Yesterday was a great day. First I put baby Austin to sleep. He is a little out of sync lately. I can't think of a better way to spend an hour. Kerri was going out with friends from church so I spent the evening with the other three grandsons. We ate berry granola dessert together and then I watched Riley and Trey sing to Highschool Musical. What a hoot!! Trey and I worked on a puzzle while Evan "cooked" pretend food for me. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening.

It's almost fall - hard to believe. I've been printing off pictures and reminiscing about all the memories those pictures hold. It seems like the older I get, the faster the chapters of my life go by. Mikey and Nicole are packing to move their little family to their own space. Kerri and Eric continue to prepare to add to their not so little family. My mom has found out that life goes on without her partner of so many years and she is doing o.k. with that. I miss my dad, I really miss him. Things change so quickly. I don't like losing touch with people that have been in my life. So...I joined Facebook. Never thought I would but I did. I'm trying to catch up with people that were once there and now aren't. It's a good thing for me.

It's been a while - very busy!! My husband and I decided to take a last minute trip to Puerto
Rico. He had to be there on business so I followed a couple days later and spent the Labor Day week-end. We had a great time. It was really good timing for me to get away. The little family that has been dwelling in my house will be moving to their own apartment in a couple weeks. They are really excited. Austin in growing like a weed. Looks like Mikey will be starting a new job soon. I am looking forward to Fall. Summer went very quickly as it always does but Fall is nice. We just had a garage sale to raise money for the adoption. It was tiring, fun and very profitable. So many people donated things it was overwhelming. Watching the kids with their cookies, brownies and lemonade behind a sign asking for donations to bring their sisters home from Africa was priceless. Life is good.

I really didn't want to give up a week to being sick but looks like that's what happened. I needed to be working on a baby shower, a garage sale and spending times with my little ones before they go back to school. Oh well, sometimes things are out of your control. This parasite I picked up just keeps hanging on. But never fear, next week this time I will be headed for Puerto Rico!! Yes, I'm spending Labor Day weekend with my husband in Puerto Rico. (perks of the new job) Right now I am hoping to be back to normal for Austin's baby shower on Sunday. Think I'll go lay down.

I can't believe it but this wonderful little boy turned 7 this week. I remember when he came home from the hospital and he has been very special from that first day. I remember holding him one day shortly after he was born and saying to someone visiting that he had such a sweet spirit about him. I was right. I know I am his Nana, but he has a very special heart. I hope you had a great birthday Riley. You look great on that bicycle. We love you very much!!

Life is good. It is different as we have a little one inhabiting our space but it is good. He is such a good baby and mommy and daddy are doing a great job in their new roles. He is growing very quickly as most babies do. I got my mom almost completely moved to her new digs down the hall from her original apartment. Summer is slipping by. Mike has almost made the transition into his new management job and maybe, just maybe fall will bring some calm around here. I feel as if we have survived all the changes in good fashion. My mom still has her sad days but all in all she is doing great. It has been much easier for me to get my hands around the reality that my dad is gone, now that I am home from vacation. I now have four beautiful grandsons - I think you will have to admit they are BEAUTIFUL!!!

Another beautiful baby boy for Nana and Papa Pressley. Austin Michael Pressley was born on July 6th. He weighed 7lbs. 2ozs. Mommy and baby are both doing great. He eats, sleeps and poops just like he should. He is absolutely adorable and we are so blessed to have him. He looks a lot like his mommy and seems to have his daddy's easy-going personality. He is very loved and already has brought a lot of joy to our lives. Welcome little baby boy!!

Well, vacation is almost over. It's been wonderful. The weather couldn't have been better. We all have stayed safe this time and I think everybody is refreshed and ready to go home. I love vacation but I love home. We have a lot to look forward to and I'm ready to enjoy the rest of the summer and meet my new grandson. I was a little melancholy this trip. I thought a lot about my dad and I am still trying to get my brain around the fact that he isn't with us. I think it might be easier once I get back home and live in the reality of it. I also really missed Mikey. I am so proud of him and the way he is finally growing up and facing his realities. He is so much fun to have around and we all really missed him. Mike will be home Saturday and we will follow on Sunday. Mike is looking forward to his new job and hopefully our lives will settle down a little.

This wonderful man - my Father, went to be with Jesus yesterday at 1:20. I had the privilege of being by his side as he took his last breath. In life and in death, he was everything a man of God should be. I am so grateful to God for the wonderful gift He gave me in my Father. This world was truly blessed and heaven is even more beautiful because of him. See you later Dad, I love you.

This beautiful little boy just turned "2". Sorry it has taken so long for me to post this. He is such a special little man. He has his own language and it isn't always easy to translate. But I always understand when I ask him whose boy he is and he says "Nana". His hugs are unbelievable and he knows his own mind and isn't afraid to tell you in his own way. He love his big brothers and is beginning to realize that he is very funny. He cracks himself up. Nana loves you Evan. I can't wait to see you on the beach again.

A nice relaxing Saturday. I've slowed down and in doing so I have been reminded in so many ways just how long I have lived. Mike and I went down to Creekside in Gahanna today and had lunch. It was really nice. I've been around long enough to remember when "old Gahanna" really looked "old". Lots of changes. I'm going to some graduation parties today - I remember when these kids were born. My daughter even babysat for one of them!! Then I came home and sat on my back porch. From there you can see a beautiful tree. It's tall and full and shady. It's a special tree to me. My dad and his best friend, Ralph went out in the woods and brought that tree back to transplant in my yard. It has grown tall and come out full year after year. It's been there for a long time. Back when my dad was strong and vibrant. He landscaped my entire yard for me. That tree was planted back when Ralph could fix my car blindfolded and go home and bake pies for whoever needed a thoughtful gift. That was before my dad lost track of time and before Ralph had a heart attack as he was leaving to deliver one of those pies to the pastor. I often wish I could go back and re-live a day here and there. I think that is a sign that I have had a beautiful life so far with many wonderful memories.

Well another Monday and the time has finally arrived. My son will be leaving tomorrow for 28 days of incarceration. I haven't said much about it but here it is and we can't escape the reality of it. I'm feeling like everything is a dream lately. Not only are we facing Mike's situation but my husband's mother will probably have a foot amputated this week, one of his sisters has ovarian cancer and the other mentally challenged sister just had a premature baby. Am I living a soap opera?! I don't know that I will ever fully understand all the mysteries of prayers but I am experiencing the unbelievable way it can sustain you through tough times. I can't say I always feel strong but I'm surviving each day and I haven't shut down and for me that is big. I get phone calls and e-mails telling me they are praying for our family and all I can say is I feel them. I feel those prayers and I am so grateful. I really need t0 find the energy to visit my Dad. It has been far too long. Maybe once I get past tomorrow I can try to get that done. I'm not going to make the trip to Indiana tomorrow with my husband. Fortunately we have a wonderful caring Pastor and assistant Pastor that want to make that journey with him and I think it will be best that way. I'm going to spend the day with my daughter and grandkids.

Welcome to the world Zoe Ryan Line!! Your arrival has been very anxiously awaited and it looks like you sure were worth the wait!! You have an awesome Mommy and Daddy. Aunt Debby can't wait to get her hands on you. I hope your Ohio State cheerleading outfit fits you by football season. Hugs and kisses from Ohio.

Thanks to my family for such a beautiful Mother's Day. Each one of them is so special. I missed seeing Eric however. (Shhh don't tell him!!) I am very tired tonight and I'm wondering how I am going to have the energy to face what I must face in a little over a week. I am really going to miss my son, having him around 24-7 lately will make it hard when he is gone. Sometimes 30 days fly by, I'm not sure these will.

We had a celebration last night. We celebrated 90 days of sobriety for my son. As I look back over the last three months and re-live that first night it really feels like a dream. It feels like an amusement park ride that at times I've wanted to get off but it doesn't stop. Then other times it feels really good and I enjoy it. But always I feel totally out of control, I'm not in charge of the ride at all. The real miracle is that we genuinely have something to celebrate. When the phone rang in the middle of the night, I really didn't think we would get to this point. There is only one way this has happened. It is honestly and truly a God thing. Good out of bad, that's what He specializes in and I have seen it first-hand. The ride continues. Mike will be gone for 30 days soon. I pray that Nicole feels His presence more than she knows is possible. Then we face the next mountain and see how God helps us over that one. We will continue to get ready to meet baby Austin and trust that God has control of the ride.

Today I have a prayer for my family - all of my family.

My husband beginning another work week and juggling it with all the other responsibilities of life
My mom, watching her world change and trying to understand it all
My dad, not understanding anything
My daughter and son-in-law waiting to welcome new ones
My three grandsons growing up far too quickly
Our granddaughters in Liberia hoping to be loved by a mommy and daddy
My son trying not to look too far ahead into his unknown future
My new daughter-in-law carrying another beautiful miracle and hoping all is well when he arrives
My sister and brother-in-law moving once again
My nephew and new wife blending a family
Ryan and Ginger anxiously awaiting Zoe Ryan their healthy little miracle

May they all feel God's amazing and unconditional love sometime today in an overwhelming way!
As this day comes to a close may they know that no matter what, God loves them more than they can imagine, more than they can fathom.

I was really distracted this morning from the odds and ends I needed to do before leaving for an appointment. I recognized the feeling of needing to settle myself and hear what God had for me today. So....... being distracted I picked up my favorite book - "Disciplines for the Inner Life" and turned to the "distractions" chapter. I looked at Tuesday's scripture (today being Tuesday!) and it took me to 2Timothy 1:1-14. " for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day." Then I saw a devotional entitled "Be Strong in God's Grace". Sounded good to me. It was about the Nazarene man that had been taken hostage in Iran in the 80's. I remembered this and had read it before but figured it couldn't hurt to read again. It's always good to be reminded of God's grace. It seems that this man was given a Bible and he turned to Isaiah 43:5 - "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." He said those words felt as if God was making a promise to bring him home safely. I turned to Isaiah 43:5 and there next to this verse I had written "Mikey '98". I had claimed that promise for my son 10 years ago. God has been with my son all those years. He never leaves us sometimes we just are so distracted we don't realize He is there. Today I am claiming that same promise for the little girls we are trying to bring home from Liberia. Isaiah 43:1 says,"fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." He knows them, He knows their names and soon we will.

Well, we made it through another market! I think my re-entry is almost complete. I'm beginning to feel like myself again. Kerri and the boys will visit tonight. Steak and chicken on the grill. (Trey doesn't like "snake") I am slowly getting things moved into my downstairs work room. We are beginning to make room for Austin. Time is really going quickly. I figure I need to have the nursery finished by the time we leave for the beach. That is slightly over two months. I better get busy. We want to bring him home to a buckeye nursery. You can't start too young you know!! I keep hoping to hear some good news from Liberia. Hopefully this delay won't last too long. A lot of things are still in limbo but the answers will come when it is time. God holds that in His hands.
My dad seems to be sleeping a lot more than before. All he talks about is seeing his mom and dad. He thinks they are coming to visit him everyday. I never knew his mom and his dad died when I was in elementary school. It is sad but everyday he is closer to heaven. That too is in God's hands. God is graciously giving Mom what she needs each day. God is good.

I don't think I have ever posted from market. I am never totally thrilled about coming, but this time was very hard. My kids are going through so much back home but I had to come to the hard realization that I can't do anything about their situations. That is hard for me to swallow, but nevertheless, true. I've already had to talk Mike off the ledge and I will probably have to do it again. So, I am here and I pray for peace, guidance and joy for all of us as we go through this difficult part of our journey. My Dad seems to be fixated on his Mom and Dad. I think his heart is already in heaven. I pray that we will all be able to let go when the time comes.

Have you ever felt like "what could happen next?". We got Pup married, we're waiting to see what his future holds and now the adoption process has become a new nightmare. Adoptions in Liberia are on hold for how long, we don't know. Do they keep going forward or look in another direction? We are all feeling quite drained. The stress level can't go much higher. But underneath it all is the feeling that God is still in control and He has all the answers. If we could look forward, I'm not sure how all of our lives would look but one thing I do know - It will be o.k. Whatever my kids will face, they will go through it by the grace of God. And on the other side we will look back in amazement at how the waters parted. So for now, I will continue praying for His mercy in our lives and His protection for my son and his new wife, our unborn grandson, the beautiful little boys we have already been blessed with and the little ones, whoever they may be that God will deliver to Kerri and Eric in His own, perfect timing.