The rest

I skipped lunch with the Anaheim family (tract couple, mission couple, and boys unit) and by the time they came home summer was up and playing around! Josh and Kristi and the unit boys were so so sweet about th sickness! We all headed out to Laguna beach. By far my fave beach/tourist destination we visited. Rocky shores, boardwalk, landscaping that with had huge trailing succulents that had obviously been there year after year. Oh and all of California had bougainvilleas. (And oleanders lots of them in the middle of the road) Not all of them were bloomed out but they were climbing over everywhere. Driving to laguna beach the GPS said like 3 minutes or so and we were in the middle of a mountain town. We popped out and our eyes met the the beauty of coastline. They had built cute little stairways down to the beach. It was so romantic. We played beach ball and watched the sunset then walked the quaint streets and visited some tourist shops. (Think fairhope style vibes) off to a smokehouse for some delicious Tri-Tip and Mac n cheese- candied bacon. It got late! 

Seth unexpectedly got off Monday and we went to Santa Monica. It was ok! Not my fave place tho! The girls had their fist Ferris wheel ride. Walked the board walk then took Seth back to his buddies and Gladene(the boys goldish Sienna) must be pronounced Gladeeene. It was kinda sad to leave him! Jace had booked a nice hotel for us. When the room was ready Jace and Summer crashed for abit (summer was running fever again) and Jace was worn out.  Saylor was adamant about her dimmin duit and going to the pool so I mothered up and went with her! We just swam and chilled and opened our patio door to the wonderful view of sunset colors and palm trees and airport runway.! Got Taco Bell for supper in the room an crashed early! Now we’re at LAX chilling till we board! I’ll miss Cali and the beautiful views and the succulents and palm trees and the people. Especially Jerry’s and the boys, the boys that are giving their time to the Lord, and the house parents. I’ll miss the Cali beach and the beautiful contrast it portrays. 

  

A few more interesting things we saw while we were vacaying. Waymo cars. Self driven and ridiculous. Seth says Gladeeeene swerves at them and they auto honk. 

Also saw a Waymo in a very tight street and as we met it the rider was concerned. He couldn’t control the situation and threw up his hands! Not for me!

A baby sea lion rescue. He was so cute. He washed up on Huntington Beach and was sick

A very not surprising proposal. If you go to the beach dressed up and there’s a photographer there and rose petals and candles what do you expect. She said yes tho!

Saturday

Had a yummy pancake breakfast with fresh picked oranges from the tree in the yard

Seth blew off the fake turf. And mowed the teeny teeny spot of grass with the battery powered lawnmower. We left and went to Huntington Beach! Crashed on the sand, went and ate lunch. (Super cool beach town.) blocks and blocks of food-açaí bowl places, coffee shops, surf-souvenir shops etc.  came back and I sat in the car while Saylor took a nap while Seth Jace and Summer went back on the beach. After Saylor woke up and we got a shag more hungry we went to a super cute açaí place called BONDI bowls 

Watched about 37 surfers from one side of the pier and made our way back home. Stopping just  few miles from “home” for Los Guerdo. The boys fave taco place.

SundaySummer got sick. And I tried to go to church but ten minutes in I quickly decided I must take her home. So back to 2147 W Victoria ave we came.  I’ll finish reporting on the rest of the day later. Jace is sick currently.

Anaheim

Cali day 4

Told the little boys and Angie bye and found our path with our pathfinder right out of Epps. I was sad to leave. 

We drove and drove and drove. Stopped for a hamburger at In n Out. The next couple hours of driving were amazing! The hills and mountains we drove through were green. A peak here or there was dusted with snow. Fences climbed the steepest hills and plunged down with the landscape of the land. Very few houses dotted the hillsides. A few perched on the top of them tho. Soon we hit palm trees and traffic became intense. We weaved our way into Los Angeles. Poor Saylor was puking. 🤮 I was surprised at how the Miningers handled the last two hours. But we all did really really good. Go us. But really Thank You to Jesus. Pulled in the parking garage of CHOC and went and found Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeth!!! We met one of his work coordinators and her and Seth took us on a tour of the hospital. So much generosity in a hospital like that. It’s strictly a children’s hospital with an underground tunnel from the main hospital for trauma NICU patients. Seen the child life play room where they work. The OR waiting room. That very morning Seth and Daisy told us it had been filled with crying humans. So much love and so much hurt. Walked to a chapel area that was silent. Grounding Silent. Thick stillness hung in the room. Two Kleenex boxes sat on one of the soft benches. It was dark and thoughtful. My eyes misted over when I thought about how many parents and maybe even children themselves had poured out there while soul and begged God, Pleaded with Heaven to make these awful ugly diseases leave their child’s bodies. I reckon everyone of them will be answered. Whether in the way we humans like or for eternity. 

They have a radio station for special guests and patients to come experience broadcasts. Or it can be streamed onto the child’s room if they are too sick to come out. A movie theatre for children and parents. One little child in a wheelchair and its mama sat there eating popcorn watching the screen. Go CHOC for making hospital life as normal as possible. They also have a room for ages 13 and up that doesn’t seem so kiddish. Decor for older kids makes it a great place for those kids to hang out and try to shake the “I’m in the hospital feeling.”

Last but not least a library that all the books are brand new and have been donated. Children in this hospital can come every day if they wish and choose a book for keeps. I left the hospital with faith in society again.

To the unit house with Seth and met Josh’s (his houseparents) and had a delish supper of wings. Such a cute house. I’ll see if I can send a link sometime and so yall can the teeeeeeeeny tiny little piece of earth it’s perched on. After supper we loaded up went to Joes. It’s custard and Italian ice.The line is hundreds of people long. But with 13 windows the line moves decently quick. Went by Disney all though you can’t see a thing and came home and crashed.

Cali

day three

Awoke to fog. The sun burned it off quickly and we had another beautiful day. Avocado toast and some good coffee for brekkie. Just sat around. Outside on the patio in the sunshine and breeze. Girls jumped on the trampoline. All sudden two blonde headed little boys showed up at the front door. Gotta love neighbors kiddos! Miss Yolanda’s little grands came and played with summer! And again I was reminded of how many years back when Angie’s boys went to Yolanda’s in the same fashion. Uninvited and welcomed. It’s nice to have good neighbors. Ask me how i know! Went and got Austin from school at noon and went to Los Gordos for lunch. (Taco wagon) was delightful. Glass bottle coke and all! Drove through the downtown of Mexico actually called Winton. Came home for some much needed naps. After Jordan came home from school Jace,  Summer, Austin and Jordan went riding dirt bikes on canal banks! Saylor, Angie and I went on a walk! Came home and ate popcorn and got a fire going for a wiener roast. After supper I put in a door dash for a sushi roll so we could try it. An 15 minutes later it was there. Unreal! Went to Baskin Robbin’s literally 3 minutes from the house pry. Back to Epps and soon to campy for night.

If your missing an Amazon package it could be along Santa Fe. On one of the many freight trains that ran along Uncle Jerry’s back yard, there was a prime shipping container with doors open and boxes that appeared to randomly dropping out.

Day 2

Day 2

Jantz bakery for a slice of avocado toast with feta cheese- tomato’s and balsamic drizzle. Also saw a former Macon girl! I love driving these faintly familiar Cali roads through little Mexico. There’s so much agriculture stuffed here and there in small pockets of land. Saw a couple of cows literally right out the bathroom window! Such a different culture! I did find out tho that I don’t want to live here!🤣 but I do want to visit again soon! Went to GMS to drop some stuff off for Austin. Then picked up some sourdough from where Ang D was working. Gordon’s wanted to meet us for lunch. Seen Waylon Jantz and a few other Mennos. We had left the girls with Angie and we got a good Cali boy tour.! Was super interesting! Went to Livingston church and seen the ancient Grace Home. Seen where they used to live. Watched them do sweet potato hot beds. Very time consuming and labor intensive. Came back to Epps and sat around. Sat outside in the sun and felt the HEAT.. was lovely. The girls rode scooter and Jace rode bike on Epps drive and I sat and watched them and remembered way back when my mom sat on the same railroad ties watching us ride scooter! Miss Yolanda came and talked to us and reminded me again of 2013 when I knew the neighbor lady and her family well. Jaylen roared by and screeched to a stop to tell us high. Then Dani came by and we got to say high! Jordan rose to Dutch bros on his bike to get a drink. Jace thought about riding with him but decided he wouldn’t slow Jordan down. Went to Barry’s for supper and felt a little like coming home as well.! Familiar people with slightly older faces! Bryce and Janae were there and Benny and Sherilees older boys. Benny’s stopped in later and said high! Came home and hashed abit and went to the camper for another good nights sleep. Did you know that trains roaring by in the middle of the night are a comforting sound?

Cali day

Cali

I can hardly believe it. Here I sit. In California. And more importantly at my aunt Annie’s. This place has always held my heart. But through years of not coming back I had forgotten the magic it holds. Today it pulled me in one of the tightest hugs I’ve ever had in my life without letting go. Its  majesty swept me off my feet and has me mesmerized. “Ohhhhh California that’s the place for me.” I beg Jace to move here. And keep profusely thanking him for bringing us here. I don’t know if I shall be able to sleep while I’m here for fear of missing out on a piece of this land that is so unloved my many but so lovable to me.

Home

Hi, welcome to HOME. You’ll be greeted by two dogs whom we love. A solid, grounded bulldog and a vibrant black Goldendoodle. This house is sometimes messy. Like thick messy. Hardly room to walk messy. It currently is. It’s such a good reminder of how much fun we had camping. Sometimes tho this house is tidy. I hope you don’t mind a few stray dog hairs on the floor or on a couch or two. And a bowl of water set in a corner.  Yes- we have children to. God graciously gave us two high spirited little girls. Just what we wanted. Along with those girls He gave a package of directions. Sometimes, on some matters, we can read a booklet and know just what to do. More often He whispers quiet lines while on the way to settle the fight. And sometimes He says “DO” and pray and ask Me to fill in the gaps. Anger frustration and selfishness also reside here, although they aren’t really supposed to. God is faithful in showing me the door to cast these out. Okay well that’s all for now. Thanks for coming over and seeing how we live. Also thanks for being my friend even though we don’t do everything the same. Sigh a prayer for me today that I can be okay with who we are an how we live here at 730 Corley road. Sometimes I think that the way you live must be better.! 

Learn

Learn and Why I chose it

Thinking of 2026 and a woty to go along with it- the words coming up were respect- Safe, little. 

I loved and still love those words, But this is why I chose learn.

A certain happening the end of the year really shook me and I wasn’t sure where to find myself and how to go on. I struggled for quite a while an kept trying to think of solutions to just “fix” the feelings once and for all. And then God stepped in and the thought “you can learn” popped into my heart. Almost as clear as if it was written out on paper. And what light it brought. I could learn how to go on. I didn’t know how to at that time but I actually wasn’t stuck in the not knowing. 

And thinking of my dear 5 year old that will bounce off to school in August gives me great fear and trepidation. Almost puts me in an identity crisis. But there again. I have a Master Teacher that will teach me how to be a school mom. 

While Summer learns at school- I’ll keep learning at home. I want to be always listening to the quiet voice of my Teacher.

Some other phrases that have been on my mind while I think about learn are

We wait to learn from God

We learn to wait on God 

To learn of His ways

There’s always something to learn from each situation 

To learn I must be teachable- and teachable people are reachable people 

To learn is to be open minded

A mama

Your kids need a mama- 

a woman who has chosen to put her kids and husband first and therefore serving Christ through her service in her home

Your kids need a mama who is in tune with preschool chatter through lunch hour 

not a woman who is so concerned about a youthful appearance that she crunches through her salad hurriedly at lunch (so she doesn’t have to contemplate the rather boring flavors) 

Your kids need a mama- not a mom that is bent on getting quality social time that she has no time for kindly disciplining or listening to the little girl that came and tried to speak with her mom

Your kids need a mama- not a virtuous woman who always gets her tasks done every day. 

Your kids need a mama to take them on slow bike rides 

not a mom who’s bent on pounding trail to be in shape.

Your kids need a mama- a mama who fixes toast with lots of butter and cups of ice cold juice. A mama that listens to big stories that take longer to tell than you wish.  A mama that co-regulates the crying or upset preschooler (therefore teaching self regulation). A mama makes time to cuddle big little girls. A mama who prays before they get up. A mama who has time for another princess story. Your kids need you. Not the person you wish you were or the finished tasks. The need YOU

I blush with shame as I post this.

02-08-2025

I’m thankful

Home is a warm hug

A hot shower feels like a tight squeeze

A supportive Christian husband feels like safety anchor

A clean kitchen feels like success

Going to bed early feels like luxury

Warm days in January feel like Gods blessing

Love smell like a cup of coffee over loaded with cream

Love tastes like supper made my your mama

Love looks like a f-350 pulling into the driveway

Love feels like a kiss on the cheek from your 2 year old

Love sounds like “I’m sorry mama” from your four year old.

Storms

So much more to say

But this is all

Talking about it doesn’t fix it

Only God can 

I know hearts hurt everywhere

And everywhere there’s grief

But tonight at Corley road

Someone wants relief

Relief from therapeutic parenting

Relief from defiance

Relief from opposition 

Results is what I want.

Results only come through hard work

Results come through consistency

Results come from self denial

Not from the problem fleeing.

Relief from fear and anger

Relief from so much debt

Relief from blobs that cloud my vision

Relief from from real life I guess

But God has prepared and island for me

In the midst of the (listen) turbulent sea(stormy sea)

UNTOUCHED by the things that come to annoy 

The calm peaceful island this Islam of Joy.

So tomorrow God permitting

I’ll awake and stretch and yawn

And watch the sunrise with my Bible

And I’ll be able to keep on.

I want to keep on with unplowed ground. Today I fell behind. God has protected me from my ole self for a month now, and it has been easy to be compassionate and hide my anger. But this week has given me lots of chances to practice praying!

A dad and his girl

Wendell had a little girl

Her top was sure to blow

But everywhere that Wendell went 

That girl was sure to go!

Out to feed fish

They’d often go

Chewing the steering wheel

Was the way to go.

She chewed up the wheel

That steered old green bean

And her daddy still loved her

Her needs they were seen

She rode with this dad

To haul a big shed

And marble slab ice cream

She was offered and fed

And then she got bigger

And still loved her dad

He helped her through problems

That to her seemed quite bad

When storms came her way

And filled her with fright 

She’d talk to her dad

And he’d lead her right.

And then she met Jace

His eyes brimmed with tears

He gave her away 

Wishing her many good years

And still to this day

His number I call 

He still has good light

He’s there when I fall.

And I thank you my daddy

For loving just me

Just me like I am

For loving just me

Happy birthday to my daddy❤️

Team Maci

In a world where cancer is prevalent

In a country where truth is so rare

In a town where self is so normal

We know of a God who’s still here

Our God is a God of real love 

Our God is a God of real peace

Our God is a God of true joy

And He wants us to pray and not cease

He wants us to pray for pure miracles

When miracles seem out of our league

When hope seems all gone and we sink to despair

When all our souls feel is fatigue 

So when you feel lost and dont know how to pray

When anger and bitterness storm down your way 

When nothing but rain falls on your front door

Just lean into God and He’ll hear you for sure.

It may seem so quiet

It may seem He’s gone 

But he’s there and He’s listening

And He’s carrying you along

Inspired by a little girl who has Macon roots. She’s battling cancer at only 6 years old! Pray for her, her mama and daddy and all those who love her!

Divine Love

Effort

I chose effort as my 2024 word of the year. I hope to put more effort into life and in giving of myself. Too many times I expect a great life to happen without effort. And then I’m disappointed with the results.

The day Jace and I got engaged the Lord gave me message in song that He’s regifted many times to me. And I feel unworthy.. 

“Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.” *

    I don’t know how to put into words how this song makes me feel. 

Eternally grateful. Humbled. And mostly in awe. At my Creator. For the man He gave me. How did He know that Jace would be life itself to me? And Summer and Saylor.. Truly, they demand my life, my soul, my all. But He often reminds me, “Love so amazing, so divine demands my all.” He emphasizes that it is demanding but it’s because of a great gift. And I feel humbled again. Serving my family seems as a privilege instead of a job. 

…And I never can thank You half enough.🎶🎵

*Christian Hymnal 113

One Who has my back

One Who has my back

In the darkness that confines me

In the silence that shouts back

In the never ending questions 

There is One who has my back.

He doesn’t say much, He’s just there

It’s uncomfortable somewhat to me

For I want answers, light, direction 

A path that’s plain enough to see

Instead He sits there with me.

It’s still dark and panicky

And then One word from Jesus

“Just sit still down here with Me”

So on a park bench underground,

Awaiting the right train on track

I choose to sit down here with Jesus 

He’s the One who has my back.

I envision myself waiting at a subway station. It’s pitch black because the lights aren’t on. I see train after train zoom by and I reach for my pack ready to hop on. “We can’t stay here!” I tell Jesus. “This isn’t working.” I say. But He pulls me back to the old park bench and puts His hand around my shoulder. “That’s not the right one yet” and so again I’m sitting in silence with Jesus… maybe sometime our train will come in. Maybe someday answers will come. Maybe someday life won’t be as heavy.. I don’t know… I haven’t been willing to sit quietly in darkness. But I want to try..  I trust the Maker of darkness and light.

Written in weakness. Thanks to many prayers life is lighter and brighter!

Missing you

This post feels unfinished. Rugged. Torn. Raw edged. This is also how I feel. I reckon that’s part of having someone or ones(papa g) gone from here.

Also I know that some of the other grandkids (the real ones) pry feel this more keenly than I do! So understand me here!😅

Oh Granpa… how we missed you.  Your stories. Your presence. 

I’m so glad I knew you for as long as I did. I’m so glad you’re in Heaven. I’m so glad you’re whole again..

How I wonder what Christmas in heaven was like. Was the snow falling? Did you worship the Baby King? Did you sing in the Heavenly Christmas choir with energy? 

Could you see your children and grandchildren and great grandkids these past couple days? Were you our guardian angel? 

And thank you. Thank you for the legacy you left. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for being you!