Saturday August 27 2016  A PLAY DAY

A fast, busy, and fun-filled day, with new experiences added in.  Today was Karate day.  Both of our grandsons participate in Karate.  The eight year old has been participating for the past four years.  The four year old has participated just a few months. 

Today we had the honor to be in the audience as the boys performed their Karate routines and to be present as each grandson received a new belt showing a higher level of accomplishment.  I never realized how difficult their routines are and the diligence it takes for the boys to advance to higher levels.  It takes such focus to learn so many new steps.  It is a great discipline to learn such control for children so young.  It was very interesting to see in person how focus, control, balance, and concentration are taught to children this early in life.  I can see the advantages a child receives when given this opportunity at such a young age.  Needless to say, Gramma and Grandpa were very proud of our grandson’s today!

Xander’s class met from 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.  Zach’s class met at 3:00.  The YMCA location was approximately halfway between where we live and where our son lives.  We were invited to join them for a delicious lunch at their house so we could then turn around and go back for the afternoon session.  Xander was promoted from his original white belt to a white belt with one yellow stripe.  Zach went from some fancy striped belt to a brown belt.  I guess a brown belt for a young student is quite an achievement.  We were tickled pink to be able to attend the events today.  This was a new experience for us to see them receive their belts.

We then attended church with Court and Amy.  They recently started attending a church that is closer to their home.  It has a large children’s ministry which the children seem to enjoy.  It was a joy to visit the church and meet one of the children’s teacher.  Our son works most Sundays and the Saturday night service makes it possible for him to attend church with his family.  The church also has two services on Sunday morning.

And then we came home.  Truthfully, I am exhausted this evening.  I worked out this morning before going to the Karate classes and dealing with the aftermath of my fall has taken a bit of a toll on me as far as physical activity goes.  I hope to be able to have some down time next week, and if I find the time, I will take it a bit easier to see if I can heal faster.

Forthcoming are three more biographies of the three youngest siblings of my mother’s family.  At least that is my goal.  I have gleaned information from family members and there are only a couple more people which I hope to speak with.  I look forward to writing the short biographies and hope my family enjoys learning new things about the people they love.

 

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

By Kathleen Martens

August 27, 2016

 

I am so grateful

For my family and friends

And words of love

To them I send.

 

To kin I belong

For the rest of my life,

Regardless the camaraderie

And even through strife.

 

I treat each one kind

And try to be there for them,

Even if it means

Going out on a limb.

 

I am so blessed to have family,

But sometimes God sends

That special someone

Who becomes a very close friend.

 

I cherish those friendships

And always remember,

When God brings us together

We become like family members.

 

And when relatives are gone

And all moved away,

I am just so blessed

To have friends who stay.

 

Thank You God for my friends.

Thank You for my family.

Thank You Lord that I have a house to live in.

Thank You for my children and their spouses.

Thank You for my grandchildren.

Thank You Lord for the love I receive from others.

Thank You Lord for filling me up with love to give to others.

Thank You for family members who have become close friends.

Thank You for close friends who have become family to me.

GOOD NIGHT FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE.

GOD BLESS YOU!

 P.S. I think I have published the following poem previously in my blog but I just wanted to share it again since I know I have new readers who have joined the blog recently.  It is one of my favorite poems.

 

YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO KIND

Kathleen Martens

January 19 2012

 

When you meet someone kind,

A rare treasure is what you find.

A peace shines upon their face,

Accept their gift with gentle grace.

 

Realize you’ve been given a gift,

Perhaps their smile or a word that lifts.

Tuck that pleasure in your heart

And turn to another to impart.

 

Kindness is beauty like a nugget of gold

Though not purchased, traded, or sold.

It is GIVEN without cause or motive,

An act of joy, unselfish votive.

 

Think of ways to another give,

How you think is how you live!

Remember you can never be too kind,

For tenfold blessing you will find.