We spent the last two weeks away from home again. My husband got a surprise, spur of the moment, out of town job, and within two hours we were on the road. The kids and I spent the first three days at the hotel, in the pool, and exploring the area. We had some fun times, but hotel time while daddy is gone working gets old. So when the weekend came we went to my parents house about 1 1/2 hours further down the road. Nothing boring was happening there. Every afternoon, my dad took the kids down to the local swimming hole to play for a couple hours. They went just below the swimming hole, away from the people, and made sort of a chute from the rocks to channel the water flow that they rode float tubes through, again and again and again. I went down and watched for a while, but decided not to stay so that it would be a special time between my kids and their Papa (grandpa). So much fun was happening that I have this feeling that when the kids are grown up, and they think back and remember Papa, they will think fondly of tubing on the river with him when they were kids. He used to be too busy with work to spend time doing things like this, but now that he is retired, there is more free time available. I am so glad he is still strong and healthy and able to get out in the river and have fun with my 9 year old and 6 year old.

When I was a little girl, I remember going out to the garden and seeing all the growing things with my great grandpa (my dad's grandpa). There was corn, and grapes, potatoes and raspberries and more. I remember his big smile and jolly laugh. He was special to me. I knew he loved me. I still miss him.

With my grandpa (my dad's dad), I remember riding around on his big riding lawn mower around his big yard on his lap while he mowed the big, big lawn. I remember being pushed in his swing that hung from the big spruce tree in his big yard. He was busy a lot of the time, working or fixing things, but he still found time to sneak my sister and I off to A&W for a junior cone that cost 10 cents. I don't eat ice cream anymore, but I am so thankful for those special little cones and the time I spent with my grandpa.

I am wondering if you have any special grandpa memories. Is your dad doing anything special with your kids? Feel free to leave me a comment or even write about grandpa on your blog.

My girlfriend just called me with the best news. She is pregant! Sometimes we take pregnancy for granted. Sometimes pregnancies aren't wanted. But this one is wanted and is possible only by modern medicine through a true miracle of God. There are tears of joy in my heart and eyes as I type. My heart is overflowing with love and prayer for those two little babies she is carrying.

May they always know how loved they are and never feel rejected. And may God bless them with health and strength and a strong relationship with Him. May their parents have the wisdom and strength they need every day to guide them in the right path and raise them for Him. Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!

May God help all those other mothers who are still longing for a baby of their own, and speedily answer their prayers.