A GRAND Calls

Nora calls me in the morn,

And on my face, a smile is born.

The magic of the phone begins

And poof! I see my daughter’s twin.

Nora loves her mother’s lap

And from that perch, we launch our chat.

First comes, “Good morning, dear!

What’s all about in your sphere?"

She ponders and shy smiles a thought

That comes out when her words are caught.

She wants to see a grapefruit round

But only other fruit is found.

The wonder, though, is not undone.

An apple is a lovely one!

A strawberry…and lemons too!

Oh Nora, may we see like you.

We talk about her hair, her dress.

I see her lace, and am impressed.

We talk about her dog, her dad

And all the food and fun she’s had.

The clock, it ticks; our time winds down.

She’s off to see and charm her town.

“Bye! Love you!” Both are told.

Then I am left with a screen to hold.

2021: A Brief Look Back

When you're already halfway through January 2022 and your 2021 recap isn't done, you sum it all up as best you can and go with it. 

Lou started the new year with back pain from a bulging disc, but by February, he was tormented no more thanks to prayer and modern medicine, i.e. successful back surgery.  Staying at home and recovering paired well with our record cold (-14º) and significant snow (9"). 

Another Grand was added to our clan on April 7. 

        Hello, Oliver Isaak Pearson!

 God had you be born and how glad we all are. Welcome to the world.

 I'm happy to talk about him - or any Grand❣ - at any time so feel free to ask 😉.

And if you see Faith and Isaak, be sure and ask about Ollie's birth story. 

(Spoiler - almost had a home/car birth😳)

Mary Grace was the focus of late spring. We made the easy 2 hour drive to KC many times, watched her compete in her last collegiate tennis match and watched her walk across the stage at Rockhurst University's graduation. 

Go Hawks!

Celebrating Mary Grace
Luke, Hannah, Faith, and Elizabeth

              And now, we have 6 college graduates. 

                      Can you say "#payraise?" 😉

Covid reared its ugly head in July at a most inconvenient time, as that unwelcome virus took up residence in Lou right before a scheduled vacation to Seattle. Cue a quarantine Staycation. Thanking God his was a mild case. Yay for prayer, vaccinations and monoclonal antibodies.

Faith made August exciting by getting appendicitis right before we moved Mary Grace to New York for law school which was right before I began my 6th year as Teaching Leader for BSF. We obviously met ourselves coming and going.

In September, wonder of wonder and miracles of miracles - the OG family, et al., was in the same place at the same time. It was the only time in 2021 we were all together as typically, we are spread far and wide. 

Normally... 

Luke and Sofia - Denver

Hannah, Alex, and Nora - Kansas City

David and Makenzie - Austin

Faith, Isaak, Elaine, and Ollie - Springfield

Elizabeth and Caleb - Fayetteville, AR

Mary Grace - NYC

But over the weekend of September 11, everyone descended on Bolivar to mark a birthday milestone in a way that I would recommend to absolutely everyone. 

When you turn 60, line dance with your family and friends in a barn. 

My thoughtful children put on just such a birthday bash for me. I don't think any of us had had such fun since the pandemic started. It all felt so free and simple and joyful. 

For Lou's birthday on Sept 26, we rode across The Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock, AR. This ride will forever be a favorite as we happened upon a group from TX who were riding in a peloton. We kind of jumped on the back of it, and for about 10 miles, we were pulled along quite nicely. I am now a BIG fan of being at the back of a peloton. Because of that, we ended up averaging 15 mph for those 50 miles. Let's go!

Lou, Marla, Shelley, Wes

In October, we headed to Waco to watch David in the Waco Half Ironman. He was in beast mode - smiling every time we saw him. And talk about inspiring! David was, of course, but seeing women older than me completing such an event kind of lit a fire in my 60 year old bones - at least to exercise consistently!

This was before his 5:51:05 finish after:
 swimming 1.2 miles
cycling 56 miles
running 13.1 miles

We ended the year feasting and visiting with our kids & co (& dogs) at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It is a joy to see your adult children and their spouses enjoy each other's company.

We did have to bob and weave a bit at Christmas as Mary Grace joined the ranks of those who have now had Covid twice. 

Good grief. 

It messed up her being here for Christmas Day, but grateful for FaceTime and mild cases.

            So. Done. With. Covid.

I also ended the year looking back over the Gratitude Section of my Prayer Journal, where you record brief entries of daily gratitude (based on Ann Voskamp's 1000 gifts) 

A few of them below...just because:

Jan 1: Warm fire; electricity is off

Feb 7: The joy of local teams (KC) going to the Super Bowl. The Kid vs The Goat.

March 17: Thankful for Eply maneuvers and vertigo leaving.

June 23: Light and the wind dancing in the leaves of the oak trees 

July 12: Elizabeth born 25 years ago

July 23: Corndogs and walks with Wes and Marla

Aug 4: Luke and Sofia called with big news -> expecting a baby - due March 1; also moving to Denver

Aug 5: Eddie Lollar blessing Mary Grace in our kitchen before leaving for NY

Aug 30: Sweet time in KC yesterday with Hannah, Alex, and Nora

Oct 27: Homemade bread; space heaters

Dec 7: The joining of words: "deeply and enduringly happy." Hadn't thought of "enduringly" before "happy" - but so good. 

I've already started my gratitude entries for 2022 and would highly recommend the practice. It beautifully reorients your everyday life - reminding you of the sovereign care and goodness of God.  

May God bless us all as we seek to find our joy in Him in 2022.