A to Z about Me

I have read several lists of ‘100 things about me’; this is the first A to Z I’ve seen. Filling this out was fun, and I learned a little and remembered more.

A- Age:  62 and I get my first social security check the third Wednesday in October, 2011
B- Bed size:  Full, remember we live in an eight ft wide trailer
C- Chore you hate: bathrooms, enuf said
D- Dog’s name: no dog now, I was real fond of Rosie the wandering basset
E- Essential food/item: catsup
F- Favorite color: I’m drawn to all shades of yellow in nature, but seldom wear it
G- Gold or silver: not into jewelry, my favorite watch had a woven gold and silver band
H- Height: 5′4 3/4
I- I am:  thankful
J- Job: learning to live in the now
K- Kids: 5 – 3 girls and 2 boys, all adults somewith families of their own. I have 12 grandchildren, 1 son-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law
L- Living arrangements: We live very contentedly in a 8×27 ft RV as assistant caretakers of the 7 acres on which the church we attend is located.  We share the grounds with the head caretaker and 27 chickens and three stray cats who think they belong here (coz they get fed, tender hearted head caretaker).
M-Mom’s name: Frances, she is absolutely MOM #1
N- Nickname: When I was young, Mom called me Lessie, the Farmer calls me Hon, the kids call me mom, the grands call me, grannie
O- Overnight hospital stay: 5 babies, twice for a ruptured bowel (one illness), multiple times for complicated gall bladder/pancreas episode
P- Pet peeve: Having a car hurry to pull out in front of me causing me to break for it when there is a mile of empty road behind me
Q- Quote from a movie: …my very favorite quote is the scripture in the Old Testament in  Malachi 3:6  ” For I am the LORD, I change not; . . .”
R- Right or left handed: I’m a right handed
S- Siblings: I am the oldest and only girl with 4 brothers
T- Time you wake up: no sooner than I have to
U- Unique thing about your car: it always has sunflower seed shells on the floor
V- Vegetable you hate: bok coy at least in the recipe I used
W- Ways you run late: I  always think it will take less time to get somewhere than it does, so I leave later than I should
X- X-rays you’ve had: teeth, knees, abdominal, neck, back, chest,
Y- Yummy food you make: no one has turned away from my Chicken and Rice and I make a killer meatloaf, both original recipes from my Mom
Z- Zoo favorite: giraffes, and I could spend a lot of time watching farmyard fowl, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys…and I have.

Published in: on September 18, 2011 at 9:04 pm  Leave a Comment  

When you don’t get what you want…

“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.”  the Farmer.

Many times over many years our family has heard the Farmer repeat this statement.  And today it was said again.

This spring the Farmer started planning and planting the garden. He started seeds in little pots. He planted many plants on his hands and knees. He put in the drip system lines, so vegetables would be watered and not weeds.

This spring the Farmer was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, stage 3, 8-9 out of 10 on the Gleason scale.  ” The doctor says I have this thing wrong with me but I don’t feel anything” said the Farmer.  The  Farmer under went a biopsy, CT scans and   a MRI. He  took oral hormones as a first step in treatment. He received a hormone shot as the second step.  Calypso beads were inserted in the prostate gland to be able to line up the radiation correctly. A body form was made to insure being very still during radiation.

Yesterday was picking day, the Farmer got up early to start picking while it was still somewhat cool. He had to stop to make a 10:30,  Dr’s. appointment.  The radiation schedule was set, Monday through Friday at 2:00pm, for 8-9 weeks, starting September 7th.

Yesterday I heard,  ” I’m bummed.” quietly and solidly. He didn’t finish picking the garden.

The Farmer has never voiced discouragement. It didn’t matter what happened, good times, happy times, hard times, loss times, pick up and start again times, thankful times…there was always a sureness that we would make it through.

Has the Farmer lost his faith? NO!    Does He doubt God’s plan? NO!   Is He human?  Oh, Yes!  Is He grieving, yes.  Will He come through this battle with victory and praise, YES!  Not just because He is the Farmer, but because He is God’s Farmer!

Today I heard  as he smiled, “Well, this wasn’t what I wanted to experience,” as he stepped off the deck , walked back out to the garden to finish the picking.

The Farmer plants flowers for me and I love him.

Published in: on August 11, 2011 at 4:28 pm  Comments (13)  

What Happens at Family Night gets posted!

Family night was a fun place to be! Everyone but two were able to come, Aunty A and Cousin C were very much missed.

The boy cousins 12 and under arrived in the afternoon with pool time with Uncle A and Uncle D.  Most got some SPR (swimming pool rash); ALL had a great time.

I see some SPR on this Guy…but he doesn’t see us!

Our menu included Grandpa T”s tri tip shish kabob with zucchini (from the Farmer’s garden, mushrooms, and onions, rice  a roni, rolls, salad with cucumbers and cherry and yellow pear tomatoes (from the Farmer’s garden, and three kindsa  pickles.  Chocolate cake, cinnabon cupcakes, mint chocolate chip, strawberry, and bo’nilla ice cream. YUM!

Aunty M and  Aunty E use their time to advantage.

Some serious thinking occurred.

And a little educational reading happened.

SEVEN birthdays ( we had missed June) and ONE anniversary were celebrated.

A rousing sing a long kept us laughing.

Uncle A read us the story of David and Goliath, several thought provoking comments were added by the listeners.  Pray was made for dear ones far away but close in our hearts, and for near ones with special needs, and for all Little I’s friends.

Ten people were able to be thankful, I wish I had written them down. The variety of blessings are beyond number, and always worth the telling.

The Old folks left (Uncle b and the Farmer), the younger battled it out on the Wii

A serious player

and a somewhat lopsided game of 5 Crowns was played in the dining room.

Some of the crew!

Thank you Uncle A and Aunty A for extending again your warm welcome to your home for our family’s night together.

(PS. The quilt in the back ground of some of the pictures was paper pieced and quilted by Aunty E.)

Published in: on August 1, 2011 at 2:29 pm  Comments (10)  

On My Mind — Family, July 29, 2011

On my mind:  Tonight is Family Night. Once a month all the children and grandchildren (that are able) get together for dinner, games,    birthday and anniversary celebrations, songs, thankfuls and devotions.

Thankfuls means everyone tells us three things they are thankful for, it must be something different from what has already been mentioned. Because of differences, one family wasn’t meeting with the rest for several years, when we united again, one grandson didn’t know how to express the word thankful.  He was told to tell of three things he liked or was happy about. Now you should see him, He can hardly contain himself for the happiness he shows when it is his turn to be thankful.

The Grands

The Children and my Mother and her Tilly and us (top row left).

We feel so blest. We all support each other. We all like each other. We are a family.

Published in: on July 29, 2011 at 11:11 am  Comments (5)  
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