Happy Birthday Jeff!

To my handsome son who SHOULD have turned 40 today but will always be 25 to me. You're still forever in my heart and mind. Love and miss you more than anyone can ever imagine. Happy birthday Jeff! Love you forever, Mom

Welcome to Holland

Hi Everyone, I'm back. Today my daughter and two sisters and I are going to a very special golf tournament. It is called the "Tulip Tournament". It is dear to my heart because it effects my family directly. It is in honor of my special grandson Andrew and in support of the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society. I want to share what the guest speaker said at last years tournament. It was entitled "Welcome to Holland"and here's what she shared with us. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I think it describes it so well! I quote:

{I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience, to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this.....

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum, Michalangelo's David, The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exiting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland??!" you say. "What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and your catch your breath, you look around... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills... and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say: "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, go away...because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things....about Holland!}

MEME

I got tagged so I guess I'll give this a shot. Thanks Shell!

Three Things That Scare Me:
1. Loved ones dying
2. My husband's driving
3. Mammograms (always scared they'll find something)

Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
1. L. K. my former boss
2. My sisters when we start reminiscing
3. Gags Just For Laughs (TV show)

Three Things I Love: Aside from God/friends/family
1. Going to Mexico
2. Going to Grand Forks
3. Going camping

Three Things I Hate:
1. Vacumning
2. People that beat around the bush
3. Pumpkin pie

Three things I Don’t Understand:
1. Why some people go through so many hardships and others seem to have none
2. Why I keep making the same mistakes over and over again
3. Why some people have to die so young

Three Things On My Desk:
1. Calculator
2. Banana
3. Pen

Three Things I’m Doing Right Now:
1. Having a hot flash
2. Eating a banana
3. Drinking water

Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. See my grandchildren grow up and live for the Lord
2. Finish a quilt I've been working on forever
3. Go to Europe

Three Things I Can Do:
1. Blog
2. Sew
3. Crosswords

Three Things I Can’t Do:
1. Make good sour borscht
2. Fix my own car
3. Play an instrument

ThreeThings I Think You Should Listen To:
1. Holy Spirit
2. Christian music
3. Good advice

Three Things You Should Never Listen To:
1. Gossip
2. Off color jokes
3. False doctrines

Things I’d Like To Learn:
1. To speak Spanish
2. To be more disciplined in studying God's Word
3. Eat less and exercise more

Three Favorite Foods:
1. Cottage cheese perogies
2. Chinese food
3. Coconut Cream Pie

Shows I Watched As A Kid:
1. December Bride
2. Man Hunt
3. Sea Hunt (could only watch TV at the neighbors since we didn't have a TV)

Three Things I Regret:
1. Not spending more time with my kids when they were little.
2. That I didn't hire a painter to paint my house before I retired.
3. Not acting on things when I should like calling a friend when I know they're going through rough times

Crystal & Linda - I'm tagging you!!!

Renovations

Lately, Ben and I have once again been struggling with the question of should we sell the house and look at downsizing. We have looked at different possibilities, 55 plus living, apartment living, side by side, smaller house, etc. etc. We have a fairly big yard, lots of grass to cut and summer is coming. We get "gung-ho" about it, look at places, and by the next morning Ben has second thoughts about selling. SO, now we have decided to stay and do some reno's.
(I did warn him it might be costly! After all, who wants to put old furniture, pictures, etc. into a new room?) Anyway, after I started tearing apart the first room I had second thoughts. What am I doing? Now I AM committed! The hardest part was actually ripping out our green and red carpets. Those two rooms have been known as the "red" room and the "green" room for so many years. How will we ever distinguish them now if both have the same carpets? And then there's the ceilings. Have any of you ever removed stippling off ceilings??? Dumb decision.



Let me tell you, working on the chain gang would be easier! I have scraped my fingers to the bone and if you see me walking around with my nose in the air, it's not because I'm stuck up or anything, it's just that I have a permanet kink in my neck from looking up.
Oh well, I keep telling myself it will be worth it in the end. Such is life.....

ANYWAY

I came across this poem recently, written by Mother Teresa. I think it is beautiful and so true, yet so hard to do. It's called:

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough;

Give the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between YOU and GOD;

It was never between you and them anyway.

MY VERY SPECIAL GRANDSON!

Four years ago my daughter gave birth to our 4th grandchild. He came a month early and surprised us in more ways than one. He was born with Down Syndrome. I was angry and devastated, to say the least and momentarily even thought God should take him home. How selfish of me! Andrew has given us SOO MUCH joy that I can't imagine life without him. He is a very smart and LOVING child. The other day when I was babysitting, he was in the entrance by himself, and walked into the computer room where I was, dressed in what you see - his brother's camouflage toque, neck warmer over his mouth, his camouflage boots, one glove, and his grandpa's shoehorn for a gun. He walked into the room where I was, pointed his gun, went "Pew, Pew," and dropped down pretending to be dead. I just cracked up it was so funny! Andrew has taught me alot of things, one being UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. He can turn any bad day into a great day just by his genuine hugs and pats on the back. I dearly love all my grandchildren but the other three will likely grow up, get married and have a family of their own (as they should). Andrew will always be there for me, even in my old age. I know because he is SPECIAL and we have a special bond!

Broken Heart

This week we are "bonding" with our 4 grandchildren. Mom & dad went on a well deserved holiday. (I realize more than ever how that break is needed with 4 children!) Anyway, things have gone fairly smooth except for a few outbursts from our drama queen. (Won't mention any names of course). Yesturday morning I "ruined her day" as she put it, because I opened the wrong zipper on her lunchkit. (Only 1 zipper works & I didn't KNOW this). After her little yelling fest grandpa CALMLY told her to go in his office so he could talk to her. He very gently told her that yelling at grandma wasn't acceptable and who knows what else. (Took me back to the days when he would discipline our own children. He used to explain for half an hour before handing out the discipline. Drove me crazy!) Anyway all was settled and she was getting her parka on for school when she suddenly started SOBBING! I said what's wrong now and she said "He broke my heart"! I'm looking for artwork or whatever that grandpa might have wrecked and finally I said, " What are you talking about?" Holding her heart she sobbed, Grandpa broke my heart cause he yelled at me! Hollywood look out! (ONLY 3 MORE SLEEPS BUT WHO'S COUNTING?)

Bitter or Better?

My nephew is in Germany having back surgery. The night before he and his wife left, I had emailed them a 2-sentence email telling them we wished them well and that we'd be praying for them. You never realize what a short word of encouragement to someone else can do. I received an email back thanking us and telling us how that encouraged them. Ev went on to say how we had been through so much and how because of that we were such an encouragement to others. I have pondered this for a few days and have come to the conclusion that all the things we go through in life can make us either "bitter or better". I know I have had to deal with the "bitter" many times, before I can show the "better" (and still do). But it is true, all the hardships in life can make you a more compassionate, better person if you allow it to. So often, I don't act upon the thoughts that cross my mind like I should call so-and-so when I know they are going through hardships. This certainly affirms to me that I should be doing more of it. So, it's kind of funny but when you encourage someone else, they in turn encourage you. Let's keep on encouraging one another!

Another Bad Dream!!

For those of you who know me, you know that I am the world's most reknowned dreamer. In a week's time I will be babysitting my 4 grandchildren for a week. (That's not a dream). Last night I dreamt I not only had THEM for a week but also my nephew's 3 kids. It was a nightmare! I was trying to get them all ready for school and had nothing in the fridge to make lunches with. There was no lunch meat, no fruit no nothing! Finally, after all of them complained about anything I offered, I announced it would be peanut butter or cheezewhiz. Take it or leave it! I'd had it.

Anyway then Emma disappeared and I couldn't find her. She took off for school on bike by herself and I was petrified because she was new to our school and would get lost etc. Then I found out I missed making a lunch for Willie. Finally, I got all the lunches made and proceeded to get myself ready for work but couldn't find my clothes. While in my bedroom hunting for my clothes I came across a bunch of groceries that I had forgot to unpack. Bananas, oranges, apples, you name it.

And I wonder why I wake up tired in the morning? And my dentist wonders why I clench my teeth at night? I think this explains it all!

Happy Birthday Shelley!!!

Today I want to pay tribute to my wonderful, precious

daughter by writing a poem for her on her Birthday.

Dear Shelley:
I remember it well, the day we got called,
That you were available, with excitement I bawled,
Our adoption was becoming a reality,
You would be ours, and there wasn't any fee.
To family & friends birth announcements were sent,
(We hadn't told anyone, for we could hardly pay the rent,)
We were afraid of the comments, others might make,
And had decided no matter what, our chances we'd take.
You were such a dear and wonderful child,
Even teenage years were relatively mild,
You've grown up and married and blessed us some more
With grandchild, after grandchild and now we have four.

Just want you to know what a blessing you've been,

You've been there for me through thick & thin,

Can't imagine where I'd be without you today,

I thank God He chose you for us, EVERYDAY!

And to your biological mother I say,

The most unselfish act you committed that day,

Forever, grateful to you I'll be,

Thanks for helping complete our family.

LOVE YOU FOREVER,

MOM

Oh, the Joys of Tanning Beds!!

(Do I really want to looke like this? ----->)

There is only one reason I use a tanning bed. I am a pale faced Mennonite that's allergic to the sun and I'm going to Mexico. SOOO... if I don't want to be wearing 100% sunblock, and sitting in the shade with all body parts covered for 2 weeks, I HAVE to pre-tan. I'm going for my first session today and I find it quite a gruesome experience to say the least. It takes all the courage I can muster to actually close the lid on that bed completely. I'm a little claustrophobic and feel like I'm closing the lid on my coffin! And really, how sanitary are those beds? If the guy ahead of you comes out of the room with long, greasy hair, face full of sitz, and wearing not -so-clean -looking clothes, one can only wonder when he had his last bath. It sort of takes away any desire you might have had! And really, is that spray they use gonna kill ALL germs? And then there's the medical unhealthy skin-cancer causing side of it. Ya gotta wonder.........is it really worth it????