Making Strides for Breast Cancer ~ Team Kristy

Hugs and kisses,

Sharing multiple files

Sharing multiple files

This aptly describes my childhood. I could not have been born at a better time in this world of ours. Read and you will understand. WE ARE A GENERATION THAT WILL NEVER COME BACK A generation that walked to school and then walked back. A generation that did their homework alone to get out asap to play in the street. A generation that spent all their free time on the street with their friends. A generation that played hide and seek when dark. A generation that made mud cakes. A generation that collected sports cards. A generation that found, collected and washed & returned empty coke bottles to the local grocery store for 5 cents each. Then bought a Mountain Dew and candy bar with the money. A generation that made paper toys with their bare hands. A generation who bought vinyl albums to play on record players. A generation that collected photos and albums of clippings. A generation that played board games and cards on rainy days. A generation whose TV went off at midnight after playing the National Anthem. A generation that had parents who were there. A generation that laughed under the covers in bed so parents didn't know we were still awake. A generation that is passing and unfortunately it will never return!! I loved growing up when I did. I could not have had a better childhood. I only wish our grandchildren could grow up the way we did. We were a family of ten kids and we could always bring a friend to dinner at the very last minute. Mom would cook extra potatoes and vegetables. These were the very best days of my life. Trust me, our Mom was a saint!!❤ Hugs and kisses,

I have not posted to this blog in such a long time. But I have visited it often. I love rereading our wonderful memories. Zack is 22, enjoying his first Ford F-150 and working full time. Kara is 21 and a Junior at SUNY Oneonta. She is enjoying her college days and living in an apartment off campus. Emily is 16 and thrilled to be-bop around in her car while she tries to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Alex is 15 and thrilled with his Senior ring and all his sneakers. He loves playing soccer and basketball. We are busy with our new condo being painted and trying to find needed wall decor. Life has been very busy for all members of our family. This is a good thing. We are all growing and developing our lives. This will take time. I am 74, almost 75, and I still am not sure what I want to do with my remaining time. But when I think deeply about it, I am doing exactly what I want to do. I want to be a loving wife, a great Mom, a loving Nana, a good friend and, all in all, a nice person. I truly believe I have achieved most of this. Hugs and kisses,

Amanda's Eighth Heavenly Birthday ~ January 16, 2016

This date has come around yet another time. And again we sent balloons to our Sweet Angel. This year we are in Florida, so they were set free from our favorite beach in Deerfield. The water glistened from the reflection of the bright yellow sun. It was a perfect day.

The beach was crowded. Everyone was having fun enjoying the day. They had no idea the holes in Ken's and my heart were hurting. The years pass, but the pain does not. The only change is that we have somehow learned to live with the pain. And that is what we will do until we meet our Sweet Angel again. Papa and Nana love you, Amanda Lynn, to infinity and beyond.

PS ~ Don't know if I ever mentioned Amanda has the middle name of her mother.
Hugs and kisses,
Nana

Amanda's Seventh Heavenly Birthday ~ January 16, 2015

It is so hard to fathom that Amanda was born into Heaven seven years ago. I can still feel her in my arms and touching her sweet face. She is so beautiful; looking so much like her Mommy. But those feet. They are definitely her Daddy's.

Because I was not able to go to the cemetery this year, Ken and I sent seven white balloons floating high into the sky. Most of us visualize Heaven as "up." Wherever it is, we hope Amanda got to see our celebration of  her birth. We spent time talking about the short time we shared with our youngest granddaughter and just how much we love and miss her.

I often feel Amanda's presence, especially during difficult times in my life. I know Amanda is always there for all of her family to call on for strength. I was recently hospitalized with a serious illness and I saw our sweet angel there to give me the strength I needed to fight to live.

Amanda, I think of you each day and will until the day we are together. I love you with all my heart.

Hugs and kisses,

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk ~ October 19, 2014

Kristen and her team walked again this year through Washington Park in Albany's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. She walked as a two year breast cancer survivor. My day was filled with so many emotions; happiness, sadness, laughter, tears, bad memories, good memories. The list is very long.

I am over the moon that Kristen walks as a breast cancer survivor. I am sad for those I saw walking who were bald and looked so ill. I remember being told Kristen had breast cancer. I remember how painful it was for all who love Kristen to see how sick the cure for her cancer made her. I have never lived through a bad situation in my life that something good did not evolve from it. Those good memories I keep in my heart. I am still waiting to learn the good that came from this demon. I will wait. It will happen.

Throughout Kristen's treatment I did not shed tears only because she told me she had to be surrounded by positive people. I occasionally cry when I think back at all our sweet daughter had to endure. And she did it not alone, but with the love and help of many more people than you see in this picture. God, family and friends stood by Kristen's side. And I thank them.
Hugs and kisses,

Love This Old Picture ~ Emily's Second Easter

I was scavenging through pictures yesterday looking for one of Kristen's and Corey's wedding when I happened upon this one of Emily and Kara. It is years old! Emily is nine and in third grade now. Kara is thirteen and in eighth grade now. It reminds me of just how close their bond was from the very beginning. How quickly the years are flying.

I always say, "It is all about memories." Right now, this picture is all about one of my memories. The time will come when Emily and Kara will look at it and go, "Aw."
Hugs and kisses,

Alex's First Communion - 2014

Hugs and kisses,

Emily Xian's First Communion ~ April 21, 2013

 

Hugs and kisses,

Will You Dance With Me Revisited?

I posted this on my first blog, The Ryan Clan, almost five years ago. Am I still making lots of these excuses; pretty much. Just in case some of you are, I decided to share this again. Do something fun today with someone who is important to you. Have a great day:~)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Will You Dance With Me?

This is posted on my grandmothers of internationally adopted children Yahoo group. Elva shares many words of wisdom. I had to share this with all of you. It hit home with me.

Will You Dance With Me? READ THIS VERY SLOWLY.... IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.
Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible...

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour? She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast, it looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer.. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of  'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord...
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Now....go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?

And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry- go-round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi?' When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.....Thrown away........ Life is not a race, Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

To those I have sent this to..... I cherish our friendship and appreciate all you do. 'Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!'
 Hugs and kisses,

A Precious Gift Meant Just for Nana - that's Me!

Isn't this sketch wonderful? Wouldn't you agree who ever drew it has been blessed with a precious gift? Every time I study it I see something new to my eyes. And my eyes fill with tears knowing this drawing was made just for me.

Now I will share the story behind it. I have a thirteen year old granddaughter who used to be this silly little girl who spent overnights with her Nana dressing up in night gowns; laughing at some funny thing her Nana said or laughing with her Nana just to laugh. That Nana was me. That granddaughter was Kara. We shared far more special times together than most nana's and granddaughter's do. And I will always treasure every one of them.

Now this silly little girl is growing up. She is thirteen. She has become this beautiful young lady on the outside with blue eyes that have always had a special glisten in them. She looks so reserved now. That silly side is only shared with her young friends. I have to admit I have been very jealous. I want that little girl back! Well, we all know that will not happen. Kara will continue to mature and develop her personality. But now I realize that special relationship shared between us has not disappeared. It has just changed its appearance.

Most artists would have just sketched the young lady sporting such a pretty dress and awesome shoes. But my granddaughter, Kara Michelle, personalized it just for me; her Nana. She let me know how much she loves me. She knows butterflies are special to me. And she included two with "NANA" written on their wings. Is Kara saying our relationship, too, has gone through a metamorphosis? Is this her way of telling me our relationship is as special as it has always been, but has changed in appearance as that caterpillar did when it changed into a butterfly? Most importantly, Kara has reinforced just how much she loves me.

Kara, I will always "love you to the moon and back!" Thank you for my precious gift; your sketch with all the love you included in it.

How very blessed I am.
Hugs and kisses,

Amanda's Sixth Heavenly Anniversary

I can't believe it has been six years since Amanda's birth. Ken and I sent six balloons flying to her. It seemed to take a long time for them to disappear behind the clouds. Wonder how far away Heaven is? Or is it all around us? I feel our Amanda near me. That is all I need for the time being. Nana and Papa love and miss you, Amanda. Sending big hugs to you.
Hugs and kisses,

Christmas with The Hines Family ~ 2013

Christmas with the Hines Family was festive and lots of fun, as always. I added a little more color to the tree with my handmade red bows this year. I have so many different bows, flowers and ornaments it is easy to change its look a bit. One thing remains constant; our manger. It sits at the bottom of our tree with the most awesome family ever in it, the Holy Family.

Christmas always holds precious memories for us. There is always someone who gets that special gift he or she has really, really wanted. This year it was me!! Papa gave me the most beautiful figurine of the Holy Family. I have always felt especially close to Jesus, Mary and Joseph because they were once an earthly family. Papa always gives me a precious treasure, but none as precious as this.

I have to include this year Alex also got the present he really, really wanted. His X-box 360. You know that never ending smile was on his face all evening.
Hugs and kisses,

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ~ 2013

Washington Park in Albany was overflowing with pink on this beautiful sunny Sunday. The colors of autumn could be seen everywhere. The day and the place were perfect for this walk. There was music begging you to sing along. Smiles and happy faces filled the park. It is overwhelming to see so many cancer patients together. We all read the statistics, but this walk brings home the realization of just how many people are fighting this horrendous disease. Lots of money was raised. Lots more is needed.

Our Kristen walked with her team, "Team Kristy," as a breast cancer survivor:~) We all wore very large smiles this year. Her team raised $1560. Yeah!!

Breast cancer survivors wear pale pink sweatshirts. Next year I hope to see many more of them and far less pink hats keeping heads warm.
Hugs and kisses,

Zack's 8th Grade Graduation ~ June 2013

Zack, elementary school is behind you and now you step up the ladder into high School. You have shared all those years with Papa and I. We have enjoyed every concert, every Special Person's Day; just every part of those nine years. It has been so exciting watching you become the young man you are. Need I tell you how proud we are of you?

Your graduation day was sunny and bright. It was great to watch you walk across the same stage your Mom did to receive your diploma. My mind was crowded with so many memories.

After the ceremony, were all congregated outside to further celebrate with your friends and their families. Lots of laughter and picture taking was going on. It was another day we spent together making awesome memories.
Hugs and kisses,

Emily Turns "8" ~ August 25, 2013

Em's party was held on a very hot day. So a pool party was a perfect choice. The adults enjoyed sitting in the shade watching all the kids swimming, playing golf, swinging; totally enjoying themselves.

As always, Emily entertained her guests while she opened her gifts. She makes the smoothest, adorable gestures with her hands. It is like they are dancing. It is rather captivating.

These parties are not just for the birthdays and presents. They are times when family and friends come together and reconnect. With today's busy life style, it is so easy to grow apart. Nothing holds people together like children.
Hugs and kisses,

China Reunion in New Hampshire ~ 2013

 Hugs and kisses,

Alex Turns "7"

Of all our grandchildren, I would say Alex gets the most excited about his birthday. You just have to mention it and that twinkle appears in his eyes. Of course, he shows that "all over his face" smile. And, believe it or not, he is finally getting front teeth!!

His party was held at Aunt TT's and Uncle Corey's. That way the kids could go swimming. He had a joint party with family and school friends. Shelley made his birthday "ice cream" cake; our favorite!

I have so many great pictures from the party it was very difficult to choose the ones for the blog. As I reviewed them, I knew I had to post the ones showing his various facial expressions as he opened his presents. I love that Alex still has some "little boy" in him.
Hugs and kisses,

Zack Turns "14"

It really is amazing. I blinked my eyes and Zack was a teenager when I opened them. We celebrated his 14th birthday with ice cream cake; his favorite (just happens to be mine, too). Mom and Dad surprised him with a futon for his room. He was happy with their choice. I'm quite sure he had been hinting for one rather openly.  I think it is a totally awesome gift for a teenager's room. Now he has extra seating for his friends and a comfortable bed for a sleepover.

It was a great evening. Zack entertained us per usual. He has a great people personality and needs no prompting to share it.

Zack, keep that personality; play your music; follow your dreams. They are the main ingredients for your living a great life. And remember, Zack, Nana loves you more than love!!
Hugs and kisses,