I've written a lot lately in this online journal but have kept it *private* mostly because I've been assessing a number of personal thoughts and decisions. Now I'm back because I had such enjoyable calls with two of my grandchildren this afternoon and want to record it. Memory being what it is.

Sam, a 15-years-old tenth grader, coached a community basketball team of 3rd graders over the summer and took them all the way to the playoffs. He was such an encouraging coach and model for them. At the end of play, the young team presented him with a basketball covered in their personal signatures and 'we love you coach' inscribed on it. It seems just yesterday that his Grandpa was being given various 'thanks, coach' stuff from each of the teams he coached for Matt and Luke. Made for quite a meaningful wall area. Sam has also been taking the golf lessons Pops and I gave him for his June birthday and excelling. I can't remember the last time a grandchild (or really pretty much anyone) called to say thank-you with such enthusiasm and fervor! "My swing is so much better and I'm learning a lot of new techniques!" he says.

His little sister, Lilly, who celebrated her ninth birthday this weekend with a slumber and pool party, is enthusiastic about life in general and was especially animated today as she described her birthday cake as in the shape of a "watermelon with little plastic ants" all over it! It brings back so many memories hearing little girls screaming and screeching in delight, running in and out and in every direction at once. We were planning to drive up for the day but there are a couple of events upcoming at her school that grandparents are asked to attend and her mother (emphatically) didn't think we should have to make multiple six hour roundtrips in a row over the course of a couple of weeks. So, we reluctantly stayed back but will be anxious to see our birthday girl in another week or so!