Yesterday morning I had a visit to make to a friend who lives further out in the country than we do. You must drive through Sadieville and head north on narrow, windy roads. I'm not sure what the deal was yesterday but I had more trouble dodging things in the road than ever before. I will tell you that I am so grateful that last year they added about a foot more asphalt to these back roads so that if you both slow way, way, way down you can pass another car on the road.
Anyway, I'm just outside of Sadieville with Eagle Creek on my right and a chipmunk carrying a huge nut of some kind decided to cross the highway. I figured it would see the car and run for one of the edges of the road. But I slowed down just in case. This little critter just sat in the road with a fist full of food for his winter storage and looked at me like I had no business on the road. I had to almost come to a complete stop before he actually headed on down toward the creek. I looked in my rearview mirror and a truck that had been way behind me was gathering it up and starting to pull into the oncoming lane to get around me.
Whew...
I headed on past where Davis Road turn to go to Cynthiana and headed out the country road toward my friends home. What should appear on this stretch of road but a squirrel who paused just like the chipmunk to check me out. I slowed down and it scurried away.
I got to Dryden where I make the turn onto another narrower country road. It is a sharp turn and up an incline. I got to that intersection and, lo and behold, there were two logging trucks whose trailers where piled high with logs. They even had little trailers behind each of the big trailers carrying additional logs. I rounded the corner hoping I could get around them. Turns out they were smack-dab in the middle of Dryden and I couldn't get past them. They saw me and quickly ran for their trucks. Hmmmm...what to do. They were way to huge for making any kind of a turn at this 3-way intersection without any other traffic. If I back down the incline they probably couldn't make a turn around me and I didn't know which way they even want to turn. I found a grassy spot and pulled up on it beside Dryden Road. They pulled out and worked at making their turns and I headed on down to my friends.
I was very amused that we live in the country to get away from that traffic rat-race we had in the DC area for 20 years. This was clearly the most obstacles I've encountered in some time on these back roads. It just gave me a chuckle that I wanted to remember.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sew What...
Just finished my annual Halloween Costume SewingFest...will take them to the Marx home this afternoon and hope they fit. At least we are early enough this year to make adjustments if needed.
Hayden wants to be Peter Pan. Here is his outfit:
The shoes made of felt will hopefully allow him to put his real shoes inside and these will just cover his sneakers. The hat will have a feather in it but that hasn't been purchased yet. Andie will also have him wear a turtle neck under the shirt to keep our young man warm.
Hayden really loves the Peter Pan movie. Hence his choice for Peter Pan this year.
Bailey wants to be a dinosaur. Here is her costume:
Please note that giganormous tail. I didn't want to buy poly fill and I had some scraps of batting. I pulled out my big green cutting board and my rotary cutter and set to work quickly cutting strips then rotating the strips and cutting them into chunks. Made a very nice batting after it was all cut up and I didn't spend money on extra batting. I feel so 'thrifty'! There are mittens in the shape of dinosaur claws and the hat is separate from the main body of the costume. The feet are attached to the costume like a big footed sleeper. She will make a fierce dinosaur in this extremely warm costume.
Now, I was sitting in the nursing home yesterday with my mom while Papa was singing. My habit is to empty the outside pockets on of my purse and zip the middle shut. Then I set it in front of my mom and, after she figures how to unclasp her hands, she loves touching and examining my purse. I placed my purse in front of my mother.
There was another lady sitting next to my mom. She is a quiet, gentle lady most of the time. She noticed the purse in front of mom. She slowly reached over and got one of the straps. Then she gradually pulled the purse a little closer and began to work with the fabric around the zipper. She was trying to get it to lay over itself somehow. Mom still had her strap and they were both enjoying my purse. At one point my mother took a quick nap and the lady pulled the purse over and enjoyed it herself.
After I finished singing with Papa and he was playing the mandolin and harmonica, I went to the lady and told her I needed to move the purse so my mom could play with it some more. She was hesitant to give it up but after I explained she seemed to understand and I placed the purse again so they both had access to it. Then I took a picture of their hands at play. Mom's hands are on the left of the picture and her fellow resident's hands are on the right.
I just love these hands.
At one point I watched Mimi pick at the fabric. Suddenly I was transported back to my childhood. I was in a fabric store with my mom and we were walking down the aisles of fabric with our hands out touching each bolt of fabric. I learned long ago that the feel of the fabric was something that caught my mom's attention as much as the pattern printed or woven into the fabric. When she would feel something she liked, she would then take her pointer finger and thumb and pick the fabric up. That is the motion she did with my purse. I was sooooo Mimi.
I couldn't help but think how much that purse fabric must kindle past feelings and emotions for these two ladies. Mom definitely has Alzheimer's. This other resident must have some kind of dementia but I'm not sure what. They definitely were both back in a place that was very comfortable for them to be for just a brief period of time. It may just be an old habit to touch that fabric, try and fold it or get the seams to match, all of these just seemed so natural and right for both of these dear ladies.
I watched my hands in the wee small hours of this morning sewing together pants and boots. I don't know for sure where I'll be when I'm 81 like my mom. I hope whoever cares for me will remember that I loved the feel of fabric and place some before me to just enjoy for a moment.
It was a nice moment in time!
Hayden wants to be Peter Pan. Here is his outfit:
Hayden really loves the Peter Pan movie. Hence his choice for Peter Pan this year.
Bailey wants to be a dinosaur. Here is her costume:
Now, I was sitting in the nursing home yesterday with my mom while Papa was singing. My habit is to empty the outside pockets on of my purse and zip the middle shut. Then I set it in front of my mom and, after she figures how to unclasp her hands, she loves touching and examining my purse. I placed my purse in front of my mother.
There was another lady sitting next to my mom. She is a quiet, gentle lady most of the time. She noticed the purse in front of mom. She slowly reached over and got one of the straps. Then she gradually pulled the purse a little closer and began to work with the fabric around the zipper. She was trying to get it to lay over itself somehow. Mom still had her strap and they were both enjoying my purse. At one point my mother took a quick nap and the lady pulled the purse over and enjoyed it herself.
After I finished singing with Papa and he was playing the mandolin and harmonica, I went to the lady and told her I needed to move the purse so my mom could play with it some more. She was hesitant to give it up but after I explained she seemed to understand and I placed the purse again so they both had access to it. Then I took a picture of their hands at play. Mom's hands are on the left of the picture and her fellow resident's hands are on the right.
At one point I watched Mimi pick at the fabric. Suddenly I was transported back to my childhood. I was in a fabric store with my mom and we were walking down the aisles of fabric with our hands out touching each bolt of fabric. I learned long ago that the feel of the fabric was something that caught my mom's attention as much as the pattern printed or woven into the fabric. When she would feel something she liked, she would then take her pointer finger and thumb and pick the fabric up. That is the motion she did with my purse. I was sooooo Mimi.
I couldn't help but think how much that purse fabric must kindle past feelings and emotions for these two ladies. Mom definitely has Alzheimer's. This other resident must have some kind of dementia but I'm not sure what. They definitely were both back in a place that was very comfortable for them to be for just a brief period of time. It may just be an old habit to touch that fabric, try and fold it or get the seams to match, all of these just seemed so natural and right for both of these dear ladies.
I watched my hands in the wee small hours of this morning sewing together pants and boots. I don't know for sure where I'll be when I'm 81 like my mom. I hope whoever cares for me will remember that I loved the feel of fabric and place some before me to just enjoy for a moment.
It was a nice moment in time!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Random Sunday Thoughts...
Here I sit at my computer on a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Had a great morning at Church. Visited my Mom during Sunday School time. She slept through most of the visit sitting in her wheel chair at the lunch table. But there were periods when she held my hand or responded with mumbles while I read to her from the Ensign Magazine. Tried to hold choir practice but that didn't work out well. Chorister is on a trip and we finally just canceled and headed home. Had a nice lunch with my hubby. Now we are home, he is napping and I'm computing.
It was a really cool morning. It will be in the 70's today but when a body is used to 90+ temperatures the 20 degree difference really seem a lot cooler. I could have actually worn a sweater today to be more comfortable.
My life right now is full of stuff to be done. In fact, it often seems 'out-of-control'. But I keep trying to look at it as bite-sized pieces that I can manage.
October 9th we are having 'Comin' Home' to celebrate the 130th birthday of Sadieville. I spent a good deal of time Friday afternoon working on the KidsFest portion of that day. I did manage to get all my ideas and lists off to Miriam Reese. She is taking those notes and ideas to a meeting with the ladies of her Church today. They have agreed to help with the Kidsfest portion of this day long celebration. That is about 2 hours of kids games. I hope to hear back from her tonight so I can take our plans to my meeting tomorrow with the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance workshop to finish up the planning for October 9th.
I spent Saturday completing the cutting out process for Hayden and Bailey's Halloween costumes. Hayden will be Peter Pan and Bailey has chosen to be a dinosaur. I have the body part of Bailey's all sewn except the facing on the neck and the elastic in the sleeves and legs. Then I need to make her head covering, her mittens that are claws and her feet. I haven't sewn any on Hayden's yet. They promise to be really cute costumes.
I'm diligently typing a little each day from my Mother's journal. Papa gave me one of the notebooks he finished reading. Tuesday when Papa was so sick I covered his shift at the Family History Center with Claude. I took this journal and began typing it during my 3 1/2 hours there. I'm to July 1996 when Papa had his open heart surgery. It is always interesting to go back and read someone's perspective of how things transpired. Since we all come at things from a different place in our life, we sometimes see things a bit differently. Since my Mom can't communicate with me anymore, it is a delight to read what she felt important to record.
My father says I am my mother's daughter. I've always felt that when I look at my hands which are exactly the shape of hers. When I wipe a counter it is like watching my mom's hands wipe a counter. I have found as I've read and typed at her journal that she and I are more alike than I thought. One 'for instance' would be her recording all the things she accomplished in one day, then ending her entry with "It was a good day."
My parents taught their daughters how to work, how to do lots of things to run their lives. I learned to clean and some cooking. My mother really did all the cooking but she did teach us each how to make homemade buttermilk biscuits. We did learn the basics of cooking so I could read a recipe and follow it. I learned to sew, crochet, and play the piano. I learned to enjoy a road trip in a car and to read a road map. Surprises me the number of people that don't read a road map. Now we have GPS's (I think that is right) and a lovely voice can tell you where to turn. I learned to enjoy really good music with great harmonies. I learned to love reading my scriptures and studying the gospel. I was taught good moral and ethical standards by which to live my life. There is lots more they taught us while we grew up in their home.
I find that I do feel best when I get to the end of my day and I have filled it with what I needed to do or maybe a day of things I just wanted to do for fun, but I filled it up and at the end of it I always say, "It was a good day." See, I am my mother's daughter.
I'm crocheting 2 projects right now. They are both very enjoyable, not something I have to rush to get done because I am ahead of the game on them. They are just a pleasure and that is how I like to crochet best. Just for the pleasure of it.
I started reading a new book last night. Not sure what I think of this one but I'm only on the 2nd chapter.
I'm reading my New Testament and my Book of Mormon. I just love reading the scriptures. I can't tell you how many times I've read these profound books and every times something new pops out, my understanding increases, and I feel like I'm growing spiritually.
My Stake Relief Society Presidency is in the throes of preparing for a stake wide Relief Society event on October 23rd called Circle of Sisters. I got a few more things ticked off this week in my portion of the preparation of this great event. Today in Relief Society our sisters practiced singing the words to Circle of Sisters that Lisa Adams, my great 1st counselor wrote to the tune of "It's A Small World". What fun it was to hear it sung with lots of voices. We practice it as a stake Relief Society presidency each month when we have our presidency meeting but there are only four of us when we sing. Today the room was full of sisters and they sounded so good. Lisa would have had tears in her eyes to hear them sounding so good. Lots more prep work to do for this event but it is coming together nicely.
Claude was sustained today as a High Councilor in our Lexington North Stake. This will be great fun for him. He'll get to be out in our stake and learn something of the other wards. The High Councilor's speak in the wards on the 3rd Sunday of each month. In October Claude will speak in "Georgetown Ward". That is funny because that is our home ward. He won't have to travel any further than he usually does. We both got a chuck out of that one. He will work with the Owingsville Ward and will also support the Emergency Preparedness and the Employment efforts within our stake. I'm really happy for him. He'll do GREAT!!
I sent out the envelopes requesting donations to the American Cancer Society. I do this every year. It is not the most huge things a person does but it is often the little things that help in greater ways. So each year I get their packet of envelopes and things to stuff in them. Then I mail them to our neighbors and then return all our donations in one envelope. It's a little thing but it really feels good to help a very good cause. Cancer had touched my life and the lives of my family members and this is one cause I feel very good about helping.
A new couple showed up for Church today. I introduced myself and then learned they are the parents of a new couple in our ward. This couple knew they would arrive at their home today but they didn't expect to see them at Church. It was fun to watch Karlee's surprised look when their family entered the chapel and found her parents sitting near the back.
Laura called me the other night to go look from my patio. I did so and there was a beautiful full moon in the sky. What a lovely gift to give another...stopping to notice the beauty around us.
The night before Claude called me out to the front porch. He was watching a gorgeous sunset and he thought I might want to take a picture. He was right.
I awoke two nights before that at 4am. Such is the nature of growing older. Sleep eludes you at times. I realized there was a shadow on the deck and in the back yard of my house. It was almost like the shade you get from the sun being behind something. Only this time it was the moon that was casting the shadows. I went to the dining room to see it and couldn't find that moon up in the sky. I went to the spare bedroom which stands out further than the rest of the front of the house. I could see it from there. It was gorgeous. It also had a star down from it that was very bright. (I need to ask Jake about that star below the moon.) They were the only two objects in the sky visible from that bedroom window. One of the beauties of living in the country on a street with no street lights is the view of the stars in the night sky. I snuck back into our bedroom and got my camera. I headed to the front porch and driveway to try and take a few pictures. I did but they really didn't come out. I'll just have to keep that image for myself in my brain. But I will tell you, if you wake up and there is that much moonlight, it is worth getting up to enjoy the view.
One night as we settled in for the new season of TV viewing in the evening, I happened to walk out on the deck before we settled down. There were a few clouds in the sky and the moon was behind one of them. It was a very light clouds kind of stretched across the sky instead of being puffy. It was gorgeous. I hurried for my camera but by the time I got back to the deck the cloud have blown past the moon.
Papa has been sick this week. He missed 5 days of feeding Mimi. He is much better now and even doing his walks again. He did want to get out in the fresh air by Friday and he ended up driving out a country road this direction and then coming to our home. He sat and drank a Dr. McGillicuddy root beer while I did my ironing. We had a nice chat but when we got through he was quite ready to go home and take a nap. He looked good at church today and I was truly grateful to see him in such good spirits.
This last Wednesday Papa and I did not sing at the nursing home. He was WAY too sick. I went to his apartment and he gave me a DVD of a Country Western music show. I took it to the nursing home to play for the residents in lieu of his singing. One of the residents called me over as I was setting things up. She had me come down to her ear to hear what she needed to say. Then she whispered in my ear (very loudly), "I need to go to the out-house!" I went to find someone to help her get to her room. As I went I thought, "That was an interesting way to phrase that request!" I was quite amused by it actually. Having had grandparents who had 'outhouses' I knew for sure what she was talking about. Just another cute moment at the nursing home.
I learned this week that the word "Blog" is really a shortening of the words 'web log' that are written together for 'weblog' and then shortened to 'blog'. That is another wrinkle in my brain!! (That is what my mother used to say when we learned something new, it made another wrinkle in our brains.)
So I'm going to fill the rest of my Sunday afternoon with typing, reading and maybe a bit of sewing. I'm happy to report, "It was a Good Day!!"
It was a really cool morning. It will be in the 70's today but when a body is used to 90+ temperatures the 20 degree difference really seem a lot cooler. I could have actually worn a sweater today to be more comfortable.
My life right now is full of stuff to be done. In fact, it often seems 'out-of-control'. But I keep trying to look at it as bite-sized pieces that I can manage.
October 9th we are having 'Comin' Home' to celebrate the 130th birthday of Sadieville. I spent a good deal of time Friday afternoon working on the KidsFest portion of that day. I did manage to get all my ideas and lists off to Miriam Reese. She is taking those notes and ideas to a meeting with the ladies of her Church today. They have agreed to help with the Kidsfest portion of this day long celebration. That is about 2 hours of kids games. I hope to hear back from her tonight so I can take our plans to my meeting tomorrow with the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance workshop to finish up the planning for October 9th.
I spent Saturday completing the cutting out process for Hayden and Bailey's Halloween costumes. Hayden will be Peter Pan and Bailey has chosen to be a dinosaur. I have the body part of Bailey's all sewn except the facing on the neck and the elastic in the sleeves and legs. Then I need to make her head covering, her mittens that are claws and her feet. I haven't sewn any on Hayden's yet. They promise to be really cute costumes.
I'm diligently typing a little each day from my Mother's journal. Papa gave me one of the notebooks he finished reading. Tuesday when Papa was so sick I covered his shift at the Family History Center with Claude. I took this journal and began typing it during my 3 1/2 hours there. I'm to July 1996 when Papa had his open heart surgery. It is always interesting to go back and read someone's perspective of how things transpired. Since we all come at things from a different place in our life, we sometimes see things a bit differently. Since my Mom can't communicate with me anymore, it is a delight to read what she felt important to record.
My father says I am my mother's daughter. I've always felt that when I look at my hands which are exactly the shape of hers. When I wipe a counter it is like watching my mom's hands wipe a counter. I have found as I've read and typed at her journal that she and I are more alike than I thought. One 'for instance' would be her recording all the things she accomplished in one day, then ending her entry with "It was a good day."
My parents taught their daughters how to work, how to do lots of things to run their lives. I learned to clean and some cooking. My mother really did all the cooking but she did teach us each how to make homemade buttermilk biscuits. We did learn the basics of cooking so I could read a recipe and follow it. I learned to sew, crochet, and play the piano. I learned to enjoy a road trip in a car and to read a road map. Surprises me the number of people that don't read a road map. Now we have GPS's (I think that is right) and a lovely voice can tell you where to turn. I learned to enjoy really good music with great harmonies. I learned to love reading my scriptures and studying the gospel. I was taught good moral and ethical standards by which to live my life. There is lots more they taught us while we grew up in their home.
I find that I do feel best when I get to the end of my day and I have filled it with what I needed to do or maybe a day of things I just wanted to do for fun, but I filled it up and at the end of it I always say, "It was a good day." See, I am my mother's daughter.
I'm crocheting 2 projects right now. They are both very enjoyable, not something I have to rush to get done because I am ahead of the game on them. They are just a pleasure and that is how I like to crochet best. Just for the pleasure of it.
I started reading a new book last night. Not sure what I think of this one but I'm only on the 2nd chapter.
I'm reading my New Testament and my Book of Mormon. I just love reading the scriptures. I can't tell you how many times I've read these profound books and every times something new pops out, my understanding increases, and I feel like I'm growing spiritually.
My Stake Relief Society Presidency is in the throes of preparing for a stake wide Relief Society event on October 23rd called Circle of Sisters. I got a few more things ticked off this week in my portion of the preparation of this great event. Today in Relief Society our sisters practiced singing the words to Circle of Sisters that Lisa Adams, my great 1st counselor wrote to the tune of "It's A Small World". What fun it was to hear it sung with lots of voices. We practice it as a stake Relief Society presidency each month when we have our presidency meeting but there are only four of us when we sing. Today the room was full of sisters and they sounded so good. Lisa would have had tears in her eyes to hear them sounding so good. Lots more prep work to do for this event but it is coming together nicely.
Claude was sustained today as a High Councilor in our Lexington North Stake. This will be great fun for him. He'll get to be out in our stake and learn something of the other wards. The High Councilor's speak in the wards on the 3rd Sunday of each month. In October Claude will speak in "Georgetown Ward". That is funny because that is our home ward. He won't have to travel any further than he usually does. We both got a chuck out of that one. He will work with the Owingsville Ward and will also support the Emergency Preparedness and the Employment efforts within our stake. I'm really happy for him. He'll do GREAT!!
I sent out the envelopes requesting donations to the American Cancer Society. I do this every year. It is not the most huge things a person does but it is often the little things that help in greater ways. So each year I get their packet of envelopes and things to stuff in them. Then I mail them to our neighbors and then return all our donations in one envelope. It's a little thing but it really feels good to help a very good cause. Cancer had touched my life and the lives of my family members and this is one cause I feel very good about helping.
A new couple showed up for Church today. I introduced myself and then learned they are the parents of a new couple in our ward. This couple knew they would arrive at their home today but they didn't expect to see them at Church. It was fun to watch Karlee's surprised look when their family entered the chapel and found her parents sitting near the back.
Laura called me the other night to go look from my patio. I did so and there was a beautiful full moon in the sky. What a lovely gift to give another...stopping to notice the beauty around us.
The night before Claude called me out to the front porch. He was watching a gorgeous sunset and he thought I might want to take a picture. He was right.
One night as we settled in for the new season of TV viewing in the evening, I happened to walk out on the deck before we settled down. There were a few clouds in the sky and the moon was behind one of them. It was a very light clouds kind of stretched across the sky instead of being puffy. It was gorgeous. I hurried for my camera but by the time I got back to the deck the cloud have blown past the moon.
Papa has been sick this week. He missed 5 days of feeding Mimi. He is much better now and even doing his walks again. He did want to get out in the fresh air by Friday and he ended up driving out a country road this direction and then coming to our home. He sat and drank a Dr. McGillicuddy root beer while I did my ironing. We had a nice chat but when we got through he was quite ready to go home and take a nap. He looked good at church today and I was truly grateful to see him in such good spirits.
This last Wednesday Papa and I did not sing at the nursing home. He was WAY too sick. I went to his apartment and he gave me a DVD of a Country Western music show. I took it to the nursing home to play for the residents in lieu of his singing. One of the residents called me over as I was setting things up. She had me come down to her ear to hear what she needed to say. Then she whispered in my ear (very loudly), "I need to go to the out-house!" I went to find someone to help her get to her room. As I went I thought, "That was an interesting way to phrase that request!" I was quite amused by it actually. Having had grandparents who had 'outhouses' I knew for sure what she was talking about. Just another cute moment at the nursing home.
I learned this week that the word "Blog" is really a shortening of the words 'web log' that are written together for 'weblog' and then shortened to 'blog'. That is another wrinkle in my brain!! (That is what my mother used to say when we learned something new, it made another wrinkle in our brains.)
So I'm going to fill the rest of my Sunday afternoon with typing, reading and maybe a bit of sewing. I'm happy to report, "It was a Good Day!!"
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Angels...
As a child we spoke of 'angels'. My mother was always quick to remind us that angels really didn't have wings.
When we lived in Maryland and I was the Education Counselor in Relief Society, we held a Visiting Teaching Conference on February 23, 1997 and used 'angels' as our theme. I found a cute little angel in my clip art. I promptly clipped her wings and used her without them. She had just enough attitude in her portrayal to be a great visual for this conference. We named her 'Charity' (the Relief Society motto is 'Charity Never Faileth'). As soon as the sisters at Church saw her they knew she was an angel, even without her wings. Here is Charity:
When we lived in Maryland and I was the Education Counselor in Relief Society, we held a Visiting Teaching Conference on February 23, 1997 and used 'angels' as our theme. I found a cute little angel in my clip art. I promptly clipped her wings and used her without them. She had just enough attitude in her portrayal to be a great visual for this conference. We named her 'Charity' (the Relief Society motto is 'Charity Never Faileth'). As soon as the sisters at Church saw her they knew she was an angel, even without her wings. Here is Charity:
Charity was just the right 'angel' for the job of teaching about 'charity' at this visiting teaching conference.
Our Owingsville Ward asked me to come and share some of my thoughts about 'angels' at their Enrichment Meeting for Relief Society on December 5, 2006. I pulled out Charity and took her for a ride to Owingsville and shared my feelings about the importance of angels in our lives.
My aversion to wings on angels has become a point of humor between Laura (my dear friend) and me. She is always quick to remind me that 'angels don't have wings' because she knows a little of this history. Then we have a knowing chuckle between us.
I even had a National Geographic article that told about the paintings on the Sistine Chapel done by Michaelangelo. They were cleaning them up and found that people had painted wings over the original work. He didn't paint the angels with wings originally.
This past week my parents have had a few health issues. I've watched as people have shared their concern and given their help for each of them.
My mother has thrown up (not pleasant topic here but it is reality) her meals at least once a week for the last 3 weeks. Since she is an Alzheimer's patient, I feel this is part of the progression of the illness. My father has developed a nasty cold and has not been able to go to see her for four days now. He usually goes every day for at least one of her meals to feed her. When I was in the nursing home Tuesday evening to check on my mother it was right after their dinner hour. Willie (one of the CNA's), came to me as they were clearing the tables and room. He made it a point to tell me that he personally fed my mother that evening and she ate well. He knew I was concerned and that Papa was concerned. That my friends is an 'angel' in action.
Tuesday afternoon I went to the Family History Center with Claude. Ususally he and Papa cover this shift but we wanted Papa to stay home and rest. When we entered the Family History Center, Karen Parker asked right away how Papa was. I didn't know she even knew he was not feeling well. I explained that he looked a little rugged when I left him before coming to the Family History Center. Karen quickly asked, "What about I go home and make some soup and take him a bowl of soup for dinner?" That my friends is an 'angel' in action.
Amazingly, today I received notice of two friends who have lost their babies. One of the ladies in our congregation is gathering condolence thoughts from all the members of our ward (congregation) and making a 'Strength Book' to be taken to the parents of one of these little children. This family recently moved from Kentucky to another state. Another couple in our ward (congregation) is going very near this young couple tomorrow and will take this 'Strength Book' to them with loving thoughts from all their friends in Kentucky. That my friends is 'angels' in action.
Sunday, after Church, I visited a bit with Bea Stanley. Several years ago Bea and Anne Addison were assigned to visit teach my mother in the nursing home. What a daunting task. They never knew my mother when she could speak. So they were going to visit someone that couldn't even talk to them. But they faithfully visited her. I knew that visiting teaching assignment had changed some time back and they were no longer her visiting teachers. What I didn't know and found out over the last couple of weeks is that Bea and Anne are still going to visit my mother. Bea goes at least once a month and Anne, who travels quite a bit, still goes when she is in town. They are doing this not for recognition or I would have been told by them way before this. They do this because they are 'angels' in very deed.
As I look at my last few weeks, I find many of these little things done by very busy people to care for and comfort others.
The word 'angel' means 'messenger'. There are 'angels' that come from the realms of Glory and perform works here on this earth that is assigned by our Heavenly Father. But just as importantly there are human hands upon this earth that help our Heavenly Father care for his children. These are also angels. Not all of us have the same gifts to give to others. But we each have some gift we can give when we feel or see another in need. And I am not talking of monetary gifts. We can each quietly perform the work of an 'angel' or 'messenger' from Heavenly Father to aid and comfort, support and sustain his children.
There is a great scripture in Hebrews 13:2 - "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Emily Dickenson wrote:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain:
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
So my thoughts have turned to all those angels who have touched my life and the lives of those I love. I am grateful to each and everyone one of them past, present and future. May they feel warmth in their heart and know their gift of love and care has blessed my life. May they understand that the warmth in their heart is the gift of love from our Heavenly Father thanking them for being his hands here on this earth.
I just hope I can be that 'angel' in someone elses life as well...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Getting to Play Gramma...
Even when I was a little girl and people would ask that standard question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I would always say, "I want to be a mom." It seems no question ever had a clearer answer for me as a child. I really, really, really wanted to be a mom. Dreams of a little house in Louisiana with a white picket fence were in my mind as a teenager.
I married a great guy and did have my first child in Louisiana and did live in a little house next to Barksdale Air Force Base for a bit when she was born. It had a chain link fence in the back yard but no picket fence. It was close enough to be livin' the dream.
Years passed and I was blessed with three other pregnancies. This gave me three wonderful kids to raise here on earth and one that makes me want to live very well so I can be with him in the hereafter.
The real bonus and blessing to being a parent and enjoying all those years of raising my own kids is that I get to have occasion to have my grandmonsters around me. This week was one of those times. I just love them no matter how brief the visit.
Andie needed help with someone watching Hayden and Bailey and getting them to bed on Tuesday evening. She had an evening meeting at the school and Michael was returning from a business trip later that evening. Andie asked some time back if I could do this and of course I said yes.
Tuesday Claude left for the Kentucky League of Cities Conference in Louisville. I left for LaGrange about the same time. We stopped in Frankfort for lunch together. Then I headed across the back way to get to the Marx home.
Hayden was up from his quiet time and pretending to sleep snuggled on Andie's lap when I got there. I just knocked on the door quietly and entered quietly so as not to wake up any potentially sleeping kids. I went to the kitchen and put down my soda and Hayden popped up quickly. It is a good thing I caught him pretend sleeping out of the corner of my eye because that little ruse didn't last very long.
Hayden is delightful right after quiet time. He is bursting with things to tell someone. His mind must be a whir all the time. We visited until a little after 5pm when I headed upstairs to wake up Miss Bailey.
She was happy to see her Gramma. We headed downstairs to play with Hayden.
Andie made a wonderful dinner for us. When we finished eating Hayden noticed the fleece Andie purchased and was showing me to make Bailey's Halloween costume. It took him about two seconds to process the fun this yardage of cloth could make in two little people's lives.
Pretty soon we were rearranging the chairs at the table, covering them with the fabric and making a tent to play in. For the rest of the evening Hayden and Bailey were completely engaged in playing in and fixing up this 'tent' home.
Hayden made sure there was a fire place in front of it. He emptied the plastic tub of wooden blocks and arranged them in the lid of a copy paper box. He also included the orange cones for a look of flames. The kids have several skeins of old yarn that he cut up and arranged in the flames.
I married a great guy and did have my first child in Louisiana and did live in a little house next to Barksdale Air Force Base for a bit when she was born. It had a chain link fence in the back yard but no picket fence. It was close enough to be livin' the dream.
Years passed and I was blessed with three other pregnancies. This gave me three wonderful kids to raise here on earth and one that makes me want to live very well so I can be with him in the hereafter.
The real bonus and blessing to being a parent and enjoying all those years of raising my own kids is that I get to have occasion to have my grandmonsters around me. This week was one of those times. I just love them no matter how brief the visit.
Andie needed help with someone watching Hayden and Bailey and getting them to bed on Tuesday evening. She had an evening meeting at the school and Michael was returning from a business trip later that evening. Andie asked some time back if I could do this and of course I said yes.
Tuesday Claude left for the Kentucky League of Cities Conference in Louisville. I left for LaGrange about the same time. We stopped in Frankfort for lunch together. Then I headed across the back way to get to the Marx home.
Hayden was up from his quiet time and pretending to sleep snuggled on Andie's lap when I got there. I just knocked on the door quietly and entered quietly so as not to wake up any potentially sleeping kids. I went to the kitchen and put down my soda and Hayden popped up quickly. It is a good thing I caught him pretend sleeping out of the corner of my eye because that little ruse didn't last very long.
Hayden is delightful right after quiet time. He is bursting with things to tell someone. His mind must be a whir all the time. We visited until a little after 5pm when I headed upstairs to wake up Miss Bailey.
She was happy to see her Gramma. We headed downstairs to play with Hayden.
Andie made a wonderful dinner for us. When we finished eating Hayden noticed the fleece Andie purchased and was showing me to make Bailey's Halloween costume. It took him about two seconds to process the fun this yardage of cloth could make in two little people's lives.
Pretty soon we were rearranging the chairs at the table, covering them with the fabric and making a tent to play in. For the rest of the evening Hayden and Bailey were completely engaged in playing in and fixing up this 'tent' home.
My favorite picture of this playtime with the Mini-Marx's is this one:
Here are a few pictures of their fun:
Bailey did spend some time with the blocks. I was amazed at how tall she made her stake of blocks.
Andie headed off to her meeting. We got Hayden and Bailey dressed for bed. Then Hayden fixed the TV so we could watch one short show before bedtime. It is so very nice to have an A/V savvy grandson. Then upstairs to brush our teeth, read stories and tuck into beds.
Andie suggested I get Hayden's stories read first, then take what time I needed with Bailey. Hayden has to be up and out the door first the next morning so that extra bit of time can be useful. However, getting Bailey to understand that could have been tougher. Hayden got his teeth brushed and hurried into his room. Bailey brushed her teeth and when I took her to her room I carried my camera. She loves learning how to take pictures. I told her I needed to put Hayden down and she was to stay in her room and take pictures until I returned to read her bedtime stories. She was delighted. These are the only two pictures I found on my camera when I downloaded pictures. I thought there would be tons more but there were only these two taken by a future master photographer.
Soon our little ones were off to sleep. Well, they were at least quiet enough that Gramma thought they were asleep. Michael got home and snuck in to give them good-night kisses. Then Andie returned and the adults settled in for a bit before bedtime.
Wednesday morning was full of busyness. I got up to find Hayden and Bailey having breakfast and Hayden almost ready for school. He left with Michael.
I got Bailey's hair into braids for her school day.
Then Andie shuttled Miss Bailey out the door to pre-school. I remained to get ready for my day, load my car, then drive to the elementary school to meet Andie.
Andie and I left my car at the elementary school and headed to Joann's Fabrics. We were searching for the things to make Hayden a Peter Pan costume for Halloween and the notions needed to make Bailey a dinosaur costume for Halloween. We came to an understanding on the fabric for Hayden but didn't think we had the right size pattern for Hayden. I took my instructions and would stop at the Joann's in Frankfort to look for Hayden's fabric and pattern.
Then Andie took us through a Taco Bell drive-thru to pick up lunch. We were going to surprise Hayden by joining him for lunch in the cafeteria of his school.
We got there an he was in line to enter the cafeteria. He saw us and was waving for us to come to him. But we had to sign in and get our visitor's name tags first. Then we found him at his table in the cafeteria. He was one very happy little boy. I'm sure it was because we were there and not that wonderful Taco Bell meal we brought him!
I sat on one side of the table and Hayden and Andie sat on the other side. I was sitting next to a little boy that the cafeteria worker was calling Brian. I said 'hi' to Brian and he smiled and said 'hi' right back at me. Then he turned over his lunchbox and I saw his last name. It is not a common last name. I knew a baby several years back named Brian ____. Could this be that baby?
I leaned over to Brian and said, "Is your mommy named Angie?" He was so happy and gave me a resounding 'yes'. I told him I knew him and held him when he was just a baby. We were fast friends for the rest of lunchtime.
It is a very small world out there. Brian's mom was a missionary in the Montgomery Village Maryland Ward when we lived there. After we lived in Kentucky for a while, we had a young mother that was new in the Georgetown Kentucky Ward come up after Sacrament Meeting and ask us if we remembered her. Of course we remembered her from our Maryland days. She was now married and had two kids. Michaela was the oldest and Brian was her baby brother. This little family eventually moved to the Louisville area. They had another baby. Now, once again after several years, I was sitting next to Brian and he is in Hayden's kindergarten class. See, it is a very small world. Always be good because you never know who you will run into that connects with your past!!
After lunch with Hayden, Andie headed back to Bailey's pre-school to pick her up and then join their Mom's Club group at the park. I headed to Frankfort to finish getting the pattern, fabric and notions for Hayden's costume. Then I headed to Georgetown to sing with Papa. Then I took Papa to the Mexican restaurant for dinner. Then to Walmart to purchase cabbage and carrots to make cole slaw for tonight's Sadieville MusicFest. Then I went home and crashed with my allergies going full blown again.
It was great fun to visit with the Mini-Marx's. I just love being a Gramma!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Let's Wax Political...
This year my dear hubby will run for election as Mayor of Sadieville. He has been the Mayor for some time now. He has really stressed the need for the citizens to become more active in Sadieville's 'politics'. This year for the first time since we moved here six years ago, there two people running for Mayor. There are five people running for the four City Commission seats. So things are alive and happening in Sadieville. Claude is very happy with this political enthusiasm in Sadieville.
Claude determined he would need to have a bit of a campaign this year. He talked with some others running and did some research himself. He has come up with a few things the plans to do to be sure the citizenry knows he is serious about retaining his role as the Mayor of Sadieville. The first of these steps was completed this afternoon.
Claude ordered some signs for yards and a banner to go in front of our Eagle Bend, our sub-division. He has ordered a few other things as well. While he was in Louisville at the Governor's Conference last week, the package with his collateral arrived. I popped him an eMail explaining his 'political collateral' arrived.
Since we had grandmonsters in the house, Claude waited until Sunday to open these boxes. I was in Frankfort and then Georgetown.
I got home about 5:30pm Sunday afternoon. We sat in the living room and caught up on each other's day. Then Claude popped the question, "Would you like to see my banner?"
I was indeed anxious to see what he ordered. He came into the living room and spread out his banner which he intended to place at the entrance to Eagle Bend. It laid it out on the living room floor. We both looked at it, then we looked at each other, then the giggles began...
May I just say that I've been married for 40 years. I've grown accustomed to the name 'Christensen' and it really doesn't seem very long to me anymore. Granted, it is not the world's longest last name. However...when you take the name 'Christensen' and you make it the biggest word on the banner and stretched it out six feet...it really looks big and very long.
Pretty soon our giggles were peals of laughter. After that subsided, Claude quietly said, "You don't think it is too pretentious do you?"
Oh...my...goodness!!! Then we both enjoyed another round of laughter together.
The banner is beautiful. Really it is. But it is VERY bold.
This afternoon when Claude returned from his day of meetings with the Chamber of Commerce and Blue Grass ADD, he asked me if I wanted to take my pictures. Well of course I did. He dutifully posed in the living room for a shot of him holding the banner so it stretched from the top of his head to the floor and another shot with him holding it with arms stretched out.
Claude determined he would need to have a bit of a campaign this year. He talked with some others running and did some research himself. He has come up with a few things the plans to do to be sure the citizenry knows he is serious about retaining his role as the Mayor of Sadieville. The first of these steps was completed this afternoon.
Claude ordered some signs for yards and a banner to go in front of our Eagle Bend, our sub-division. He has ordered a few other things as well. While he was in Louisville at the Governor's Conference last week, the package with his collateral arrived. I popped him an eMail explaining his 'political collateral' arrived.
Since we had grandmonsters in the house, Claude waited until Sunday to open these boxes. I was in Frankfort and then Georgetown.
I got home about 5:30pm Sunday afternoon. We sat in the living room and caught up on each other's day. Then Claude popped the question, "Would you like to see my banner?"
I was indeed anxious to see what he ordered. He came into the living room and spread out his banner which he intended to place at the entrance to Eagle Bend. It laid it out on the living room floor. We both looked at it, then we looked at each other, then the giggles began...
May I just say that I've been married for 40 years. I've grown accustomed to the name 'Christensen' and it really doesn't seem very long to me anymore. Granted, it is not the world's longest last name. However...when you take the name 'Christensen' and you make it the biggest word on the banner and stretched it out six feet...it really looks big and very long.
Pretty soon our giggles were peals of laughter. After that subsided, Claude quietly said, "You don't think it is too pretentious do you?"
Oh...my...goodness!!! Then we both enjoyed another round of laughter together.
The banner is beautiful. Really it is. But it is VERY bold.
This afternoon when Claude returned from his day of meetings with the Chamber of Commerce and Blue Grass ADD, he asked me if I wanted to take my pictures. Well of course I did. He dutifully posed in the living room for a shot of him holding the banner so it stretched from the top of his head to the floor and another shot with him holding it with arms stretched out.
Then I jumped in the Jeep with the banner and steel posts and plastic ties and headed to the entrance of Eagle Bend with Claude. There were already three other candidates signs posted there and one sign for selling of our neighbors home. Claude found his spot and hammered the steel posts into the ground. Then he tied on his banner. When he finished he had a very nice looking banner.
I truly hope Claude wins this election. He has worked very hard for Sadieville ever since he was sworn in as a City Commissioner. He has gone to classes and studied and learned about the things he needed to understand to fulfill his responsibilities as a City Commissioner over Public Works. He has carefully studied and planned so that improvements can eventually be made to the streets in Sadieville. He has a vision and direction that he wants to work at for our city. I know he will honestly and diligently work to accomplish all that he can possibly do for Sadieville and it's citizens.
Someone asked me Sunday when I was in Georgetown what would happen if Claude was not elected. I assured them that, first of all, it would be a loss for Sadieville and it's citizens. Claude has done so much to facilitate the sewer project here and he knows the people and the process to get that completed. Plus he really wants to work at improving our streets and community. He has plans for how to do that. But, if he is not voted back in as Mayor, I assured this person that Claude would find other places and projects that he could devote his time and energy to in our area. He has volunteered for so many other things in our area and is well respected for his abilities and hard work that he will have no trouble finding other places to channel his energy and skills.
This election will be an interesting experience. One that Claude and I are happy will have more people running for election than there are seats for. This is the involvement and excitement Claude has wanted to see in Sadieville.
And really, once the banner was up, it didn't look as big as it did on our living room floor. However, Claude said he might eMail Ryan Quarles and tell him his banner is bigger that Ryan who is running for State Senator. This should be a fun few months!!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Worship...
Saturday was a very uplifting, spiritually fulfilling day. The training I attended in Crestwood was superb. It was something I could use no matter what calling I ever have in Church. I still need to type up my notes for future reference. I'll share a few thoughts I would like to really remember:
Then I left this wonderful environment and hurried myself to the Louisville Palace to join my husband for the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert. It was in full swing when I arrived. The Louisville Palace is an older theater type venue. So it is more closed in than being in a big arena where they would place pro-basketball. This just made the music even louder. What a change of environment.
Crosby, Stills & Nash are still in great form. The people were enjoying their talent.
I was finding the change in atmosphere startling. This old theater has lots of carved wood like work several stories high one the sides of the stage. They stand out from the wall and the walls are all painted blue. Into niches on the wood and stone work were full sized statues in that Roman/Greek style. There were stuffed birds positioned as flying over these decorative elements or sitting on the statues hands, etc. I had the feel I was in the Venetian in Las Vegas. In all those huge casino/hotels they have the ceilings painted as though you were looking at a blue sky with clouds. It gives you the feeling of being out in the open air instead of inside a closed up building with no visible exits. Inside the Louisville Palace reminded me of this over-the-top decoration made to have you feel like you are outside of a huge palace.
Three rows in front of us was a woman who was really, really, really into the moment. When you sit in a theater like this and all the lights are out except the ones on stage, you see everyone like they are a silhouette. This woman just about always (at minimum) had her hands in the air clapping during the singing. I kept thinking of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry was not happy with the beautiful woman he was dating because she had 'man-hands'. The woman had huge 'man-hands' as she clapped the rhythm. I'm sure seeing them like that in the dark only made them seem larger. And the fact that NO ONE else was doing what she was doing at this point in the concert only made it stand out more.
I'm thinking of the Crestwood Stake Center full of all these women seeking a spiritual uplift and the contrast between that and this woman just wanting to give in to every feeling that came to her. Mighty difference.
This woman also had very long hair. She just couldn't sit still. Even when the woman in the row behind her tapped her on the shoulder and made a suggestion that she tone it down, you could tell it was a struggle for her and she wasn't going to win over her emotions. Her long hair she used to full advantage to swing back and forth. Watching it in the dark it was like seeing an octopus move in the water or a jelly fish. All this mass just flowing back and forth. Every now and then she would flip her hair over her head and then shake it around. Mind you, no one else was at that point in the concert, so it really stood out.
Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed the music. But as we talked about it after, both of us really enjoyed the point where Crosby, Stills and Nash came back in after their break. Their band members did not join them. The three of them with one, and some times two, guitars just sang in great harmony. That was Claude and my very favorite part of the program.
Then it was time for the hour and a half ride home. We were in our own cars so I was driving alone. I stopped in Simpsonville to get me a soda and some Chex mix to keep me awake on the drive home. When I pulled up in front of the Pilot Station (a gas station/truck stop), there was a car next to me. Their stereo was turned up really loud and out on the sidewalk in front of their car were two beautiful young women. They were dressed in skin tight elasticized very mini-dresses. They were dancing extremely suggestively with each other, then with the wall behind them. I got out of my car and locked the door to enter and get my soda and munchie. To my left was a man in a truck watching these young women gyrate to their music. He saw me notice what was going on and he looked at me and grinned with total enjoyment of the show he was seeing. I ignored his grins and hastened into the store. Again, I was overwhelmed with the difference in my afternoon and evening meetings and this base scene that was, quite frankly, disgusting. Such beautiful young girls and such a waste. Everyone was gone when I returned to my car.
Sunday morning I drove to Frankfort, Kentucky to visit the Frankfort Ward. I chose to take the back roads and drove Hwy. 460 which is a beautiful drive. I passed the golf course that is on that highway. The thought came into my head as I drove past the golf carts full of men out for a morning of golf that they were worshipping at Our Lady of the Golf Course. Silly thought but it is what ran through my head.
I drove a little on down Highway 460 and say people fishing at Our Lady of Elkhorn River. Again, a silly thought but it is what ran through my head.
Then I realized that my Saturday and Sunday had been a sampling of how some people worship. Clearly a lot of the people at the concert were enjoying themselves and agreed with the political statements made my Crosby, Stills and Nash. Clearly golf and fishing were the things of greatest importance to some people along Elkhorn River on their Sunday morning.
I'm not trying to place myself as superior to any of these people. I'm sure they are good people doing good things with their lives. But it was all in stark contrast to my spiritually fulfilling experience Saturday afternoon and at Church in Frankfort on Sunday.
It also helped me to see the importance of filling my life with good and uplifting things. Things that are filling and not hollow experiences. It is a lesson I felt important for me to record and remember. Not judging the actions of others, just taking note and reminding me how I want to live my life. A gift from Heavenly Father to each of his children is 'agency', that right to choose for yourself how you will live and fill your life. My choice is and will continue to be to enjoy the talents of others, the beauty of a drive in the country and to fill my life with uplifting and good things that fill my cup and aide me in living well.
- We were given Principles for Leadership in Presidencies: Prepare Spiritually, Minister, Counsel Together, Teach Pure Doctrine and Administer the Programs. The beauty of this is that we should focus on the first four principles first. These important prinicples, if accomplished, will make that fifth one fall into line.
- If we pray the Spirit will prompt us to do and/or say the individual things that uplift the sisters we serve and support.
- We should focus on the one. The Savior ministered to the one.
- We are 'set apart' to serve.
- The scriptures are our real handbook.
- Revelation comes if our life is in order and we are specific in our prayers.
- We should have unity and harmony in our presidencies. If someone is opposed to something, we should set it aside and fast and pray to get unity in our decisions.
- Relief Society was organized, not just to make shirts for the men working on the temple, but to prepare the sisters for the fulness of the Gospel to be received by making temple covenants.
- De-clutter our minds so we can hear the Spirit. Be Still. Be Quiet.
- Sis. Barbara Thompson said that when they are asked to attend a meeting with the 1st Presidency, they know they should arrive 1/2 hour early to listen to the music and prepare themselves to feel the Spirit. We should listen to the prelude and prepare to feel the Spirit in our meetings.
- 3 Nephi 17:7 - 'Invited to Come Unto Christ' NOT told to 'Send Someone to Christ'.
- Lean on the Lord. Listen to His prophets.
- Teach the Saints so we can bind ourselves together.
- There is no sacrifice in the work of the Lord for us to make.
- The Prophet Joseph Smith sealed his testimony with his blood. We seal our testimony with our devotion.
Then I left this wonderful environment and hurried myself to the Louisville Palace to join my husband for the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert. It was in full swing when I arrived. The Louisville Palace is an older theater type venue. So it is more closed in than being in a big arena where they would place pro-basketball. This just made the music even louder. What a change of environment.
Crosby, Stills & Nash are still in great form. The people were enjoying their talent.
I was finding the change in atmosphere startling. This old theater has lots of carved wood like work several stories high one the sides of the stage. They stand out from the wall and the walls are all painted blue. Into niches on the wood and stone work were full sized statues in that Roman/Greek style. There were stuffed birds positioned as flying over these decorative elements or sitting on the statues hands, etc. I had the feel I was in the Venetian in Las Vegas. In all those huge casino/hotels they have the ceilings painted as though you were looking at a blue sky with clouds. It gives you the feeling of being out in the open air instead of inside a closed up building with no visible exits. Inside the Louisville Palace reminded me of this over-the-top decoration made to have you feel like you are outside of a huge palace.
Three rows in front of us was a woman who was really, really, really into the moment. When you sit in a theater like this and all the lights are out except the ones on stage, you see everyone like they are a silhouette. This woman just about always (at minimum) had her hands in the air clapping during the singing. I kept thinking of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry was not happy with the beautiful woman he was dating because she had 'man-hands'. The woman had huge 'man-hands' as she clapped the rhythm. I'm sure seeing them like that in the dark only made them seem larger. And the fact that NO ONE else was doing what she was doing at this point in the concert only made it stand out more.
I'm thinking of the Crestwood Stake Center full of all these women seeking a spiritual uplift and the contrast between that and this woman just wanting to give in to every feeling that came to her. Mighty difference.
This woman also had very long hair. She just couldn't sit still. Even when the woman in the row behind her tapped her on the shoulder and made a suggestion that she tone it down, you could tell it was a struggle for her and she wasn't going to win over her emotions. Her long hair she used to full advantage to swing back and forth. Watching it in the dark it was like seeing an octopus move in the water or a jelly fish. All this mass just flowing back and forth. Every now and then she would flip her hair over her head and then shake it around. Mind you, no one else was at that point in the concert, so it really stood out.
Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed the music. But as we talked about it after, both of us really enjoyed the point where Crosby, Stills and Nash came back in after their break. Their band members did not join them. The three of them with one, and some times two, guitars just sang in great harmony. That was Claude and my very favorite part of the program.
Then it was time for the hour and a half ride home. We were in our own cars so I was driving alone. I stopped in Simpsonville to get me a soda and some Chex mix to keep me awake on the drive home. When I pulled up in front of the Pilot Station (a gas station/truck stop), there was a car next to me. Their stereo was turned up really loud and out on the sidewalk in front of their car were two beautiful young women. They were dressed in skin tight elasticized very mini-dresses. They were dancing extremely suggestively with each other, then with the wall behind them. I got out of my car and locked the door to enter and get my soda and munchie. To my left was a man in a truck watching these young women gyrate to their music. He saw me notice what was going on and he looked at me and grinned with total enjoyment of the show he was seeing. I ignored his grins and hastened into the store. Again, I was overwhelmed with the difference in my afternoon and evening meetings and this base scene that was, quite frankly, disgusting. Such beautiful young girls and such a waste. Everyone was gone when I returned to my car.
Sunday morning I drove to Frankfort, Kentucky to visit the Frankfort Ward. I chose to take the back roads and drove Hwy. 460 which is a beautiful drive. I passed the golf course that is on that highway. The thought came into my head as I drove past the golf carts full of men out for a morning of golf that they were worshipping at Our Lady of the Golf Course. Silly thought but it is what ran through my head.
I drove a little on down Highway 460 and say people fishing at Our Lady of Elkhorn River. Again, a silly thought but it is what ran through my head.
Then I realized that my Saturday and Sunday had been a sampling of how some people worship. Clearly a lot of the people at the concert were enjoying themselves and agreed with the political statements made my Crosby, Stills and Nash. Clearly golf and fishing were the things of greatest importance to some people along Elkhorn River on their Sunday morning.
I'm not trying to place myself as superior to any of these people. I'm sure they are good people doing good things with their lives. But it was all in stark contrast to my spiritually fulfilling experience Saturday afternoon and at Church in Frankfort on Sunday.
It also helped me to see the importance of filling my life with good and uplifting things. Things that are filling and not hollow experiences. It is a lesson I felt important for me to record and remember. Not judging the actions of others, just taking note and reminding me how I want to live my life. A gift from Heavenly Father to each of his children is 'agency', that right to choose for yourself how you will live and fill your life. My choice is and will continue to be to enjoy the talents of others, the beauty of a drive in the country and to fill my life with uplifting and good things that fill my cup and aide me in living well.
Mini-Marx Magic...
Just wanted to share a few pictures of our Friday and Saturday visit with Hayden & Bailey. We'll start at Brookings Park on Friday night.
Our little ones really enjoy this park. It was actually a great time to be there. Lots of cloud cover kept it cool and comfortable. We checked under the bridge for trolls. Grampa drove past the geese and ducks for Bailey. There were chestnuts to be learned about falling from trees. Hayden found a couple of rocks for his collection.
We returned to Sadieville and watched Peter Pan on Grampa's big TV with Hayden and Bailey while eating a picnic dinner on the floor before bedtime.
As Hayden was drifting off to dreamland he said, "Ma, tomorrow morning we are going to have a BIG breakfast with bacon and pancakes and eggs and toast." Just love how his little mind works.
Saturday morning Claude did fix a big breakfast. Then we found a fun guest on the counter in the guest bathroom.
It was a katydid. How it got in the house we'll never know. But it amused us a lot. We checked it often and it managed to get from the bathroom counter to the wall above the towel racks and eventually into the living room. Claude did get it out in the front yard to join all its katydid friends before they left for LaGrange.
Bailey enjoys taking things at hand and pretending to make imaginery cakes for everyone. This picture is of Hayden helping Bailey make her imaginery cake for Saturday morning.
I got Hayden and Bailey pajamas. They came on kid size coat hangers. Hayden informed me he wanted to save them to use them at his home. Really...what he ended up doing with them was decorating me. By the time he was finished I had coat hangers hanging from my glasses, my camera hanging off my ear and the cover to my cell phone on my hand. I also had a very giggly Hayden at my side totally enjoying his me Ma-Toy.
Claude brought home from his conference two giveaways. The giveaway was a little gadget that was a flashlight, level & tape measure in one. Hayden and Bailey fell in love with these wonderful gifts. They measured lots of things and checked out all the places we could close and turn out lights. They are still playing with them at their home. Andie assures me they checked all her teeth and pronounced her healthy.
We had a really good time in a very short time. I sure hope all the grandmonsters love coming Grampa and Gramma's house. It should be full of adventure and fun and good things to eat. Building memories that will last forever.
Retired...Really???
To say that 'retirement' is restful is...well, it is just ridiculous. This last weekend was pure evidence of the silliness of thinking being retired is restful. Let me see if I can explain this.
Many months ago Claude and I purchased tickets to see 'Crosby, Stills & Nash'. When we were in Hawaii we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center to view their IMAX about coral reefs. All the background music for this presentation was done by 'Crosby, Stills & Nash'.
After viewing the IMAX movie, I headed outside thinking my dear hubby was close behind. Imagine my surprise to find I was all alone. Turns out he exited into the gift shop (One would think this would have been what I would have done on my perpetual quest for a Christmas tree ornament from every place we visit!). He was so taken with the background music he was hoping there would be a CD in the gift shop. No such luck.
After returning to Kentucky, Claude did find and purchased a CD of 'Crosby, Stills & Nash' at our local mall (a.k.a. Walmart). He was a happy camper. But he was even happier when I told him I got an eMail that they were coming to Louisville. We determined we would purchase tickets. I did this and they were for Saturday, September 11th at 8pm at the Louisville Palace.
Then the 'Governor's Conference' dates came and Claude filled in that he would attend that on Wednesday, September 8th thru Friday, September 10th. Our thought was to ask the Marx family if I could come over on Friday the 10th and we would spend the night at their home, play with grandmonsters, attend Crosby, Stills & Nash on Saturday night and return home from there.
My own schedule for that week began with a full Labor Day (see previous post). Closing up the house and recuperating from full blown allergies on Tuesday after picking pears on Monday (silly Moi). Singing with my father and my presidency meeting on Wednesday. Canning 18 pints of pears and dehydrating 1 1/2 dehydraters of pears and meetings in Lexington on Thursday. Friday was spent getting household chores done.
A few weeks prior to this last week, I received eMail notification of special training and a Women's meeting in Crestwood, Kentucky on Saturday, September 11th. The training was to be from 2pm-5pm and the Women's Meeting was to be from 6:30pm - 8pm. Hmmmmm...the tickets for Crosby, Stills & Nash came to mind on the night of the 11th. I really needed and wanted to be at these meetings. We were having guests from the General Relief Society, Primary and Young Women's presidencies attend and provide this training, then they would speak at the Women's Meeting. This promised to be a great opportunity.
Then I was called by our Stake President and asked if my presidency would provide sack lunch type dinners for 90 people who attended the training and were staying for the Women's meeting. "Sure, we would be happy to do that," was my response. So Wednesday evening (September 8th) my presidency planned and assigned what to do for this meal and then how to serve it. We would have no access to kitchen facilities or refrigeration.
Our menu was ham & cheese wraps, bag of chips, apple, pre-packaged desserts. We decided we would set up a buffet line with the items on the table in order of heaviest to lightest. Everyone could come in one door, pick up their brown bag, napkin, apple, wrap, chips, dessert and bottle of cold water. Then they would exit out of the next door. We all took a piece of the purchase, preparation and set-up of this meal. I was responsible for the apples.
A few weeks prior to this last week and not long after receiving notice of these meetings and the need to prepare and serve a light meal, I received a call from Andie. Michael had been asked to referee soccer games for Georgetown College. He suggested to her that it might be a good opportunity to visit with Claude and I since he would be right there and he could bring her and the kids on out to our house. Now, grandparents do NOT turn down an opportunity to enjoy grandmonsters. We determined it was just a matter of working out the logistics based on what was also filling our calendars.
Here was our plan:
Claude did leave on Wednesday and I sang at the nursing home and had my presidency meeting.
Thursday I did can my pears, picked up a case of apples, and attended my meetings in Lexington.
Friday I washed my case of apples. When I counted them, I was 22 apples shy of the 90 I needed. I decided I would go into Georgetown early on my way to the college to meet the Marx's, stopping at Walmart to get extra apples. No problem...right???
Friday the Marx van left LaGrange on time. They called me. I determined in a phone conversation with Claude that we would stop and get the other things we needed at the store on the way home from Georgetown.
Friday I did meet the Marx van at Georgetown College and left my car with Michael. However, we determined we should have Claude do the grocery shopping while Andie and I played at Brookings Park with Hayden & Bailey. I gave Claude the grocery list and he left us at the park. He did the shopping then came back, we loaded us in the van and headed to Sadieville.
As we were putting the groceries away, I realized I forgot to add the apples I needed to the grocery list. Hmmm...no problem, I would leave early on Saturday and get the apples on my way to Crestwood, go by Papa's apartment, clean the apples, then head to Crestwood.
The rest of Saturday went as planned. The Marx van left and stopped at the Salato Nature Center, then to their home. Claude made it to the concert on time. I only ended up missing about 30 minutes of the concert. Claude and I made it home by 1am Sunday morning. Then we were up at 7am for Church.
My Sunday schedule included my visit to Frankfort Ward, orienting their new Relief Society president after their meetings, a visit to Papa's to outline the next music program, a visit to Mimi, then home by 5:30pm.
Such is the reality of 'retirement'. It is full of fun, family, and learning. The reality is we NEVER tire of these things. They are the stuff of life.
Many months ago Claude and I purchased tickets to see 'Crosby, Stills & Nash'. When we were in Hawaii we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center to view their IMAX about coral reefs. All the background music for this presentation was done by 'Crosby, Stills & Nash'.
After viewing the IMAX movie, I headed outside thinking my dear hubby was close behind. Imagine my surprise to find I was all alone. Turns out he exited into the gift shop (One would think this would have been what I would have done on my perpetual quest for a Christmas tree ornament from every place we visit!). He was so taken with the background music he was hoping there would be a CD in the gift shop. No such luck.
After returning to Kentucky, Claude did find and purchased a CD of 'Crosby, Stills & Nash' at our local mall (a.k.a. Walmart). He was a happy camper. But he was even happier when I told him I got an eMail that they were coming to Louisville. We determined we would purchase tickets. I did this and they were for Saturday, September 11th at 8pm at the Louisville Palace.
Then the 'Governor's Conference' dates came and Claude filled in that he would attend that on Wednesday, September 8th thru Friday, September 10th. Our thought was to ask the Marx family if I could come over on Friday the 10th and we would spend the night at their home, play with grandmonsters, attend Crosby, Stills & Nash on Saturday night and return home from there.
My own schedule for that week began with a full Labor Day (see previous post). Closing up the house and recuperating from full blown allergies on Tuesday after picking pears on Monday (silly Moi). Singing with my father and my presidency meeting on Wednesday. Canning 18 pints of pears and dehydrating 1 1/2 dehydraters of pears and meetings in Lexington on Thursday. Friday was spent getting household chores done.
A few weeks prior to this last week, I received eMail notification of special training and a Women's meeting in Crestwood, Kentucky on Saturday, September 11th. The training was to be from 2pm-5pm and the Women's Meeting was to be from 6:30pm - 8pm. Hmmmmm...the tickets for Crosby, Stills & Nash came to mind on the night of the 11th. I really needed and wanted to be at these meetings. We were having guests from the General Relief Society, Primary and Young Women's presidencies attend and provide this training, then they would speak at the Women's Meeting. This promised to be a great opportunity.
Then I was called by our Stake President and asked if my presidency would provide sack lunch type dinners for 90 people who attended the training and were staying for the Women's meeting. "Sure, we would be happy to do that," was my response. So Wednesday evening (September 8th) my presidency planned and assigned what to do for this meal and then how to serve it. We would have no access to kitchen facilities or refrigeration.
Our menu was ham & cheese wraps, bag of chips, apple, pre-packaged desserts. We decided we would set up a buffet line with the items on the table in order of heaviest to lightest. Everyone could come in one door, pick up their brown bag, napkin, apple, wrap, chips, dessert and bottle of cold water. Then they would exit out of the next door. We all took a piece of the purchase, preparation and set-up of this meal. I was responsible for the apples.
A few weeks prior to this last week and not long after receiving notice of these meetings and the need to prepare and serve a light meal, I received a call from Andie. Michael had been asked to referee soccer games for Georgetown College. He suggested to her that it might be a good opportunity to visit with Claude and I since he would be right there and he could bring her and the kids on out to our house. Now, grandparents do NOT turn down an opportunity to enjoy grandmonsters. We determined it was just a matter of working out the logistics based on what was also filling our calendars.
Here was our plan:
- Wed., Sept 8 - Claude would go to Louisville for his meetings.
- Thurs., Sept 9 - I would go to Evan's Orchard and buy a case of apples for my meetings.
- Fri., Sept 10 - Claude would go to LaGrange after his meetings were over. Michael would leave work and meet them in LaGrange. The Marx van would head to Georgetown. I would leave Sadieville and meet the Marx van at Georgetown College. I would leave my car for Michael to get to Sadieville after his soccer games. We would take the mini-Marx's to dinner and a playground and then head to Sadieville.
- Sat., Sept 11 - I would leave at noon for my meetings in Crestwood. The Marx van with all others would leave a little later and make a stop at the Salato Nature Center in Frankfort. Then it would go to LaGrange. Claude would leave LaGrange in time to get to the Palace Theater for the concert. I would leave my meetings as soon as they finished at 8pm and hurry to the Palace Theater for the concert. Then we would both drive back to Sadieville after the concert.
Claude did leave on Wednesday and I sang at the nursing home and had my presidency meeting.
Thursday I did can my pears, picked up a case of apples, and attended my meetings in Lexington.
Friday I washed my case of apples. When I counted them, I was 22 apples shy of the 90 I needed. I decided I would go into Georgetown early on my way to the college to meet the Marx's, stopping at Walmart to get extra apples. No problem...right???
Friday the Marx van left LaGrange on time. They called me. I determined in a phone conversation with Claude that we would stop and get the other things we needed at the store on the way home from Georgetown.
Friday I did meet the Marx van at Georgetown College and left my car with Michael. However, we determined we should have Claude do the grocery shopping while Andie and I played at Brookings Park with Hayden & Bailey. I gave Claude the grocery list and he left us at the park. He did the shopping then came back, we loaded us in the van and headed to Sadieville.
As we were putting the groceries away, I realized I forgot to add the apples I needed to the grocery list. Hmmm...no problem, I would leave early on Saturday and get the apples on my way to Crestwood, go by Papa's apartment, clean the apples, then head to Crestwood.
The rest of Saturday went as planned. The Marx van left and stopped at the Salato Nature Center, then to their home. Claude made it to the concert on time. I only ended up missing about 30 minutes of the concert. Claude and I made it home by 1am Sunday morning. Then we were up at 7am for Church.
My Sunday schedule included my visit to Frankfort Ward, orienting their new Relief Society president after their meetings, a visit to Papa's to outline the next music program, a visit to Mimi, then home by 5:30pm.
Such is the reality of 'retirement'. It is full of fun, family, and learning. The reality is we NEVER tire of these things. They are the stuff of life.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Imagine My Surprise...
My dear friends, the Carter Family, gave Claude and me the starts to some trees for our hill. The suggestion from them was to save them through this winter. Then plant them next spring. Their experience from living in the country outside of Frankfort, Kentucky, is the deer love to forage on the little plants when spring comes. If we wait to plant them until all the green has started on the hill next spring, they have a better chance of avoiding 'deer demolition'.
Since the Carter Family has an abundance of these trees growing their yard already, I judged that I should follow their wise counsel and advice. I placed the trees on our deck for the remainder of the summer. I go out every other day and give them water.
Yesterday morning I happened to look out my breakfast room window and saw color!! I tried to process in my slow-moving brain why there was color there instead of green. Were the leaves changing color? Was there a hummingbird of bright color swooping around my little tree? Am I really seeing color?
Then I went out on the deck to check this out. Sure enough, the largest tree had a beautiful blossom on the top. What a thing of beauty and joy. I didn't get my camera until later in the afternoon when the flower opened up. Now you can enjoy it's beauty and I will also for may years to come.
Since the Carter Family has an abundance of these trees growing their yard already, I judged that I should follow their wise counsel and advice. I placed the trees on our deck for the remainder of the summer. I go out every other day and give them water.
Yesterday morning I happened to look out my breakfast room window and saw color!! I tried to process in my slow-moving brain why there was color there instead of green. Were the leaves changing color? Was there a hummingbird of bright color swooping around my little tree? Am I really seeing color?
Then I went out on the deck to check this out. Sure enough, the largest tree had a beautiful blossom on the top. What a thing of beauty and joy. I didn't get my camera until later in the afternoon when the flower opened up. Now you can enjoy it's beauty and I will also for may years to come.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Labor Day...
Today I have...
Do you think I understand the meaning of 'Labor Day'?
- Done my laundry
- Done my ironing
- Picked pears
- Filled the dehydrator with its first load of pears
- Done Papa's laundry
- Cut Papa's hair
- Planned the music to sing with Papa at the nursing home on Wednesday
- Spent 2 hours with Papa trying to type from a cassette tape and interview with his mother
- Spent 1 hours editing files in my computer
- Mended Claude's pants
- Finished crocheting a dish cloth
- Some other little stuff
Do you think I understand the meaning of 'Labor Day'?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Church Chuckles...
Today we got to the end of Sacrament Meeting (Worship Service) and the counselor in our bishopric was getting ready to announce the closing hymn "I Believe In Christ". This is a much loved hymn for many members. As he started to announce that part, he must have been looking at my hubby because he said something like this, "We'll now sing the closing hymn, 'I Believe in Claude'." Then he caught himself and corrected it to "I Believe In Christ". We were all working very hard to not laugh out loud. Claude had several people come up to him after Church and say, "I believe in you Claude!"
After all our meetings we have choir practice. We got to the end of choir practice and our chorister was telling us cute stories. One of our choir members is a doctor and had been paged several times during our meetings and left one time to go over to the hospital. He is Claude's counselor and was sitting by Claude in the choir seats. Claude could tell he really needed and wanted to get going since we were done. All we needed was a closing prayer. Finally he burst out, "Need a volunteer for the prayer, I'll do it. "And he went right into a fervent and rather robust but brief prayer. It was ended with a grand 'Amen!!' In like manner all the members of the choir said a rousing, AMEN!! We are usually a bit quieter with prayers. The sister next to me said, "I don't know what just happened then. It felt like I was at a Baptist meeting and I couldn't help myself but say a loud 'Amen' at the end." We both smiled. I do believe my Baptist friends would have enjoyed that moment with us.
It is always nice to have a sense of humor about us. I believe the good Lord expects us to have a sense of humor and enjoy this life whenever we can. Today, I bet he was smiling at us all trying to do the right thing and enjoying it together as a ward family.
After all our meetings we have choir practice. We got to the end of choir practice and our chorister was telling us cute stories. One of our choir members is a doctor and had been paged several times during our meetings and left one time to go over to the hospital. He is Claude's counselor and was sitting by Claude in the choir seats. Claude could tell he really needed and wanted to get going since we were done. All we needed was a closing prayer. Finally he burst out, "Need a volunteer for the prayer, I'll do it. "And he went right into a fervent and rather robust but brief prayer. It was ended with a grand 'Amen!!' In like manner all the members of the choir said a rousing, AMEN!! We are usually a bit quieter with prayers. The sister next to me said, "I don't know what just happened then. It felt like I was at a Baptist meeting and I couldn't help myself but say a loud 'Amen' at the end." We both smiled. I do believe my Baptist friends would have enjoyed that moment with us.
It is always nice to have a sense of humor about us. I believe the good Lord expects us to have a sense of humor and enjoy this life whenever we can. Today, I bet he was smiling at us all trying to do the right thing and enjoying it together as a ward family.
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