Lilly, the petite but strong fourteen-year-old, tested for her mixed martial arts black belt on Sunday. In front of a panel of stern-looking judges. All wearing black.
Lilly goes in for the takedown
So why would you want your daughter to learn to fight? Simple. Because you never know when she might face a formidable opponent. Because you would want her to respond with skill and good judgment.
“What if Grandpa was holding my other hand and you guys could swing me again,” commented the six-year-old as we walked to the park. She remembers the grandpa who teased the grandkids. The grandpa who interacted with them; who thought their names were all George for some reason.
I miss this good man. Every day. But what if, when you face hard things, you could come out on the other side wiser, kinder, stronger? Would it be worth it? I’m thinking yes, not that I go looking for hard things.
The Jersey family is getting ready to expand. Daughter Summer and SIL Josh have just been granted legal guardianship of three young brothers from Africa.
You know New Jersey is referred to as the Garden State, right? The Jersey kids and grands live in the land of u-pick strawberry farms, pumpkin patches, and fields and orchards. Today we visited Terhune Orchards in Princeton. For a quarter, you can buy goat food and make a local friend.
The Parents are coming home today after a quick flight to Africa to keep an adoption court date.
This grandma has been on Eastern Standard Time for more than a week, which means she now has her east coast sea legs under her. And she’s learned some things in the process. Like, there’s very little hot chocolate in a cup of hot chocolate where The Boy and I had breakfast one morning.
I am *single mom* to three grandkids while Daughter Summer and SIL Josh fly east to keep an adoption court date in Africa.
My first day on the job, I managed to pick Lydia up from school; drop Lilly by the orthodontist; get Lilly to MMA practice …
No, they’re not twins and their mother doesn’t dress them alike
Today = ordered an Uber car to the airport, got through security at LAX and am seated with a Chai tea. An hour and 22 minutes before my flight to Jersey is scheduled to depart.
This is not my fault. Remember, I was married to Hubby all those years.
Since we’ve been eating our way through LA, today’s 600-ft-elevation-gain hike through Runyan Canyon provided some much-needed (for me) sweat therapy.
Son Jeremy and DIL Denise are home for five days. And all we’ve been doing is eating. At some fabulous places. Kale chips and a delicious veggie-and-fruit power shake concocted from almond milk made on location at the little juice café, Kreation, in Venice.
Copyright © 2025 Marlys Johnson
