A Grandmother's Prayer

Grandmother's Prayer ~
By: Barbara Burrows

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,
Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.
Just give me a little hand to hold,
And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,
A life that's free from tears and sighs.
Just give me a little face to kiss,
And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much
As little hands that reach and touch,
As little eyes that search and see
Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise
By looking at life through their brilliant eyes.
For through these little ones, you've given
This grateful grandma a glimpse of Heaven.

flickr photos

Eat Cake Birthday Girls!

Ayns 7

Hazie 2

Let The Fall Festivities Begin!

Julia the Cat and Chloe the Flame Lady!

Big Twin~Little Twin

Piper~10 and Hazie Jo~2

He SHOULD be Praying!

Grampa and Alex are making a big mess outside today. Well, it is not really a big mess he is just moving a lot of stuff around. We are getting ready to get our house painted next weekend and so he has a lot of stuff to organize out there. The whole deck and a big part of the driveway is just full of "Grampa Stuff!" I just keep telling myself it has to get like this before it can get all fancy again! I hope you all grow up to be good hard workers like your Grampa!!

Anyway, I was out there by our flag and Grampa has a big miter saw sitting out there today. Then I saw this sitting right on the saw table. Ick!


So I looked up the Praying Manits and I read this...

"Camouflage is very important for the praying mantis' survival. Because they have so many enemies such as birds, they must blend in with their habitat to avoid being eaten. They have a triangular-shaped head with a large compound eye on each side. Praying mantids are the only insect that turn from side to side in a full 180-degree angle. Their eyes are sensitive to the slightest movement up to 60 feet away.

Well that is impressive but, I guess they don't look up! And they should and this one really needs to be praying with that saw blade right over his triangular head!


I love that Grampa and Alex are working hard to make out home better but I don't like it when they stir up the critters and insects! I am such a girly girl! Sorry, I just cannot help it!

Hazel is TWO!

Happy Birthday Littlest Angel!

Well, it is Your Special Day.
Today you are 2 Years old.
This is the day that everyone celebrates you,
Hazel Jo: your sweetness, your uniqueness, your love of life.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.....Look @ You!

Two Years Ago

18 Months Ago

One Year Ago

About Six Months Ago

Almost Two!

Sweetest photo of the year!

You and Your Baby!

In the Spa with the girls!

You Are On Your Way Baby!


This is the Special Day We Thank God For You
and all you have taught us and brought us.

~We Thank You For~

Teaching us to smile even when things aren't so great sometimes.

For teaching us how to serve in lots of new ways.

For coming here with the light of Christ shining all around you
~Your Special Halo!~

For showing us how deeply little children can love
as we watch your sisters and cousins &
little friends treat you so sweetly.

For working so hard on your physical therapy
And teaching us all we can do hard things too!

We thank you for a happy, willing heart and your beautiful smile.
For finding your sweet little voice and talking to us.
For learning to sign Gramma!

For helping us learn to not take anything for granted
and to be thankful in all things.
For helping us to always look for the silver lining!

Thank you most of all for being you and being ours!

There are no words to tell you how much you are loved!

Eat Cake, Our Big Tiny Girl!

If you do not know Hazel's story you can read about it here. And here!

Zachary Sings!

When you are a Gramma sometimes you just have to share. I am loving this with all my heart. Thanks, Missy, for sharing it!

His Mommy said,

"Although we haven't heard Zach singing often in the past, times are changing. He now has songs that he practices for Kindergarten and we've had the chance to hear his sweet voice more often. Love it!"

Ayns is SEVEN!!

Let's Celebrate!!

Today is our granddaughter, Aynlsee's birthday! Today she is SEVEN. Aynlsee is the only member of our family born in New York. She was born when her Daddy was a PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. We didn't get to see her so much that first year or so and we were very thankful for pictures and phone calls and letters. It is amazing that she is 7 already and she has lived in three places, NY, China, and Utah!

This little blond beauty was quite the rave in China and for some, the only little blond girl they had ever seen! The Chinese ladies always wanted to touch her golden hair. Aynslee has had a good year. She has been a lot of fun places with her family. She has grown up and changed so much this year. To me the biggest change has been all about teeth! It is quite dramatic really!

Here she is last year on her 6th birthday.

Here she is when her front teeth came out just a day apart!

Now here she is on her first day of first grade!
I think she looks beautiful with her new teeth!

Aynslee and her best guys!

Sledding with Grampa and her brothers in the backyard

Visiting us in CA in the Spring

Fun with Owen

Family hike this summer

Aynlsee loves art

She enjoyed Kindergarten!

Aynslee's picture of Julia and herself!

Happy Birthday, Aynslee!


Grampa and I are sending you lots of love and
hugs and kisses and we hope you like the present from us!
We think you are fabulous and wouldn't trade you for the world!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO and one to grow on XO!

Aunt Missy Tells All!

We hiked to Stewart Falls on the 24th of July
(a state holiday in Utah).
More bang for your buck? Double click photos

The hike is about 4 miles round trip. We were super proud of the kids for doing it!

It was great to cool off at the falls and enjoy our picnic lunch.

Trust us...these smiles are before the return trip. Let's just say we had personal experience with the phrase, "weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth." (did I get that right?) Although the return trip was filled with drama, we all left pretty pumped that we did it!

Loving Laundry!

A quiet moment for Hazie and her baby!
This is the best load of laundry I have ever seen!
Could We Love Her Anymore?

Silly Geese

Always in Our Spotlight

Piper helps Hazie get dressed!

When you have a house with two big sisters and two tiny sisters I am sure it must seem like the little girls get all the attention. If I were nine, like Julia or ten, like Piper, I might have a hard time understanding why so many more blog posts are about the little ones, the funny things they say and do, all the changes in their lives, etc. It may not always be easy having a baby sister with special needs, but you would never know it to watch these bigger girls. They truly are amazing!

I just want these big, beautiful granddaughters to know how much they are loved and appreciated for all they do to help their Mom and Dad every day. And also how much they are loved just because of the wonderful people they are. We admire you and look up to you for the strength you have had to develop when you have felt sad when Hazie was sick or in the hospital. Those sad times have taught you to be more beautiful inside and compassionate towards others.

Julia helping Chloe @ the park.

It is not easy being the oldest, I know! A lot is expected of you and there is always pressure to be the best example for the younger kids. I want all of our oldest grandkids to know how proud we are of them for leading the way and for helping your parents with many of their burdens. Whatever you do for them not only makes them happy but us too! You are appreciated and loved every minute of the day. I just can't say enough about the love in their little family.

Even Chloe helps a lot.
Our little Miss Hazel will never lack for
the love and attention...that is for sure!

Good for you, Jen and Lowell.......
you are doing plenty that is spot on right! Woohoo!
A lot of that is made possible by the
willing helping hands of
Piper, Julia and even Chloe!

You might also like:

Piper's Amazing Art

Beautiful Piper Turns 9 Today!

Happy Birthday Miss Piper!

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First Day of School 2009

Piper 5th Grade

Julia 4th Grade

Chloe & Miss Jessica~Pre-School

Zachary Kindergarten

Aynslee 1st Grade~Connor 4th Grade

Everyone started school on different days~here are some photos of everyone but Spencer and Ross. Spencer is having Home School this year and Ross is going to school on the base Naples. Aunt Laura will be sending some pictures soon.