She's Got Money in the Bank!

T-Pain's song, Buy You a Drink, comes to my mind while making this post.  There's a long in the song where he says, "I've got money in the bank" and so does Sina!

This girl's been racking up the big bucks even before she was born with her baby shower, then Christmas, and most recently, her baby dedication.  She probably has enough to pay for an entire first year's college education (okay, maybe at a community college--ha ha). 

Years ago, when my Grandma Ines lived in Hawaii, she would collect coins like crazy.  She would store them in those round, blue tin cans that those Danish cookies come in.  She always tells the story about how she'd gone to the bank with all those coins (mostly quarters) years later and cashed in over $800 (or maybe more; I can't recall).  So it was a nice surprise when she had given Sina her first piggy bank as a baby shower gift. 

I didn't want to take it out of it's box until we got settled here in Germany.  So it's finally making its debut and Sina was so excited to see it.  She tried to eat it--no surprise there either.  Anyway, for her baby dedication, Grandma Ines had given Sina a $100 check and specifically gave me instructions to cash it in for that much worth in quarters.  Well, once we opened a local bank account here in Germany, I made sure to do it.  So I walked out of the bank with ten [heavy] rolls of quarters.  And Sina and I deposited them into piggy today.

Thanks to Grandma Ines for the piggy bank, which she lovingly signed in permanent ink on the bottom.  Now, we're going to save, save, save...and maybe it'll pay for a Harvard education one day.  Although...since I say she's going to West Point for free...she can use it on her wedding!

Glimpses of Heaven

Today, I had the pleasure of taking my grandma to a PALS (Praise and Loving Seniors) potluck at our church. If any of you know my grandma, you know that she isn't one to be cooped up at home. She constantly has to be doing something. So on Sunday, when we'd heard that PALS was having a potluck this week, I thought it would be something fun for her to do. Plus, anytime she gets to cook for anyone, she jumps at the opportunity.

So, she whipped up her famous lumpia (Filipino eggrolls)--which are to die for--and we headed out to Pikes Peak Christian Church at around 11:30 this morning. If you've never been to a church potluck, well, you've been missing out. They're the best kind of potluck....so many good foods to try! This one was no different. These little ol' ladies (and some gents) can sure cook up a storm. You should have seen the desserts! Anyway, there's a picture of grandma gettin' her grub on.

There were so many people there and of course, I was the only "young" one there. I had a great time though. The best job I ever had was as a certified nurse's aide at an assisted living facility when I was in college. I met so many wonderful people, all of whom were at various stages of Alzheimer's. Being around this group of people brought back so many memories, less the effects of dementia, of course. The group played musical chairs for desserts and did a cake walk and everything. Those old fogies sure know how to have some fun :) Grandma and I are now going to do this on a monthly basis--at least until I move!

After all the eating was done, one of the pastors administered a message and his theme was the title of this blog: Glimpses of Heaven. In short, he said that God meant for us to have occasional glimpses of what we call heaven because he intends for all of us to be in heaven one day. To "see" heaven--whether it be what comes to mind when we think about heaven above, about things in nature, in a loved one, or in a cherished moment-- is a gift from God. He then asked each person to make a list of their glimpses of heaven and to share them with everyone at your table. My grandma was the first to share her list, of which included some of the following:

• her beautiful roses: she cultivates daily at my parents' house. I swear, it looks like the Botanical Gardens there.

• happy faces
• angels
• glittering lights
• singing and dancing
• streets of gold
• pearly gates

And the one that made her cry (and almost brought tears to my eyes) was when she said that her heaven is seeing my grandpa up there, smiling and holding his arms wide open, and waiting for her to join him. Oh my gosh....tears!

So it got me thinking of what my glimpses of heaven are. I suppose I could list a few:

• the breath of life and the chance to wake up every morning to a beautiful day

• family and friends
  


• And the unconditional love that comes not only from God, but from these two. Watching the two of them sleep soundly (sometimes together--it's so cute) is also another cherished moment that I call my heaven.

God has truly blessed me with his gift of heaven and for this, I am so grateful. So let me ask you....what are your glimpses of heaven?

Well, it's past 1:00 a.m. and I need to get some shut-eye. I can't believe it's almost the end of the week. One of my best friends, Vickie, is coming in from San Antonio on Friday, so it's going to be one heck of a weekend. AND....Malu is going to be here in a week! We bought the tickets today, so it's official!