HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN

Today would have been my mother's 82nd birthday. It's been 3 years since she passed away on July 1, 2007. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday, but then others, it seems like so much longer than that. Since that time Kristy has had two babies & Kate has grown from a one year old to a young girl getting ready to begin kindergarten. How unreal is that!!
I remember having so much fun with mother when I was growing up. We played cards, Scrabble, & worked jigsaw puzzles. She loved it when we were home from school, either in the summer or the winter for snow days or Christmas break. As an adult I knew how much she loved me and cared for my family. We were her world and she was never happier than when we were all with her.
Just wanted to say mother, I love you and still miss you!! Happy Birthday!

FAMILY TIES

I grew up without ever having any blood relatives live in the same town as I did unless they were actually members of my own home. We always made several trips each year back to my parents hometown to see grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins. I remember a lot of happy times on the visits. My grandparents lived a little over a block from each other. Even as elementary age kids we could walk between their houses. Along the way, we'd pass by a couple of drug stores where we loved to go in and "shop" and a bakery where we could buy fresh donuts, cream horns, or bread. Some of my favorite memories are from going to the little Methodist Church in the town. Both sets of grandparents were members there, along with aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. I remember walking to church with my daddy's father -- holding his hand all along the way. Then when we'd get to church I'd go off with my cousins.


In 1937 the church was flooded by the Ohio River. But after being cleaned up, it was once again used for worship. My parents went to youth fellowship at this church when they were teenagers, then they were married in this church, had both my brother and myself baptized there. At my baptism, two of my mother's sister's had both had babies within 6 weeks of my birth and we were all baptized the same day. When my grandfather passed away when I was a junior in high school, his funeral was held at this church. When my children were born, we returned to this family church to have each one of them baptized. Each time, my Aunt Martha would have an after-church dinner for us complete with a special cake commemorating their baptism. They also gave each of the girls gold cross necklaces.

Kristy's baptism
Above - Kristy, me & Grandma Jackson
Below - The Allen's & Donini's and us after Kristy's baptism

This past week, my Aunt Martha passed away at the age of 84. Handyman and I drove the 300 miles up to see the family.

On another note, the town where the little Methodist Church was located came upon hard times when the steel mill closed 30-40 years ago and the people moved further away, some just out in the county and joined another Methodist Church. The membership slowly declined in our family church. Several years ago, the other church where several of the members have moved their memberships began falling apart. They were going to have to build a new church and money was still hard to com by. The people from the two churches got together and decided that they would combine and build one new church together So today was the first time that I had ever attended the new Christ United Methodist Church. After the service my cousin took me out to the hallway to show me some name plaques that were mounted on the wall. These plaques had been at the old family church as part of the stained glass windows. I always assumed that the people had donated the money to purchase the window in which their name was placed. As I looked through the names -- I saw Allen, Donini, & Bartlett (my aunt, uncle, cousins & maternal grandparents), then Floyd & Faye Jackson (my paternal grandparents), Mary Lou & Paul Harris (my parents best friends) The Sheridens (Mary Lou's family), Mrs. Darling (a sweet lady who I think played the piano), The Gaspich's (my grandmother's doctor) and several other familiar names. Most of the people I remember from the church are gone and it just wasn't the same going to the new church, but when I saw these name plaques all of those precious memories came flooding back.

FRESH FROM THE GARDEN

Handyman went to his mom's this afternoon and brought home some goodies from the garden. We've had some cukes before, but this is our first picking of squash, green beans & green peppers. The pickins weren't big, but it's a start. I'm looking forward to lunch tomorrow!!

QUIET

It's been almost a week since the kids moved on to their new home in Tennessee. Things have gone back to normal at home this week. It is so quiet -- I miss the activity that they brought to us.
On Tuesday I received a call that my Aunt Martha had passed away. It was not unexpected. She hadn't been in good health for several years and I had learned from her grandchildren that she was not doing well. Handyman & I are planning on traveling to Ohio to be with the family this weekend. This branch of my family always came when there were BIG events in our lives -- weddings & funerals, in particular. As a child I spent many nights in their home and always felt so loved. I also remember the love my Aunt Martha & Uncle Bob had for each other. Everywhere they went they held hands. Even as a child, I thought that was great. My parents never did that. Handyman & I don't do that very often either. Their grandson posted a picture this week on Facebook that brought tears to my eyes. It was just so like them ----

Prayers go up for my Uncle Bob because he has lost his soul mate. They were married for 65 years, had 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Moving On

Yesterday was moving day for the kids (and grandkids). Kristy, Justin, Randy & Nate made their getaway from here at about 6:00 am. They headed south with 3 vehicles filled to the brim to be at the house when their POD arrived. It seems the POD people were up very early too and delivered the POD earlier than was anticipated. The POD was unloaded by noon and they worked trying to get all of the boxes unpacked. I kept Kate & Gabby with me and we had a somewhat normal day. They ate muffins for breakfast, watched Sesame Street (and also Thomas the Train) & played out on the sun porch. We had lunch about 11am and then I put them down for their naps. They talked me into letting them nap together and I figured there would not be a nap -- 2 reasons - they were together and also anticipating the trip to Tennessee. I was pleasantly surprised. They went right to sleep and slept for about an hour and a half! After they got up we took off for Music City. Everything was going good, I had put them in cups of water and Goldfish for snack, but when we got to Nashville it started to rain --- hard. It didn't rain too long, but then the traffic was backed up due to a collision on the bridge. We finally made it through downtown Nashville and headed out Murfreesboro Pike. It was 14 miles of traffic signals --- stop and go, stop and go. When we finally arrived at the house Gabby wasn't sure she wanted to go in. It took some prodding and telling her that her mama was there, but she finally went in. Then the girls got to see their bedroom. Their bed was made up, their books were in the bookcase and the toys that had been packed away for several weeks were in their closet. The dove right in!! I think every toy that had been in the closet ended up on the floor. We finally headed home about 6:30 and had another thunderstorm just as we reached Nashville. It rained until we were out the other side, but fortunately no accidents during that thunderstorm.
I spent today getting the house cleaned up. I had neglected it while they were here. Things look pretty good right now, but they're also pretty quiet. I miss the Gabby hugs, Kate wanting to be read to, and rocking Nate. I miss their parents too, but I'm sure that they're happy to have a home again. It'll take them a little while to get settled in, but once they do I hope they'll soon come back for a visit.

TIME FLIES (when you're having fun)

We have been enjoying having #1 daughter and her family stay with us. They arrived on June 23rd - so they have been here about 2-1/2 weeks. With 3 little ones a good deal of our time is spent doing for them -meals, diapers for the little one, snacks, reading stories, bath time, coming up with different things for them to do. It's been a little tiring at times, but it's so good to have them around. They keep life interesting and you never know what is going to come out of their little mouths!!
They've accompanied us to church a couple of times, I got to take Kate to WalMart to purchase school supplies (she'll be starting kindergarten in a few short weeks), took both girls to WalMart to pick up some groceries, went to a dairy barn where they could milk a full size plastic cow, ride a real horse, and eat ice cream, had a cookout at the cabin, and made a trip to the mall where we bought some school clothes, got ice cream and rode on the carousel. And thru all of that I worked most weekdays.
They all left today for a few days at the other grandparents in Ohio. Handyman & I left after church today to spend a few days at the cabin. I'll still have to go to work every day, but in the evenings, we'll just take it easy. The kids will all be back on Thursday for one night and then it'll be "moving day" on Friday. We thought they'd be with us a little longer but I know they're looking forward to getting settled in their new place. They've found what looks to be a really nice house. I'm hoping that they enjoy being back on our side of the Mississippi and that we'll get to see lots of them.