Just one of those days!

 This is one of those Fridays when I'm thankful the week is over. We've had snow, mice, traffic, lack of responses, and we wonder if anyone cares! On the other hand, we had Valentine's day, which we don't celebrate anymore. I looked it up. Here is the definition given by Wikipedia: "It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world." I've never heard of him. I remember celebrating this day before kindergarten! We made valentines for our classmates, friends, teachers, and parents. I love my wife! I don't need Valentine's day to celebrate our love for each other.

We go to the grocery store and find aisles of candy, cards, and gifts for every holiday! It is as if we are "guilty" of something if we don't buy and give. Now birthdays and anniversaries are something very special that should be celebrated! Why? Because those are celebrations of love and celebrations of the heart!

Talents of the Young and Young at Heart

 So, I last shared something of Chad and his family. Now, it is Heather's turn. Once again, I don't know when this was written, but probably Junior High or High School.  Her handwriting has always been very distinctive, an upright block style, almost printing! Heather has accomplished much. One of her first adventures was being selected as a Cheerleader for the University of Hawaii. That's when Carolyn and the older kids went to Hawaii to visit her.  She was a Cheering Team Leader in High School. ( I wrote an earlier blog about Heather being honored for her Volunteerism.) Heather and her husband, Eric, have raised five children. She and her mother, Carolyn, are addicted to babies!

Heather has what I call an effervescent personality. She is a joyful person and fills a room with her personality. She gives and lives from the heart! I needn't say more. Her words above say it all, really. But you know I love to do collages, so I've done one for this blog as well!

Heather and her husband Eric have always provided their children every opportunity to show and grow their many talents. Whatever the kids wanted to do, they could give it a try and their Mom and Dad support them! I could go on, but you get the drift!

We are so proud of all of them!

Mom's Reggedy Ann and Andy's

This is another of Mom's wonderful poems! The picture shows just a few of the hundreds she made or collected! If you look carefully, you will see our Grandson amongst them. I'm looking for a few more pictures to update this blog. Before Mom passed, she donated all her Raggedy Anne and Andys to a museum in Iowa, so they could be enjoyed by more boys and girls!

Mom’s Poem about her Raggedy Ann and Andy Collection

In Nineteen Seventy-three,

I started a new family tree

I was at a flea market,

And there I found something neat

Just lying around

I looked at the faces on the tin,

And just like that, I began to grin!

I had an idea as plain as could be

I would make these dolls just for me.

 At that point in time,

Raggedy Ann and Andy were born

And walked right into my heart and home

I’ve made their bodies and painted their faces

I’ve even made them different races

 In the end, they are all Ann and Andy’s

And all as sweet as cotton Candy

Two-hundred and fifty-three

 Take up a lot of space,

But each is in their place

They sit very quiet –

And I love them all,

The thin, the fat, and the short and tall

 

(Yvonne 2003)

An Ordinary Day

Just what makes for an ordinary day.  Does it really mean that nothing out of the ordinary happens?  What is ordinary.  For you it may be totally different than it is for me, or a policeman, or doctor, or nurse, or philosopher, or mechanic, or child, or adult -- you get my drift.

To some the picture to the left is an ordinary statue of Christ on the bell tower of a church.  To me, it is no ordinary memory, but a special memory of the church on Easter Island. It was extraordinary circumstances that brought me to the island - and lead me to taking such a picture.  Certainly it brings back a lot of extraordinary memories.

So today - was it ordinary or were there a lot of out of the ordinary occurrences.   I think the latter of those - but only if I noticed or paid attention to those ordinary things would I see those things that are out of the ordinary.  This all means that if we are not living moment to moment everything could be ordinary because we don't notice where we are or what we are experiencing at the time.  Life is awesome, and each moment of life is, indeed, awesome with so much to see, feel, hear, touch, smell, experience -- with each and every part of our being.  These things, extraordinary things, can be experienced weather we are sipping a glass of water or struggling to dust the very highest nook and crannies of our homes - there is joy in all of it - and maybe even sadness.  It all depends on what we bring to the experience of that thing at that very instant -

Live, love, learn -- be where you are when you are where you are and if you are with someone, other than yourself, be with them with all of your being!

Wrapping it UP

I said goodbye to Chuck and the Quackers.  Nice bunch of ducks.  they've wandered a ways from the pond a bit.  I do need to them one more time - this evening i guess.

I took mom to Tama today.  Said most of my goodbyes - having supper at Mike and Vicki's this evening - includes my very favorite potato soup.  I'll hit the road early tomorrow morning.  I'm going to drop by Kimballton on the way to York, Nebraska.  I'll take a few pictures if there is anything left standing of the grade school I attended or any of the houses we lived in - or my grade school flame's house.

I'm anxious to get back home.. See Carolyn and the dogs and the kids and grandkids.. I've repeated myself here - but hey it is important.  Until tomorrow then - live your moments, love your family and friends, do what makes you happy -- 

A Day of Reflection

When I think about today I think of reflecting on family -- what it means, who we are, where we come from, what makes us, us. I've been scanning photos for almost two weeks.  This is a photo of a great-grandmother, grandfather, mother and her first child - my sister Sharon.  My grampa was very special to me .  He taught me to walk while my dad was overseas in the Navy.  I don't recall seeing great-grandmother very much.  My sister has my grandfather's wonderful sense of humor - she can tell a story like no one can .  I had supper with her and her husband this evening - homemade pizza and shared a lot of fond memories and times.

I also stopped by my sister Lana's office, brother Mike;s home, Patti and Margi's (not home) and Mom's.  It was a joyfully busy day. I will be going home soon.  I will not forget this time I have had with my family.  It has been a gift, it has been very special -- I thank my lovely Carolyn for giving me up and giving me this very special time.  I am enjoying each and every moment.  Thanks for technology too, because I have been able to video conference with Carolyn almost every evening - she is going to be a bit pi&***d off about the car though.  Picture tomorrow!

You are all the best! Live your moments joyfully, share your smiles, your joys, your sorrows, your compassion, all emotions that you have -- they are a part of who we are - a part of what makes each of us unique, special, lovable!

A Closer Look

If you look really close - Just above the upper left edge of the mirror you see HoJac Acres or Ranch... you can see 3 small trees just to the left of the house.  This is where I've been staying the last few weeks.  It has been great, but I'll be happy to be back home with Carolyn.  This trip has been great, not just for the solitude and peacefulness, but because I've been able to spend quality time with folks and family that I don't get to spend a lot of time with.  Jacque, Howard, and I will meet up 1/2 way between here and Denver sometime next week.  The next day I'll be back home.  I'm thankful for the time that I've had here.  I am very appreciative, as is my family, that Carolyn so generously shared me with them for this long period of time.

I will carry great memories back home with me.  I will have those forever.  As much as I've enjoyed it here, it will be good to be back with my Carolyn.

When we Were Younger

Me and my bride. She turned 63 today - she seems far less and still enchants me each and every day. Love does that - keeps young, keeps us alive, keeps us engaged. We celebrated by going to one of our favorite restaurants and had a few glasses of wine and some good Italian food.

We are spending a wonderfully relaxing evening at home. The dogs are even giving us a break - somehow they sense we need this time for each other.

I've got no flashes of brilliance this evening - well I rarely have flashes of brilliance - if ever. I'm a plain ordinary being with plain ordinary needs. I think, except to keep occupied during my waking hours. I've become a bit addicted to the computer - even this is evidence of that. It would be an interesting experiment to go cold turkey. But then I couldn't keep some of my on-line commitments - or, maybe I could stop using it except for the "necessary" things that need to be done.

Man have I drifted off subject. Ah well, proves things are normal. But aren't we a great looking couple! Have an excellent tomorrow, but make sure you enjoy the moments that come before then -- try and wrap your brain around that concept for awhile!

End of the Rope

A cold day,

I could see my breath,

No golf again!

I could the little card to the right from one of my many past bosses. It was during a time that I was really struggling at work. The advice is good and can quickly change your attitude. I think if you double click it, you'll get a larger version. I put it with today's blog because I came close to the end of my rope today - and remembered to swing -- taxes can do that to you.

we didn't play golf this morning - we all showed up at the course, but together, decided it was just to cold to enjoy. So, instead, we had a great breakfast together. Maybe next Monday - winter doesn't last forever.

i did get our old Craig 3" Reel to Reel repaired. Now Carolyn and I can listen to some of our old tapes - remembrances of Easter Island and the first year of our marriage. We listened to a great one today - had Jay doing a "Mission Impossible" for Lucky (my nickname at the time). It also had some songs that Carolyn prepared and sent to me. Interesting, she had gotten an electric bill - $2.35 -- wow have things changed.

Have great moments with yourself and with others... be yourself!

From the Past

Seasons are

We are, if we are

Use your moments well...

Many years ago we were very involved in Marriage Encounter -- I don't know why, but this symbol came up today, as did a book of our old weekends and lists of marriage encounter teams. I even found a team member on Facebook today.

What brings these things - in what seems like a very random way - into our lives at different times - what is the purpose - is there one? Or, is it just to remind us of the gifts we have and that we have given. Our children and some of our friends sacrificed time for us to be so involved. I hope we thanked them and I hope they saw the value in our commitment to this.

I was very lazy today. I've started refinishing the radio cabinet - I think it will be more fun than I thought it would be. I've started with 0000 steel wool - it has taken off some paint stains and the finish still looks great. i'll be cleaning the surface next.

There are a multitude of moments ahead of each of us - enjoy each and every one of them to the absolute fullest!