Mrs Justa and children

43 Things Tags: children,growing up,wonders,innocence,magic

Merry Christmas time is a time of wonder, but nothing is as marvelous as the laughter of a child. Here is Brandon in his Christmas vest, white shirt and tie laughing at his dad. He was cooing and chatting in his little baby  sounds and just filling my heart with pleasure. The children are what Christmas is all about.

Next year he will be 1 yr and 4 months, he will probably have the giggles down to a science by then. They will be in their new home by then and  he will have different wonders to experience.

I remember when Jeff was able to absorb the magic of the lights,he was a year and 9 months old, and we decorated a 10 foot tree while he was in bed, the next night when it was dark, we took him into the living room and turned on the lights . The magic filled the room and his face lit up with wonder and the room echoed with his chuckle. 

As Mark and I packed up the decorations yesterday, and I wrapped the ornaments, I witnessed again the different phases of wonder in Jeff's years gone by. 
From the time I was pregnant on Christmas 1981 through the time Jeff was 18, there was a photo ornament I had made up for each year. As I carefully wrapped them and put them away, I realized how precious time is, and love is and our children are.
Live each moment in the wonder of Christmas, and make memories for those you come across. Love, Cindy

Mrs Justa and challenges

Guess what we got to do again on Saturday!!! Yep, we watched Brandon for a while. "How big is the baby..sooooo big."

We love going and seeing him, he is changing every week. Mark holds him and smiles at him, he got to feed him and then I rocked him to sleep for one of his brief cat naps.

His eyes are royal blue, he has not quite gotten the giggle out yet, but he is so close it is not long before he will have the contagious chuckle of a baby.

Amanda and Jeff are really good parents. They share in the responsibilities and they have things each has fame on. Jeff is the king of bath time. Amanda was telling us that Jeff bathes him most of the time, they have a bonding time . Jeff comes home from work and helps with Brandon as Amanda does dinner. Then they share responsibilities. That is what a marriage is about.

Amanda is the queen of the cuddling, comforting, caring and really knowing every cry. She has him always well dressed, clean and they both show their unending love for their little bundle of joy.

Right now they have tons on their plates with both working full time,  selling their current home,having a new baby, a sick dog and also getting the new home ready for residency, so I applaud their patience , their endurance,

as things are rough right now. With Badger on steroids and not feeling well, he really needs someone to be available to let him out, so Mark goes over there during the day to help out that way.

Life is so challenging for most, and I think the challenges make us stronger, that is what gets me thru tough times, I always think that it is a strength builder. Love to all, Proud Mrs Justa

43 Things Tags: Brandon,Jeff,Amanda,grandparenting,life,challenges,trials,strength

Mrs Justa lighting a candle for Mr Badger

43 Things Tags: pets,eye problems,Badger,medical,uncertainty

Please keep Badger in your thoughts and prayers. Badger is our son's families dog, he is a gentle giant. He is 2 1/2 years old and loves to cuddle. He has something funky going on with his left eye, it looks like blood in it. The vet saw him tonight and can not diagnose it until the 350.00 worth of blood work comes back.

The vet said it could indicate a variety of diagnoses, so lets wait for the blood results.

So a candle is being lit for Badger tonight.

I feel bad for the kids, they try so hard to do the right things , to get ahead, and when life comes down and socks them in the gut, I hurt too.

I hope that Badger pulls through, maybe only needs a steroid eye drop or something that simple. He is not blind in the eye, just it is not right. So think of him , will you please. Say a prayer, light a candle, and let's see how things turn out for the kids and the dog. Love, Badgers Grandma--- Mrs Justa

Update on Mr Badger,

His blood work was abnormal, his platelet count is low, he is on a mixture of medications, it could be an infection, or it could be something more serious, it could be cancer, no one knows yet for sure. On Thanksgiving he had 3 candles lit for him, I want to keep him close in my prayers and heart. My Badger is the best behaved dog, his compassion for his family is amazing. We watched him in August 2007 for a week when the kids went on their honeymoon, in the morning he would try to slither up on the bed for a morning cuddle, and let me tell you, it is hard for a 100 lb dog to slither anywhere. He gallops like a horse, and believes he is a lap dog.

So as I settle down from the Thanksgiving day dinner with family and friends, I once again say, hang in there Badger. We love you > Love mrs Justa

Mrs Justa and being thankful

43 Things Tags: thankful,family,God,babies,blessings,life

Have you ever taken time to think what really makes you happy? What brings you such joy? There are certain things that bring Indi joy, a joy that is endless,such as hanging his face out the window of the car as we go down the road.

Now this makes no sense to me, because I can blow in his face and he hates it,

but gusts of 55 mph in his face and he is in hog's heaven. He does not beg to go with us, but always appreciates the chance.

His tennis ball, now this brings him pleasure to no end, he will ask for it thrown, will chase it and then lay contently with it touching his nose, so no one steals it.

Things that bring me joy: Laughter, the kind that makes my eyes water and me almost gasp my breath: Babies,the smell of a baby, the warmth of their existence, the cuddling and their need for comfort: Music makes me fill with joy, it fills me with content: A good book, ahh, not enough of them are read, but when I get my hands on one, ahh it is ecstasy: taking a walk; exercising : A good friend. If you have a really good friend, you have more wealth than money can buy: Doing things for others : Knowing that my son loves me: having a husband that cherishes and loves me: knowing our kids are in good marriages: knowing the kids and their spouses love Mark and me: Feeling God's presence: Lilacs : Payday ! : Loosing weight: Singing :

Cooking something that turns out perfect:  Mowing a yard: Cleaning our house:

Shoveling snow: a campfire: camping: sitting at the ocean or walking the beach: being on a mountain top: the love from a pet: going to my job; sitting on the park bench and just chilling.... Yep I am weird, but these things- and so many more - bring me such joy.

I do not stop enough to count my blessings, to treasure the things I find joy from. Do you? Take time to be thankful for what you have and look for those things that make you whole. Love always, Mrs Justa.... Cindy

Mrs Justa and being a grandma

Good night my sweet one,

sleep peacefully as you rest your sleepy eyes and grow . I just can't believe how much fun it is to be a grandma! I know I am bias... but me and Mr Justa think this little guy is pretty special!

We offered and had an acceptance

to watch him last Saturday night. We wanted his mom and dad to have a little break.  I was not sure if we would get and okay or not, but we did, and he was really pretty good. Slept most of the time, followed some rattles around as I slowly moved them above him, he even accepted the swing for about 10 back and forth motions. There was on time he began to get fussy, so grandpa took him and he went right back to sleep for another hour.

He is growing quickly, and the poor guy is still having issues with stomach aches and acid reflux, so he is an meds still. Mom and dad are having to adjust to the no sleep mode, but all are well.

I was at the dentist the other day

and the receptionist said she had gotten to met Brandon a week prior. She mentioned how great it was to see Amanda and Jeff work as a team in caring for him , fastening him in his car seat and such.

They really do work well together,

it is just hard when everyone is tired, and ya feel like no matter what you try to do, nothing makes the baby okay.

We were fortunate,

we got him at a comfortable time. It was wonderful, and I was honored we were trusted to watch him.

Heck when Jeff was a baby, I did not leave him with anyone till he was 11+ months old.

Life is full of problems, and disappointments at times, but this lil guy, he makes the problems from day to day disappear, if only for a short while.God made babies to help us focus on what really is important.

43 Things Tags: Brandon,babies,grandma,love,blessings,precious,God's gift

Love to all, CIndy

Mrs Justa Believing there is a plan

43 Things Tags: Plan,God,blessings,trials,hurt,belief,faith

There was a song

I used to sing at church called "I Believe" And some of the lyrics were:

"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows......

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer can still be heard....

Every time I hear a new born baby cry, or touch a leaf , or see the sky,

Then I know why I believe......."

Is this not the utmost truth.

Life is not something that just happens, it is a miracle. Whether it is the garden that blossoms, the vegetables that grow tall from a small packet of seed, the child that is born. This does not just happen as a freak of nature.
I believe there is a plan for each of us, for everything. I believe that we need to appreciate what we have been blessed with. I believe in God and I believe the is a reason for everything.

I believe when there is a time

that hurt knocks on our door of life and weighs heavy on our hearts, that eventually we will see what was in the plan , why did whatever happen?

I look at our grandson in this picture,

this little bundle of joy, so close yet so far away, as he lays in an intensive care unit, being cared for by health professionals when his parents are not there, and health professionals an alarm sound away when his parents are there. We will know why this all happened at some point. I can not say why right now. I have thoughts, but they are just thoughts.

Why is everything not great and rosy?

Why are the winters so harsh? Why are there divorces? Why are there injuries?

I am always looking for what good came out of something bad, something terrible. Sometimes it can be a long time before we can see it, but it is there.

So sleep tight little Brandon,

and continue to get strong. And for everyone who is going through tough times, look beyond the tough area, look for a glimmer, a tiny ray of sun, look inside yourself for the hidden strength, for without hurt the heart is hollow- and I for one can testify, by heart has gotta be far from hollow.

Peace, faith , and believing in good things are wishes I have for you. Love, Mrs Justa, filling in for the slowly healing Mr Justa :)

Mrs Justa and a peek at the special boy

43 Things Tags: Brandon,baby,grandparents,life,blessing

Now tell me he does not look comfy! This is Brandon, our new grandson. We have not yet been formally introduced, cuz the lil guy came into the world 6 wks early. But here he is. He may get out of the intensive care area next week, but we are not sure. Jeff and Amanda are going up to see him as much as they can. He was born this past Tuesday.

So now we are Mr and Mrs Granjusta I guess. Life is so precious, babies are such a blessing, and life is so very unpredictable. I am working on some cloth books that I am trying to bring back to life right now, Jeff had washed them and they got a little misshapen, So I am off to be grandma repairing the babies books.

But I wanted to do a quick blog- to show you our new member to our family :)

Mom and dad are good, and Brandon.. he will be just fine. Love always, Mrs Justa