Abbi's cute sweater

Just received some new pictures of the sweater I finished over vacation for Abbi. She looks adorable. I have the details of the sweater posted on Ravelry. We miss the girls so much! Each day, driving into the garage I'm reminded of them when I see the pink & purple Escalade. It's so much fun being a grandma. Abbi is holding the purse she got for Christmas from Aunt Emily. She and Lilli both carry their purses everywhere. Remember the picture in their car--they had their purse. No lady goes anywhere without a purse!!

First day of second semester

Today we went back to school. Three weeks off was wonderful. First few weeks were packed with Christmas, New Years, company. The last week was restful with lots of time to knit. A couple of days I didn't even bother getting dressed--pajamas, knitting, sitting by fire. What a great combination. The beginning of a semester is wonderful. What a great chance to start over. Each new beginning feels like a brand new notebook, waiting to be filled with new experiences.

"Brother" Greg and his family visit

The day after my father came to visit at our house in northern Indiana. My brother, Greg, and his wife and two children drove up to visit also. My four children and their spouses got the first chance to meet new cousins and visit with their aunt and uncle. What an amazing trip it has been to discover a family I didn't know I had. Here are some pictures of the "kids" (they are grown) playing cards and a group picture with Nathan, Josh, Hannah, Katie, Joey, and Trevor. Finally a picture of Larry & me and Greg and Sheila.

Christmas visit with my "father" Nick

As a baby, I was adopted into a family in Indiana. I had a nice family of a mom and dad and a brother (also adopted). We were very close to my mom's parents and did lots of things with them growing up. My dad and grandfather had a private insurance and real estate office located in Muncie, Indiana. Many years past, my father died of a heart attack on my first day of my senior year in high school. My mother was a music teacher but worked to get her insurance and real estate license to carry on my father's business. Again, many more years past, I was married had four children moved out of the area to New York. The last ten years of my mother's life I was her caregiver managing her care in different facilities while she struggled with alzheimers. Near the end of her life, I contacted the adoption agency where I was born and paid a fee to research my birthmother and birthfather and any relative I might have. I learned that my mother had died of a heart attack several years before but I learned the names of my father and my brothers. Yes, my birthfather married my birthmother after I was born and I have three brothers. Sadly, one of the brothers is no longer living, however, my birthfather and two brothers live in Indiana. The last few years have been a slow process to begin to get to know these family members but I feel blessed with this opportunity at this point in my life. Below is a picture of my father, Nick, when he visited this Christmas to see his two "great-grandaughters", Lilli and Abbi (Caelyn wasn't able to be here).

holidays with the girls

Today is Jan 2 of the new year. We are in the midst of a major snowstorm. Yesterday, Hannah and Josh and the girls flew out of South Bend in the midst of whiteout conditions. Somehow a plane landed and took off for Chicago and their second plane got out of Chicago. Even though the sun is shining and the snow is beautiful--it is very cold--12 degrees! I wanted to post some pictures from the holiday break of our granddaughters and family. Grandpa couldn't resist getting his granddaughters their own pink Escalade. Lilli has the idea--drive your SUV and talk on the phone at the same time!. Even though this present will stay in Indiana. I'm sure all of our granddaughters (probably mostly Kaelyn) will enjoy driving this car. Before the snow came, Abbi and Lilli got some driving in the neighborhood. Another fun present which is at Grandma and Grandpa's house was a kitchen. The girls liked playing with that too. Abbi is serving Uncle Nate a snack while Princess Lilli is cooking in the background. I don't think we will be able to keep the kitchen in the entryway, but it is fun having little girls around. Lilli went to a birthday party for one of her friends, Jasmin, while she was here. The party had a princess theme and there were 10 princesses (3-year olds) at the party. What fun! Here are four princesses posing with Cinderella (the aunt of Jasmin). What a great idea for a little girl's birthday party. Cinderella was the hit of the party. All the girls wanted to touch her and sit on her lap. Many of my friends and family say I have the "Cinderella complex"--life should be like a fairy tale, we all live happily ever after, and I'm still waiting on my prince to carry me away--I got a prince, his name is Larry. My 'Cinderella complex" is explained in the book by Stasi Eldredge, Your Captivating Heart.

She writes: "Every woman in her heart of hearts longs for three things:

• To be romanced
• To play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure
• And to unveil beauty

God placed these desires in your heart to draw you into discovering the woman he created you to be and to reveal these glorious passions in His own essence."