forever. So with that I have dedicated this blog to our grandchildren , some you will see in these pictures...and some still riding the "Womb Wagon" ie: Holly and Jessie!!! We love them all and hope one day they will truly understand and feel the depth of that love!!! Here we have all 5 current Grandchildren : top center Iris...then from left front Ella, Phoebe, Emma, and Luke, all actually standing still in the midst of an Easter Egg hunt at 1345 Dudley Mountain Rd. And that is amazing considering the amount of sugary junk they had consumed by this time.Emma, Phoebe, and Ella enjoying the bunkbeds, and they actually all survived with not broken bones or broken bed slats, now that is amazing!!!
Grandma Kim with Ella and Phoebe having hotdogs and ice cream, yea, we really feed our grandkids nothing but the best in grandparent food!!!!!!!
Luke trying to grow up quick, but if that is the end result, maybe we better encourage him to take the slow, normal growth patterns....he was having fun though!!!!!
And the final picture taken just this past Saturday at The Sock Hop we had in the Cultural Hall at Church. Should have video'd this one. In real action they had the Lucy-Linus (of Charlie Brown Fame) down to exactness. If you study the PIC you will be able to see it!
Anyway, this little pictorial can not even touch on the experiences, life, or love that our grandchildren bring to us. I look forward to next year when our numbers will be up to seven and we can post some puggy, bald head shots of those on the way, with some new shots of the old timers here.
Blog Thought of the Day...."The love you give away, is the only love you truly keep" kjb

Mary Mary Quite Contrary.........

Well this will be a big surprise to get 2 posts in one day...especially to the Gray Household....but since I was already here thought I would give an update on our "Square Foot Gardening Project". As you can see when compared to the last pictures, which were the day we satrted the garden, it has changed quite a bit. That "Mary Mary" girl would be pretty excited I think. Overall the project has done well. We have learned some things. 1. The mix of compost, vermiculite and peat moss did work pretty well, (though next year I will up the antie a little on the compost)...(making my own right now)! 2. I will buy fresh seeds and starter plants that I personally pick out (or Kim of course), 3. I will thin the plants early enough to actually be able to thin them without damaging the healthier ones, and 4. I will plant the things I know we will eat.

But considering we did not use any actual soil for this garden, it does not look too shabby. The production has not been as good as I would want, but that is where I think more (QUALITY) compost will make the difference. But so far we have gotten tomatoes, zuchinni, yellow squash, and lots of cucumbers. The jury is still out on the corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes, but we will see. The beans were a flop...I think it was the seed???? Whatever the end result is, it has been a great experience for both Kim and I. It's exciting to go to the garden each day and see how much and how fast things grow, and once in a while we get to actually eat something from the garden...Kim more than I because I am so picky!!!!!! Kim is excited, I'm not sure she has ever actually had a veggie garden???? Our pots on the back deck are doing very well. At last count I had 57 peppers growing and we have yellow, pruple, orange, red and yellow ones, so even if we don't eat them all (we really will though) it is pretty just to go look at them. The cucumber bush is producing a cuke about every 2 days and the tomato plant is pretty heavy with tomatoes. So if anyone wants to try a garden that is easy to care for, and fun to grow just give us a call or I will try and put the link on this blog. Happy gardening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BE grateful for the doors of opportunity, and for friends who oil the hinges..............................kjb

More Baby News

The last posting I had to grab some Pics from the past to make things a little interesting since I did not have current ones of the expecting Mom's, but that has all changed now and here are a few. Once Jessie had given us the news we really want ed to go see her and give a very personal congratulations. So we arranged with Holly and Micah to come in early since we would be going to the fireworks at McIntire Park later and got them to go with us down to Jessie and Tanner's. Jessie had her Mom, Brian, Mark and Danielle, Jake and Tiff, Josh Ellie and the kids, and the "Big Yellow Bus" down for their annual 4th of July campout on the James River. So we loaded up in the truck , which I'm glad I took and headed down to James River Farm. One of the really exciting things for Kim and I , is the fact of having two daughters pregnant at
the same time. So one of the 1st picture we took were of Jessie and Holly together, each pointing to the others, not so big belly yet! But that will come and we know it will. Just got pic from Holly showing her tummy starting to poke out a little, and she got to hear the heartbeat with Micah yesterday. See link to Holly and Micahs blog for much more detail and pics. Here I get to give Jessie an official welcome to Motherhood, I love you, and so happy for you HUG! Tummy still not grown much from above but thought I would point at it anyway!
Yes!!!!! Ivana was really excited too. Though I'm not sure if she was more excited about Jessie or being able to be so close to "The Big Yellow Bus" But whatever it is, there is a big beautiful smile there for sure.
And of course, enough can not be said for the excitement of Grandmothers. They understand not only the joy but the hope that a child brings into our lives. Especially when she/we know how much both these girls want a baby, and to add that deeper meaning to "FAMILY", that can and should bond each other together. Yeh, that's not the James River behind Kim, but it is water, there is a big happy smile, and seemed like one I hope she won't be to upset I put out for the world to see.
So until we wrtie again, I bid you all farewell, and may your life be as beautiful as a summer day with just enough clouds to help make you appreciate the sunshine..............keith

BIG SURPRISE

Guess you are probably wondering, What is he doing adding another post so soon, especially after that last one. Well one this 4th of July 2008 Kim and I got up real early to go fishing. I know that is what Kim really wanted to do on a day she could have slept in, but being the trooper and support that she is we headed down to Bob Snows to get in a couple hours of fishing. The weather was nice, the fish were biting, especially on all the new lures that Holly and Micah had gotten me for my birthday. As far as I was concerned it was a great start to celebrating being an American and enjoying a great American experience. And Kim was actually enjoying catching some fish. Had to give her a few pointers on the flyrod thing. She couldn't figure out that whole why the line kept balling up around her foot. But we got that figured out and I think she actually caught more fish than me. But i was OK with that, it is a part of the conversion plan to turn her into a fisher person!!!! She hung one really big bass and I ran to help but just as she was getting it to land, the big boy (or girl) got off!!!! But it was a great training session for the new fisherperson to have. In the midst of all this fun we got a call from Jessie and Tanner. Jessie insisted that Kim put the phone of speaker phone. So with fishing rod in one hand with fish attached and phone in the other, we listened as Jessie expouned..."Guess what, you are going to be Grand-Parents again. I'm Pregnant". I can not express the surprise, excitedment, and gratitude I had at that moment, nor the joy I had for Jessie at that time. I know she has wanted children, and I am thankful for blessings that come from sources that we often overlook or take for granted. I know this will be one of the greatest blessings and adventures of Tanner and Jessie's Life.

Anyway, here is a picture of the happy couple. And I understand they are both very excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now Kim and I are priviledged to not only have two daughters that are beautiful, but that are both pregnant at the same time. Here I am with my two beautiful daughters and as happy as I was in that picture, there are not words exquisite enough to explain the joy that is now Mine and Kim's. Next year 2 new grand children, and maybe even another wedding (hint hint Jacob). Anyway just a short blog entry for the day we have food to cook and eat, fireworks to watch and gratitude for our country to express. To all a wonderful 4th....kjb

First Shot

Well with the help of Holly I think I may have been able to load the video I was trying to do last week, having fun with the gun I got for my birthday. As you watch you may sense I could be the Poster Child for the Local Redneck Association, with members from Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene Counties and the State of West Virginia. And as I have watched it over I would agree. But I had a lot of fun shooting. The video is a little wobbly, Jessie was having a hard time keeping the camera steady with no tri-pod and lots of noise. As we are going into one of my favorite holidays celebrating our independence and formation of our great country. I am thankful for the foresight and insight of our Founding Fathers as they built in the 2nd Amendment to The Constitution affording each citizen of this great country to own and bear arms. To many it may seem a trivial or unnecessary thing. But I know the day has been and the day will come when many who do not understand the importance of this will gain insight, insight even as our Founding Fathers had. So don't judge me too harshly, but you can take the boy out of the country, but you will never take This Great Country out of the boy. May you each have a wonderful 4th of July, and may each of us reflect on freedoms, that are literally not had any where else in this world, and give thanks for The United States of America and the privilege and the responsibility to live and love our country.................kjb