We have lost our dear friend, Mr. Bill.  Some of you remember this post from last November.

Since that day, Michael has regularly visited Mr. Bill.  Sometimes at his home, and sometimes at our nearby hospital, as Mr. Bill has been very sick on and off over the past many months.  With every visit, Michael has been happy to spend a couple of hours or more with him. If it was at his home, Michael would take care of all kinds of things around the house for him while he was there.  When Michael got home, he would spend a couple of hours, talking and talking to us about Mr. Bill. He so enjoyed his company….his stories….his upbeat attitude, no matter what. He was funny! Michael just adored him.  We all did, but Michael certainly spent a lot more time with him, with their visits. They were fast and good friends.

Mr. Bill was finally put into a care facility for good, last week.  After a week of being extremely ill, Michael went to spend a couple of hours with him on Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Bill was doing rather well that day, considering.  But on Monday, he failed quickly, and passed away at midnight.

We are all sad….but only for ourselves. Mr. Bill was ready to go, and be with his Maker. To reunite with his wife. He said as much.  And at 96, it was time.   He’s been ill for so many months now, and never, ever complained. Always thought more of everyone else. Even when he couldn’t breathe.  So we are happy he will suffer no longer. We are happy we do not need to worry if he is alright….comfortable…needs anything….or is having a good day.  We need only close our eyes, and speak to him, to ‘check in’ with him.  He is finally, and forever, perfectly fine.

He was such a sweet, faithful, compassionate and admirable man. I urge you to read the past post about him, to know the kind of man Jesus is welcoming back home.  If you have the time.  He was something else, and we will always miss him, but always smile at the memory of him. If you knew him, we think you would too.

If you have a prayer to spare, please say one for the soul of our dear, sweet friend.

The other night, we were in a restaurant having a really nice dinner out, with my father / the kid’s Papa. We had been having a great time together all day, and it just continued through dinner.  So as the 7 of us were gathered around the table, we chatted and laughed about whatever happened to come up.

Now, you need to know that my father is literally deaf in one ear, and can hardly hear out of the other.

So there was one specific conversation we were having, to which the topic eludes me, but it is irrelevant.   Whatever it was, our son, {S}, responded excitedly with a suggestion that has become very regular from him:   “Oh!! MAMA!!  I have a good idea! You can take a photo and blog about it!”. His eyes were wide with excitement over his grand idea.  To which my father chuckled and said, “Oh yeah?  You want to take a photo, and brag about it, huh?”…..as he continued to cut up his prime rib.

Correcting what my father had heard, I said to him….”No Dad.  He said BLOG about it.”

Dad (speaking 1/2 to himself I think) said,   “OOhhhhh.  I don’t know much about computers.  So he said ‘blog’ about it. I see. I thought he said ‘brag’ about it.”

Wanting to make him feel better, I quickly replied, “That’s ok Dad.  It’s kind of the same thing.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     And then my husband and I busted out laughing hysterically for a good couple of minutes, some tears and all.

……..

We found such humor in my quick response, because sometimes blogging can so often come across as bragging.  Can’t it?  Especially when it is blogging parents.   Don’t ALL parents, find themselves a little proud of their children, now and then?  Be it of their accomplishments, a circumstance, compassion for others, progress with this or that, creations they made, or just the kind of little people they are evolving into?   I think some sense of pride is born in all parent’s hearts, right long with their children’s naked little bodies slipping into the world.

We are, indeed, blogging parents.  Our posts are often about our children.  I think when you are a home schooling family, and the teacher of your children, the risk of appearing to brag is at a whole new level, sometimes before you even open your mouth.  But there are such joys, rewards and pay- offs that come with home schooling especially, that it’s hard not to talk about it.  Or blog about it. It’s hard not to share with others what a great job they are doing, if they are. Really knowing the labor that bared the fruit.   It’s not about us being such great teachers for them.  It’s about having witnessed the details of their progress right along. Every moment, of every day,of it.  Remembering when you just presented a particular concept to them.  It’s about experiencing it all, with them. Perhaps there were some struggles along the way that they have overcome. Or maybe they are just naturally dang good at one thing or another, and you can’t help but be impressed or awed at all they are capable of.

Being very prideful is a dangerous and sinful thing.  Bragging is just as bad.  I am sure any loving parent falls into that trap now and then.  But the truth is…..these feelings many of us express are not necessarily always  being proud, and bragging about it. It is not as if our kids are THE smartest kids in the whole entire world, nor the most talented and amazing.  I know for us, what may look like excessive pride, is actually a feeling of being VERY PLEASED with how hard the kids work, and the progress we get to witness and acknowledge every day.  To be a PART of it.   It’s about feeling so BLESSED, and HAPPY….at the opportunity of watching our kids grow, loving to learn, and teaching US quite a bit along the way!

It’s about GRATITUDE to God, for trusting us with these beautiful little beings, to raise them to be faithful servants, and hopefully return to live with Him eternally, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yeah….it may look like pride and bragging sometimes.  But generally, it’s not. (Not that we NEVER have. lol)  For us, talking /typing about our kids and this and that, is just reviewing blessings and all there is to be grateful for.  And hopefully encouraging others to do the same.  So please excuse us if it ever seems we brag.  We only mean to blog…about the blessings and joys of our every day.  Our kids just happen to bring a lot of that to light, a lot. : )   Children have a way of doing that. Don’t they?

I have to say….I thought this conversation we had with my Dad was timely, because there have been a few posts that have been ready to post here on the blog, but that I have been putting off a little.  They are just about the kid’s schooling, and some of the subjects  and school excercises that they have joyfully embraced, or accomplishments that were big for them, in which they surprised even themselves.  (With lots of photos, OF course. : )  But they are hard to share, review in words, or express the story of, without it seeming like bragging.  But…we guess those who are going to see any of it as bragging, are going to anyway!  Whether we say “We’re not!”, or not! Right? And likely, it’s really about them, and not us anyway.  So we are putting that little fear aside, and will be blogging with those posts next.

NOW….enough about US.  (Hey, it our blog you know. lol. )  We thought we would share a photo that is all about YOU!!   This pretty bowl sits on the shelf of my computer work area, and every time a comment comes in from you, I throw your name in there!  Maybe AGAIN….maybe for the FIRST TIME.  But you never know…it just may be the name we pull for Our First Give-Away!  We are more excited every day!!  We can’t wait to make someone’s day, with the handmade gifts we are making just-for-you!!!  Talk about FUN!!!

May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

We Wish You, One and All, a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Irish or not!