Opinion : Life is Good

It's been a while since I've popped in and said, "Hello!" to everyone, and I'm sure you haven't missed it!

An update on the home front is kind of fun to send out and then reread a year or so down the road.

Our family hasn't grown anymore since the last wedding, but we are excitedly awaiting the birth of our 3rd granddaughter, much to a little disappointment of our son who was hoping to give us our first grandson.

Life hasn't slowed down for us, too awful much.

Yesterday we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary, which always sends me down memory lane to the day of our wedding, which included me using a shop vac to take care of water in our already decorated reception area.

Then I fast forward to the birth of our first baby...then the second, then the third, then I remember the morning I awoke to him at 3 months old having a seizure, rushing in an ambulance to Cedar Rapids for a case of Meningitis, and not fully realizing how fortunate we were until years later that we still had a very hyper little boy.

I then forward to the birth of our 4th baby, losing a baby, then the birth of our 5th baby, with my first ever midwife, following that with emergency surgery, then I forward to the second baby we lost, and then to our final baby, which included my first ever ambulance ride, 3 hours in an emergency room followed by my first ever ride in a helicopter.

After all of those memories I take my hat off to all the A- blood and plasma donors out there...all 20 of you that it took to keep me around.

A few nights ago we were talking about how long we've been "home" and how the years have flown by.

Many times I shake my head at the path we have taken to this point. I still can't wrap my head around the idea of talking to you via this invention called the internet.

All in all, life is good...and really good if you get to live in the country where I can hear all the night sounds surrounding me at 2:30 a.m. as I type this...yes I find that at this point in my life, sleep happens any time from 3-5 a.m. I have also discovered that our poor dog, who sits faithfully at my side, can actually be worn out with this crazy schedule of mine.

This year I found out that I could actually design a website, which is still amazing to me. I have also accomplished a few other goals that maybe I will share at a later date. All of these things are a thrill for me, at an age that I just assumed I would have learned all I need to know.

So all of this rambling started because of our anniversary. I also realize that I have been married, longer than I was single, and a mother longer than I was just a child.

The journey at times seems like it's been an eternity, and at other times, it seem the journey has flashed by.

But all in all, it's been a good trip.

We've had our share of joy, sorrow, fighting, making up, fun times, hard times and times we felt unsure of where were would land.

You will hear actors/actresses and athletes thank God for whatever they've accomplished or for awards that they've received. Me, I just thank Him for keeping us all alive and in good health. I thank Him often for the thrill of watching our kids grow and bloom. I am thankful again for being able to see another generation grow and experience life on the family farm. It's the little things...