Another week closer...

33 weeks as of yesterday! People having jokingly said to me, "I can't believe how fast your pregnancy is going for me" and I keep responding, "yea, for me too!" and it has! :) Though, things always feel like they are sloooowing down here at the end as sleep and comfort become issues.

{33 weeks - still horrible at self portraits}

I remembered this morning that I never posted any pics of our visit with Grandma and Poppa Pausley, who were here a little over a week last weekish. Ava loved having her grandparents here, and we enjoyed getting some time with them, too! There is something so special about watching your child with their grands. :) Ava still asks every time we get into the van, "where's Dran-ma?" or "where poppa go?". Lasting impression.

By the way, today is a better day. Hopefully I didn't weird anyone out with my post yesterday. I just find that from time to time {well, and always} I need to be REAL - not that I'm ever fake. But, don't we tend to just want to preview a peaches and cream perspective of our lives?! Things are FANTASTIC and I'm a blessed woman - and despite so many little things that could get me down - I'm blessed. I actually got sleep lastnight, too, which makes all the difference.

We have an exciting day and week coming up - Library today with the kiddo, youth group tonight, a massive consignment sale tomorrow with a friend and then a weekend of doing Ava's big girl room and a youth event! And then it's April!

Happy 84th

This morning I dialed up an all too familiar phone number. The phone rang several times and then that voice... the one I've known my entire life... answered. Just the sound of their voices warms my heart and reminds me how lucky I am to have them. My grandparents.

Yesterday my grandpa turned 84 years old! I asked him how his "big" day went and he just laughed and talked about how he sat in his chair and watched the stream of people come in and out to bring their good greetings. But he enjoyed it...and did have some cake. 84... what a world he's seen! 84 years ago this would have been the typical sighting on the road:

And perhaps as he grew a little bit he may have played with this toy...

The president then was signing all kinds of new "tax" laws, etc.... {2pts if you know WHO}

And the clothes at that time...were... well, just classy! If you had money to own them!

So much has changed. He has lived through the depression, the Korean war, raising 3 sons and now watching his 6 grandkids and 6 great-grandkids live their lives. He's an amazing, tender but firm, loving, generous, patient, funny man. He's my grandpa and I'm so blessed to have him! And we continue to pray that very soon he'll call on the name of Jesus and be saved... it's on my everyday prayer list!

And just for fun - here's what was in the news headlines this weekend 84 years ago. I can bet you wouldn't see the silly things we read about Paris Hilton, Lindsay what's-her-face or some football star shooting up a place. However, there were shootings... at Al Capone. :/

-Germany was admitted to the "League of Nations"
-Robert Goddard launches first liquid-fueled rocket.
-Winnie-the-Pooh is published by Author A. A. Milne
-5,000,000 Unemployed in Europe with 2 million in Germany and 1 million in England
-John Logie Baird gave first public demonstration of a television
-Henry Ford announces the 40-hour week
-Radio network National Broadcasting Co ( NBC ) is launched
-Fidel Castro, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner were born this year.

Happy 84th Birthday weekend Grandpa!

Impact of Grandparents

{Grandpa, Ava, Grandma & Bradley walking to lunch downtown}

2 weeks ago we had Brad's parents in for a visit. It was wonderful to have some family around for a little while - and, Ava just loved seeing her grandpa and grandma for a few days. They live in FL so the visits aren't as ofter as we'd like. But, that's life...

Brad has been so impacted by his dad. Obviously, for ministry reasons - as, Dad Pausley is a pastor himself and has years of stories and situations he can share with Brad to help him learn. But also just as a man, father and person. I jokingly tell them, "Brad is a mini of dad" because they have similar walks, chuckles and tell the same kinds of jokes. We are so thankful for a godly grandpa and dad and we miss him way down in FL! I'm thankful, as a wife, for the influence Dad has had on my hubby. And I'm loving the impact that both Grandpa and Grandma have on my girl. Grandma is the only woman I know that can keep Ava interested in a book longer then 2 seconds, have patience enough to walk around a restaurant with a cranky toddler while everyone else eats... and the list goes on.

Grandparents are a BIG deal! We are so blessed to have several sets... and we praise the Lord for them!