My Reading Blog

Our Holidays seemed jam packed with lots of pleasant memories and today I'm reminded of my OLW for 2014 - Embrace.  Here's some of the moments that I embraced during Christmas and New Year's. Christmas Eve - dinner with our dearest friends and then worship embracing the birth of Baby Jesus. Christmas Day - spending time with friends, good food, lots of laughs and preparing for our trip to IL. Day after Christmas - early to rise so we can get an early start for our 10 hour drive.  Hugs and kisses from the girls (and Mommy too).  Gyros -  a must when we are in IL.  Look what Santa brought us, come play with us... Saturday - Christmas dinner with our kids and granddaughters.  The smiles on the girls faces - the delight in helping others open presents, Chinese gift exchange, laughs, oohs, I want that, pouts, trades, steals.   A sleepover.  Learned to play Mario on the Wii - Grandma has a lot to learn. Sunday - playing and reading....

Next week it's over. I'm done. I'm retiring (for the 3rd time). Winding down Training Preparing Thinking Planning Wondering The last couple of weeks I've been training my replacement.  A challenge to try to tell her everything I do.   To show her what needs to be accomplished.  To share all the things I have learned over the past six years.  She asks "what's your routine?"  I laugh and say "whatever the days brings".  There are no set things that need to be accomplished - just be prepared for the day.  Only four more days to share all that needs to be learned. And after the training, after the worrying, after the daily routine - what's next? Everyone asks, "What are you going to do?" Hmm. No plans, whatever the day brings. Reading Making cards Scrapbooking Traveling Learning a new craft Annoying Hubby Embracing being retired and enjoying all that each day brings.  

The day before Thanksgiving the house filled with chatter. Daughter, Son-in-law and  Granddaughters (4-1/2 years old) arrived, tired from being in a car for 10 hours. In came the luggage, the bags, the toys and books. Hugs and kisses. Let the fun begin. Investigating, searching, talking a mile a minute. "I just adore this bunny, Grandma" "This is so pretty, Grandma" "Can we play on your Nook, Grandma?" "Can you read me a book, Grandma?" A new place to sleep, an air mattress and bed on the floor.  Struggling to get settled in for the night. A day of thanksgiving,  A delicious meal (for the adults) A day of sharing and playing. Snuggles in the early morning for Grandma & P.   A whisper in my ear,  "I want to stay here forever". "I love you, Grandma". A little later, down comes M More snuggles & giggles. "I love you, Grammy". A surprise adventure on Friday. ...

As we flew towards Guatemala City, I looked out the window and saw clouds and more clouds and then something dark and big jutting above the clouds.  The mountains loomed large ahead and beside us.  Their peaks pushing upward thru the clouds and then the sky opened and below us was lots and lots of buildings and roads - closely pushed together in the bowl between the mountains.  Guatemala City is a big city with lots of people and traffic.  Fortunately, we didn't spend much time there and headed northwest toward Antigua, where we spent our first night.  Familiar territory.  It was where stayed last year. The next morning we headed to Xela.  It was a five hour drive and the scenery was beautiful and yet, so much poverty all around.   Buildings in need of repair or still being constructed. People everywhere cramped into buses, pickup trucks or walking. Mountains and clouds, lakes and trees. Green, lush, fertile.  Cows tied to the ...

The build was very similar to last year, although we didn't have a big hill to climb, we were still building at an elevation of 8000+ feet above sea level.  The temperatures were in the high 40's in the morning to over 70 by the afternoon.  We were much closer to the sun and it is the beginning of summer in Guatemala, so it was very intense.  Even though the forecast before we left home predicted rain and clouds every day, God blessed us with exceptional weather - not too hot or cold and no rain. When we arrived at our build site, the first thing we saw was that the footings had all been dug.  Hurrah!  I know my brother was not looking forward to digging again this year.  The head mason was Umberto and he had his son, Marco (13 years old) and four other apprentice masons helping him.  He gave the instructions to Willie and Fredy and they in turn gave us the assignments of what needed to be completed first.  Since all of us had been on the bu...

For those of you who live in cities, you will probably ask yourself "What's the big deal".  But for everyone (men, women, children) living in and around Mountain Home, this is a REALLY BIG DEAL! Our town is relatively good size - around 12,000+, but our shopping is very limited.  We have Wal-Mart and .... well that's about it except for a few Dollar stores (around 6 at last count).  We have had to travel 2-1/2 hours to get to a larger city that has the major stores. This past week, Hobby Lobby opened its doors in Mountain Home.  Hooray & Hallelujah!  For us crafters this is THE store.  Hobby Lobby purchased the old Wal-Mart building that had been sitting vacant for about ten years.  They remodeled, hired people, brought in their wares and opened.  It was a day of festivity.  People came from all around the area, some probably driving over two hours.  We were welcomed, we were presented with sales and lots of merchandise.  ...

Saturday was such a beautiful day that I took an extra walk (without Max) just to take in all the beauty that God is blessing us with after a long, cold, snowy, icy winter. The dandelions have already sprouted their bright yellow flowers in abundance.   The daffodils are being watched by the "Gone Fishing" bear. The redbuds have just a tinge of purple. The dogwoods seem to be getting bigger by the minute. The violets have pushed through the leaves. The leaves are just beginning as buds on the tree limbs. Our neighbor's horse had to see what I was doing. Some of the bushes even sprouted Easter eggs. See if you can spot all of them in the collage.  The rain yesterday and partial sun today will help to green the grass (and weeds) and make the colors even more brilliant.   I can see God's beauty coming through the new beginnings of Spring and embracing every moment.

Today (and every day) I'm embracing each moment... Sunshine after the rain    Smiles after the tears Hugs and kisses, just because    Listening and watching Helping and teaching   Reading and being read to Time to enjoy   Time for fun Time to spend with family   Quiet time to reflect Anticipation - what will happen next?       

Yesterday, Mommy had an oil change scheduled for her car at 7:45.  Grandma & the girls got to play dress up and a parade with a marching band.  M & P searched high and low for just the right outfit to wear and then they dressed Grandma with necklaces and a flower hat.  M had the drum and wand.  P opted to sit and read while Grandma and M marched around the house.  P joined in after a couple of trips around.  And then it was time to hid from Grandma. After a trip to Hobby Lobby and the library, we had lunch and tried to decide if it was a day for nap or just quiet time.  Mommy, M & P had made an agreement at the beginning of the week that they would take a nap every other day.  Yesterday was just quiet time.  We settled down with a couple of books and Mommy closed her eyes while Grandma read.  They wiggled and giggled and talked softly.  They snuggled under a blanket.  Grandma crocheted and M watched and waited....

A long day yesterday - driving from AR to IL.  But what was waiting for us when we arrived made the long drive so worthwhile.  I sent a text to Michelle around noon to let her know where we were and approximate time of arrival.  She immediately sent one back telling us that M had been very concerned because we weren't there yet.  She told M & P that she would check her phone and poof there was the answer.  M told Mommy she couldn't wait till we got there and P told her that she was probably going to be shy. When we arrived, it was quite the opposite.  P came running to the door with an envelope in hand, saying "Hi Grandma, hi Grandpa.  I've got something for you".  She gave hugs and kissed and proceeded to open up the envelope (she covered the envelope with lots of heart stickers).  P had drawn each of a picture. M on the other hand met us at the door, said "Hi" and ran behind the couch.  But then, after Grandpa raised P up to ...

On March 21, 1970, 44 years ago, my parents walked me down the church aisle to wed my husband to be.   It was the first day of spring that year and a beautiful day - sunny and almost 60 - for Illinois in March. The church was full of family and friends.  Our vows were said, music was played. Weddings in the early 70's were not elaborate affairs like they are today.  We had a simple reception with cake and coffee being served by the Ladies Group from church.  Gifts were opened and a delightful time was had by all.  Afterwards, Mom and Dad had a dinner for our families, all prepared by Mom. We had no big plans for a honeymoon, but we drove south for about an hour and stopped in Rantoul.  We had planned to go to Champaign, but the high school basketball state tournaments were being played there and no hotels available.  The following day we drove back to Mom and Dad's to pack up our gifts and other belongings to drive to Dover, Delaware, where ...

Yesterday's post about our dining room table got me to thinking about the house where I spent the first eleven years of my life.  The house was built in 1900 and my grandparents lived there in the late 1930's until my parents returned in 1945.  Grandpa retired from farming and my Dad took over.  I came into the picture in 1948. The main floor consisted of a kitchen, pantry, bath (with a claw foot tub), formal dining room and living room and a small room used as a play area with a daybed and piano and a closet.  The closet was my hiding place where I played with my dolls and read books.  We used the daybed when Allan or I were sick.  I learned to play the piano on the old upright.  There were five bedrooms on the second floor.  I remember over the years that I changed rooms several times trying to find just the right one to call my own.  The front bedroom which was one of the larger ones, was for company and we kept it closed off duri...

We had some friends over for dinner the other night and Denise said, "I love your dining room table."  As I thought of that comment, it made me think about how I almost didn't get this table and if this table could talk, oh the stories it would tell. This table belonged to my grandparents and passed on to my parents when they moved to the farm near Clifton in 1945.  I didn't come along for several years after that, so I'm not sure what those stories might be, but as I was growing up I remember the many times that we used this table.  It was in the "formal" dining room, so it was used for those special celebrations, Easter, Christmas, birthday celebrations and family gatherings.  Usually the extra leaves weren't added to the table until preparations were being made for these celebrations.  Mom always put a table cloth on it to protect the top.  There were many stories and fun times around this table - adults and children. I remember that Mom ...

I knew it I felt it As we walked the sun came up  over the lake A big orange ball The sky was blue Cool temps A beautiful beginning A new day A day to cherish and enjoy and embrace As I drove to town I turned a corner and there it was Off to the side of the road The first sign of spring A clump of bright yellow fully blooming daffodils. I knew it I felt it I've said it Spring is almost here At least in the Ozarks (for a while)

One of my favorite Gospel groups is Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.  As I walked yesterday, they were singing a song entitled "Sundays Are Made For Times Like These".  The chorus rings so true to how I believe Sundays should be.  It goes like this: "Sundays are made for times like these Sunday morning worship and time with the family A day to rest A day to love With no place you've gotta be Sundays are made for these" We try to capture this every Sunday Worship God, Communing with Him, Praising Him, Hearing His Word Fellowship with our church family Breakfast with dear friends Skyping with our family Resting - reading a book, taking a nap Enjoying life to it's fullest Embracing the gifts God has bless us with. Yes, Sundays are made for times like these. The last line fulfills God's promise to us: "I keep thinking about the one day In my home up in the air Every day will be Sunday over there."

March 5, 1917, my Dad was born on a farm in Essex, IL.  He was named Hartwell Paul which apparently was suggested one of the hired farm hands.  I don't know a lot about his early years other than he grew up with two older siblings.  Farming was hard work, so I know it must not have been an easy life, especially during the 1920's.  At the age of 17, a bb ricocheted off of a building and hit his eye.  He lost his sight immediately, but that never stopped him from doing anything. He made his way through high school by the skin of his teeth, and always a smile on his face.  He told his parents that he had no desire to go to college.  World War II began and he enlisted in the Army, but since he only had vision in one eye, he wouldn't be shipped overseas.  He was stationed in California at the Presidio and worked in the medical division processing in those who were injured in the line of duty. He came home on leave in 1943 and married my Mom and t...

The morning we were getting ready to leave for our annual Florida vacation, we took a moment to look at the beautiful sunrise that appeared over the lake.  When we first saw it, there were clouds on top, then a stripe of blue going across the middle and then more clouds beneath the blue.  The sky had a multitude of colors with pinks, blues, purples and some orange and yellow thrown in.  God gave us a beautiful morning to start our journey south.  As we traveled that day, the clouds appeared to be divided horizontally with stripes of pinks and blues.  Another one of God's blessings that I'm embracing.  The pictures tell the rest of the story.  These pictures were taken looking towards the southeast from the front of our house.  And these pictures were taken looking northwest off of our back deck.