Have You Read This Book?

I'm not sure how I missed it. It's been around for
ten years. "A Grace Disguised - how the soul grows through loss" by Gerald L. Sittser. He lost his mother, wife and four year old daughter on the same day. The book isn't so much about his losses, as it is about all loss. He handles this subject extremely well.

This comes from a paragraph towards the end of the book:

"The risk of further loss, therefore, poses a dilemma. The problem of choosing to love again is that the choice to love means living under the constant threat of further loss. But the problem of choosing not to love is that the choice to turn from love means imperiling the life of the soul, for the soul thrives in an environment of love. Soul-full people love; soul-less people do not. If people want their souls to grow through loss, whatever the loss is, they must eventually decide to love even more deeply than they did before. They must respond to the loss by embracing love with renewed energy and commitment."

and...

"The accident itself bewilders me as much today as it did three years ago. Much good has come from it, but all the good in the world will never make the accident itself good. It remains a horrible, tragic, and evil event to me. A million people could be helped as a result of the tragedy, but that would not be enough to expain and justify it. The badness of the event and the goodness of the results are related, to be sure, but they are not the same. The latter is a consequence of the former, but the latter does not make the former legitimate or right or good. I do not believe that I lost three members of my family in order that I might change for the better, raise three health children, or write a book. I still want them back, ad I always will, no matter what happens as a result of their deaths."

I'm glad I stopped rushing out to buy the books I was told were going to be great. Now, I simply peruse the bookshelves at the thrift store, and have found so many treasures there. This book is clearly one of those treasures.

And for only a dollar.

Today Is Monday. All Day Long.

I've set this day aside to get stuff back in order around here.

Saturday we bought 3 bookcases, so I can get serious about organizing my books. Target had them on sale, and I hope they are good. They didn't cost much, but yet I'm hopeful. They are HEAVY. THGGM set them in the front entryway, and I cannot move them. Good help is hard to find.

This is THGGM busiest week so far since he has been working out of town. So, we cast aside all thought of accomplishing anything at all but furthering our relationship this weekend. This is always done best at antique malls and restaurants.

Fixing my broken vacuum didn't fall under that category. So, this morning I set out to fix it myself. I've gotten pretty good at vacuum repair, but gave it up for a bit after my work vacuum went snap, crackle, pop and FLASH and would have singed my eyelashes, but I wear glasses. The smell was frightening.

Anyway, back to MY vacuum! I could tell that it was not picking up properly, but I could not figure out why. Everything that should whir and spin was whirring and spinning. I noticed that there was a spot where the hose begins that looked depressed (takes one to know one). Yup. That was it. I could not get the wire in that area to stay, as the suctioning of the vacuum caused it to collapse. This is probably why THGGM couldn't find anything wrong, as it worked okay for awhile before it clamped itself tightly closed.

So, I set about to do surgery. This would be such an easy task if we had a 'tool chest'. Oh wait. We do. But, THGGM uses it in the garage. We got a different car. It's bigger. While entering the garage and carefully making sure that the garage door wasn't going to smash down on the back of the car, I hit the 'tool chest' (ugly old dresser) and knocked it over. Well, not all the way over, but so that if I lift it back up, all of the drawers filled with tools would fall out. I'm still looking for someone to push the drawers in while I stand it upright. (sometimes i do believe my only hope may rest in baby boy).

Anyway, back to my long boring story. I had to hunt for craft tools. I found my jewelry wire cutter, scissors and duct tape. I have a GRAY vacuum. Isn't most duct tape gray? Of course it is! BUT the gray stuff must be in the tool chest, so I had to repair the vacuum with metallic looking blue duct tape. I had to snip the hose in two separate places and turn the sharp ends in. I wound enough tape around it that it should hold throughout eternity, where and when I will most likely still be vacuuming.

And I am happy to report, IT WORKS!

I did it! No men involved!

My next project will involve a search for the bolts that would hold up the table in my art room, if only THGGM could remember where he put them when he took it apart. He says he put them in a cup. I haven't found THAT cup yet. It could be anywhere. I have several projects waiting for that table to get back together. If I don't find those bolts soon, I will give the blue duct tape a try. It might work.

After that, I'm going domestic and will make chocolate chips cookies.

Four weeks Old

Baby Boy is four weeks old today. He weighs 11 pounds, 6 ounces and is 24 inches long. No more newborn clothes for him. He is such a contented baby. He gets this from his mother. She slept for seven hours the night she came home from the hospital when she was born. Baby Boy isn't quite there yet, but is doing very well! He looks just like his daddy!

Bad Dates

This is the only decoration I have for Valentine's Day. This box once held two pounds of Fannie Farmer Old Time Candies. It belonged to one of THGGM's aunts. On the bottom it is noted: "My first box of candy, February 14, 1949". She also wrote who it was from. Fred Krueger. Hmmm. Was this BEFORE he was on "Nightmare on Elm Street", or after? THGGM's aunt dated Freddy Krueger. Now, that explains A LOT. Sometimes I'm not sure which side of the box I should be displaying!

Another Green Book

I found this green book at the thrift store. Actually, I found four of them, but this one looked the most interesting. It's by Morgan Llywelyn

It will stand proudly with my other green books. Someday, I will read it.

Latest Edition to the Green Book Collection

The Husband God Gave Me suggested yesterday that we go antique shopping at one of our favorite places. He had to pick up his rental car at the airport, and that put us on the path to the town of Lowell. Lowell has an antiques mall called Flat River Antiques. We've had some great times there. But, no more. They were having a 'Going Out of Business' sale. I did find this book, marked $28 for only $2. It is a first edition, copyright 1908. It's nicely worn, but full of interesting selections for elocution. I've never elocuted before, but should I ever want to, now I could. Of course, the reason I bought it is that it's green!

Borrowing Unconditional Love

I just can't resist posting this picture of Max.

Max is one of Daughther's dogs. He came from the animal shelter.

My boys aren't fond of him. They think he is too big, especially when he tries to curl up on a lap.

I don't mind that at all. Except when he compromises my lungs. Other than that, he can sit on my lap any time.

I always wanted a dog when I was a little girl, and Max is the dog I always wanted. But he isn't mine. So, I borrow him.

The Greats

Baby Boy went along with us tonight to visit his great grandparents.

They think he is wonderful.

As always, they are right!

My Failed Attempt...

...at snowman stick pins. Oh, they came out cute enough for me but the stick pins I bought to use for them are just too big! If someone were to be hugged while wearing one of these there would be a pretty good chance that they could be stabbed through the heart. So, there they sit, stuck in toile in a tin can.

If a pierced sternum ever becomes a fad, could someone let me know?

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That...

Here are some sights from my kitchen and back porch. The plates were a birthday gift from The Husband God Gave Me. He remembered that I had seen them at Cracker Barrel, but they weren't on sale - and that is a MUST for me. The wallpaper he found somewhere on clearance for two dollars a double roll. We weren't planning to use it for anything more than shelf liner, but quickly changed our minds when we refaced our cabinets from dark brown to white. I really like the forties look of it.

I love cobalt blue with the light coming through it. It needs a good scrubbin' though. Ever since we started venting the dryer onto the porch, the dust has increased accordingly back there. The plus side is, no nasty glare.

The tassel doll is from a 'onesy' salt and pepper shaker. Only one remained, which gives it the 'onesy' name, and only cost a dollar.

I also only paid a dollar at the thirft store for this little dutch girl with the basket. I've seen her other places in poor condition for much more. The little shelf she sits on my dad gave to me. He said it made him think of me. I had it in a box for years, always wondering why a red dutch girl shelf made him think of me. Much to ponder. But, when I scored the one dollar dutch girl and needed a place of honor where she could stand, I thought of the shelf! It suits her fine. Must be that my dad is still able to anticipate my every need.

Thank you for bearing with me while I post odds and ends. My mind has been elsewhere lately, and composing anything is difficult. Not for any other reason than I am unbelievable happy in my roll as Grandma Judy. I write better when I am in a foul mood, and I haven't been for quite sometime.

Yippy!

My THREE Favorite Old Post Cards

These are three of my favorite old postcards. 'Tis Seldom...' is from Miss Lottie to Miss Elsie. Seems that Miss Elsie had an accident and injuried her hand, Miss Elsie read about it in the paper and is inquiring about it - back in 1913. The 'Christmas Greeting' is from the year my mother was born, 1927. It's a Christmas greeting to Geraldine from Xenia (although it looks like it says Hernia) and Kathleen. 'Rally Day' is an invitation to a 'Sabbath School' program from 1923. If I were the 'mama' this card was sent to, I would have gone just because the card was so cute!

(I don't know why I've gotten a double of that one card, but I'm going to pretend that I don't care.)

Baby Boy

Baby Boy saw the nurse today. He now weighs 11 pounds 3 ounces and is 24 inches long.

He thinks this world is a wonderful place to be.

I will do my best to see he isn't disappointed.

For all of the babies in this world, I ask you to join me.

Never Too Soon

Really, you just can't start them too early!

His favorite part is "Barber, Baby, Bubbles and a Bumblebee".

It's my favorite part, too.

He also likes it when I sing the A B C's to the tune of Happy Birthday.

Grandpa, Formerly Known as THGGM

As much as I love being a grandma, this guy loves being a grandpa.

At times I have to fight for my fair share of 'holding' time.

But, I do diaper duty, which gives me some extra time.

Grandpa likes to get Baby Boy to 'talk'.

Yeah. That's funny. We were probably the first parents on earth to actually tell our child to suck his thumb. Having worked with two and three year old children for years before having my own, I prayed that Oldest Son would talk, as I wanted to know what he was thinking. God saw fit to grant my request.

Oldest Son started talking early and never stopped. So, there were times when his thoughts and opinions started to ware on us. At those times, we would ask him (read, BEG him) to suck his thumb. He is 25 and no longer sucks his thumb, so I don't think we did too much permanent damage.

With Daughter, I fought the urge to pray for a deaf mute. She didn't talk as early or as much. She sang. Yes. She sang. Once, The Husband God Gave Me and I heard her singing in her car seat as we drove happily down the highway.

The song went something like this:

Sometimes I'm naughty and my mommy yells at me
Sometimes my daddy says Get Back In Bed!
Sometimes I do bad things
And my daddy says no.

But I sure do love my mommy
I sure do love my mommy
I sure do love my mommy
I sure do love my dad.

Yeah. She hardly talked at all, but her songs said it all.

I hope her Baby Boy is a singer.

Youngest Son talked even earlier, even without my prayers.

Possessions

Ah, yes. From time to time I DO wonder this.

I've fallen behind in my quest to get rid of things.

Must get back on track right away.

Being a Grandma Is Great Fun!

The Cheerful Cherub

My sister gave me this adorable book for Christmas a few years back. The original drawings and poems are delightful!

Eleven Months Until Christmas

I have such a large amount of holiday decorations that it takes me the entire month of January just to put them away. I've a habit of setting things near to where they need to go in hopes of a strong young man carrying them to the proper spot in the attic. This rarely happens without much prodding.

I'm leaving my Christmas idea books out all year. Like I need more ideas. I've purchased some of those teeny tiny post-it thingies to mark the ideas that look both fun and do-able.

One in particular is a Christmas ornament. It is a picture copied onto transparency film. Then traced around a clear glass ornament, cut out, and slipped carefully into the ornament. This makes the picture visible from both sides.

I have a printer, I have a camera, I know where to buy transparency film. And, I bought the clear balls when they were deeply discounted after the holidays. I should be able to pull this off.

I must come up with another idea, as I have been giving decoupaged boxes for several years now, and if they are anything like me, the recipients have run out of places to put them!

But, Christmas tree ornaments personalized with a picture - why - you can NEVER have too many of those!

(well...i'll ask that again in a few years...)

THGGM Saves My Day

Well.

I am happy to report that we all survived the doctor and therapy.

Believe me, there were some VERY interesting happenings, but we did all survive.

Even though I have lived here all my life, I still have problems getting from point A to point B in this town. Between point A and point B today I got a bit emotional (point A was where all the very interesting happenings happened) as I realized that we have very good friends who used to live between those two points. Suddenly, I missed them 'extreme muchly' and wished that so many of our friends weren't either pastors or missionaries who moved away. Had she still lived nearby, I would have stopped in at Julie's and let her have my mom while we journeyed on to point B. And Julie would have done it with a servents heart - and a cookie. At least she used to do that for my kids.

Shockingly, the distance between point A and point B was shorter than I had anticipated. Everything at point B went very well. My mom and I chatted happily with a very friendly woman who was also waiting for someone having therapy. There are MANY really friendly people in this world. Most of them waiting for loved ones having therapy at point B.

There was some nasty weather beginning when we left for home and point C, the pharmacy. I badly needed a nap. I could have caught one at point B, but I'm too much like my father, and have to remain alert to inform people that not everything my mother says it true. This annoys her to know end, but I can't seem to help myself.

So, on the way home, and with no Julie to stop and unwind with I pulled into my driveway to grab the prescriptions. I do not know WHY but the prescription thingy is such a HUGE issue with me. I was starting to get shakey and irrational. Then, I saw it, The Husband God Gave Me's car. I told my dad I would take him to get the prescriptions filled tonight (i just could not handle the pharmacy - i'm not even sure why).

They drove on home. I actually ran into the house, found THGGM sitting on the couch and DEMANDED that he hold me.

He is a very kind man.

Such a kind man that he gathered up the prescriptions, went to my folks and picked up their insurance card and credit card and got them for me. He asked all of the right questions and got all of the right answers.

It's working. It will be more expensive for my parents this way than with their previous plan, but with some more paper work that I have to fill out and send in, my mother should be able to get some additional help with her meds.

Baby Boy came over tonight. I held him while he bobbed his head around trying to get a good look at me.

I hope he doesn't end up strange like me. I have no fear of walking into bear infested woods. But, for some UNKNOWN REASON this whole prescription drug issue has had me TERRIFIED.

But, I'm over it now. Tomorrow I will most likely be afraid of something totally different and equally stupid.

I'm predictable like that.

Today Is the Day

Have I seemed a bit snarky lately? Well, I certainly have been. But, today I will find out just how well I did finding a new prescription drug plan for my parents.

My dad's retirement people quit carrying prescription coverage. Why they would do this is beyond me.

I began researching this during the summer. I found it extremely nerve wracking and headache causing. I had the old system down and it ran like a well oiled machine for me.

Now, I have a stack of thin papers at least a foot high. I'm scared to death to dispose of any of them, in case it still contains a nugget of something that I will need.

But, today, after a doctor's appointment at one hospital, and therapy at another we will all march in single file to the pharmacy and hand over the first three of my mom's unbelievably expensive prescriptions and see how we faired. My stomach is in knots.

I did reach an extremely kind and helpful pharmacist by phone this morning. She helped me as best she could - never once hinting that I might not be up to the challenge.

I'm thanking God for her.

And, I'm also thanking God that I lived through this experience. For awhile there, I wondered if I would.

I do have a bit of advice though. Even if your parents are not old, some day - unless they die first - they will be. Get involved with this process right away. I cannot believe how much more complicated this would have been if I didn't know their history with each of their many drugs. I know their doctors, and one nurse in particular who truly doesn't believe that any of my questions are stupid, even when I know unequivocally that they are.

I feel like crying.

Close Ups from My Children's Dishes

Hiding the Ugly

I thought I could put this lamp up on two books and use it to block the ugly thermostat. I thought it was a great idea! Then, The Husband God Gave Me came home. Why is it so cold in here, he asks. I don't know. By the time we could see our breath, he investigated.

Hmmm...

Seems that it isn't a good idea to have a warm lamp right in front of the thermostat.

So, we're back to the ugly look of the thermostat.

Or, not turning on the lamp.

Cute Little Dutch Girl

I am unable to resist cute pictures of little Dutch children. I'm sure some of them were out and out brats, but they always look so cute in pictures. This one is from a very small picture. I also collect these, although I've gotten very picky lately. I paid a dollar for this one at Andy's in Saugatuck but Andy has since retired, and no one else sells them for such a great deal.

Three Weeks Young

Damaged Goods - More of My Favorite Things

This china Dutch couple stood in The Husband God Gave Me's grandmother's china cabinet. She gave them to us. The boy stands in the wooden shoe as he has an obvious repair to his feet. I'm glad he wasn't thrown out. All of the doilies in these pictures where made by THGGM's grandmother.

An extreme close-up from my Zells cup. I don't think there is anything cuter than a Dutch guy walking along a canal with a windmill in the background. Even if it is blurry.




The Husband God Gave Me found this shelf sitting in the yard in front of an antique mall. He bought it with pocket change. I was hoping he would paint it white, but he likes the weathered look (this bodes well for me...)



This Roseville mug is another favorite of mine. I love the picture. It has been repaired, which is the only way I could afford this. That someone liked it enough to pay to have such a fantastic repair job done to this shows that I'm not the first 'someone' who has treasured this.
And, this is my very small collection of Zells. Each piece has a flaw of some sort. That is how I could afford it. I doubt that I own anything that I could profit from selling, but looking at it brings me much joy. Dusting it all...not so much.

Roe vs. Wade - 30 plus years

Please read Mel's post at Actual Unretouched Photo - www.melodee128.blogspot.com

All I could think to add to it is the thought, where are all of the mother's from 30 plus years ago who have children they wish they had killed? Do they STILL wish they had killed them? No one has been able to adequately answer this question for me.

Might that not be the next reality TV show? Mother's and the adult children they wish they could have legally killed, and would have, but the law prevented it.

Our actions are in effect for much longer than just the moment we make them.

(The Husband God Gave Me has a vivid memory of his pregnant mother and an aunt and uncle pressing against the door to his house in an effort to keep out the 'doctor' my mother-in-law's ex-husband had sent over to perform an abortion. The aunt and uncle just happened to be visiting. THGGM has a reaccuring nightmare in which someone is trying to break in the door to kill him.)

But read Mel. She says it best.

Winter Fun, Max Style

Sniff the snowy branch...
Bite the snowy branch...
Get covered with snow from the snowy branch!

Tongues on Glass

Max and Charley romped in the snow this morning. Son-in-law took some great pictures of them. This one is my favorite. I call it "Tongues on Glass".