A Family and a Baptism

Today was a very special day.  Sweet Sylvia was baptized and I could not be more delighted.  Standing in church and listening to the prayers of a community that I, and generations of Neltners before me, have been listening to for hundreds of years seemed to make the circle complete.  It was passed on to Rachael when she was baptized, and now Sylvia, clutching her dou-dou with the handerkerchief tied around it's neck (the one used as a bonnet when Rach was baptized, and then tied to her bouquet when she was married) was a symbol of the family bond and love that brings us all together.  Surrounded by her family, from both here and France, we watched as she was blessed into the faith that generations of Neltners and  Fasciottos before her embraced.  It is truly the "faith of our fathers", and now Sweet Sylvia has joined the congregation.  I was bursting with pride.  She was not the only one blessed today; God blessed us all who were present in our common bond of love for the Nugget.  God is great.

My Dear Deer are Back

I just found my long lost friends on Craigslist!  Yes, those wonderful reindeer who were part of my Christmas since we moved into this house 17 years ago are back.  I bought them at the Woolfest in 1993, and put them out every year.  Two years ago, I decided 15 years of the same lawn decorations for Christmas was enough; after the holidays, I packed up my white wooden reindeer and hauled them off to Goodwill.  I thought I'd come up with a new and exciting way to decorate my front yard for the holidays.  But alas, what I didn't count on was the "hole" I felt when it came time to pull out the decorations.  I missed my reindeer!!  Nothing out there could compare to those beautiful white deer with their big red bows, standing proudly in the stategically placed spotlight in front of the house.  I had to find them again.  For 2 years I've searched craft shows and yard sales, ebay and criagslist.  Tonight, the search is over! Tomorrow I pick up my dear deer and bring them back home.  Rachael will be so happy, not -- she always hated those deer and I really don't know why.  But I do know that I will never part with them again.  Wherever we end up, the deer will go too.  And that includes the nursing home.  Some day, someone will have to be sure my deer are outside my window, majestically displayed for all to see!  

Live for Today

Everyone knows we should live for the moment, but there are days when it becomes more evident.  We've just had a couple of those days.  In the past 2 days we learned that a family member is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and our daughter-in-law's father has a brain tumor.  He's 62 and ready to retire in December.  As much as we need to plan for the future, this kind of news makes us realize how important it is to cherish every moment of every day and never take anything for granted.

And, I never take for granted time spent with my family, and now especially my grandkids.  We just had a wonderful day today with Sylvie-pie, Rach and Sylvain at the pumpkin patch, somewhere in Indiana.  Jordan was able to join us, and it was a beautiful, sunny, WARM fall day.  The place was quite an operation, with hay rides, petting zoo, apple picking, 2 restaurants, an ice cream and cheese store, a winery, and a country store full of pies, breads, jams, and everything fall -- it was the best!  I feel so blessed that we get to spend this time with the kids, as it all goes by way too fast.  (It makes me sad that Sylvia is outgrowing her clothes so quickly; her daddy will be buying prom dresses before we know it!!!)  The Nugget is such a good little girl, and Rach is such a good little mama.  She has taken well to motherhood; she has a glow about her she never had before, and I'm so proud of her.  And Sylvain has proven to be a very good papa too; I love watching him with her, he is just smitten with her.  Sylvia is a lucky little girl!  Who wouldn't be smitten.... look at the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

And, speaking of smitten, her Grandpa Bird just can't get enough of the nugget.  He can spend all day just rolling around on the floor with her or walking her around the yard exploring.  This little girl has lots of men in her family swooning over her (like Uncle Jordan), and Jay is right there in the mix.  My kids were lucky to have him for a step-dad, and now the next generation gets to feel his love too.

So, at the end of the day, when there's so much sadness and there's so many things to wonder "why is this happening", the special little moments in a pumpkin patch mean even more than they would have a just few days ago.  And, we get to do it all over again tomorrow with Charlie!!

My First Attempt at Blogging

I NEVER thought I'd do this.  I am way too old to do this; well kind of old.  However, my whole life I've always wished I'd been diligent enough to keep a journal.  I wish I had my thoughts on paper when I'd been through the highs and lows of life.  Other than a few notes posted in the baby books, and my "Travel Journal" I always grab before we leave on a trip, I have nothing to in writing to look back on and re-live some of the most memborable times of my life.

So, here it is.  And it came to me this weekend as I savor what a wonderful weekend it was.  My daughter and granddaughter (Sylvia, almost 6 months old) and I spent a lovely day at the Woolfest on Friday (I played hookie as Rach and Sylvain were on fall break).  It was just a perfect fall day, bright blue sky, leaves turning, and crisp, cool air.  Then we came home where the rest of the family (Jordan, Matt/Jenn and that other wonderful grandchild Charlie) gathered for gumbo, applie pie and a bon fire out back.  Jay is in heaven when he can get a crowd around the fire, and his brother Kurt and nephew Aaron showed up too, not to mention little Adam next store, the King of S'mores! 

On Saturday morning, Rach, Sylvia, Grandma and I went to Penney's to have our "4 Generations of Neltner Women" portrait done.  It turned out really well, was a lot of fun, but exhausting.  Sylvia did great; those eyes just get bluer and those cheeks just get chubbier, and she gets sweeter every day.

Then to top off the day, Rach and Sylvain had a date night and left Sylvia in grammy's care - hooorrrayyy!!!  I loved having some alone time with my Sylvi-pie.  We did our own little photo shoot, then dinner, bath, story time and bottle before lots of hugs and kisses, swaddling and night-night.  They all packed up and left this morning, which is always sad.  But I'm hoping to see them again next weekend when we go to the 'ville to a pumpkin farm. 

I love the fall, and weekends like this -- just good old family time -- make the season so much sweeter!  I am blessed.