Letters from Gramma

Happy New Year, girls!

2012-01-09T00:15:00.000-06:00

Oh, how are you, my darlings? I miss talking to you on Skype! Papa has the laptop with him, so that's why we haven't seen each other this week!
I absolutely LOVE the pictures you sent me this week! You three are so funny. Just like your daddy and mommy!
So, have you been able to play in the snow?
Let me tell you what happened today...
A HAWK FLEW DOWN AND WAS TRYING TO EAT ONE OF OUR HENS! It was awful. Caleb went out to see the girls and saw what looked like something white in the chicken yard. When, all of a sudden, a hawk flew away up into a tree in the next yard. The poor chicken was just laying on her back. He immediately picked her up and brought her into the house. She was alive, but gasping for air. She was very messed up with a lot of feathers falling out everywhere. But the boys prayed for her right then and then they put a blanket on her to keep her warm and held her for a long time.
They used a dropper and put water down her throat and then she was able to swallow and began breathing better. Caleb was so angry, he rode his bike really fast to Josh's house and got some bee bees to shoot that hawk that was still sitting in the tree!!! He said he never rode his bike that fast before in his whole life!
She is doing better and I think the shock has worn off. We cleaned her wounds tonite and the put medicine on the spots that were hurt. We believe she will be ok. And I am so happy for that.
The hawk flew away and they kept the hens in their house for the rest of the day. Charity is out there with her sisters now sleeping and we'll put more medicine on her tomorrow.

In other news, Papa is coming home from Florida tomorrow morning. He's been there learning how to be a really great actor so he can tell the people who make movies about Jesus and so he can act in movies, too! He is an amazing papa!

We cannot wait to see you guys this spring.

You heard that Josh is going to marry Carrissa and then you will have new cousins again! Kyler and Keira! You are sure to come here for the wedding in September and we'll go to Sea World and play in the water, like we did last time you came. Ok???

Well, I must head to bed because today was a good, but long and tiring day.

God is good and He loves you three so very much.
How grateful I am to Daddy God for giving me such beautiful grandchildren and for my five amazing children...that would be your mom, Josh, Dan, Isaac and Caleb.

Tell mommy to give you all kisses and hugs for me!

Forever your gramma.

Dearest Girls...

2011-09-19T12:38:00.000-05:00

Oh, my sweet baby girls! How are all three of you today? What have you been up to lately?
Hailey, how is school going? I absolutely loved the colorful pictures that you sent me! You have quite an eye for color. Keep sending me your works of art, as well as your handwriting papers.
I just visited, "Hailey's Miracle Blog" but there is nothing new! Please write me a story of Patience or an adventure about Trinity!~
Triny, gramma loves you. Please color me a picture, too! Remember, to do your best to love and obey daddy and mommy, ok?
Patience, how gramma longs to hold you in her arms! You are getting way too big and you look just like your older sisters! Wow, you have two big sisters to teach you things and share things with!~
Well, I must get back to school with Isaac and Caleb now! Isaac wants to do an 'edible' science class, 'chewy brownies'!!!
Write me soon,
Forever your gramma.

Oh, I have great news. It rained here last nite! And I mean REALLY rained! I opened the windows and listened to the little frogs rejoicing all night long. If only we could catch one of them for you to see! But they're tiny and they blend in with the tree colors! I caught this of the rain that came down the day before. That rain didn't last long enough to even really water anything, but last night's rain was amazing and the lightning gave us quite a show!

Summer is here! Is it there?

2011-06-11T12:24:00.000-05:00

Hello, my sweet girls.
How are you on this beautiful Sat. morning? How is mommy and daddy?

I miss you! Right now I am listening to the Scripture online...tell mommy she can listen here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mcconachie/nasb/1Tim.2
So, what have you been up to? Is your church doing Vacation Bible School this year? We are all doing something, and Caleb is in two skits! He's very excited and has the lead male role!~! I, of course, am the photographer!

Caleb just asked me to go over his lines with him, so I will sign off for now and send a pix for you to enjoy~
Papa loves you three!~

Forever your gramma,

I love it, Hailey!!!

2011-05-11T22:21:00.000-05:00

OH, my sweet girl, Hailey Daune! I absolutely LOVE MY PICTURE YOU COLORED AND SENT ME!~
How are you? Are you playing outside now that it's warming up outside?
Mommy told me about your new friend that lives right down the road from you! How awesome and exciting to have another friend.
Did I ever tell you that I have a friend in the state of Kentucky named Lisa? She was your mommy's friend, too and taught her to cook because she, Lisa, loves to cook! Ask mommy about that. You can look on the map for the state of Kentucky and mommy can tell you how she grew up there and went to school there, too.
I have another friend that lives in NY named Diane and she, too, loves to cook. I am glad I have friends that like to cook. That makes me want to cook for fun. I only cook to feed everyone here, including grampa and the funny papa and meme. I would rather play in the dirt. How about you?
How is Patience? Mommy told me that she is getting her teeth! Does she cry a lot? Does mommy put medicine on her gums to make her feel better? Kiss her for me.
How is Trinity? Is she helping you with chores?
I love you and am going to send you that dress, ok?
Forever your gramma.

It's Wednesday, girls...

2011-04-27T11:06:00.001-05:00

Good day, my sweet girls! How are you today? What have you been up to? How is school going, Hailey? What books are you reading now? Have you been coloring me any pages? Have I told you that I LOVE WHEN YOU SEND ME PICTURES YOU'VE COLORED? I really do...I'm making them into a book!
Trinity, how is Patience? Are you teaching her to talk yet? Do you help mommy cook and clean? Are you loving your chickens? Do they let you hold them? Are you coloring pictures with Hailey? Would you color a page for gramma?
Patience, gramma loves you so much. You are a gift to Hailey, Triny, mommy and daddy. You are protected from all evil by the blood of Jesus.
Well, girls, I have been thinking about you a lot and wanted to say hello in a letter.
Write gramma back when mommy can sit down and tell me what you are saying, ok?
Forever your gramma.

A flower for you today...it's from The Garden of Eden...in my back yard, remember, Hailey? Your hand prints are there, too. I love that part of you is here with me. I miss you very much. Kiss mommy, daddy, Triny and Patience for me, ok? Kisses to you, too, from me.

Good Friday, my girls...

2011-04-22T09:03:00.000-05:00

What a glorious day, yet sad as we remember that Jesus died on a Friday...but the great news is that He came back to life on a Sunday! Because Jesus gave His life for us, we can live forever!
I love you. I miss you terribly. I am praying for your safety, joy and life to be rooted in the love Of Jesus!
Forever your gramma.

Remember, Triny, riding the horsey? That was fun, huh?

I'm not sure what you're doing here? Maybe you're cold!!!

Patience is in deep thought! And so is mommy!

2011-02-09T22:06:00.000-06:00

Hailey!
I saw the video of Triny sleeping on the floor! How cute. What were you and mommy doing? How long was she asleep before you noticed? How is Patience? Are you getting excited about coming to see Caleb and Isaac in Texas? And the funny papa, too?
I got your beautiful picture in the mail and I put it on the refrigerator so I can look at it every day and think of you!~ It's so colorful and you wrote your name...I love it!\
Anywho, we had a hawk in the tree next door...here is a picture...

Here are two birds...can you guess what kind they are? Write me and tell me what you think they are...you and mommy can look them up on the computer~

Forever your gramma!

P.S.-Please kiss mommy, Triny, Patience, and daddy for me, ok?

Grandbaby girls...all of you~

2011-02-02T18:30:00.000-06:00

Hi girls! How are you this day, so far from gramma? Are your toes cold? How is your nose? What are you doing to stay warm?
We are having cold weather here in Texas, too! We have a lamp on the hens to keep them from freezing and they're still laying eggs for us.
I went outside to get some wood for the fireplace and smelled a skunk...I think he may have slept under them last nite to try and stay warm...what do the skunks there do to stay warm? Do you ever see their footprints in the snow?
OOOOOhhhhh, we may 1-2 inches of snow on Friday!!! I am so excited...that would be so fun...then on Sat. and Sunday we're going back up to 67-70 degrees again, so a little winter would be marvelous.
I miss you so much. Please send me a nice picture of all three of you, ok?
How many days before you all come? Do you have your tickets yet?
Your gramma is silly...I broke my glasses, again, so I'm wearing my sunglasses and it's very dark in here now!
Well, write me and catch me up on what you're doing.

Forever your gramma.

These were all over the yard.

2011-01-16T00:02:00.000-06:00

Oh Hailey,
What a beautiful letter you wrote! Grampa had to finish reading it to me because it was so sweet, it made me cry, just like mommy cried when she saw Josh's painting! I love you, Hailey!
And I cannot wait to see your gorgeous, sweet, juicy face to kiss over and over again and listen to your adorable giggle...
Would you like me to make you a dress? Why don't you find one you like and send me a picture and I'll make one like it for you, ok? I'd love to make you and your sister's matching dresses...so pick out one that I can make for all of you!
It has been raining hers and dreary for days...it's supposed to dry up by tomorrow and uncle Josh wants to grill out for his party at his new house...won't that be fun to go to Josh's house when you come.

And, yes, I do know what you mean about the fishies...I'm glad you like them...does Trinny like them, too?
How fat is Pay Pay now? Is her hair red like yours? Is Trinny potty trained yet?
What do you want to do when you come? Would you like to hold the chickens when you come? They like to be held and they're very friendly and calm. They sometimes forget to go to their house to lay their eggs and we've found a couple laying around in the yard...but they've been ok, not cracked...
Tonite I made banana bread and then I made a cake for Josh's party! A double decker chocolate cake covered with Cool Whip!
MMM good.
I took my camera into the shop to get it cleaned and I miss taking pictures very much. I should be getting it back in a week or two...
Well, I loved your letter and I want you to write me a lot more! And I'll try to write you more and Trinny and I need you to kiss Pay Pay for me, too, ok? And kiss Daddy and tell him he can move here when God tells him to...not before.
Kiss mommy and Trinny and the chickens and anybody else, like gramma and papa Smith, too!
Love you forever,
gramma

Isn't he cute? He has a boo boo, though...I took this when we were at Sea World...he's eating some food Caleb gave him.

2010-12-01T22:44:00.000-06:00

Oh, girls...how are you doing? I do hope you both had a fun time at the Strong's Museum celebrating your birthdays!
Hailey, my heart skips a beat and I have to catch my breath when I think that only four years ago, when we moved, you weren't even two yrs. old and now you can read and write!!!
And, Oh, my sweet Trinity...it was just yesterday that mommy called me to say she was going to have another baby and that was YOU!
Now, you both have another little sister to love and help mommy take care of!
Are you getting ready for Jesus' birthday, girls? What special things are you doing to get ready to celebrate His day?
Here is one thing the boys and I have done to try and think of this time as winter since we have no snow here...we made snowflakes and pinned them to the ceiling in the family room...this was a lot of fun...maybe you guys and mommy can make these! Some of them have glitter on them.

Well, goodnite for now or good morning, depending on when you read this.
I love you girls...all three of you!
Forever your gramma.

Not Long Now!

2010-11-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

Girls,
Can you stand it? I've been anticipating this trip for month's and it's less than two days away!
What shall we do? Color? Cook? Giggle? Sing songs? Go outside in the cold? NO!
Should I wear my flip flops? Boots? I don't have any anymore!

What kind of pictures did you color? Oh, yes, you told me, Hailey, a horse and I forgot the other one...

Well, I must sleep soon so tomorrow comes sooner.

Forever your gramma,
I love you three!
uncle Caleb with a blue taffy tongue!

Seven days to go!!!

2010-10-28T00:10:00.000-05:00

Oh my word, girls...all four of you! I can hardly hold myself together in the excitement of seeing all your beautiful faces.

For my trip, I found a pair of sweat pants for only $5!

Uncle Dan came in an airplane to see us today and he said it was too warm for the clothes he had on! I do hope I'm dressed warm enough for your house.

Uncle Dan is sleeping in a tent in our backyard! We have had a skunk in the yard recently...I hope he doesn't come back while Dan is sleeping and spray the tent! Wouldn't that be horrible? Gross!

Uncle Caleb said he surrendered his life to Jesus tonite at church...Isn't that exciting? I could see a visible change in his countenance and his heart was so open.

Well, I must go to sleep so the time goes by faster until I kiss your faces.

I am going to take soooooooooo many pictures of you all!

Forever your gramma!

This tortoise asked me if he could come with me to see you, but I told him he had to stay at the zoo for other children to visit him! He gave me this look after I told him NO!

Your favorite uncles at the zoo with Papa!

Gramma's comin'!

2010-10-20T12:44:00.000-05:00

Girls,

Hailey, Trinity, Pay Pay,

We need to start counting down the days.

I'm comin'!

Sadly, it's just going to be me this trip. Papa wants to come, but his work won't allow him to, and someone has to take care of the chickens, so the boys will stay home, too.

Yes, Hailey, when I come, I will read you books, but I can't buy you a $100 dolly. I wish I could, but you really don't need a dolly that expensive, do you? How many dollies do you have now? Do you share your dollies with Triny?

Can I sleep in your room, Hailey? Will you sleep next to gramma? I will make you MY dollie and squeeze and squoosh you!

Would you please collect maple leaves for gramma? And acorns, too? Those are my favorites. I've been collecting some from my yard. Acorns, not leaves. I don't have many trees like that here in San Antonio. Just lots and lots of oaks...all kinds of oaks, with different kinds of nuts for the squirrels. They love 'em!

Well, I'm going to put an acorn pix on my other blog. Click here or on the word BLOG back in the last sentence. See, you can tell mommy this is school...you're learning about the computer and 'LINKS'!

I love you.

Please take very good care of your baby sisters, Hailey. Kiss them and play with them and pray for them and be tender always with Patience, ok?

Forever your gramma.

Maybe we can swing together when I come, ok?

P.S.-Are you enjoying the fish? Name them and then tell me their names, ok? They are always hungry!

Welcome Home, Patience Anne Ritenburg

2010-10-13T14:24:00.001-05:00

Oh my!

You're here.

You're finally here.

I wonder if you wanted to make an entrance by making mommy and daddy wait an extra eleven days!

No bother because it was so worth the wait.

Welcome little one.

Hailey, you now are the big sister to two other sisters.

Wow.

What an honor to lead the way and lay down your life to teach two littler ones how to read, write, count and love Jesus.

You must be so proud.

Triny Trin...your future playmate has arrived and now you are not the youngest. I imagine that if you understood what was happening, you would be so delighted to know that God knew what you'd need as you grow up.

To all my girls,

I love you and yearn to hold each one of you! Enjoy the fall leaves together and remember how much Jesus loves you. He picked you three to be sisters~!

Forver your gramma!

Hello, my bumblebees!!!

2010-09-15T22:58:00.000-05:00

How are you, my precious angels? Are you ready? It won't be long now before you hold your baby brother or sister in your arms, right? Oh, to be there with you would be one of my greatest blessings. But this special time is sacred, reserved just for you and your mommy and daddy and of course, Ilene, the midwife and oh, possibly aunt Becky!

I say it every time I write--I miss you both so much. I saw the pictures mommy put on Facebook of you two at your dear friend's house this past weekend.

Hailey, your haircut makes you look so grown up! STOP~no more growing until I come! Ok?

Trinity, I could squeeze those chubby cheeks! You are so juicy.

Well, here are a few pictures to enjoy.

Forever your gramma.

Caleb is holding his breath until he sees you again!

I captured this picture today when I looked out back...there were three on the bench when I looked, but by the time I got back with the camera, only one was left, Snowflake!

uncle Josh!

Jacob hugging your uncles at Emily's baptism Sunday! It was awesome; wish you were there!

Cowboy Funny PaPa!

Kisses and hugs!

Happy August and school is comin'!

2010-08-14T23:13:00.000-05:00

Hailey girl and Triny Trin,

Happy August 15th to you! I am so happy your hens are laying eggs...now all the food you are giving them is giving you something back...an egg! These are two of the eggs from our girls. But with the temperature being soooo hot, we're only getting two eggs a day now instead of four or five! Ugh!

Yesterday I moved my sewing room...I gave the room to Papa and took all my sewing stuff to the room in the back of the house where Papa's desk was. Papa is happy to have his own office, just like the office at your house, Hailey. And I like being able to see the funny Papa and gramma and the boys when they do their school work.

When are you starting school, Hailey? Are you reading all by yourself yet? What is Triny doing these days? Is she talking a lot? Have you seen any snakes lately? How is the garden? Do you have any squash yet? We have a whole bunch of gourds growing...not sure what we are going to do with them, though!

Well, I am going to sleep now, but I wanted to tell you I love you girls and am so excited for the new baby on the way. Kiss mommy's belly for me, ok?

Forever your gramma.

(Your uncles!)

August will be here and the baby is coming soon!!!

2010-07-31T00:20:00.002-05:00

My darling little ladies. How are you two? Hailey, have you lost any teeth yet? Triny, please call Gramma again. I didn't hear my phone ring last nite. I would love to hear your voice telling me all about your day.
You both should see Papa in a very silly hat. Go here to see him!

How is your garden? Mine is growing lots of gourds, like I told you last time. We actually ate our first canteloupe that we grew...I didn't wait long enough so it wasn't ripe yet! Ugh.

Hailey, are you getting excited about starting school again? Are you going to help mommy with the new baby? You'll be a big helper, I'm sure.

We can't wait to see you two and daddy and mommy!~ and the little baby, too~

Kiss mommy's belly for me and help her out, ok?

Forever your gramma...(and Papa, too!)

Happy JULY girls...

2010-07-20T18:15:00.000-05:00

Early happy birthday...I heard and saw the pictures mommy took of your amazing party. How are you, two? I love you.
How are the chickens? I hear you're swimming very well, Hailey.
Triny, how is learning to go on the potty going? Keep trying, my sweet girl.
Here is a picture of my garden gourds...we are going to paint some, make birdhouses out of the others. There are a bunch...the only things that really took off and grew.

A flower for you both...I'm growing these in 'the Garden of Eden'

Forever your gramma.

We have an invader!

2010-05-21T10:41:00.003-05:00

Girls,

Guess what Caleb showed me yesterday when he was checking for eggs?

An opossum in the nest box sound asleep! A little one that had just eaten an egg was hiding under the hay and content...but not for long...we ran and got papa and he and Caleb tried to get this cute, but unwelcome stowaway! Caleb hit it three times with the shovel but he got away!!!

So, the funny papa set three rat traps last nite and this morning, when I went out to check them, all three were tripped, but no opossum on any of them! He got away again.

The 'girls' are all cooped up in their house until they lay all the eggs and the traps are set in their yard, so if that bugger comes around for an egg breakfast, he'll get more than that! We've gotten two eggs so far today and Caleb told them that as soon as they lay all their eggs, they can come out. Then we'll set them free in the yard and hopefully catch that stealing opossum and be rid of it!

Thought I"d catch you up on what's been going on around here. I heard you got a turtle sand box...how fun...Isaac and Caleb had one they loved.

I love you.

Forever your gramma!

A flower for you!

Hailey, your hair!

2010-05-06T22:22:00.001-05:00

It's been way too long since I wrote you two and I am so sorry! I can't describe how hard it is not to see your faces every day!

Here's four out of the five 'girls'!

Caleb has Jewel on his shoulder...she thinks she's a parrot!

Our hens gave us a really huge egg yesterday...so big, the egg container almost wouldn't close! Tell me all about your 'girls'...girl chickens, that is!

I see, Hailey, from mommy's pictures on Facebook, that you gave yourself a haircut!

My girls...How are your chicks? And how are you two? How's the baby in mommy's belly?

Here's the funny papa looking funny, right?

Would you please write me a letter or color me a picture and send it in the email or the regular mail...?

So how do you like being able to go potty upstairs now? And take a bath, too, huh?

I love you very much, girls.

Kiss mommy for me and the baby in her belly, ok?

Forever your gramma.

February is coming, girls!

2010-01-26T15:59:00.001-06:00

Hailey girl, Triny Trin,

Hello. How are you two? What have you been up to? Trinity, are you walking yet? Please tell mommy to take a video of the moment when you stand to your feet and walk across the room. Could you wait until you come down here in March and then walk to gramma?

Well, let's see. I have much news. The funny papa went to the hospital this morning because he was having difficulty breathing. I'm waiting for him to call and tell me I can come pick him up and he can come home.

Then, your cousin, Joseph, went to the hospital last nite and then again this morning and now the doctors are keeping him-for a little bit, not forever- so he gets better, too. He, too, was having trouble breathing and was coughing very badlly. He might have an infection in his lungs, so they are giving him medicine for the coughing. His daddy, your great uncle Rick, is staying right there in the room with him over nite and that means that Emily, your second cousin, Joseph's sister is staying with us for a day or so. And the hardest thing for Joseph is that his mommy, aunt Karyn, is up there by you. I hope you get to see her. She is staying with her friend because her friend's husband went to heaven and so, now Rosie is alone, so aunt Karyn is helping her for a little while. I think you met Rosie, Hailey, do you remember? It was at Krystyl's house.

I think of you every day and pray for you both that God will hold you close to his heart while we are apart. I miss mommy and daddy, too. Please kiss them for me.

Your uncle Dan came over today and surprised me. It was so good to see him.

How is your weather? It's a beautiful day here, so I am sure when you come, we'll be outside a lot!

Well, I guess I"ll send you a picture, like I always do.

..here's the funny papa making a funny face at great gramma.

I love you.

Forever your gramma.

Look at this!

2010-01-17T21:12:00.000-06:00

Girls...Hi! I love you.

Check out this rooster...He was in the street in Boerne where we drove today. Very confident bird, don't ya think!

Forever your gramma.

2010-01-14T00:13:00.000-06:00

My wonderful, beautiful and very loved little princesses,
Good day to you, up there where the wind blows cold and the snow leaves prints of any number of tracks from rabbits, fox and deer.
Greetings to you from the misty city of San Antonio.
You are so loved, treasured and wanted.
Trinity, I saw a video mommy sent of you waving to the camera. Wow, how you've grown and then the video of you scooting on your 'car' across the kitchen, while daddy talks to mommy, despite her not paying attention to him, but rather focused on your feat!
Hailey, I absolutely love the way your room breathes 'Princess' and how you have your own desk, and crown dresser. I want your autograph when you come visit me IN SIX WEEKS!!!
I have told EVERYONE I MEET that my grandchildren are coming to see their gramma and papa and great gramma and funny papa in such a short time from now.
I CAN'T WAIT!~
Today, the yellow sun hid behind dreary, grey clouds and never came out to brighten up the world down here. We drove 'funny papa's' car to the store and raced up and down the aisles to hurry and finish shopping before grampa had to pick up great gramma from her dialysis visit. We made it just in time and papa even had beautiful flowers he bought ready to give great gramma as soon as she got into the car. She was very surprised and asked what occasion would warrant such a gift...She was the gift...your funny papa loves Great gramma very much and it makes his heart sad to see her so sluggish from the medicine that takes away the pain she is in from a virus called 'Shingles'.
Here is a picture of the flowers for you to see.
Remember:
I love you but Jesus loves you two so much more than I do. How that could be, I really cannot imagine. My love for you makes me hurt to be so far apart. But soon, we will be together and we will go to Sea World and play there and ride the roller coaster, if you like, Hailey. Triny is way too little, but you are such a big girl, being a whole hand, ya know!

Forever your gramma.

Happy New Year, girls.

2010-01-09T21:51:00.002-06:00

Can you believe that it's January already and I haven't seen you two in almost a year? That makes my heart so sad. Where has the time gone, Hailey?

What are you up to? Are you staying warm? How is school going? Are you reading all by yourself now? Is Triny walking alone yet? Would you write me a comment on this page? I would love to hear from you and Trinity.

Mom said the roof is leaking...! Ugh. How is church? What did you get for Christmas? Please let me know.

I had a wonderful Christmas, but when we are together, I believe that our visit will be even better than opening up presents. You and Trinity are my presents. But I won't unwrap you...you might get too cold that way!

Uncle Josh bought me a bird bath and we keep adding hot water to the frozen water so the birds can get a drink and they have been coming by the bunches to the feeder and then to slurp up some really cold water...I absolutely love birds and did I tell you we're going to get chickens again...remember when you came to the ranch and we had little baby chickens? Well, this time they're going to be bigger so they will be laying eggs and we can go out in the back yard to the house the boys are going to build them and we'll collect the eggs or hold the chickens and then we'll laugh together and kiss each other and by the time you come, Trinity will be walking and she can sit on the horse swing we have hanging from the tree and we'll push her or she can just run around the yard and we'll eat ice cream or maybe popcorn, which the funny papa loves to eat every day...

I love you girls.

Forever your gramma.

Oh, a funny papa picture to laugh with him...Isn't he funny?

Time has slipped by and you've both grown...

2009-12-26T22:11:00.005-06:00

Oh my girls...How I've missed you.

I imagine Christmas morning was such a wonderful day for you two.

Have you ever wondered, Hailey, why Jesus lets everyone else get presents on His birthday?

Did you have a birthday cake for Jesus? We had one with your great aunt Karyn and her family. It was a white cake with colored candy dots and Joseph blew out the One candle. He is the One true God and He is the One we celebrate by loving each other and giving our family and friends gifts to remind them of how special they are to us.

Your gifts are coming in Jan. or February.

I love you very much.

Forever your gramma.

Hailey~Your birthday is coming...

2009-11-17T07:05:00.002-06:00

Hi, Hailey!
Are you excited your birthday is coming so soon?
You told me you wanted a Bible...what else would you like to celebrate the day you were born a 'whole hand' ago?
I want you to know I am celebrating you and that I am soooooooo happy you are my granddaughter. Oh, how I miss your giggle, your happy face and your twirling around!
Would you kiss Triny and help her to obey mommy by not climbing the stairs so she doesn't get hurt? For sure, you don't want your baby sister to get any bumps and then cry or scream in your ears!!!
I love you, Hailey Daune Ritenburg...those are a lot of letters to write for a girl that is 'a whole hand' old!
Forever your gramma.

2009-11-12T20:50:00.002-06:00

Oh my word...your pictures, my dear girls, are so beautiful! Please send me some, ok?
How are you? Has it snowed again?
We'll be moving soon. I probably won't be able to write for a little while, but I will call you.
What have you been up to?
Oh, on Sunday, we are taking the funny papa to the country where there are snakes, rattlesnakes, coyotes, badgers, and mountain lions! There was even a momma lion with cubs! How amazing is that? I don't want to see one close up! The funny papa is going to fish...he already bought worms that are on the bottom shelf of the fridge. He is excited but very nervous that he'll see a poisonous snake! I'm not worried at all, actually, I'm excited to see the goats, chickens and six dogs they own.
Any news from you? Please write me a letter soon, ok?
I love you both.
Forever your gramma.
I do love all the pictures mommy posted on Facebook. They're beautiful.

Short note and kisses...

2009-11-06T23:13:00.000-06:00

I love you two!
Forever your gramma!

My, how time has flown and you've grown!

2009-10-28T21:28:00.003-05:00

Dearest Trinity and my Haileygirl,
Gramma finds it very hard to believe that I haven't written you in over a month! Please forgive me. I have enjoyed the over and over the letter you wrote me, Hailey.
I'm sure you won't mind if I include it here so I can remember what you said.

I love you gramma and someday i'll make chocolate cookies with you and someday with caleb and isaac and i'll show you what gracie and jordan look like. and jordan's already 5 and gracie's 3. and i want to make a cake for you and give you roses and i'll make a present for you and i'll be a nice girl to you and i'll like you all day and i'll help you and i love you and i wanna make a cake for you and i want to sing with you and with grandpa and trinny and my mommy and daddy and caleb and isaac and i want to give you pupcakes and a lot of stuff and i want to give you a new thing that's for my mommy and i'll show you gracie and jordan and i will tell you what their names are and i love you so much gramma even if you are not in texas i will still love you and if you go get something else i will still love you and i love you so much even like a chocolate cake and i will make you a normal rainbow and i make you a happy smile and i'll get a crown and i'll make it and send it to you and color a lot of pictures for you 5 and 6 pictures for you and when mommy gets pictures for you and i love you so much and even my mommy and trinny bin and next time you come you can play with me and hide and seek and games together and we can put stickers on pictures and watch movies and play candyland and we can be nice girls together and you can give me a big hug and kiss and i'll make colors and roses for you outside in the winter time if there's snow on them i'll get off so it's not messy in the house and so it bees beautiful and we can be best friends and read books together and jewlery and color and do dress up and write letters and sing together and make christmas for my mommy and she'll be so happy for us and it will be so nice for her and when we're done it's ganna be 7 minutes and i can do all the numbers by myself and you can do the bible and i'm ganna do everything i'm supposed to do and make the whole place beautiful. and i love my daddy and trinny and i'll give you a big hug and kiss and give you stickers and a new present and you will love it and we can do bubbles together and a lot of fun things and it's ganna be awesome and we will love it and go to the beach and do a big sandcastle all the way to the top like i dreamed of a huge monster climbing into a castle maybe you'll dream of it. i love you so much even like a star shining in the sky. and praise the lord for you and i will do colors for you and make beautiful pictures for you and we can make smiley faces together and make shiney stars and you can show me how to cuz i don't know how to make that and you will be jsut the right size to show me and we can write letters together and we can write our family and curly hair all the way down and we can take pictures and do clean up time and sing songs and work and do the memory game and paint, and do bubbles and glue stuff and paint and write letters and go to a dance class and dance with our ballerina stuff on and twist around and make a happy birthday and a surprise for my mommy and go to chuck e cheese together and wave the flag and go to darien lake and the circus and the carnival and the fair and we can color and celebrate and paint butterflys and get stickers and do chalk, and sell stuff and do playdough and do nice games and stickers and write boats, and help trinity and serve and celebrate stuff and maybe we can um um serving together and we can um we can write together make neclaces together we can do games on the puter together we can make a list for mommy and beautiful pictures for my mommy and do the pledge of leggiance, and color in coloring books and go and play games and not real games but we can make our body healthy when we run and i can show you how to do "ping around the rosey" and "shipwreck"- that's at church we do that when i'm done with my class it's super fun, and we can play duck duck goose and watch movies at the movie featre and get candy together, and go to my friend's house and i'll show you where the right path is and we can sing songs of dickory dickory dock the mouse went up the clock and we can color hair and curl our hair and do x-rays, and paint pictures and do chalk and play dressup we can put dresses on and we can play um x ray and do games i'm talking abouth these games right here mom, and we can sing songs and spin around and play babies, and um pretend we're having a birthday and write together and clean up together and sing songs together and what else can we do? let me guess...we can change the babies diapers we can do school together we can do dance class together and learn how to dance in the dark and we can balance and we can um um we can read books together and sing songs, and what else? learn how to celebrate and we can do a lot of fun things in school and we can do a lot of fun things. write the sun and the moon and one more thing i have to say we can eat together and drink rtogether. that's all. we can paint rainbows and do numbers and play with my daddy and mom and shapes too. that['s all/ ok we're all done. one more thing, and we can eat ice-cream and popsicles for dessert and after we're done eating our food and sing the "bible" the bible tells us so and we can do a lot of fun stuff and see santa clause at christmas. and maybe santa clause can give me a dolly or something and we can put a christmas tree up and we can have a birthday cake if it's somebody's birthday and we can brush our teeth and sleepover. bye gramma i love you.and i'll see you later and i love you so much like a shining star and a glowing star. love you gramma

Hailey,

Where do I begin? I LOVE chocolate chip cookies...they are most definitely one of my favorite cookies! Especially if I'm sharing them with you and they have nuts in them. Mmm good!

Next, how did you know I love roses? I think they smell wonderfully...are there any blooming there now?

Have mommy take a new picture of you and Gracie or you and Jordan. I don't know what Jordan looks like now or her baby sister, Bailey...

Hailey, even if you aren't always nice, I will always love you. Just the way you are, with the not-so-nice to Trinity pushing or throwing her like you did today. You are forgiven and you know, no matter what you ever do, I will always love you and you make me smile and laugh every time I read your letters! I treasure them and will keep writing you, so we can forever be friends, just you and me. And, oh, Gracie, too. I will be Gracie's friend, too.

I heard Gracie is going to be a big sister again!!! How exciting. Did she jump up and down when her mommy told her there was a baby in her belly? I jumped up and down when aunt Rebecca called me on the telephone and told me! I am happy for their family...very much happy.

Has mommy read you my fairytale story? Maybe when you're a little older she can read it to you and then you will understand it better.

Let's see...

Hailey, I praise the Lord for you, too. You are a miracle to me, just like Trinity is.

What movies do you like to watch? Yes, I love to blow bubbles. Playing hide-and-seek will be so much fun. But what if you can't find me, then what? What if I can't find you because you know all the good places to hide, then what? I might sit and cry cuz I can't find you, then what?

What is your favorite cereal? Do you like Pizza, doughnuts, pretzels, pickles, gum?

I like all those things.

I love you so much. I want to kiss your face, tickle your belly and then snuggle under covers when the snow comes down, except there is no snow here, so we could cuddle when the rain comes down.

Papa is missing you, too. He took Isaac and Caleb to Sea World with him on Monday because they said grownups could bring their children to work with them on that day. They had so much fun and brought home a lot of candy, a coloring book, crayons, a jester hat that lights up with little balls on it...it is so cool. Oh, it rained, so Sea World gave them a raincoat with Shamu on it, too! I missed them, but I don't think they missed me.

Gramma is getting tired now, so I have to go to sleep. Do you still have the ropes hanging from your ceiling like you did when I was up there?

Has it snowed there yet? Do you like snow?

Please kiss Triny Trin for me real good, ok? Help her to walk. Hold her fingers with your fingers and let her go forward. She will be so happy to follow you everywhere you go when she is able to walk all by herself.

Kisses and hugs forever, my friend, Hailey Daune Ritenburg.

Forever your gramma.

I took this picture at a park we went to a few weeks ago. You would like this park...there are a lot of ducks, turtles and geese like these everywhere and they make a lot of noise to scare people away. Papa Bell wants to fish in the lake at this park. I'll send you some of those pictures when it happens, ok?

I love you girls.

2009-09-25T16:02:00.002-05:00

Hailey...
Hi, girl! I wanted to send you a pix of your cousin, Joseph...They came last nite and I put him to sleep this afternoon so his daddy and mommy could go look for a new house because you know they are living in Texas now near gramma.
Here he is:

Isn't he handsome? He fell right asleep in my arms, like you used to when you were little like him.
I love u.
Forever your gramma.

It's National Cheeseburger Day!

2009-09-18T15:44:00.005-05:00

...thought you'd like to know what holiday it is today! It's also Chile's Independence Day!

Hey sweet girls...

I love you guys!

Catch my kisses...here they come...

.
Two kisses each!
Are you enjoying school, Hailey?

What have you been learning? Write me a letter!
Forever your gramma.

Oh, how could I forget?

A flower for each of you.

This one is for you, Hailey...

Trinity Faith, this one is for you!

Letters from Hailey to Gramma...

2009-09-15T14:37:00.000-05:00

Hailey,

I am going to post some of your letters so I can read them from here and you can see what you've told me and then remind mommy about coming down here to see us and do fun things together...ok?

Dear Gramma,

i love you. i went to
sydney's house and gracie's house and to the movie theatre with gracie and i
will have a house by myslef and i have a good time for my nice day and for i'll
build for you it's ganna be a special house and you will like it so
much ok gramma and for this nice day gramma i love you and i'll sing
you a new song that's very special and i'll sing the whole song...what is the
whole song mom? oh...go to the hole, go to the wonderful wonderful hole.
you know what gramma, we saw lots and lots of stars when we came home,
bye gramma i love you so much and i went in the pool with gracie to
get all clean but we were all dirty too, i'll see you wednesday and i'll go to
the bounce house place with you if we have tickets again, ok gramma, ok love you
too. and i saw lots and lots and lots of stars and you know what? i saw bats at
camping but they were outside and we had a good time and i'm ganna
build a big big house for you ok gramma i bet you will like it and you know what
gramma, it's ganna be huge and i'll bet you'll ike it and next time i can go to
the zoo with you and gracie and jordan and i'll see you wednesday and i love you
and i'll give yo ua very special treat ok gramma, bye see you
later.

Love Hailey

Here's another letter that tickled me and still does!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I THINK TRINITY IS CUTE AND I
LOVE YOU SO MUCH I'LL SEE YOU SOMETIME AND I HAD A BIRTHDAY AND I KNOW YOU
KNOW THAT AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE A SPECIAL THING FOR YOU AND FOR
THIS NICE DAY AND FOR YOU COMED OVER AND FOR TRINITY COMED OUT
OF MOMMY'S BELLY AND FOR THIS NICE DAY AND FOR GRAMA DRIVED ME TO THE
CHURCH AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I JUST WANT TO BE BIG AND SOMETIME
I'LL SEE YOU AND SEE A BEAR WITH YOU AND I LOVE GRAMMA THE END. I'LL
GIVE YOU A PRESENT AND I'LL PAINT A PICTURE AND YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND
SOMEDAY I'LL SEE YOU AND FARMER 3 THE END. ONE MORE THING MOMMY, AND I'LL
HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH GRAMMA AND FOR THIS NICE DAY AND SOMETIME I'LL HAVE
WATERMELON WITH YOU AND SOMETIME I'LL SLEEP OVER WITH YOU AND IF PA PA
WANTS WE'LL HAVE A CHOICE AND THAT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND GRACIE
WILL COME AND I KNOW YOU KNOW HER AND FOR THIS NICE DAY AND FOR I WENT TO
PA PA'S HOUSE AND FOR SOMETIME MY MA MA CAN DRIVE YOU TO MY HOUSE AND I
LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MOTHER'S DAY AND THE
END.

LOVE, HAILEY

BUT ONE MORE THING MA MA AND
FOR WE CAN GO TO THE ZOO AND SEE SOMETHING AND AMEN.
Here's one that is very sad, but it's so cute I'll treasure it forever...

Dear gramma, my fish died, blue died i'm very sad because he was my favorite
fish and i'm so sad he's gone and when daddy's home we'll say good bye. can we
have a lolly pop with gramma can we go to the zoo with gramma i think there's
ganna be a carnival there. i love my bears and i love polly pockets and i have a
special crown- i was a baby and i love everyboy in the whole world, ok?
goodbye!

Love, Hailey
Thanks, Hailey, for making my day!
Forever your gramma!

Rainy day to you two!

2009-09-09T12:28:00.000-05:00

Hi, Hailey, Hello Trinity!

How are you? What have you guys been up to?

It is raining here today; that's something we really needed. So, gramma is doing the happy dance...Ask mommy what the happy dance looks like!

Triny, I hear you're crawling everywhere. How I wish I were there to see you crawl.

Hailey, mommy told me that your other gramma gave you a bunch of books. Which ones are you reading or is mommy reading to you?

I have some favorite books myself. I love the Frog and Toad books. I read them to Isaac and Caleb almost every day when they were your age.

Another favorite is Good Night Moon.

I know there are a lot more, but I can't remember them. Tell me your favorites.

Right now gramma is reading three books....

Are you helping mommy can peaches tomorrow, Hailey? Send me some for Christmas...

What would you like gramma to make you for Christmas? Another kind of apron? A dress? A skirt? Matching outift with Trinity? Tell me, please.

I'm sending you a picture of some fish. They're saying 'HELLO GIRLS!'

I love you.

Oh, Hailey, I loved how you did your makeup the other day...beautiful, girl...!

Forever your gramma.

A Texas Christmas Tree already!

2009-08-28T15:43:00.000-05:00

I thought you might like to see how some places decorate their trees...It has rope on it and jalepeno peppers for lights, which are very hot, and a cowboy hat for the top~ Funny, huh?

Hey Girls...How are you? What've you been up to?

We had a thunderstorm here last nite. I know that really isn't exciting to you guys up there, but to us, it was music to our ears and a desperately needed drink for the trees and flowers.

Everything is very dry here, so it was a gift from Daddy God to us.

How was your week? Mine has been good. Our pool isn't doing well. I think we're going to close it. There is a leak we cannot seem to find and the air keeps coming out of the top...sad.

Daizee is doing well. She isn't running away for some reason anymore...maybe being tied up for months everytime she went out has taught her to enjoy her big yard. But we're glad she is free and we can let her chase cats away...we don't care for cats.

Tonite is our movie nite. Do you have one of those?

I made guacamole dip last nite and told grampa how you love avacados, Hailey.

Oh, what is Trinity doing now? How many teeth does she have? Is she walking yet?

Did I tell you the funny papa is moving here with gramma? They are coming in October and we are very excited and happy!

When are you guys coming down? We miss you and want to see you.

Well, have a great weekend, ok?

I love you forever.

Gramma.

I love you!

2009-08-20T23:32:00.001-05:00

Kisses and hugs to you two!

Forever your gramma.

P.S.-Thanks for cheering me up, Hailey, by telling me that you're going to come see me! You made my day. I will be waiting at the airport for you whenever you tell you're on your way!

Have a lick of ice cream!

2009-08-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

My sweet baby girls...Oh, how beautiful you are. Trinity, I received your picture in the mail the other day and there are imaginary kisses all over it!

Hailey, grampa absolutely loves your coloring pictures and the boys loved how well you spelled and wrote your own name.

They love their birthday cards~

Fuinny thing...Daizee, our dog, is 'playing' with a June bug all over the floor. She keeps putting it in her mouth, spitting it out and then pawing it with her feet! And she's having fun doing it!

I miss you two very much. You are always in my thougts every day.

So, Hailey, you're going to be doing 'seatwork' soon, right? Do you know what that is? It's when mom sits you down at the table and she teaches you things you didn't know. Then you might sit there a while and write your name, your numbers and then there is a time when she sits down and reads a story to you. Just like you're doing now, but for some odd reason, they call that 'school'~ Funny, huh?

Isn't learning fun? I love to learn new things. There is a verse in the Bible that says this:

Daniel 1:17 (KJV) As for these four children, God gave
them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams.

I believe that God will teach you all you need to know. He will give you knowledge to learn ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. Isn't our Daddy God good? He helps us when we don't know something. I really love that about our Heavenly Daddy. Isn't it great, too, that you have two daddies? One on earth to take good care of you and a Heavenly Daddy to take care of all those things that only He can. Like keeping you healthy, and filling your heart with His love to be kind when you would rather be mean. Or when someone is mean to you, He helps you to not be mean back. Only your Heavenly daddy can do that.

Well, gramma needs to go to sleep now, but First I need you to know that Jesus loves you and Trinity just the way you are, even when you do wrong things. His love never changes for you.

...and I love you, too!

Forever your gramma.

Happy Monday, Girls!~

2009-08-03T14:17:00.001-05:00

Hailey,
I just loved your letter...here it is so everyone who loves you can see how you're growing and all that you have to say:

i love you. i went to sydney's house and gracie's house and to the movie theatre with gracie and i will have a house by myslef and i have a good time for my nice day and for i'll build for you it's ganna be a special house and you will like it so much ok gramma and for this nice day gramma i love you and i'll sing you a new song that's very special and i'll sing the whole song...what is the whole song mom? oh...go to the hole, go to the wonderful wonderful hole. you know what gramma, we saw lots and lots of stars when we came home, bye gramma i love you so much and i went in the pool with gracie to get all clean but we were all dirty too, i'll see you wednesday and i'll go to the bounce house place with you if we have tickets again, ok gramma, ok love you too. and i saw lots and lots and lots of stars and you know what? i saw bats at camping but they were outside and we had a good time and i'm ganna build a big big house for you ok gramma i bet you will like it and you know what gramma, it's ganna be huge and i'll bet you'll ike it and next time i can go to the zoo with you and gracie and jordan and i'll see you wednesday and i love you and i'll give yo ua very special treat ok gramma, bye see you later.

Love Hailey

Hailey,

That is the most wonderful letter. You are a good writer and thinker, too. When I see you we will do lots of fun things. I love that you have named your snakes and they are beautiful.

Here is their pictre so everyone can see them. They seem like nice snakes to have in your garden to eat the mice!

Gramma loves snakes...except the ones that are bad...but there are only a few of those kinds and they stay away from people.

You promise me you'll take good care of Triny Trin for me and give her lots and lots of kisses and hugs!

Forever your gramma.

2009-07-25T10:27:00.000-05:00

Girls,
It's been way too long since I've written. I know we talk on the phone and I am so glad you had a great camping trip-seeing the raccoon and hiking for miles...but it's not the same as when you open up this page and see that Gramma has written you two a letter to say that I love you!

Well, I love you!

Gramma and grampa went away for our twenty-seventh anniversary, which is a celebration about two people that love each other for a long time...since we were young like mommy and daddy. We drove to a town called San Marcos and stayed at a motel; then we went to see the San Marcos river and I went into the river to wet my feet, when Grampa told me there was a snake in the water...here is its picture. He wasn't afraid of us at all, but I was of him. He was probably a poisonous snake and could have hurt me if he had bit me. So, I got out of the water and took pictures from the edge of the water.

After that day, we went to a small town named 'Gruene', but it's said like the color-green! We went to a coffee shop, then to a bunch of different little shops and finally we came home and went swimming! Then we went and picked up your uncle Isaac and your uncle Caleb. Uncle Josh stayed overnite last nite. Did he stay at your house when he came to see you?
What did you do with Josh and Dan? Did you have fun with them?
Tell me all about your camping trip, please, Hailey! I love to camp.
Did mommy ever tell you about when she was a little girl and we went camping? What did she tell you? Did daddy camp when he was a boy?
I heard Trinity cut two teeth on your trip! How exciting. Did you see any bears when you were at Alleghany? That place is one of Gramma's favorite places in the whole world. If we come up there sometime, I want to go there with you and your sister, ok?
Kiss Trinny Trin for me, ok?
I love you girls so much.
Forever your gramma!

2009-07-14T16:47:00.000-05:00

Hailey, Trinity!

Hello. How are you? What are you two doing these days? Have you gone swimming lately? How about hiking with daddy and mommy?
Have you seen uncle Josh or uncle Dan yet? Make sure they take lots of pictures of you two for me~!

Gramma has been doing lots of different things. Let's see:

1. I spend too much time getting leaves out of the new pool! But that gets me in the water and helps me to cool off!
2. I made myself a dress, kinda like yours. I wore it Sat. when I went out with some of my friends.
3. Grampa has been home for the last four days, so we've been enjoying each other.

4. The boys and I rode our bikes to the library and I got a video called, "The Dog Whisperer" and am looking forward to learning more about Daizee Mae and how to take better care of her.

5. Sunday we went to a place called, "Paradise Canyon" for a picnic with our church and we had a wonderful time. I only wish you were there with us. The water was FREEZING! But it was very hot outside, so it felt very good to jump in. Gramma thought she was young again and tried to swim across the river and got scared when she ran out of breath and then prayed and Jesus helped her! That was kinda scary, but God took care of me and I am fine!

Would you please write me a letter and tell your mother to send me some new pictures of you and your sister!

Forever your gramma.

Here's a picture of the river...and one of your amazing grampa video taping the baptisms we watched that day!...lots of people have given their lives to Jesus and we celebrated with them that day!
I love you girls!

All my beautiful Girls!

2009-07-05T01:03:00.000-05:00

Oh, girls, how I miss you both so much!!!

Sending kisses through the computer...Did you catch them?

Hailey, thanks for calling me and telling me all about the parade! You made my day.

I want the world to see how great you guys look in the dresses I made for you and mommy and Trinny Trin Trin...

You guys look so feminine-and beautiful!

I love you so much.

Forever your gramma!

2009-06-24T16:40:00.001-05:00

Hello, my sweeties...

Hey, isn't next week mommy's birthday?

Hailey, what do you have planned for mommy's special day?

Are you going to make a cake with Daddy or one of your own?

I am sending mommy a box with gifts for her and you and Trinity. Please be sure to keep your eyes open for the box. It should be at your house by Sat., I hope!

What have you two been doing?

I heard you have staples in your head.

Does that hurt?

Did you cry when they put them in?

What was Triny doing when the nurse helped you?

How does your head feel now?

Are you getting the staples out soon?

If I was there, I would kiss your head where your boo boo is!

Here is a pix of our new pool.

When you come here, I will take you in the water and carry you and let you lay on the air mattress we have...it's a lot of fun.

Did you have fun swimming with Jordan and Bailey?

Do they have a big pool?

Ours is big for us.

Write me a letter, Hailey, please.

I love your letters.

Forever your gramma!

Good morning, Girls!

2009-06-09T10:13:00.001-05:00

Happy Tuesday to you both...

Thought I'd send a picture of a squirrel that was very brave to stay on the tree so I could take his photo! He even posed for me!

How've you been? I'm almost finished with your dresses. It's been fun to make them.

Have a wonderful day with daddy off and mommy growing daily with your baby sister or brother in her tummy!

I love you.

Forever your gramma.

Happy June, my sweet girls...

2009-06-05T22:18:00.000-05:00

Dearest Hailey Daune and Trinity Faith,

Hello. How are you two doing? I know you're separated right now and that Hailey, you're visiting your cousins and Triny is with mommy and daddy on their adventure.

I'm sure by the time you read this, that you've had a great time Hailey and are happy to be with your baby sister and your family. Be sure to kiss Triny for me, ok?

I miss you two. I've been working on matching dresses for you two and I'm very excited that they're turned out sooo pretty!

Here's some pictures so you get an idea of what they look like:

Forever your gramma!

I love you, Hailey and Trinity Ritenburg!

2009-06-02T22:08:00.000-05:00

***Hi girls...****

How are you today?

Did you enjoy daddy these last three days?

Papa was off work, too, for four days and he spent the last two days fixing our lawnmower...we don't have one like yours that you can sit on. Ours is a small one that you push. Now he's soaking what's called the carburator in some stuff to clean it out. We hope that makes it go!

Papa also made me a chair called an 'Adirondack chair'!

I stained it and made a mess of myself. Here are some pictures of the chair, my hand and legs splashed with stain. Gramma looks like I have the measles...ask mommy what that is, she'll tell you.

Tell me what you did this past weekend and mommy tells me you saw the funny papa and gramma Bell. Did Papa Bell make you laugh? Are you wearing your aprons? Is Trinity wearing hers, too?

I love you so much.

Forever your gramma.

May is almost over!

2009-05-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hailey and Triny Trin,

Hello! I know gramma and grampa are coming over today, that is great gramma and grampa. Would you please let them see my pictures of us on my other website, Freedominthedance ? I want them to see how I keep up with you.

I love you two girls with all my heart.

Forever your gramma.

A flower for You two!

2009-05-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

Gramma's girls~
Good afternoon. I am finally much better and am able to sit down and jot a note to you both.

I love you.

Yesterday morning, I woke up and felt fine and then later in the morning, I started to feel extremely sore, achy, and weak. So I lay down and spent the rest of the day in bed, on the couch, and trying to get warm. I've slept so much in the last twenty four hours that I should be so energetic, but Gramma is a gramma, right? I am feeling much better, tho!

How are you two? I miss you. I am sure that I'll be seeing you again sometime this year. Please spend time with Gramma and Papa Bell. They are very old and love your company and won't live forever. I miss them very much, too.

I have some exciting news. Your great aunt, Karyn, the one in Florida, that gave us our new car...well, uncle Rick got a job here in San Antonio and they're moving here. I couldn't be more excited. That means that Joseph will be nearby, as well as Emily and Jacob, I hope. He graduates from high school next month and is planning on college. But I don't know for sure where that will be.

Well, kiss your mommy and daddy for me and tell them I love them, too! And visit my other blog to see the skit grampa and I did last Sunday nite.

Forever your gramma.

HHHEEELLLOOO GIRLS!

2009-05-08T13:10:00.000-05:00

Dearest Hailey and Triny trin trin...
How are you? I miss you so much and really, Hailey, I do wish I could have put you in my suitcase and brought you back here with me! But you need to help mommy with Trinity and make her laugh the way only you can...
Booya!
I loved playing the matching game with you and I am amazed at how good you are at it! I took so many pictures of you and your sister that I don't know what to do~
What was your favorite part of our visit? Was it playing with the snake with the boys? I know Caleb and Isaac really enjoyed holding it and putting it in Caleb's pocket! Maybe you will find it again.
I liked the pony baby...here's her picture...

Has mommy started the garden yet? Are you planting anything special? When I came home, I had broccoli growing that the birds planted by dropping the seeds from the feeder onto the ground.

Daizee Mae was sooooo happy to see us when we came home! And Josh came to the airport to pick us up and stayed until really late.

Well, write me a letter soon and tell me what you're making with your new aprons...have mommy take a picture and send it to me, please so I can post it here on your blog.

Please, kiss Trinity for me and tell her, "BOOYA!"

Forever your gramma.

Raindrops...and the color GREEN...

2009-04-17T12:18:00.000-05:00

Hailey...
I heard you fell down the stairs and have a boo boo on your elbow. How is it today? Did it bleed? When I come, I'll kiss it for you, ok?
It's raining here. That is a wonderful thing where Gramma lives because we don't get much rain. But I know you do and then everything turns pretty when the water gives the grass and trees a drink. The color green is one of my favorite colors. What is your favorite color? Does Trinity look good when she has green on?
Did you know that when the boys and I get off the plane, your mommy is picking us up and bringing us to your house for the day and then I will sleep in your sister's bedroom, right? Can the boys sleep in your room or do you want them to sleep downstairs on the floor in the living room? Let me know, ok.
I took a picture of water on some flowers I'm growing. Thought you might like to see the raindrops up close.

Now, here's a lot of green!

Forever your gramma.

P.S.-Would you give mommy, daddy and especially Trinity a juicy kiss from me and Grampa? Thanks, sweetie!

...Oh, one more thing...

2009-04-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

Here are the pictures I promised of my new sewing room...can't wait until one day you come here and we sew together. That will be my highlight for the year!

We're counting the days!!!

2009-04-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

Hailey and Trinity,

Girls, girls, girls! Are you ready to have your boys come over and play? Are you ready for gramma to kiss your faces so much that you will be red? Are you ready to play outside (let's hope it will be warm when we're there!) together?
I hope so. I know I am. It's only fourteen days before we board that plane and head your way.

In the meantime, I'm thinking about all the things we should do...

1. Kiss and hug a lot!

2. Read books together.

3. Give mommy and daddy a date nite.

4. Walk to the mailbox together.

5. Sing songs.

6. Play dress up.

7. Let mommy highlight my hair again!

8. Pray together.

9. Call Papa lots of times.

...and 10. Think about when you'll come down here and we can go swimming at Sea World together and ride the roller coaster!~!!!

Now, it's your turn to write me ten things you want to do while we come visit, ok?

Forever your gramma.

How the days drift by without any words or thoughts...

2009-04-06T22:06:00.000-05:00

Hi, Girls!!!

I miss you. I saw your picture two days ago and haven't stopped thinking how beautiful you two are and yes, you are carbon copies of your mommy!...and each other.

I've been painting this weekend...my 'shop'/'studio'/sewing room'! It's a yellow color on the walls and a green just like the green you had in your living room before mommy painted it. I love it. I would show you a picture, but my camera battery died and I am waiting patiently for a new one to come in the mail...it's part of my warranty and if I bought a new battery while I waited it would cost $40+ dollars and I don't want to spend that right now on that! So, when I get the battery in the mail, I will take a picture for you! Here is a picture before I painted it...

How are you? I heard from great Gramma Bell that you were supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow! Yuck...do you like it? I don't like to be cold at all.

Oh, I wanted to let everyone see your wonderful letter to me...

Dear Gramma,

i want you to give me a present and i'll give you my name and so i'll send you a letter for you and i'll spell mommy's name and trinty's name and the end dear gramma, i love you so much. we went to a walk gramma and we have a good time and i want to see polar bears at the zoo with you and i really want to get luch with you and go on the slides with you but i'm ganna be cold if i wear these clothes, and the end i love you soo much and we have fishies and i like butterflies. the end i love you so much even when you're at florida, the end gramma. i want to go to sesamea street with grace and jordan and gramma and i wanna see them and i wanna go to a bonfire with you gramma and gracie and jordan tell gracie if she's at house if you see jordan too tell them you want to go to sesamea street, and you listen to me gramma and if you're tired then you can do it. and i wanna go to easter with you and easter with gramma and gracie. i wanna get jelly beans in the eggs, the end. i have a turtle too ok gramma, and i love my apron, and i have summer clothes, and a barbie shirt, and a green skirt witha flower on it and a bracelet foryou and i'll give it to you cuz you don't make bracelets, and so...hummm....i have someping to color with gramma and i have bears to see at the zoo, i have nothing to say mom...

Love, Hailey

Let me answer your questions...and comments...

About a present...I want to wait until I come so I can give it directly to you, ok?

Hailey, I love you so much, too!!!

Oh, our fishes both died...Isaac and Caleb were very sad because they had taken good care of them...we don't know what happened. But it's ok.

What are you doing on Easter? WE are acting on Easter at our church...but I don't know what kind of acting yet. Please pray for gramma to be ready and not scared, ok? Thanks.

Well, I am going to go to sleep.

Have a great day and...

I'm forever your gramma.

Good Morning, Girls!

2009-04-02T07:31:00.000-05:00

The itsy bitsy spider on a sunflower head that just finished blooming!

It's Thursday, April 2, 2009 and I just wanted to be the first one today to remind you two that Jesus, along with a whole lot of other people-mommy, daddy, gramma & grampa Ritenburg, and your great grandparents celebrate and love you very much...along with your uncle Caleb and Isaac, Josh, and Dan, too. Then there's your Sunday school teachers, your friends, and I can't even name everyone else...just know how special you are and treasured.

Today, I am thinking of some things I am thankful for...what are you thankful for?

For me, your gramma, I am so thankful for the day you were born, Hailey, and I watched you come out and the doctor say, 'It's a girl'! I jumped up and down with joy...a girl, and I knew you'd have red hair...

What color is Trinity's hair now? Could you have mommy send me a picture of Trinity, please?

I am also thankful for being able to sing. Are you singing a lot? What songs do you sing?

Why not write me a note? I loved the last one you sent...may I post it here so everyone can read how wonderful it was?

Forever your gramma.

A Picture for You...

2009-03-25T23:18:00.000-05:00

The boys and grampa and I went hiking before church one Sunday because we thought it was going to rain and wanted to spend time in the woods, so we went here first, then to church. It was a wonderful time...only wish you were there with us!
Love you.

Forever your gramma!

Hey Girls!

2009-03-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

Dearest Hailey Daune and Trinity Faith,

Just wanted to jot a few words to let you know I'm thinking about the two of you.

Please tell your mommy to remove the doopa picture of you, Trinity! It's not very lady-like and though your cheeks are so juicy, I think it shouldn't be displayed across the Internet!

Did you know great gramma was in the hospital? She is supposed to come home tomorrow.

Be sure to call her, Hailey, and let her know you are praying for her.

I finished another two aprons and a lady is buying three of them from me!!!! That is exciting.

I have a question for you...would you both think of a name I can call my sewing apron business? I have been giving it much thought and asking Jesus to give me a name that will remind people that He came to serve and that when one wears an apron they are serving someone...
I want people to serve Jesus...that's why I made you your apron...to serve your family, Hailey!

Well, that's all for tonite. I'm going to write on my other blog now.

Forever your gramma.

A picture of papa!!! He is smiling and thinkin' of you two~

2009-03-22T20:21:00.000-05:00

This is how to spell my name:

g r a m m a.

Now you can write to me using my name.

I can't wait to see you again, Hailey.

See, gramma knows how to spell your name, too!

I love you, Hailey.

Forever your g r a m m a!!!

A Florida Picture for you two!!!

2009-03-18T08:24:00.001-05:00

This is Emily, your second cousin and Caleb, your uncle pretending they are kangaroos!!!

2009-03-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

Hey sweet baby girls...

How are you guys? I so miss writing you...as you know, Gramma's been on vacation, traveling to Florida...here's a map so you can see my journey...check it out.

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4ADBS_enUS280US281&q=I%2010%20interstae%20travel%20to%20florida%20from%20San%20Antonio&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

See if that helps you see how far we traveled in a rental car and then home with our new van...here's a picture of our new car...

Well, I'm heading to bed, but I wanted to say I LOVE YOU and am planning on writing daily once again to catch you two up with gramma's life and to hear what your life is like now.

Forever your gramma.

2009-02-19T13:09:00.001-06:00

Dearest Granddaughters...

Hello. I apologize for not writing every day. I miss you. I love you.

How've you been? Whatcha been up to?

Everyone here sends their love, including Daizee the dog and Pickles the fish.

Did mommy tell you we're leaving to go down to Florida next Thursday? Yes, and we'll be seeing your second cousins, the Walkers.

We'll be gone for over a week, so I'm not sure how often I'll get to write, but I will call you.

I've been working on some new aprons...one for myself and several to sell. Here are some pictures of the ones that I'm selling:

Two of the three can be used on either side. It's been fun.

Gotta go and finish school with the boys.

Forever your gramma.

Valentine Gifts!!

2009-02-13T13:03:00.000-06:00

Dearest Girls,
I'm soooo happy, Hailey, that you got my apron. Please, oh please, have mommy take a picture of it so I can see how it looks on you~

Trinity, you'll have to wait for yours until you are old enough to cook!!!

I miss you both and yet when I hear your voices (or gurgles, Triny) over the telephone wires, I feel like I'm right there with you and I could kiss your gentle smooth cheeks.

Do plan on you two and mommy having a garden this year or at least plant the Sweet William seeds in a pot inside and then when they get big enough, you can plant them outside under the kitchen window. But you must remind mommy to water them since you don't have a hose, or do you have one now?

Here is a picture of the baker's apron Caleb made himself (well, I did help a little!)

Here is a picture of your apron to look at and for family far away to see what it looks like.

Forever your gramma who loves you and holds you near to her heart.

Texas...

2009-02-12T22:41:00.000-06:00

Howdy my girls!
I miss you terribly! How've you been? Whatcha been up to?
I thought I'd send you some pix from a festival we went to a little while ago, so you can see how people down here have fun!
This picture is a riding bull...do you think you'd like to ride one of these? They aren't real, but they do move like they are!

Then there is this really amazing building with heads of different animals. Can you guess what kind of animals these are?

What do you think of sitting on one of these? This is for real! This lady looks like she's having a great time! Check out those horns~ that would hurt your hiney if you got in his way or he was having a bad day!

Well, now you know what you can look forward to when you come...FUN with gramma.

Sleep tight, my precious girls. I love you and we'll be together soon. Pray.

Forever your gramma.

A Hailstorm and a Present!

2009-02-10T22:41:00.000-06:00

Dearest Girls,

Welcome to my note of love for today.

Guess what we had? A hailstorm...it was really fun and loud.

The thunder off in the distance was our warning that it was going to rain, but then the wind picked up and then the rain began to pitter patter on the windows and before I could close them, the rain began to pound...it was frozen rain the size of a large pea called HAIL.

We quickly ran to the back porch where the hail was flying at us through windows without screens, which made us laugh and run back inside...our dog, Daizee, doesn't really like the thunder, but she was ok.

That went on for quite a while and I had to call Papa because he wasn't home and I wanted him to know what was happening by us so that he could be ready when he came home...he was far from home in the car and he still isn't home yet! That was almost two hours ago, so he must be driving really slowly ;o)

How was your day? I have a surprise coming in the mail for you. I do hope it comes before Saturday. If not, then you will certainly get your present on Monday.

So, watch the for the mailman, Hailey, and call me when he brings you the little box I sent, ok?

Kisses and many hugs all the way from Texas.

Forever your gramma.

Pickles

2009-02-09T15:29:00.000-06:00

Dearest Girls...

Good afternoon. I am wondering, Hailey, if you took your nap this afternoon before you went to be with your friends while mommy and daddy went on their date.

I wanted to share our newest family member...along with Daizee Mae, we now own, 'Pickles', our fish...here's his picture.

Well, I hear that Trinity is getting chunkier, too!

Hailey, please don't pick up Trinity when mommy says not to. I know you want to obey mommy and daddy, right? Ok, then, no more picking up your baby sister...just sit on the couch and ask mommy if you can hold her. I know mommy will say yes and then your sister will be safe and not cry cuz you drop her on her head.

Forever your gramma.

Weekend Wanderings...

2009-02-07T23:05:00.000-06:00

Hi, Hailey & Trinity...

How's your weekend going? Did you go out today?

I love you. It's hard to imagine that we've been apart three weeks now...time has flown and I'm sure Trinity is growing bigger and smiling more, too!

I miss you. I think of you all day long...sometimes I imagine us giggling together or you telling Isaac what to do...or you sweeping the kitchen floor the way only you can, Hailey.

We are planning a trip to Florida to see your great aunt Karyn and uncle Rick as well as Jacob, Emily and your newest cousin, Joseph...I wish you could come, too...we could all go to the ocean together...that would be fun...splashing in the water and building a sand castle together or maybe I could bury you up to your neck in sand...or you could bury me!

Perhaps we'll do that someday, ok?

In the meantime, remember that although we aren't together, our hearts are. You are forever in my heart and my prayers.

Kiss your baby sister, ok?

Forever your gramma.

Valentine is a Legend...

2009-02-05T22:15:00.000-06:00

Hailey,
I'm so disappointed...what I thought about Valentine's day is only a legend and perhaps this holiday isn't all good. But, as a follower of Jesus, which I know you sing to Jesus and you love Him, celebrating His love and giving mommy and daddy lots of kisses and chocolate on that one day, the 14th of this month, can only be a good thing!
God is love, right, so to celebrate love is to celebrate God and He wants us to celebrate Him.
I hope you had a great day and enjoyed your baby sister...I want you to give her a feather kiss...that's a kiss that is so soft it feels like a feather and can tickle her...
I'm sending you a kiss on the wind...look outside...is it windy? That's cuz my kisses are coming from so far away. Catch 'em, ok...
I love you...
Forever your gramma.

Hello!

2009-02-04T22:58:00.000-06:00

Well, Hello, my sweet girls...
How are you today?
I hope you like the changes I've made...mommy said you really liked the rabbit picture, Hailey, so I decided to put on some more of your other favorite pictures.
I enjoyed hearing both your voices today. It was my highlight...!
Do you know Papa and I celebrate Valentine's day the whole month? Do you know what Valentine's day is?
Perhaps tomorrow, after I get some rest, I'll tell you all about the holiday.
In the meantime, think about how much I love you and so does Papa.
Please paint me a picture, Hailey, and send it in the mail and I'll take a picture of your picture and put it here on your blog.
Good nite my sweet girls.
Forver your gramma.

2009-02-03T22:37:00.000-06:00

How was your day today, girls? Did you play in the snow or did it all melt? Great gramma Bell said you had a 'heat wave'...up to 30! Wow...that must have been refreshing-that means it felt good to your skin!

I love you...never forget that, ok?

I also miss you.

Papa says he loves you, too! He is piling through the mail getting our taxes ready to be done. Ask mommy, Hailey, what taxes are...she loves to do your taxes.

I found a game you can play with mommy...it's called, "Doggy, Doggy"...enjoy it.

"We played this game when it was raining. (I think you could play it when it's snowing out!)

It is an inside game. A student played the part of the dog. He or she sat in a chair with their back to the class. An eraser or another object was put under the chair. That was the bone. While the dog was turned around with his or her eyes closed someone would sneak up and steal the bone and hide it somewhere on his person. Then everyone would sing: Doggy, Doggy, where's your bone? Somebody's stole it from your home. Guess who it might be you. Then the dog has three chances to guess who took it. Sometimes it was left under his or her chair. If the dog guessed right then he got to do it again. If he guessed wrong than the person who had the bone got a turn as the dog."

I love you...

Forever your gramma.

I know You're sleepin...

2009-02-02T22:41:00.001-06:00

Well, it's late, but I just had to drop you a short note to say I love you both with all my heart.
Trinity, you may be up, but if you are, I'm sure it's just to get a last drink before you snooze the night away between mommy and daddy...
I thought I'd tell you both that when your mom was a baby, it was just the two of us and she slept with me that first year...atleast until I married Papa! After that, he insisted that your mommy move to her own bed, the crib...and then along came your uncle Josh and since my tummy got big pretty quickly, Papa kinda got pushed over anyway! That's ok...
Well, have a great day tomorrow and why not drop me a note or have mom call me so we can chat...
I forgot to bring home your painting, Hailey...could you have your parent's send that to us along with my Mary Kay and Papa's cell phone charger? Kiss her for me, would you?
Forever your gramma!~

It's been eight days already...

2009-01-31T21:54:00.001-06:00

Dear Hailey and Trinity,
Hello! I love and miss you. I hope you had a great week.
I am finding it more and more difficult to keep your sweet faces so clear in my mind. When we were there, it was as if time stood still; but now, as the week has flown by, your faces have faded in my memory...guess that's why I go back over and over my pictures of our visit.
Wasn't it a wonderful visit? Dancing with you, Trinity, and just looking into your beautiful face...ah! And you, my sweet Hailey girl...your giggle is contagious...I'm gonna post a video, but you probably won't be able to see it unless mommy takes you to the library...it's the one of you doing your dance to daddy's soundman beat!!! Then you start giggling...cracks me up every time I watch it...
Kiss mommy and daddy for me, ok? Then have them kiss you for me, Hailey...then you gently kiss Trinity for me and papa, ok?
Have a great time at church with your class tomorrow and remember that your gramma may be in Texas, but her heart is right there close to yours.
I wrote a poem this morning...it was for you girls. It's on my blog...
I love you.
Forever your gramma.

2009-01-30T23:55:00.000-06:00

I love you.

Forever your gamma!

Hi, Girls!

2009-01-29T15:26:00.000-06:00

Wacha doin'? I'm making pizza dough for dinner...
Thought I'd include a story for mommy to read to you, Hailey...Here's the website, if mommy wants it! http://www.macgillicuddy.org/

Monster-ous Mouth
As he walked through the forest, Mr. Monster heard what he thought was a familiar voice. "You ding-blasted stupid dumb thing!" cried his son’s voice. "Why can’t you work right?"
Mr. Monster had no idea what MacGillicuddy was talking about. But he knew that he did NOT like the kind of language that MacGillicuddy was using. He stayed and listened for a few moments more, but things seemed to quiet down after that.
"Hmm," thought Mr. Monster. I’m going to have to talk to MacGillicuddy about the language he uses." But Mr. Monster was busy running some errands, so he figured he could talk to MacGillicuddy later.
Later that afternoon, MacGillicuddy and Mayhem were playing in the apple tree, right above MacGillicuddy’s underground home. MacGillicuddy was on one of the lower branches, nearer the ground, and Mayhem was high up in the tree. MacGillicuddy was breaking off old dead branches, and tossing them up at Mayhem.
But Mayhem was very good at catching them before they hit him. Then he would throw them back at MacGillicuddy. Because he was higher up, it was easier for Mayhem to throw them hard at MacGillicuddy.
MacGillicuddy caught most of the branches, but every once in a while, he would miss one. If he was lucky, the branch would miss him, too. But Mayhem threw pretty well, so sometimes MacGillicuddy got hit by one of the branches.
They were tossing the branches at each other, and laughing, when . . . CLUNKKK!!! One of the branches hit MacGillicuddy right on the head. In fact, it hit him right above his eye. "Mayhem, you stupid, dad-blasted, no-good, gosh darn dope!" yelled MacGillicuddy. "You almost hit me in the eye!"
MacGillicuddy was mad! "What kind of a dumb ding-dang dodo are you, anyway!?"
"Hey, MacGillicuddy!" answered Mayhem. "Don’t you talk to me that way!"
"Yeah? Why not?" demanded MacGillicuddy. "You could have made me blind! I’ll talk to you any way I like! It’s my tree!"
"No you won’t." answered Mayhem. "Because I won’t stay!" Mayhem began climbing down the tree. When he reached the ground, MacGillicuddy jumped down from the branch he was on.
"Sure, go home. Who wants to play with a stupid like you, anyway?" MacGillicuddy yelled at him.
Mayhem turned his back, and walked away. He didn’t say anything to MacGillicuddy. He just kept on walking. That made MacGillicuddy even madder. He couldn’t argue with Mayhem, if Mayhem just walked away.
"Hey, Mayhem!" MacGillicuddy called. But Mayhem just kept walking.
"HEY, MAYHEM!" MacGillicuddy called even louder. But Mayhem just kept walking.
HEY, MAYHEM!!! MacGillicuddy bellowed! But Mayhem just kept walking.
Then MacGillicuddy did it. He took a deep breath, and yelled at Mayhem as loud as he could. But it wasn’t so much how loud he yelled, as what he yelled. You see, MacGillicuddy called Mayhem a bad name, and then, he swore at him.
When he heard that bad word, Mayhem did stop. He slowly turned around and just stared at MacGillicuddy. Then, Mayhem did the funniest thing! He just started to smile. MacGillicuddy could not understand what Mayhem was smiling about. As Mayhem turned around to walk away, suddenly MacGillicuddy found out why Mayhem had been smiling.
Two big monster hands landed on MacGillicuddy’s shoulders. Mrs. Monster said from behind, "MacGillicuddy Monster! Where did you learn to use language like that? Who do you think you are, to talk that way? You should know better than that! In our family we DO NOT speak that way."
Suddenly MacGillicuddy found himself spun around, and he was looking directly into the face of a very angry Momster. He couldn’t remember ever seeing his mother that angry before.
"H-H-H-Hello, Moms." said MacGillicuddy. "I didn’t know you were there."
"Don’t you ‘Hello, Moms’ me, you young monster. I asked you a question. Where did you learn to use language like that?"
MacGillicuddy told her that he had heard a couple of older monsters using bad language in the woods a few days ago. He thought they were very grown up, and thought it made him sound really cool if he talked like them.
"Well, cool is not how you sound." answered his mother. "I don’t like any of the language I have heard from you in the last few days, and I doubt your father will be glad to hear about this either!"
"Oh, Moms! Do we have to tell him?" asked MacGillicuddy.
"Of course! He and I have a responsibility from God to teach you how to live as a good monster. We both need to know as much as we can to lead you in the right way. For example, you have never heard us use that kind of language have you?"
MacGillicuddy shook his head.
"That’s right." she continued. "And you need to learn the right way to use your mouth as well. You march down into your room, and get your Bible. I want you to read James, chapter three, and then memorize Colossians 4:6."
MacGillicuddy did what he was told, and stayed in his room until dinner time. When his father called him to dinner, he expected to get into trouble some more. But his father simply asked him if he had read the parts of the Bible that he was supposed to.
MacGillicuddy nodded. As he sat down to eat, he was surprised to see some his favorite food on the table. There was lots of fried chicken, and especially corn on the cob. At the end of the table where dessert always stood waiting was apple pie! MacGillicuddy couldn’t believe that his favorite foods were all here, on a day when he was in so much trouble.
After they said grace, the Monster family began to eat. But then something very strange happened. Mrs. Monster had a bowl of Brussels sprouts next to her, which she never passed to MacGillicuddy. That was all right by him, he hated Brussels sprouts.
As he opened his mouth to bite into some corn on the cob, suddenly Mrs. Monster grabbed a Brussels sprout from the bowl and threw it hard and fast, right into MacGillicuddy’s mouth! He couldn’t help but chomp down on it in surprise. His whole mouth was filled with the flavor of a tiny cabbage. He swallowed it. Then he tried again for a bite of corn, to take away the flavor of the Brussels sprout. Again, Mrs. Monster quickly threw another sprout right into MacGillicuddy’s mouth.
MacGillicuddy gave up on the corn, and reached for a drumstick. But the moment he opened his mouth, pop! In went another sprout.
"Moms!" MacGillicuddy tried to say, but it sounded more like "Momffff!" because as soon as he opened his mouth to talk, in went another sprout. All through dinner, every bite that MacGillicuddy took included a Brussels sprout. He finally got used to eating corn with Brussels sprouts, chicken with Brussels sprouts, even apple pie with Brussels sprouts. Mrs. Monster never missed, because she was a champion stone skipper. She knew just how to flick those Brussels sprouts just where she wanted them. Finally, dinner was over.
MacGillicuddy’s mouth felt like it was just full of brussels sprouts, and everything he ate had tasted like Brussels sprouts. He was afraid to ask to be excused, because he didn’t want another sprout tossed into his mouth.
"Well, Mac, have you had enough?" asked his father. MacGillicuddy just nodded.
"How did everything taste?"
"Like Brussels sprouts." MacGillicuddy answered. "Not very good."
"That’s like your language today." said his father. "Even if you use only one bad word, it makes everything you say sound bad." That’s why your Momster had you read about how to guard your tongue. When you speak carefully, it’s like putting salt on the corn on the cob. The salt makes the corn taste better, and the way you talk makes what you say sound better too. Not just swear words, but mean words as well."
"OK, Pops! I’m really sorry I talked that way. I won’t ever swear again, either."
"Well, that’s good, Mac." replied his father. "Just because someone older than you does something, it doesn’t mean what they do is right or grown up. In Colossians it told you that your speech should be seasoned with salt. I hope you will always remember that."
MacGillicuddy nodded. He was sure he would remember it. "I know one thing, though. Salt may help corn on the cob, but I don’t think it could ever make a brussels sprout taste better!"

MEMORY VERSE
Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
MacGillicuddy learned that we should always watch what we say, and the way we say it. We should never use swear words, and we should try to always speak with love to others.
© 1999, Chris Arveson All Rights Reserved
Check back in February for a DIFFERENT story!

Forever your gramma!

A Road Trip~

2009-01-28T22:07:00.001-06:00

Just a little note to say hi and tell you how thankful I am to be your gramma.
Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for you two or pray that He watches over you.
How was your day? Are you staying warm and cuddly with mommy?
What Bible verse are you learning right now?
Mom says you're going to Tenessee in July! How amazing...to be with your cousins, and to take a road trip. Do you know what a road trip is?

It's when you get to sit in your car seat and eat and play with your toys for a really long drive and sing songs with daddy. When you stop on your road trip, you get out at a 'rest stop', which is a place where you can go to the bathroom and buy snacks from a machine. You can also run around and get some of your giggly energy out and if you spy a flower, maybe you can pick it and give it to mommy or Trinity!
So, write me back and tell me, Hailey, if you think you're going to enjoy your road trip!~
Forever your gramma!

I love you two~!

2009-01-27T14:18:00.000-06:00

Good afternoon, Hailey and Trinity...

The weather is cooling off here and since it rained, the laundry on the clothesline is soaked, but without a dryer, I'll probably have to bring it in and dry in on hangers. That's not a big deal, though.

What are you guys doing today? Staying warm? Playng the matching game with mommy or daddy? Oh, yes, daddy is off today, so you probably will be out and about...

I've made some delicious vegetable chicken soup with barley and it is soooo good. Wish you were here. I'd fill you a big bowl and we'd sit and talk about what you want to be when you both grow up. I know you, Hailey, are going to be a great mommy.

Isaac said that girls shouldn't worry about a career when they grow up because being a mommy is a very good career and that takes a lot of time. He is so right. Being a mother is a career with a lot of joy that lasts forever!

I wanted to tell you about a book I'm reading the boys, your Isaac and Caleb.

It's called, "You Belong in a Zoo" by Peter Brazaitis. It's been very interesting to find out what it's like to work in a zoo, particularly the reptile house. Have you ever thought about how the glass on the tanks where the snakes live are always clean? That is an ongoing job for a zoo keeper and they can't remove every animal every time they clean its cage. Dangerous, for sure! Maybe when you get bigger, mommy can read it to you, Hailey.

Well, I wanted to tell you one more thing. This afternoon, we're going to take the boys to the San Antonio Museum of Art. Every Tues. from 4-9, it's free!!! Your great aunt Karyn called me from Florida this morning to tell me she saw the site and wanted me to know about it. I believe I've taken the boys there once, but grampa hasn't been there and he's really excited about it.

Well, that's the newest news I have.

I love you two and am sending .
Forever your gramma.

2009-01-26T07:49:00.000-06:00

Good mornig, girls.
I love you.
Give mommy and daddy a big kiss for me, Hailey.
Forever your gramma.

As the Sun sets here in SA

2009-01-25T16:59:00.000-06:00

Hey Hailey girl...how are you tonite? Did you go to your Gopher Buddies class? And what verses are you learning now?

The sun has just set here in SA and I've been thinking of you two girls off and on all day.

Did it snow today? I wonder: do you let snowflakes land on your tongue, Hailey?
Have you built a snowman with daddy this year? Do you like to sled down the hills with daddy?

Is Trinity's nose clearing up and is she sleeping peacefully through the nite, giving mommy a break? Do your best to help mommy because you are the big sister!

Today, our pastor shared from the Word of God that we each have a story to tell...just like Jesus told stories, but the story we tell is the one about when Jesus brought us close to God by His blood and by His resurrection.

What will your stories be, girls? Will they be stories of faith and courage and will you share them with your cousins and with Grace and McKenzie?

I miss you today, as I do every day. But I have confidence in our Heavenly Daddy that in His time we will be together-painting, watching the birds, collecting flowers and digging in the dirt.

Smile and know you are loved.

Forever your gramma.

My Gorgeous Girls

2009-01-24T22:50:00.000-06:00

Girls,

I began this blog to write to you every day. Though we're not together, I want you to know how deeply my love for you is.

The hours we spent together were too short. I wanted time to stop while I held you, Trinity, or while I giggled with you, Hailey.

Do you know how precocious you are, Hailey?

Along with the other word you used all the time-hilarious? It's ok that you don't. I do. And you are both. Calling me a 'poopy-head' over and over again! Watching you paint a picture for us, which we forgot to bring home, was one of the many highlights of my time with you.

Do you remember the morning you came to our room and stood by my bed-waiting for me to open my eyes and then you wouldn't stay to visit or kiss me? You'd have no part of cuddling either...although when Caleb came in and cuddled, you jumped right in next to him!

I'm sure you'll forget that you told Isaac that you weren't gonna be his friend anymore cuz he wouldn't do what you wanted him to, but he responded with, "It doesn't matter, cuz I'm your uncle!"

Trinity, I love you and thank God every day that you are here and healthy.

I'm not really sure it's registered that you're our daughter's littlest girl. You're so tiny, yet so large...juicy large...those fat cheeks, solid legs and dimply bottom!

Girls, to think that I could have forfeited all of this by having an abortion twenty-eight years ago.

But God's love reached down, took me by my hand and walked with me when no one else knew how. He carried me, protected me, provided for me, forgave me, and loved me. Then he gave me to your grampa and he loved me, loved your mommy, gave her a new name, and we became a family of three.

Now, all these years later, the rewards of taking responsibility for my choices far outweigh the struggles of being an unwed mother. There are no words that could explain my gratitude for making the hard choice, the right one, and now to hold you two in my arms...

The gripping reality is that although your mom wasn't 'planned', she was always wanted, just like you two. Her story is one of being adopted by a daddy that chose her. She is special and she has a story to tell you someday.

Sleep well my sweets and know that there aren't two little redheaded girls on this earth so beautiful and so cherished as you.

Forever your gramma.