I can't think of one interesting thing to write about. My days at school and my evenings at home are taken up with music, music, music, either for the school program or the church program.
I did read a funny story to Destiny at bedtime from her Highlights Magazine. It was called "Grandma's Purse". It started out saying, "People say that Grandma has everything in her purse but the kitchen sink. " One time the little girl needed a pencil. Her grandma started digging through her purse to find one, but she kept finding other things - an orange, a frying pan, a pack of chocolate cookies, a drum, a dog, a swimming pool, and finally the kitchen sink - but no pencil. I was cracking up more than Destiny as I read it. And speaking of reading - she is truly learning to read. It is just thrilling to watch it happen.
This week we are enduring the smell of a dead something, and believe it or not, we are glad. Most of this fall I would often hear something chewing under the floor at various places in the house - sometimes near the computer, sometimes in our bedroom, once in Destiny's room. As most of your know, we live in a double-wide mobile home. There is a space between our floors and the bottom of our house where the water pipes, heat ducts, etc are. So we knew there was something in that space. We put rat poison in the few places near the tubs where we can open little doors to gain access to the pipes. But it didn't seem to have any effect. The chewing continued. Finally Dick decided to loan my dad's trap and put it under the house. After he got the trap here he had second thoughts. What if he put the trap under the house and it attracted a skunk??!! We didn't know what to do.... BUT, sometime since I'm home from the hospital I realized I have not been hearing any chewing, and in fact I was smelling something dead right near (under?) my computer. But we can't get to it, so we'll have to wait it out. Ugh!! The lesser of two evils, I guess. I've got a strong air freshener in a receptacle, but my nose knows better. At least it's not the smell of a skunk!! This too shall pass, praise God.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Dick's back home - without a deer :(
Dick just got home from his hunting trip. Several of the guys got deer, but not Dick. He's a very tired man, ready to hit the sack.
Below are pictures to show what I've been doing while he's gone. I figured out that there's a place to caption my pictures , but I don't like the layout as well as the way I used to do it. I'd rather have the captions underneath the picture in smaller black print. Oh, well..... the old way doesn't work anymore, so I'll just get used to the new way, I guess.
Below are pictures to show what I've been doing while he's gone. I figured out that there's a place to caption my pictures , but I don't like the layout as well as the way I used to do it. I'd rather have the captions underneath the picture in smaller black print. Oh, well..... the old way doesn't work anymore, so I'll just get used to the new way, I guess.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Hunting Monday
How thankful I am this Monday morning to be sitting here at my computer, remembering my day on Sunday clearly. Yes, there were some funny jokes made as a result of my experience last week. I love it. One friend at church said, "You mean, all I have to do is start repeating myself over and over, and I could get a two-day rest in the hospital?" At the Christmas choir rehearsal last evening I had to confess that I did not remember last week's rehearsal at all, so I had to constantly ask what we had gone over, what I had said, etc. One lady said, "You DID say that we would be paid well for doing this musical." We got a good laugh over that one.
I also had some very meaningful times of sharing and prayer with people in our church family yesterday morning and with two of my Stauffer sister-in-laws last evening. While I hate being in a position where it feels like my life is open game for everyone's inspection and opinion after last week's experience, I do feel a tremendous amount of love and support. I am so blessed.
Dick left after church yesterday for his two-day deer hunting trip in Juniata County with his brothers. It's the first year ever that his dad is not going with them. He, of course, is staying home with Dick's stepmother. She is still undergoing testing (bone marrow biopsy, etc.) to determine what kind of lymphoma she has and what treatments they will do.
I must tell you one of my funny stories here. One year I got a phone call from Dick on the Sunday afternoon of deer hunting, that Ray cannot find his hunting license. I went up to his room, and sure enough, there it was on his dresser. So we agreed to meet at the end of 283 at Harrisburg. I pulled into the hotel parking lot about the same time Dick and his dad did. They pulled up beside me, we opened our windows, and I handed the license across to Dick. He looked at it and said, "This isn't his hunting license. It's his fishing license." I said, "You are kidding me." But he wasn't. We sat there and tried to figure out what to do. I was not about to make a second trip to Harrisburg. It was already 6:30 PM. They decided to risk it, and let Ray hunt without his license. As it turned out, he did have it with him. Oh, well, it made a funny story. But it got even funnier. My school principal back then was Crist Peachey, an avid hunter. He LOVED that story and got a great laugh over it. Sometime later, he presented me with his homemade license differentiator. I would take a picture of it and show it here if I could figure out where I have it. It was really, really funny.
After rehearsal last evening my neice Lindsay Stauffer and her friends kept Destiny (they were making cookies and opera fudge) while my sister-in-laws Carolyn (Lindsay's mom), and Faye, and I went to the Baron's Diner for "coffee". We had more than coffee, and an absolutely precious time talking. I think we enjoy each other's company more the older we get. We were just sorry that we couldn't get in touch with our other sister-in-law Deb. She must have been hanging out with her sisters. (We're all hunter's widows.) For many, many years we Stauffer sister-in-laws and children had the tradition of coming to my house on hunting Sunday and staying overnight. I think we started it when Anthony was two, and probably continued it for at least 15 years. The kids would be awake till very late, and we ladies would talk into the wee hours of the morning. One year we just fell asleep right where we were talking in the family room, and when the thundering hooves of the children woke us up, there we still sat! What wonderful memories.
Well, I have a day now to get lots done in preparation for these next three weeks. Three weeks from today all my Christmas productions will be finished. Unbelievable!
I also had some very meaningful times of sharing and prayer with people in our church family yesterday morning and with two of my Stauffer sister-in-laws last evening. While I hate being in a position where it feels like my life is open game for everyone's inspection and opinion after last week's experience, I do feel a tremendous amount of love and support. I am so blessed.
Dick left after church yesterday for his two-day deer hunting trip in Juniata County with his brothers. It's the first year ever that his dad is not going with them. He, of course, is staying home with Dick's stepmother. She is still undergoing testing (bone marrow biopsy, etc.) to determine what kind of lymphoma she has and what treatments they will do.
I must tell you one of my funny stories here. One year I got a phone call from Dick on the Sunday afternoon of deer hunting, that Ray cannot find his hunting license. I went up to his room, and sure enough, there it was on his dresser. So we agreed to meet at the end of 283 at Harrisburg. I pulled into the hotel parking lot about the same time Dick and his dad did. They pulled up beside me, we opened our windows, and I handed the license across to Dick. He looked at it and said, "This isn't his hunting license. It's his fishing license." I said, "You are kidding me." But he wasn't. We sat there and tried to figure out what to do. I was not about to make a second trip to Harrisburg. It was already 6:30 PM. They decided to risk it, and let Ray hunt without his license. As it turned out, he did have it with him. Oh, well, it made a funny story. But it got even funnier. My school principal back then was Crist Peachey, an avid hunter. He LOVED that story and got a great laugh over it. Sometime later, he presented me with his homemade license differentiator. I would take a picture of it and show it here if I could figure out where I have it. It was really, really funny.
After rehearsal last evening my neice Lindsay Stauffer and her friends kept Destiny (they were making cookies and opera fudge) while my sister-in-laws Carolyn (Lindsay's mom), and Faye, and I went to the Baron's Diner for "coffee". We had more than coffee, and an absolutely precious time talking. I think we enjoy each other's company more the older we get. We were just sorry that we couldn't get in touch with our other sister-in-law Deb. She must have been hanging out with her sisters. (We're all hunter's widows.) For many, many years we Stauffer sister-in-laws and children had the tradition of coming to my house on hunting Sunday and staying overnight. I think we started it when Anthony was two, and probably continued it for at least 15 years. The kids would be awake till very late, and we ladies would talk into the wee hours of the morning. One year we just fell asleep right where we were talking in the family room, and when the thundering hooves of the children woke us up, there we still sat! What wonderful memories.
Well, I have a day now to get lots done in preparation for these next three weeks. Three weeks from today all my Christmas productions will be finished. Unbelievable!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Full days
This has been a FULL two days! I picked Anthony and Lori up at the train station around noon yesterday. He made some changes for me on my blog, which I'm still getting used to. It seems I can't caption my pictures anymore, but I'll do some more experimenting. Now I'll be able to change my font style and color more easily, among other things. I guess Blogger is trying to keep up with xanga! Watch out, you xanga-ites! I'm going to be getting fancier here!!
Dick went to Manheim Central's football game last evening, and unfortunately it was their last one of the season. It's highly unusual for them to be finished in November. But they lost. Dick took one of the teenage girls from church to the game, and she said she had never seen guys cry before! Dick assured her we certainly had. When you're a Manheim Central football player and you lose, you cry. That's all there is to it. I'll never forget Frank and Ray's last games, especially their senior years. I cried right along.
While Dick was at the game, Anthony and I had one of our DEEEEEP discussions, and we solved all of my problems. Ha! Ha!
This morning I pretended I was back in my Stauffer's Country Home days and I served a good "tourist" breakfast. My guests were Anthony and Lori and Dick's cousin Elam Stauffer from Plain City, Ohio. Sadly, Elam's wife Doris died after a valiant battle with brain cancer this past July. (You may remember that I posted pictures of his daughter Gloria and her husband and daughter when they had middle school devotions at my school the beginning of October.) Elam has been spending the week here in Lancaster County where he grew up, visiting his relatives. Today it was our turn, and what a pleasure it was. He brought his laptop and showed us many, many precious pictures. My favorites were the ones of Doris with granddaughter Carmelinda the last few weeks of Doris's life. Elam spent the afternoon here too, after Anthony and Lori headed back to State College, so we had a very laid back kind of day. He took a walk around our community (we had a beautiful day, weather-wise), and then he took a nap, before he headed off to Dick's parents for supper.
This evening Dick is working at Advance Auto Parts and he took Destiny to Frank and Abby's for the evening. So now I'm having a very quiet evening, and I like it. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I hope I remember every little detail about it afterward!!
Dick went to Manheim Central's football game last evening, and unfortunately it was their last one of the season. It's highly unusual for them to be finished in November. But they lost. Dick took one of the teenage girls from church to the game, and she said she had never seen guys cry before! Dick assured her we certainly had. When you're a Manheim Central football player and you lose, you cry. That's all there is to it. I'll never forget Frank and Ray's last games, especially their senior years. I cried right along.
While Dick was at the game, Anthony and I had one of our DEEEEEP discussions, and we solved all of my problems. Ha! Ha!
This morning I pretended I was back in my Stauffer's Country Home days and I served a good "tourist" breakfast. My guests were Anthony and Lori and Dick's cousin Elam Stauffer from Plain City, Ohio. Sadly, Elam's wife Doris died after a valiant battle with brain cancer this past July. (You may remember that I posted pictures of his daughter Gloria and her husband and daughter when they had middle school devotions at my school the beginning of October.) Elam has been spending the week here in Lancaster County where he grew up, visiting his relatives. Today it was our turn, and what a pleasure it was. He brought his laptop and showed us many, many precious pictures. My favorites were the ones of Doris with granddaughter Carmelinda the last few weeks of Doris's life. Elam spent the afternoon here too, after Anthony and Lori headed back to State College, so we had a very laid back kind of day. He took a walk around our community (we had a beautiful day, weather-wise), and then he took a nap, before he headed off to Dick's parents for supper.
This evening Dick is working at Advance Auto Parts and he took Destiny to Frank and Abby's for the evening. So now I'm having a very quiet evening, and I like it. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I hope I remember every little detail about it afterward!!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Pray for my little Sophie-girl (and her mom and dad!)
Even as I write, my precious little granddaughter Sophie is undergoing sinus surgery. A few months ago she had her adenoids removed, but she still continued to get many sinus infections. An xray showed that her sinuses were very, very congested. So she has had to be on antibiotics constantly the past month or so, until they could fit this surgery into theirs and the doctor's schedules.
Actually, I just got a text message from Lisa that the surgery is over and went well. The recovery today will be the roughest part. I wish I could be there :(
Below are some pictures Lisa sent me last evening.
Actually, I just got a text message from Lisa that the surgery is over and went well. The recovery today will be the roughest part. I wish I could be there :(
Below are some pictures Lisa sent me last evening.
Thankful for this Thanksgiving Day
This was a really good day. I took my good old time cooking and finishing the cleaning. My sister Mary Ellen and my sister-in-law Nancy provided me with some of the food they were making for their meal together. So I only had to make the turkey, baked corn, and stuffing. We and Sam and Ray ate around 4:00.
Later Frank and Abby and her children came (they had been at her aunt's house first). My sister Doris and her husband and their three girls also came for the evening. We had SO MUCH FUN playing Dictionary. It is our family tradition (that is, Dick and I and our children). It's the same as Balderdash, but we just use dictionaries. One person picks a word out of the dictionary that hopefully no one is familiar with. Then each person writes on a piece of paper a definition that hopefully sounds like it could be the real definition from the dictionary. The person who chose the word writes the real definition on his piece of paper. Then he reads all the definitions and everyone else needs to chose which one he thinks is the real one. We had so many good laughs this evening as we played.
Ray was his usual comic self and had us entertained and laughing most of the afternoon and especially the evening. The bigger the group the better he gets. What a guy!
Later Frank and Abby and her children came (they had been at her aunt's house first). My sister Doris and her husband and their three girls also came for the evening. We had SO MUCH FUN playing Dictionary. It is our family tradition (that is, Dick and I and our children). It's the same as Balderdash, but we just use dictionaries. One person picks a word out of the dictionary that hopefully no one is familiar with. Then each person writes on a piece of paper a definition that hopefully sounds like it could be the real definition from the dictionary. The person who chose the word writes the real definition on his piece of paper. Then he reads all the definitions and everyone else needs to chose which one he thinks is the real one. We had so many good laughs this evening as we played.
Ray was his usual comic self and had us entertained and laughing most of the afternoon and especially the evening. The bigger the group the better he gets. What a guy!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Heavy thoughts and thankful thoughts
Well, it's the end of another day, a fairly normal one. I took Destiny to school and was told they had arranged other things for my few music periods. We only had a half day and there was also an awards assembly planned. So I went to church to look for my pay check, which seemed to have gotten lost along with my memory on Sunday. While there I did find the check, but I also had a good cry. It is very, very disconcerting to have had such a thing happen to me with no absolute cause. I know I carry a lot of responsibility, and my children are making it very clear that I had better reconsider things, that they obviously did not enjoy this scare one little bit. It's no use looking around and comparing myself with others who seem to be carrying even heavier loads. This unsettling event happened to me, not to them.
While at church this morning, I decided that since I did not remember introducing the new song on Sunday (which I did introduce, even if I can't remember doing it), I would sing it then. So I pulled the words out of the transparency box, sat down at the piano in the cold sanctuary and started playing it, and I wept more as the words ministered to me in a far more meaningful way than they did last week when I first learned it. I will share the lyrics with you here.
Your love is irresistible to me,
Drawing close, surrounding me with peace.
You hold me like a friend in time of need,
And whisper in my ear, "I'll be your strength."
For You are mighty, Holy,
King above all kings.
Forever worthy is Your Name.
The light of heaven reaches,
Setting this heart free.
Your love is irresistible to me.
Your love is irresistible to me,
Lifts me up when I am cold and weak.
You shelter me in mercy's covering,
Your healing touch is making me complete.
For you are mighty, Holy,
King above all kings.
Forever worthy is Your Name.
The light of heaven reaches,
Setting this heart free.
Your love is irresistible to me.
So when I come to mind, lift a prayer to the Lord for me and our family.
After picking Destiny up, we got some groceries, I cleaned up some piles around here, took Anthony and Lori to the train station shortly after they arrived here from State College (they are spending Thanksgiving with her family in New York City), and cleaned some more, with Dick's and Destiny's help, this evening.
Our family will be small tomorrow. Ray and Sam will be here, and later Frank and Abby and her children will join us. I guess that's the way it's supposed to be this year, even though I'm one that always loves a big group.
And now I want to finish off this post with a list of things I am thankful for. These will be in the order they come to my head, certainly not in order of importance!
1. I am thankful to be home, in this comfortable, easy-to-care-for house.
2. I am thankful my mind has cleared and I can think and remember things.
3. I am thankful for Dick and his unending patience and support.
4. I am thankful for each one of our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren,
even when they use tough love on me.
5. I am thankful for Destiny, and all the laughs, delights, and hugs and kisses she brings to my daily life.
6. I am thankful that I know the Lord, that I am still learning to know and worship Him and hear His voice and receive His love.
7. I am thankful for the wealth of love and support I am constantly surrounded with at church, at school, at home, in my family, in Dick's family, in our children, and in other friends. I am very, very rich.
8. I am thankful for my wonderful king-size therapedic mattress that gives me such a good night of sleep, especially on these cold nights when I can put heavy covers on top.
9. I am thankful for Dick's gentle snoring - it means he is there beside me.
10. I am thankful for my computer and the opportunities it gives me to write and communicate.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
While at church this morning, I decided that since I did not remember introducing the new song on Sunday (which I did introduce, even if I can't remember doing it), I would sing it then. So I pulled the words out of the transparency box, sat down at the piano in the cold sanctuary and started playing it, and I wept more as the words ministered to me in a far more meaningful way than they did last week when I first learned it. I will share the lyrics with you here.
Your love is irresistible to me,
Drawing close, surrounding me with peace.
You hold me like a friend in time of need,
And whisper in my ear, "I'll be your strength."
For You are mighty, Holy,
King above all kings.
Forever worthy is Your Name.
The light of heaven reaches,
Setting this heart free.
Your love is irresistible to me.
Your love is irresistible to me,
Lifts me up when I am cold and weak.
You shelter me in mercy's covering,
Your healing touch is making me complete.
For you are mighty, Holy,
King above all kings.
Forever worthy is Your Name.
The light of heaven reaches,
Setting this heart free.
Your love is irresistible to me.
So when I come to mind, lift a prayer to the Lord for me and our family.
After picking Destiny up, we got some groceries, I cleaned up some piles around here, took Anthony and Lori to the train station shortly after they arrived here from State College (they are spending Thanksgiving with her family in New York City), and cleaned some more, with Dick's and Destiny's help, this evening.
Our family will be small tomorrow. Ray and Sam will be here, and later Frank and Abby and her children will join us. I guess that's the way it's supposed to be this year, even though I'm one that always loves a big group.
And now I want to finish off this post with a list of things I am thankful for. These will be in the order they come to my head, certainly not in order of importance!
1. I am thankful to be home, in this comfortable, easy-to-care-for house.
2. I am thankful my mind has cleared and I can think and remember things.
3. I am thankful for Dick and his unending patience and support.
4. I am thankful for each one of our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren,
even when they use tough love on me.
5. I am thankful for Destiny, and all the laughs, delights, and hugs and kisses she brings to my daily life.
6. I am thankful that I know the Lord, that I am still learning to know and worship Him and hear His voice and receive His love.
7. I am thankful for the wealth of love and support I am constantly surrounded with at church, at school, at home, in my family, in Dick's family, in our children, and in other friends. I am very, very rich.
8. I am thankful for my wonderful king-size therapedic mattress that gives me such a good night of sleep, especially on these cold nights when I can put heavy covers on top.
9. I am thankful for Dick's gentle snoring - it means he is there beside me.
10. I am thankful for my computer and the opportunities it gives me to write and communicate.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
I'M HOME!!
I just got home from the hospital around 9 PM. When I woke up at 5:00 this morning, I could tell that my head was clear. I felt absolutely normal all day today.
For those who did not read Dick's comments to the previous post, on Sunday I began to experience confusion and short term memory loss. I managed to function throughout the Sunday morning service and my Christmas rehearsal later in the day, but after that Dick says I began asking questions repeatedly about events of the day that I could not remember. He decided to take me to the E.R. to be checked out. Most of Sunday and Monday are a complete blur to me - like dreams instead of reality.
After all the testing they concluded that there was no stroke activity, no seizure activity, no brain tumor,etc. They concluded that I had a TGA, which stands for Transient Global Amnesia. You can read up on it on the internet if you're interested.
I'm thankful that it was not caused by something more serious, but I am concerned that I had such an occurance. Please pray that Dick and I will have the discernment we need. The timing of this event is beyond bizarre (after what I wrote about November 19, eleven years ago, on my previous post.) But I refuse to dwell on that.
Thank you to all who prayed, called, visited, and cared.
Now I need to go to bed.
For those who did not read Dick's comments to the previous post, on Sunday I began to experience confusion and short term memory loss. I managed to function throughout the Sunday morning service and my Christmas rehearsal later in the day, but after that Dick says I began asking questions repeatedly about events of the day that I could not remember. He decided to take me to the E.R. to be checked out. Most of Sunday and Monday are a complete blur to me - like dreams instead of reality.
After all the testing they concluded that there was no stroke activity, no seizure activity, no brain tumor,etc. They concluded that I had a TGA, which stands for Transient Global Amnesia. You can read up on it on the internet if you're interested.
I'm thankful that it was not caused by something more serious, but I am concerned that I had such an occurance. Please pray that Dick and I will have the discernment we need. The timing of this event is beyond bizarre (after what I wrote about November 19, eleven years ago, on my previous post.) But I refuse to dwell on that.
Thank you to all who prayed, called, visited, and cared.
Now I need to go to bed.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
November 19
Eleven years ago in 1995, November 19 was also on a Sunday. It was a clear, sunny morning as Dick, Jeremy (age 15), and I drove to church for worship team practice. Sam and Frank were still in bed, each of them scheduled to work that day. Anthony and Lisa were both students at Penn State, Miki was already married and living in Sweden, and Ray had not yet joined our family.
So there were just three of us going to church that day. I remember passing the neighboring Metzler farm where they had just had sale the day before, and feeling sad that they would no longer be our neighbors. And that's about all I remember of that day. Just before we got to our church a car crossed in front of us and hit us head on. (There must have been huge angels sitting on our hood, because we were just in a little Rabbit, and none of us was seriously injured, not even a broken bone! Jeremy suffered a concussion and facial wounds and a broken tooth. Dick had chest and hip wounds. I smacked my face against the dash and had a serious concussion.) Anyway, they tell me that we were taken by ambulance to Lancaster General Hospital, and that I cried and cried when they tried to put me on a stretcher. I was so determined not to lie down. (I'm a control freak even when I'm unconcious. Yikes!) They also tell me that they were worried that I was brain damaged for life, because I kept repeating the same questions over and over all day long. The first I remember was that evening, waking up in a hospital room, feeling horrible. I actually think my sister Janet was there when I woke up. My first question I remember asking was, "Did we have an accident?" My second one, "Was it our fault?" Apparently I asked that many, many times. I also asked if the boys went to work a whole bunch of times too. The funniest thing I remember was later that evening when a nurse was asking me questions to see how well my memory was coming back. She asked who was president of the United States. I tried so hard to think of his name, but it just would not come to mind. I said, "It's the dumbest thing, but I just can't think of his name. But I think his wife's name is Hillary." I have laughed over that so many times.
The next morning Dick and Jeremy came to my room. They were allowed to go home. I, however, had to stay until Wednesday. I was sick on the stomach a good bit of those days, and my face was huge and discolored. Not a fun time at all. When I got home on Wednesday Lisa and Anthony had arrived home from Penn State for their Thanksgiving break. Lisa took over, even insisting on making a lot of the food for our Thanksgiving meal. I will never forget that. We had SO MUCH to be thankful for that Thanksgiving.
And now I will tell one of my really funny stories. After that accident we got a Mercury Sable. It was the first time we ever had a car that looked normal. We had always had old vans and even older Rabbits. I could easily find my car in a parking lot. Until the Sable. Dick and I went to the chiropractor regularly as a result of the accident. One Saturday we got out of his office just in time to quickly go to the Fulton Bank in the K-Mart plaza before they closed at 12 noon. Dick drove up to the door, I hopped out and just made it through the door before they closed. I quickly did the banking, walked out, hopped into the car that was parked at the curb where Dick had let me out, and was SHOCKED to hear a strange man's voice saying, "Wrong car, Hon." I didn't even look at him as I exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! I am SO SORRY!" I scrambled out of there, turned around, and saw Dick sitting in our car in a parking space facing the bank, with the BIGGEST grin in town. He had watched the whole thing with greatest amusement. He told me it was an older man who probably enjoyed having a younger woman hopping into his car!
So there were just three of us going to church that day. I remember passing the neighboring Metzler farm where they had just had sale the day before, and feeling sad that they would no longer be our neighbors. And that's about all I remember of that day. Just before we got to our church a car crossed in front of us and hit us head on. (There must have been huge angels sitting on our hood, because we were just in a little Rabbit, and none of us was seriously injured, not even a broken bone! Jeremy suffered a concussion and facial wounds and a broken tooth. Dick had chest and hip wounds. I smacked my face against the dash and had a serious concussion.) Anyway, they tell me that we were taken by ambulance to Lancaster General Hospital, and that I cried and cried when they tried to put me on a stretcher. I was so determined not to lie down. (I'm a control freak even when I'm unconcious. Yikes!) They also tell me that they were worried that I was brain damaged for life, because I kept repeating the same questions over and over all day long. The first I remember was that evening, waking up in a hospital room, feeling horrible. I actually think my sister Janet was there when I woke up. My first question I remember asking was, "Did we have an accident?" My second one, "Was it our fault?" Apparently I asked that many, many times. I also asked if the boys went to work a whole bunch of times too. The funniest thing I remember was later that evening when a nurse was asking me questions to see how well my memory was coming back. She asked who was president of the United States. I tried so hard to think of his name, but it just would not come to mind. I said, "It's the dumbest thing, but I just can't think of his name. But I think his wife's name is Hillary." I have laughed over that so many times.
The next morning Dick and Jeremy came to my room. They were allowed to go home. I, however, had to stay until Wednesday. I was sick on the stomach a good bit of those days, and my face was huge and discolored. Not a fun time at all. When I got home on Wednesday Lisa and Anthony had arrived home from Penn State for their Thanksgiving break. Lisa took over, even insisting on making a lot of the food for our Thanksgiving meal. I will never forget that. We had SO MUCH to be thankful for that Thanksgiving.
And now I will tell one of my really funny stories. After that accident we got a Mercury Sable. It was the first time we ever had a car that looked normal. We had always had old vans and even older Rabbits. I could easily find my car in a parking lot. Until the Sable. Dick and I went to the chiropractor regularly as a result of the accident. One Saturday we got out of his office just in time to quickly go to the Fulton Bank in the K-Mart plaza before they closed at 12 noon. Dick drove up to the door, I hopped out and just made it through the door before they closed. I quickly did the banking, walked out, hopped into the car that was parked at the curb where Dick had let me out, and was SHOCKED to hear a strange man's voice saying, "Wrong car, Hon." I didn't even look at him as I exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! I am SO SORRY!" I scrambled out of there, turned around, and saw Dick sitting in our car in a parking space facing the bank, with the BIGGEST grin in town. He had watched the whole thing with greatest amusement. He told me it was an older man who probably enjoyed having a younger woman hopping into his car!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
We got RAIN!!
The heavens opened this afternoon and literally DUMPED rain on us. My drive home from school was really scary. I could hardly see, and I would drive into high water before I could even see it. I never would have believed that the roads between school and my house could be flooded, but they were. I am eager to hear how much rain we got. I think it stopped now and there is actually a sunset. Most of the afternoon it seemed like evening, because it was so dark.
Yesterday Destiny made me smile. We were hurrying to the rec center after school for her dance class. Suddenly I thought of her baton and said, "Oh, no, do we have your baton?" She said that it was in the back seat with her, and I remembered of her carrying it out of the house in the morning. Destiny said, "Thank you, LORD. Thank you, Lord, for giving my grandma that faithful thought." I was enjoying her little moment of praise, but then I was brought back down to earth when she added, "No, it was a dumb thought. I knew it was back here and YOU knew it was back here too."
Yes, well, this grandma is getting pretty forgetful. Last week my whole focus was on getting everything done before my trip to Florida. When I pulled things out of Destiny's backpack, I would glance over them and put them on a stack on the counter. The first two days of this week I felt like I was just recovering and trying to catch up with my life. But I didn't do too well. At the end of Tuesday I was reminded that I had forgotten to send Destiny's library book with her, so she wasn't allowed to get a new book during library period. I also forgot to send the list of the books we read to her this week, so she couldn't get a sticker. I also forgot that it was my turn to provide the kindergarten snack. I felt like I'm being one of those mothers that we teachers always talk about - the ones who never read the stuff you send home, never remember anything you ask them to do, etc.
Now I probably have all of you wondering about me too - all these confessions, plus the dumb things I did at the airports this past weekend. But trust me, the list of things I DID remember this week would be a lot longer!
Yesterday Destiny made me smile. We were hurrying to the rec center after school for her dance class. Suddenly I thought of her baton and said, "Oh, no, do we have your baton?" She said that it was in the back seat with her, and I remembered of her carrying it out of the house in the morning. Destiny said, "Thank you, LORD. Thank you, Lord, for giving my grandma that faithful thought." I was enjoying her little moment of praise, but then I was brought back down to earth when she added, "No, it was a dumb thought. I knew it was back here and YOU knew it was back here too."
Yes, well, this grandma is getting pretty forgetful. Last week my whole focus was on getting everything done before my trip to Florida. When I pulled things out of Destiny's backpack, I would glance over them and put them on a stack on the counter. The first two days of this week I felt like I was just recovering and trying to catch up with my life. But I didn't do too well. At the end of Tuesday I was reminded that I had forgotten to send Destiny's library book with her, so she wasn't allowed to get a new book during library period. I also forgot to send the list of the books we read to her this week, so she couldn't get a sticker. I also forgot that it was my turn to provide the kindergarten snack. I felt like I'm being one of those mothers that we teachers always talk about - the ones who never read the stuff you send home, never remember anything you ask them to do, etc.
Now I probably have all of you wondering about me too - all these confessions, plus the dumb things I did at the airports this past weekend. But trust me, the list of things I DID remember this week would be a lot longer!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
My Christmas cactus
I hesitate to post a picture of my Christmas cactus, because it probably needs help. If you green thumbs out there have any suggestions, feel free.
But I'll be brave and post a picture of it anyway, because every time I look at it, my heart is warmed.
Two years ago, the week after my sister Janet died, my dear friend Karen Stoner, gave me this Christmas cactus at school. I thought, "Oh, no. A plant. Every house plant I ever have ends up dying. Then she'll think I didn't appreciate it enough to take care of it properly."
But I have kept it in my classroom at school. Occasionally I remember to water it. Many, many times it gets knocked over and the dirt comes out, and I try to scoop most of it up and put it back into the pot.
I was absolutely amazed last year at this time to see pink blossoms. I think there were two or three that bloomed. Now I'm even more amazed that the second year in a row it is blooming again!! This time there are at least four, and I think there will be more.
I am going to name it Janet. It is obviously hardy, able to handle hard knocks, dry seasons, too much sun, dark times, summer's heat, and the extreme chill of winter weekends when the heat is turned very low. And most of all, it is beautiful! Yes, I am naming it Janet.
But I'll be brave and post a picture of it anyway, because every time I look at it, my heart is warmed.
Two years ago, the week after my sister Janet died, my dear friend Karen Stoner, gave me this Christmas cactus at school. I thought, "Oh, no. A plant. Every house plant I ever have ends up dying. Then she'll think I didn't appreciate it enough to take care of it properly."
But I have kept it in my classroom at school. Occasionally I remember to water it. Many, many times it gets knocked over and the dirt comes out, and I try to scoop most of it up and put it back into the pot.
I was absolutely amazed last year at this time to see pink blossoms. I think there were two or three that bloomed. Now I'm even more amazed that the second year in a row it is blooming again!! This time there are at least four, and I think there will be more.
I am going to name it Janet. It is obviously hardy, able to handle hard knocks, dry seasons, too much sun, dark times, summer's heat, and the extreme chill of winter weekends when the heat is turned very low. And most of all, it is beautiful! Yes, I am naming it Janet.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Remembering Janet
Today it is two years since my beloved sister, Janet Peifer, entered into the presence of the Lord, right from her own bed, as she peacefully slept. What must have been a glorious experience for her, was a shocking and unbelievably sad one for her husband Elvin, her adult children Lori and Scott, his wife Sheri, and Lori's two children, as well as our entire family, and the many, many people she touched in her various ministries.
If you want to read more, see my posts from November 12 and 13, 2005.
If you want to read more, see my posts from November 12 and 13, 2005.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
A little taste of Heaven
Well, here it is, Sunday evening, and I'm looking ahead at a normal week of school, etc. But first I want to look back again at the past few days. They were like a little taste of Heaven. I got two nights in a row of around 8 hours of sleep, which is indeed rare for me. About the only work I did was baking cookies twice. Jeremy had told me before I came that he was really in the mood for my molasses ginger snaps that I used to make when they were kids. So I made them Friday at Lisa's. We weren't going to be seeing Jeremy until Saturday, and we were really trying to save plenty of them for him, but they were just too delicious. So I had to make another batch!
I had some wonderful times of talking and sharing with Lisa and George. Our time with Jeremy Saturday evening was such fun. After we ate out he came to Lisa's to hang out for a while, and we were reminiscing about funny events in years past. I also enjoyed getting to see the store where he works.
Being with Sophie was the best. There is one word to describe her: DELIGHTFUL. I don't think she cried one time while I was there. She just enjoys life to the hilt - she has such a vivacious, enthusiastic personality, and I told her that she absolutely beats all when it comes to chattering. I have never been around a toddler who chatters as much as she does. She repeats almost anything you tell her to say, and we got so many laughs listening to her version of longer words or groups of words.
A SENIOR MOMENT
This morning George took me to the airport around 6 AM for my 7:30 flight. When I got to my gate, I was surprised to see long lines of people waiting to board. I was sure they could not have been for my flight, because it was too early. But I wanted to be sure. So I went to the back of the line and asked one lady, "You aren't in line for the flight to Tampa, are you?" She looked at me almost demeaningly and just shook her head "No". I looked at a lady beside her to confirm it, and said, "So this isn't the flight to Tampa, right?" That lady said, "No, it's not." So I went and sat down to wait. And I thought, "Oh my word, I am IN Tampa! Why was I asking them if they were in line for the flight to Tampa?" I felt so stupid. They must have thought it wasn't safe for me to be traveling alone!
But really it was. I got the right flight to Baltimore, got the right bus to Long Term Parking B, got to the right bus stop close to my car, and got all the right route numbers home. In the rain, even.
We had good choir and drama rehearsals this evening at church. Afterward we drove to Lancaster to pick up Destiny. She had been at Frank and Abby's since last evening. I was really ready to see her, and vice versa. While I was gone she and Dick went to see Disney on Ice on Friday evening and to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday.
Enjoy the many pictures below. Remember, they look so much better when you click on them!
I had some wonderful times of talking and sharing with Lisa and George. Our time with Jeremy Saturday evening was such fun. After we ate out he came to Lisa's to hang out for a while, and we were reminiscing about funny events in years past. I also enjoyed getting to see the store where he works.
Being with Sophie was the best. There is one word to describe her: DELIGHTFUL. I don't think she cried one time while I was there. She just enjoys life to the hilt - she has such a vivacious, enthusiastic personality, and I told her that she absolutely beats all when it comes to chattering. I have never been around a toddler who chatters as much as she does. She repeats almost anything you tell her to say, and we got so many laughs listening to her version of longer words or groups of words.
A SENIOR MOMENT
This morning George took me to the airport around 6 AM for my 7:30 flight. When I got to my gate, I was surprised to see long lines of people waiting to board. I was sure they could not have been for my flight, because it was too early. But I wanted to be sure. So I went to the back of the line and asked one lady, "You aren't in line for the flight to Tampa, are you?" She looked at me almost demeaningly and just shook her head "No". I looked at a lady beside her to confirm it, and said, "So this isn't the flight to Tampa, right?" That lady said, "No, it's not." So I went and sat down to wait. And I thought, "Oh my word, I am IN Tampa! Why was I asking them if they were in line for the flight to Tampa?" I felt so stupid. They must have thought it wasn't safe for me to be traveling alone!
But really it was. I got the right flight to Baltimore, got the right bus to Long Term Parking B, got to the right bus stop close to my car, and got all the right route numbers home. In the rain, even.
We had good choir and drama rehearsals this evening at church. Afterward we drove to Lancaster to pick up Destiny. She had been at Frank and Abby's since last evening. I was really ready to see her, and vice versa. While I was gone she and Dick went to see Disney on Ice on Friday evening and to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday.
Enjoy the many pictures below. Remember, they look so much better when you click on them!
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