May 2005

So much has happened in the four months since the last update. First and foremost, Eric married Connie Ward in February. He met Connie at a grief counseling class. Her husband died of cancer about four years ago. They became friends and then started dating.

Connie and Sophie are developing a wonderful relationship. Sophie often calls her Mommie, but they don't correct her if she calls her Connie. Sophie shows how much she enjoys doing things with Connie, and Connie returns her affection. Connie is a grade school teacher. She will be staying at home with Sophie when she finishes this school year.

Has this been hard for Joe and me? Yes and no. We are very happy that Sophie has a devoted Christian mother. Of course it is hard to know Angie will never be here to watch Sophie grow up. We know Angie is in a better place, and is happy, but we miss having her here. Joe and I love Connie and want our friendship to grow deeper over the years. Connie's parents are also good Christian people, and we are happy to get to know them. We are blessed to be included in many family activities. We recently went to Sophie's program at Sonshine School.

Sophie was thrilled to get a new playhouse, which is on our back patio. It is so nice to have it on cement instead of in the yard. It stays a lot cleaner! Sophie likes to help me "clean house." We both get a wet rag and wipe up all the dust. When the wind blows, the house and fence provide some protection. (And believe me, the wind DOES blow here!)

Sophie has been enjoying going over to visit Grandma Ada (my mom) after her week in the hospital the first of April. About once a week we go to Wal-Mart to get Mom's groceries and then Sophie and I go through the drive-thru at Dairy Queen and take the food to eat with Grandma Ada. Sophie likes to dip her chicken strips in gravy just like Grandma Ada does! Mom had gone into the hospital with pneumonia, and we learned she also has congestive heart failure and blood clots in her lungs. When she first came home from the hospital I had to go over to her apartment to help her get up every time she needed to do anything. Now she has grown stronger and with the physical therapy she is able to do a lot more for herself.

Joe and I both enjoy having Sophie stay with us. Her playhouse is big enough that we can get inside with Sophie (one at a time). So when Sophie doesn't have a friend over, we are her playmates!

Another change in our lives is a new job for Joe. He will be teaching math at the New Deal High School next school year. It is only about 12 miles from Shallowater. It is a small school, about the size Eudora was when Joe began teaching there in January 1969. His job is truly an answer to many prayers!

This summer Joe won't be working like he has every summer since he began teaching. It will be good for him to have some time off. Although Connie will be staying home with Sophie, we hope to be able to do a few things with her while Joe is off. When Eric told us of his plans to marry Connie, he assured us that we would still see a lot of Sophie, and we could have her all night every other weekend (as much as possible).
 

Sophie has been coming to stay with me on Wednesday and Friday most weeks. When Eric and Connie went on their honeymoon in March, she stayed day and night with us for about a week and Eric's folks kept her about the same amount of time. (Eric and Connie went to London and Paris.) Sometimes I get her after school on Tuesday and/or Thursday. Joe looks forward to coming home to play with Sophie. I know we will miss that next year.

When she spends all day, Sophie and I usually play a game, do a puzzle, read books and do some type of activity. One of her favorite things is to cut and paste. We made an ABC book using various colors of cover stock and connecting them with large rings. One page says: "S is for Sophie and Sun." At the bottom it says, "You Are My Sunshine." And she truly is our sunshine!

We thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us and the prayers He has answered. A Christian mom for Sophie, Joe's job and Mom's improving health are among these blessings.

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100).