Christmas through the years.......

Although it has been a long time since I spent Christmas in Kentucky some of my fondest memories are there. It was probably about 1963 and we were spending Christmas with my maternal grandparents in Letcher County, Kentucky. At the ripe old age of five my grandparents seemed very old. Their hair was white, with my grandpa's hair being as they call it today a "toilet seat" area. I don't remember how or when we actually went there for Christmas but the movies and pictures bring back the memories. At Ma & Pa's house (that is what we called these grandparents) they had no t.v. only a radio and I don't remember ever listening to it. This particular year, as I remember it, we all got dolls for Christmas. My mom always treated my sister Doris and I like twins, so we both got Thumbelina dolls my baby sister Sharon got a Pebbles doll. I don't remember what my sister Pat got, she is about 6 years older than me, so it is possible that she didn't get a doll. While watching the home movies I see my parents not really open any gifts, my grandparents did! My mom always made sure they had new jammies, slippers and sometimes a shirt or dress.  While on the other hand all of the kids had several gifts! Dolls, buggies, games and clothes...those were always a favorite for any child.

As I am remembering all the past Christmas holidays, I think we did the same with our children. While being in the U.S. Army with my husband and traveling far away from family for about 12 years we learned how to make the holidays a great event for the kids.  There were years that were a little lean on all the extra fluff that went along with the food.  I hope our children remember those years with fondness.  As parents we always tried to make the meal at Christmas a festive as we could afford.  Teaching them the important fact that it was Jesus' birthday, we had cake (kids always loved birthday parties). Tradition was to have turkey at Thanksgiving and ham at Christmas with all the fixings.  Although I know that we struggled to have all the fixings through the years, Each item on the table was to remind us of what God had provided.
One year in Texas, both of us working on minimum wage pay (about $4) we were selected a recipients of a food basket and toys for the kids from the Fire Department.  At that time it was a little embarrassing to accept such charity, although the kids did not know where the gifts had arrived from, they just knew it was Christmas.  To me it was all great memories of the kids, food, decorations and helping the kids to make things for each other for gifts.  To this day the girls still do this and may I say are very creative in the gifts or ornaments that they make. I love home made gifts, nothing makes me happier than to receive a gift that someone has put their heart and time into.
This year 2013 all of the kids joined us at our home to celebrate Christmas! I was so excited to have all the kids, spouses and grand kids in one place.  Funny thing though we didn't have the big meal with all the trimmings. As adults we have accepted the fact that we don't want to really all sit at a table (our house isn't big enough anyway) as long as there is food to eat and kids to play with all is well.  The gifts under the tree were massive.....another thing the girls have learned also is to talk to the family, know them and we shop all year round for items that would be a perfect gift for that special family member.  This year we did let them put wish lists on Amazon so we would have some clue for mainly the boys..their minds change constantly! The two older grandchildren joined in using their Kindles for the wish list.  I feel so Blessed to have had all the family together.  I want to thank all of our family and friends that made this a very special year. Praying for a prosperous 2014 and Blessings to all in need of Christs love!

Nearing the 55 mile marker

So as I was sitting here thinking about the last almost 55 years...WOW they went fast. This year I am looking forward to the next 55 ;-) I loved watching the kids grow up and become independent, and again seeing the grand kids growing up so quickly. This year on my birthday (which is rapidly approaching) I started this blog back when I was the young age of 50 and was starting over because of the flooding in Cedar Rapids. It was a good venting place where I could write. cry, pray and seek God for what was to become of my life when everything was lost. I don't have a ton of stories on here but God has proven time and time again that he is in everything that has happened in my entire life! I suppose if I got started I could write an entire book of all the BLESSINGS he has given. So to start with I am looking forward to this birthday it has been a very eventful. For one thing Iowa was still getting measurable snow in May! In January I was there to celebrate our grandsons birthday and it was my first time in a ball pit! That was so much fun, it was almost like playing in water, you could just slip and slide all around.
February was also eventful, I totaled my car on the 22nd and was stuck at home for several weeks. My great family of God provided quite a few meals while I was supposed to be resting. Such a BLESSING they were to our family. It was fun to get to pick out a new ride.....it would have been nicer if it would not have been snowing. Here is my 2007 Pacifica.

In March our church had a St. Paddys day corned beef and cabbage meal and the attendance was pretty good. April is of course tax time and all the jitters that go along with that..but we got a refund! That was a real BLESSING with me being out of work for the few weeks. May was Alexis' birthday, then Sarah's then Graysons birth!! All by the 10th of the month.

It was a fantastic mothers day, I even got breakfast in bed! So now here it is June and the big 55.....I am sure God has great plans for me this year, like always. I want to let you know that I am here and waiting for those special BLESSINGS he has in store.

When I first started driving it was a big challenge to get up to that speed..lol  not so much any more! While I am racing towards that milestone this week I want to always remember that I can do all things through Christ!

 

Thank you Lord for another year to work for you and keep me in your plan as best you can.

"Stuffing" 2013

At this time of year we are all consumed by what Thanksgiving will bring. As a matter of fact we start planning weeks ahead of time for what we will need for the meal and try to estimate how many will attend. This year has been a little different, as most of you know that we have kids in various places. We have a married son and daughter-in-law in Minnesota with their little guy "Toby" (a schnauzer). Also a daughter and son-in-law living near Des Moines with their three little ones, Alexis, Jaxen and Grayson. Our youngest daughter is in Cedar Rapids working for CVS pharmacy for Rockwell Collins. Then down to our youngest son who finished his Army duty and is currently here in the Cedar Rapids area starting to take some college classes and awaiting the Militarty to pay the tuition! (jk).

So this Thanksgiving has been altered to fit the situation, so to speak.  Shellsburg and the church activities we have been a little busy. But, good busy and I also just added to my  jobs!I am now an Adjunct instructor for the community college for nursing. 

A couple years ago when the kids were all in other places we had our Thanksgiving or essentially  "the meal" that Ed and I usually have with the kids we had with church family. But the people that were there made everyone feel like family. We also were "pounded" upon, it is an old church tradition, and we are so thankful for the love and thoughtfulness of all the people at Grace Community Church.

Ever since we moved to Iowa back in 2000 the girls and I, and occasionally Adam had did the crazy shopping on Black friday. Before moving here we lived about 45 minutes from a Walmart so trying to get to a store at 4 in the morning was out of the question. We mainly go for the free stuff anyway and to see what other crazy people were out doing at that hour.

Anyway back to the title of this story! You probably thought I was going to talk about the food again!!

As I mention before we all try to fit so much food and activities into such a short period of time. So from the beginning of the week until the following Monday we "stuff and stuff" more and more each year. It seemed in years past that the cooking went on forever of course if distant family was coming the house had to be up to holiday standard too! When the kids were small I am sure they appreciated all the food and family on Thanksgiving day but the work ahead of time was exhausting.

Stuffing is one of my favorite parts of the meal. I am sure it is because we do not take the effort to have it more than once or twice a year. When making the stuffing you have to cut up the celery and onions and then saute them in butter then pour over the bread with the sage and poultry seasoning then everything in the whole house smells so wonderful. Since we have been married we started adding cornbread to the bread mixture and I love it. I know this sounds like a recipe exchange but I am getting to the point......

God has taken us through so many difficult situations the last few years, well every year! It all depends on how you look at things. With the directions I was giving before there are essential step to getting the final delicious "stuff". When we consider the little things that happen each day these are the suppressors that accumulate throughout the year (just like the veggies in the pan)they are then sauteed on a warm stove until everything is tender. That is truly God working in our lives when he gives us the essential seasonings to make all those things look beautiful. He adds things like love, peace, joy to our mix so we can be over comers of this stress.

Sometime it takes us until Thanksgiving to realize that we have been truly BLESSED each and every day. The things that we have "stuffed" or lives are just things that God can help us get through. He can teach us daily how to be stronger and show others how abundantly God will supply our every need. I want to be thankful for the life that God has chosen for me. I know that he has been through every event that has happened in our family  and BLESSED us beyond our best dreams.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! May your stuffing be BLESSED beyond measure!

It is OVER!

So I guess this is just a vent site today!

This was my final day at my job. I am sooooo excited for the new adventure that the Lord is working on. I am truly BLESSED today!

It was a very good day at work, I had great employees to work with, they were sorry to see me go. Thanks so much.

I know God has plans for my future as well as yours. As in my prior blog I talked of all the Blessings that the Lord had done with the moving adventure. He is still on the throne and still working in each in and everyone of our lives!

Well maybe this isn't a vent night!

God is good, yes he is, he's good all the time!

With this title of this blog, it reminded me of all the sacrifices that God has provided. I am ashamed of trying to vent on you and want to remind you..............WE ARE SO BLESSED!







Have a blessed night!

Faith Community Nurse - The Beginning

So, since the Parish Nurse program ended
I have: talked to the Pastor/Husband,
He in turn announced to our congregation my new status
Stopped to visit an old friend and she had taken the first FCN
Pastor helped me get matching business cards

I know this does not sound like a lot, especially since my husband is the Pastor. Those that I have talked to in the congregation were very happy that we are reaching out to the community. Shellsburg is such a nice little town, they have reached out to us to make us feel welcome. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to carry out the Faith Community Nurse role her in Shellsburg.

Faith Community Nurse

Parish nursing in Iowa.

Blessings!

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory"

I just love this scripture. I don't know how to explain, the great things that God has done in my life.

Each day, month, year holds great memories of the blessings that God has done for me. It is so hard to see them when you are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the moment. I think each of us probably have that same feeling. As the saying goes "hindsight is 20/20". How many things would we have changed, how many blessings would we have missed out on because of those roads that in our mind was the way to go.

Some of the choices that I have made, I would have been very angry if my kids had made those same choices. Although some of the choices of my kids!!?? Well now I know a little of how my parents felt with my choices.

Well someday I will have to try and record all of the daily blessings (that I know of)! How many things do we really KNOW!

In March the purchase of the church was a great blessing, especially how you could see God's hand in each step..

In June with the prospect of the city finally finishing up the business with the flooded property we started to look at houses in Shellsburg. Well we looked at several houses, some good/bad/a little creepy. As we made "our plans" we added/subtracted, pros/cons and talked through many options. Now our plan was getting closer to looking like we knew what we were doing. Making an offer on each home, but were counter offered on each one and decided to wait till we knew exactly what the city's plan was. The pros outweighing the cons on some, not so much on others. Re-looking at the Internet pictures, to see how our memory of the real place added up.

We the final paperwork was signed for the city on the 29Th of June and were told it would be 8 weeks before we would see anything. So we slowed down on really deciding on the house that we were going to purchase. We would have plenty of time to figure things out-8 weeks worth.

So after we talked to the city and found out about their time frame, we put the mobile home up for sale. And someone wanted to look at it on the 2ND day! No, they didn't make an offer. :( All that cleaning and hiding for nothing. It isn't so hard to clean but putting things in hiding places is a little harder. And just so you know, anything placed in a box will be needed before the box is moved.

Well this week the real estate lady said she had a showing at 9:30 on July 5Th! O.K. we had plans for that weekend, now the cleaning/hiding had to begin. Adam came and visited, Bekah had a 3rd of July party on 8Th street. Great time, good view of the fireworks on the river. Well the 9:30 cancelled but she did have another appt for 11 if that was OK. Since we were working and the animals were visiting relatives it was not a problem.

Shortly after the family looked at the mobile home they had the real estate lady called with an offer, a cash offer! Ed didn't have to even ask me, we had discussed a few times what we would need when we sold our home. So it was a done deal.

Now back to look at the home we decided we were going to make an offer on. All the paperwork done, just waiting for a date, this time for the closing on the mobile home. We set the closing date for the August 2.

So we have started the process on the home...hopefully it will happen August 2 also....

I am Blessed, I am blessed, I am Blessed.....I am sheltered clothed and fed I am blessed, when I wake up in the morning till I go to bed at night, I am blessed.


Keep us in your prayers...God is NOT finished yet.....the city of Shellsburg has no idea what is on it's way.

If God is in it, set it and forget it!

Kids...

I was once asked why do you have FOUR kids? My answer was pretty simple...because I didn't have six! I just loved kids...and four seemed to be a good number.

As a parent you have to love it or leave it.

If you don't love it, you wont be able to do it!

I love this poem and thought I would share it.

My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper. And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writing on. So, after wiping my hands on my apron, I read it, and this is what it said:

For mowing the grass, $5.
For making my own bed this week, $1.
For going to the store $.50.
For playing with baby brother while you went shopping, $.25.
For taking out the trash, $1.
For getting a good report card, $5.
And for raking the yard, $2.

Well, I looked at him standing there expectantly, and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So, I picked up the paper, and turning it over, this is what I wrote:

For the nine months I carried you, growing inside me, No Charge.
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, No charge.
For the time and the tears, and the cost through the years, No Charge.
For the nights filled with dread, and the worries ahead, No Charge.
For advice and the knowledge, and the cost of your college, No Charge.
For the toys, food and clothes, and for wiping your nose, No Charge.
Son, when you add it all up, the full cost of my love is No Charge.

Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. And he looked up at me and he said

"Mama, I sure do love you." Then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote, PAID IN FULL.

...Author Unknown

Thank you God for letting me have these FOUR children, I love them with all my heart!

Holidays!?

Holiday are a great reminders for us to celebrate. That special recognition that we show to a person or a event. For the most part we don't need reminders for the "secular holidays" most work places give you the day off! (well some places) As adults we should all remember the family celebrations, dad, mom, birthday, anniversaries, giving honor to them on their day.

Today is fathers day and as we remember our fathers, living or dead, we search for the right words to lift them up with great memories.

My dad died a few years ago and there are times I wish I could call and tell him I love him. Yeah, I did it while he was here but after they are gone there is an emptiness there. The need just doesn't seem to disappear.

Dad had taught all of us girls the basics of taking care of car troubles. He also showed us how to fix things in the house some things you could fix with duct tape (lol) and most things duct tape would do until you got the right thing. It seemed we always had a drawer in the kitchen that we named the "junk drawer". It was usually pretty full of odds and ends that someone had found but wasn't sure where it came from. That is where we started our search for the right part to fix whatever we were working on. So to this day I have a junk container, one in the house one in the shed. So dad I do remember you every time I go to that jar/container and find just the right thing to fix what I am working on.

The other day Bekah and I were in the process of mowing the flooded property with a friend "Joe". When she went to pick up the extra mower at his house, my mower had lost the wingnut that held the handle on. I quickly called and asked if Joe had such a thing as a junk drawer that might have a new wingnut for the mower. She said probably not, so I mentioned the duct tape and she said he was more likely to have that! And he did.....we mowed the rest of the yard with duct tape on the handle! It worked, when I got home I found a good replacement here at the house! Thanks Dad for all of the ideas.....with this I remember you each day.

But I really don't need a fixed day on the calendar to remember him, it is an everyday event, that also goes for any member of my family. I would hope that my everyday actions would show them that there is a lot of love and appreciation for them. I know some days are so filled that there couldn't possibly be any room for appreciating family and friends.

BUT...Remember this, I do appreciate everything my family and friends mean to me. As each day goes by I thank the Lord for you! Thank you for all the love and support you have given me through the years. I have some great memories that will last a lifetime.

But for those of you that need reminding "Happy Fathers Day"!

In his Steps......

I went to a women's conference a few weeks ago and "In his steps" was the theme. I was asked to give a short devotional on Friday morning. I have done this a few times over the last 25 or so years of being as a pastors wife. But I must say, I get nervous and probably talk a lot faster, so I usually never volunteer for these things.

Anyway, I prepared for probably about 2 weeks, working through what I would say, the scripture and what kind of visual I would use. (these always take up a little time and slow down my talking) I didn't want to duplicate anything that would have been said in the services before my part. Ed is always good about listening to me practice, an abbreviated version.

So I had an idea on what to talk about.......steps!! I looked up inspiring talks on walking in Gods footsteps. I learned quite a bit, it prepared me for the conference and really set my mind to walking within the footsteps of God.

But God was kind enough to lead me to find the perfect visuals, the kids shoes. The following is my printed copy of my devotional.

Learning to walk is not an easy thing. Parents will remember when their kids were little and were attempting to take those first steps. It was almost a chore for them, like their little feet were stuck to the floor. Slowly but surely they would get the hang of picking up one foot, balancing on the other one then placing it firmly down on the solid foundation, like it weighed a ton just to pick it up. Then starting the process all over again, hanging on tightly to something or someone to make sure they could stay in the upright position. As time went by they became more and more confident in their ability to take those steps. As the steps became easier to accomplish, the grip on people and furniture became less and less. You could see the look in their eyes that they were enjoying the new ability to move around and enjoy their new found freedom. Then the day came that they took off…………..Still a little wobbly…at times taking a few steps then stopping and catching their balance and starting again.

The Shoes:
Our daughter Bekah wore this little white one over 26 years ago.

She has learned to walk with the Lord in ways that I could not imagine me doing. Last year she did an 11 month/11 country mission trip, called the “World Race.“ This bigger shoe belongs to our baby! He wouldn’t like me to call him that, he also has taken steps that I could have could never have taken. He is in the US Army and served 15 months in Iraq, driving armored vehicles and protecting our country.

I am proud of the kids accomplishments, they all have achieved great things in their walk. It all started with those first steps, holding on for dear life, knowing God was there. God leads and directs each step that we take and has people come into our lives for HIS purpose. Throughout our lifetime God has guided our steps to bring us to this place for HIS purpose. We are not here by chance!!! God has called us here.






Philippians 3:14 says:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus


Let us continue to walk in his steps.

I appreciate the Lord so much.....he has reminded me of how we do walk in his steps. The speakers at the conference were fantastic and I would go again in a heartbeat. I learned (but always knew) that he is still leading guiding each step we have ever taken. Looking back I praise the Lord for providing for me and my needs.

Each of us are different and he has "ordered our steps" for such a time as this!

Being "50" in 2010

When I grew up we lived in the country until I started first grade. Then we moved to the big city of Sandusky, Ohio. My parents bought a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1 car garage and unfinished basement ranch style home. We thought we were really special having such a big new house. We roller skated in the basement, it was so nice and cool down there. Of course the laundry room was there, but besides bringing clothes to the basement for wash day, I only remember folding the towels and wash clothes.

So we about 3-4 blocks to school, a nice walk back then. I remember my sister Sharon not wanting to walk to school on days that it had rained, too many worms on the pavement lol. You would think that she would be all prissy and dainty?? She actually fell off of their roof while trying to finish the chimney (that's another story).

So the house we grew up in did not have any air conditioning. Although the basement was plenty cool enough for dad to sleep there, he worked 3rd shift and slept while we were at school. I can't actually remember being hot in the house, and I don't remember any fans. I know there weren't any ceiling fans back them. Dad eventually bought a window air conditioner for their bed room in the late 1970's. The had finished the basement, so there was actually a living area down there and that is where we stayed at.

So getting back to being "50" my mom was pretty close to 50 at that time. Right now I am trying to compare my self to her at that time. I know with global warming the earth is MUCH warmer now, otherwise I am sure my parents would have had more than one air conditioner.

So we went to turn on the AC yesterday and we got nothing!! Just the furnace blowing, AC unit just humming not turning. So I think when you know you don't have AC it feels so much hotter. Because until we tried it late in the afternoon it didn't seem too bad just a little humid. So we decided that we could use a fan to move the air inside around a little. Well by the time we got back from the store, which has AC, and then riding in the car with AC, the house seemed really hot! Well it could be menopause kicking her ugly heels too!

So since I was on-call for the hospital all weekend I was not working this morning, so I called the repairman. They said they will try to fit me in today but no guarantee. He called me back around 10:30, telling me he would be stopping by to see what we would need and hopefully getting it fixed today. So I closed all the shades, opened all the windows, finished the few things that I had started so the house would at least look a little better. Now I am sitting in front of the t.v. "chilling" so to speak.

Top 5 reasons I was thinking to turn 50 in the 70-80's would have been o.k.
1. Global warming was not too warm yet!
2. A nice cool basement to do laundry in!
3. Window air conditioning for the adults at night!
4. 4 Great girls who were happy with just a
cool basement to play in on hot days.
5. The best repairman was my dad!

Mothers Day Serenity Prayer from Me

Mothers Day Serenity Prayer:

Dear God in whom we dedicate our children to.

Thank you for granting us the privilege of having these children

and being able to accept them for who they are
challenging them each day.

Having courage to bring them into this world
so that they might change it.

Wisdom to tell them about you
so that they might follow in your footsteps.

Thank you for the blessing
that they have brought to me each and everyday.

To God be the glory for their faith, Amen

"Thanksgiving"

First I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a great season, I love all the aromas in the house. As we start getting prepared for Thanksgiving day, with food for the church baskets and also food for our families.

With our immediate family we have always invited people to join us. It seems that there is always somebody whose family is not in town for one reason or another. Some of the ones we invited never came but knew that the invitation was a valid one. Part of the tradition also included going around the table and saying what we were thankful for.

I was grateful that our oldest daughter and her husband had started the same tradition at their home. She has a friend who's spouse would be out of town, so she invited the family to her house.

Through the years I can only remember a few distinct memories of the Thanksgiving meals.

Our very first one that he celebrated at out own home, we had made the turkey and fixings. We set the table and things looked beautiful, I had bought film for the camera (back in the none digital days). Needless to say that in the rush of getting everything ready and the hunger that had set in we forgot to take a picture of the "perfect meal". Once I remembered I grabbed the camera and took the picture, when they were developed we noticed that the turkey's leg was sitting in front of the turkey. We laughed and tried to make sure we took our pictures before the meal. Chad was only 3 and he started the thanks with the food, then the silverware and each family member.

Another one I remember was in Killeen Texas, we had a older lady who was alone, she was very helpful during the process of making the meal. She was also trying to make the meal a special event too, she involved the kids in making the table look good. When it came to go around the table and tell some of the things that we were thankful for, she had a wonderful list. She included everything from the food, kids, family and everything that the Lord had done in her life.

As Thanksgiving week is drawing near we need to look back and see what the Lord has done for us. Each year we always find something big (in our eyes, small to God)that we have to be thankful for.

This year I am extremely thankful for our family, friends whose love has been shown to us throughout the whole year. Those are important things to me. I am also thankful for the doctor that did the surgery the first part of November, and taking such good care of me. I am thankful that our kids and grand kids are healthy and all back in the country (as of 11/23)last year at this time we had one in Iraq. We also had one child get married, and another celebrate 5th year anniversary.

So you can see why I am thankful! So look back on your year and see all the things that you can be thankful for. It shouldn't be hard to find a few things.



(1 Th 5:18 KJV) "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

In memory of Dad - Alzheimers Walk 2009

This year was a little different for the Alzheimers walk. In the past my daughters and I raised money and went on the walk. Each year it is a challenge for us to raise money and get the time off from work to participate in the walk. But each year we do accomplish it some how.

The first year that we did the walk was 2005 we had 5 that walked for the team. In 2006 we had only 4, the 2 girls, Alexis and I. Sarah and Bekah even designed shirts for us to wear to honor the memory of their grandpa. In 2007 we had the addition of Jaxen to our team, also Stormy came along to help out with the kids.

We all enjoy taking the time to pay tribute to dad.

I remember the time when I was just 5 years old and he had taken me to the Norwalk clinic, very late in the evening, because my tonsils were very swollen. Making my breathing very labored. Mom had to stay at home with the other girls, although my littel sister also was having similar problems. "Back in the day" you could tell the family physician you had another one at home and they would get medicine for them too.

Dad also taught all of his girls basic car stuff. We could easily change oil, tires, check transmission fluid. Like I said the basics, we could use this to impress a boyfriend as well! :-? Well I don't know that dad knew that trick. I tried to pass this on to my girls, thinking that they too would need the basics. They were not intent on learning the car stuff. Although I did impress my boys, it was very funny to see the look on their face when I could show them where to check things at. Even on Facebook I beat one of the scores for knowing the car parts.

He also was the one to teach us to drive!! He made us learn how to drive a stick shift too. That could also be used to impress a boyfriend, just ask my older daughter!

Dad could do just about anything he set his mind to. He worked with a friend during the summer months doing odd jobs. this inclu ded adding on rooms to houses, rewiring and roofing to name a few. He let us work with him in the summer, paying us for our work too. I believe that he taught us more thatn we will ever realize during the summer. I remember him
telling us "always look busy, even if it is just sweeping".

My mom tried to get dad to talk to us when the Alzheimers diseas had gotten worse. He would only talk for a few minutes before he could not answer any of the questions. Ed and I have talked several times about when dad started getting worse, we both decided that when dad asked for help with the water heater which had gone out. Needless to say we are not that mechanically inclined!! We were able to get the water heater out of the basement, and hook up the new one. But dad would have been able to do it in half the time in his good times.

Dad died in 2004 due to complications of Alzheimers. I think of dad often and know that others miss him too.

Dad I miss you a lot! Look forward to seeing you again!

Love ya! Debbie

"Mamaw"

When I was growing up I loved to visit "Mamaw". She lived in Kentucky, by a creek, with a hill and a cemetery! Just the coolest place to visit, my younger sister and I used to spend the summers there when we were about 10 years old. It was always just about the time Vacation Bible School was in that area, which is another story.

Each time we visited with our family, she would always be on the run. It seemed that as soon as we finished breakfast and did the dishes, she was peeling potatoes for lunch, then the same for supper. She also took us to milk the cow and was very willing to share the milking duties. We have some short movie clips of us trying to milk the cow, needless to say we were not very good at it, she would have to finish the job. Our other grandparents seemed to be a bit older, but now as I look back they probably weren't, just a few more health problems. Funny how as we age we finally realize that even though you look 80, doesn't mean you are.


Mamaw would also go pick apples and then sit on the porch and peel them for us to eat, all 5 of us, till we were full! That is a lot of apples! But I can still remember the smile she would always have.
Although I loved "Mamaw" when I became a grandma I didn't want to be called that because I thought of it as a southern name. I had been raised in Ohio and was not a southerner! Alexis called me "grannnnna" when she first started to talk, which I thought was very cute. As she got a little older it changed to grandma! She will laugh now if you remind her that she used to call me that, she will tell us that was when she was a baby, so silly.


When Jaxen first started talking called me grandma, I think it was because his sister was calling me that. Most of the time he still called me grandma, but when he is excited it changes to "Mamaw"! Just the thing I didn't want to be called. I do not correct him I just let his excitement carry him!!! Just like all little boys he is very excitable.


As I began to think about the reasoning behind not wanting to be called "Mamaw". I just didn't like the sound of it. It doesn't have a pleasant ring like grannnnnna, or grandma. When thinking about the name I also began to remember the great times I had with my Mamaw. I tried to see if I could live up to the name. Was I sweet, caring, willing to show the kids how to do ordinary things, peel apples till the kids were full, find jars for bugs. Well for the most part I was doing a pretty good job doing most of the things I remember her for.


So I have taken a different look at being called "Mamaw". I think I am going to love fulfilling the footsteps of my grandma, I just hope I will be able to.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of being a "Mamaw".

Vacation June 2009

Some how when we take vacation there is always an motive behind the travel. This year my sisters and I joined each other in Ohio for a fun filled weekend of painting at our mom's house. While I really don't mind helping out my mom the thought of painting for the weekend was not my idea of fun.



My sister had arrived in Ohio on Thursday at supper time to surprise our mom. Oh course since they were trying to surprise her, she happened not to be at home. So they went shopping instead. When she did arrive home they were there to greet her, she was greatly surprised and said it was too bad that I couldn't be there. They all agreed, but knew that I was going to meet them at breakfast to surprise her also. My younger sister had told her that Bob Evans in Fremont was having a special, but she still tried to get them to go to the one in Sandusky.

They arrived at Bob Evans exactly at 8 a.m. and she was surprised again! My husband ate breakfast with us but then was off to see his family and check into the motel.


My sisters had arranged with mom to go to a city wide garage sale in a near by town, while we were out we also bought the paint and supplies.



We arrived at her house and began to move furniture away from the walls and assigning our jobs. We decided to do 2 X 2 on each wall, one painted up, one down and I was assigned to do the trim. I couldn't believe how quick that it went, we were done with the living room in just over an hour. We tried to save the wall paper border, it didn't work!! Nine just another job for us to do. We just had to make sure the new border was bigger that the old. We found a great border for mom, she loves Cardinals and the border had four kinds of birds, it was a threesome to put it up. but it looks great and she loved it.





While we were out getting the border we also got to participate in the Harley Davidson festival in Sandusky, Ohio. I had never seen so many bikers in one place. Sandusky really went all out for the bikers, lots of leather, bikes, loud music it was great. (mom stayed in the car with the puppy) We also bought matching flip flops, silly but fun.

Everything went well my sisters left on Saturday for South Carolina, I was staying till Sunday morning so I could go to our old home church with mom. She always enjoys her kids going to ch with her. My husband met us at church and we left right after service. Of course it took 10 minutes to load my garage sale treasures in the truck! Well, along with the stuff mom said I needed to take home with me.


We had a great trip home and the painting of moms' living room, dining room and hall wasn't too bad after all. It was a great time of fellowship with all the "ROWE" girls, first time in a few years we all got to see each other.

I also found out that I was "bossy & funny" by them. I had told them if you have four kids you have to be both of them. It makes life a little easier, as you kow "laughter is the best medicine" and all kids need someone to "boss" them!

Just ask any kid! Have a great vacation this year!

Table Grace

When we were young our parents taught us to thank the Lord for the food that was being provided and the hands that had prepared it. So as tradition goes we taught our children the same thing, even incorporating in a simple prayer to memorize.

"God is great, God is good.

Let us thank Him for this food."

Each of our children did a superb job reciting this prayer. As they got older we taught them how to use their own words to pray for the meal. When our oldest son first exerted the use of his own words for "grace" we thought he was going to say he was thankful for every item that was on the table!




It was encouraging for us to see the children to grow and call on the Lord's name. It starts out as a simple memorized prayer, then turns into a walk with the Savior! Just like watching them learn to walk all over again, taking one step then another. Growing day by day!




Just recently we have had the opportunity to see our grandchildren in our own home share this same tradition. Alexis is very talkative and enjoys the chance to say the prayer.




Our first encounter with this was Thanksgiving this past year. Alexis was continuing to talk while everyone was getting quiet for her dad so he could say the Thanksgiving. He politely asked her to be quiet unless she wanted to say the prayer. She said O.K. I will say the prayer! To our surprise she did a fantastic. Thanking the Lord for food, the beautiful day and family, what more could you ask for.



It brought tears to my eyes to hear this small child, only 3 1/2 years old, give tribute to the Lord for the blessings that she saw. I am so blessed to have a family that loves the Lord and are trying to raise our grandchildren with those same traditions.



God's great example of prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen

It surprised me the other day when we were sitting at the table and Jaxen tried to take my hand and was saying something that I didn't understand. I finally got it, he was saying "pray, pray." We held hands and he said a prayer, not that I could understand, then he said "Amen" so I knew he was done. Such a blessing to see him pray too.



As I look to the future, I see my family continuing to grow in the Lord. I thank him daily for the blessings that he has given to our family. I will continue to do my best to set the example for our kids.

There is a saying that "The family that prays together, stays together".

Lord, bless this family, be with us throughout this day, guide and protect us. Continue to bring us closer to you as we travel life's highways. In your name we pray. Amen

Planting with the Grandkids!

Today was a great day! I was off from work and decided to go and dig up some plants from our old place and move to our new place. The sun was out the wind was very brisk and I had two grand kids to help! One of my helpers fell asleep in the car before we got to the old place, so that left me with one to help. She was very helpful, she picked dandelions and violets to add to my bulbs.

The First Dandelion

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,

As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,

Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass--innocent,

golden, calm as the dawn,

The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Source: "Leaves of Grass," by Walt Whitman

I had dug up all the plants that I saw and heard a faint voice "grandma, grandma". My second helper was awake, yeah!!! He came out of the van and quickly started to help his sister pick flowers, then he decided that the basket I was using was too full! So he helped empty it, I guess he didn't realize the big plan that we had for the bulbs at the new house. But even with the upset we were able to collect the bulbs and put them back in the basket.

Since we had collected all the bulbs, we tried to clean up the property a little. It is amazing even though there is not too many people living on the NW side of Cedar Rapids where the flood took a big toll, the trash still seems to collect on any rough area in the yard. We didn't have enough room for all of the trash but brought enough home to fill the back of the van.

Once we got home we unloaded the trash, cleaned up a little and headed off to Wally world to get some soil and compost for our little bulb planting. I also decided to try a few edgers to make a finished look to the lamp post area where the bulbs would be going. Back at home we unloaded the kids and the stuff and started to work. The kids immediately took off for the pea gravel under the tree, leaving me to try and make a circle with the edging stones, I was beginning to think I was geometrically challenged!! I finally got a suitable circle and deposited my compost and soil evenly in the circle it had a very appealing look to it.


Occasionally while planting I would have a small helper come and assist with chore. We completed the project at a few minutes before 4 p.m. and I had to be at the bus garage at 4!! Yikes!!!

I arrived there a few minutes after 4 but still had to wait for my "sweetie" to get out of the building! What a great day!! We accomplished everything that we had started to do, made it to my meeting on time and came home to fresh baked cookies for a birthday surprise! (We had the cake over the weekend for the birthday.) God has truly blessed us. I am looking forward to the blooming of the "Naked Ladies" that we planted (also called the Belladonna Lily). I will keep you updated with pictures on a future blog.

Happy Birth-day

Today is our youngest childs birthday. What an exciting time, having a baby! With each child the excitement is still there. "Mr" excitement this time was almost a little too much excitment. We were in the military and by their standards I had failed 4 pregnancy tests! So there must be something really wrong if I was feeling so sick. With the other children there was never a sign of morning sickness. With the last one it wasn't really "morning sickness" it was all day sickness.
AND when I finally got checked out,at the local clinic, a Physicians Assistant did an evaluation and noted that he could hear a loud sound around my lower rib cage. He left the room, returned to tell me that he believed that I had an Abdominal Aortic Anyrusym! (He probably left to look it up) I was pretty sure I had a concept of what this was, but asked the question to ease my mind. Nope! The PA actually described the whole thing, I was right but didn't have an actual visual. He gave me a referral to the Surgery Clinic, to be checked out. Ed met me there and the Doctor listened to the area and decided that I was really too young(27)to have this type of problem, and since I had failed so many pregnancy tests, he wanted me to be checked out in the OB/GYN dept.
They made a time slot for me and I walked over, they listened to my story and decided to try an dopler to my stomach to listen to things. Guess what?? The heard a babies heartbeat! Well this was a great thine! I wasn't going to die and we were going to have a new addition to our family.
Upon hearing this great news, my husband picked up the phone and caled his doctor and cancelled his procedure. "Too late to lock the barn door after the horse is out!" just a corny saying.
Well the trouble didn't end there! Because of the negative pregnancy tests they really didn't know how to calculate a due date! The performed an ultrasound and with the measurement of his head was put into the calculation and came up with a due date. But told me that I would probably have to go into labor to be sure he would be fully developed. WRONG! All of the others were born by C-section I had went through labor with the first child and that was enough. No, seriously we were in a foreign country, no family to help with the kids, I just wanted a real date.

I did happen to start labor for our little bundle of joy. The doctor said that I had dilated 4 cm and was actually having contractions when they started the c-section.

Adam arrived on this day 24 years ago, and we are so blessed to have him in our family. He really completes our family group, funny/annoying/friendly/serious all wrapped into one.

A baby boy was created by the hand of God above to give the world the sweetest touch of tenderness and love. With the softness of a whisper,God made a baby's skin and then designed two trusting eyes to put the starlight in. With giggles from a waterfall and breezes passing by, God made a baby's laughter and a tiny, sleepy sigh. God made the world a precious gift more dear and pure than gold, with little toes to play with and tiny hands to hold then brought into the sunshine a precious baby boy All wrapped up in a rainbowof wonder, hope, and joy.-unknown author

Life..................

Life..........................It's funny, the way we look at things when we think we have all the time in the world to accomplish your dreams. As children we only live day to day, each day is brand new and we accomplish what ever we feel like doing. As we learn new things every day of our life, we become more responsible for more things. In grade school we learned to read, write and become sociable. Those years in school added new events for us to celebrate, dances, field trips, sports etc. All of which broadened our outlook on life itself.

We as a family are nearing the death of yet another relative. That is when death really starts to look you right in the face, sometimes laughing at you, daunting you with all the things that are yet to be accomplished in your life. When and how do we decide what things are more important, things that need completing. they are thinking I may have a year yet to live..plenty of time! We question do our families really need that extra room, that yard work finished?

Or do they need to know that no matter what happens that we are there for them. I begin to remember the vows that most of us took when we got married. Not very easy words then or now.

"To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part."

Wow it almost hurts to read those words right now! Death so near, families so far from loving and cherishing each other. I believe that those words were meant for the WHOLE family, the husband, wife, children, extended family. Because I feel our extended family as just as much a part of our lives as our biological family. We do need each other, from the beginning of our marriage, my motto was............. become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 Not an easy task then or now. It was a daily struggle for me.

Stress is at an all time high within our extended family, any word can be construed as a harsh statement. Some people within the family are not going to be allowed to come to the memorial service. Others are not going to attend stating that "they do not want to cause a scene." How do you delicately talk to anyone in this situation? You don't! They want you to talk to them, but are literally on the edge. Too close for comfort, any word could send them off the edge. Then the scene has begun.

But everyone needs some type of closure for this event. We each need to find that closure for ourself.

" Life is too short............let me repeat that..........LIFE IS TOO SHORT!

Words of comfort.............................

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. Leo Buscaglia

Please...God................
help us through this process
of death!