ON TO MARCH 2012 ...

Well, made some progress with my January/February post, so March had more activity.  I should also say that during the first two months of the year we added a new patio to the front of the house, and new landscaping, much more curb appeal.  But, for now, let's see what happened in March ...

     Carin and Dylan arrived on the 16th for a long weekend, and the highlight was our trip to Sea World ...   

Arriving at Sea World, and YES we were having a fun time!

While it appears that Dylan is not having a good time, not the case ... we were just discussing our next venue and he was being overruled :) but still having fun!  We enjoyed all of our favorite shows, including the Aquarium ...



and Shamu ...

the strength and beauty of this mammal will always amaze me, I could watch Shamu for hours!  We enjoyed a wonderful day at Sea World and then the long ride home, poor Rascal left alone all day.  Of course Saturday evening was Mexican food at Tamale King, and then Sunday morning Carin and Dylan headed to Iola.

I should add a picture of our Bluebonnets, this year they almost took over the driveway, so here they are ...



Okay, we're on our way updating, so stay tuned and you'll learn of our trip to Michigan to visit Henry, Melisa and John ...

2012, HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S SIX MONTHS GONE

SO ... thought I'd try to catch everyone up-to-date and post some pictures of the first six  months of the year ... here we go, with January and February.

As I recall January was somewhat uneventful, the real activity began in February, with finally a many postponed trip to Salado with Eli and Sharon ...

and here we are ...

It was rather cool that day, but a good time was had, with lunch at the Stagecoach Inn, a bit overrated but it's the history we were after.  We also discovered the following ...



Who knew that Liz Carpenter, President Lyndon Johnson's Press Secretary was from Salado.  It was a fun-filled day, as always!  Well, this is a start to my update, that's all for tonight, will continue with a new post next week.  Until then ....

How time flies ...

well, back in April said I was going to start "blogging" once again, and haven't .. been busy, still am, and we're anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Girl W (I say July 9th) so ya'll know what that means, road trip!  Think I'll try to upload some pictures on the laptop to the blog, the desktop no longer wants to participate in that venture, so stay tuned.

HMMM ....

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted even a word, just been so crazy busy with life in general.  There is hope, while life is not slowing down at all am thinking that within in the next week I'll find time to gather my thoughts and blog once again!  Stay tuned ....

WHERE IN THE WORLD ...

have I been ... well ... this will not be a post of "where in the world is Matt Lauer", and actually I've been here for quite a while, just no time at all to blog.  So, in a nutshell, and that's if I can remember everything:

1) I've been in and out of hospitals and doctors with my Mother so many times I've lost count, but hopefully with her soon to be a permanent resident of Granite Mesa Healthcare Center in Marble Falls, Don and I will be able to reclaim our lives.

2) Been to Amarillo for a few days, and then called back due to my Mother being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

3) Been in Midland, and not Texas, for 14 fun-filled days celebrating Henry's 1st birthday, much fun and quite a bit cooler than the Hill Country.

4) Been going through mail, laundry and beginning yard work (gosh, didn't I say last year I wouldn't wait until June to start) ... ahh ... life happens!

5) Been to watch Dylan in one of his last baseball games ... such fun ... hoping for a better coach next year for the third graders!

6) Been to Eli and Sharon's, they've been here ... always a good time, with good food and conversation!

Well, what's next ... going to Houston to celebrate the Wehring's 50th wedding anniversary in August; goin' to take care of Dylan; Don has his military reunion, I have my Women of the ELCA Southwestern Texas Synodical Convention in Fredericksburg; and then the wonder of Fall, soon to be followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas.

That's about it for now, no more time to blog, so until next time ....

YIPEE ....

Henry's coming for a visit ... a very short visit, and he's bringing his Mom and Dad!  And hopefully, Dylan will be arriving as well and bringing his Mom and Dad!  YIPEE .... next Saturday, February 5th we'll have precious grandkiddos in our home, sorry Rascal :)  Praying for safe travel for all, beautiful weather, and a fun time together with lots of picture taking.  So my friends, until the next time ....

Overwhelmed ...

okay, so why do I do this to myself, in retirement isn't life supposed to be a bit easier with no worries?
     To start, there's my Mother and probably the biggest reason I'm overwhelmed.  It's like having a 95 year old child as she almost demands that I "do" for her, and granted there are some things I must do for her, take her to Doctors appointments, order and pickup prescriptions, take her to her hair appointment, weekly, actually thinking about it, with almost no vision, and hearing that seems to diminish daily, I do everything but bathe her, dress her, and fix breakfast and lunch ... she can still do those things.  But caring for her in our home leaves little time for me to do what I WANT TO DO as it seems whenever I start anything there's an interruption.  And what's sad, she's gone through all of her money but a few thousand dollars, so to put her in assisted living is out of the question, she will have to live in a facility that takes Medicad, and I'm currently looking.  She's lived with us for almost nine years, and it's time for Don and me to regain our privacy in our home and to be able to do and go as we please.
     Then there's my Church work, as President of the Women of the ELCA for our Congregation I have responsibilities for 2 meetings a month, a Board meeting and our General Meeting.  I enjoy my Church work, but don't think I'm at the top of my game because I'm distracted with my Mother.
     Then, I was appointed and then elected to serve on the Southwest Texas Women of the ELCA Synodical Board as the Hill County Board Member.  My responsibilities are to mentor approximately 20 Women of the ELCA Units in the Hill Country, ranging from Dripping Springs, Buda, Fredericksburg, Llano, Wimberly, Castell, Doss ... and to attend quarterly Synod Board Meetings.  This is something I really want to do, and believe it's my responsibility to serve and a way to give back to my Church.
     Then, there are all the responsibilities of the "house", and most important my life with Don, we want to travel more, and be able to just get up and go, which is impossible because of Mother; which takes me back to the first paragraph,  I do love my Mother, but  struggle with the almost burden she causes, and the strain now of having her in our home 24/7 for close to nine years ... guess I just need prayers, and to stop and listen so God's answers will be heard in my heart and the feeling of overwhelm will diminish ...

Christmas Memories from the Past .... REVISED

Was reflecting back ... way back ... to my childhood and some traditions that have continued into the raising of Carin and Melisa, let's see what I can recall ...

* We always had "real trees", and I always helped decorate as soon as I was tall enough.
* Always baked cookies with my Mother, somewhere there's a picture of me at 3 or 4 years, helping?
* Tom and I were allowed to open our smallest package under the tree on Christmas Eve.
* REVISED: How could I forget this one ... always had oyster stew for Christmas Eve dinner ... can we say torture for Tom and me, ugh!
* Always attended church on Christmas Eve, and there was only one service at 11:00pm.
* Our stockings were filled with an orange, apple, walnuts, some candy and some very small treasure.  They were hung on our bedroom door before morning and we could excitedly open their contents before Mom and Dad awoke.
* My Father insisted on breakfast BEFORE any package was opened, and he was a smoker in the house (remember I grew up in Iowa), and sometimes he had to have 2 cigarettes after breakfast ... pure agony!
* After all the excitement of toys, it was then on to Grandma and Grandpa Holmes house for a family gathering with Aunt Betty, Uncle Dick, Sharon, Peggy and Linda; Uncle Lloyd, Aunt Inez, Janet and Suzanne; Aunt Velma, Uncle Bud (Stan) and Joni, they owned a florist in Tama so he was sometimes called Uncle Bud.  I'm thinking as Grandma and Grandpa grew older we'd often go to Aunt Betty's, Uncle Lloyd's or to Aunt Velma (these Aunts and Uncle were my father's side of the family).
* I can still smell Grandma Holmes homemade cinnamon rolls as they were rising next to the heater.
* One of my most favorite memories was waking up on Christmas morning to a fresh, beautiful blanket of snow ... there is nothing quite as beautiful.
* Then, of course, at some point during Christmas vacations there was the building of snowmen, ice skating and it didn't matter if the temperature was below zero, I'd beg my father to take me to the outside skating rink (finally as a teen we did have an enclosed ice skating rink).  And not to forget the new snow sled, such simpler times, no CD's, DVD's, computers or all the other electronics, I really feel sad for children today ... we had to be creative, and we played outside ...

     Ahh, the "good old days", what a wonderful and magical childhood I had ... well, still have lots to do before Christmas Eve, so my friends, I'll reminisce about Carin and Melisa's Christmas as children in another post, until then ... Have a very Merry Christmas, and may God Bless you and your families in the New Year, Love to all who may read this ....

Exactly 12.9 miles ....

from our carport to Tamale King!  Trivia, I know, but it's been a crazy month and I've found myself not doing things I should be doing, or want to do, because of my Mother's health.  Like our mini-family reunion I missed since she was in the hospital, that's totally understandable.  But today I should have been with Don as he traveled to Houston for the funeral of longtime friend, and "old man ski trip" buddy Ray Lester ... couldn't go with him as Mother couldn't stay alone for that lengthy period of time.
     So it's time, it's time for me to start living my life with Don once again; which means, in January, I'll have to look for a facility where she can live, it's not going to be easy for her and she will no doubt make it difficult for me, so if in the next few months I'm on edge, please be patient and pray for us as we complete this transition.  There are so many things I want to do with my life, and it's time.
    Which brings me back to 12.9 miles, and a drive through Inks State Park headed to Tamale King to pick up tamales for Christmas Eve dinner with Carin, Rusty and Dylan.  Do you know how beautiful that drive is through the Park, even in the gray of winter, the scenery is breathtaking at certain turns, we are so lucky to live in the Texas Hill Country.
     Well my friends, Christmas Eve is almost upon us, what a glorious time this is, and it truly is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons.  We received a card today and I'll close tonite with it's verse, "The gift of love, the gift of peace, the gift of happiness, may these be yours at Christmas", and always!  Until next time ....

God has a different plan ....

well, it's been a wild 10 days, what happened to Thanksgiving, and the short time Melisa and Henry came for their visit, it was wonderful and then God's plan happened.  You know He has plans for all of our lives and the blips on life's highway help us to grow in strength, compassion, understanding, faith, love, hope.  Our family has been through a lot in the last two weeks with my Mother's hospitalization ... went in for an intestinal bleed and came out with a pacemaker ... how'd that happen?
     It's God's plan, I think sometimes He's hoping I'll become more compassionate as I know I'm lacking in that department a lot so He throws me these curve balls, so "what's she gonna do with this one?"
     Well it's been emotional, exhausting both physically and mentally, and the emotions continue to build ... I'm so tired and am now a real caregiver, even more so.  The good news is that Home Health came for a visit today and we're going to have nursing visits 3 times a week, a physical therapist, and someone to help bathe Mother until she regains her strength ... the not so good news ... I'm no where ready for Christmas and our plans for a trip to Michigan might not happen.  Oh why can't Melisa, John and Henry be just a little closer?  Oh, that too was God's plan.
     Am tired, and don't have the answers for any of my questions, but maybe my brother's prayers for my continued strength and health will be answered and that one day Don and I will regain our life and continue on the plan God has for us.  Love to all, so until next time ....

FALL is in the air ...

at long last, temperatures in the early morning hours in the low 30's, frost on the rooftop, yipee!  This is my favorite season!  Growing up in Iowa it was always beyond beautiful, and I truly miss that, we have some Fall color in the Hill Country, but nothing like the beauty of Iowa.  Guess Don and I will be headed to Lost Maples within the next couple of weeks to see if Texas Fall color compares to Iowa's beauty.  Stay tuned ....

MONDAY, MONDAY ....

and a Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear Cindy, Happy Birthday to me!!!  A new year begins and I am so blessed and grateful for my life!  And so we celebrated with Eli and Sharon again, only this time at the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls where by joining their birthday club (for any age) you receive a FREE lunch to include a luscious dessert, and this year the winner was yummy, yummy PEANUT BUTTER pie ...

Until next time ....

A day with Dylan ...

well Carin called and asked if we wanted company the weekend of September 18th, of course, we always love company.  So she and Dylan arrived mid-morning Saturday for an overnight visit and fun with Grammie and Papa.  But, as always, Carin had a plan ... she wanted to introduce Dylan to "The Slab", and can we find her knee-board to take along?
     Lunch was eaten, clothes changed, pack the truck and off we go to Kingsland and "The Slab".  It was a beautiful afternoon and we expected many to take advantage of the weather, we were in luck, not crowded.  Park and unload the truck to find the perfect spot to put up our "tent" and settle in for some FUN ... please note you will not see pictures of Carin, there was something of a threat toward me!  So here we go,

Dylan on knee-board for the first time, HELP ME, HELP ME!!  Followed by, that was FUN, I want to go again!

We spent almost two hours playing in the water, Eli and Sharon joined the fun as well, and then we went our separate ways.  After a trip to Tamale King for a luscious Mexican food dinner, it was back  home to toss the football with Papa ...

Great catch Dylan!

So the evening comes to a close, it's time for a story and to bed!  Sunday morning arrives with "pancakes with holes" , otherwise known as waffles; but Dylan decides on Grammie's fried eggs instead ... that works!  A great breakfast and then it's time for a walk with Papa down to the lake ...

Who's having fun by now, Dylan is but tiring of having his picture taken, so one last picture from this weekend follows ...

     Our next adventure was painting faces on two pumpkins, I've now learned I must give more direction as Dylan painted several small faces on the pumpkin until Mommy came to the rescue.  They're cute, but Dylan tired of having his picture taken and asked "no pictures please".  We had a great time, and I'm amazed at how Dylan has grown emotionally since he joined the Ponder, Anderson, Waskevich clan.  He's come a long way in some 13 months, and we are so proud of him, Carin and Rusty.  We're looking forward already to our next visit, and the fun of Fall and Christmas Holidays!  So my friends, stay tuned, until next time ...

The plan was to ...

leave for my 45th high school class reunion on Thursday, September 2nd, arriving in Cedar Rapids on the 3rd, staying with my cousin Sharon and husband Jack for two nights, touring old haunts in Cedar Rapids, and then depart for Melisa and John's on Sunday, September 5th.  Well you know what they say about plans ....
     Talking with Melisa on Monday, August 23rd I could tell she wasn't feeling well and she'd been having minor gallbladder attacks.  John was getting ready for his annual Canadian fishing trip and she didn't want to upset his plan ... ahh, plans ... well, the gallbladder wouldn't settle down, so that evening it was off to the emergency room for Melisa and John.  Neighbor and friend Lorie and Bernie came over to watch Henry Donald.
     Melisa was admitted to the hospital that evening, John called to let us know of her situation and she'd probably have surgery on Wednesday.  Simple enough decision, we pack up early, stop the mail, advise the neighbors we're departing a week earlier than anticipated and we hit the road on Thursday, August 26th thinking we'd be there in time for Melisa to be at home.  Well the gallbladder attack turned into pancreatitis, Melisa's surgery scheduled for Wednesday would not happen until our arrival day of Saturday.
     What a drive that was, concerned about Melisa's health but knowing Henry Donald was in good hands with neighbors and relatives.  The day of her surgery was traumatic as John called us at 8:15am to say Melisa was in surgery.  Well having just had gallbladder surgery last year I assumed she'd be out in an hour and John would call around 9:45am to let us know she's in recovery.  No call at 9:45, no call at 10:00 or 10:30, wanting to call him, I didn't and finally at almost 11:30am my cell phone rang, she was out of surgery.  I'm thinking it was a three hour experience, however, finding out later that her doctor had an emergency c-section prior to her gallbladder.  Melisa was finally able to come home on Monday, August 30th.
     So, helping with Henry Donald beginning on that Sunday became the biggest part of our trip in addition to helping with cooking, laundry, Waldo and Misty, oh and the cat!  Melisa wasn't allowed to lift anything over 15 pounds and Henry was now tipping the scale at just over 15 pounds ... so bending from the knees always and praying my back would hold, Henry and I really bonded over the next two weeks ... everything from diaper changes, bottle making, feeding, until Melisa was feeling well enough to assist.  It was emotionally difficult for her in the beginning, but soon we established a routine I would carry Henry to the changing table and she'd dress him or change the diaper.  After a few days she was able to hold him for his bottles; she was able to pump her breast milk and then John or I would make 1/2 formula, 1/2 breast milk bottles until her supply returned.
     We had a great time helping with Henry, and feel so fortunate we could pull up stakes in Texas and head out to help, this was one of our longest trips North ... 16 days ... and here are two of my favorite pictures of Henry, he found his toes, was trying to roll over, and will soon be sitting up on his own ... enjoy ...

Handsome Henry, about 3-1/2 months old.

Well maybe one day soon this hat will fit me better!

As I always end my friends, until next time ....

Going to play catch-up, not "ketchup" ...

     Okay, I haven't blogged in a while, a long while and I guess maybe as per Eli I've spent too much wasted time on FB.  Anyway, I plan to add two new posts this week, but you'll have to wait until Wednesday before I can begin ... TMI, so I'll spare you the details.
     I have changed my background to my favorite time of the year, now if I can only remember how to change all of my font colors on the headings things would look so much nicer, so, until next time ....

Remember this post from June?

well, probably not as a lot has happened since the end of June in everyone's lives!  But now our late night visitor has another friend stopping by to enjoy the delights of the birdbath. 

      The other evening about 9:00pm I happened to open the backdoor, which set off the motion detector light, and much to my delight perched IN the birdbath was a beautiful Red Fox enjoying the cool water.  I quickly and quietly shut the door, RAN for my camera in hopes he would still be there, as we gazed at each other a long time before I shut the door, but unfortunately by the time I could get the camera set and focused he ran into the dark of the night.

      Darn, maybe another evening will bring him back to the birdbath, life in the country, you just never know what to expect.  So until next time ...

   

OKAY, I'm ready for Fall!

It's just time ... I'm in the process of redecorating the house for Fall, yup, being a midwestern girl at heart and ready for the crisp, cool Iowa mornings and the beautiful foliage of September and October.  Ahhh yes, the pumpkins are out in the house, and will be soon in the landscape, it's just my FAVORITE time of the year!  Has nothing to do with my September birthday, well maybe, I just love Fall.  So come on cooler weather, and goodbye to the heat ... even though it's not been as bad as last year.  So my friends, if you come to our house, it's Fall ... can Christmas be far behind?!  Until next time ....

Burnet welcomes home a fallen American hero ...

we don't know him, Capt. Jason Ellis Holbrook, 28 years young, or his family but today we honored his service as a member of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, in Afghanistan.  July 29th he died from wounds sustained in a roadside attack near the town of Tsagay, Afghanistan.

He chose to serve his country and risk his life protecting our freedoms, and for that we are grateful.  We stood almost 45 minutes along Highway 281 waiting to hold our hand over our heart and wave our flag so his young widow and parents would know how much we appreciated his service; to let them know as well they are not alone in their mourning, that others grieve with them.  The procession was long with many law enforcement participants from Burnet and Llano Counties, and, the motorcycle veterans that have taken it upon themselves to protect the family and solider from those that choose to use a dignified procession for a fallen hero to make a statement.

It was a moving experience, and our thoughts turn to Capt. Holbrook's family, may God place his loving arms around them and begin to heal their wounds of this loss to their family.  Cherish each day my friends, and be thankful for the young men and women willing to protect our freedom.  Until next time .....

I'm NOT happy ...

am not certain who this person is that's receiving all of MY attention, I can only tell you that I'm NOT HAPPY and hopefully they're not moving in ...

I heard my Mom say they'll be leaving on Thursday and I suppose she'll be sad and crying, BUT, then I'll have she and Dad all to myself once again!  As Mom often says, so, until next time my friends ....

41 plus 42 equals ...

years of friendship that began, for me, when Don and I were on our honeymoon and stopped in Houston on our way to our new home in Austin.  It was there I met Eli and Sharon, little did I know then the friendship that Don and Eli began while both worked at Brown and Root, before Don joined the Army and served in Vietnam, would still be growing some 42 years later.  Don't know why it didn't click back then, other than to say we were young and 41 years of marriage seemed like a LONG time away, it's amazing how fast these years have gone!  Eli and Sharon are gems of the earth, they have been there for us, and I hope we for them, through thick and thin, births of children, surgeries (just a few), weddings, funerals, the good times, the scarey times, it just doesn't matter they are always present.  We hope they know how much we love, value and appreciate their friendship, like love it's unconditional.
     So, here we are at 41 years ...

And, Eli and Sharon at 42 years ...

We're still a handsome looking group, wouldn't you agree!  Our wish for anyone reading this blog, that you too experience the genuine friendship and love that we share together! 

We love you guys!!  So, until next time ....