A City Life For Me

“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  Who knoweth the power of thine anger?  even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:9-12 This weekend I was able to catch a flight from Cincinnati (en route to our next meeting), and return to Denver for a special family reunion.  My grandfather turned 90 on February 7th, and nearly all of his family made the trek “home” to celebrate!  I thought of the verses quoted above because grandpa not only got his threescore and ten years (70), and the fourscore years (80) by reason of strength, but God gave him a bonus 10 years on top of all that!  I also think that my grandpa has lived verse 12 – num...

We had a really fun visit with my grandparents, Don & MaryLou Paul.   The kids were in rare {and maybe even perfect } form.   They talked, interacted, snuggled, and even used good manners.   We even had a good giggle after dinner when Elaine and Nolan discovered that “Old Grandpa” can take his eye out.   It was about 58 years ago that Grandpa lost his right eye.   He has had a glass eye ever since.   I’ve heard the stories of him placing his eye underneath a coffee cup to scare someone.   I’ve seen him take it out a few times in my growing up years.   But it’s pretty funny to watch your own kids learn that Great-Grandpa isn’t teasing – he really can take out his eye!       I suppose the situation is made more unique by the fact that in 2010 my Grandma also lost her right eye.   She had gone through several cornea transplants which were not effective, and in the end they decided to remove the eye.   It w...

  This little German dress was one I wore as a girl.  Elaine also wore it – she is on the right.  Liberty had just been woken up from sleeping in the car, so she wasn’t happy about having her picture taken! The family that brushes together stays together.  The twins love brushing their teeth! Water fun at Grandma’s house!

Liberty & Nehemiah may be numbers three and four in our little family, but to my grandparents, they are numbers 13 and 14.  Of great-grandchildren, that is.  How blessed I am to be in their family, and it was such a special treat to introduce the newest members of that family to Grandma & Grandpa.  I’ve done a little reading on twins (now that I have my own).  If twins run on the mother’s side of the family, you are more likely to have twins, and they will be fraternal.  My Grandpa is a twin.  He had a twin sister.  He is Donald J. and his sister was Dorothy Jean.  Grandpa is 87 now, and his twin sister died when she was 66 (I think?!).  They are numbers 4 and 5 in the Paul family.  There were 11 kids in the family.  Numbers 10 and 11 are also twins – Wayne and Weldon.  I am NOT trying to keep up with my great-grandmother! Grandma is the youngest of six kids.  Her older siblings (#2 & #3) are twins also....

I wanted to get this posted before Memorial Day has come and gone.  I know that this holiday is meant to remember those who have died in the line of duty, fighting for and preserving our freedom.  I don’t personally know anyone who has given his life in this way, but I do know many who have served our country in the Armed Forces.  They have made other sacrifices – deployments away from family for long periods of time, fighting in a combat zone, leaving familiarities to be stationed overseas or all over the country. My dad served in the Air Force for over eight years.  He was in law enforcement, and then weather forecasting. Don’t you think he is handsome?  {Just ignore the huge glasses…} My grandfather, Don Paul, served in the Army during the Korean War.  My Uncle Lewis was also in the Army.  Ben also has some military personnel on his side of the family.  His grandfather Carl Kuenzi was in the Swiss military.  And his grandpa Per...

Ever since we had this picture taken… …I’ve known that Nolan takes after my side of the family.  I guess since he looks so much like my dad, that makes him a Godby more than a Paul.  But then I started looking through some of my baby pictures and I realized that he looks like me too! I don’t think of myself as the chubby-cheeked little baby I see in Nolan, but there’s the proof…I guess I was at one time! Don’t cry, Mom.  Just enjoy reminiscing!

God’s design for marriage is one man and one woman, for life.  I am one of those blessed people who has parents that are still “together.”  Thirty years “still together”!  I am thankful for my parents and their testimony of commitment and marriage.  Today they are celebrating 30 years of marriage! Here are some pictures from their wedding day: So…funny story about that last picture.  Can you see the bottom of my dad’s shoes? There were definitely a lot of pranks going on at my parent’s wedding, from what I’ve been told.  The groomsmen painted “Help Me” on the bottom of my dad’s rented shoes! My mom has blogged the story of their dating, engagement, and marriage here , here , here , and here .  (You know…in case your curiosity is aroused…or you’re one of those people who loves to look at old pictures…or you’re just plain nosey!) This is the most recent picture I could find of my parents (Father’s Day, 2011): “Have ye not read, t...