I had mentioned that my dad did not have much of a formal education. However, his years of experience on the farm in many areas merited him much in the way of education.
To be successful farmer, one must know Agronomy, soil types, animal science, accounting, business, farm management, mechanical engineering, human relations, crop rotation, veterinary knowledge, management of people, money management, etc. These are just a few things that farmers learn (on the job training). So you can see, he did have quite a vast knowledge of experience and knowledge. Mix all these and hard work, and one can be a successful farmer.
He had six grandchildren and he would have been so proud of each of their accomplishments.
I'm sure because of the hard work that was instilled in his own children, that the grandchildren succeeded in their endeavor of interest.
The degrees that his grandchildren received were as follows--
Electrical Engineering degree from University of Illinois
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology(Southern Il. Univ.), with associate
degree in mechanical engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering Technology.
Masters degree in Microbiology
Masters degree in Mathematics
Masters in Special Education/teachers degree, travel & others.
Bachelors degree in teaching/elementary and high school.
He would have been delighted to see you guys all grow up and then go on to raise your families and see your children go on to pursue their dreams of a higher education.
Today's thoughts--We can thank our forefathers for their values and hard work they have instilled in us.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
THE WAKE!
Today I will write about the days leading up to the funeral. It was early morning when my husband came home from work and my mother-in-law was running across the lawn. I couldn't imagine what was going on. I thought my husband had taken sick. He told me to sit down and then proceeded to tell me that my father had died of a heart attack that morning while picking corn. The words didn't register, and it was as if he was telling me about somebody other than my dad. It wasn't until I saw the casket coming up the walk of our home, did it finally register.
We were meeting with the funeral director to make arrangements. My aunt said that if it were her dad, she would want the visitation in the home. That is all that needed to be said. Nobody, but NOBODY, loved their dad more than we, so this is where the body was brought and visitation was held. Looking back on this, this was really not a great idea. People came all hours of the day and evening. My husband, sister's husband and an uncle stayed up all night. (They call it a wake). Nobody got any rest. Needless to say, when my mother passed away, visitation was in the funeral home. Years ago, it always was in the home.
In memory of my father, I will type something that was written about him in the small local paper. It said--"Our neighbor, John __, picked the ideal way to depart from this world. No fuss, no bother to anyone else. He lived a life that commanded the respect of his friends and neighbors. Jack___ as a youth, worked three years as a farm hand for John. Jack and his wife, Helen, drove from Chicago to attend the funeral. Jack told us that you wouldn't want to work for a better man than John. Thought for the week--You do not need to be rich or famous to be a success. If you will do the best you can to be a friend of man, you can take your place beside the great!"
My older daughter was being cared for by my mother-in-law during these few days. At the funeral they brought her up. She was literally a "breath of fresh air" when I saw her that day. The Lord gives and takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord! The Lord gave us a baby girl one month later and she also has been quite the blessing!
We were meeting with the funeral director to make arrangements. My aunt said that if it were her dad, she would want the visitation in the home. That is all that needed to be said. Nobody, but NOBODY, loved their dad more than we, so this is where the body was brought and visitation was held. Looking back on this, this was really not a great idea. People came all hours of the day and evening. My husband, sister's husband and an uncle stayed up all night. (They call it a wake). Nobody got any rest. Needless to say, when my mother passed away, visitation was in the funeral home. Years ago, it always was in the home.
In memory of my father, I will type something that was written about him in the small local paper. It said--"Our neighbor, John __, picked the ideal way to depart from this world. No fuss, no bother to anyone else. He lived a life that commanded the respect of his friends and neighbors. Jack___ as a youth, worked three years as a farm hand for John. Jack and his wife, Helen, drove from Chicago to attend the funeral. Jack told us that you wouldn't want to work for a better man than John. Thought for the week--You do not need to be rich or famous to be a success. If you will do the best you can to be a friend of man, you can take your place beside the great!"
My older daughter was being cared for by my mother-in-law during these few days. At the funeral they brought her up. She was literally a "breath of fresh air" when I saw her that day. The Lord gives and takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord! The Lord gave us a baby girl one month later and she also has been quite the blessing!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
MORE ABOUT MY FATHER!
I wanted to write some tidbits about my dad that I haven't mentioned before in some of my writings.
I did mention that he was next to the oldest child of 9 siblings. They had larger families back in those days. He was born in Illinois on a farm in 1888. Both of my father's parents were immigrants. My dad's mother came over at the age of 18 from Germany. My dad's father came from Switzerland at the age of 3.
One of the siblings died in infancy. Another boy died at the age of 6 with Pneumonia. The older boys helped a lot in raising the younger children. They also, pooled their resources and helped with grandpa and grandma purchasing and paying for the land that they lived on. So you might know that dad early in his life, took on responsibility and was really a hard worker down through the years.
When he was 24 years of age, he married my mother and together they worked extremely hard.
My dad was a fair man and treated others with respect always. He was highly respected in the community and loved by most.
During my growing up years he was on the school board of our small grade school. All during my high school years he served on the High School Board, as well. He held county offices, but can't remember what they were.
He didn't have only an 8Th grade education, due to the demands at home and work that he had to do to help with the farm, house, and care for the siblings. However, I challenge anyone with a much higher education to compete with my dad's "horse sense". He could figure in his head faster than a person can do on paper. He certainly was well read and was smart.
With that said, I could not have been more proud of my dad, than if he had 10 degrees to his name.
I mentioned before that he was an even tempered man, and was an easy person to get along with.
He loved baseball and when we got television he came down to watch the World Series. How delighted he was to see it instead of hearing about it on radio.
He dearly loved children and was so delighted with his grandchildren.
He retired from farming and moved to town close to the farm. He seemed to enjoy going out and helping on the farm even after retiring. I asked him why he was still going out to work when he didn't need to do that. He told me that too many active farmers retire and because of inactivity die within a couple years later. I never mentioned this to him again after this.
The summer before he passed away, I asked him if he had to do it all over again, what would he like to have done? He said to me that he would be a farmer again. He loved working out in the open air, loved being his own boss and enjoyed what he did.
Ten days before my father passed away, he had a bad cold. We were up visiting him and I told him that he needed to go to the doctor for his cold. I also, told him he needed to get a physical. I mentioned that he could have heart problems and not know it. He got up from his chair and told me, "That would just give me something to worry about". He went into the kitchen and returned immediately and sat down. I continued to try to persuade him to follow through on this. We also discussed what we planned to name our soon to be child. He said to me, "You just can't beat the name of "Mary".
Ten days later my father died of a heart attach while picking corn with a corn picker. My youngest daughter was one month from being born. The years was 1954. After he died, I asked my husband if he minded if we had a girl, that we name her "Mary"? We did have a girl and we named her "Mary". Dad would have been so proud of each of his grandchildren, had he lived to see all their accomplishments.
Tomorrow I will tell about the funeral arrangements.
Thought for today--I truly lost a "great friend and father that day long ago"!
I did mention that he was next to the oldest child of 9 siblings. They had larger families back in those days. He was born in Illinois on a farm in 1888. Both of my father's parents were immigrants. My dad's mother came over at the age of 18 from Germany. My dad's father came from Switzerland at the age of 3.
One of the siblings died in infancy. Another boy died at the age of 6 with Pneumonia. The older boys helped a lot in raising the younger children. They also, pooled their resources and helped with grandpa and grandma purchasing and paying for the land that they lived on. So you might know that dad early in his life, took on responsibility and was really a hard worker down through the years.
When he was 24 years of age, he married my mother and together they worked extremely hard.
My dad was a fair man and treated others with respect always. He was highly respected in the community and loved by most.
During my growing up years he was on the school board of our small grade school. All during my high school years he served on the High School Board, as well. He held county offices, but can't remember what they were.
He didn't have only an 8Th grade education, due to the demands at home and work that he had to do to help with the farm, house, and care for the siblings. However, I challenge anyone with a much higher education to compete with my dad's "horse sense". He could figure in his head faster than a person can do on paper. He certainly was well read and was smart.
With that said, I could not have been more proud of my dad, than if he had 10 degrees to his name.
I mentioned before that he was an even tempered man, and was an easy person to get along with.
He loved baseball and when we got television he came down to watch the World Series. How delighted he was to see it instead of hearing about it on radio.
He dearly loved children and was so delighted with his grandchildren.
He retired from farming and moved to town close to the farm. He seemed to enjoy going out and helping on the farm even after retiring. I asked him why he was still going out to work when he didn't need to do that. He told me that too many active farmers retire and because of inactivity die within a couple years later. I never mentioned this to him again after this.
The summer before he passed away, I asked him if he had to do it all over again, what would he like to have done? He said to me that he would be a farmer again. He loved working out in the open air, loved being his own boss and enjoyed what he did.
Ten days before my father passed away, he had a bad cold. We were up visiting him and I told him that he needed to go to the doctor for his cold. I also, told him he needed to get a physical. I mentioned that he could have heart problems and not know it. He got up from his chair and told me, "That would just give me something to worry about". He went into the kitchen and returned immediately and sat down. I continued to try to persuade him to follow through on this. We also discussed what we planned to name our soon to be child. He said to me, "You just can't beat the name of "Mary".
Ten days later my father died of a heart attach while picking corn with a corn picker. My youngest daughter was one month from being born. The years was 1954. After he died, I asked my husband if he minded if we had a girl, that we name her "Mary"? We did have a girl and we named her "Mary". Dad would have been so proud of each of his grandchildren, had he lived to see all their accomplishments.
Tomorrow I will tell about the funeral arrangements.
Thought for today--I truly lost a "great friend and father that day long ago"!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
CARDS AND O'HENRYS!
My dad liked to play cards for recreation. Since my mother didn't allow a deck of cards in the house, he would go to town on rainy days and play with fellow farmers in the area and loaf away visiting and playing. In order to play they bought so many chips at the store (the cost was very low). He probably got 10 chips for a dime (I am strictly guessing on this).
Then each time he would win a game, he would collect chips from the ones he was playing with. He was really a good player, and at the end of the afternoon, he would exchange his gained chips for O'Henry Candy bars.
He would bring the candy bars home and immediately my mother would ask if they were bought with the chip money. My dad would tell if they were. She wouldn't eat any if that was the case. As children, we thought they tasted pretty good. I guess, if this was the only "vice" that my dad had, it wasn't so bad. He never took up gambling.
My sister and I really have a competitive spirit and we like a good card game. She plays to WIN
and I give her a run for her money (so to speak). No we don't play for any money. I do think it keeps both of our minds "sharp". I try to do puzzles, etc in the paper daily, so I keep my mind active and alert. I hate to think that someday I might not know what day it is, or even care less.
Some wise old sayings--Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Don't judge folks by their relatives, after all they didn't get to pick em.
Then each time he would win a game, he would collect chips from the ones he was playing with. He was really a good player, and at the end of the afternoon, he would exchange his gained chips for O'Henry Candy bars.
He would bring the candy bars home and immediately my mother would ask if they were bought with the chip money. My dad would tell if they were. She wouldn't eat any if that was the case. As children, we thought they tasted pretty good. I guess, if this was the only "vice" that my dad had, it wasn't so bad. He never took up gambling.
My sister and I really have a competitive spirit and we like a good card game. She plays to WIN
and I give her a run for her money (so to speak). No we don't play for any money. I do think it keeps both of our minds "sharp". I try to do puzzles, etc in the paper daily, so I keep my mind active and alert. I hate to think that someday I might not know what day it is, or even care less.
Some wise old sayings--Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Don't judge folks by their relatives, after all they didn't get to pick em.
Monday, January 26, 2009
ICE HAZARD!
Last writing I told you that my husband had his wrist broken a few years ago. This was from a fall on the ice. Well today, I will tell you about his falling on the ice around Christmas. When it happened, I didn't want to mention it because of our children were gone and I didn't want to spoil their trips.
We were taking care of one of our kids dog while they were away. I thought this was not going to be a problem, since we have a dry attached garage, that all we had to do is go out in the dry garage and the dog could go out the double doors of the garage and then back into the house again. Good plan, don't you think? Well, it turned out that the dog had other plans, and started walking grandpa. Not a good plan!!!!! He stepped out on the ice and down he went face first. He came in and didn't mention anything about it.
Later in the evening, I said there was a funny sound in the garage. He said that he had forgotten to close the garage door. He tried to get up, and was really having quite a time standing up. I asked him what was wrong.
He said, "I got a little problem".
I said, "What kind of problem"?
He said, "I didn't want to tell you this, but I fell on the ice while taking the dog out".
The truth was finally out of the bag of how the dog took him for a walk, instead of him leading the dog.
After a CAT scan, Sonogram, and ex ray this morning, they decided he had a crack in his knee cap. The bone doctor said that he was healing quite well and didn't need to see him unless something comes up again. His swelling of the leg was down this morning and this was really good news. It's been a month since his fall, so I suppose it has healed some since December.
Our son-in-law chipped out our double driveway yesterday. It was caked with ice and snow. Thanks so much!!!!!
Wisdom today--Falling on ice is not very good idea, especially if you are nearing 88 years of
age. Falling on ice at any age isn't a very good idea, regardless of the age. Many people much younger were in the doctors office today recuperating from some kind of leg injury.
We were taking care of one of our kids dog while they were away. I thought this was not going to be a problem, since we have a dry attached garage, that all we had to do is go out in the dry garage and the dog could go out the double doors of the garage and then back into the house again. Good plan, don't you think? Well, it turned out that the dog had other plans, and started walking grandpa. Not a good plan!!!!! He stepped out on the ice and down he went face first. He came in and didn't mention anything about it.
Later in the evening, I said there was a funny sound in the garage. He said that he had forgotten to close the garage door. He tried to get up, and was really having quite a time standing up. I asked him what was wrong.
He said, "I got a little problem".
I said, "What kind of problem"?
He said, "I didn't want to tell you this, but I fell on the ice while taking the dog out".
The truth was finally out of the bag of how the dog took him for a walk, instead of him leading the dog.
After a CAT scan, Sonogram, and ex ray this morning, they decided he had a crack in his knee cap. The bone doctor said that he was healing quite well and didn't need to see him unless something comes up again. His swelling of the leg was down this morning and this was really good news. It's been a month since his fall, so I suppose it has healed some since December.
Our son-in-law chipped out our double driveway yesterday. It was caked with ice and snow. Thanks so much!!!!!
Wisdom today--Falling on ice is not very good idea, especially if you are nearing 88 years of
age. Falling on ice at any age isn't a very good idea, regardless of the age. Many people much younger were in the doctors office today recuperating from some kind of leg injury.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
PEARLY WHITE CITY!
I got an e-mail yesterday and want you to go to youtube to hear Neth sing and play Pearly White City. http://www.youtube.com/ /watch?v=5TJlt58t7Q (beautifully done Annita)
Hope this will take you to her recording of Pearly White City!
This brings me to a a story that happened just a couple years ago. We were vacationing with our oldest daughter and husband at one of their time-share condos. Since my husband and I are not savvy on flying and connecting up with planes we left all that part up to my daughter. She couldn't get us on the same plane as her and her husband, but did get connections where they were compatible. My husband had fallen and had broken his wrist and was wearing a steel bar between bones so the wrist could heal. This and with heart problems we were able to have wheel chairs available to and from connections.
We had a great time in Florida since it was in January and that sure is a good place to be during that time of the year. The way it turned out, there was a non-stop flight directly to Orlando, Florida for the 4 of us on the way down. PTL! On the way back we were scheduled again to be on separate planes. They loaded the wheelchair people first, and then the regular people flying later. We were all settled in and I looked up and who should I see, but our son-in-law and daughter boarding the same plane. This truly was a miracle in itself, that they were flying both ways non-stop on the same planes. Originally both flights were to fly to Atlanta, Ga. and then transferred to another plane.
On the return trip it took a little over 2 hours to fly from Orlando to Chicago nonstop (1100 miles) and from Chicago to our destination (100 miles) it took 5 hours.
We had just got up in the air from Chicago to our final destination and there was an EXPLOSION in the back of the plane (right under my son-in-laws and daughters seat). The cabin to the plane filled with smoke, bits and pieces were flying around in the cabin and it was getting difficult to breathe. Our kids said that the floor and side walls to their seats were extremely hot.
No explanation was given over the intercom, but the pilots were trying to radio the tower back at O'hare that they needed to come back for an emergency landing.
During this time, I was thinking how God had helped my husband going and coming to be on the same flights with our kids and He knew about the explosion that was about to take place. Calmness took over my being. I did look at my husband and thought that sure wasn't going to be good for his broken arm if we crashed. On second thought, I thought that sure wasn't going to be good for ANY OF US, if we crashed!
I wasn't sure that we would make it to our earthly home or we were going to that "Pearly White City" that Neth is singing about on U-tube.
We did land safely. Many of the passengers would not go on another plane, and got another way home for the last 100 miles. My thought was, what are the chances this thing happening back to back! We arrived safely home 5 hours later.
The pilot (after landing) said that he had flown 20 years and never had an emergency landing other than someone took sick and had to land for this purpose but not malfunction of the plane.
What was wrong you asked? The way I understand it, the converter box that takes the energy to run the air conditioning and heating , exploded and caught on fire and this is what caused the smoke and heat. The explosion caused a small hole in the floor and insulation was flying in the cabin. I couldn't understand why the oxygen masks were not coming down. I guess, fire and oxygen doesn't mix too well. Or maybe, they mix all TOO WELL.
Wisdom today--Be ready to meet your maker, as we know not what a day will bring forth.
Hope this will take you to her recording of Pearly White City!
This brings me to a a story that happened just a couple years ago. We were vacationing with our oldest daughter and husband at one of their time-share condos. Since my husband and I are not savvy on flying and connecting up with planes we left all that part up to my daughter. She couldn't get us on the same plane as her and her husband, but did get connections where they were compatible. My husband had fallen and had broken his wrist and was wearing a steel bar between bones so the wrist could heal. This and with heart problems we were able to have wheel chairs available to and from connections.
We had a great time in Florida since it was in January and that sure is a good place to be during that time of the year. The way it turned out, there was a non-stop flight directly to Orlando, Florida for the 4 of us on the way down. PTL! On the way back we were scheduled again to be on separate planes. They loaded the wheelchair people first, and then the regular people flying later. We were all settled in and I looked up and who should I see, but our son-in-law and daughter boarding the same plane. This truly was a miracle in itself, that they were flying both ways non-stop on the same planes. Originally both flights were to fly to Atlanta, Ga. and then transferred to another plane.
On the return trip it took a little over 2 hours to fly from Orlando to Chicago nonstop (1100 miles) and from Chicago to our destination (100 miles) it took 5 hours.
We had just got up in the air from Chicago to our final destination and there was an EXPLOSION in the back of the plane (right under my son-in-laws and daughters seat). The cabin to the plane filled with smoke, bits and pieces were flying around in the cabin and it was getting difficult to breathe. Our kids said that the floor and side walls to their seats were extremely hot.
No explanation was given over the intercom, but the pilots were trying to radio the tower back at O'hare that they needed to come back for an emergency landing.
During this time, I was thinking how God had helped my husband going and coming to be on the same flights with our kids and He knew about the explosion that was about to take place. Calmness took over my being. I did look at my husband and thought that sure wasn't going to be good for his broken arm if we crashed. On second thought, I thought that sure wasn't going to be good for ANY OF US, if we crashed!
I wasn't sure that we would make it to our earthly home or we were going to that "Pearly White City" that Neth is singing about on U-tube.
We did land safely. Many of the passengers would not go on another plane, and got another way home for the last 100 miles. My thought was, what are the chances this thing happening back to back! We arrived safely home 5 hours later.
The pilot (after landing) said that he had flown 20 years and never had an emergency landing other than someone took sick and had to land for this purpose but not malfunction of the plane.
What was wrong you asked? The way I understand it, the converter box that takes the energy to run the air conditioning and heating , exploded and caught on fire and this is what caused the smoke and heat. The explosion caused a small hole in the floor and insulation was flying in the cabin. I couldn't understand why the oxygen masks were not coming down. I guess, fire and oxygen doesn't mix too well. Or maybe, they mix all TOO WELL.
Wisdom today--Be ready to meet your maker, as we know not what a day will bring forth.
Friday, January 23, 2009
A SMALL KEG OF WINE!
Today I heard on television that if your OUTGO is more than your INCOME, your UPKEEP will be your DOWNFALL!!!! Doesn't this ring a bell!! Our government is spending and spending with all kinds of stimulus packages, etc. Why don't they go back to individual ACCOUNTABILITY and then carry it to the state level and government level. Individual accountability--Bah Humbug seems to be their motto.
Well to get on the title of today's writing, my dad was from German heritage, and he thought nothing wrong with making a little wine. He made a very small keg of wine each year from the grapes we grew. My mother would can grape juice, but he saved a bit out for wine. My mother did not approve of wine or alcholic beverages of any sort. I'm just stating how it was at our house.
He would let us taste it and I have always thought it tasted like spoiled grapes. To this day, this is my attitude toward any spirited drinks. It just doesn't taste good.
I had a girlfriend that was a teetotaler and was absolutely afraid of her drunken uncle that would come to visit them on occasions. So, I saw all of this from both sides of the fence. If every individual drank the way my dad drank, the world would be different. He always did everything in moderation, and this was NO EXCEPTION. He would have one drink and that would be the end. Many a home has been broken up due to over drinking, so I give you my wisdom today.
If one never takes their first drink, you know you will never be an alcholic!
The 2nd Wisdom for the day on this subject is--If you cause anyone to stumble because of your action then you had better ABSTAIN. This is still my view on the subject.
Well to get on the title of today's writing, my dad was from German heritage, and he thought nothing wrong with making a little wine. He made a very small keg of wine each year from the grapes we grew. My mother would can grape juice, but he saved a bit out for wine. My mother did not approve of wine or alcholic beverages of any sort. I'm just stating how it was at our house.
He would let us taste it and I have always thought it tasted like spoiled grapes. To this day, this is my attitude toward any spirited drinks. It just doesn't taste good.
I had a girlfriend that was a teetotaler and was absolutely afraid of her drunken uncle that would come to visit them on occasions. So, I saw all of this from both sides of the fence. If every individual drank the way my dad drank, the world would be different. He always did everything in moderation, and this was NO EXCEPTION. He would have one drink and that would be the end. Many a home has been broken up due to over drinking, so I give you my wisdom today.
If one never takes their first drink, you know you will never be an alcholic!
The 2nd Wisdom for the day on this subject is--If you cause anyone to stumble because of your action then you had better ABSTAIN. This is still my view on the subject.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
MOVIE STARS BACK THEN--
It was a beautiful winter day today, sun shining, not that cold. Went to bible study this morning and my sister was over for lunch. We went grocery shopping, washed the car, etc. Since yesterday we talked about the free movies, today I will mention the movies in the theatre.
Since we didn't go to the movies much in the theatre, we didn't keep up with the latest stars, but some of them come to mind. I thought Shirley Temple was just about "it'. I had heard that she had caught a cold and I wondered how a star like that could catch a cold. I sure had her up on some kind of pedestal, now didn't I. Or at least wasn't thinking very clearly. She was just about the cutest child ever.
I think Gene Autry, Dale Evans and her husband was the western heroes of the day. Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamaar, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Dick Powell, Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard were a few that come to my mind that played on the big screen.
When I was in the 8th grade, my dad took me to see Gone With the Wind. Some of the scenes were really scary to me. Like the burning of Atlanta and all the soldiers out on stretchers being cared for by the doctor. Since this affected me like this, I wonder how the movies of today are affecting the young children. There are so many graphics and bad things on the screen or television, it can't help make an impact on young children.
Wisdom of the day-- Government has authority, but God has ultimate authority.
Since we didn't go to the movies much in the theatre, we didn't keep up with the latest stars, but some of them come to mind. I thought Shirley Temple was just about "it'. I had heard that she had caught a cold and I wondered how a star like that could catch a cold. I sure had her up on some kind of pedestal, now didn't I. Or at least wasn't thinking very clearly. She was just about the cutest child ever.
I think Gene Autry, Dale Evans and her husband was the western heroes of the day. Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamaar, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Dick Powell, Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard were a few that come to my mind that played on the big screen.
When I was in the 8th grade, my dad took me to see Gone With the Wind. Some of the scenes were really scary to me. Like the burning of Atlanta and all the soldiers out on stretchers being cared for by the doctor. Since this affected me like this, I wonder how the movies of today are affecting the young children. There are so many graphics and bad things on the screen or television, it can't help make an impact on young children.
Wisdom of the day-- Government has authority, but God has ultimate authority.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FREE MOVIE NIGHTS!!!
When we were growing up the local small towns would entice the surrounding area people to come by offering free movies. There were 4 towns that we could take in free movies. We on the most part, only went to two of these towns on their free movie evenings).
There always was a cartoon, and after that a "serial" with a cliff hanger to entice you to see how the main character got out of his peril and you would come back the next week. After that, was a full featured movie. It varied between a western, mystery, or love story. Whatever the story line, the "good guy" always came out the victor.
We really looked forward to the free movies. This gave us a chance to see our friends, spend a nickel (that dad doled out freely) on ice cream/or candy. It gave the family time to grocery shop, visit their friends, also.
It was such a disappointment when the clouds would form and have rain on that day, because they would cancel the movies.
Before I had mentioned that I didn't want to learn to milk cows. Well the free movies were probably the reason that I did not want to do this. We would so want to be dressed up and look our best, but how could you do this, if you just finished milking a sweaty cow and have the cow's tail swish you a few times in the face. I always had the cattle fed, cows in the barn (to be milked) and chores done in general, so the milking could be done by someone else. That way, I would be nice and clean to go to town.
I don't know when they stopped having free movies, but all during my grade school and high school years they would have them.
Thought for today--I felt that I had a happy childhood and wanted for nothing. I have been so blessed.
There always was a cartoon, and after that a "serial" with a cliff hanger to entice you to see how the main character got out of his peril and you would come back the next week. After that, was a full featured movie. It varied between a western, mystery, or love story. Whatever the story line, the "good guy" always came out the victor.
We really looked forward to the free movies. This gave us a chance to see our friends, spend a nickel (that dad doled out freely) on ice cream/or candy. It gave the family time to grocery shop, visit their friends, also.
It was such a disappointment when the clouds would form and have rain on that day, because they would cancel the movies.
Before I had mentioned that I didn't want to learn to milk cows. Well the free movies were probably the reason that I did not want to do this. We would so want to be dressed up and look our best, but how could you do this, if you just finished milking a sweaty cow and have the cow's tail swish you a few times in the face. I always had the cattle fed, cows in the barn (to be milked) and chores done in general, so the milking could be done by someone else. That way, I would be nice and clean to go to town.
I don't know when they stopped having free movies, but all during my grade school and high school years they would have them.
Thought for today--I felt that I had a happy childhood and wanted for nothing. I have been so blessed.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
RAINING TEARS!
Just a little note of some of God's faithful servants. When we had visitation for our mother, it was so-oooo foggy outside that you could literally not see in front of your face. I would not have blamed anyone from not coming to the visitation that evening. Our pastor that lived 35 miles away came up in the extreme fog to comfort us. Afterwards, he was going to visit someone in the hospital 35 miles in another direction to minister to someone in need and then back to his home which would have been 35 miles yet. When I hear stories of pastors that shirk their duties, and think back on our pastor and how dedicated a man he was I am so grateful. My mother's pastor performed the funeral, so our pastor would not have needed to come, other than his devout dedication to his calling as a minister of the Gospel. He truly was one in a million. Perhaps on later stories I will tell, you will again hear of his devout dedication.
On the day of my mother's funeral it was raining and the snow was melting off of the ground. The rain made me think that the whole world was crying of a loss of a dear saint.
In memory of my mother I will type the song "The Old Rugged Cross". It tells it all--
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I loved that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Thought for today--We value the light more fully after we've come through the darkness.
On the day of my mother's funeral it was raining and the snow was melting off of the ground. The rain made me think that the whole world was crying of a loss of a dear saint.
In memory of my mother I will type the song "The Old Rugged Cross". It tells it all--
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I loved that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it some day for a crown.
Thought for today--We value the light more fully after we've come through the darkness.
Monday, January 19, 2009
MORE ABOUT MY MOTHER!
Yesterday, I talked about my mother's early childhood. Today, I will try to tell you more about her in general. They did move back to the town they came from. She worked in a factory when she was old enough to get work. She had limited education, but she was quite smart. She could write well and knew her math quite well.
She met and married my father and I can still hear her say--"I could have looked the whole world over and never found a better man than my John". If she said it once she kept saying it over and over. They were quite the team!!!
Her health was quite good, but she had a couple "thorns in the flesh" that often would cause her problems. When she had gotten married her feet were normal as any one's. After awhile, she got arthritis in her feet and her toes lapped over the other toes and some stood straight up. She had to have made to order shoes. It is a wonder she was able to do all the work that she was willing to do without complaining. She did complain about her feet quite often, as you might suspect. She thought her feet was due to walking to her work and they had gotten frozen, but I still think it was rheumatoid arthritis. Later in her life she had arthritis in her hands as well.
Another thing that bothered her a lot, her whole body would cramp up like one gets in the calf or a foot. I have gotten these in my calf of my leg and foot, but I can't imagine the pain that she endured while she had her whole body cramp up. I think it was due to so much work and being on her feet all day long. When we would go with my dad someplace and we would come home and smell the liniment, I knew she had one of her cramping spells. It always frightened me, as she was in so much pain. The doctor told her she was on her feet too much, but she was a hard worker and kept on going.
She was very Victorian in her thoughts (as you might guess knowing when she was born) and her early childhood, she was a no nonsense kind of a person. Tact was not one of her strong points and truthfulness was a MUST, regardless. When she was born, they wore long dresses and no skin was ever showing, and the the flapper age came in and bathing suits/shorts were worn, and she thought this was very bad and didn't mind telling people this. When you go to the beach today, one can get appalled at the T bathing suits that girls are wearing and wonder what these girls are thinking.
My grandmother lived at our house during the summer months, and was very frail. This added more work on top of a heavy load. Her mother passed away in 1933 and I do not remember much about her, other than she was a tiny, tiny person.
My mother had a strong faith in God and this kept her spirits up. She would be the first to tell you that her faith in God did not depend on her, but solely on God's grace and God's grace alone that she would get to heaven. The "Old Rugged Cross" was very meaningful to her.
Today's wisdom--My mother gave me life and pointed to the one that gave me Eternal Life. I am so grateful for my mother.
She met and married my father and I can still hear her say--"I could have looked the whole world over and never found a better man than my John". If she said it once she kept saying it over and over. They were quite the team!!!
Her health was quite good, but she had a couple "thorns in the flesh" that often would cause her problems. When she had gotten married her feet were normal as any one's. After awhile, she got arthritis in her feet and her toes lapped over the other toes and some stood straight up. She had to have made to order shoes. It is a wonder she was able to do all the work that she was willing to do without complaining. She did complain about her feet quite often, as you might suspect. She thought her feet was due to walking to her work and they had gotten frozen, but I still think it was rheumatoid arthritis. Later in her life she had arthritis in her hands as well.
Another thing that bothered her a lot, her whole body would cramp up like one gets in the calf or a foot. I have gotten these in my calf of my leg and foot, but I can't imagine the pain that she endured while she had her whole body cramp up. I think it was due to so much work and being on her feet all day long. When we would go with my dad someplace and we would come home and smell the liniment, I knew she had one of her cramping spells. It always frightened me, as she was in so much pain. The doctor told her she was on her feet too much, but she was a hard worker and kept on going.
She was very Victorian in her thoughts (as you might guess knowing when she was born) and her early childhood, she was a no nonsense kind of a person. Tact was not one of her strong points and truthfulness was a MUST, regardless. When she was born, they wore long dresses and no skin was ever showing, and the the flapper age came in and bathing suits/shorts were worn, and she thought this was very bad and didn't mind telling people this. When you go to the beach today, one can get appalled at the T bathing suits that girls are wearing and wonder what these girls are thinking.
My grandmother lived at our house during the summer months, and was very frail. This added more work on top of a heavy load. Her mother passed away in 1933 and I do not remember much about her, other than she was a tiny, tiny person.
My mother had a strong faith in God and this kept her spirits up. She would be the first to tell you that her faith in God did not depend on her, but solely on God's grace and God's grace alone that she would get to heaven. The "Old Rugged Cross" was very meaningful to her.
Today's wisdom--My mother gave me life and pointed to the one that gave me Eternal Life. I am so grateful for my mother.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
DAUGHTER OF PIONEERS!!!
Yesterday I mentioned that my mother passed away 35 years ago. Today I will tell you of her early childhood. She was born in 1886.
Her mother and father decided to take the government up on the Homestead Act. That meant that they would have to go to a 160 acres of land that the government assigned to them, and agree to stay on the land for I believe at least 7 years, cultivate the land and build a house, etc. After they did that, the land was theirs. My mother was 9 months old and with her twin brother and an older 3 year old brother, they headed west in a covered wagon with all their property they owned in this covered wagon. Their destination was Nebraska. The homestead application was dated April 23, 1887. (Later I will tell you more about my maternal grandparents). But today, I want to tell you about this time in my mothers life.
When they arrived in Nebraska, there was no house, no trees to build a house. They proceeded to build a sod house and started cultivating the land. This was not an easy time and I wouldn't be a bit surprised that after they made the decision to "Go West", that they realized that was not a very good IDEA!
My mother told that they would divide and egg up for the 3 children, to keep them from starving to death. They would catch frog legs in a creek close by and throw the frogs back into the creek in hope that they would grow more legs. My mother did not have a normal childhood.
She would say that you might follow a crow a mile for a crust of bread. Now that is hungry!!!!
I thought that she had to have been the poorest of the poor.
Later in life, I read that her experience was the NORM in all those people that homesteaded
in the west. I read that one lady's husband had to go hunting to catch food for the family and left his wife home with their 3 year old. While he was gone, she proceeded to deliver her own baby. When her husband came back, the baby was delivered and all dressed. Not too many women could be that courageous! This same book said that the women would be so lonesome that they would go outside to lay down with the sheep, for company. A lot of these women were from the East and well bred, and this was just a culture shock to them. (I'm sure this was the case with my grandmother--after you read about her background, you will understand).
I can't imagine the life of these courageous pioneer people.
They did stay on the land and built a sod house yet in 1887 (17 ft X 22 ft), a granary, corn crib, hen house, dug a well, 2 corrals and broke (plowed 70 acres) of land was later done.
They established residence on this land April 1887. They cultivated 10 acres per year, (70 acres) in 7 years. He received final patent title on March 27, 1894. This has been documented by my nephew that was curious of details of all of this. A number of years ago, he actually went out to the very property that they lived on.
My grandmother had to go into a local restaurant and became a cook. Buffalo Bill Cody would come in and just loved my grandmother's cream pies. (When he would travel through).
In a letter to the US Land Department in Washington, dated Jan. 8, 1913, my grandfather offered to trade his homestead for any other similar tract of land in the US, stating that he had lived on the homestead for 9 years, but could not support his family and pay the taxes. He stated that the land is worthless, and that he had been compelled to leave it. An official from the department wrote him back, and advised him that there were no provisions under the law whereby this could be done. He sold his 160 acre homestead on Jan. 18, 1917 for $2,000. (Exactly 92 years ago today!)
My mother went out when she was 9 months old and came back when she was 9 years old. This is rather uncertain, since we have a picture of her in front of the sod house and I thought she was 11 years of age in the picture(perhaps she was only 9 years of age). They came back long before they sold the property.
She did mention that she was baptized in a river and they had to cut the ice, in order to baptize her.
Wisdom of the day--Walk a mile in someone elses shoes, before you judge them in how they think!
Her mother and father decided to take the government up on the Homestead Act. That meant that they would have to go to a 160 acres of land that the government assigned to them, and agree to stay on the land for I believe at least 7 years, cultivate the land and build a house, etc. After they did that, the land was theirs. My mother was 9 months old and with her twin brother and an older 3 year old brother, they headed west in a covered wagon with all their property they owned in this covered wagon. Their destination was Nebraska. The homestead application was dated April 23, 1887. (Later I will tell you more about my maternal grandparents). But today, I want to tell you about this time in my mothers life.
When they arrived in Nebraska, there was no house, no trees to build a house. They proceeded to build a sod house and started cultivating the land. This was not an easy time and I wouldn't be a bit surprised that after they made the decision to "Go West", that they realized that was not a very good IDEA!
My mother told that they would divide and egg up for the 3 children, to keep them from starving to death. They would catch frog legs in a creek close by and throw the frogs back into the creek in hope that they would grow more legs. My mother did not have a normal childhood.
She would say that you might follow a crow a mile for a crust of bread. Now that is hungry!!!!
I thought that she had to have been the poorest of the poor.
Later in life, I read that her experience was the NORM in all those people that homesteaded
in the west. I read that one lady's husband had to go hunting to catch food for the family and left his wife home with their 3 year old. While he was gone, she proceeded to deliver her own baby. When her husband came back, the baby was delivered and all dressed. Not too many women could be that courageous! This same book said that the women would be so lonesome that they would go outside to lay down with the sheep, for company. A lot of these women were from the East and well bred, and this was just a culture shock to them. (I'm sure this was the case with my grandmother--after you read about her background, you will understand).
I can't imagine the life of these courageous pioneer people.
They did stay on the land and built a sod house yet in 1887 (17 ft X 22 ft), a granary, corn crib, hen house, dug a well, 2 corrals and broke (plowed 70 acres) of land was later done.
They established residence on this land April 1887. They cultivated 10 acres per year, (70 acres) in 7 years. He received final patent title on March 27, 1894. This has been documented by my nephew that was curious of details of all of this. A number of years ago, he actually went out to the very property that they lived on.
My grandmother had to go into a local restaurant and became a cook. Buffalo Bill Cody would come in and just loved my grandmother's cream pies. (When he would travel through).
In a letter to the US Land Department in Washington, dated Jan. 8, 1913, my grandfather offered to trade his homestead for any other similar tract of land in the US, stating that he had lived on the homestead for 9 years, but could not support his family and pay the taxes. He stated that the land is worthless, and that he had been compelled to leave it. An official from the department wrote him back, and advised him that there were no provisions under the law whereby this could be done. He sold his 160 acre homestead on Jan. 18, 1917 for $2,000. (Exactly 92 years ago today!)
My mother went out when she was 9 months old and came back when she was 9 years old. This is rather uncertain, since we have a picture of her in front of the sod house and I thought she was 11 years of age in the picture(perhaps she was only 9 years of age). They came back long before they sold the property.
She did mention that she was baptized in a river and they had to cut the ice, in order to baptize her.
Wisdom of the day--Walk a mile in someone elses shoes, before you judge them in how they think!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
HISTORY OF APRONS
Thirty five years ago today, my mother passed away. She was nearly 88 years of age. More about this in my later writings. One never is ready, no matter the age, to give up a loved one.
Yesterday, I received in the mail from HCE Newsletter a story about aprons. (Unknown Author) I thought it was a apropos. I will type it as written.
I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was a wonder for drying children's tears and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron"!
Todays Wisdom--Build your life on the solid foundation--Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, I received in the mail from HCE Newsletter a story about aprons. (Unknown Author) I thought it was a apropos. I will type it as written.
I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was a wonder for drying children's tears and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron"!
Todays Wisdom--Build your life on the solid foundation--Jesus Christ.
Friday, January 16, 2009
DOGS, FLIES & STORMS!
When I woke up it was minus 16 degrees this morning. Warmer weather surely is on it way.
What does dogs, flies and storms have in common? Well, it seems like whenever there was a big storm coming later in the afternoon, the dogs would follow at our heels all day long and not let us out of their site. The flies would be on the screen wire to the screened in porch and the screens would be covered with flies. There still was another screen on the kitchen door. When we entered the house, we would have to chase the flies away and enter quickly. I think farm life had more flies than there ever were in the city. On a normal day there weren't as many flies, but on a day it was going to storm, this was a different story.
We would have fly traps that we hung in the kitchen. It was like a shotgun shell and you pulled this sticky strip out and tacked it to the ceiling. The sticky strip would attract the flies that just happened to come though the door as we were entering the house. My mother hated flies with a passion and would diligently try to catch them. We would shoo out the flies from the screened in porch daily by opening the screen door and letting them out.
When the storm approached we would go to the basement of the house and ride out the storm. The basement was like most basements, had small windows to look out and concrete floor. This is where we kept all of our winter supply of food. The basement was just under the kitchen and storage space under the rest of the house.
I remember a time when it was a severe storm and we thought we would have a tornado. My mother was praying and I saw the storm clouds part and go around our farm. Storms of any kind was not a fun experience. In my story about making butter, I told about the storm that the lighting hit the strawstack.
Wisdom for today--God hears our prayers and answers them.
What does dogs, flies and storms have in common? Well, it seems like whenever there was a big storm coming later in the afternoon, the dogs would follow at our heels all day long and not let us out of their site. The flies would be on the screen wire to the screened in porch and the screens would be covered with flies. There still was another screen on the kitchen door. When we entered the house, we would have to chase the flies away and enter quickly. I think farm life had more flies than there ever were in the city. On a normal day there weren't as many flies, but on a day it was going to storm, this was a different story.
We would have fly traps that we hung in the kitchen. It was like a shotgun shell and you pulled this sticky strip out and tacked it to the ceiling. The sticky strip would attract the flies that just happened to come though the door as we were entering the house. My mother hated flies with a passion and would diligently try to catch them. We would shoo out the flies from the screened in porch daily by opening the screen door and letting them out.
When the storm approached we would go to the basement of the house and ride out the storm. The basement was like most basements, had small windows to look out and concrete floor. This is where we kept all of our winter supply of food. The basement was just under the kitchen and storage space under the rest of the house.
I remember a time when it was a severe storm and we thought we would have a tornado. My mother was praying and I saw the storm clouds part and go around our farm. Storms of any kind was not a fun experience. In my story about making butter, I told about the storm that the lighting hit the strawstack.
Wisdom for today--God hears our prayers and answers them.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
SLEEP WALKING!!!
Well today it is -16 degrees outside and the windchill factor is -32. Now that is COLD!!!! Nevertheless, I am "UP AND AT UM", My shower taken and dressed, ready to start a new day!
Today, I will talk about sleep walking. Some people never did any sleep walking, but I was one that on occasions would walk in my sleep.
Right after we had gotten electricity, I walked in my sleep and turned on all the lights in the house and proceeded back to bed. I must have been dreaming about the new illumination we had. I didn't know about it until the next day and my parents told me what I had done.
I had a cousin that would walk in her sleep and would go outside while she was sleeping. Even back then, I don't think you wanted your child wandering around in the dark outside. So to combat this little wandering during the night, they put the key to the house in the pail of drinking water. When my cousin got up and started doing her little adventure, she knew (how she knew is a mystery) that the key was placed in the pail of water. When she reached in to get the key, the ice cold water would wake her up and she proceeded to go back to bed.
I do vaguely remember that I was awakened up by a splash of cold water in my face. I was the youngest and was put to bed early. One time I started sleep walking and my sister and brother was still up. They said that my eyes was wide open, but they were kinda glazed. They knew that I was asleep and was having one of my dreams. The splash of water woke me up in a hurry!
I still have dreams and they usually are wild. Some of the facts are accurate, but then they take off in crazy kinds of ways. Most of my dreams are not nightmares, and rather entertaining, but the next morning I can't even tell what they were all about. I have known some people that said that they have never dreamed. I can't imagine never dreaming! I have had a few nightmares and these are NOT something you would want on a daily basis. When I have had a nightmare, I will wake up and try to get really awake before I go back to sleep, for fear that I will continue the nightmare where it left off.
Today's wisdom--Be thankful for a good nights rest and roof over one's head, plenty to eat and God's protection.
Today, I will talk about sleep walking. Some people never did any sleep walking, but I was one that on occasions would walk in my sleep.
Right after we had gotten electricity, I walked in my sleep and turned on all the lights in the house and proceeded back to bed. I must have been dreaming about the new illumination we had. I didn't know about it until the next day and my parents told me what I had done.
I had a cousin that would walk in her sleep and would go outside while she was sleeping. Even back then, I don't think you wanted your child wandering around in the dark outside. So to combat this little wandering during the night, they put the key to the house in the pail of drinking water. When my cousin got up and started doing her little adventure, she knew (how she knew is a mystery) that the key was placed in the pail of water. When she reached in to get the key, the ice cold water would wake her up and she proceeded to go back to bed.
I do vaguely remember that I was awakened up by a splash of cold water in my face. I was the youngest and was put to bed early. One time I started sleep walking and my sister and brother was still up. They said that my eyes was wide open, but they were kinda glazed. They knew that I was asleep and was having one of my dreams. The splash of water woke me up in a hurry!
I still have dreams and they usually are wild. Some of the facts are accurate, but then they take off in crazy kinds of ways. Most of my dreams are not nightmares, and rather entertaining, but the next morning I can't even tell what they were all about. I have known some people that said that they have never dreamed. I can't imagine never dreaming! I have had a few nightmares and these are NOT something you would want on a daily basis. When I have had a nightmare, I will wake up and try to get really awake before I go back to sleep, for fear that I will continue the nightmare where it left off.
Today's wisdom--Be thankful for a good nights rest and roof over one's head, plenty to eat and God's protection.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
"UP AND AT UM"
Today is a "bummer of a day"! It is frigid and more snow than one wants at my age. It seems like a good day to just keep your pajamas on and curl up with a blanket and read.
Well this thought brought about my writings today. The idea of keeping one's pajamas on and house slippers on all day was really a NO, NO when I was growing up. Dad believed that when you got up, you dressed like you were ready for work. No lounging around at our house was permitted. My mother was a workaholic as well as my dad. We got "UP AND AT UM". I guess this probably was the start of me being a morning person, rather than and evening person. We woke up early and went to bed early. You know the old saying, "The early bird catches the worm". Or another old saying, "Early to rise and early to bed, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".
Well, I didn't stay in my pajamas, I got my shower, got dressed and did some work, but decided to read. The book I am reading is a book that my sister's son has just finished writing. It is a sequel to a mystery book he wrote about a year ago. He is retired, and has time to write. He absolutely is a gifted writer. Whether he ever gets discovered is immaterial, since he has a good retirement program. I just happen to like a good mystery, and I consider he is right up there with Mary Higgons Clark. I like puzzle solving, and he gives me plenty of this in his books.
Well in the evenings, I am ready to get my daily dozen done and my night clothes on with a robe and view television or read. This too, no doubt, stems from my early beginning. You just can't teach an old dog, new tricks!
Wisdom today--God is our problem solver, and we can trust him with our problems.
Well this thought brought about my writings today. The idea of keeping one's pajamas on and house slippers on all day was really a NO, NO when I was growing up. Dad believed that when you got up, you dressed like you were ready for work. No lounging around at our house was permitted. My mother was a workaholic as well as my dad. We got "UP AND AT UM". I guess this probably was the start of me being a morning person, rather than and evening person. We woke up early and went to bed early. You know the old saying, "The early bird catches the worm". Or another old saying, "Early to rise and early to bed, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".
Well, I didn't stay in my pajamas, I got my shower, got dressed and did some work, but decided to read. The book I am reading is a book that my sister's son has just finished writing. It is a sequel to a mystery book he wrote about a year ago. He is retired, and has time to write. He absolutely is a gifted writer. Whether he ever gets discovered is immaterial, since he has a good retirement program. I just happen to like a good mystery, and I consider he is right up there with Mary Higgons Clark. I like puzzle solving, and he gives me plenty of this in his books.
Well in the evenings, I am ready to get my daily dozen done and my night clothes on with a robe and view television or read. This too, no doubt, stems from my early beginning. You just can't teach an old dog, new tricks!
Wisdom today--God is our problem solver, and we can trust him with our problems.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
BROWN AS A BERRY!!
When I went to the town school I had to go a month longer than the one room country school. They let the country school out the end of April and town school let out the end of May. I imagine the country school let out early, because most of the kids had to help on the farm.
My sister was already going to Business School and wasn't at home. She knew that by the time I was going to graduate from grade school, I would already be "BROWN AS A BERRY". She instructed me to stay out of the sun so I wouldn't be so brown when I graduated. "Suntan" wasn't the "IN" thing she thought. Well, I don't know how brown I got, but I did graduate and had a rose colored lace graduation dress (which I still own). My grandchildren when they were in junior high just fit my dress that I wore.
Well that summer she invited the girls, that owned the house where she rented an one room apartment, out to visit us on the farm. Well, I found out that city girls laid out in the sun even way back then to get a tan. They so-ooooo loved my tan and wished they had a tan like mine. Of course, I didn't try to get a tan, I just happened to be outside a lot and got the tan automatically. Then my sister started looking at my tan quite a bit differently after that.
The girls mother was raising her daughters and son by herself and could barely make a go of it, even though she had a good job at the hospital. She rented out an apartment to make ends meet. The mother trusted my sister and had her watch over her 3 girls while she was working.
They were absolutely beautiful girls, but they had very little in the way of material things. They too went through the depression, but didn't have to resources that farm people had. Tough years for everyone!
Wisdom today--The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.
My sister was already going to Business School and wasn't at home. She knew that by the time I was going to graduate from grade school, I would already be "BROWN AS A BERRY". She instructed me to stay out of the sun so I wouldn't be so brown when I graduated. "Suntan" wasn't the "IN" thing she thought. Well, I don't know how brown I got, but I did graduate and had a rose colored lace graduation dress (which I still own). My grandchildren when they were in junior high just fit my dress that I wore.
Well that summer she invited the girls, that owned the house where she rented an one room apartment, out to visit us on the farm. Well, I found out that city girls laid out in the sun even way back then to get a tan. They so-ooooo loved my tan and wished they had a tan like mine. Of course, I didn't try to get a tan, I just happened to be outside a lot and got the tan automatically. Then my sister started looking at my tan quite a bit differently after that.
The girls mother was raising her daughters and son by herself and could barely make a go of it, even though she had a good job at the hospital. She rented out an apartment to make ends meet. The mother trusted my sister and had her watch over her 3 girls while she was working.
They were absolutely beautiful girls, but they had very little in the way of material things. They too went through the depression, but didn't have to resources that farm people had. Tough years for everyone!
Wisdom today--The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.
Monday, January 12, 2009
EDISON VICTROLA--cylinder kind--
We had an Edison Victrola all during our growing up years. It was the kind that you cranked and there were cylinder tubes that you put on and then placed the needle on the tube that went around and around. We had a number of cylinders that had music and funny scrips on them.
One that stands out in my mind and was quite funny, and it went something like this - - - -
Title of the record was-- HOW TO KILL A BUG!
The man on the record described how to kill a bug and said very slowly in a long drawn out voice and tone , "You take the bug and open the bug's mouth and you shovel this bug medicine down the bug's throat, After you do this you take the bug and you STOMP ON THE BUG--AND THE BUG IS DEAD!!!!!" There might be more to it than what I described, but that is the jest of the record. The way he was able to describe it in such a fashion that it was really funny.
Dad had a problem with Chinch bugs and these bugs were quite a thing when the land was dry and lacked rain. They would start in one field and then move on to another field after they destroyed the crops in the first field. I remember that my dad saw they were in another field next to our land and he dug a shallow ditch and poured black tar in the ditch. When they tried to come into our field, they would have to go through the ditch and the tar substance would kill the chinch bugs and saved our crops. I must have been around six or seven years of age and remember this ditch and the dark tar that he poured in it. The bugs must have crawled from one field to another and not able to fly to the other field. In 1933 the land was parched because of lack of rain and I think this was the year that he had to make the ditch.
Wisdom of the day--Preventive medicine is always better than wait until one has to experience the consequences of waiting.
One that stands out in my mind and was quite funny, and it went something like this - - - -
Title of the record was-- HOW TO KILL A BUG!
The man on the record described how to kill a bug and said very slowly in a long drawn out voice and tone , "You take the bug and open the bug's mouth and you shovel this bug medicine down the bug's throat, After you do this you take the bug and you STOMP ON THE BUG--AND THE BUG IS DEAD!!!!!" There might be more to it than what I described, but that is the jest of the record. The way he was able to describe it in such a fashion that it was really funny.
Dad had a problem with Chinch bugs and these bugs were quite a thing when the land was dry and lacked rain. They would start in one field and then move on to another field after they destroyed the crops in the first field. I remember that my dad saw they were in another field next to our land and he dug a shallow ditch and poured black tar in the ditch. When they tried to come into our field, they would have to go through the ditch and the tar substance would kill the chinch bugs and saved our crops. I must have been around six or seven years of age and remember this ditch and the dark tar that he poured in it. The bugs must have crawled from one field to another and not able to fly to the other field. In 1933 the land was parched because of lack of rain and I think this was the year that he had to make the ditch.
Wisdom of the day--Preventive medicine is always better than wait until one has to experience the consequences of waiting.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
SPRING HOUSEKEEPING!!
Yesterday I wrote about that we ironed everything but the kitchen sink, well maybe the reason that we didn't iron the kitchen sink, is that we had no kitchen sink! We had large dish pans that we washed the dishes and rinsed them in.
In the spring of the year my mother would really give our house a fantastic cleaning, from top to bottom. This was called "spring house cleaning". After a hard winter with wood burning stoves heating the house, the walls really needed a good cleaning. Most of the rooms were wallpapered and on first glance at the walls, one would not notice that it needed cleaning. But when you took a ball of wall cleaner and started wiping the walls down with this ball, you would really see quite a big difference. The wall cleaner reminded me of today's playdough. These are the months just prior to spring planting, and if the walls needed papering, our dad would help with this job.
All curtains had to come down and washed thoroughly, lightly starched and stretched on a stretcher until dried. All windows had to be washed inside and out.
All carpets had to be taken out on the line and beaten with a carpet beater. Remember that there were no electricity so we had no electric sweepers. We just had a hand held carpet sweeper that got the top surface cleaned. Most of our floors were wood or covered with linoleum. I think there was only one carpet to be beaten and that was our carpet in the parlor.
Our kitchen had linoleum and wasn't an inlaid linoleum like they have today, but one that would show the wear. This was the time that my mother would paint the linoleum a grey color background and took a sponge and dipped it in various colors to make it a pebbled floor look. During this time, I imagine the kitchen was virtually closed until the paint was dry to walk on. Slim pickings for meals during those few days.
Mattresses had to be turned and springs had to be washed down.
Kitchen walls had to be scrubbed down and all cabinets cleaned. The pantry shelves had to have new paper lining. This lining was just newspaper and cut to give it a fancy edge.
All wool comforters had to be aired and packed in moth balls, as well as wool clothing for the next year.
Porch floors had to be scrubbed and painted. This wasn't always a yearly thing, but as needed.
Well, there you have it, "A SPANKIN CLEAN HOUSE".
Today's wisdom--God wants to do some housecleaning of his own in our life. In Psalm 51:10 it states--"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
In the spring of the year my mother would really give our house a fantastic cleaning, from top to bottom. This was called "spring house cleaning". After a hard winter with wood burning stoves heating the house, the walls really needed a good cleaning. Most of the rooms were wallpapered and on first glance at the walls, one would not notice that it needed cleaning. But when you took a ball of wall cleaner and started wiping the walls down with this ball, you would really see quite a big difference. The wall cleaner reminded me of today's playdough. These are the months just prior to spring planting, and if the walls needed papering, our dad would help with this job.
All curtains had to come down and washed thoroughly, lightly starched and stretched on a stretcher until dried. All windows had to be washed inside and out.
All carpets had to be taken out on the line and beaten with a carpet beater. Remember that there were no electricity so we had no electric sweepers. We just had a hand held carpet sweeper that got the top surface cleaned. Most of our floors were wood or covered with linoleum. I think there was only one carpet to be beaten and that was our carpet in the parlor.
Our kitchen had linoleum and wasn't an inlaid linoleum like they have today, but one that would show the wear. This was the time that my mother would paint the linoleum a grey color background and took a sponge and dipped it in various colors to make it a pebbled floor look. During this time, I imagine the kitchen was virtually closed until the paint was dry to walk on. Slim pickings for meals during those few days.
Mattresses had to be turned and springs had to be washed down.
Kitchen walls had to be scrubbed down and all cabinets cleaned. The pantry shelves had to have new paper lining. This lining was just newspaper and cut to give it a fancy edge.
All wool comforters had to be aired and packed in moth balls, as well as wool clothing for the next year.
Porch floors had to be scrubbed and painted. This wasn't always a yearly thing, but as needed.
Well, there you have it, "A SPANKIN CLEAN HOUSE".
Today's wisdom--God wants to do some housecleaning of his own in our life. In Psalm 51:10 it states--"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
Saturday, January 10, 2009
IRONING DAY!
Ironing day was usually on a Tuesday, because wash day was usually on Monday (of course this did depend on whether Monday was a rainy day or sunny day).
I think we ironed everything but the kitchen sink in those days. Well anyway, it might have just seemed that way. We would have to sprinkle the clothes down, and let them set awhile and proceeded to do the ironing. Early on, until we had electricity, we had perhaps half dozen irons on the cook stove that were heated up. We had a handle that clipped onto the irons that were hot. When that iron was getting cold, then we clipped the handle on to another hot iron.
When we finally got electricity, we bought an electric iron. This was certainly much easier for the person doing the ironing. We all had a part of ironing. Most clothes were cotton and permanent press was unheard of, so this is why everything had to be ironed. Many of the cotton clothes were starched in those days, and this was a MUST IRON piece.
When we were married my mother-in-law even ironed wash clothes and towels. I don't think we did that. I guess she thought they would stack so much easier and look better in the cupboard. She was one particular housekeeper. Everything had a place, and everything was in place. She grew up on the farm and her work ethic never left her. She too had a very even disposition, very much like my dad.
I do remember that I was suppose to iron one time and I was busy cleaning the house, and wasn't getting at the ironing. My dad came in and mom told my dad that I wasn't ironing. He scolded me for this, and I got right on to that iron immediately. Dad's disapproval was all that it took for us to get busy on what was needed at the moment. I remember this, because dad rarely ever scolded us, so this stands out in my memory.
Speaking of cleaning the house, in the summer months, I would start at the top of the house and clean each room, dust, sweep, make beds until all of the rooms were picked up and clean. Cleaning these rooms were so much easier back then because we didn't have much clutter around due to lack of having much.
Next time I will tell more about cleaning and "spring cleaning" on the farm.
Wisdom for the day--Ephesians 6:1 Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
I think we ironed everything but the kitchen sink in those days. Well anyway, it might have just seemed that way. We would have to sprinkle the clothes down, and let them set awhile and proceeded to do the ironing. Early on, until we had electricity, we had perhaps half dozen irons on the cook stove that were heated up. We had a handle that clipped onto the irons that were hot. When that iron was getting cold, then we clipped the handle on to another hot iron.
When we finally got electricity, we bought an electric iron. This was certainly much easier for the person doing the ironing. We all had a part of ironing. Most clothes were cotton and permanent press was unheard of, so this is why everything had to be ironed. Many of the cotton clothes were starched in those days, and this was a MUST IRON piece.
When we were married my mother-in-law even ironed wash clothes and towels. I don't think we did that. I guess she thought they would stack so much easier and look better in the cupboard. She was one particular housekeeper. Everything had a place, and everything was in place. She grew up on the farm and her work ethic never left her. She too had a very even disposition, very much like my dad.
I do remember that I was suppose to iron one time and I was busy cleaning the house, and wasn't getting at the ironing. My dad came in and mom told my dad that I wasn't ironing. He scolded me for this, and I got right on to that iron immediately. Dad's disapproval was all that it took for us to get busy on what was needed at the moment. I remember this, because dad rarely ever scolded us, so this stands out in my memory.
Speaking of cleaning the house, in the summer months, I would start at the top of the house and clean each room, dust, sweep, make beds until all of the rooms were picked up and clean. Cleaning these rooms were so much easier back then because we didn't have much clutter around due to lack of having much.
Next time I will tell more about cleaning and "spring cleaning" on the farm.
Wisdom for the day--Ephesians 6:1 Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Friday, January 9, 2009
QUARANTINES!!!
Back in the dark ages when I was growing up, when one got a serious contagious disease then the health department would send someone to your house and put up a large sign stating what you had. Diphtheria, whooping cough and scarlet fever, and small pox were some that warranted a sign. I believe it was a red sign with black letters.
The people in the house would not be able to get out as well for a period of time. Any produce like milk and cream had to be thrown out and not sold during this period of time. A lot of time the head of the house would sleep elsewhere so they could go to town, etc. If they slept in the house with the contagious person, then they too were quarantined.
My sister came down with Scarlet Fever and we were all quarantined for the duration of the illness. They burned her books for fear they were contaminated, also.
They thought that she contacted this by a doctor that had just come from a Scarlet fever patient and then right after that had pulled my sister's tooth.
The other diseases mentioned we did not get, but got measles (I think that warranted a sign), mumps, 3 day measles, chicken pox.
Strep throat is the same germ that caused Scarlet Fever. With Strep throat one didn't break out, but with Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever, you would break out.
My sister had Strep throat after she had gone to business school and was working.
We can be so thankful for the advancement of medical science, but now we have to be concerned with the shots that might cause problems. One exchange for another group of problems.
Today's wisdom--A good indicator of our spiritual temperature is our eagerness to worship God.
The people in the house would not be able to get out as well for a period of time. Any produce like milk and cream had to be thrown out and not sold during this period of time. A lot of time the head of the house would sleep elsewhere so they could go to town, etc. If they slept in the house with the contagious person, then they too were quarantined.
My sister came down with Scarlet Fever and we were all quarantined for the duration of the illness. They burned her books for fear they were contaminated, also.
They thought that she contacted this by a doctor that had just come from a Scarlet fever patient and then right after that had pulled my sister's tooth.
The other diseases mentioned we did not get, but got measles (I think that warranted a sign), mumps, 3 day measles, chicken pox.
Strep throat is the same germ that caused Scarlet Fever. With Strep throat one didn't break out, but with Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever, you would break out.
My sister had Strep throat after she had gone to business school and was working.
We can be so thankful for the advancement of medical science, but now we have to be concerned with the shots that might cause problems. One exchange for another group of problems.
Today's wisdom--A good indicator of our spiritual temperature is our eagerness to worship God.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
FARMERS PAYCHECKS!!!
One thing I think the average person forgets is, on the farm one doesn't get a paycheck weekly or monthly. The farmer doesn't know what the weather will bring and crops they will raise for the year. Some years the crops were slim due to drought, hail or prices low. In those years you had to glean from the "good years". No paycheck to fall back on, but careful planning had to be the order of the day. That means that one had to not be extravagant and save for future bills and needs. This seems to be lost in today's society. Many today, live from paycheck to paycheck thinking that the paychecks will always be there. Some are learning the hard way that paychecks are not the rite of passage and when the company goes broke there goes the workers paychecks as well.
Farmers had to have seed money for seed to be planted for the next season and during the winter months, money to pay all of the bills (planned and unforeseen) that came in. This was super important that one pays what they owe to others. A handshake meant something back in our day. They would do what they said by a handshake and carry it out.
They also had to project future years needs and save for those needs. We today should do this all along so we have money when the need arises. Later in future writings, I will tell how we accomplished this as newly married trying to meet all our bills on time they were due.
My dad had an optimistic view on things and when he couldn't get in the field because it kept on raining, he would say--"I never saw a year that I didn't raise something". He seemed to accept things that was out of his control and think positive.
Todays Wisdom--Plan ahead for future needs, before you spend on todays WANTS! Then after you have done this, God will take over from there and meet those needs we couldn't foresee.
Farmers had to have seed money for seed to be planted for the next season and during the winter months, money to pay all of the bills (planned and unforeseen) that came in. This was super important that one pays what they owe to others. A handshake meant something back in our day. They would do what they said by a handshake and carry it out.
They also had to project future years needs and save for those needs. We today should do this all along so we have money when the need arises. Later in future writings, I will tell how we accomplished this as newly married trying to meet all our bills on time they were due.
My dad had an optimistic view on things and when he couldn't get in the field because it kept on raining, he would say--"I never saw a year that I didn't raise something". He seemed to accept things that was out of his control and think positive.
Todays Wisdom--Plan ahead for future needs, before you spend on todays WANTS! Then after you have done this, God will take over from there and meet those needs we couldn't foresee.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
HUNTING RABBITS--HUNTERS FROM CHICAGO!
I did not learn how to shoot with a gun, but my dad and brother would go pheasant hunting and mostly rabbit hunting during the winter months. The pheasants and rabbits would be dressed and eaten. The dog would go ahead and scare the pheasants and rabbits out of their habitat. This was mainly a sport, rather than a means of food supply.
My dad didn't much like the taste of rabbits, as they reminded him of eating a cat (because of their fur). Then it came out that one could get Rabbit fever from dressing the rabbits. After that, the hunting stopped altogether.
Hunters from Chicago would come and hunt on our farm, with the permission of the farmer. Dad didn't seem to mind and they came back every year to hunt. They would make a day of it and share goodies to eat with my dad. A friendship was made with these men. We were always in school, so there weren't any children around to possibly be hurt. The men made certain that the cattle, etc on the farm was not in their target of shooting.
Todays wisdom--Who we were years ago, becomes who we are today!
My dad didn't much like the taste of rabbits, as they reminded him of eating a cat (because of their fur). Then it came out that one could get Rabbit fever from dressing the rabbits. After that, the hunting stopped altogether.
Hunters from Chicago would come and hunt on our farm, with the permission of the farmer. Dad didn't seem to mind and they came back every year to hunt. They would make a day of it and share goodies to eat with my dad. A friendship was made with these men. We were always in school, so there weren't any children around to possibly be hurt. The men made certain that the cattle, etc on the farm was not in their target of shooting.
Todays wisdom--Who we were years ago, becomes who we are today!
Monday, January 5, 2009
HEALTH ISSUES AND DOCTORS
Unlike today where people have money to go to the doctor or health insurance, back when I was growing up there were neither health insurance or much money left over to pay doctor bills.
I made the comment to my father a few months prior to my dad passing away, that our family was very fortunate that down through the years, we all were quite healthy and had few doctor bills and only my sister's appendectomy was about the biggest bill that had to be paid. He agreed with me on this. He was so easy to visit and talk with about any subject I wished to bring up. It's been 54 years since he has been gone and I still miss him and his wisdom that he gave during those talks.
There weren't anyone that seemed to have any money for doctor bills, etc. in those days. We were not the exception. This is why we only went to the doctor for severe problems that home remedies wasn't working.
Wisdom today--Be very thankful and grateful if you haven't had a lot of illness. This is more important that things or money.
I made the comment to my father a few months prior to my dad passing away, that our family was very fortunate that down through the years, we all were quite healthy and had few doctor bills and only my sister's appendectomy was about the biggest bill that had to be paid. He agreed with me on this. He was so easy to visit and talk with about any subject I wished to bring up. It's been 54 years since he has been gone and I still miss him and his wisdom that he gave during those talks.
There weren't anyone that seemed to have any money for doctor bills, etc. in those days. We were not the exception. This is why we only went to the doctor for severe problems that home remedies wasn't working.
Wisdom today--Be very thankful and grateful if you haven't had a lot of illness. This is more important that things or money.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
HOW MY MOTHER AND FATHER MET!
My dad was born and raised on an eighty acre farm (purchased and owned by grandparents) a quarter of a mile west of where I was born. He was from a large family (6 boys and 3 girls). Two of the brothers died in childhood. In the fall of the year the boys were kept home from school to help harvest the crops. This was the custom in those days. My grandparents were immigrants and spoke German in the home until my dad was 6 years of age. My dad was 2nd oldest child and learned to bake bread at a very early age (like 6 years old). He helped with tending the smaller children. He washed clothes and did a lot of housework and farmwork.
He was about 23 years of age when he met my mother.
My mother's best friend was dating my father's best friend. The best friends thought that dad and mom would be just right for each other and their personalities would a good match and balance.
They went on this blind date that the best friends arranged. Well, they dated for about a year and were married December 7, 1912. Dad was 24 years of age, my mother was 26 years old when they married.
During their courtship, it took my dad one hour by horse and buggy to go 10 miles to see my mother. This was with the horse in a trot all the way. He would put hot bricks wrapped up in a blanket to keep his feet warm. The horse knew the way home and would get home while dad tried to get some shut-eye.
My mother was very pretty and my dad was handsome and it didn't take them long to decide that they were right for each other, also.
Wisdom of the day--I think they both made "wise" choices as they eventually were quite the team.
He was about 23 years of age when he met my mother.
My mother's best friend was dating my father's best friend. The best friends thought that dad and mom would be just right for each other and their personalities would a good match and balance.
They went on this blind date that the best friends arranged. Well, they dated for about a year and were married December 7, 1912. Dad was 24 years of age, my mother was 26 years old when they married.
During their courtship, it took my dad one hour by horse and buggy to go 10 miles to see my mother. This was with the horse in a trot all the way. He would put hot bricks wrapped up in a blanket to keep his feet warm. The horse knew the way home and would get home while dad tried to get some shut-eye.
My mother was very pretty and my dad was handsome and it didn't take them long to decide that they were right for each other, also.
Wisdom of the day--I think they both made "wise" choices as they eventually were quite the team.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
THE BICYCLE ENCOUNTER!!!!
Today, I am sad because our grandson's best friends funeral is today. I grew to love him as he was over at our grandson's home a lot when we were there, too.
Well today, I am going to tell a little story that happened when I was 10. This was right after my sister had gotten home from the hospital recuperating from the appendicitis operation. How many days, or weeks it was; I can't remember.
Our grandparents only lived a quarter of a mile down the road from our house and my sister asked me if I wanted to go with her to visit my aunt (which took care of my grandfather). I said that I did, but had something to finish, before I could go. I told her to go on ahead of me and I would catch up with her on my bicycle when I completed what I was doing. I do not remember at all what kept me from going right then, but I SURE REMEMBER what followed.
My sister was about half way to my grandparents home, when I came on my "trusty" bicycle pedaling very fast to catch up so we could arrive at the same time.
I said, as I was approaching her, "BEEP, BEEP, HERE I COME!!! I had full intentions to dart by her when I got up to where she was walking. Instinctly, she jumped to one side, just as I was darting around her. You guessed it, we both darted and jumped in the same direction. Down she went, and also the bicycle went in one direction and I in another direction. This was really a bad thing to happen to someone who was recuperating from an operation. Ten year olds do things without thinking ahead of what could happen. I certainly did not want to run over my sister at any time, but sure did not intend to run over her when she was still healing from an operation! She was ok and has forgiven me.
I think my sister has 10 lives like they say that cats have. This was #3 on the list. The barn accident, appendicitis, and now this accident. She is 87 and had a few other bouts in her life.
Wisdom today--Don't expect a child to weigh their actions like a grown person. Children just act like the age that they are. Five year olds act like five year olds, 10 year old act like 10 year olds, Etc.
Well today, I am going to tell a little story that happened when I was 10. This was right after my sister had gotten home from the hospital recuperating from the appendicitis operation. How many days, or weeks it was; I can't remember.
Our grandparents only lived a quarter of a mile down the road from our house and my sister asked me if I wanted to go with her to visit my aunt (which took care of my grandfather). I said that I did, but had something to finish, before I could go. I told her to go on ahead of me and I would catch up with her on my bicycle when I completed what I was doing. I do not remember at all what kept me from going right then, but I SURE REMEMBER what followed.
My sister was about half way to my grandparents home, when I came on my "trusty" bicycle pedaling very fast to catch up so we could arrive at the same time.
I said, as I was approaching her, "BEEP, BEEP, HERE I COME!!! I had full intentions to dart by her when I got up to where she was walking. Instinctly, she jumped to one side, just as I was darting around her. You guessed it, we both darted and jumped in the same direction. Down she went, and also the bicycle went in one direction and I in another direction. This was really a bad thing to happen to someone who was recuperating from an operation. Ten year olds do things without thinking ahead of what could happen. I certainly did not want to run over my sister at any time, but sure did not intend to run over her when she was still healing from an operation! She was ok and has forgiven me.
I think my sister has 10 lives like they say that cats have. This was #3 on the list. The barn accident, appendicitis, and now this accident. She is 87 and had a few other bouts in her life.
Wisdom today--Don't expect a child to weigh their actions like a grown person. Children just act like the age that they are. Five year olds act like five year olds, 10 year old act like 10 year olds, Etc.
Friday, January 2, 2009
MIS-DIAGNOSED!!!
We had the family (as many as could make it) over yesterday for a "fun" day. Today we took the tree down and most of the decorations. I still left up the quilt over the narrow table and will take that down sometime next month.
One summer my mother had the flu. She hardly ever got sick, but this was an exception to the rule. My sister was about 15 and she started getting the flu symptoms right after my mother was getting a little better. Of course, one would just think that my sister caught the "flu" bug, also.
She kept getting worse and did what flu patients usually do. Aches, pains and the "works".
This went on for quite awhile, and I was sent to town on my "trusty" bicycle to fetch some bread/rolls etc. since my mother wasn't back to par to bake.
On the way back as I was going out of this small town, I saw the doctor going past me in the car. This was still the same "little black bag" doctor. I was really worried, I hoped he didn't go turn down at the next corner going toward our house! Sure enough, he did turn in that direction.
Now I was really worried, for fear he was going directly to our house. In those days, one never called the doctor unless a person was REALLY sick. I pedaled as fast as I could go to see where he ended up. Well, you guessed it, he was parked in our barnyard. I ran as fast as I could to the house and my father and the doctor was outside talking. The doctor had just told my dad that my sister had appendicitis and that she would have to have an operation immediately.
The doctor took my sister and dad to the hospital immediately. The doctor operated on her, and when they got the appendix out, it burst. They feared that some of it had already seeped out into her body. There were no antibiotics in those days. I learned later that the doctor didn't think she would make it. My aunt was staying with my uncle that just happened to be recuperating in the same hospital. The doctor told my aunt this. She was one sick girl for quite awhile, even after the operation.
Tomorrow I will tell you about the encounter on the bicycle.
Wisdom for the day--Because the Lord is watching over us, we don't have to fear the dangers around us. God still had work for my sister to do, and until that is through, he will watch over her before taking her home to be with him.
One summer my mother had the flu. She hardly ever got sick, but this was an exception to the rule. My sister was about 15 and she started getting the flu symptoms right after my mother was getting a little better. Of course, one would just think that my sister caught the "flu" bug, also.
She kept getting worse and did what flu patients usually do. Aches, pains and the "works".
This went on for quite awhile, and I was sent to town on my "trusty" bicycle to fetch some bread/rolls etc. since my mother wasn't back to par to bake.
On the way back as I was going out of this small town, I saw the doctor going past me in the car. This was still the same "little black bag" doctor. I was really worried, I hoped he didn't go turn down at the next corner going toward our house! Sure enough, he did turn in that direction.
Now I was really worried, for fear he was going directly to our house. In those days, one never called the doctor unless a person was REALLY sick. I pedaled as fast as I could go to see where he ended up. Well, you guessed it, he was parked in our barnyard. I ran as fast as I could to the house and my father and the doctor was outside talking. The doctor had just told my dad that my sister had appendicitis and that she would have to have an operation immediately.
The doctor took my sister and dad to the hospital immediately. The doctor operated on her, and when they got the appendix out, it burst. They feared that some of it had already seeped out into her body. There were no antibiotics in those days. I learned later that the doctor didn't think she would make it. My aunt was staying with my uncle that just happened to be recuperating in the same hospital. The doctor told my aunt this. She was one sick girl for quite awhile, even after the operation.
Tomorrow I will tell you about the encounter on the bicycle.
Wisdom for the day--Because the Lord is watching over us, we don't have to fear the dangers around us. God still had work for my sister to do, and until that is through, he will watch over her before taking her home to be with him.
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