Visits from afar

I only have one grandparent who is still living and allow me to say she is very much “ALIVE”! Mary Elizabeth McDonald is my paternal grandmother who is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is in her mid 70’s and very much active in her family, community and church.
Recently she traveled by her self to Ecuador to stay for a month to be with my parents in Cuenca and a few days ago, she came to visit us out in the jungle.
My grandmother has always been an inspiration to me. She had a very hard childhood and young adulthood, however I have seen how over the 30 years I have known her how she has allowed her not so fortunate past circumstances become strong points in her current situations. She has taught me to be a strong person in every situation, to be brave and to love community. She has taught me the skill to keep records of my life because no one else is! I have always admired how she has written records of her life past and present, family lines and family trees, my grandmother knows her family history and that shows me how much she truly cares about her family, even those she doesn’t even know.
I am blessed to have her in my life. Over the years I have realized how short life really can be and how little sometimes we really know about those we love, and that has pushed me to know those I love even more.
May you also truly know those you love..

and this one makes four!

I have not blogged in a while, I have been sick, to be completely honest, I have had morning sickness and I have been put on bed rest and it's probably a good thing because I haven't wanted to do a thing!
If you haven't figured it out by now, yes, I am pregnant! It came to me and my husband as a real surprise as we were not expecting or trying to have another child anytime soon. However, as I see it, all things work together for those who love HIM! Although, it doesn't seem to be in my timing, it seems as though it is in the Lords timing and for that reason, I am ok with it.
This will be our fourth child and the "third" unexpected! ha! All my pregnancies have been great with no complications and full term natural deliveries.
And even though I said I wanted to have all my children before I turned 30, I have cheated by a year, ok, 2! But feel that it's still all good! This little one seems to be given me a bit of a harder time, I have less energy than before and have been more sick with MS and have been put on temp bed rest for precautionary reasons.
Today I feel so much better than I have in a few weeks, I pray I am finally getting some of that early pregnancy stuff behind me!
So, as far as it being a new year, a new start, I can certainly say IT SURE IS!