William and I are experiencing the mountains together...

Music written by William.

The Work of The Lord

…I was walking in a love story, and of all people, the main Character was pursuing me. Lavished with gifts from my Pursuer, I walked on feeling embraced by the Creator.

He had given me another day to walk with Him. He had sustained His loving handiwork for my joy and the praise of His glory. He is Someone who knows what I love and shows me in extravagance. At the climax of my heart’s joyful song, I looked down to see a shape of familiarity and perfection. A salamander (A sand dollar)—tucked ever so slightly in the leaves (sand)—grabbed my attention and shouted my name. There was no one else around. This lizard (shell) was meant just for me.

The perfection of the Lord’s timing is often hard to comprehend. He knew the precise day I would walk up this mountain (this beach) and, since the beginning of time; He planned the exact moment when my feet would match the timing of the mighty mountain (mighty ocean), and I would come in contact with such a magnificent creation. That salamander (sand dollar) reminds me that our Lover is personal. He knows what we adore and loves us through those things. He ordains every moment to reflect His perfection. It was not a coincidence that I found an unusual creation (a sand dollar) today (that day). It was simply another example of a deeply committed God and an everlasting love story.
The Work of the Lord
By: Ann Marie Melson

He also gave me flowers, a giant rainbow trout, a killer mountain view of the blue ridge and a husband who isn't jealous, just wants me to be happy.

P.S. It was also no coincidence that I picked up this book today and read this very page.

We're treating the Hemlocks on Monday!

This film was my motivation...

Wish me luck on this working. I am told that the Hemlocks in the National Forest will die but ours won't until they become re-infested and have to be treated again. Maybe by then we will have a viable predator that will keep the Woolly Adelgid in check.

I'm going to help with the process so I can keep the cost down and by learning how it's done I can teach others. If anybody has Monday off and wants to spend it in the woods...well, I know where you can get some good exercise! ;)

Andrew is published in Wesleyan's literary magazine!

Andrew's mother writes, "Andrew made the literary magazine!". I could almost feel her pride through her words. It reminded me of all those times I have been, and still am, so very, very proud of my children, and now their children, too.

I've been so worried lately about all the bad stuff that is going on; floods, oil spills, volcanoes, health issues, aging, disorganization, the hemlock trees and more. Then from the pen of a grandchild, I am reminded of the things that I can do about it, because God is always there and can work through me...

Just as He works through Andrew.

Grandsons on the Pitching Mound....

Click photo to enlarge and read.

Honoring our Mothers

My Mother

DAUGHTERS THAT ARE MOTHERS

Ford and Morgan's mother* Andrew, Emily & William's mother* Joe and Isabelle's mother* Keegan and Aidan's mother

Motherhood,
love so deep that it can be shared only between Mother and Child

and as long as you live,

so will she.

Happy Mother's Day to the Mother that I love

and to the daughters that are passing on that love .
I am one lucky Mother!

Morgan receives Coach's Award!

On April 30, 2010, I got a very special email from Molly that read:

"Morgan Anderson Croft, was awarded the one and only "Coaches Award" tonight for her rock climbing. Coach Emily has 5 different teams. Everyone got an award (most spirited, most focused, most improved, etc.) but only one got the Coach's Award "the award that is the combination of all the awards rolled up into one".

In addition to getting a certificate, Morgan received the most special tribute from Emily (in front of 50 or so people) where Emily talked about Morgan's leadership, how she helps and mentors the new kids, how hard she works, her strong passion and focus, how she is always working to get better, etc, etc.

Emily went on to say "Morgan is just on fire. She is the kind of kid that inspires me to be a better coach. I hope my daughter (who will be one in the fall) will grow up to be just like Morgan". I can't think of a better compliment than that."
*********************************************************
I received a call from Molly and Morgan, telling the news, while having dinner with Kate in New York. Their joy was contagious as Kate and I talked afterwards of Morgan's accomplishments...Molly was right when she said, "You all would have been beaming as you probably are now."

I gotta tell ya, I love this family! Thanks for sharing such wonderful news, you two.

Weekend with Kate

I'm not sure if Kate had birthday weekend with us or if I had a Mother's Day weekend with her! I guess it was a little bit of both.

Terr came but for one night (the night of her birthday) to take Kate out to a fancy dinner of her choice. Well that didn't happen! Kate greeted us, at our Hotel, with a bouquet of flowers and an invitation to dinner at her apartment. She prepared each of our favorite foods and WOWed us with her favorite entree and dessert! It was far better than any restaurant we could have gone to and we enjoyed every morsel!

Dad left early the next morning for a business weekend in Arizona and I was able to stay for two more wonderful days of play...

Breakfast in our crazy dinning/library/music room at the hotel, theater, shopping, walks, cab rides, Central Park, pedicures, lovely evening dining and late night Chinese take-out. The best part was just spending time with Kate. I just love the rare times when I have special one on one time with my grown children...they amaze me.

Kate turns 26!

For my baby girl on her birthday...

The gift of love has, is and always will be yours.

Happy Birthday, Kate

Beauty and the Beast Opens to a standing ovatiion!

What a grand opening performance we had last night! Andrew as "Cogsworth" was brilliant and very entertaining while Emily as "Chip" was a sight to see! All you see is her beautiful face--framed with an oversized tea cup and wheeled across stage in a cart!

Mamma was proud as they both took their bows at the end of the show. They've worked so hard. They all deserved a standing ovation!

Hope you've got your tickets. You won't be disappointed.

Tom

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*Note: I was lucky enough to catch a dress rehearsal on Monday and I was amazed! No wonder Andrew and Emily's parents are so proud! Continue to BREAK-A-LEG, guys!

Joe is singing? Where and When! Send your news to Chatterbox so we can all be proud!

-Mimi

We are so disappointed that our trip to Italy was canceled at the 11th hour (the cab was on the way to take us to the airport) but we know others have much worse hardships due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland and we thank God for the protection against possibly not being able to get back home if we had made it to our destination.

Maybe it just wasn't meant to be for us to go to Italy.

The good news is that I can now have the broken A/C unit replaced, have the Internet cable line replaced, get some work done at Northcroft, maybe help Kimberly out at the Show House, go see Andrew and Emily's play and ever so much more!

We're off tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Terr and I are off to Rome, and after three days on to Tuscany for a week, then New York where we will celebrate Kate's 26th birthday with her. We head back to Atlanta on the 30th, tired and ready to be back in touch with the rest of you. The birthday Kindle is loaded, bags are almost packed and the newspaper has been stopped.


Tonight we had the privilege of attending the Atlanta Decorator Show House, Ribbon Cutting/Gala, with Kim and Tom. It was amazing! I know all of you, who can, will enjoy seeing what Kim has worked so hard to create, not to mention looking at the rest of this fantastic house and gardens.


We will miss not seeing Beauty and the Beast, soccor games, baseball games, church and other chances to be with our precious ones, so just stay safe and email us about all the things you are doing. (That will help me with my addiction!)


You are the best part of our life and we will miss you dearly! We'll be home the 30th!


Merry/Mimi

Kim made the AJC!

Today, in the Living section of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, article beginning on the front page, entitled Showcase of Style...

Captions: "Designers convert house for ASO (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) tour. Decorators share their tips for making the most of your space."

Page D4..."Kim Regas, Regas Interiors; entertaining gallery"

"In this "entertaining gallery" near a guest suite, Regas shows that small spaces can accommodate lots of style without being overpowering.

In this space, she used a simple window overlooking the home's impressive gardens as a starting point.

Envisioning a house guest enjoying the view with a morning coffee, she converted the room into a morning kitchen, and like Timoney, extended the bar cabinetry to the ceiling to give the room height.



To draw attention to the window, she refaced the walls with an understated chestnut upholstery."

(Poof on them for not adding a picture...but I did!)

Kim has invited Terr and me to Friday night's opening Gala. There I hope to get beautiful pictures of the designer in her lovely room.


Thank you Kim for sharing this journey with me. I have loved watching you work and seeing it all come together. Well done...it is just beautiful!

*Begins Saturday through May 9th. Tickets are $20.00 through Friday: $25.00 from Saturday onward. 3639 Tuxedo Road N.W. For detailed hours and ticket purchase information, call 404-733-5000 or visit http://www.decoratorsshowhouse.org/.

" Yesterday was a neat day to be part of Aidan's life".

Stories sent to me like this one, is part of the joy of being a grandmother...

An Aidan Story

from Alan

"Yesterday was a special day for Aidan. Not only did he get his first hit at the plate for the season, but he also experienced his first moment on the baseball mound.

His baseball team, the Cardinals, were missing two of their regular pitchers. So, at one point during the game the coach decided to try a new pitcher, who is a couple of years older than Aidan. After a few batters, the new pitcher became upset with all of the hits and walks that he was allowing. The Cardinals' coach went to the mound and called for the rest of the infielders to join him at the mound. The Cardinals' coach asked the new pitcher, "Do you not want to pitch?" The boy shook his head no. So, the coach started asking the other boys around the mound "Do you want to pitch? Do you want to pitch?" All of them shook their heads no. I then noticed Aidan marching in from right field. As he came in, he repeatedly said, "Coach, I will pitch." When Aidan finally got to the mound, the coach heard Aidan. The coach turned to him and said, "You want to pitch, Aidan? OK." He handed the ball over. Aidan struck out one batter before the inning was over. Importantly, Aidan got the ball across the plate well, which is the main objective of a pitcher.

Although the Cardinals lost, the coach gave Aidan the game ball in recognition of Aidan's going to the mound for the first time, for Aidan's base hit (his first for the 2010 season), and for Aidan's producing the only Run-Batted-In for his team. After the game, the coach, who has coached Aidan for three years, left a message on our answering machine. He said, "Aidan, you tell your older brother that you were dealing from the mound today!"
Kristin and I were so impressed that Aidan stepped up the way he did. Aidan told me, "I just need a chance [to pitch], and today I got that chance."

Aidan also later said, "Now one of my birthday wishes from two houses ago has come true. One of my wishes was to pitch."

It was a big day for him."

Alan

A poem for my father on his 70th birthday.

Voyage


1.

"Frogwood," you'd say
as the frothing trees zipped by -
spring harbingers, improbable as my conception,
each bloom an Easter crucifix.
The grey velvet seat cradled me,
curls-in-the-middle-of-my-

forehead still warm
from the iron,
a little goose
taking a gander:
the perfect creases in your slacks,
jingle of change like a music box
you carried with you.
Our birthdays were approaching -
I could tell from the way the azaleas
ruptured into flame.
My 28 a cringing synesthetic stoplight red, but
yours: cool blue lucky 13, ever
the prime of your life.
"Beatselt," you said.


2.

Clutch and lean:
it's what we did
hugging mountain roads
through riot summer green.
I hooked my thumbs in
your beltloops,
sucked in the secret
scent of sweat and leather,
sang into the windthrill
roaring through my visor
- could you hear me? I both
hoped and feared you would -
clung to you. watched
your shoulders
concentrate.
Adolesced -
contempleted my death
a thousand times,
and never yours.


3.

Once we took a twilight train
through the snow.
You let me sit next to a boy
I liked.
Halfway along,
the lights in the car flickered out.
You sat alone
and let me be
and let me feel just
fine.


4.

I forgot until yesterday
that you had a pet sailboat.
You kept it in the garage
like a turtle in a shoebox;
I crouched in its musty canvas sails
evading nightmare marauders.
But why did we never
take it out to sea?
When I finally set
sail around the world,
you can come
and we can take turns playing
captain and first mate.


5.

At the bottom of the driveway where
I once went careening down
in my four-wheeled bouncy seat
mad with wild delight,
and where you bled
and broke three ribs under the weight
of your bike -
I lie like a little corpse
in a white nightgown,
Ophelia drifting in a river
of stars.
Orion whispers navigational secrets,
takes aim at the cheshire moon.
It is a long way back
to the warm-lit kitchen
where you are pouring my cereal
and waiting
for me to deliver
news of the world.



- Kate Croft

Like Sancho, "I love him"...Happy 70th!!

What can I say about this man of mine that will make this day big enough.

My Don Quixote de la Mancha, who saw as his quest to right all wrongs, came riding into my life 32 years ago on a shiny red motorcycle, ready to save me from all the windmills that were threatening my very being. He lifted me up on a pedestal, so high that I knew, finally, I would be loved forevermore. He has loved my children and given me children to love. Through his generosity, consistency and love we have become a family of yours-mine-and-ours without distinctions of who's whose.

His work life has followed the same path. He loves lawyers, the law, and all that it represents. He does the best work possible and gives back to his profession through many legal organizations and judicial campaigns. He is known in the legal community for his excellence, honesty, fairness and his classy three-piece suits. He sets a high bar in more ways than one.

Today he turns 70 years old and still professes to love his life with me. He takes care of himself for us and he still looks amazing! I am one lucky woman to be able to celebrate this very special birthday with my knight in shinning armor.

Help me sing it out...Happy Birthday dear Terrence! I pray for many more.

Your,

Dulcinea

(Don Quixote: "so conspicuous and void of difficulty that children may handle him, youths may read him, men may understand him and old men may celebrate him")

Morgan's Spring Break Adventure

Morgan spent her spring break in California with her Aunt Bethann and Adrienne. She told me that she had an AWESOME time. Molly sends a report as to why...

"Morgan had an awesome time on her spring break/early birthday trip to CA. She got to see the Pedersen’s new house, had a very elaborate Easter egg hunt arranged by Beth and Adrienne (so elaborate that Morgan still had pounds of candy when she came home -- to Ford’s delight!). Her first full day she, Adrienne and Beth went to the Exploratorium and had dinner at a jazz club and then played Rock Band. The next day A&B took her bouldering at the gym where Nationals were held in 2008 and then had dinner at the Pedersen’s house. The next day Morgan went to work with Beth before having yummy dim sum in SF and going on a 2.2 mile hike by Beth’s house then took Tashi (their dog) to Rodeo Beach. For dinner they grilled burgers and played more rockband. The next day they ate crab at Fisherman’s Wharf and had an awesome tour at Alcatraz (fun to go on the ferry). They had an early birthday dinner at Melting Pot (yummy fondue place) with Kristin, Aidan and Keegan. And then left the following day. Fortunately we will get to see Beth and Adrianne soon for Beth’s when they come back for Beth’s reunion at Westminster. Fun, fun trip for all!"

This Tuesday (April 13th), along with Grandad, Morgan has a birthday. She will be eleven years old and growing beautifully in knowledge, wisdom and statue. May God continue to bless you, darling Morgan. Grandad and I want all your dreams to come true.

Happy Birthday!

At the Zoo

Yesterday, my son-in-law Tom and grandson William, took me to the zoo...

Untitled from Merry Croft on Vimeo.

...Tom's sister Cathy with her son Patrick came along too. The weather was lovely, which made it a perfect day. Thanks guys!

Happy Birthday to our newest TWEEN!

Joe got a night out with his Dad and the Thrashers for his 12th birthday. Looks like he is all smiles for the special occasion!

Happy Birthday Dear Grandson! I love watching you grow.

Glorious Easter!

Jesus said, “Why woman do you cry?” Our circumstances are temporary; our future is bought, paid for and bright. We sang; Come Awake, Come Awake. Come and rise up from the dead…

Wow, the music was exciting, the message unwavering about the only living God, and on top of all that I had my devoted husband sitting at my side and ten of my children and grandchildren nearby. It was so wonderful that I watched the service (on line: http://www.apostles.org/page.asp?name=onlinecampus) again tonight just to relive those special moments.

Afterwards the Atlanta members of our sweet family gathered in a private room at the 191 Club and enjoyed a delicious brunch, egg hunt, and fellowship together. We also took the opportunity to celebrate Grandad’s 70th birthday and Joe becoming a “tween”. Terr was presented a book of pictures and greetings from loved ones, put together by grandson, Andrew. The first nine pages were pictures and letters from all the grandchildren, so moving to Grandad that he had to stop reading them out loud and let the children take turns doing the reading as they gathered around him.

Once again Mary’s mother, Marlene, was part of our family gathering, though in a wheel chair and bruised from a recent fall, she still had a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face when she looked at a child. Their affection for her was evident as they hugged her hello and goodbye. Join me in putting her and Mary, as her daughter, on your prayer list.

We headed back to the house for the annual egg hunt at the Heath. The big boys hid the eggs for the younger ones and hunted for the golden egg that Mimi hid in a much more difficult place. We hung out together a little longer, while the children went to the trampoline, and then everybody left to the gyrations of the “happy dance”. In the sudden quiet and in the warmth of the sun before going into the house, Grandad and I embraced and told each other how blessed we were. It had been another good family day and we were so grateful. Thank you to all who loved us today....

And

Happy Birthday My Darling.