Hum----m, Thought it about time I posted another page, but don't really know anything interesting to talk about. Not too much excitement here at the moment but, I guess that is a good thing, since it means that, at least for the moment, none of the family seems to be in the middle of any major crisis! You know how bad news is--it usually gets to you even before it happens. As far as I'm concerned I would just as soon NEVER hear bad news again.
As far as good news goes. Guess the best news recently has been the birth of another child in our extended clan. A little boy named Seth,born to my great-nephew's lovely lady. Babies are always a blessig no matter how much trouble thay can eventually be! I have no doubt that this little guy will be cherished, as every child should be.
Other than that, let's see -- We got treated to supper out this evening. My sweet Wayne and his friend Jack have been helping a friend from church for the past several months. The friend had surgery last spring and has had many setbacks since then. So the guys have mowed, shoveled snow and taken care of other little things he needed. Finally, his health has improved considerably and he insisted on taking not only the guys, but also the wives also. Such a sweet couple, it is always nice to be appriciated.
Our Ohio weather has finally warmed a bit this past week. We have gone from lots and lots of snow to sunshine and warm temperatures (The rivers are a-risin') the past few days. It has been a long winter. Spring will be welcomed.
I have been trying to write some on my (almost) novel, recently. It's hard work for a not so brainy person! It dosn't feel like it will ever be finished, but, I am making some progress and have decided I am going to get it done before 2011 is over! One way or the other! That way I will be able to say that I actually did write a book. I may not be able to say that it is a good book-------
Anyway as you can see, my creative writing is not doing very well this evening, so I am just going to stop boring you and say good-bye for tonight.
Maybe another time I will have something more interesting to talk about. At least this gives me typing practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
January is gone and we are another month closer to Spring.
Not close enough I'm afraid. But CLOSER is good enough for today.
Actually, I am not one that sits around wishing my life away. It is going too fast for me as it is, so I think I should try hard and find the good in EVERY day.
That is not to say, I would not enjoy WARM TROPICAL BREEZES AND GOLDEN SUNSHINE! Oh, my, but that sounds heavenly at the moment.
But,Feburary is here and so far has not dissapointed "OLD MAN WINTER!"
Our northern Ohio home is buried along with millions of others across the country with what appears to be "The Storm of 2011".
The past two days we have been BLESSED with snow, ice, wind and snow again.
Today it has been only snow and more snow.
I must say, although, MOST are not "happy campers" right now. it is very BEAUTIFUL.
Yes, my friend, that is what I said. BEAUTIFUL. A virtual WINTER WONDERLAND.
Our home is directly across the street from Riverside cementary. Which has been part of this community for well over 100 years. It is in many ways a park setting, well groomed with large maples, oaks, sweetgum, and evergreens of numerous kinds. Each season brings it's own kind of beauty.
In fall our local Junior High school children have collected leaves from this very spot, for, what has become a local tradition.
I watch each September and October as cars and bicycles slowly circle the grounds. Stopping every few minutes to reach for (some standing on Dad's vehicle, some jumping or using sticks) "the very best or biggest" leaves to be glued into albums that are due back at school in mid-November. Somewhere in this house, I'm sure, there are still two red or green, or perhaps blue folders, from my 40 something year old children's, jr. high years.
Spring brings new grass and soft green moss that grows on the sides of the old buildings or cementary markers. There are tiny white and blue flowers everywhere and mayapple and dutchmans britches that grow along the wooded edge. Sometimes the tiny flowers completely cover the ground.
Directly behind the cementary runs the Auglaize River that the cementary is named for.
As you now probably have figured out, "I LOVE MY VIEW ON THE WORLD!"
I decided many years ago that it is so much better than looking at more houses.
Some seem to think living across from where the "dead" rest is a negative. I don't agree. Although we have now lived here for almost 40 years and we now have friends and even family members buried there, I choose to draw comfort that there is a beautiful garden setting where loved ones can walk amoung the tree's and flowers and remember those that are no longer with us.
When I go further in my thoughts and think about how much MORE BEAUTIFUL GOD'S HEAVEN will be, I have no reason to feel sad or downcast.
Most years I make the effort to take at least one extended walk to breath in the fresh cold air and just to enjoy the quiet peaceful feeling I get from being surronded by nothing but snow and more snow.
I think today is a good day for a walk. Would you like to go along?
Not close enough I'm afraid. But CLOSER is good enough for today.
Actually, I am not one that sits around wishing my life away. It is going too fast for me as it is, so I think I should try hard and find the good in EVERY day.
That is not to say, I would not enjoy WARM TROPICAL BREEZES AND GOLDEN SUNSHINE! Oh, my, but that sounds heavenly at the moment.
But,Feburary is here and so far has not dissapointed "OLD MAN WINTER!"
Our northern Ohio home is buried along with millions of others across the country with what appears to be "The Storm of 2011".
The past two days we have been BLESSED with snow, ice, wind and snow again.
Today it has been only snow and more snow.
I must say, although, MOST are not "happy campers" right now. it is very BEAUTIFUL.
Yes, my friend, that is what I said. BEAUTIFUL. A virtual WINTER WONDERLAND.
Our home is directly across the street from Riverside cementary. Which has been part of this community for well over 100 years. It is in many ways a park setting, well groomed with large maples, oaks, sweetgum, and evergreens of numerous kinds. Each season brings it's own kind of beauty.
In fall our local Junior High school children have collected leaves from this very spot, for, what has become a local tradition.
I watch each September and October as cars and bicycles slowly circle the grounds. Stopping every few minutes to reach for (some standing on Dad's vehicle, some jumping or using sticks) "the very best or biggest" leaves to be glued into albums that are due back at school in mid-November. Somewhere in this house, I'm sure, there are still two red or green, or perhaps blue folders, from my 40 something year old children's, jr. high years.
Spring brings new grass and soft green moss that grows on the sides of the old buildings or cementary markers. There are tiny white and blue flowers everywhere and mayapple and dutchmans britches that grow along the wooded edge. Sometimes the tiny flowers completely cover the ground.
Directly behind the cementary runs the Auglaize River that the cementary is named for.
As you now probably have figured out, "I LOVE MY VIEW ON THE WORLD!"
I decided many years ago that it is so much better than looking at more houses.
Some seem to think living across from where the "dead" rest is a negative. I don't agree. Although we have now lived here for almost 40 years and we now have friends and even family members buried there, I choose to draw comfort that there is a beautiful garden setting where loved ones can walk amoung the tree's and flowers and remember those that are no longer with us.
When I go further in my thoughts and think about how much MORE BEAUTIFUL GOD'S HEAVEN will be, I have no reason to feel sad or downcast.
Most years I make the effort to take at least one extended walk to breath in the fresh cold air and just to enjoy the quiet peaceful feeling I get from being surronded by nothing but snow and more snow.
I think today is a good day for a walk. Would you like to go along?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
January, Cold and Cruel
Happy New Year to You all!
Here it is another year and apparently another Chance "To be FRUSTRATED"!
Let me say that "I don't get on too well with my friend "The COMPUTER"!
Every time and "I don't mean "Once in awhile", but "EVERY TIME" I want to try and do something creative or useful on this thing it just sort of decides that "today is the day that I will give her heck!"
I know, I know. As long as I have owned a computer I should know by now, that when something goes wrong, what it is that I need to do about it. Right? NOT!
Most of us believe that around the first of every new year we should be ready to settle down and accomplish something a little more productive than hanging shiny bobbles around the house and beautifully wrapping hundreds of packages that will shortly become piles and piles of wadded paper along with piles and piles of prepackaging plastic, Styrofoam peanuts, tape and leftover ribbon.
Well, I decided it was once again time to work on my writing and the story (potential book) that I have pediddled with for the past 10 years or so!
I keep thinking if I don't do something with it soon that it is going to have to be classified as a "Historical Novel" instead of just "Fiction".
It is the story of a young single mother and her two daughter's.
The focus is on Joletta, the oldest who is 13 when the story begins. The family has many problems and Joletta not only is having to deal with beginning the tough process of recently moving once again, but, also is in the middle of her mother's life crisis.
If I could only get the computer to co-operate, I might actually get a little ground covered.
First of all, "a full 2 years ago", I lost everything when the computed crashed and I did not have back-up The only thing I had was my "UN-EDITED, TYPEWRITTEN, FIRST COPY", which luckily, helped to get me re-started. But,(I'm only being honest here) I am a terrible typist, and my skills in language arts has much to be desired. So pretty much each time I would start I would get side-tracked "changing many, many things" and soon I would have spent hours making what looked like "no progress at all".
Actually, slowly, slowly I have made "some progress", but, because I am so darned distractable and a very hit-miss person I can "go for months on end and not touch any of it"! Mostly because I get tired of fighting my poor skills and the "DARNED COMPUTER!"
Well,I have spent probably 4 hours the past 2 days working on this project. Progress, right? "NOT" Because today when I came back to the program I have been working with, "ALL OF MY COPY AND EDITING ARE GONE!" "The only thing I have left is what I had when I started the other day!"
Now, I guess, to many of you that may not seem like a it should be a big deal! But, to poor old me, "IT IS A BIG DEAL"!
I just don't know how many more times I can talk myself into starting over.
Oh well,at any rate, I Thank you for allowing me to rant and rave on this blog. (As if anyone had a choice) But, you didn't have to read it!
"PERHAPS" though there will be one or two of you that can at least try to feel little sorry for me!"Just a tiny bit will do, ok??"
As I said before. "HAPPY 2011"
I guess my attempt may still turn out to be Historical Fiction someday.
Here it is another year and apparently another Chance "To be FRUSTRATED"!
Let me say that "I don't get on too well with my friend "The COMPUTER"!
Every time and "I don't mean "Once in awhile", but "EVERY TIME" I want to try and do something creative or useful on this thing it just sort of decides that "today is the day that I will give her heck!"
I know, I know. As long as I have owned a computer I should know by now, that when something goes wrong, what it is that I need to do about it. Right? NOT!
Most of us believe that around the first of every new year we should be ready to settle down and accomplish something a little more productive than hanging shiny bobbles around the house and beautifully wrapping hundreds of packages that will shortly become piles and piles of wadded paper along with piles and piles of prepackaging plastic, Styrofoam peanuts, tape and leftover ribbon.
Well, I decided it was once again time to work on my writing and the story (potential book) that I have pediddled with for the past 10 years or so!
I keep thinking if I don't do something with it soon that it is going to have to be classified as a "Historical Novel" instead of just "Fiction".
It is the story of a young single mother and her two daughter's.
The focus is on Joletta, the oldest who is 13 when the story begins. The family has many problems and Joletta not only is having to deal with beginning the tough process of recently moving once again, but, also is in the middle of her mother's life crisis.
If I could only get the computer to co-operate, I might actually get a little ground covered.
First of all, "a full 2 years ago", I lost everything when the computed crashed and I did not have back-up The only thing I had was my "UN-EDITED, TYPEWRITTEN, FIRST COPY", which luckily, helped to get me re-started. But,(I'm only being honest here) I am a terrible typist, and my skills in language arts has much to be desired. So pretty much each time I would start I would get side-tracked "changing many, many things" and soon I would have spent hours making what looked like "no progress at all".
Actually, slowly, slowly I have made "some progress", but, because I am so darned distractable and a very hit-miss person I can "go for months on end and not touch any of it"! Mostly because I get tired of fighting my poor skills and the "DARNED COMPUTER!"
Well,I have spent probably 4 hours the past 2 days working on this project. Progress, right? "NOT" Because today when I came back to the program I have been working with, "ALL OF MY COPY AND EDITING ARE GONE!" "The only thing I have left is what I had when I started the other day!"
Now, I guess, to many of you that may not seem like a it should be a big deal! But, to poor old me, "IT IS A BIG DEAL"!
I just don't know how many more times I can talk myself into starting over.
Oh well,at any rate, I Thank you for allowing me to rant and rave on this blog. (As if anyone had a choice) But, you didn't have to read it!
"PERHAPS" though there will be one or two of you that can at least try to feel little sorry for me!"Just a tiny bit will do, ok??"
As I said before. "HAPPY 2011"
I guess my attempt may still turn out to be Historical Fiction someday.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
CHRISTMAS is------------
Well, I can tell ya one thing CHRISTMAS is NOT. CHRISTMAS IS NOT BORING!
The past couple of weeks it seems like there has hardly been a day we didn't have most of it FULL TO THE MAX of CHRISTMAS!
It started on the 2nd with a CHRISTMAS Party for the 50+ friends from church. It was held at a cool resturant called "The Barn" here in rural Ohio that has about the best Broasted Chicken you can find not to mention homemade hot rolls. You can't hardly beat that.
On the 4th we had a CHRISTMAS concert that was a lot of fun and great music! A local group called the Tacketts and another group called the
"Ball Brothers".
The 6th was wonderful (catered) meal and party with all of the people that work with our local "Crisis Pregnancy Center" (We do Christian counseling and education, moms in need can earn cribs, and car seats and also get clothing, food, and diapers.) It was held at a little church about 20 miles away and everything was decorated so beautifully with many candles and floral centerpices. More CHRISTMAS music and CHRISTMAS entertainment. Everyone even got a beautifully wrapped gift!
That was Monday evening, on Tuesday we go out to eat with friends each week, on Wednesday our girlfriend group went to a fancy little tearoom called "Touches" for lunch to celebrate, yes (of course) CHRISTMAS.
Wednesday Thursday and Friday we helped each day with our local Toy Drive,(we sorted and bagged toys for over 800 CHILDREN this year!!!) Wayne also helped on Saturday when the toys weer picked up by the families, while I went out to Brunch with friends (this time to celebrate December BIRTHDAYS!
On Saterday (the 12th if you havn't kept up) our 16 year old grandaughter had her first piano recital. (She played "Joy to the World". It sounded wonderful, of course!) The next evening we had a house full of company with a CHRISTMAS party here at our house for our Sunday evening Bible group. Thursday (the 16th) I worked at the Pregnancy Center then we had to go to the high school band and chior concert (once again for the 16 year old who is in the band and once again more CHRISTMAS music!) Saturday afternoon (the 18th) we helped out with an auction at the mall for a group called the Ravens that help people with vouchers for rent, utilities, groceries and whatever other needs there may be. This is a really AWSOME group. I think they made close to $2000 to be used by the needy locally!
Today was Sunday and I taught the preschool class at church (we had a Birthday Party for, (bet you can't guess) JESUS!!! Hats, treats, songs, a baby doll wrapped in swaddling cloths as a standin for our "GUEST OF HONOR." It was lots of fun, they really got into making "birthday cards".
Somewhere (in between all of this) I have decorated and cleaned the house (somewhat less than in years past) made several homemade gifts, baked about 6 dozen cookies,and wrapped, packaged and mailed packages to our kids that are in Germany.
Also, sadly, (in the middle of all this silliness), we lost a very special foster daughter. She passed away suddenly at only 31 years of age. "May God hold your soul in his loving hands Stacy!"
WAIT! I'm not done, this is only the 19th!
The 21st I am going to lunch with friends from our foster parenting days. One of them adopted 3 of our little foster children (who are now all grown up) and then became foster parents themselves and the others were foster parents for many years. Out of the four of us my husband and I were the only ones never to adopt.
On Wednesday I am doing a program at one of our Nursing Homes, Thursday, I work, Friday is CHRISTMAS EVE and we have church and Saturday (the 25th) is CHRISTMAS DAY and we will be going to see our Son and Daughter-in-laws to celebrate with them and the two Grandchildren that are still here in the USA!
Not quite done yet, we are planning a get to-gether (hopefully on the 27th) but not definite as yet with the family of one of our special foster Daughters and hopefully (at least some) of our extended family and friends.
So my friends to you I say, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!
The past couple of weeks it seems like there has hardly been a day we didn't have most of it FULL TO THE MAX of CHRISTMAS!
It started on the 2nd with a CHRISTMAS Party for the 50+ friends from church. It was held at a cool resturant called "The Barn" here in rural Ohio that has about the best Broasted Chicken you can find not to mention homemade hot rolls. You can't hardly beat that.
On the 4th we had a CHRISTMAS concert that was a lot of fun and great music! A local group called the Tacketts and another group called the
"Ball Brothers".
The 6th was wonderful (catered) meal and party with all of the people that work with our local "Crisis Pregnancy Center" (We do Christian counseling and education, moms in need can earn cribs, and car seats and also get clothing, food, and diapers.) It was held at a little church about 20 miles away and everything was decorated so beautifully with many candles and floral centerpices. More CHRISTMAS music and CHRISTMAS entertainment. Everyone even got a beautifully wrapped gift!
That was Monday evening, on Tuesday we go out to eat with friends each week, on Wednesday our girlfriend group went to a fancy little tearoom called "Touches" for lunch to celebrate, yes (of course) CHRISTMAS.
Wednesday Thursday and Friday we helped each day with our local Toy Drive,(we sorted and bagged toys for over 800 CHILDREN this year!!!) Wayne also helped on Saturday when the toys weer picked up by the families, while I went out to Brunch with friends (this time to celebrate December BIRTHDAYS!
On Saterday (the 12th if you havn't kept up) our 16 year old grandaughter had her first piano recital. (She played "Joy to the World". It sounded wonderful, of course!) The next evening we had a house full of company with a CHRISTMAS party here at our house for our Sunday evening Bible group. Thursday (the 16th) I worked at the Pregnancy Center then we had to go to the high school band and chior concert (once again for the 16 year old who is in the band and once again more CHRISTMAS music!) Saturday afternoon (the 18th) we helped out with an auction at the mall for a group called the Ravens that help people with vouchers for rent, utilities, groceries and whatever other needs there may be. This is a really AWSOME group. I think they made close to $2000 to be used by the needy locally!
Today was Sunday and I taught the preschool class at church (we had a Birthday Party for, (bet you can't guess) JESUS!!! Hats, treats, songs, a baby doll wrapped in swaddling cloths as a standin for our "GUEST OF HONOR." It was lots of fun, they really got into making "birthday cards".
Somewhere (in between all of this) I have decorated and cleaned the house (somewhat less than in years past) made several homemade gifts, baked about 6 dozen cookies,and wrapped, packaged and mailed packages to our kids that are in Germany.
Also, sadly, (in the middle of all this silliness), we lost a very special foster daughter. She passed away suddenly at only 31 years of age. "May God hold your soul in his loving hands Stacy!"
WAIT! I'm not done, this is only the 19th!
The 21st I am going to lunch with friends from our foster parenting days. One of them adopted 3 of our little foster children (who are now all grown up) and then became foster parents themselves and the others were foster parents for many years. Out of the four of us my husband and I were the only ones never to adopt.
On Wednesday I am doing a program at one of our Nursing Homes, Thursday, I work, Friday is CHRISTMAS EVE and we have church and Saturday (the 25th) is CHRISTMAS DAY and we will be going to see our Son and Daughter-in-laws to celebrate with them and the two Grandchildren that are still here in the USA!
Not quite done yet, we are planning a get to-gether (hopefully on the 27th) but not definite as yet with the family of one of our special foster Daughters and hopefully (at least some) of our extended family and friends.
So my friends to you I say, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
This is December 17,2010 and the sun is shining here in NW Ohio. Today is a special day for me. It has been 40 years ago today that I was in Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. It has been 40 years ago today that a brand new baby girl was born. (Where do the years go?)
She was tiny and beautiful. Only 6 lbs. and 7 oz. She had wide blue eyes, like her father and big brother and a wrinkled little nose.
Unlike 2 and 1/2 years earlier, when her brother finally made his entrance into our lives by emergency cesearen section, we were able, with this one, to CHOOSE the day she was to be born.
Our Doctor told us we could decide on the date, as long as it was within 10 days of her due date, which was December 26. (Yes, she could have been a Christmas baby.) Doctor didn't want to take a chance on my going into labor because he had some medical concerns with the previous pregnancy.
Her Daddy and I calculated this and decided, in order to stay a full week at the hospital after her birth, which was required at the time, and still NOT MISS OUT on the fun of our big family Christmas celebrations, that we would choose December 17th. It would work out perfectly for us. She was our BEST Christmas gift that year and this way we would get to show her off to everyone!
My parents came and took our 2 and 1/2 year old boy home with them and I was admitted to the hospital the evening before her birth.
Since our first baby had been born by emergency Cesarean, the Doctor gave me no other choice but to be put to sleep when she was delivered. It wasn't long before I woke with our little one being put into my arms.
I felt really good compared to when he was born after a difficult labor and then surgery and ongoing medical problems.
Also, with our little boy, all the babies stayed in the nursery, except for short feeding and visiting times. No one, except the baby's parents were allowed access to the babies, except through the nursery window.
Times were changing and with this one we got to keep her in the room with us most of the time. Grandparents could come and visit also.
Mom and Dad brought her brother to the hospital and we waved from the second story window. He looked so little and far away through that window,
I didn't realize until I saw him how much I already missed him, but because little children weren't allowed, meeting his new baby sister would have to wait for a few more days.
I had to stay an extra day before I could leave the hospital because I had a slight fever, but on Christmas Eve we were both released.
I have tried, but, can't quite remember if we even went home after we got our walking papers. I do know, we made the drive, which was about an hour, that same day to have Christmas Eve with his mom and family. His brother and his wife were there with their little one as well as his sister, husband and neice from Ohio. Grandma was excited about a new baby and having everyone there. Baby made grandchild number 4. (Sadly, my father-in-law had passed away a year after we married and never had the joy of knowing his grandchildren.) After spending the afternoon and evening there we went to spend the night with my parents and the next morning had Christmas Day with my side of the family. (Lot's of excitment wiht all 6 of my siblings and our families) This was the way we celebrated each year for a number of years, even after we packed up and moved our family to Ohio in the Spring of 1972 we stilled traveled back each December to have Christmas at the grandparents. (That changed after some pretty close mishaps when (I think, to the relief of our parents) we finally decided trips were better done when the weather was likely to be more favorable.)
Christmas evening we drove back to our own little house in Joplin with both little ones, and our Christmas goodies, tired but happy. At this point in my life it sounds a little crazy to me to have gone visiting a week after surgery with two little ones, but, that was how we did things then. We were young and being raised in a large family I could never have even imagined not going to Mom and Dad's to have Christmas with everyone!
Our baby was a tiny little thing and the Doctor was concerned that she wasn't gaining weight fast enough, so he had me wakeing her (well it was more like--trying to wake her!) every two hours for the first few weeks. Not an easy job, because SHE didn't really want to wake up and feed! It worried me some also, but, before long it seemed pretty obvious she would thrive so we settled into more or less the schedule she decided for herself.
From early on our little girl had a mind of her own and the majority of the time she pretty much got her way around most of us.
She was cute, little and a real charmer. She was shy around most people at first -- until she had them wrapped around her little finger -- after that they were fast friends forever --or at least until she found someone else to charm!
It was fun to have a sweet little girl around. I loved dressing her and combing her soft curls. We rocked and cuddled and sang songs. Her daddy thought the sun rose and set just for her and her brother loved her as well. You had to really watch carefully or he would come carrying her with her chubby little legs swinging freely. She never cried when he carried her, but learned quickly to hang on for dear life! (It really didn't happen to often, but he never dropped her, thank goodness!)
He was always on the go and getting into lots of things, but, she was more reserved and likely to hang back and cling to Momma or Daddy. She loved hugs and kisses and picking flowers.
Years later, about the time she was , not quite a teen, (much sooner than I ever dreamed and certainly before I was ready for it to happen) she started feeling the need for Independence. From that time on Mom and daughter have had to deal with personality issues that has made life sometimes pretty difficult for us.
Relationships are complicated and it isn't always easy to understand how or why things happen the way they do.
But, as things do, life goes on and we muddle through as best we can.
I want her to know that the phone call she made to me a couple of months ago was one of the BEST gifts that I have EVER received.
Also, I want you, my precious daughter to know that no matter what, I am so glad that you are MY DAUGHTER and I am so PROUD of you and the daughter, wife and mother you are! HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL
She was tiny and beautiful. Only 6 lbs. and 7 oz. She had wide blue eyes, like her father and big brother and a wrinkled little nose.
Unlike 2 and 1/2 years earlier, when her brother finally made his entrance into our lives by emergency cesearen section, we were able, with this one, to CHOOSE the day she was to be born.
Our Doctor told us we could decide on the date, as long as it was within 10 days of her due date, which was December 26. (Yes, she could have been a Christmas baby.) Doctor didn't want to take a chance on my going into labor because he had some medical concerns with the previous pregnancy.
Her Daddy and I calculated this and decided, in order to stay a full week at the hospital after her birth, which was required at the time, and still NOT MISS OUT on the fun of our big family Christmas celebrations, that we would choose December 17th. It would work out perfectly for us. She was our BEST Christmas gift that year and this way we would get to show her off to everyone!
My parents came and took our 2 and 1/2 year old boy home with them and I was admitted to the hospital the evening before her birth.
Since our first baby had been born by emergency Cesarean, the Doctor gave me no other choice but to be put to sleep when she was delivered. It wasn't long before I woke with our little one being put into my arms.
I felt really good compared to when he was born after a difficult labor and then surgery and ongoing medical problems.
Also, with our little boy, all the babies stayed in the nursery, except for short feeding and visiting times. No one, except the baby's parents were allowed access to the babies, except through the nursery window.
Times were changing and with this one we got to keep her in the room with us most of the time. Grandparents could come and visit also.
Mom and Dad brought her brother to the hospital and we waved from the second story window. He looked so little and far away through that window,
I didn't realize until I saw him how much I already missed him, but because little children weren't allowed, meeting his new baby sister would have to wait for a few more days.
I had to stay an extra day before I could leave the hospital because I had a slight fever, but on Christmas Eve we were both released.
I have tried, but, can't quite remember if we even went home after we got our walking papers. I do know, we made the drive, which was about an hour, that same day to have Christmas Eve with his mom and family. His brother and his wife were there with their little one as well as his sister, husband and neice from Ohio. Grandma was excited about a new baby and having everyone there. Baby made grandchild number 4. (Sadly, my father-in-law had passed away a year after we married and never had the joy of knowing his grandchildren.) After spending the afternoon and evening there we went to spend the night with my parents and the next morning had Christmas Day with my side of the family. (Lot's of excitment wiht all 6 of my siblings and our families) This was the way we celebrated each year for a number of years, even after we packed up and moved our family to Ohio in the Spring of 1972 we stilled traveled back each December to have Christmas at the grandparents. (That changed after some pretty close mishaps when (I think, to the relief of our parents) we finally decided trips were better done when the weather was likely to be more favorable.)
Christmas evening we drove back to our own little house in Joplin with both little ones, and our Christmas goodies, tired but happy. At this point in my life it sounds a little crazy to me to have gone visiting a week after surgery with two little ones, but, that was how we did things then. We were young and being raised in a large family I could never have even imagined not going to Mom and Dad's to have Christmas with everyone!
Our baby was a tiny little thing and the Doctor was concerned that she wasn't gaining weight fast enough, so he had me wakeing her (well it was more like--trying to wake her!) every two hours for the first few weeks. Not an easy job, because SHE didn't really want to wake up and feed! It worried me some also, but, before long it seemed pretty obvious she would thrive so we settled into more or less the schedule she decided for herself.
From early on our little girl had a mind of her own and the majority of the time she pretty much got her way around most of us.
She was cute, little and a real charmer. She was shy around most people at first -- until she had them wrapped around her little finger -- after that they were fast friends forever --or at least until she found someone else to charm!
It was fun to have a sweet little girl around. I loved dressing her and combing her soft curls. We rocked and cuddled and sang songs. Her daddy thought the sun rose and set just for her and her brother loved her as well. You had to really watch carefully or he would come carrying her with her chubby little legs swinging freely. She never cried when he carried her, but learned quickly to hang on for dear life! (It really didn't happen to often, but he never dropped her, thank goodness!)
He was always on the go and getting into lots of things, but, she was more reserved and likely to hang back and cling to Momma or Daddy. She loved hugs and kisses and picking flowers.
Years later, about the time she was , not quite a teen, (much sooner than I ever dreamed and certainly before I was ready for it to happen) she started feeling the need for Independence. From that time on Mom and daughter have had to deal with personality issues that has made life sometimes pretty difficult for us.
Relationships are complicated and it isn't always easy to understand how or why things happen the way they do.
But, as things do, life goes on and we muddle through as best we can.
I want her to know that the phone call she made to me a couple of months ago was one of the BEST gifts that I have EVER received.
Also, I want you, my precious daughter to know that no matter what, I am so glad that you are MY DAUGHTER and I am so PROUD of you and the daughter, wife and mother you are! HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Memories of Grandma
My early years were spent not only with my parents and 6 brothers and sisters, but, with my Grandma Price.
The early 1940's was a time of challenge and change in the lives of many Americans, many were still affected by years of depression and now our country was about to become involved in another world war.
Our family was no different.
Mom and Dad married in the spring of 1938 and already had two little ones by July of 1940. My sister Betty and brother Richard.
Jobs were difficult to find and the family moved numerous times in those early years seeking a better life. In July of 1942 they went to Colorado where Dad'a sister was living.
In October of the same year Dad joined the Army. He thought he would be leaving immediately, but, as it turned out he wasn't called to active duty until several months later.
Meanwhile, Mom was pregnant for the forth time (she had lost a set of twins while my oldest brother was still a baby) It was getting close to time for their third baby to be born, so even though Dad could not leave Colorado, she packed what little they had and traveled, by train, with the children, back home to our Dads family. It was a long and exhausting trip to the small Southwest Missouri community where my Grandparents lived.
Mom told me once, just a couple of years before she died, what a difficult trip it had been and that she had been very upset with Dad, at that time, feeling his priorities were mixed up. She felt he should have stayed with them.
They went to stay with Dads father and step-mother and the baby was born only a few short days after their train trip. Mothers poor health kept them there until the new baby, (my second sister, Jeanie) was about 6 weeks old.
Moms parents, Grandma and Grandpa Price lived in Arkansas. Sadly, Moms father died shortly after she and the children came back from out west.
Those were all events, as with each decision made in our lives, that would ultimately affect our entire family.
When Mom was able, she moved with the three children and lived with my Grandma on the farm in Arkansas. They stayed there for the next several years.
In 1945 the war was finally about to end and Dad was expected to be returning home from his tour of duty overseas. My oldest sister needed to start school that fall, so Mom moved, again, with the children back to Missouri to wait for his homecoming.
In 1946 she had her forth child, another baby boy, (Jim) and later when my twin brother (Keith) and I (Karen) were born Grandma Price moved to Missouri and into our home, where she became a permanent member of our household.
Lord knows, I'm sure she was a welcome addition under the circumstances. Not only were there 6 children now to care for, but, 3 of us were babies and two years later another brother (Bob) was added. Making 4 boy's and 3 girls, for a grand total of 7 children!
My twin brother and I have a brother only 11 months older and to top that off, our oldest brother had severe heart problems and had to be in and out of Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City, which was several hours away from where we lived.
So, as you can see, at the time it having Grandma with us helped solve multiple problems. It gave her a home. (Now, I'm not sure if my own daughter had 7 children and ask me to live with her, that I wouldn't choose the old folks home!!) Also it gave our parents peace of mind. Knowing that when they were unable to be with us our Grandma would be.
Grandma was a special,wonderful lady. Always kind and loving. She was an attractive though quite stocky with white hair (she said it was yellow!) that she always braided and then wound into a bun on the back of her head with little bobbie pins. I don't ever remember seeing her wear pants of any kind. She wore colorful house dresses and usually an apron. She also wore long, tan cotton stockings and dark, serviceable shoes. At night she slept in long flannel nightgowns.
Once, when I was 6 and in the first grade, she made herself a new nightgown. It was long and made of soft yellow flannel. I was going to stay all night with a little friend (it was my first overnight visit) and Grandma made me a nightgown, just like hers! I was very excited about staying all night with my little friend and now I had a pretty new nightgown to wear! Grandma's are pretty important people!
When Grandma hung out the laundry she always wore a large prairie style bonnet to keep the sun out of her face. Sometimes I would help her and hand her clothespins. I can almost smell the fresh scent of clean clothing and sunshine as I think of her shaking out shirts and sheets and hooking them onto the line to let the wind whip them dry. (Actually, I can also remember running to try and retrieve almost dry clothing off the line when a spring rain would suddenly arrive and also, stiff frozen clothing brought inside in mid-winter to be hung up or laid out to thaw and finish drying!)
In our family there has always been some competition over who was most loved by our Grandma. My older sister, (baby number 3) Jeanie, claims she was the most special, because, when she was a baby and after Grandpa Price died, Grandma spent a lots of time caring for her, that, in turn, made her very special, because it helped Grandma as she was grieving. I am sure that is certainly true. Also she was the baby of the family for the next several yeas! It was probably quite a shock to that little girl suddenly having not one, but several little siblings to deal with!
Trouble comes when (jealous me), thinks she would like to have exclusive rights to Grandmas special memory.
Well, I am here to say that Grandma was with all of us younger children also, from the very time we were born, and though she was no longer grieving and we would not have gotten her to ourselves (by that time there were just too many of us, I know for a fact she loved everyone of us very much! Differently, I'm sure, but, just as much. I am not sure that I have any special proof of that, and it really doesn't need to be proven. Most everyone, I suppose, wants to be extra special to someone. Our memories are our own, each memory different for each person, each one exclusive to a person and their own relationships.
I have many special feelings and memories of my times with her.
I can't remember anything about my infancy, but, around the time I turned two we moved into a little sandstone slab house several miles out of town. While we lived there, I shared one side of the attic bedroom with my Grandma. I can remember her rocking me at bedtime and singing to me before I went to sleep. I had a little rubber doll, (a Betsy Wetsy) that I would take to bed with me, Grandma would always take it out when she came to bed, in the morning when I woke up I would find it on the rocker. She told me that it was too hard to sleep with and it would wake her up in the night if it was in our bed. But, it was always waiting for me when I woke up in the morning.
That little doll later became another issue between my sister and I. (Oh, we always had our issues!) I felt that baby doll was mine and only mine, but, originally Grandma had gotten the doll for Jeanie. Jeanie then gave it to me for Christmas when I was either 3 or 4. She was almost 5 years older and must have thought she was too big for it. I returned the doll when she had her first baby girl (as a gift for the baby). I was 10 years old at the time and must have thought I was too big for dolls! Well, at some point, she packed the little Betsy Wetsy doll up and put her away. As far as I know it hasn't been seen since. I ask her one time if she would get it out so I could see it and she told me it was too fragile to take out of it wrapping.
Isn't it strange that after all these years she still holds on to a little baby doll and I still miss it? All because we connect it to our own lost childhood and to the love of our very special Grandma!
Grandma loved the outdoors. She enjoyed working in the garden. After Grandpa passed away, she supported herself for awhile raising chickens but she became ill and her Doctor told her she would have to give them up because they were making her sick.
I remember Daddy making a swing for us and Grandma came out and sat on it then she stood in it, just (she told us) to make sure it was strong enough to hold us little kids without breaking.
I don't think she did a lot of the cooking, at least I can't remember if she did. Most of the time, I think, Mom took care of that job (Momma was a wonderful cook).
Sometimes, though she would make us something special. She made fried mush that we would eat for breakfast with sugar or syrup on it and she made us gum by melting paraffin wax and putting sugar in it. She told us carrots would make our eyes shine and when she made vegetable soup she always told us it was "B-Bob soup because of the little pasta letters in it.
She didn't like to waste anything and would drink the juice from the pickle jar or the liquid left from the vegetables, or sometimes the last bite off our plate.
Daddy would tease her because she would put saccarin in her coffee and lots of sugar in her oatmeal. I still have the old, creamy white, coffe cup she always used to eat her breakfast.
She taught us how to do dishes, (I still remember her telling us to wash the glasses first, then the silverware the the plates and then the pots and pans. This was a job she did regularly until the day before she died in her 94th year.
In her later years she continued to get the small town newspaper from Pea Ridge Arkansas where she had lived for many years and the first thing she would look at was the obituaries. She said she was checking to see who she knew that had died that week.
She always kept birthday and Christmas cards in a shoe box and would let me look at them one by one as she told me stories about the person that sent them to her.
When she was older she would have me braid her hair and put it up in the little bun she always wore.
She liked to read and she wrote many letters to her old friends and family members in Arkansas.
One of the things she enjoyed doing most was making patchwork quilts. She made quilts many times through the years. Many of them were pieced from our old shirts, dresses, or pants. Also she would sometimes order material scraps from the Sears Roebuck catalog. It was fun to see what would come in the bundles of material they sent. Many colors and designs, sometimes there was silk or lace pieces and if she could not use them she would let me play with them.
When she had several patchwork squares made she would sometimes let me lay them out in different arrangements to see what I thought would make the prettiest designs. As her seeing failed I would thread her needle for her. I became increasingly difficult to do her handwork because of her failing sight and the arthritis in her hands but she continued to make quilts pretty much until the end of her life.
When our first child was a baby she came and stayed with us for several days. I have a picture of her with the baby in his stroller and another of him sitting in the yard of our tiny little house on the quilt she made me when I was a little girl.
Several years after she passed away, Mom opened a box of hers and it contained seven completed quilt tops. One for each of her seven grandchildren. For Christmas that year we received a quilt with a poem Mom wrote telling about the quilt being from both, Grandma and Mom. Mother had put linings and backing on them all and had carefully done buttonhole stitching around each of the many small pieces of material. This repaired the places where our Grandmother's failing eyesight and un-cooperative hands had missed. It was a lovely and sentimental gift.
Our little girl was born just before Christmas 1970. Grandma said she was special because she was her 13th great-grandchild and we named her April. Grandma's birthday was April 13Th.
I think Grandma was pretty satified with her latter life but, she did, always, have one big fear. She was afraid there might come a time when she would be unable to care for herself (as we grow older, it is a dread I am sure many of us share) and she feared she would have to be put into an "Old Folks Home."
Thankfully that never happened to her for she lived with our parents and remained generally healthy, both physically and "Thank God" mentally until very shortly before she passed away in January of 1973.
We had just been to Missouri for the Christmas holidays and got to spend time with her that I hold very close to my heart.
I'm sure that everyone considers their Grandma to be the very best. I am happy if that is true for you.
It certainly is true for our family. I am so glad God blessed me (and my brothers and sisters) with our one VERY SPECIAL GRANDMA!
The early 1940's was a time of challenge and change in the lives of many Americans, many were still affected by years of depression and now our country was about to become involved in another world war.
Our family was no different.
Mom and Dad married in the spring of 1938 and already had two little ones by July of 1940. My sister Betty and brother Richard.
Jobs were difficult to find and the family moved numerous times in those early years seeking a better life. In July of 1942 they went to Colorado where Dad'a sister was living.
In October of the same year Dad joined the Army. He thought he would be leaving immediately, but, as it turned out he wasn't called to active duty until several months later.
Meanwhile, Mom was pregnant for the forth time (she had lost a set of twins while my oldest brother was still a baby) It was getting close to time for their third baby to be born, so even though Dad could not leave Colorado, she packed what little they had and traveled, by train, with the children, back home to our Dads family. It was a long and exhausting trip to the small Southwest Missouri community where my Grandparents lived.
Mom told me once, just a couple of years before she died, what a difficult trip it had been and that she had been very upset with Dad, at that time, feeling his priorities were mixed up. She felt he should have stayed with them.
They went to stay with Dads father and step-mother and the baby was born only a few short days after their train trip. Mothers poor health kept them there until the new baby, (my second sister, Jeanie) was about 6 weeks old.
Moms parents, Grandma and Grandpa Price lived in Arkansas. Sadly, Moms father died shortly after she and the children came back from out west.
Those were all events, as with each decision made in our lives, that would ultimately affect our entire family.
When Mom was able, she moved with the three children and lived with my Grandma on the farm in Arkansas. They stayed there for the next several years.
In 1945 the war was finally about to end and Dad was expected to be returning home from his tour of duty overseas. My oldest sister needed to start school that fall, so Mom moved, again, with the children back to Missouri to wait for his homecoming.
In 1946 she had her forth child, another baby boy, (Jim) and later when my twin brother (Keith) and I (Karen) were born Grandma Price moved to Missouri and into our home, where she became a permanent member of our household.
Lord knows, I'm sure she was a welcome addition under the circumstances. Not only were there 6 children now to care for, but, 3 of us were babies and two years later another brother (Bob) was added. Making 4 boy's and 3 girls, for a grand total of 7 children!
My twin brother and I have a brother only 11 months older and to top that off, our oldest brother had severe heart problems and had to be in and out of Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City, which was several hours away from where we lived.
So, as you can see, at the time it having Grandma with us helped solve multiple problems. It gave her a home. (Now, I'm not sure if my own daughter had 7 children and ask me to live with her, that I wouldn't choose the old folks home!!) Also it gave our parents peace of mind. Knowing that when they were unable to be with us our Grandma would be.
Grandma was a special,wonderful lady. Always kind and loving. She was an attractive though quite stocky with white hair (she said it was yellow!) that she always braided and then wound into a bun on the back of her head with little bobbie pins. I don't ever remember seeing her wear pants of any kind. She wore colorful house dresses and usually an apron. She also wore long, tan cotton stockings and dark, serviceable shoes. At night she slept in long flannel nightgowns.
Once, when I was 6 and in the first grade, she made herself a new nightgown. It was long and made of soft yellow flannel. I was going to stay all night with a little friend (it was my first overnight visit) and Grandma made me a nightgown, just like hers! I was very excited about staying all night with my little friend and now I had a pretty new nightgown to wear! Grandma's are pretty important people!
When Grandma hung out the laundry she always wore a large prairie style bonnet to keep the sun out of her face. Sometimes I would help her and hand her clothespins. I can almost smell the fresh scent of clean clothing and sunshine as I think of her shaking out shirts and sheets and hooking them onto the line to let the wind whip them dry. (Actually, I can also remember running to try and retrieve almost dry clothing off the line when a spring rain would suddenly arrive and also, stiff frozen clothing brought inside in mid-winter to be hung up or laid out to thaw and finish drying!)
In our family there has always been some competition over who was most loved by our Grandma. My older sister, (baby number 3) Jeanie, claims she was the most special, because, when she was a baby and after Grandpa Price died, Grandma spent a lots of time caring for her, that, in turn, made her very special, because it helped Grandma as she was grieving. I am sure that is certainly true. Also she was the baby of the family for the next several yeas! It was probably quite a shock to that little girl suddenly having not one, but several little siblings to deal with!
Trouble comes when (jealous me), thinks she would like to have exclusive rights to Grandmas special memory.
Well, I am here to say that Grandma was with all of us younger children also, from the very time we were born, and though she was no longer grieving and we would not have gotten her to ourselves (by that time there were just too many of us, I know for a fact she loved everyone of us very much! Differently, I'm sure, but, just as much. I am not sure that I have any special proof of that, and it really doesn't need to be proven. Most everyone, I suppose, wants to be extra special to someone. Our memories are our own, each memory different for each person, each one exclusive to a person and their own relationships.
I have many special feelings and memories of my times with her.
I can't remember anything about my infancy, but, around the time I turned two we moved into a little sandstone slab house several miles out of town. While we lived there, I shared one side of the attic bedroom with my Grandma. I can remember her rocking me at bedtime and singing to me before I went to sleep. I had a little rubber doll, (a Betsy Wetsy) that I would take to bed with me, Grandma would always take it out when she came to bed, in the morning when I woke up I would find it on the rocker. She told me that it was too hard to sleep with and it would wake her up in the night if it was in our bed. But, it was always waiting for me when I woke up in the morning.
That little doll later became another issue between my sister and I. (Oh, we always had our issues!) I felt that baby doll was mine and only mine, but, originally Grandma had gotten the doll for Jeanie. Jeanie then gave it to me for Christmas when I was either 3 or 4. She was almost 5 years older and must have thought she was too big for it. I returned the doll when she had her first baby girl (as a gift for the baby). I was 10 years old at the time and must have thought I was too big for dolls! Well, at some point, she packed the little Betsy Wetsy doll up and put her away. As far as I know it hasn't been seen since. I ask her one time if she would get it out so I could see it and she told me it was too fragile to take out of it wrapping.
Isn't it strange that after all these years she still holds on to a little baby doll and I still miss it? All because we connect it to our own lost childhood and to the love of our very special Grandma!
Grandma loved the outdoors. She enjoyed working in the garden. After Grandpa passed away, she supported herself for awhile raising chickens but she became ill and her Doctor told her she would have to give them up because they were making her sick.
I remember Daddy making a swing for us and Grandma came out and sat on it then she stood in it, just (she told us) to make sure it was strong enough to hold us little kids without breaking.
I don't think she did a lot of the cooking, at least I can't remember if she did. Most of the time, I think, Mom took care of that job (Momma was a wonderful cook).
Sometimes, though she would make us something special. She made fried mush that we would eat for breakfast with sugar or syrup on it and she made us gum by melting paraffin wax and putting sugar in it. She told us carrots would make our eyes shine and when she made vegetable soup she always told us it was "B-Bob soup because of the little pasta letters in it.
She didn't like to waste anything and would drink the juice from the pickle jar or the liquid left from the vegetables, or sometimes the last bite off our plate.
Daddy would tease her because she would put saccarin in her coffee and lots of sugar in her oatmeal. I still have the old, creamy white, coffe cup she always used to eat her breakfast.
She taught us how to do dishes, (I still remember her telling us to wash the glasses first, then the silverware the the plates and then the pots and pans. This was a job she did regularly until the day before she died in her 94th year.
In her later years she continued to get the small town newspaper from Pea Ridge Arkansas where she had lived for many years and the first thing she would look at was the obituaries. She said she was checking to see who she knew that had died that week.
She always kept birthday and Christmas cards in a shoe box and would let me look at them one by one as she told me stories about the person that sent them to her.
When she was older she would have me braid her hair and put it up in the little bun she always wore.
She liked to read and she wrote many letters to her old friends and family members in Arkansas.
One of the things she enjoyed doing most was making patchwork quilts. She made quilts many times through the years. Many of them were pieced from our old shirts, dresses, or pants. Also she would sometimes order material scraps from the Sears Roebuck catalog. It was fun to see what would come in the bundles of material they sent. Many colors and designs, sometimes there was silk or lace pieces and if she could not use them she would let me play with them.
When she had several patchwork squares made she would sometimes let me lay them out in different arrangements to see what I thought would make the prettiest designs. As her seeing failed I would thread her needle for her. I became increasingly difficult to do her handwork because of her failing sight and the arthritis in her hands but she continued to make quilts pretty much until the end of her life.
When our first child was a baby she came and stayed with us for several days. I have a picture of her with the baby in his stroller and another of him sitting in the yard of our tiny little house on the quilt she made me when I was a little girl.
Several years after she passed away, Mom opened a box of hers and it contained seven completed quilt tops. One for each of her seven grandchildren. For Christmas that year we received a quilt with a poem Mom wrote telling about the quilt being from both, Grandma and Mom. Mother had put linings and backing on them all and had carefully done buttonhole stitching around each of the many small pieces of material. This repaired the places where our Grandmother's failing eyesight and un-cooperative hands had missed. It was a lovely and sentimental gift.
Our little girl was born just before Christmas 1970. Grandma said she was special because she was her 13th great-grandchild and we named her April. Grandma's birthday was April 13Th.
I think Grandma was pretty satified with her latter life but, she did, always, have one big fear. She was afraid there might come a time when she would be unable to care for herself (as we grow older, it is a dread I am sure many of us share) and she feared she would have to be put into an "Old Folks Home."
Thankfully that never happened to her for she lived with our parents and remained generally healthy, both physically and "Thank God" mentally until very shortly before she passed away in January of 1973.
We had just been to Missouri for the Christmas holidays and got to spend time with her that I hold very close to my heart.
I'm sure that everyone considers their Grandma to be the very best. I am happy if that is true for you.
It certainly is true for our family. I am so glad God blessed me (and my brothers and sisters) with our one VERY SPECIAL GRANDMA!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Vacation is not for WIMPS! (part 2)
We have all survived a week of (did I say vacation?) and the time is winding down and we'll soon be returning home with not only our children in tow, but also 4 of our lovely nieces, ages, 14, 14, 15, and 16. Yes, I guess I am a little loony, but, it actually sounded like fun at the time.
O.K., on with the story.
Before we were to start home we were spending the last couple of days with my husbands family. His sister was also in from Ohio, with her husband and their two kids, so our children were still having a great time playing at Grandma's, with the one cousin on Daddy's side of the family that lived in Missouri and the other 2 from Ohio.
It was mid-afternoon the day before we we planning to leave, when two little boys came running, at top speed, through their Grandmother's kitchen. The younger cousin, for some unknown reason, dropped down to the floor and our little boy then took a flying leap "OVER his cousins back and RIGHT OFF of Grandma's back porch!
You guessed it. The poor little guy now had a BROKEN ARM. So, OFF to the hospital we went, where we learned that the arm was already too swollen to set right. He had to be admitted and stay overnight when they would decide, the next day, if it needed surgery.
No surgery,luckily, was needed, but, it would be one extra day before we could leave.
On and on it goes!
We got that crisis taken care of and the following day we packed up and started HOME (by that time, the word HOME was sounding better and better!) We had everything including all 6 young people in the station wagon.
Only 650 miles to go!
Well-----
I really would like to tell you that we were at the end of our PERFECT vacation. (About time, don't you think?)
No not yet!
We traveled until we were just about half way into the drive and it was time for the NEXT adventure. Our ENTIRE MUFFLER fell off the car!
And of course, (as we should have known by now!)NO ONE was able to fix it that day!
Then----
After we found a campground we went to the grocery store (we had not planned another night in the camper) and---the store WOULD NOT accept our travelers checks! We scrounged enough money from change and the girls allowed us to use some of their spending money to buy a few groceries. We went back to camp, ate, and waited for the next day to arrive.
Because the camper was so small, the girls slept in it and we slept with the little ones (and the broken arm) in the car. NOT my best night!(Or anyone else's.)
Well friends. you are not going to believe this, but, we REALLY did get home without further incident!
UNFORTUNATELY, when we arrived at our home-sweet-home, our REFRIGERATOR had QUIT!!!!!
"Va-a-a cation, Oh it WAS so much fun!"
"But, though we had a good time."
"WE ARE POOPED WHEN IT IS DONE"
Honestly, I can tell you. "VACATIONS ARE NOT FOR WIMPS"
O.K., on with the story.
Before we were to start home we were spending the last couple of days with my husbands family. His sister was also in from Ohio, with her husband and their two kids, so our children were still having a great time playing at Grandma's, with the one cousin on Daddy's side of the family that lived in Missouri and the other 2 from Ohio.
It was mid-afternoon the day before we we planning to leave, when two little boys came running, at top speed, through their Grandmother's kitchen. The younger cousin, for some unknown reason, dropped down to the floor and our little boy then took a flying leap "OVER his cousins back and RIGHT OFF of Grandma's back porch!
You guessed it. The poor little guy now had a BROKEN ARM. So, OFF to the hospital we went, where we learned that the arm was already too swollen to set right. He had to be admitted and stay overnight when they would decide, the next day, if it needed surgery.
No surgery,luckily, was needed, but, it would be one extra day before we could leave.
On and on it goes!
We got that crisis taken care of and the following day we packed up and started HOME (by that time, the word HOME was sounding better and better!) We had everything including all 6 young people in the station wagon.
Only 650 miles to go!
Well-----
I really would like to tell you that we were at the end of our PERFECT vacation. (About time, don't you think?)
No not yet!
We traveled until we were just about half way into the drive and it was time for the NEXT adventure. Our ENTIRE MUFFLER fell off the car!
And of course, (as we should have known by now!)NO ONE was able to fix it that day!
Then----
After we found a campground we went to the grocery store (we had not planned another night in the camper) and---the store WOULD NOT accept our travelers checks! We scrounged enough money from change and the girls allowed us to use some of their spending money to buy a few groceries. We went back to camp, ate, and waited for the next day to arrive.
Because the camper was so small, the girls slept in it and we slept with the little ones (and the broken arm) in the car. NOT my best night!(Or anyone else's.)
Well friends. you are not going to believe this, but, we REALLY did get home without further incident!
UNFORTUNATELY, when we arrived at our home-sweet-home, our REFRIGERATOR had QUIT!!!!!
"Va-a-a cation, Oh it WAS so much fun!"
"But, though we had a good time."
"WE ARE POOPED WHEN IT IS DONE"
Honestly, I can tell you. "VACATIONS ARE NOT FOR WIMPS"
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