Family trials have been taking my time lately. 

See you at a future date!

 November 2020

This month has been full of life changes. Changes in the world and our family. The world is a bit chaotic, at least not the normal life we have know for several years...through out my life time! Life changes can be hard, confusing, and cause fear. So how do we cope with those uncertain feelings? Everyone has there own personal direction, but for me it is...I have faith in God. He knows what is happening, if fact, I believe he knows what is happening and what is to come. 

I believe that this society that exists in the world today will get worse before it gets better, BUT...we don't have to live in fear. I was taught to change what I could and for what I can't change: plan, prepare, and focus on family! Starting January, I will be adding a page to my blog about preparation. Physically and Spiritually.

As for changes in our family. That has been a mixture of joy and sadness. We recently lost Greg's beloved Aunt. She was an example of making the best out of what life throws at you and smiling while she did it! 

The joy has come in twos! First, our newest grandson is here! My son, Daniel, and his wife, Kiylee, recently welcomed their first, sweet, baby boy into the world. Colton Lewis Loya. Our second joy is adding another new family member. My youngest daughter, Gretchen, is engaged to an awesome young man. Their wedding day is coming up soon! We are excited to get to know him!

Of course, this is also the holiday season. Some may be stressing that the world is a bit upside down now, but I say embrace family 100%!!  Focus on the joy of relationships, friendships, and think of others! 

The best way to relieve stress is doing something for someone else. A note in the mail, bake cookies, pop popcorn and enjoy a movie together, make a nice family dinner and eat together, play games. When all goes crazy...focus on your family. Build your relationship with them! Nothing else will matter in the end! The opportunity to spend more time with family has been a great blessing to me. I believe there is a lesson in all this chaos. Put family back as the center of our focus. Frankly, I think the world has become extremely selfish and here is our opportunity to redirect our priorities.

Have a great Thanksgiving! 

Hello To My Blog Friends!

Welcome back!

Time to get back to my blog! Took a year off and now I am ready to get back to work!

Life has many roads! So many changes and learning experiences. We all have moments of adjusting to the changes and then we get back up and start moving forward! And here I am ready to move forward again. I have books waiting to be published...6 to be exact and I hope this year  sees them in print!

Its my favorite time of the year! Holiday season!! And starting with the first day of fall, it flows right into Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Here are a few books to help you get into the flow of Fall and the season heading our way! My fall stories! Enjoy. Find them on Amazon! (Click on the Link)

. Friends Forever

A Kiss for Autumn

 

September is almost here. It brings so many happy things. School time. I loved learning! Canning season! Memories of watching my mom and my grandma can jams and veggies from the garden.
    It was also a time of change for me. I welcome change. I need change! Everything from changing the decorations in my home to changing habits in my life!
    It's also the month before all the family holidays begin...its what this time of year is about. Spring isn't the only time of change. Each Season has change....embrace the new season of your life!
   
               Happy September!!

June/ July

Happy Fourth!

This is a great family month! The whole summer has been for o  family! June, my youngest daughter and I  traveled to Arizona for 2 family weddings. I was so awesome to be with family!...Hot, but awesome!
    We came home to organize our first Loya Family Reunion of our family of six kids. 2 of them couldn't make it, but the ones that came...we had a great time!
     We started with a cook out in the mountains...tin foil dinners for the adults, hot dogs for the little people, ending with S'mores for all! It was also Grandpa's birthday!
    Saturday was biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast, then took some family pictures. Next the guys went there way to walk the pawn shops...and whatever they did. The girls had fun with manicures and foot soaks! I painted my nails..yup, I sure did!
    We had lunch...simple sandwiches, chips and cookies...served in cute 4th of July plates. Then the fun began! We headed out side for water baseball!
    Greg helped make a PVC pipe water fall...placed at first base. Second was a post in the garden, Second was a sprinkler put on low. Adults and children all played. It was fun watching the little ones run crazy because they had no idea that they were suppose to run to a base...oops! So we had to take time to explain the game!!
     After the fun of hitting and running and getting wet! We pulled out a long,  roll of plastic, placed the water fall and the sprinkler, and wa la! Slip and slide fun!! We took lots of pictures.
     Back in the house we played "name that animal on your forehead". It was fun for the little kids. And hard then the adults thought it would be!
     The last activity was a family auction. Earlier in the day, I presented a photo album to each of the kids of family history. The story of Greg and mine first met, first date and the proposal where in it with pictures. It also included pictures of grand parents and great grandparents.  Pictures of us, their parents as children with written info about favorite childhood pets and toys, and other memories.
    Before the auction, I asked questions about our family history recent and from info about the grandparents. They were paid with "Family money" featuring the face of relatives...old and today.
     It was fun! My 7 year old grand daughter hollered at one point. "Grandma, this is great! I needed to learn about my family! I love this game!" And that made it all worthwhile!

May....

I love May and all the flowers it brings. This May brought  more than normal...news of my mother being ill, so once again there has been a lull in my blogging. Sorry to you, my readers. Hang in there! I will be back and be more consistent, but as the saying goes..."You never know what life will bring you!" That is what it has been lately for me. An unexpected trip to Arizona.

So enjoy your spring!!.....My husband is getting the ground read for a garden. The lawn needs mowed every week now! Every thing is brilliantly green! I LOVE this time of year. Fresh, new, and full of possibilities!

April.....Spring....Easter!

You may have noticed I took a blogging Vacation for the month of March...but I am back for April!!
I have had a month of sickness, but hopefully, that is over for now and I can get ready for a great spring!!
    Tulips and daffodils are blooming all around town. I LOVE spring flowers!
    This next month my baby girl, the last of my flock will be graduating!! It is  a bittersweet moment, bringing many memories to my mind and heart.
     I have enjoyed being a mother! I know sometimes in today's world just being a mom isn't considered glamorous or the "In" thing to be doing. For those of you out there that are stay home moms...Embrace your life! Enjoy it! Clean your house, take care of your family and take pride in a job well done!
         There is a time and season in all parts of life....first I was a little girl, then a teenager, then a young adult, a new wife, then came my time to be a new mother...then a more experienced wife and mother...There was a time of watching my first born leave while I still had 5 young children at home.             
There is a song the refers to the spring, summer, fall and winter time of a woman's life. Well, I believe I am making that shift from Fall to Winter...even though I must admit I feel like a summer woman! In my heart I am young, but experienced, ready for new things! But in reality, I am probably more in my winter months. My body is wearing down, I struggle with opening a simple jar. I am a grandmother of eleven! 
      Having Gretchen Graduating I feel like I am facing a new chapter in life! What next?? Do I go back to school? Find an opportunity to serve in my community? Travel to see my grand kids?
     I don't know for sure what is next other then pondering and much contemplating! As soon as I know what is next....I will let you know!! I still feel like there is so much life still waiting for me and I am going to reach out and grab hold of something new! Time for more personal growth!

Spring is a time of new growth and new life! And so it is going to be for me! Happy Spring! Happy Easter!