2017......Finally

So 2017 started out as an ordinary year and I was grateful as 2016 was quite the year!  

But as the world turns, 2017 turned out to be a tumultuous year in ways I'm glad we couldn't see in advance.  This dear lady, Juanita, had talked me though many moments of despair sitting in the pew at church.  She was a member of many years and a speaker at Alanon.....so you can imagine she had had some heartache in her life.  Unknown to us all, this was her last Sunday at church being escorted from her car by my brother.  She was a 94 year old whirlwind, still driving (her car in the background), still living alone and such a sense of humor.  A few days after this photo was taken she died in her sleep.  The perfect way for her to go meet her savior.  

Met the newest boyfriend ......this is my great niece Amanda and her guy John.  He got the official family seal of approval.

My son and his wife Arwen, fresh from the Emergency Room.  A broken finger was added to the list of illnesses and injuries that are common occurrence in a gigantic big family.

Easter and I was ready for a current photo of the Superhero and me and so this is what we settled for.....I sure wish someone had told me to hold my shoulders back!  Where was mama when I needed her?  Looking at this I can hear her saying "Hold your shoulders back!"

The beginning of the remodeling of our new home.  There had been a stair chair going up and it had just gone to habitat for Humanity.  We had plans to remove carpet, do new floors, paint and update a couple of things.  Boy did those plans change!

Our friend and general contractor, Mark and Russell talking about what was happening in the laundry room.  Just a small start to total demolition.  They are looking at a FRYER that my FIL had put in (I never knew it was there) and discussing how to save it.....I nixed that idea.  Who though having a fish fryer where you wash clothes was a good idea?

The dining room became for a while the place things being torn out resided.

When you uncover one thing any structural problem rears it's ugly head and their were many.

Upstairs looking out to the balcony/sitting room/office. We opened it up and its now just a sitting room.  One of my favorite rooms.

In the midst of this year, we discovered my older children's father was dying.  In May we flew the grandchildren home to spend time with him while he was able to enjoy them.  I'm ever thankful that they made this trip as sad as it was, everyone made the best of the time and they were a ray of sunshine in a dark time.  Below is Adam with his Greatgrandmother.

We had just come from the airport and stopped to visit.  We were all so glad to see these two.  

Their Uncle David.  Here I must say that as sad as this time was, David stepped up to the plate and stopped everything in his life to take care of his daddy.  

The two grands together......Ashley, our first grandchild and Adam who came next.  Like all of our grandchildren, they are treasures and gifts from God.

January and February rocked along with just the usual birthdays and anniversaries, doctor appointments, lunches with friends, etc.  You get the drift, an ordinary couple of months.

Then March came along and we found out sister, Debbie had to have surgery which was cancelled a couple of times so the suspense was killing us for a tumor in her parotid gland.  Although she was assured it was benign, it was a scary time until we knew for sure.  Debbie and her husband, Mike.  

 In the midst of this year, we discovered my older children's father was dying.  In May we flew the grandchildren home to spend time with him while he was able to enjoy them.  I'm ever thankful that they made this trip as sad as it was, everyone made the best of the time and they were a ray of sunshine in a dark time.  Below is Adam with his Greatgrandmother.

We had just come from the airport and stopped to visit.  We were all so glad to see these two.  

Their Uncle David.  Here I must say that as sad as this time was, David stepped up to the plate and stopped everything in his life to take care of his daddy.  

The two grands together......Ashley, our first grandchild and Adam who came next.  Like all of our grandchildren, they are treasures and gifts from God.

January and February rocked along with just the usual birthdays and anniversaries, doctor appointments, lunches with friends, etc.  You get the drift, an ordinary couple of months.

Then March came along and we found out sister, Debbie had to have surgery which was cancelled a couple of times so the suspense was killing us for a tumor in her parotid gland.  Although she was assured it was benign, it was a scary time until we knew for sure.  Debbie and her husband, Mike.  

In the midst of this year, we discovered my older children's father was dying.  In May we flew the grandchildren home to spend time with him while he was able to enjoy them.  I'm ever thankful that they made this trip as sad as it was, everyone made the best of the time and they were a ray of sunshine in a dark time.  Below is Adam with his Greatgrandmother.

We had just come from the airport and stopped to visit.  We were all so glad to see these two.  

Their Uncle David.  Here I must say that as sad as this time was, David stepped up to the plate and stopped everything in his life to take care of his daddy.  

The two grands together......Ashley, our first grandchild and Adam who came next.  Like all of our grandchildren, they are treasures and gifts from God.

January and February rocked along with just the usual birthdays and anniversaries, doctor appointments, lunches with friends, etc.  You get the drift, an ordinary couple of months.

Then March came along and we found out sister, Debbie had to have surgery which was cancelled a couple of times so the suspense was killing us for a tumor in her parotid gland.  Although she was assured it was benign, it was a scary time until we knew for sure.  Debbie and her husband, Mike.