Premasters

We arrived in Atlanta around 6 pm on Wednesday, April 1, and made our way to B and P’s via Marta.  It was a 40 minute ride which would have taken us over an hour via car.  Ben met us at the station, saving us the 11 minute walk to their home.    Reya, asleep in her bassinette in the livingroom, had grown so much in the month since we’ve seen her.

Reya, our southern belle

 

We spent Thursday tending to Reya and on Friday afternoon, we headed to the lake.  Ben had projects in mind, sealing the recently pressure washed driveway, and putting the boat in the water.   Summer is on the way so preparations for the busy water season were put in place.  It rained off and on throughout the weekend, cramping our work and causing some anxiety over our Tuesday activity.  Barb and I attended an Easter sunrise service.

 

The lake home from the water's edge

Reya's Easter outfit

Resurfacing the driveway.

Preparing the chairs for a warm summer.

On Sunday evening we traveled back to Atlanta.  Ben went to work on Monday while we began our Masters preparation.

Welcome Madelyn

Welcome Madelyn Adele Kelly who was born at 4:30 pm on March 19.  She weighed in at 9 lbs, 7 oz, and joined the family in quick fashion.  Quick is a relative term.  In our five grandchild births so far, labor, in each case, went on far too long.  Kari’s water broke at 1 pm, so, in our experience, this was a quick delivery.  Mom, Dad, sister and grandparents are elated.

 

Elizabeth meets sister Madi for the first time

With Grandmas

With Daddy

Holding Madi at home

With cousins Jane, Jensen, Grayson and sister Elizabeth

With oldest cousin Jane

Uncle Nathan and Aunt Caylyn

Vigil III

I flew home that next Saturday, February 28, but Barb stayed in Atlanta attending to Reya, Penny, and Ben.  I felt I needed to get home, honoring our original airline tickets, to be in proximity to Kari in case she delivered.  Alas, baby Kelly is taking its time, providing provocative rumblings, but no results.  Barb flew home on March 4.  Baby Kelly, still lurking.  Kari is ready.  Eric is so, so ready.  Kari is still teaching.  She serves till her due date, March 13.  She looks great.  Healthy.  But she is so big.  Her ankles and feet are swollen.  Have this child now, Kari.  Come, baby Kelly, come.  We all await you. Please give your host, my beloved daughter, relief.  Come, baby Kelly, come

Reya

We welcome into the family Reya Mckenzie Aune-Scheetz.   Born on February 22, at 11:19 pm, she weighs in at 7 lbs, 4 oz..  She is now home and things are progressing smoothly.  Ben and Penny are such loving and caring parents.  Reya is a calm and content child, sleeping, eating, and seemingly enjoying her new environs.

Vigil II

We await baby Aune.  So different is this vigil than the other four.  It ranks no larger in importance but it ranks no lesser, also.  The defining difference is proximity.  This time we do not hunker down at our home awaiting texts from our kids or kids in law.  This time we hunker down in our kid’s lake home, 60 miles from our kids in Atlanta who are soon to birth.  It is not our home.  It is not our neighborhood.  Yet we have spent so many meaningful days here in the last 8 years, and have made such great friends here, it feels like home.  News from Ben and Penny show some progress toward birth.  Meanwhile, we rekindle our friendships with neighbors Kenny and Maxine, and Ronnie and Cindy.   Friendly people are everywhere.  Kenny and Maxine, who visited us in 2013 are very special.  We are very comfortable here.  But, baby Aune, please come, please come. 

Georgia Vigil

February 17, 2005

We are off.  Gordon picked us up at 6 am and our flight left to Atlanta on time.  This, again, is going to be a trip of a lifetime.  It is another momentous event, a dream we had never dreamed, a wish that we had never wished for.  Nonetheless, this ultimate of blessings is playing out before our eyes.

It was that first day in Oslo when Ben and Penny announced that they have “a situation”.  They are expecting a child.  Now, seven months from that announcement, Barb and I gather near Atlanta to be here for Ben and Penny as they welcome their baby.  We do not know the gender.  We do not know precisely when.  But today we sit, at one of our favorite spots on God’s green earth, their lake home on Oconee, just 60 miles from Ben and Penny’s home, and wait for the call or text that their child is on the way.   Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Christmas 2014

Under construction.  Far behind on my blogging.