Fantastic Week-End

What a delight to have all three of our children together! On Saturday we gathered at Kevin's for a cook out and games with the children and two in-laws. We were blessed to have three of our grandchildren join us plus our granddaughter -in-law (our grandson was deployed, Navy) and our great granddaughter.

On Sunday we gathered in Miamisburg for the family reunion. It was such a pleasure to see my two sisters and two brothers. Although the health of one brother and one sister is not the best, they were ready for visiting with all the in-laws, nieces and nephews plus the great nieces and nephews that attended. There were over fifty in attendance for the carry-in dinner and getting reacquainted with each other since last year or maybe the Christmas get-to-gather. 

We are from a large family and we continue to meet regularly since the early 1950's. Our dad saw the need for our family to stay in close connection and communication with each other. He went to Heaven in 1963 and we still carry on the tradition he started. We hope our children and grandchildren will continue the tradition long afterwards.

It is impossible to express in words the enjoyment of this great week-end. Keith had just gotten released from a hospital stay due to food poisoning and was feeling well enough to make the trip to Ohio. We had such fun visiting and catching up on all the latest with each other. We keep in touch with text and phone but there is nothing like real life visits, hugs, and kisses.

On Monday we said "good-bye" to Craig as we left him at the Cincinnati airport and headed to Columbus, where we would go to the airport with Paulita to meet Grace, getting home from Europe after five weeks. Grace was ecstatic to be home. We enjoyed seeing her and learning all about her travels.

On our return trip we visited Nana in the Nursing Home in KY. We were happy that we could see Maxine and Dolly also. One of our happiest moments with them was being able to bring each of them a chocolate milk shake. Such a small gesture on our behalf meant so much to them. It was a pleasure to see their eyes light up and their mouths turn into smiles. What a blessed safe trip!

Spring Cleaning Interupted

I had a marvelous plan for doing my spring cleaning. I started upstairs in the bedrooms, wiping every wall from top to bottom, cleaning the ceiling fans, dusting the furniture, cleaning the mirrors and vacuuming the floors. I began my plan on Tuesday evening when Keith was golfing in the Men's Golf League. I did get all the bedrooms cleaned and the bathrooms swept.  I dusted and washed all the decorative rugs.

I was making such good progress and decided to start downstairs Wednesday morning when Keith golfed with the Pro-Am group, but Keith came home from League play very sick. I attended him the rest of the evening.

Wednesday morning Keith said he was too sick to golf and I should call and take him off the play list. When he got up at eight thirty, he was so sick, I told him we needed to go to E R. I tried calling the doctor but only got the answering service. Off to the E R we went.

He was treated for dehydration and diarrhea for four hours and then sent home. I spent the rest of the day taking care of him and getting his antibiotics. Also running necessary errands.

This morning, due to passing out, temperature, and diarrhea I called 911 to take him to the hospital. When the EMS arrived I opened the door. Suddenly the siren began to go off and I thought, "Why are they starting the siren." Then it dawned on me, I had forgotten to turn the alarm off. It was my siren screaming, awakening the neighborhood. Our next door neighbor ran to see what was going on. The EMS workers went about their business by going upstairs after Keith, while I shut the alarm off. They put him in their vehicle and took him to the hospital.

I followed after I collected my senses and got myself together. Oh, did I mention it was 4 A M? Keith was admitted to the hospital, where he will get well in a couple of days. I will concentrate on him and his health until he is back to normal.

In the meantime my bucket of cleaning tools sits in the Game Room waiting to get the spring cleaning going. I realize our plans get interrupted sometimes. My most important goal is to get Keith well and then the spring cleaning will get done. What does it matter if it is summer when spring cleaning gets done.

Our plans are not always God's plans. They will work out for our good.

Sleep In Peace

Did you ever go to bed angry? Maybe you went to bed with an argument unsettled and sleep did not come. The Bible tells us together rid of our anger before the sun goes down. I also think we should settle all disagreements before retiring for the night.
Why do we have arguments or disagreements? Is it because we each want our way? Is it because we think our opinion is the best? Is it because we fail to openly look at the other point of view? There are so many factors to think about. Why is my opinion or idea better? Have I considered the way the other person feels? Why is the other persons idea better?  Is it a personal, that I just want to win?
Try to consider all available options, before disagreeing point blank. Let your mind think about the other ideas. Maybe there is some validity in their idea. Come to a conclusion that you can both agree with and go to bed without anger or disagreement . By having your disagreement settled you can sleep peacefully.

MOTHERS

Being a mother is the most responsible job there is. I have found that being a mother is very fulfilling. As a mother, you provide a home filled with love for your children. You prepare their food and make sure they are well nourished. You make  sure they are clothed for the weather. It is important to provide them security.

As I recall my mother, I think of all the sacrifices she made for us children. We were her pride and joy. There were nine of us but we were each made to feel like an only child. We were all special in her eyes. Our birthdays were very special. If we were sick she made sure we were treated with  special care.

My mother was an excellent seamstress. I could show her a photo of a dress, skirt or blouse in a magazine or catalog and she could make one just like it for me. She spent her evenings sewing clothes, embroidering, or making quilts. Her days were filled with keeping the house and cooking for work hands and the family. She also tended her garden, chickens, and cows.

Mother always managed to save money from her business ventures, sellings eggs, cream from the milk, or sewing for others. She was always redoing some room in the house with her money.

She always made sure we did our homework and had a proper place to study. She attended our school functions when we were in plays or special events.

Most of all our mother taught us responsibility. Be responsible for what you do. Take claim of your actions. If you make a mistake own up to it and move on without continuing in guilt. Always tell the truth and you will not have to remember a lie. Truth is justice.

I must have instilled some very good practices in all of our children. They have all remembered me on Mother's Day. They always treat me with respect and love. They have all become responsible adults. I am very proud of all of them. No one could have better children. I am truly blessed. God bless all of you.

May 9, 2015

Pain

Lately my husband has been dealing with a lot of severe physical pain. 

There are so many types of pain. There is emotional pain when we experience the breakup of a relationship. There is heartbreaking pain when our parents die because we know they loved us and now are gone. There is unbearable pain of anxiety when we lose a child to death. Your children should outlive you.

The most physical pain I have felt personally, is the pain of childbirth. However that pain is soon gone because we have that precious baby and it is easy to forget how we suffered. 

I have seen my husband suffer such pain since February. It began with pain in his lower back. We went to the family doctor who checked him thoroughly and sent him for an x-Ray which showed arthritis.

Next he went for an MRI which showed nerves being pinched by deteriorating discs. He was given a prescription of Predison which escalated his sugar. We knew the high sugar was temporary. The pain continued so another prescription of Predison was taken. Pain medication was prescribed. None seemed to help. He has tried twelve hour Aleve which takes an hour to kick in and only lasts three or four hours. Tylenol or Advil seem to work best. He hates to take medicine but has to in order to get relief.

The next step was to find a  Chiropratic Health Center. Our friend recommended one that had helped her. The records were sent and after two visits my husband was let go.

We were sent to a Therapy Consultant, who came with high recommendations. The records were sent and as of now he has had four treatments and eight more to go. The pain is still there. We are hopeful that it is going to be cured.

My husband can stand more pain than anyone I know, but he has suffered so much. I have been in tears for him as he cries out in pain. For him to complain, I know it is bad. He cannot sit in his recliner without pain. Standing is less painful. He is able to sleep at night without much pain.

If you have answers to this pain problem, we would entertain them. 

Yes, we are praying.

Quilts

Our oldest son mentioned that he wanted me to make him a quilt a couple years ago. I planned a quilt of blocks with different items appliqued on them. I wanted to include items that the children would relate to from their childhood. I am not a professional seamstress so I had to make it simple.

I had watched my mom cut and sew tiny pieces of triangles, squares, circles, and octagons together with no problems. I had tried but failed to make successful tiny pieces, so I had to make something I could accomplish without too much trouble.

With my decision to make three quilts, I started the appliqué in early spring. I worked after golf or on days off from golf or partying. By October I had all the quilt tops finished. They all ended up being king size to get all my plans included. First of all I made a star because they are all stars in my eyes. Next I made a heart because they are always in my heart. I made a Dutch Girl in remembrance of my mom and it was the first quilt I made when they were small. Christmas is so special, I had to put a Christmas tree. The plan went on to include dancing girls, a boy, pets, a book, UK, as they were raised on UK basketball games and we took them whenever we could. I included flowers as they often brought me flowers from dandelions to roses.

By the first of November I had not begun to put the quilts together and my friends said I would never get them done by Christmas. That gave me motivation to get started. I rushed to the store to get the fillings and linings. In the middle of November I put the first quilt together and started quilting it on the sewing machine. I must admit, I had lots of crooked seams, but I got the first one done which had to be mailed to Texas. I had plenty of time since it was the first of December. The second quilt was prepared and machine quilted with more crooked seams. The third quilt had to be prepared as everything else was getting ready for Christmas. I wondered how I would ever get it done. One week before Christmas, the night  Paulita's family was arriving, I got it done . It also had those crooked seams, which I described as my life with some straight seams with smooth going and the crooked seams as when things weren't going as well.

The quilts were made with love and for warmth. I enjoyed making them in my own simple way. My love is forever for them all.

FROM LETTER WRITING TO TEXTING

FROM LETTER WRITING TO TEXTING

Our son from Texas faced-time us the other night and it was so good to see him and know that his family was fine. Our daughter called and we could talk about her family and how they were doing. I began to think about the time my brothers and sisters left home and the only way my parents had to be in contact with them was to write letters. There were no phones in the country, only in towns, which were from twelve to fifteen miles away. Those phones were party lines and usually it was very expensive to call from a pay phone.

Every Sunday night my mother got her stationary pad and pen to write to her children. My dad would tell her some information to tell them. Sometimes he would add a note, but was reluctant to do so as he was left handed and his teachers back then, forced him to write with his right hand, therefore his hand writing was very poor. He used his left hand after he got out of school.

She would ask if we wanted to add a note to our older siblings. We would scribble a few words about school or something exciting that happened on the farm or some new products in the store. Often our older sisters and brothers would send pictures of their families in the letters. That was exxciting as my parents could see how the grandchildren had grown or what activities they were participating in at school or the community.

When I went to college, I still had to write my parents each week. They would write me to tell me what time they were picking me up to come home. since I was the youngest, they expected me to come home almost every week-end to help with the store or written work for the business.

Today, parents are so blessed because they can keep in contact with their children by texting, cell phones, or face-time. I wonder what it would have been like when I was young to have had those conveniences. However I would not trade my letter writing for anything. 

I love the convenience of keeping in touch with our children and grandchildren through the modern media. My, how times have changed!  I remember the discussion of how one day we would be able to talk on the phone and see the person with whom we were talking. It is a reality and I have lived to experience it.