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
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Saturday, April 25, 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.
Friday, January 9, 2015
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.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
As school begins a new year, I remember when I first started school at the age of five. I was in first grade because we had no Kindergarten. I felt so excited to get to go to school with my two older brothers and my older sister. We had to walk to school which was a litle over a mile. It seemed a lot longer to me. My sister was in third grade and my brothers were in fifth and seventh.
The school was a two room schoolhouse with two teachers. One for grades one through four and the other for grades five through eight. We had to take our lunch as there was no cafeteria. Theres was no refrigration so we had to take lunch which would not spoil in the late July heat. Which meant we took peanut butter and crackers or biscuit and jelly with some kind of fruit or vegetable, if in season. Mama always had cookies baked for our sweets. In the winter we could take ham, bologna, or egg sandwiches.
I was anxious to learn but I loved to play at recess. We had a short morning recess and an hour at lunch time. In the afternoon we had a short break. The school was surrounded by large oak trees, which provided us with plenty of shade for playing tag, red-rover or house. Because I was one of the youngest, I got to be the baby of the family when we played house. The older boys and some girls played solftball or kick ball. We were a close knit group with the older children always looking out for the younger ones. In the winter we played games inside at recess.
The restroom facilites were outside. One for the girls and one for the boys. At recess we were to take advantage of the facilities. Sometimes we were excused to take a necessary break.
In the winter the schoolhouse was heated with a coal or wood stove. The older boys were usually paid a small fee for getting the fire started and cleaning the building. Each one had chores to do as assigned by the teacher or chosen by the students. Everyone took turns doing a job. There was a well for getting drinking water. Each one brought their own private cup for drinking.
The school day lasted from eight until four. It was a long day for a five year old. We were always looking down the road toward the post office to see if our dad was on his way home when scool was about to be dismissed. We liked the ride back home becasue it was up a long hill.
Often we would meet strange dogs on our way to or from school and the fear of one being rabid was always present, as we had been taught to avoid the dogs which we were not familiar with. Sometimes the older boys would scare us by saying a dog was rabid or it was going to bite us
There were several house along our walk to school. We lived at the top of the hill, which was the farthest away. The Baker's lived at the bottom of the hill. They had a boy and girl who were in school. Sometimes we walked with them. Aunt Stella lived down the road from the Baker's. All of her children were grown and she lived alone. Sometimes there was a rental house on the road, which was usually empty. The Climax Store and Post Office was next. We went to the right there and passed the Mullins' home and the cemetery. There were lots of children in the last house across from the school, but most were too young to go to school. Some children came from every direction. There were probably twenty to thirty students in each room.
We all had our books assigned to us. We were given instructions and the teacher used the blackboard for directions, tests, math, and whatever they needed to do. We did not have a copy machine. The older students helped the younger ones with reading and math.
This was how I got my start in public education. I feel like I had a pretty good background for learning to be able to go on to college and get my Degree in Education as well as a Master's Degree. I thank the Lord for schools and teachers. I was blessed to be able to teach thirty years and retire.
As school begins a new year, I remember when I first started school at the age of five. I was in first grade because we had no Kindergarten. I felt so excited to get to go to school with my two older brothers and my older sister. We had to walk to school which was a litle over a mile. It seemed a lot longer to me. My sister was in third grade and my brothers were in fifth and seventh.
The school was a two room schoolhouse with two teachers. One for grades one through four and the other for grades five through eight. We had to take our lunch as there was no cafeteria. Theres was no refrigration so we had to take lunch which would not spoil in the late July heat. Which meant we took peanut butter and crackers or biscuit and jelly with some kind of fruit or vegetable, if in season. Mama always had cookies baked for our sweets. In the winter we could take ham, bologna, or egg sandwiches.
I was anxious to learn but I loved to play at recess. We had a short morning recess and an hour at lunch time. In the afternoon we had a short break. The school was surrounded by large oak trees, which provided us with plenty of shade for playing tag, red-rover or house. Because I was one of the youngest, I got to be the baby of the family when we played house. The older boys and some girls played solftball or kick ball. We were a close knit group with the older children always looking out for the younger ones. In the winter we played games inside at recess.
The restroom facilites were outside. One for the girls and one for the boys. At recess we were to take advantage of the facilities. Sometimes we were excused to take a necessary break.
In the winter the schoolhouse was heated with a coal or wood stove. The older boys were usually paid a small fee for getting the fire started and cleaning the building. Each one had chores to do as assigned by the teacher or chosen by the students. Everyone took turns doing a job. There was a well for getting drinking water. Each one brought their own private cup for drinking.
The school day lasted from eight until four. It was a long day for a five year old. We were always looking down the road toward the post office to see if our dad was on his way home when scool was about to be dismissed. We liked the ride back home becasue it was up a long hill.
Often we would meet strange dogs on our way to or from school and the fear of one being rabid was always present, as we had been taught to avoid the dogs which we were not familiar with. Sometimes the older boys would scare us by saying a dog was rabid or it was going to bite us
There were several house along our walk to school. We lived at the top of the hill, which was the farthest away. The Baker's lived at the bottom of the hill. They had a boy and girl who were in school. Sometimes we walked with them. Aunt Stella lived down the road from the Baker's. All of her children were grown and she lived alone. Sometimes there was a rental house on the road, which was usually empty. The Climax Store and Post Office was next. We went to the right there and passed the Mullins' home and the cemetery. There were lots of children in the last house across from the school, but most were too young to go to school. Some children came from every direction. There were probably twenty to thirty students in each room.
We all had our books assigned to us. We were given instructions and the teacher used the blackboard for directions, tests, math, and whatever they needed to do. We did not have a copy machine. The older students helped the younger ones with reading and math.
This was how I got my start in public education. I feel like I had a pretty good background for learning to be able to go on to college and get my Degree in Education as well as a Master's Degree. I thank the Lord for schools and teachers. I was blessed to be able to teach thirty years and retire.
Monday, August 4, 2014
HOSPITAL
Recently, as I was going into the hospital for a test, I remembered the first time I was admitted into the hospital. I was eight years old and very scared.
It all started with a headache and a temperature. It was a very nice summer day and I didn't feel like going out to play. Mom helped me get a bath and put on a cute frilly dress and she braided my hair and put ribbons on my braids. She thought it would make me feel like playing, but I only wanted to lay in the chair and do nothing. She gave me aspirins for my headache and some kind of tea, but I didn't get better. The next morning my mom and dad took me to see Dr. Baker. He was the best doctor around and they didn't make appointments. People came from long distances to be treated by him. He examined me after a lengthy wait in the crowded waiting room. He said I should go to the hospital because I had a kidney infection and they could better treat me with Penicillin shots in the hospital.
The hospital seemed so huge to me. It was my first visit to a hospital. They put me in a private room. After I was settled in, my parents said they had to leave. I cried because I had never been by myself . I begged mom to stay, but the staff insisted she could not stay the night with me. She agreed to stay in town with my dad's sister, Aunt Rose. My dad had to go home to the other children and to the chores of the farm. Mom would visit me in the morning and dad would come later in the afternoon. We lived twelve miles from town. Half of the roads were narrow gravel roads, therefore the travel time took at least half an hour or more.
I was given shots every three or four hours. They were given in the thighs alternating with the butt. They were very painful to me as I have a low tolerance of pain anyway, even then. I felt afraid all night. I had a nightmare or a bad drem. I thought a black cat was in the room with me. I thought it was trying to attack me. I was trying to escape from it. I tried to scream but nothing came out. I managed to call the nurse and asked her to leave a light on for me. It must have been the effects of the medicine. You can imagine how an eight year old would feel, being alone with strangers.
Mom came the next morning and sat with me until my dad came. They both went home that day and the doctor thought I could go home the next day. I was in a hurry to get back to my house with my brothers and sisters. Two nights in the hospital seemed like a long time but I was getting better and anxious to get back to playing again. I had been confined long enough. I was released the third day with a perscription for medication. Thankfully, I recovered and haven't had a kidney problem since.
Recently, as I was going into the hospital for a test, I remembered the first time I was admitted into the hospital. I was eight years old and very scared.
It all started with a headache and a temperature. It was a very nice summer day and I didn't feel like going out to play. Mom helped me get a bath and put on a cute frilly dress and she braided my hair and put ribbons on my braids. She thought it would make me feel like playing, but I only wanted to lay in the chair and do nothing. She gave me aspirins for my headache and some kind of tea, but I didn't get better. The next morning my mom and dad took me to see Dr. Baker. He was the best doctor around and they didn't make appointments. People came from long distances to be treated by him. He examined me after a lengthy wait in the crowded waiting room. He said I should go to the hospital because I had a kidney infection and they could better treat me with Penicillin shots in the hospital.
The hospital seemed so huge to me. It was my first visit to a hospital. They put me in a private room. After I was settled in, my parents said they had to leave. I cried because I had never been by myself . I begged mom to stay, but the staff insisted she could not stay the night with me. She agreed to stay in town with my dad's sister, Aunt Rose. My dad had to go home to the other children and to the chores of the farm. Mom would visit me in the morning and dad would come later in the afternoon. We lived twelve miles from town. Half of the roads were narrow gravel roads, therefore the travel time took at least half an hour or more.
I was given shots every three or four hours. They were given in the thighs alternating with the butt. They were very painful to me as I have a low tolerance of pain anyway, even then. I felt afraid all night. I had a nightmare or a bad drem. I thought a black cat was in the room with me. I thought it was trying to attack me. I was trying to escape from it. I tried to scream but nothing came out. I managed to call the nurse and asked her to leave a light on for me. It must have been the effects of the medicine. You can imagine how an eight year old would feel, being alone with strangers.
Mom came the next morning and sat with me until my dad came. They both went home that day and the doctor thought I could go home the next day. I was in a hurry to get back to my house with my brothers and sisters. Two nights in the hospital seemed like a long time but I was getting better and anxious to get back to playing again. I had been confined long enough. I was released the third day with a perscription for medication. Thankfully, I recovered and haven't had a kidney problem since.
Monday, July 21, 2014
BATTERY OPERATED
One morning when we awoke to play golf, the coffe pot, which had been set to come on at six o'clock in the morning had been shut off during the night as well as the other clocks. The electricity had gone off during th night, so everything went off for a few seconds or minutes. I called the electric company, Duke Energy, as this had happened several times, with no storm or hurricanes. They drilled me on exactly what had happened. I relayed my story to two individuals. They said they could see nothing wrong but would send someone in the morning to check. At five o'clock in the evening a Duke Energy repairman appeared, I said, "Good Morning". He apologized. Said he had checked and there was no problem to be found. A few days later, a female called me from the Duke Energy Office, inquiring about the power outage. Again, I retold my story of the power just going out at night between midnight and six in the morning and shutting everything off. She said they did not find a problem, so she suggested that I get a battery back-up. I laughed and said, "That's why I'm paying these expensive Duke Energy bills, so I can have a battery back-up when there is no storm?" Yes, that was her suggestion. With that I hung up and remembered living in those days when we had no electricity. Everything was battery operated or kerosene for lights.
At first my family had a small table model battery operated radio, but when my brothers went into the service in World War II, my parents got a big floor model radio which took one huge battery. The reception was better and they listened to the news every night to try and find out where my brothers were serving. They listened to the news on WLW in Cincinnati, as well as WJJD, I believe, in Chicago, and WHAS in Louisville. We were told to be quite when the news was on. Our brothers were not allowed to tell where they were but by listening to the news and knowing what batillion they were with, gave my parents a good idea of there whereabouts. One evening I was making a lot of noise, arguing with my sister, Lorena or playing with my dog too loudly, and my dad threatened to whip me if I didn't quite down so he could hear the news. Often the stations were very staticy because of being so far away as well as the poor reception.
The radios were good entertainment. We listened to the "Mid-Day Merry-Go Round" from Knoxville TN each day. We listened to "The Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville on Saturday nights. We listened to some comical shows, such as "Lum And Abner". We had to be careful and not waste the battery too much. Therefore our programs were selective. Mom and Dad listened tosome gospel music in the mornings.
We also had battery powered flash lights. But if we were on a walk to our grandmothers or friends at night we would use a lantern powered by kerosene. Our lights for reading were kerosene powered. My mom had a special lamp which gave more light than normal that she used for quilting and sewing. Those days seems remote and unmodern but they were fun and I am glad I have experienced them. I don't want to go back to those battery powered days, so I hope Duke Energy gets their wires straightened out soon.
One morning when we awoke to play golf, the coffe pot, which had been set to come on at six o'clock in the morning had been shut off during the night as well as the other clocks. The electricity had gone off during th night, so everything went off for a few seconds or minutes. I called the electric company, Duke Energy, as this had happened several times, with no storm or hurricanes. They drilled me on exactly what had happened. I relayed my story to two individuals. They said they could see nothing wrong but would send someone in the morning to check. At five o'clock in the evening a Duke Energy repairman appeared, I said, "Good Morning". He apologized. Said he had checked and there was no problem to be found. A few days later, a female called me from the Duke Energy Office, inquiring about the power outage. Again, I retold my story of the power just going out at night between midnight and six in the morning and shutting everything off. She said they did not find a problem, so she suggested that I get a battery back-up. I laughed and said, "That's why I'm paying these expensive Duke Energy bills, so I can have a battery back-up when there is no storm?" Yes, that was her suggestion. With that I hung up and remembered living in those days when we had no electricity. Everything was battery operated or kerosene for lights.
At first my family had a small table model battery operated radio, but when my brothers went into the service in World War II, my parents got a big floor model radio which took one huge battery. The reception was better and they listened to the news every night to try and find out where my brothers were serving. They listened to the news on WLW in Cincinnati, as well as WJJD, I believe, in Chicago, and WHAS in Louisville. We were told to be quite when the news was on. Our brothers were not allowed to tell where they were but by listening to the news and knowing what batillion they were with, gave my parents a good idea of there whereabouts. One evening I was making a lot of noise, arguing with my sister, Lorena or playing with my dog too loudly, and my dad threatened to whip me if I didn't quite down so he could hear the news. Often the stations were very staticy because of being so far away as well as the poor reception.
The radios were good entertainment. We listened to the "Mid-Day Merry-Go Round" from Knoxville TN each day. We listened to "The Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville on Saturday nights. We listened to some comical shows, such as "Lum And Abner". We had to be careful and not waste the battery too much. Therefore our programs were selective. Mom and Dad listened tosome gospel music in the mornings.
We also had battery powered flash lights. But if we were on a walk to our grandmothers or friends at night we would use a lantern powered by kerosene. Our lights for reading were kerosene powered. My mom had a special lamp which gave more light than normal that she used for quilting and sewing. Those days seems remote and unmodern but they were fun and I am glad I have experienced them. I don't want to go back to those battery powered days, so I hope Duke Energy gets their wires straightened out soon.
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