Coloring Books

She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;
Psalm 45:14

Yesterday, while out running errands, Em and I took a minute to stop in the Dollar Tree and look for some coloring books. We found some she really liked and left the store with several Strawberry Shortcake books and one Sesame Street book. I think she has colored at least a dozen pictures of dancing darlings in pretty dresses in the last two days. She is doing a great job!

I've noticed a new box of crayons and a fresh coloring book have a way of magically transporting me back in time...

I am once again a little girl of eight or nine. My sisters and I have gathered around the dining room table, new coloring books spread before us. We take turns pawing through the old fruitcake tin of crayons in the center of the table, each new color bringing a new breath of life to the black and white drawings. I choose some of my favorite colors; orange-red, green-blue, and orange yellow. (These days they have fancier names like scarlet, teal, and dandelion.) On the best nights Mom and Dad will sit beside us and take a book too, encouraging our efforts by word and example. Mom's pictures are bright and beautiful, while Dad turns simple crayons into paintbrushes.

Hannah and I thumbed through fresh new coloring books. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends smiled at us, each one begging for a bit of color. I had purchased several new boxes of crayons to go along with the books. I never color a picture without thinking of my dad. As I layer the colors, add highlights, and redden the cheeks of smiling children, I see my father doing the same. Even my own children have the tendency to turn their colorings into a painted masterpieces. I think I may be making a return trip for more new crayons and coloring books before I know it!

ABC Wednesday- Letter D

D is for Dads and daughters, both of which I find delightful.

(I can not keep my eyes open with a flash, so you will need to forgive me for the photo. I tried, I really did... )
I am convinced I had one of the best dad's the world ever had to offer. He loved each and every one of us unconditionally and showed it in more ways than I can share here. His music kept us singing, his drawing kept us smiling, and his stories never failed to make us laugh. His love of faith and family is a lasting tribute to the man God made him. I am humbled to be called his daughter and inspired by his example.

I have two beautiful daughters. They were born nearly ten years apart with three brothers in between. Bethany prayed earnestly for a little sister and found herself in tears when her brother Benjamin was born. (She recovered quickly...) I'm sure she first felt God had let her down, but 20 months later a little sister came into our home, and Bethany's heartfelt child-like prayer was answered. Hannah loved to play with dolls as a little girl, attempted almost anything her older brothers tried, and grew faster than any child I have ever known. She is a blessing.

While Hannah completed our family, Bethany came into the world making us a family of five. For many years she was surrounded completely by brothers. No wonder she prayed for a sister! Bethany is competitive in a different way than her sister. She never cared much to play with dolls, but loved to run and play with her brothers, visit with friends, and help around the house. She does well at most anything she puts her heart and mind to and is an inspiration to many. She loves people and serving others, and does it with a smile. I think maybe she is a bit like her grandpa that way.


To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Time Heals All Wounds?

My burn is healing. Ugly and wrinkled as it is, it is looking better each day and I fear breaking the blister less and less. I even slept without worrying last night. I've been putting Bacitracin on the open wound and leaving the blister to the air. So far it appears to be working. Why the rest of my hand is looking so scaly is another good question. Guess I need to drink several gallons of water. I look dehydrated.

They say time heals all wounds and in some ways the statement is very true, but wounds often either leave scars or impressions that are with us for a lifetime. In another few weeks my father's cancer diagnosis will be a year old. This has left a wound that continues to weep. It is nothing I fret over continuously and I have no regrets, I only miss my dad. His passing has left a hole that, plain and simple, can not be filled by any other human being. There is much that he left behind and yet much has been lost with his passing. As a family we continue to work through decisions without Dad's counsel and input. There are so many things I want to ask him, so many things we neglected to discuss not realizing our time was to be cut short.

Dave and Leta will soon begin the search for new living quarters, and this will leave us to decide again what is best for Mom. Everyone seems to have a slightly different perspective on the question leaving us at times in a quandary. Or maybe it is just me that feels this way...

The Show Goes On!

Last night I went to a show. I was invited because I am "The Grandma". Ben and Hannah went with me because they are the uncle and aunt. There was singing and dancing, there was wiggling and waiting. There was one small participant who I couldn't keep my eyes off. The leader of the show called him "Romeo" but he looked very much like Josh to me.

I especially liked the tap dancing. We were told that "Romeo" "did not have a conscience" and that the job of the young lady to his left was to provide him with one. (Aren't those tap shoes special? I think "Romeo's" Uncle Ben was just slightly jealous. He's wanted to try tap dancing ever since being introduced to Shirley Temple years ago...)

Not For the Squeamish

I slept with my hand in a bucket of cold water last night. By the time 2 am. rolled around, I was finally able to take it out of the water and sleep without any searing pain. The part where the skin peeled is just a first degree burn and, although it is weepy, it doesn't hurt much. All that ice water last night was really good for it, I guess. There will be no kisses from Momma on this boo boo! I put some burn ointment on earlier today and again this afternoon, but have since heard that burns heal faster if you can just let the air do its job. I have not been to the doctor and don't plan to go unless it starts looking infected. Looks like I won't be washing dishes for quite some time.

my right hand man

i cooked supper. i made rice. i got a nasty steam burn on my right hand when i opened the lid and attempted to turn the burner off at the same time.... my hand is soaking in cold water. i have taken ibuprofen, i have gauze and antibiotic ointment on hand. well, not literally on my hand but available. i think i may be taking a forced vacation. good thing i have a family to help me.

ABC Wednesday- Letter C

C is for Cousin Camp.

I grew up with several cousins near to my age and we had a lot of fun together, so I like to see my own kids spend time with their cousins. A few times my sisters and I have planned a Cousin Camp for our children. It's really not much more than a sleep over and pool party at Aunt Rachel's house, but it has turned into a rather nice memory. I wonder if we'll have a chance to do it again this year? I hope the kids aren't too big for it yet!

My mom grew up with her cousins and they played together almost every day. (That's Mom with her tongue hanging out and her sister has a matching dress.)


My father had forty-six first cousins scattered mostly across New York State. Many of them lived on farms and they had huge family gatherings at Uncle Leo's house in Angelica, NY. (Dad's the little guy with his hands on his knees and his brother is standing.)

Cousins, they're like friends that last a lifetime.

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Vacation Bible School

I survived my second day of Vacation Bible School. Josh stayed overnight so he could go along for a second day and Emma is still trying to decide whether or not she likes this "new school." She is often unsure about new songs and games. If she isn't familiar with something, it makes her uncomfortable. She likes to be the one who knows.

My job at VBS is to help keep track of the Juniors. These are the kids entering grades 5-7 and today we had thirty-one of them. (Just a small group...) They have been well behaved so far. I follow along from place to place and keep a watchful eye. I count students when we get back to make sure no one is missing, and after the Bible story, it is my job to share the plan of salvation. God has been good and so far I have not been totally blank or tongue tied. I'm pretty sure that could happen any day now...

Oh yeah! I went out shopping again tonight and stopped back in Goodwill. I found a couple more denim dresses. They're in my washing machine right now.

Traveling Along

I gave a bag of dresses away not long ago. I never wore them and thought it would be nice to pass them along to someone who might put them to good use. This week I dug deep into my closet and found my favorite denim dress, the one I wore to the beach in Florida a few years back. If ever I loved a dress, this was the one, and that is why it remained in my closet when the others moved on. It was the perfect dress for VBS this morning and felt like I had taken an old friend along.

This evening I took my "old friend" to the nursing home. I was surprised by the attention the dear thing gained. The ladies all told me how lovely I looked and what a pretty dress I was wearing. Some of them reached out to touch the soft denim when I stopped to say hello. It made me smile and wonder why I had left this "old friend" to hang alone in my closet for so many years.

Now, I wonder what I will wear to VBS tomorrow...

Frazzled?

It has been a long week and I am worn to a frazzle. Though I desperately needed a nap this afternoon, sleep did not come. I hope that means I will sleep well tonight.

There was a day many years ago when I was worn beyond frazzled. Just before I fell "over the edge," my darling bought me a plane ticket and sent me on a vacation to visit his sister in Texas. She took me to Glamor Shots. That's where they erase the face you were born with and draw on a new one... Right now I'm not looking for new face, just a good night's sleep.

The Week's End

We are closing in on the weekend. It has been an interesting week, to say the least. Sunday evening we noticed white smoke billowing from the back of our minivan. It was slightly embarrassing and disconcerting too. My husband, quite certain this was a very bad sign, went in search of a replacement vehicle.

Monday evening our computer came down with a nasty virus that infected seemingly every file we opened in our quest to cure the illness. Tuesday morning it was packed up and hauled off to the computer doctor. I was prematurely grateful that my telephone still worked... Later I was thankful that we were only without service for a few hours. I don't know what the problem was there, likely something with the provider as it resolved on its own.

Wednesday and Thursday my dear little grandsons came to play. Lucas decided not to take a nap on Wednesday afternoon and Simon wasn't too keen on the idea either. Lucky for me they both slept on Thursday, because last night Hannah and I stayed overnight at the Sleep Center. I think they could do with some more comfortable mattresses there...

Today Hannah and I went out shopping. I looked for skirts and dresses at Goodwill but did not have much success. I have been informed that the teacher I am helping in VBS next week would like us to wear skirts... I only own one.

100 Delicious

For several years I have had a second blog. It began as a place to connect with family, but Facebook does a pretty good job of that, and so I decided to do an overhaul and turn it into something else instead.

I am starting the gluten-free journey once again. 100 Delicious seems the perfect place to post recipes and, hopefully, find some encouragement in the quest. Though I have not been diagnosed as gluten intolerant, I do notice the impact it has on my tummy. It tends to be round and bulgy and always has been. Since it doesn't normally hurt, giving up gluten is somewhat of a challenge. I keep vacillating...

I am blessed with a local grocery store that marks its own gluten-free products and also has a small gluten-free section in its natural foods section. I like cereals like Chex and Cream of Rice, and have found that Nature Valley has some rather tasty gluten-free Nut Crunch Bars. Of course, there are always salads and vegetables too. Here I go again.

Jazz-a-ma-tazz, A Broken Butterfly, and Baby Boys

For some strange and unknown reason my dog has decided to stick around home this week. She has been eating here, sleeping here, and hanging out in the yard and on the back porch during the day. Maybe she knows this is home after all.

I had a butterfly visitor to my goose-neck loo-strife this morning. It was battered and bruised, but happy just the same. (Kind of like Jasmine.) Later I spotted a monarch butterfly flitting about, but I didn't have my camera within close proximity.

My little grandsons came to play for the day. I don't know how their mommy keeps up with them. Lucas did not go to sleep at nap time ( I waited at least an hour and a half) and Simon thinks that sleeping on my lap is the way to go. Needless to say, I did not accomplish much in the way of housework. I did, however, have some good snuggle time with Simon and played a nice game of "Beanie Baby Toss" with Lucas who loves to throw things.

ABC Wednesday- Letter B

B is for Big Brothers. (I've written about them before...)

Every little girl should have a big brother or two. My brothers were both several years older than me. Dan was adopted by my parents six and a half years before my birth, and Tim came along a year after Dan.

Dan was special because of his adoption. Mom and Dad always made it sound so exciting, I thought being adopted must be a wonderful thing!

Tim was special because he was "brain damaged." Today he would be diagnosed as "severely autistic."

Though my brothers weren't quite what the average little girl might have had, I am grateful for their presence in my life. They are part of what makes me who I am today and I love them both. (Visit the links to learn more about my brothers.)

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Sundae Sunday

No more ice cream posts after this, but I have to say that National Hot Fudge Sundae Day was perfect for today. It made a wonderful excuse to visit Mom on her anniversary (not that we needed one) and make her a special treat. I want so much for her to know that she is loved and treasured, and I really needed to do something special today too. It's been an emotional couple of days.

My sisters were both busy with previous commitments today, some things can't be changed, but Dave and Leta were there to share the sundaes and Lucas found it quite possible to get a little taste of ice cream from whoever was willing to share, like his grandmas. Little Simon slept through the ice cream party but had plenty of time to smile and snuggle afterward just the same.

It was a nice day. Perfect weather, the kind for opening up the windows and letting the breeze blow through.

Loving Mom

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22

I can only imagine what is must be like to observe that first wedding anniversary alone. If the day is on my mind and my heart is hurting, my mom must ache deep within also. She does not vocalize her grief except to say, "It went so fast."

She called this morning to thank me for the flowers. My phone was dead, but the answering machine picked up and I heard her voice on the other end of the line. I felt helpless when I picked up the receiver and found it silent. Good thing I was headed to Webster anyway.

Fair Warning

Consider yourself warned. If you miss this holiday, it will be no fault of mine! July 25 just so happens to be National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. Think I'm kidding? Here's proof. Still not convinced? Go ahead and google it yourself.

The 25th of July also happens to be my parents wedding anniversary and the birthday of my niece, Renee. Some people have all the luck! Me? My birthday falls on National Water Day. Where's the fun in that?

If I have a favorite kind of ice cream sundae, it is most definitely hot fudge and I happen to love vanilla ice cream best too. A little whipped cream and some chopped peanuts on top, please. Does anybody want my maraschino cherry?

I think I may have just found my favorite holiday...

PS. National Cheesecake Day is coming up on July 30.

One Hundred and Counting

This morning I took my mom to visit her Uncle Louie in a nearby nursing home. Uncle Louie celebrated his 100th birthday last October. He is the only remaining uncle of either of my parents. (My father's 96 year old Aunt Margaret died last December.)

Uncle Louie did most of the talking during our visit and we did a lot of listening. He told us of a recent gathering of centenarians, there were three men and thirty women in the group, and he was asked for an interview by a local newswoman. She asked him his formula for living so long. He answered that he didn't have any formula. The Lord had just blessed him with long life. She asked what the highlight of his life was. He answered that it was the day he gave his life to Christ and the Lord began a transformation in him. She asked many questions and portions of the interview were later broadcast on TV.

Uncle Louie was distressed to learn that the interview had been edited and the answers to his questions rearranged. The newscaster asked what the highlight of his life was and, rather than Uncle Louie telling of his conversion, he told of getting his driver's license at the age of 17 and keeping it for the next 72 years. I guess the media is not looking to promote religion in any way, shape, or form...

I have heard the story of Uncle Louie's salvation many times. He was dating Aunt Francie and asked her to marry him. She told him she could not marry him because he was not a Christian, and then she went home, threw herself on her bed, and cried. She really did love him. I believe this happened a few times and one day when Aunt France said, "No, Louis, you are not a Christian," he told her that he had given his heart and life to Christ. Of course, she thought he was lying at first, but then she saw his life begin to change. She noticed that he stopped smoking cigarettes. When she asked him about it, he said, "Remember when I gave my heart to Christ? Well, he just took that all away."

Aunt France and Uncle Louie were married for over sixty years. Her pictures sits on the bookcase in his room and he still misses her. I heard him say so.

Peace and Quiet vs Busy Days

Yesterday, Tuesday, was a quiet kind of day. We slept a little later, went to Ladies' Prayer at church, and spent the afternoon at a friend's house. This friend lives in Webster, not far from Irondequoit Bay. I took a little ride past her house to where they have built some bigger, fancier homes and couldn't resist taking a picture of the bay and Lake Ontario from the top of the bluff. Back at Barb's house Ben and Hannah went swimming with their friends while the rest of us sat and talked. It really was a relaxing kind of day. It's nice to have those once in a while.

Today was a busy kind of day. I babysat, cleaned, did laundry, and somehow even caught a very short nap while the little ones took their rest. My refrigerator has been cleaned, the dog had a bath, and my family ate a hot supper. Not too bad.

Tape Fixes Everything

Maybe you have heard of Duck Tape's "Stuck at the Prom" contest? Okay, so maybe you haven't... Each year Duck Tape holds a contest where students are encouraged to create their own prom outfit out of Duck Tape. There are ten finalists in the overall contest and these are voted on by the general public. The voting has been going on for several weeks and now there are only two couples left in the running. One of these couples is from right here in our tiny town of Williamson, NY. (I remember when Rowan was just a toddler at the local library...) Top prize is a $3000 scholarship for each of the winners!!! Want to help Brit and Rowan? You can vote once a day per email address. Please vote here.

I thank you. Black Coffee With a Scoop of Cocoa thanks you. Brit and Rowan thank you... All of Williamson (Deborah appears to have several web sites...) thanks you!

ABC Wednesday- The Letter "A"

I've decided to join the Wednesday fun and do the Wednesday ABC challenge.

"A" is for "Al and Arlene" my adorable parents. Mom was just one month short of nineteen and Dad was twenty-one on their wedding day. They celebrated fifty-six years of marriage last July and I think that is amazing.

This Sunday mom will be observing the day alone, well, without Dad anyway. She is very much on my heart as this milestone day approaches. Maybe I'll buy her a pretty bouquet to let her know I love her and remember.

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Raffle for Haiti

Please help my sister raise money for earthquake victims in Haiti. The information is on her blog site. Check it out here.

Simon Says... Smile!

Nothing quite like a smiley baby. Simon was feeling very smiley yesterday afternoon. Don't you just want to kiss his little cheeks? I did, in fact I found him impossible to resist.

National Ice Cream Day

It was a great day to celebrate a birthday and today was Hannah's. She turned fifteen on National Ice Cream Day! To commemorate the occasion, we served brownie sundaes. As I have mentioned before, my children rarely opt to eat cake on their birthdays. We are more likely to enjoy pie, strawberry shortcake, cherry cheesecake, or brownie sundaes instead.

It was a beautiful afternoon; cool breeze, bright sunshine, and comfortable temperatures. We ate out on the back porch and swatted at the flies who insisted on joining the festivities. The picnic table was covered with a brightly colored tablecloth. We set up extra chairs and enjoyed the great outdoors. Josh likes the little wicker rocking chair I picked up at the Pultneyville Homecoming Days yesterday afternoon.

Dave and Leta brought my mom along and, after taking a short nap with her head on the picnic table, she was ready to join in the fun. She hasn't been out to our house in quite a while so it was especially nice to have her here.

Nathan brought Sabrina along. (If you enlarge the photo you might be able to see the pretty little ring she's wearing on her finger...) I must say, I did enjoy my afternoon. Maybe I'll even plan another family gathering or two before the summer is over.

Friday

I slept a little later than usual this morning,... or was it that I stayed in the tub a little longer? Either way I left the house later than I had intended. Hannah and I checked a few stores for clothing but came out empty handed. We went to the bank and made a deposit for Ben, and then decided to use my Panera Bread gift card and had some lunch together. It was much too early to go grocery shopping, even if we were out of milk, so we headed over to Grandma's house.

It was a two-fold visit. Leta was planning to go clean a house and needed a babysitter, and I didn't want my mom to sit alone in her house another day. Mom and I sat at the dining room table. We read the newspaper, we repeated some her childhood stories, we did a crossword puzzle. We listened to CD's with Dad's music. I held Simon. He fell asleep on my lap and melted my heart. Hannah took a nap on the couch. Mom checked the mailbox. At three thirty I asked Mom if she had eaten any lunch. I made her some soup and brought her some crackers and peanut butter. Lucas woke up from his nap and I fed him some peaches. He played hide and seek with Hannah and I went out to look in the garage. I found my grandpa's old Bible in a box. Leta returned around five o'clock and Hannah and I headed for the store again. Upon my return home I found myself extremely tired after a day of inactivity. I'm pretty sure I'm most tired on the days where I sit all day rather than those where I am up and about.

You Ought to Be Caned!

As if I didn't have enough on my mind, last Saturday I brought home five chairs with broken seats. When I had first heard about them, I thought they were woven cane seats, but these are the type where the woven seat comes all in one piece. They call it pressed cane. While they are generally easier to repair, and faster to do than the other, I have never fixed a chair of this sort. I'm afraid I am rather good at finding projects for my husband to do... This morning I set about attempting to remove the seat and spline that my husband put into these chairs for my Aunt Barb over twenty years ago. My efforts were successful and I have a nice blister in the center of my right palm to show for the work. A small price to pay, I'm sure.

While I struggled with my aunt's chairs, Hannah got into a little mischief with Lucas... His mommy laughed at the pictures, but I'm not sure his daddy would be quite so amused.

A Full Plate

I'm pretty sure my plate is full. Though keeping up with everything is a challenge, I'm fairly certain there is a way even if I haven't quite discovered it yet. I suppose the best way to eat the elephant is one bite at a time. (I learned that from Priscilla...)

It's not Thursday yet, but I think it's close enough. Want to know what's on my plate? Probably not but maybe it will make me feel better anyway.

1. Tending my "flowers." (Emma is here this week.)
2. My mom and all that is involved in taking care of her (This is filling up a good portion of my plate.)
3. homeschooling (Yup, we still do that. I must send in Hannah's year end papers...)
4. My grandkids (Can't leave them out, they're yummy! And, it's important for Grammies to have some time set aside to love their little people.)
5. The yard and gardens (They are quickly getting out of control. I did some weeding Tuesday and cut some grass this afternoon.)
6. Blueberries (It's that time again. I did a little picking but I'm considering letting the birds have most of them this year.)
7. Sofie (She needs to be fed, pottied, bathed, and groomed.)
8. Groceries (We have to eat, even if it's just cereal.)
9. My house (Do you know houses do NOT clean themselves?)
10. Going places like church, Ladies' Prayer, and the nursing home (I need these things to help keep me going. It's like pouring more fuel in the gas tank.)
11. Having my dad's ashes buried (Until that is done, it still on my plate. Soon it will be accomplished.)
12. My kids (Yes, they are growing up, but they still require some love, help, and attention here and there.)
13. My husband (Sometimes he must think he's last on the list, but that really isn't so. I love having time to spend with him. I just wish there was more of it. Maybe one day soon we can escape together.)

So, today my darling daughter in law cleaned my van for me! That was her way of saying "thank you" and giving back a little bit because I babysit for her. She sure is sweet. :)

A Little Bit of Nothing

I have nothing to say. Nothing exciting to report, Nothing new to wear.
Maybe you will like this instead... http://100delicious.blogspot.com/

Perhaps tomorrow I will find something wonderful to tell you.

Thinking Thoughts

All people have their very own unique way of thinking.

Several weeks back I decided to stop at a local monument company and order a stone for my parents' grave. This is something very important to my sisters and I, but something my parents wouldn't necessarily want. When my own grandfather passed away eleven years ago, I believed that his body had been cremated. We had a memorial service at the church, but as far as I knew there had been no burial. I didn't ask questions. Maybe I was afraid of what the answer might be.

Last week, after a discussion with my sister, I got curious and called the cemetery where my uncle is buried. I asked if my grandfather was also buried there. I was surprised to hear he was and found myself unexpectedly smiling. It seems my aunt (the deceased uncle's wife) and my parents had a bit of a disagreement at the time of Grandpa's death. Apparently there was a burial after all and Grandpa's body was not cremated. He is buried next to my grandmother and has a marker to show where his body lies. This was contrary to my father's wishes and so my sisters and I never knew and did not attend the burial. We have never been to visit his grave.

As of this day, my father's ashes remain unburied. One day soon we will make a trip to the cemetery to have them properly buried. It may not have been what my father wanted, but it somehow seems terribly important to me.

Boys and Their Toys

We did not get to visit Uncle Chuck yesterday. Aunt Mary caught us at Mom's house and said he wasn't feeling well. She was taking him back to the doctor again with the hope of avoiding a third hospital stay. I'm afraid his will be a long and arduous recovery.

Bethany had been called in to work at the "cute little diner" and so I had Josh with me. He and Lucas ventured out into Grandma's backyard with Uncle Jim and found Lukie's little pool full of water. It was still hot and muggy and the boys found the water irresistible. They either climbed in fully clothed or did enough splashing to soak themselves. Even Josh's sandals were wet.

Lucas also has a very cool tractor that was given him by one of the neighbors. The boys had fun playing with it and Lucas even gave Josh a ride. What a great toy! It's almost as much fun a a grown up tractor!