OK-the scoop-Tara is going in tomorrow morning at 6am to be induced. So, hopefully by tomorrow afternoon/evening, Tara and Todd will be parents and we will be grandparents! How exciting!

So...my creative and somewhat crazy friends have come up with new names..."Teddy Gram and Gram Cracker". Maybe "grandma" isn't so bad after all :)

Just talked to Tara...no baby yet!! She is feeling good, but very ready to get this show on the road! She has everything ready to go, and needs one more grocery store run, and then baby Grace can come any time.

I will try to post here ASAP when baby Grace makes her appearance. Hopefully it will be SOON!!

Carli heard from Rhiannon and her tests are clear! She will "only" need 6 chemos. I am not sure if she will be receiving radiation, though.

Tara is now officially off work. Her blood pressure was up, so her doctor doesn't want her working any more. She is ready to have this baby!! If she doesn't have it by next week she might be induced. It was nice of baby "Grace" not to appear this week as Ted and I decided to go on our planned spring break vacation. We have had the most relaxing time ever...and I think that was a good thing as once this baby is born we will be very busy!!

It is hard to even imagine what it will be like to have a grand baby. Eveyone says it is the best...guess we'll find out real soon! If anyone has any suggestions for fun names other than "grandma" and "grandpa", please let me know! We do have some time before she will start talking... :)

It is so hard to wait and be patient! My devotions today were about Isaac and his wait for a wife and then a child. The Bible says that he pleaded with God. How many times have I done that? I still plead that Carli's tests will continue to be free of Lymphoma...that our new grandbaby will be healthy...that the delivery will be a smooth one...that Kelsie will find direction for the summer and beyond...that Jesse will be able to continue with school and graduate with his class...

There are so many other things. Sometimes I wonder if God gets tired of listening to me as all I seem to do is plead. I need to remember the thankfulness part and the adoration part. I don't seem to take the time for that...

Carli has been the object of show and tell and discussion at school. They have been studying different effects of chemo and things that she can definitely describe and show. She still has quite an ugly scar on her chest from her port..and she had to describe how it feels and show it to everyone so that they understand when they see a patient with the same thing. She is also having problems with the muscles in her legs, which is also a chemo side effect. Another one of my pleadings to God is that she doesn't have long term effects such as heart damage and fertility problems. She takes it all in stride and keeps such a good attitude.

I haven't gotten an update recently on her internet friend from Shelby who has Lymphoma. Need to ask Carli about her.

Awaiting the birth of baby Anderson-and Kelsie coming home for Spring Break-and a wonderful Easter celebration at church. Exciting times!

My mom used to say that the older you get, the faster time flies...I used to think that she was crazy, and now I know how wise she really was.

OK, these commercials by P&G are getting to me...the ones about moms...I think I cry during almost every one! The Olympics are exciting as always and I am losing sleep. Thank goodness they are only 2 weeks long. I cannot imagine being the parent of an Olympian..I was stressed out by Solo and Ensemble contests, musicals and track meets. Hard to imagine what these parents are feeling.

Also hard to imagine the parents of cancer children who are losing their battle. Just read a blog that notified us of a teen's battle that is finally over. It is comforting to think of her in the arms of Jesus, but I cannot fathom her parent's grief. Please pray for the family of Kristen.

Carli is communicating with a 21 year old from Shelby, Ohio who is going through treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. How cool it is for the internet to be such a positive tool for them to talk and for Carli to be able to share her journey. Last night she needed to know what she took for mouth sores, and thank goodness I had saved her medication bottles. Don't exactly know why I saved them, I just did. I guess now I know why I'm such a pack-rat. Hopefully with Carli's encouragement and suggestions this gal will know that there is someone who understands and can help. It is really lonely going through the process sometimes. Our church is going to send her cards of encouragement. How cool to get cards from folks that you don't even know. Carli even got things like a quilt (thanks Kathy) from people that she's never met. Today's sermon was on I John and how we need to mirror God's love...so many folks are doing just that. And so is Carli by being a support to this gal she's never met.

We are having a baby shower for Tara this Saturday. She is getting very excited and has the nursery ready to go. It is so funny to hear her tell stories about Todd's reactions to what he is learning...he has never really been around babies and has a lot to learn :)

Kelsie has decided to live in the apartments at GCC next year. I think that is a good move, as she is having a tough time living in the dorm after being in an apartment in Italy. Her classes are going well, and she is looking for an internship for the summer. She is involved in her sorority and having fun. She will be the director for the all college sing which is on parent's weekend in May. It is a lot of fun with singing and choreography by the different groups. Always a good time.

Can't wait to see the sun again....

Where did the last month go?

A lot happened...Christmas was great with family and friends...missed having Carli here on Christmas day, but she and Jeremy came home on Saturday, just in time to open gifts and enjoy the huge Kohler family get-together, then the Gerber family fun on Sunday.

Ted and I went to Lansing, Michigan for New Year's Eve/Day to be with friends Jane and Craig. So good to see their new home and see them getting settled into new lives in Michigan. Also got to visit with Jane's mom and see Riley at work. Very fun.

The not so fun part was the passing of my friend, Lois. She had a good Christmas day, and her boys were able to spend her final days with her. What an uplifting memorial service...such a message of salvation...but it was so hard to lose her. I miss her fun emails, her phone calls and her laughter...

Ted and I got to spend a week in Aruba with friends Mark and Jackie. Nice to see the sun again! Living in Ohio, we tend to forget that the sun still shines in the wintertime! It was beautiful, not what we expected, but warm and windy. The beaches were beautiful with clear blue water. An off road jeep tour and snorkeling were the highlights.

Now back to reality...hundreds of emails, phone messages, many responsibilities at church...and I haven't even checked my school email messages yet.

Please still keep Carli in your prayers. She is having some health issues that make a mother worry. Probably nothing, and since she just had a good report from Dr. Stallings, I am not quite so worried. But, as I say, it is a mother's job to worry about her kids, no matter how old they are!

Kelsie is also having issues reentering college life since her trip to Italy. I think that once she gets back in the swing, she will be OK, but it has been hard. Again, it's my job to worry-just wish I was better at giving my girls to the LORD...why do I always have to feel in control, when I know better than that?

OK-there's a chocolate theme park in China...sign me up! (Just saw that on the news...I'm glad that there wasn't anything more pressing to tell us about...). Sometimes it is hard to get upset with our lives here when so many are suffering in Haiti. We can't even imagine what those folks are going through. Hopefully the relief efforts will have some real effect real soon.

The next few days are going to be a blur. Tonight is rehearsals with my choirs at church, then the program and Christmas with my sisters after church which is always fun. Friday morning opening gifts, brunch with the grandparents and Todd's family, then hanging out. Saturday my extended family comes, close to 40 of us, then Sunday Ted's family comes. Whew! When Christmas is on a weekend, it all hits at once !!

Carli and Jeremy are in Michigan. Hope that they are enjoying time with the Braun's. They will return in time for the craziness with the Kohler's!! I would love a white Christmas, but at least it looks good for those who have to travel.

Please keep my friend Lois in your prayers. Cancer is so ugly.

I would like to wish all of my dear friends and family that read this a very blessed Christmas and health and peace in the New Year!!