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The big 6-0 arrives in a matter of seconds, ready or not. To be exact: 2,674,800 seconds from today, February 11, 2022. But who’s counting? Turning 60 isn’t so bad. I tell myself: look on the bright side…you married a younger man. Three-hundred-twenty-five days younger, to be exact. But, who’s counting? What’s the best part of turning 60? The best part of turning 60 is that all embarrassing, cringeworthy stuff was done way before the internet was even conceptualized. Most of us older folks gasp imagining our "crazy" days thriving on a computer archive, forever. True, I didn’t participate in too outrageous of antics or deportment, but the mere thought of minor oopses that I did partake in...being forever kept alive in cyberspace...terrifies me. No! Just no. What’s the worst part of turning 60? Muscle-Brain reaction time slowing down. If you play pickleball you know what I'm talking about. Pickleballs fly fast. Sometimes I don't feel as fast as I should be, or remember once being. Good news is pickleball keeps you ahead of the MB atrophy slide. There is a lot to be thankful for (health, shelter, comfort, successful kids, anchored marriage). So far, 60 looks pretty good up ahead. I'll be happy to reach it in 2,674,800 seconds. Then, I'll be married to a younger man while lounging on the beach. I asked mom (Gam, Grandma, Nana, Aunt Diane, Diane) what the toughest thing about turning 60 (or any age over 50) was. She said, “None of it made any difference to me. You know, as long as you feel good, it doesn’t really matter. -- One hundred will! That one will matter. I want to live to 100. Don’t know if I will of course. But I’m trying.” I guess I feel the same way. Sixty doesn’t really make a difference in my life. Most definitely 100 will. But I’m not sure I feel the same about making it to 100. Maybe at 92 I will... Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Photo Timeline of Six Decades Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.~ Deuteronomy 34:7 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/its-never-too-late-five-healthy-steps-at-any-age

In 2016 there were 82,000 centenarians (people 100 years or older) in the United States. This figure is expected to increase to 589,000 in the year 2060 (Statista, October 28, 2021). In 2060 I’ll be 98. That means if I make it to centenarian status there will be closer to 600,000 of us old farts shuffling around. How old will you be in 2060? Are you living a life style that is conducive to reaching 100? Do you want to live to 100? Remember being a teenager and thinking age 40, 50 or [gasp] 60-years-old was eons and eons off? People who’re that old will surely stay that old and “we” will most certainly hover around 20-something forever…or not. Wishful thinking, we all do it once in a while. Now that I’m a mother to my 92-year-old mother (Diane), I have freaking 1-0-0 on my age radar. One hundred! What tha… Taking things for granted is never a good idea but the way things are going, 100-years-old is looking fairly feasible for Diane and since I have half her DNA...oh my. Here’s an article that was published on Diane’s 92nd birthday last year in Health Fitness Revolution (HFR). I peaked at it because of the title: The Top Ten Foods Centenarians Eat. I know mom’s diet intimately because not long ago I was her private cook for three weeks. Though I agree with the "top ten foods" mentioned and do indeed incorporate all of them into my diet, mom regularily only consumes three of the foods on the list (eggs, avocado, chickpeas). The first recommendation in the article is actually a habit rather than a diet component: "Eat a Healthy Breakfast," A big/healthy breakfast is positively part of Diane's daily routine. But, other than chickpeas in the form of hummus, avocado and occassional fish none of the other items are staples in her longevity arsenal. She eats plenty of chicken, ground beef and pork (lots of spaghetti w/meat sauce!). As certain as the sun rises, three hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, wheat toast w/butter and absolutely no coffee or tea is a significant part of Diane's reach-for-centenarian-status morning routine. Having watched and helped mom bounce back from two major accidents I took note of how she eats. Never will I underestimate the power of hardboiled eggs, oatmeal (breakfast!) and naps. The list of foods in HFR will help all of us but I hope you'll also consider what mom incorporates in her daily routine to stay healthy (eggs and oatmeal, eggs and oatmeal) -- did I say eggs and oatmeal. PSST, rumor has it that Betty White loved potato chips and french fries...me too! (Southern Living January 5, 2022) Thank the Lord for that recommendation :-) The importance of elder socializing isn't emphasized in this artile but it is in many others. My family provides the lion's share of mom's party life. We recently took her out to say good-bye to Diana (I know their names get confusing) as she headed back to law school. Carbonara is a favorite Italian restaurant where the food is delicious, service is superb and wine is abundant (no wine for mom though). Check it out: Speaking of old age, something the bible says: "Do not cast me off in the time of old age: forsake me not when my strength is spent" ~ Psalm 71:9. AMEN to that. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

American culture doesn’t fancy aging. I know because my American mother pushes back when it comes to such. She mostly just talks about self-preservation but she's been known to patronize Estee Lauder’s anti-aging counter and a couple other [more intense] remedies. Though, strangely, she’s never had a facial. Sometimes I’m an anti-aging fanatic too -- no alcohol, endless drinking water, mandatory sunscreen, excess exercise, organic preference, and white-knuckle praying to stay recognizable in the mirror. For me, feeling good is looking good. When mom (Diane) was younger, she held onto her age until the exact date of her next birthday. She was 32, 44, 59 or whatever age until the final hour of December 27. Funny thing is, she’d bump my age ahead, but not hers. This year was different. Mom started referring to herself as “92” at least six months prior to her actual birthday. My family followed suit. We spoke of her being 92 when she really wasn't. Diane was proud and eager to turn a larger number in 2021. Surrender of the inevitable was in gear. As a pencil portrait artist, my favorite subjects are old people. Storybook expression lines map individual joy/pain journeys. I get hypnotized bringing to life shadowy intricacies of facial lines. What’s your preference: character-line crevices or stationary, smooth features? On December 27, 2021 we celebrated, you guessed it, mom’s 92nd birthday. She always says “no one wants to celebrate a birthday right after Christmas, no one wants to think about presents.” My family never suffers Christmas burn-out to the point of ignoring birthdays after 12/25, including hers. But Diane never fails to assume we all dread the event. In younger days the only thing she ever wanted to receive on her birthday was a card. She loved to read the gushy, sentimental writings and she'd want confirmation that we meant what the card said. In her 90s, cards are so last millenium. Mom wants to get out and celebrate now! Our first stop was lunch at J. Alexander's. From there, we took her to see Jeff's office for the first time. She often says: "I wonder if I'll ever see Jeff's new office." When the party was over, we took her home for the afternoon nap. Fun and phew. The only downside of the big bash was saying Happy “92nd” Birthday because we had all been saying it for a good six months already. Now, ninety-three seems way, way far off. New Year 2022 Resolution: Don’t say mom is 93 until she is NINETY-THREE! As we all head down the inevitable aging trail, it’s comforting to know that if we’re lucky enough to make it to 90, adding birthdays can (will!) be relished versus resisted. It's also comforting to know that Estee Lauder and other swanky options really aren't all that and a bag of chips. Mom buys her makeup and skincare at Kroger and Mary Kay now. Who knew. Living in an age where most of us fight back on looking older, this is good news...makes me smile. Feeling good means looking good. It’s the perfect addition to anyone’s look-good (not younger, good!) regime: SMILE... Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Who among us doesn’t love roasted vegetables, roasted turkey and roast beef? Delicious! But, have you ever had a chance to try a “roasted” husband? Or, “roasted” wife, friend, etc.? Recently, I tasted a slightly over-roasted husband. At first I was like, meh, it must be an acquired taste or maybe he just cooked a little too much this time. But, after a few more tries it grew on me. Some of the condiments (walking cane, multiple bathrobes, wine for ages) were funny and made swallowing it easier. Kind of like the way busting your ass to get ahead in life grows on you: lick thy wounds, pretend they don’t hurt, hold your nose and laugh…to “get there.” Last weekend was our company’s Christmas/Holiday party. A good time was had by all on the 26th floor of the swanky Buckhead Club (games, DJ, amazing food, beautiful view, dancing…and surprises). Years of hard work went into making it to the Buckhead Club for a Christmas celebration. This year was particularily special because,...as you already know -- roasted husband -- (mine!) was served for all to devour. Upon arrival, I was swiftly informed that my handsome husband, who is easing into retirement, would be roasted to a crisp after dinner was served. Would I care to join him on stage in the oven? was presented to me as an option. In spite of innate stage fright, I joyfully accepted. Of course I’d roast, I mean stand by, his side while enduring over-the-hill grief from co-workers. Jeff and I are blessed to make it to retirement age. Much success has come our way and we are beyond grateful. No doubt, we’ve had our share of frowns and why me days, but such is the road to reward. No pain no gain (I know, original right?). Acquiring taste for a [surprise] roasted husband wasn’t, right off the bat, easy. But I wouldn’t have forfeited a front row seat no matter how hard my heart pounded or how hard I prayed to not have to speak. There was a steady flow of folks streaming down the aisle with absurd, gotcha gifts in tow. One gift of note was a chair to rock the days away that says “Porche” -- as opposed to Porsche -- on the back. It even has a gear shift on it (sadly no photo). I’ve never in all of our marriage seen Jeff in a bathrobe. He now has five, three of which are Hugh Hefner-esque, hmm. He has enough coffee mugs with retirement quotes to last for ten straight days. Knickknacks were received that only people who gave them know the meaning of. Stuff kept coming and coming down the aisle, including an age-defying dermabrasion tool and hilarious-looking golf pants. Before long Jeff Sweeney was well-done, over-cooked. Audience interest waned and it was at this moment that I most enjoyed it because nobody cared who was on stage and I was keenly aware of that. Good laughs were on a roll! A couple days later, we took the girls to the office to see their father’s roasted gear. We got as silly as the roasting itself was. We couldn’t find the golf pants though? If someone snuck them out, I’m certain Jeff will spy them on a golf course sooner or later. They’re hard to miss. Cheers to all those who have tasted a good, well-done, roasted husband and swallowed it with joy, love and laughter. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:11

I hope you are doing well and that your December duties have started off smoothly, void of conflict. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. It's the one and only birthday celebration for which we receive so, so much. And it’s not even our birthday. The irony is that Christmas is a birthday celebration where there is really no need to shop for gifts. Essentially, there is nothing we can give or do that is worthy of Him. Although spiritually, much can be done. We can privately (or publicly) surrender ego, self and sin (things that stores don’t contain, online sites don’t list and no one can make or manufacture). In short, repent. After that whopper-whoozie, just sit back and receive foregivness, Truth and eternal life. The cool thing is, we can receive those gifts (foregiveness, truth, eternal life) at any moment of any day what-so-ever, where ever we are. I know some people who get emotionally agitated as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Depression hits them when Christmas starts closing in. Missing loved ones, memories of past celebrations or whatever the case may be, emotions never fail to lead them down December-Dread Drive. When the True reason for Christmas is shrouded in negativity, the joyest among us get down. Can you imagine how different the tempo leading up to December 25 would be if the real reason for the season was embraced? I didn't mean to get preachy but I do hope this makes sense. I'd be lost without it. Really lost. Jesus isn’t the only December birthday near and dear to my heart. Savanna was born on Thursday, December 19 @ 5:30 p.m. These days, it seems a birthday isn't a birthday if it's not photographically documented, complete with a caption on social media? While searching for a tribute pic of Savanna, I came across this one of her enjoying a book read by my dad. I cried. Dad was one of the kindest, gentlest men I've known. As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. For me this one has more than 1,000. Maybe 10,000 words. One thing I remember about Savanna was the heaven scent of her warm, soft head. Hypnotically, that scrumptious aroma exudes through this image. My second baby, Diana, smelled delightfully delicious too…but Savanna oozed heaven scents. I imagine sweet, baby Jesus smelled the same way. Maybe it's a first-born thing. Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas everyone! Love, Shelley For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peach ~ Isaiah 9:6

I recently took a tiny, 24-hour sized bite out of the Big Apple. This 24-hour trip was the fourth in a yearly series, if you delete 2020 out of your mind like I do. And despite the recent headlines claiming NYC is dead, we had a fantastic time and the city felt as alive as it has the past four years. I always leave New York and take renewed energy and inspiration back with me to the comparatively spacious ATL. This year was no different. We crammed a lot in 24 hours, but I'll focus this blog on two highlights of the trip: Bergdorf Goodman and Trump International. Our plane landed around 11am on the first Saturday of November. After a quick change of clothes at our hotel, we Ubered to our first planned activity: high tea at Bergdorf Goodman. If you've been to Harrod's or Galleries Lafayette, you understand that some department stores are like museums. Bergdorf Goodman had that same feel! The cafe on the 7th floor felt like a secret, sophisticated alcove for New York's elite to take a break from breaking the bank. I'd rate the high tea menu a 10/10. The service was not the best, but still good at an 8.5/10. We had no set plans after tea, so we walked along Central Park, past the Plaza toward Columbus Circle in search of a fancy cocktail bar. Randomly, we checked to see if Trump International was close. It happened to be a stone's throw away. We walked through the heavy gold doors and easily found three chairs at the Jean-Georges bar. Comfortable, quiet and sophisticated, it was the perfect setting to throw back two ginger margaritas before trekking back to our hotel to change and begin the night (the only night) of our trip. Savanna

Hi Friends, I hope you are all doing well. Thank you for the messages and comments on the last blog. Elder-parent care has arrived for us baby boomers, ready or not. And our children will be caring [cough] for us, in the not-too-distant future (hi kids ;). Thankfully, wound care, meal prep, dental visits, independent/assisted living, and on, aren’t the only things that inspire blog content these days. Jeff and I attended his 40th high school reunion on St. Simons Island a couple weeks ago. Ten years ago, he joined me at my 30th in Beaverton, Oregon. Jeff was voted most likely to succeed. Given that he helped raise two grounded, faith-filled girls, that superlative is validated. He was also valedictorian with a co-valedictorian (Tom). Tom (a physician practicing in Nashville, TN) was also at the reunion. The cool thing was that neither of them had ever attended a reunion and neither of them knew the other was going to be at this one. If you haven’t been to the Georgia barrier islands where Glynn Academy is located nearby, you’d be mesmerized by the indescribable live oak trees that are dripping and draped in spanish moss. The deck in this photo was built around the tree. Glynn Academy Class of 1981 was full of friendly, smart, partying people. Several of them remarked about how smart Jeff was. One person said that she rode the bus with him and that "he never took books home" while everyone else was lugging heavy bags. My reunion and overall high school experience was a lot different than Jeff's. His school was very preppy and mine was very liberal. Aloha High School class of 1980 was highlighted by friends, Rhonda and Lori. Friends were everything to me. I wasn’t “involved” in high school like Jeff was and I wasn't "someone" like he was, except maybe to my friends. Everyone knew Jeff at his, not so much at mine. A favorite part of mine was spent when friends met up separate from the reunion. When the high school fun and games were over, we headed to Urbana-Champaigne to celebrate Diana’s 24th birthday. Y’all: when you walk out of Diana’s front door you are in a botanical wonderland, like one step away. If you’ve ever been to Chicago's Botanical Garden, this is a smaller version. There’s even a Japanese garden section. I’ve heard the colors in the northeast are amazing in fall. The midwest might be a close second? Georgia is beautiful too, but a little behind Illinois. Fall happened twice for us this year. We stayed in an old, Victorian, bed and breakfast. Halloween decorations inside the house made the home legit spooky. One night, when Jeff was driving Diana home, I literally ran upstairs because the floor was creaking in different places but no one was around. We watched the Braves bat their way to World Series Champion in these pics. Does the house look a little spooky? Do you know what I mean?? When we got back to ATL it was time to check on mom. We drove to her house only to find her not home -- like the time I ended up in the ER with her. Lord have mercy. Where oh where could she be? Lo and behold we found mom and her friend Marilyn (93) in a booth in the very back of O’Brian’s Tavern, a British-style neighborhood pub. These two gals were chatting each other up, Marily sipping Chardonnay. We uprooted them from the booth to a table and caught up on happenings. I’m sorry to say Marilyn’s 10-year-old dog is not doing well :( Prayers appreciated. Nothing sucks more than losing a pet, imho. Needless to say, mom, Diane, Gam, Nana, Grandma, Aunt Diane, whoever she is to you is doing well. I mean, she was hanging out in a pub on Halloween for crying out loud?? Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love ~ John 4:18 But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ ~ Matthew 19:26

Hi Friends, I hope you are all happy, healthy and unstressed. For the past three weeks I full-time cared for my mother, Diane (soon-to-be 92). If you read my last blog you know that. Mom has returned to her house with the help of my sister and her husband. Glory be to God. Geriatric care reminds me of toddler care. You can’t let either out of your sight but one you can control, the other you can’t. Both take particular knowledge and patience. Toddler tending is relatively easy as it’s afforded by motherly instinct. Geriatric care arrives with no inherent instinct. Put it this way, there’s a reason elder care is a thriving business. Unlike welcoming a baby home from the hospital, bringing an elder home from the hospital is complicated. A child easily adapts to drills, routines...how it’s going to be. Elders not so much. Most people are set in their ways by their 30s. Imagine how cemented you will be in the 90s? Recap: I stopped by my mom's house 3 ½ weeks ago and rushed her to an ER due to a fast moving infection indicated by a thick, red line that was half-way up her arm. Post-surgery, the surgeon commented that getting her on a big gun antibiotic that evening probably saved her life. I understood that mom needed medical attention immediately. The ER admitted her poste haste upon arrival. I also understood that I would be by her side, at the hospital, throughout treatment and recovery. I did the above instinctively, as anyone would do for a toddler or anyone else. What I don’t understand is how/why mom was discharged to my house, under my care, for three weeks. A toddler discharged to home after surgery is easy to comprehend. “Youth” is on the side of a patient's recovery from injury or illness. Geriatric recovery has variables, idiosyncrasies, that call for expertise to avoid further decline. Suddenly, I was a post-surgery-elder nurse with no RN after my name. Wound care 3x day for 5 days, three balanced meals, proper bedding, bathing, exercise, support -- all the while having no idea what the heck I was doing. What I knew for sure was that my heart pounded when I went to bed and was still pounding when I woke up... if I had the pleasure of waking up because many nights I didn't sleep a wink. When I caught my breath, I did research on how to care for elders. Here’s a snippet of what I found regarding how to best care for senior patients: Consider patients preferences and their needs - I put much consideration into what mom preferred and needed. But, as time went by I heard my heart calling out my desires. Praying in bed at night, asking God to guide the way, I thanked him for the gut-wretching struggle to keep mom going, comfortable. The honor of serving elderly parents is a delicate balance of heaven and hell -- like other invaluable experiences. Be kind, patient, and sympathetic towards them - During the “wound healing” process I was a pretty good nurse. But, after mom healed my brother, sister, and I worked tirelessly to come up with a future, secure living situation for her. Our efforts mostly failed. Dear Lord, hear my prayer: Prudence, Patience & Peace. Support their decision-making skill and encourage them for independence in making choices for themselves - Magnificently, I failed at this one. Wanting desperately to give mom optimum care going forward meant having her close to our home, in "independent" living. This was a gargantuan desire for me. However, what I wanted was not what she wanted. I/we had to surrender. Dear Lord hear my prayer to keep her safe. Help adults to achieve emotional stability - Bringing a new baby home is emotionally charged for all. Entering elder-care years is likewise emotionally amped. But unlike a baby that can be "formed," when parents enter "tender years," they do so with embeded, complex, dynamics of which...lets face it...can't be re-formed. Mom is home safe sound where she wants to be. I/we pray for her safety, health, and most of all the presence of the Lord in her soul and mind. "Tender times" are a natural part of life just like having a baby. We (American society) aren't well-prepared when elder care arrives (in the blink of an eye). May we all do the best we can with Eternal Life in our sight through Him. Give Diane a call, she’d love to hear from her friends and family. Thank you for reading. Love, Shelley But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever ~ Timothy 5:8 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent ~ Psalm 71:9

Hi Everyone, I hope you are all happy, healthy and blessed as fall slowly rolls into town. I’ve been away from my favorite hobby in the world (blogging) because life has taken a turn. My mom (a/k/a Gam, Gramma, Nana, Diane, Aunt Diane) went to the ER last Sunday (9/19) for a serious infection in her right thumb. On Monday she had surgery (nail removed, plus two stitches along the side.) Currently she is home with me and I am taking care of her needs. If you’ve ever been in a similar position you know how overwhelming yet gratifying elder care can be. It puts patience and patients to the test. Caring for an elderly person makes us better people! Doing so truly is an honor...and who knows, maybe one day the care will be returned my (your) way. God willing, a lot of us are headed toward our ‘90s. A few days ago I may not have said all of that. Caring for elders requires more hands on deck than just one person. I was on my own for the first three days. But, over the weekend, Savanna and Jeff pitched in and the gratifying part wafted through the house. I’m not saying it’s all wine and roses, it’s not. But time is [obviously] of the essence and being able to help out with care at this stage of mom’s life is a gift. Diane is VERY tough. It’s been less than a week since her thumb was operated on. After her check up appointment four days ago, she fell outside the office while walking just behind me. At 91-years-old she got right back up, sore but no broken anything. A brand new road is stretching out in front of us and we’re taking it one day at a time. I thought that everyone who knows and loves Diane would appreciate knowing what she is going through and what we are praying over her. God is good, we are blessed beyond measure and we live in awe of the pleasure of worshipping him. Mom loves her friends and family very much. Please don’t hesitate to call, text or email. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever ~ Psalm 73:26

Until last week, I’d only been to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois one time. Savanna (big sis) had never been. Urbana-Champaign is now penciled in our schedules every other month for the next three years, if we had our druthers that is. Savanna and I love Urbana-Champaign, Illinois -- because we love Diana. That is where lil sis is hunkered down absorbing yet more knowledge in her already amply-supplied brain. Saying good-bye to children (and little sisters) isn’t easy. Doing so is especially tricky for semi-control freaks, like me and big sis, Savanna. Not only do we want swift access for visiting lil sis, we want assurance that her living environment and social surroundings are spiffy and up to par. Diana moved herself to Illinois which means big sis and I have been bit-chomping to check things out and help her settle in ever since she left Atlanta four weeks ago. Last week we did just that. Savanna and I broke out of Atlanta gates and flew to Urbana-Champaign for a first glimpse into Diana's new, law school life. We hit the ground running and located the grad/family housing apartment complex where she lives before even laying eyes on her. The building Diana lives in is retro, oozing midwestern academia charm. Of particular note is the green, tree-filled outdoor surroundings where [truly] adorable children play freely. Outdoor noise is filled with kids running and playing, not "partying" nonsense. Savanna and I scrubbed, swept and exterminated the front porch that leads inside lil sis’s new home. For the interior, we made a list, checked it twice and headed to Walmart, HomeGoods, TJ, Staples, Target, Walgreens, and a furniture I can’t remember the name of. Naturally, we went back to some of those places a second time with returns. Savanna is a blue-ribbon sister who has tended to her lil sis’ dietary and environmental comfort since toddler times. She made a scrumptious Mexican casserole, portioned it out and froze individual containers for lil sis to enjoy later. Some things just never change. The kitchen has an adorable window that looks out over green grass, trees, a picnic table and kids running around. The pathway could use repaving but a little uneven walking ground is shameful to complain about when there is so much to be thankful for. As for dipping our toes in the social climate. We checked out a football game at the UIUC Memorial Stadium (dedicated to men and women who gave their lives in World War I. Their names appear on 200 columns that support the east and west sides of the stadium). Unfortunately UI lost 37-30 to UTSA. But that didn’t prevent the game from being energetic and full of devoted Illini fans. Triangle park is officially part of the Fighting Illini fan-family now. Savanna never fails to find fun things to do wherever we go. Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch was cute as it could be. There was apple picking, carriage rides, apple slushies (a lot of apple stuff) and kitten adoptions to boot. Diana’s digs are by no means “finished.” Jeff and I head that way in a few weeks for additional sprucing. But big sis and I accomplished what we set out to by sprucing up lil sis’ home away from home. Diana can now focus on increasing brain power and Savanna and I can sleep comfortably knowing she's comfortable. Wait! The most important thing is/was that we rely on promises of God where ever he takes us: "Behold. I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared." ~ Exodus 23:20 "Behold. I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." ~ Genesis 28:15 "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." ~ Deuteronomy 31:8 Savanna's blog Psst, Diana: Your brain is your superpower! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

Sometimes there is nothing to blog about (like a month ago) and other times there is so much to share I don’t know where to begin (like this past week). There are two things I haven’t done in 40 years: Travel with [only] a girlfriend Plan a surprise party for someone This past week I did both of those things. My friend, Gail, and I took a trip to see America’s most iconic monument, Mt. Rushmore. Brief-backstory: In the early ‘80s, I took a trip with a college friend, but I have spent three-quarters of my life travelling with family, or alone. Vacationing with a girlfriend at Mt. Rushmore in 2021 was extra unusual and exciting for me. Gail and I planned and executed car, flight and hotel details in a flash and before we knew it, we were standing in the Blackhills of South Dakota in awe of magnificent Mount Rushmore. While there we also: Reveled among the largest biker rally in the country, Sturgis ‘21! - Fancy bikes and bikers were literally everywhere. Many had American flags waving wildly behind their rides. I must add that the bikers themselves were a very nice group of people and Patriotic to boot; Took a train to an old mining town (Hill City) -- Though we missed our train back (nobody told us we only had ½ a second to eat, shop, and teetee) to Keystone, we hung out under a beautiful draping tree and enjoyed the shade, scenery and each others company before catching the next train, 2-hours later; Played saloon-girl dress up -- thankfully these two photos were bearable to come home with because the majority were o.m.g. dreadful; Met Sidney Powell -- Sidney was in Keystone speaking at the first annual Old Glory Patriot Ride and she was gracious as she could be; And, while the above fun and games were happening I mentally and emotionally prepared for a surprise going-away-to-UIUC-lawschool for Diana, immediately upon our return... Perhaps, you’ve bid farewell to college or grad school offspring? Perhaps you’ve planned a surprise party and visited Mt. Rushmore? All the above was unchartered territory for me. Savanna and I wanted to throw a surprise party to add a dash of happiness to an otherwise mixed-emotion farewell. We began organizing on a Tuesday with the following Saturday (8/14) being the “big day.” Typically Sav and I are far-in-advance, prior planners. Throwing an event inside a week (surprise to boot) put us outside our comfort zones. What was the hardest and easiest part of “surprise” planning? Easiest: Texting and email makes surprise-communicating virtually magic; Hardest: Lying is positively not my style. For four days I had to pause and make sure my “stories” were straight The gathering came together better than we ever dreamed of. Diana was truly surprised and all who attended [hopefully] had a good time and will cherish the memories as much as Jeff and I do. Diana is blessed with exceptional friends. What was the best part(s) of the whole ordeal? By FAR the best part of any party are the PEOPLE WHO COME! THANK YOU, EVERYONE! FELLINI'S PIZZA - Fellini’s virtually allowed us to occupy the entire back room. Thank you #fellinispizza for patience and accommodation! I have endless gratitude for loving friends, aspiring children and blessings from Above! ALL the Glory belongs to Him “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving And extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, The great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3 As I write this, Diana and Elijah are on their way to Illinois. Here she is waving good-bye to all of us... Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Side note video:

Like Grandma (Gam), like Grand-daughter! These two twin’n ladies sure look like they planned these outfits: What are you wearing? Let’s wear red shirts and white pants...it's 4th of July week. But it wasn’t planned at all. Like Grandma, like Grand-daughter, for real. We visited Gam yesterday and had fun (as usual) taking photos around her home. As long as she has her makeup and hair in place, Gam is always a great sport when it comes to snapping photos. Back in the day, she was quite a photographer herself. I have hundreds of pictures that she took and some how have managed to get them digitized for safe keeping. As many know, Gam doesn’t use the internet or a cell phone. Of course she’s perfectly capable of having and using both -- she chooses to forego modern technology. Most of Gam’s energy is put into making three wholesome meals a day and shopping for supplies to accomplish that. She even purchases and hauls home gallons of Deer Park water [on her own]. Now that COVID19 is in the rearview mirror, we’re happy and relieved that she goes out to dinner with us. We took her, for the second time post-COVID19, out for Italian food. She’s always game to ride with Jeff in the Porsche. Here she is climbing out of it...at 91-years-old. Getting in and out of that thing is no easy task, trust me. Having mom out and about is truly a blessing. IMHO, the past year is akin to fighting a war. There are too many people that are no longer with us. Though many of them didn’t succumb to the virus specifically, a collateral damage effect is hard to ignore. Sad. Really sad. Gam survived the insult that was COVID19 by shutting herself down [majorly]. We are thankful she did that. Now, Onward and upward, as she likes to say. It’s my hope and prayer that you and yours are also back to “normal.” God Bless YOU. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley