In the posting on Friday, Dec. 4th, about 'sort of' catching you up - I had included this section, " ~  Sunday, Nov. 29th - Noon on Wed. Dec. 2nd - Taking care of Analyse (some wonderful grandma/grand-baby stories to share!!! :-}) "  

    Today's posting is one of those stories.

     I know that I told a few of you this story this past Sunday morning, while I was holding my nephews baby son at church. You had teased me that I was just holding him to get a "grandma fix". ;-p  I can't get over just how much Nathianel looks like his daddy Isaiah did as a baby!!! Seriously so!!!  And while I did enjoy holding Nathianel, it's not the same as holding my own grand-baby. He doesn't know me and interact with me the same. Might need to fix that o;-b.

     Today's story comes from one of the times I was feeding and rocking Analyse while I was there right after Thanksgiving. Sometimes I'll feed and rock her and she stays awake. This particular time she had REALLY needed to sleep. But like her daddy and uncles often had, sometimes she fights it as hard as she can. It's during these times that I often end up singing to her. The minute I start singing, she'll lay still and stare up at me ever so intently. While she is doing so, she looses sight of the fact that she was fighting sleep and often will then ease into sleep. So-o cute to watch!!!

     Once I think she is actually asleep, I have learned (experience can be such a teacher!) that it's best to keep rocking for a bit. It's like she needs to be rocked until she drops from lightly asleep into a deeper sleep. Other wise when you try to lay her down, instead of slightly waking, she totally rebounds. Often not happily!

       She had been asleep a bit, and had snuggled in close to me, with her head in tight just under my chest. I L-O-V-E it when she does that!!! It's like she's trying to snuggle just as close as she possibly can. This grandma has no objections to that! :-D 

       But then as I was slowing down in the rocking, she had pulled her head back out slightly. My mind had declared "you need to sleep little girl!!" but my mouth had remained quit. But she surprised me. This time instead of blinking her eyes a couple of times and waking up, she had kept her eyes completely closed. However, she did make the tiniest little raspberry, followed by a big smile, while continuing to sleep on.

       Oh my gracious!!! My heart danced with joy!!! My eyes got all watery! I so-o wanted to lean over and kiss her, but was very fearful of waking her, so I refrained. But I did thank the Lord for that very special moment!!!

       Oh my Analyse - you are so very dear to this grandma's heart!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Otherwise known as, my methodology of trying to keep schedules straight around here.

       I know that I've posted about this before.... I know I have ... I think I've even done so more than once. But I couldn't find even any hints about it in my scanning last night 8-/. So here's a completely fresh new take on the subject.  

       Using two calenders and a file box as a way to keep track of who is suppose to do what when and where, started way back about the time that son #1 was in second grade and son #2 was in kinder-garden. For the life of me, I could not seem to keep straight who had show-n-tell on which day, or who had library when, or any of those other kind of details which involve sending things from home for. I tried, and tried, but was goofing it up way too often!

       Then I tried dedicating one section of wall to the situation. I would tape up calenders, lists, notes, etc. provided by the teachers and each morning stop, stand in front of them and try to make sure I scanned everything and was on top of the game, so to speak. While that did help, it didn't take that long to decide that there had to be a better method!! One which could combine all of that information to one source. And the source had to be one that was both easily accessible and scan-able.

       At this point in time, I can not remember where the idea came from. Whether I had seen or heard about it someplace, whether it came from something they did at one of Brian's jobs, or if the Lord had just planted the idea in my head. Sorry. I do like to give credit where credit is due ... but this time I have no clue where the credit should go.

       But the idea was to use a good size white board calender. Over the years, I have used both a white board that was designed to be a monthly calender, as well as taking a white board and via permanent black markers, making it into a calender. (The reason I've had more than one, is due to a house fire destroying one, and originally white board markers weren't as wipe off able as the ones are now. After awhile you had all of this residue built up, that they hadn't yet made a good cleaner for. Although now a days, I have found that a wet ones wet wipes works wonderfully. <-- bonus tip there.  ;-} )

       MAN did that white board calender hanging on the wall help!!! So much so, that I am still using that methodology today. I had started it back when son #1 was in second grade. He is now twenty seven ....

       Besides a white board calender, I also had a good sized in purse calender. A whole year calender. One that was set up so that when you opened it, one week took up both sides of the pages. That way, each individual day of the week had multiple lines available on which you could write down peoples birthday's you wanted (or NEEDED) to remember, as well as doctor appointments, and family get together, and day camp days, and any thing else that you were suppose to remember the date for, or information about (such as having signed up to provide a particular dish for the get together). 

      { For what it's worth here, I pay a little for it, but I like the Day-Timer's version. (Which currently I have been getting via Office Max.) Besides having the days set up the way I like, it also contains lots of empty pages in the back. While some are designed to be used as an address book, I use them the way I need. Two pages hold information about my in house family. Full names, birthdays (ever been in the ER and can't figure out this child's info? 8-/), their doctors names and phone numbers, what style and car sized motor they have (Mom, would you stop at Napa and get ....), their cell phone numbers, etc.. A couple of other pages contain contact information about extended family members. There's a page or two for info. on girlfriends. There's a 'general information' page. Things like which brand and style of cat litter, and hair help, and the special order number for items at GFS, and the specific numbers for the ink packs for our printer, etc.. All of this information combined with "your life" calender is ever so convenient and beneficial!!!}

      Since the calender was a in purse size, it went everywhere I did. That way when your standing at the desk in the doctors office, you could schedule a follow-up appointment. The little cards they'd give you were far too good at vaporizing! But if it was written in "my little book" (as the calenders came to be called) it was most likely the appointment would actually be kept. If the appointment being made was actually for a specialist they were sending us to, then besides writing down the child's and doctors name, I'd also put down the office's address and phone number. Everything all in the same spot. A spot I was use to using. Bonus!!!

      Also, since it was in purse size and went everywhere with me, it was also available at church to check this or that when you were talking to someone, or attempting to schedule something, etc.. And it was with me at the in laws when I wanted to tell them about some upcoming event. Etc. In purse size with good sized daily areas in which to record information WORKED!!

    The third item then is a hanging file box. In the beginning it was one hanging file per son. And one for the whole family which contained certain types of church information. And a couple of other easily accessible, particular information holders. Over the years each son ended up having more than one file designated to them. Originally I'd put the monthly calenders from their teachers in there for 'just in case' purposes, as well as any other such information. Then when they got into middle school band, I added the papers from that teacher. But once they got into youth group, and/or sports, etc., I added labeled individual files for each of those. Other wise it was like I was back at the beginning, flipping through numerous papers while trying to find the information about this one thing ... . Multiple files helped delete a lot of Grr..rrr's!