"These happy golden years are passing by, these happy golden years." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thursday, November 08, 2007

On This Our Wedding Day (Plus 27 years)


"I DO" ... words spoken and unbroken many years ago. Two sweethearts starting off on life's adventure. Today we are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. Four children and one grandchild later, we have been through high water and a few low tides. Always clinging to our faith and never taking one another for granted. I hope and pray that our own dear children will make lasting vows as they marry.

Friday, October 26, 2007

History Buff's Dream Date Night


The Mr. and I attended a dinner/lecture last night sponsored by the Idaho Humanities Council at the CDA Resort. Guest speaker was the New York Times Best Selling author Andrew Carroll. He spoke about the importance of preserving our nation's history by protecting wartime correspondence before they are lost or destroyed. Many of these letters have made their way into his books and PBS documentary War Letters. If anyone would like to contribute a photocopy of a personal war time letter, find further information at www.warletters.com

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

A New "Ann-e-ism"


Ann-e-isms are off the wall sayings that spew out of my seventeen year old daughter's mouth. Some of them are gems ... from younger years ... but her most recent verbiage was: "Did you get my channel-of-mind-link? " This being said after we both started saying the same thing at the same time last night. Her most famous line was part of a middle school report about creation -vs- evolution. It went something like this: "People have the need to know the true believings and the real happenings." After I read it, she handed the paper to her dad to review. He happened to be watching a football game on TV and glanced it over once, handed it back to her and told her "good job." My jaw dropped and I asked him what he had been smoking ... and to please read it again. At age eight she told my mom: "Grandma, when I grow up I want to look just like you ... but I want my own skin." (I'm sure this was said in reference to my mom's wrinkles). At age 12, while she and I were walking from the far end of the Target parking lot, commented how "those handicapped people are so lucky, they get to park up front." For this she got a tongue lashing from dear old mom. And last but not least she she told my grandfather when he turned ninety: "Grandpa, you're almost out of your numbers." Art Linkletter was right when he often said, "kids say the darnedest things." What are some of the funny sayings you've heard your kids or grandkids say?

Monday, October 22, 2007

To The Airport (again)



Mr. Mac is returning home around 1:00 today, so I'm off to the airport in about an hour. Three whole wonderful weeks of a helpmate (manservant) to take care of my growing honey-do list. After he's settled in then I'll be back to posting.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Choosing Not (To Swallow The Pill Of Bitterness)


Yesterday found me with two sick children at home. One child is small and for the first five of his eleven years had fragile health. The other (adult) child was teased growing up that she was 'too mean' to get sick ... she somehow escaped 95% of the nasty germs our family passed around. My adult child, Ann, will head back to school today, none for the weary ... feeling better. The small boy, Nathan, that calls me MOM (from the top of his lungs) will hang around another day ... sick. He has a throat infection and is being treated with antibiotics and should be fine in a day or so. He has Down syndrome ... a genetic disorder that can wreak havoc on a persons body and mental capabilities ... it will not go away and I've come to terms with the associated problems. Those terms sometimes include sleepless nights on both our parts. Last night was one of 'those terms' and I must have gotten up at least 11 times with him. Eleven times woken from sleepy dreamland to comfort him. Eleven times to change his pants because he needs help. Nine of those times I almost lost my patience ... and two of those times I remembered that he is only a small child, a gift from God, and needs extra protection and help. We chose life for him .... a high percentage of parents would have 'thrown him away' before birth. My inconvenience is short lived ... his 'inconvenience' is never complained about ... he takes his condition one day at a time and in his best efforts, makes beautiful music. Bitterness? Not on my watch.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)