Celebrating the 4th of July...

This year we spent the morning of the 4th of July at home. My fingernails all had length. This is not always the case. I purchased new red nail polish and did my finger and toe nails. Then I had Claude take this picture so I could send it as my Happy 4th of July text to friends and family. I thought that was pretty clever.

In return, I received this picture from our son. I sent him a reply that he was definitely his Father's son. Andie, his sister, replied that it looked like Jake was using the force on his foot. We are an amazing family. Absolutely amazing.

I spent the afternoon visiting Papa at the nursing home. Then I hurried home to meet Claude.

Claude purchased tickets to go so the Florence Freedom play baseball. 

It was one really, really hot day. However, as I looked at the Freedom mascot I was keenly aware there was someone else at the ballpark that was much more uncomfortably hot that Claude and me.  

It was a great game. The Freedom won. Fireworks followed the game. It was actually double the amount of fireworks as a previous evening's fireworks were rained out and they used them on the 4th. Excellent. 

It was a good day for Claude and me.

Haven't Been Blogging...However...

There are only so many hours in each day. I have opted to use as many as I could to scan things instead of blog things. I had a change of callings a little over a month ago at Church. I was released as the Institute teacher and called to play the organ for Sacrament Meeting. In my prayers I had been asking Heavenly Father for a way to clear out some things in my sewing room. I just didn't seem to have the time to get it done. I knew it would require many hours to put these things in order and thin down things. When this change of callings came, I knew it was the answer to my prayer and I needed to take full advantage of it because experience has taught me this simpler calling will not last forever. So the last several weeks I have scanned and scanned and cleaned out things in my sewing room. 

It is interesting to me some of the things I have come across. A veritable journey of my life, Claude's life, my parents lives, and the list goes one. 

I had two huge binders of things saved from when Claude was Bishop in Denver and again in Maryland. I was able to scan pictures from these binders and share them on Facebook with friends from those places. 

I had photo albums from my parents and found pictures I had not scanned yet. I want to share a few of this pictures. 

First, a family picture but not by blood. When I was a child in Shreveport, Louisiana, there was a couple who lived down the street from us, Mamie & Murray Jones. They were never able to have children. They became a second set of parents to my mother. While visiting them with my Mother once, Aunt Mamie was showing me some old dressers she possessed. I loved these antique pieces of furniture. Aunt Mamie said I could pick the one I wanted and she would give it to me. Today that piece sits in my sewing room. Claude took it apart and repaired it several years ago and restained it. I just love this piece of furniture. After years in the home where I picked out the dresser, the Jones' moved one block down from where we lived on East Herndon in Shreveport, Louisiana. Uncle Murray had a bad heart. When he had a heart attack, Aunt Mamie would call my Mother first and then call the ambulance. My Mother would run down the hill to their home and care for Uncle Murray until the ambulance arrived. My mother was a Practical Nurse. Uncle Murray played Santa Claus every year for the Church Christmas party. Our middle child, Andie, did not like Santa at all. She preferred her parents to anyone else. One Christmas we visited my parents and Uncle Murray came to their door dressed as Santa. Andie went right to him. I believe little children can sense the true spirit of a person. She knew immediately what a good man Uncle Murray was. As they aged, my Mother became their caregiver. Aunt Mamie died first and Mimi took over Uncle Murray's finances and cared for him after he went in a nursing home. We just loved these two people with all our hearts. Junie, my sister has Uncle Murray's cane. It was a delight to find this picture taken early in the marriage of Uncle Murray and Aunt Mamie Jones. What a treasure. 

I found these two pictures of my Father's Mother. We called her Gramma Duck because she fell off the back porch, broke her hip, and always waddled after that. Gramma Duck was first married to Bill (William Zachariah) Conner. They had two sons Odus Lavell and Oliver K. Conner. Odus died when he was six years old. Oliver we called Uncle Buddy. A couple of times my sisters and I stayed with Uncle Buddy and Aunt Gladys while our parents made a trip out west. Uncle Buddy was born in 1907 and my Fafter was born in 1928 so there was 21 years difference in their ages. Uncle Buddy had a son, Lester, that was born a year before Papa. When Bill Conner died leaving Gramma Duck with two little boys, Grampa Duck (Carl Edward Lawrence) new her already. His sister, Aunt Annie was married to Uncle Jim (James Edward Conner) who was Bill Conner's brother. Gramma and Grampa Duck married and had five children with my Father being the youngest. That is a bit of the history.

I found these two pictures in an album. I never remember seeing them before. They are treasures. The first one is Gramma Duck in the white blouse. The other lady dressed in dark clothing is Amanda Elizabeth Sermons. She is the mother of William Zachariah Conner or Gramma Duck's mother-in-law. Judging by height only and guessing the tallest child on the right end to be the oldest, I would say that is Odus and between the ladies is Oliver or Uncle Buddy. 

This second picture is my Father's Mother, Claudia Clementine Shaw Conner with her two sons after she became a widow. I am guessing Uncle Buddy is on her left with Gramma holding his hand and with Odus standing to her right in the picture. Again, never remember seeing this picture before. What treasures these pictures are. 

I also came across this picture of the Church building where I attended Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. This building was on Wyandot Street. We attended Church in this building after we moved to Shreveport when I was in second grade until the new building was built after Claude and I were married. In the steeple was a little room with a mimeograph machine. Janie Anderson and I would create a newsletter for the Shreveport Ward and go up in the steeple to make mimeographed copies for everyone. I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this building. The chapel was on the left side in the picture and the cultural hall was on the right side. As you went in the front door there was an office on each side. Along the back of the building behind the chapel was the Relief Society room and the ladies bathroom. The kitchen would have been about in the middle with the men's bathroom to the right of that. At the very right end of the picture would have been the stage with the baptismal font in the stage. Along the back of the building in that area were three classroom. After we moved to the new building, an insurance company purchased this building, took the steeple off and used it for their business. The building still stands today.

Now, back to my Mother's side of the family tree. This picture is Harriet Bennett with her son, Herman W. Fisch. The picture was dated 1944. I remember my Mother speaking of Uncle Herman make a trailer and bringing his Mother to visit in Louisiana. I am guessing this is the trailer. Harriet is my Mother's Father's Mother or my great Grandmother. They lived in Wyoming. 

Again, from my Mother's side of the family tree is Edgar Fisch. The picture is labeled with Edgar being 21 years of age. This was also the year he died. He would have been brother to Edgar and my Grampa Clarence Clifford Fisch. I have a huge picture of him hanging in my basement in an enormous frame. There are actually two pictures of men and we didn't know who they were. Now I know that Edgar is one of the men.  

And this picture is Harriet Bennett Fisch, my great Grandmother on my Father's side of the family tree. I also don't remember ever seeing this picture before. I found myself mesmerized by it. To me, Harriet has lines that show a hard life she has lived but there is just a hint of a smile that tells me she had joy in that journey as well. I am so happy to have found this picture of her.   

Finally, this picture of the Bennett sisters. They are from left to right: Margaret Albina Bennett VanValey, Harriet Bennett Fisch and Lucy Ann Bennett Nelson. It was labeled as 1974. I would have been 24 years old. That date cannot be right as I have a death date for Harriet Bennett of 1949 in Glen Rock Wyoming. Again, what a treasure of a picture. 

Lots more scanning to do but my sewing room feels lighter with all those binders gone. I feel happy having them all labeled in on a digital medium. And, I have totally enjoyed the journey of remembering my life, my parents lives and learning a bit more about my ancestors. I am grateful for pictures.

Miscellaneous Musings...

Posted this on Facebook on June 26th: Sticker in the back window of a Georgia minivan: "HONK if any children fall out." The window also sported a stick figure family with so many kids I didn't get them counted before they took the on-ramp. So funny.

Saturday, June 16th, Derrick and Carlee (not sure I spelled that correctly) were married in Michigan. Derrick is Todd's son. Raelyn, our great grandmonster was asked to be a flower girl. Katelyn sent me this picture of our little dear in her flower girl dress. My heart melts.

Our Boy Scout...

This past week Hayden has been at Camp Crooked Creek in Sheperdsville, Kentucky for Boy Scout Camp. 

The night before they left, one of the Boy Scout leaders died of cancer. The boys knew he had cancer and that hospice was called in. These leaders have worked together with this Troop for years and it was a very tough blow for the leaders and the boys. The other leaders wanted the boys to be able to do something at camp to honor this leader who passed. They were allowed to do something the first night of camp for all the other Scouts. The family of the deceased leader has postponed the funeral until the Scouts and other leaders can be back to participate in and attend his funeral. This is one of life's tough learning lessons. It seems to be handled in the very best possible manner.

This week it also rained and rained and rained and rained. Serious concerns about how much camping activity could be done in all that rain. There was a Facebook page that Andie could check and she said it looked like it was all mud there. They did post a picture of the boys in the dining hall playing cards during the rain and Hayden looked like he was doing okay. 

Friday they have family night. Andie, Michael and Bailey journeyed to the camp to visit with Hayden. Andie sent some pictures that brought happiness to this grandmother heart. Hayden is wearing a red t-shirt.

Hayden returns home today. I told Andie during the week that, if Scouting is about being prepared and learning to survive in difficult times, this camp will have been one for that record for sure. He looks like he has made it through just fine.

I Am a Mess...

When Bailey was born, Michael brought Hayden in to see her for the first time at the hospital. Hayden was two years old. Michael held him up to look at Bailey in the bassinet and he got one glimpse of her with a bruise or two her little belly button sticking out and looked up at Michael and said, "Bailey is a mess!!" That has been our comment from that point forward when life gets a little sloppy for us. 

This last few weeks, "Ma is a Mess!"

Friday, June 15th, I had an appointment at the dermatologist that Claude sees all the time. I had a spot on my chest that was itchy and wouldn't heal. So, prior to our vacation, I set up this appointment. Miracle of miracles, it healed completely while on the Baltic Sea. However, I had another spot on my nose I was not as concerned about so I kept the appointment so Dr. Wilson could check it out. He looked at it with a magnifying tool and immediately pronounced it basal cell and wanted to do a biopsy. He assured me he felt I would need Moh's surgery after so it didn't continue to grow. Basal cell is the least offensive of the skin cancers. So that was a good thing. My father has had cancer removed from his lower lip, cut off part of his ear and cut out of the top of his head. So I have that history going for me. In addition, my sister had this same Moh's surgery on her nose a couple of years ago. So, here I go. 

This is a picture of my bandage after this tiny biopsy was done. I have watched this twice with Papa. The goal is to apply pressure for 24 hours to be sure you don't bleed. So a cotton ball is compressed and put under tons of tape to securely and tightly hold that cotton over the wound to stop bleeding. Is this just the cutest bandage ever?!?! NOT...

I can tell you that this was the first errand I ran that Friday morning. Immediately after I went to the nursing home to visit with Papa. It was amusing to watch people do a double-take as I drove. You know how you peek at the person in the car next to you at a light or intersection, then you turn around really quick to try and get whatever you saw to register and make sense in your brain. Lots of that as I drove across Georgetown. Then I entered the nursing home where I have been every week or day for the past 13 years. "What in the world happened to you?" was a question asked a lot. It really didn't hurt or bleed but it sure attracted a lot of attention.

The next day I took the bandage off and this is what it looked like. 

Fast forward to Thursday, June 21st. I went to visit Papa. When we visit in his room, I sit on his walker. As I sat there, I moved to get a more comfortable position as the walker is okay but not at all comfortable. I lifted my left arm to put it over the place Papa puts his hand on to walk. I felt a sharp pain in my arm. What in the world was that? I thought it was just a fluke. I spent 2 hours the morning before weeding and had absolutely no issues. Other than that, there had been no strain on that arm. I moved the arm back over the hand rest and sure enough the pain was there again. The longer I sat there the more it hurt, even just resting in place. By the time I left and went to my care I couldn't barely lift my left arm. Not good folks, not good. 

In November 2011, I fell and stretched out my left arm to catch my fall. I tore the rotator cuff in my left shoulder as it took the brunt of the fall. We opted to do physical therapy to strengthen that shoulder as it healed. It worked well and I have had no problems with it at all. 

Claude was out of town that Thursday so I went home, put a pillow under my arm and sat on my sofa watching television all evening to just give the arm a rest. I took an ibuprofen before going to bed to cut the pain and try to get some sleep. Not much sleep that night I tell you. Friday I hurt again all day. I visited Papa and bought groceries before going home to find my hubby back from his trip. Thank heavens this was my left arm and I am very right handed. Amazing what one can do with one arm. Friday I rested again and Claude took over doing everything. I assured him I would call the doctor on Monday. Nissa and Todd visited and I just rested that arm on a pillow beside me.

Monday, June 25th, I went to see Dr. Lyon. He did the same kinds of physical tests they did when I tore the rotator cuff. Things like raising the arm and turning it to see what movements caused the pain. Resistance against his hand to see how much strengthen and where the pain was. Just love Dr. Lyon. He likes to take things a step at the time. He assured me he didn't think I had torn it again but maybe the weeding strained it. He gave me a 10 day supply of prednisone and told me not to use the arm for 10 days. Okay. I could do that. Don't care for the side-effects of prednisone but I could be obedient to those rules. If this doesn't work, I will go to physical therapy next.

So far, I can tell a difference. The sharp pain is mostly gone and a dull ache is there. 

Sooo...Sandi is a Mess!! The Moh's surgeon has not scheduled yet because of the volume of requests he has for this surgery. That may happen this week. The shoulder is better but not 100% yet. I shall press forward and try to get me out of this mess!!