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????

These Clouds Will Pass...

I guess I'm going through my usual pre-Christmas Blues, only they seem to be more severe this year. Maybe because there has been so much happening in our family this year. Anyway, it's times like this where I miss my son even more. I know he's been gone for 14 years but the pain remains forever. I go into a state of imagining what might have been.... Would he have had children? I can only imagine. What kind of relationship would he have with his nieces & nephews. I can only imagine. Would he go out hunting with Allan? Would he still love to schnuffle his nose in the girls hair? (He used to do that to little girls.) I know he would adore Andrew. I feel like they got robbed. They never had a chance to meet their uncle. I hurt for Shelley. He was her only brother. I think about all the families who have been bereaved this year. All the families of soldiers killed in the wars. I hurt for my great nieces. Their mother passed away in November. My very close girlfriend who lost her husband this year. The list goes on and on.....

I need to focus more on the real meaning of Christmas. It's only because of the birth of Jesus that all this sadness will one day end. I also know this dark cloud will pass and maybe tomorrow I will see the sun again. I WILL enjoy Christmas with my family!

Mispelled Words

This morning I was at my sisters for coffee and she brought out an old German Bible that was given to her by an aunt of ours. There were numerous interesting, handwritten notes & articles inside the Bible and one was a scrap of paper on which my aunt had written & I quote, "uncle Johann died this morning of hot chicken disease". Well, we couldn't figure that one out because we both remembered that uncle Johann died of cancer. After alot of brainstorming we figured out she meant "hodgkins disease". How's that for spelling words the way they sound? I'm still chuckling about that one. Such is life...