Thursday, October 30, 2008

I Love You, God

As parents and grandparents, we know we are role models for our children. We also know we have a responsibility to teach them right from wrong, what is safe and what is dangerous, and all the big and little things in between. But how often do we pause awhile and learn from them?

I picked my grandson, Thomas, up from school one day this week. He confided to me that he got a yellow warning sticker in class for not paying attention. After he asked me to not tell his parents, that he would do it and he didn't want me to worry about it, we began discussing what school is all about. I told him we are there to learn and that recess and friends are a bonus, but not the main reason we are there.

Then, Thomas told me that his Dad said there is a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, and that he should always listen to the angel. I agreed and offered that if you don't listen to the devil, he gets frustrated and moves on to someone who will. That's when I learned something profound from my 7-year-old grandson. He told me that when a bad word enters his mind, he quickly says, "I love you, God. I love you, God. I love you, God." He repeats this sentence until the bad word disappears. I praised him for a great solution to his problems.

A day later, I had a feeling of resentment flash across my mind. Without much thought, I repeated Thomas's phrase until the moment passed, then asked for forgiveness. It works. It instantly reminds you that you need to dwell on better things, on good things, and let the resentment fade into nothingness. Holding a grudge hurts us, not the object of our resentment. Giving it to God immediately is the best move.

I'm thankful that I can learn from the sweet children around me. Jesus reminds us to have the faith of a child. How trusting and dependent they are on us. And when we least expect it, how much they can teach us when we are open to learning. Get in the habit of saying, "I love you, God" when negativity is present. You'll be surprised at how well it works.

Thank you, Thomas, for teaching Memaw an important lesson. I love God and I love you, too.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

We Voted!

Robin and I took advantage of early voting to avoid the crowds on election day. I'm proud that we exercised our right to choose. I'm not so proud of the selection we had to choose from. But a politician is a politician and they usually have few redeeming qualities. All one can do is decide which is worse and vote for the other one. I did. And Robin did.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Family and a Funeral

I meant to write this post days ago but I had a newsletter deadline to meet. I also have to fit in work once in awhile.

Five members of my family attended the funeral of our cousin Lou last week in Arkansas. It was a bittersweet day. On one hand, we were saying goodbye to someone who had played an important part in our lives. On the other, the intimate time with family was invaluable.

My brother Gene and I left early for a two-hour drive to meet our parents for breakfast. From there, the four of us drove to meet my sister Donna. Then, all five of us rode together to Arkansas. Gene and I see each other so little and never have a chance to catch up. We did this trip and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Once all five of us were together in one car, the sharing and visiting continued.

We arrived at the funeral and were saddened that Lou looked nothing like herself. I needed to see the cousin and friend I knew as Lou. However, the service fully captured the woman we all knew and loved. She was a Maverick. She was full of fire and energy, despite her limitations. She was unstoppable. She was a source of inspiration to many as she lived a full life from a wheelchair. It wasn't always easy, but as Lou once told Donna, "You thank God for the small things. Sometimes all you have are the small things." What a beautiful testimony from one who had more of a right to complain than the rest of us.

My mother told me later that being with us had been so special. I'd noticed that our parents seemed to hug each of us a little longer than usual. I told her I'd felt the same way, that I didn't know if it was the sadness of the day that drew each of us together, or if we would have sensed the closeness on any trip together. My mother said she suspected it was a combination of both. I have to agree. It was definitely a moment when I looked at each one of them with gratitude, and thankfulness for the blessings of family.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Last of the Pictures

Before Angela left for Houston the next day we all met for lunch. There were some cute faces around our table and some hungry ones, too.
Baylee chomping on a chip and looking adorable with her bows.
Aunt Dee-licious with her handsome nephew, Ashton.
Dee, Baylee, and Papa Robin in a "say cheese" moment.
Cousins Jude and Ashton just couldn't get enough of each other. It was so much fun watching these two play with Thomas.
Yes, my chest is really puffed up over this picture of my three kids. It's seldom that I have them all in one place and this was definitely a Kodak moment.
Not sure how many quarters we fed these horse rides, but it cleaned us all out.
Brian supervising as Sophia rides the train. She was so big!
Our little horse-lover, Baylee, was having a great time on the rides.
Our little doll, Juliet, was having a great time, too.

We stopped by the tanning salon where Candice works so we could visit some with her.
Isn't she gorgeous? I'm talking about Candice, of course.
Candice with her Aunt Angela and her cousin Juliet.
Camryn, another beautiful granddaughter, is getting a hug from her Dad.
Proud Mama Chick with her little Chick-a-dees. They are all grown up, but will forever be my babies. Thank you, Angela, for making this weekend possible. I loved every minute of it.


Tuesday, October 21, 2008

More Family Fun

Here are more pictures of our fun family weekend. Everyone has remarked about how great it was to be together. A price tag can't be placed on the value of family. The love, support, trust, and the bond that holds us all together can't be measured on a monetary scale. We are rich, indeed.Here's Angela towering over Donna, who towers over me. Yes, we're all related!


Juliet came to me several times wanting to play. When I suggested painting her nails, the biggest smile spread over her princess face. Before long, all three girls were lined up to get their nails done. Juliet picked out the polish, a rich hot pink. Thanks to Dee for the idea. It went over fabulously.Sophia beamed and felt as big as the other girls as she patiently waited for me to finish turning her nails into a sea of pink.
Juliet showed off her nails and even though she doesn't look all that pleased with the results, she really was.
Finally, Baylee got her turn. All three girls were good sports. I'm not the best at applying polish, even with my granny glasses on.
Kids galore! When we opened the front door to see my parents and Donna off, you'd think we opened the floodgate. Happy little feet were everywhere. Sophia was out there, too, just didn't make it into this picture. But more to come tomorrow. I'm drawing this out a little so I can savor it longer.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Inept at Blogging

A new post appears UNDER the tribute to my cousin, Lou. I'd saved it as a draft but when I published it, it went by the date of the draft. Is there a way to change the date of a post so I can do some ahead of time? I searched the help menu and didn't find an answer. Am I too old to learn new tricks?

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Farewell to Lou

The feisty Lou that we all loved and admired passed away today at the young age of 59. She'd been in the hospital for a few days, suffering with many complications, including tumors and a bad infection. I understand that she fought until the very end, which does not surprise any of us. Lou was fearless, except for needles, and that fear might have prevented her from getting the help she needed much earlier.

I had the privilege of growing up with Lou and playing with her when I'd spend summers with my grandparents. It was not unusual for us to get into trouble. Once, we aggravated my grandparents so bad that they threatened to put me in the cellar, and sent Lou home. She cried all the way home because she feared that I was locked in a cellar with snakes and spiders. When we connected again in later years, I assured her I had never gone to the cellar. I came close, though.

A roadside park separated Lou's house from my grandparents' home/grocery/and gas station. She was my Dad's cousin, but only three months older than me so we became fast friends. Lou was born with Charcoal Marie Tooth, a debilitating neuropathy that causes weakness and atrophy in the hands and legs. When I met Lou, she was still able to walk using braces and we often met halfway in the roadside park. I was so young and unfamiliar with her affliction that I thought if she'd just stand up and put one foot in front of the other, that she could walk as well as anyone. She told me a year ago that my grandfather came to her house every day to fit her into her braces and she called him a saint, and a perfect human being that she loved so much. They spent a lot of precious time together.

Lou and I lost touch after our childhood and found each other again a few short years ago. We picked up where we left off, and laughed over childhood antics and caught up on each other's life. I learned that she'd lost her precious daughter, Patricia, to pneumonia and Lou was currently raising her grandson, Jonathon. She reminded me of so many things I'd forgotten, and shared her rich knowledge of the family through the years. She was possibly the backbone of the family, keeping us all together.

Lou did an online newsletter to keep us all abreast of the latest happenings within our growing family. Her computer was her world. She could go anywhere, do anything, as long as she was connected to the internet. But being bound to a wheelchair did not keep Lou from experiencing life. She wheeled all over Hot Springs, much as we do in our cars. This is another example of her fearlessness. She was out and about so much that she became as much of Hot Springs as the bath houses and the National Park. Everyone knew this tough little lady who wouldn't let a minor thing like CMT keep her confined to four walls.

It was this whirlwind in a wheelchair that did all the "foot" work for our family reunion over a year ago. She planned the location and took care of all the details. Her hard work paid off and she had the time of her life. I remember her waiting by the hotel's parking garage for me to arrive. I jumped from the car the moment I saw her and was greeted with a big smile. She was appropriately honored for pulling us all together for a weekend to remember.

I'm certainly no authority on Lou or her life, but I know how she touched my own life. I have laughed so hard with her. I will miss that. I will also miss the inspiration she has been to me and many who knew her. She found so much to live for amid her disease and losses. When life handed her scraps, she made a quilt. This is how I saw Lou and how I will remember her. She was strength personified.

Lou will be put to rest between her sweet daughter and her cousin, George, whom she loved so much. Gone much too soon, but loved so much. Goodbye, Lou, until we meet again.

Brief...But Beautiful

I just received the best medicine for my heart! Angela was here for dinner and she brought Ashton and Juliet, leaving little Callan home with his Daddy. Then, to surprise Angela and add more joy to my heart, my parents and Donna came for dinner, too! We had eight adults and six children and the happy noise level was high.Here I am with my parents, sister, and my three children. Am I blessed or what?
This picture shows some of the laughter that filled our afternoon together. My family has a sense of humor and uses it constantly.
My Dad, Mother, Ron, Donna and me. What a happy day for all of us.
My handsome son, Ron, and my beautiful sister, Donna. This aunt and nephew make a striking couple. Donna's always been the best aunt ever and the nieces and nephews love her dearly.



It was a brief visit but more pictures to follow. I had a happy heart this weekend!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Rhyme Time

The following poem was written in the mid 1980s as I reflected on my marriage. I wish every marriage could be this rich, this lasting, and this fulfilling. I am privileged to have been the other half of a union that worked so well. This is for you, Chezzy, with love.

Through The Years

The towels we received at our bridal shower
Are now discolored and worn.
The easy chair and the sofa
Look tattered and one is torn.

The carpet already has been replaced
And the roof has sprung a leak.
But our marriage shows no wear through the years,
It's better and complete.

The house has been painted, both inside and out,
And several windows have been redressed.
The repairs on the washer and dryer
Haven't left me very impressed.

Two rooms have seen new wallpaper
And another is over-due.
But there's newness in this love we share,
Every day I spend with you.

Wedding gifts and houses
Do not improve with time.
There's replacing and repairing
To keep them working fine.

How glad I am this love of ours
Is stronger in every way.
For you don't repair something that's better
Than it was on your wedding day.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Pumpkin Patch

Ron and Thomas completed the corn maze while at the Pumpkin Patch. He said it took awhile.
Here's Thomas as a rough and tough cowboy. Check out those ears!
Thomas spent a lot of his time helping other children up the jungle gym. The parents were so impressed at how he would gently put his hand on the child's back and guide them up the ramp. Thomas has a big heart.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

A Night on the Town

Patty and I enjoyed a delightful evening in Fort Worth with dinner and a concert. We arrived early to make sure we found a parking space, then walked downtown in search of something to eat. We ended up at a corner cafe for chicken salad sandwiches. Yes, it hurt to by-pass Del Friscos and Ruths Chris, but the money we saved on the sandwiches eased the pain a lot.After dinner, it was concert time with Michael Buble! He really put on a show! I so admire young men like him and Josh Groban who aren't afraid to bring back the older tunes, sing words that can actually be understood, and don a real suit and tie. I know I'm showing my age here, but even as a teenager I was conservative in my music. The wild stuff grates on my nerves.

We found Michael to be very charismatic and full of humor. He made us laugh, he made us swoon, he made us clap and tap our foot. And he was very personable. He spotted two young sisters in the audience who were dressed alike in plaid dresses. He commented on it, asked their names, then went to the aisle for a picture with them. As he turned to go back to the stage, a woman he had teased earlier stood up and hugged him, then grabbed his tush with both hands. There was a roar of cheers and laughter. This was an older woman, older than I am, and her husband was with her. Now I don't feel like such a perv.

Of course, a night can't be perfect. That would be asking too much. We all know to never wear a brand new pair of shoes on a day when you plan to walk a lot. My sister gave me a darling pair of Crocs with a wedge heel and they looked so good with my jeans. After walking awhile, I felt blisters coming on, so Patty swapped shoes with me. Thank goodness we wear the same size. It was a few blocks later that Patty began limping. Her blisters were worse than mine. I took my shoes back and we continued to the parking garage after the concert, vowing to break in the next pair of shoes a little at a time.

So, we emerge from the parking garage and I am watching signs that will point me to the interstate. I don't drive downtown in a big city very often. It's on the same scale as a root canal. I finally see the sign I need and try to veer to the left as it instructed, I'm so busy making sure the lane is clear for me to move over that I go straight through a red light. Patty told me quickly that I just ran a red light. I felt like saying, "oh, am I driving?", but instead I jerked my head around to see if we had narrowly missed another car. We hadn't. God was truly watching over us!

Needless to say, we began laughing and wondering if a picture of my car with two grandmas with eyes wide like a deer's in the headlights, will appear in my mailbox. If it does, the night was still worth it. We had a ball. Thank you, Patty, for treating me!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Cheryl Was Here!!!

Cheryl and Sid are in town for a relative's wedding and she managed to squeeze in some quality time with me. We spent the day together yesterday and threw together a small group for Girls Night Out. We had a fabulous time.Cheryl has become an important part of our family and shares her love with everyone. Here, she is enjoying her meal with my sister, Donna, who has also adopted her into our family.
I sat across the table with Patty and continually counted my blessings. It's a rich feeling sitting there with my two best friends, my sister, and my daughter, Allison. The only thing that would have made it better would be for Angela to be able to join us.
Allison and Cheryl took advantage of our brief visit to catch up on each other. After dinner, Cheryl and I stayed up until 2:30 a.m., playing Yahtzee, talking and laughing. This morning we played some more while having coffee.
When Sid came over to pick her up, the four of us went to a late lunch. Afterwards, we sat on the patio with the pleasant breeze and talked about everything, including politics. That gets interesting when each couple is a different political party supporter! But we've never let that interfere in our friendship.
Robin enjoyed his moment between two women. He told Sid to take his time snapping the picture. He was such a good sport when he went to bed and told us to keep throwing dice on the tiled table top, that he'd sleep through the racket. Of course, we added laughter to the mix.

The visit was much too short but I am blessed to have the time with Cheryl that I had. She's an incredible friend, and her support and unwavering belief in me means more than she will ever know. Love you, BB!

Happy Birthday, Clayton!



You have many things to be thankful for on this birthday. Praise God your cancer is gone and you and your family can resume your normal lives. It's truly a day of celebration. Enjoy, and have a happy birthday!

Monday, October 06, 2008

Bon Voyage!

Patty called me last night and told me I needed to get a passport. I knew what that meant. She was ready for another cruise. I tried to tone down my excitement long enough to ask if we had time to get a passport. Since the law now requires a passport for those countries that once settled for a birth certificate, the wait can be horrendous. She assured me her husband was checking into it.

Her husband. That's when I told her if he'd like to go on this cruise or if she would rather have his company, I totally understood. She said she had asked him and even though he'd enjoyed the one they took last February, it wasn't exactly his cup of tea. So, I'm the lucky one who gets treated to a 5-day cruise, complete with penthouse and balcony and room service and relaxation and reading and shopping and napping. Whew!

Patty called again today to tell me she had checked with two travel agents who told her a passport wasn't necessary since we were leaving and returning to an American port. However, if one of us got sick in another country, a passport would come in handy. With my track record, we'd better get passports. Although, I told her I'd met my quota and it was her turn to get sick. Not a nice thing to say to someone who is treating me to a cruise!

We are looking at April and will book it once we learn more about the length of time it takes to get a passport. We are really looking forward to this and always have so much fun. The cruise will be on the heels of a 10-day trip to Bandera, scheduled for January. It really sounds like I'm making out my bucket list!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Heart: 3-Month Checkup

My cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health this morning. His nurse took another EKG and he compared it to the one taken in the hospital and told me it was much better. There's still some concern about tension and anxiety and he wants me to see my regular doctor to discuss a change in medication. If the tightness in my chest continues after altering the meds, then we will do another stress test, either the walking one or one done in the hospital. He seems to think that since the tightness eases upon awaking after a good night's sleep that it is tension related.

My other concerns were:

Plavix - the doctor said I only needed it the past three months because of the kind of stents I have. They are non-medicated and my need for Plavix is over. I wanted his opinion on this because my pharmacy has told me I should be on it for life. Not necessary. That's good news since Plavix is pricey stuff.

Dentist - I don't need to be on an anti-biotic before my dental visits. There's no risk right now.

Permanent heart damage - my heart isn't functioning at full capacity and never will. But because of the design of the heart, no one's heart is 100%. I'm at 50 - 55%, but he's pleased with how I'm doing.

Unless there's further tightening or chest pain, I don't go back for six months! Praise the Lord!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Girls Night Out

There were eight of us who joined the fun last night and we officially named ourselves the "Texas Divas" party. Having a great time are Jan, Deborah, Donna and Paula. We heartily welcome Jan to our fun group. She is mine and Donna's ex-sister-in-law but a forever sister. We really enjoyed her and are excited that she is one of the Divas!
On the other side of the table are Paula, Allison, Me, and Patty. Having Allison around keeps us all laughing and young at heart. We think it's wonderful that she has so much fun with us older gals, but she probably needs the outing more than we do since she has three children at home.
A nice lady at the opposite table offered to take this group picture. If we add any more Texas Divas (and I hope we do!), we might have to rent the entire restaurant.
It's hard to tell from the picture but Patty's dinner roll had an unusual appendage, one that had us all cracking up. Here, we are pretending it's a huge nose.
And of course, here, it's obvious what we think it looks like since Patty has her knife poised, ready to chop it off.

Silly, silly girls. We laugh at anything and everything and have the absolute best time!