LIFE WITH MY CHILDREN PART 3

After we moved in with Avanelle our lives improved considerably. Both financially and socially. Avanelle and I had always been close. Her sister, Phyllis, and I were inseparable as kids and Avanelle was always close by. As we got older, Avanelle and I became closer. So, this was perfect. It was like living with a sister. We got along perfectly. Her kids loved mine and vice versa. I didn't have to worry about baby-sitters, because Avanelle volunteered to keep them since she was home anyway....at first. After a few months, she went to work at Ford Motor Company on the afternoon shift. She kept the kids during the day, we had a baby-sitter from 3 to 5...and I was home with them in the evenings.

I had an hour for lunch, and got in the habit of running home at lunch time...it was just five minutes from my office. One day...a Thursday...Avanelle and I were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch when we heard a blood-curdling scream from Buddy. We both ran...and found him dangling in the wringer washing machine with his arm through the wringer upto his shoulder. I quickly unplugged the wringer...and Avanelle...with unusual super-human strength, pulled the wringers apart while I pulled his arm out. I rushed him to the ER. The doctors said it appeared to just be badly bruised.

When I went home for lunch the next day, Buddy complained about his arm hurting...but seemed ok. About 3, Avanelle called me at work and said he was running a high temperature. I called our doctor and he said to take him to the ER right away. Which I did...and he was admitted to the hospital with an infection in his arm.

On Saturday, the specialist my doctor had called in....told me he was in critical condition and most likely would lose his arm. He ...the specialist...talked to me several times that day, and had me sign forms for amputation. Then, the hospital said, since Mark and I were still married, they could not perform the surgery without his father's signature, also. I had tried to call Mark already without success. The hospital called the Red Cross and they, too were unable to get hold of him. In the meantime, the doctors were saying if they didn't amputate by Monday, it would be too late and Buddy probably would not make it. I was frantic. I didn't want him to lose his arm...but I sure didn't want him to die. The choice was easy.

Finally, early Sunday morning I got hold of the duty officer at Mark's base in California who happened to be a friend of Mark's. When I asked how I could get hold of Mark, he said Mark lived off base with his wife...and they were in Mexico for the weekend. I went berserk! I said I didn't know who he was living with....and didn't care...but I was his wife, living in Michigan...and had an emergency with his son. I demanded to speak with his Commander...but the duty officer wouldn't put me through, saying he'd take care of it...but he knew there was nothing they could do until Mark got home from Mexico late Sunday night.

Mark didn't get home from Mexico until late Monday Night....and contacted the Red Cross who had left messages for him. He did sign the papers and the red cross called the hospital. But, by then the crisis had passed. For a few days, it was touch and go as to whether Buddy would live or not. He had blood poisoning...but Thank God, he made it through. The skin...clear down to the bone, died in about a four inch square on his upper arm and the doctors took skin from his thigh and grafted it onto his arm. He was in the hospital a month.

I had a problem with the hospital. Back then, they thought parents were a nuisance. We had to observe visiting hours. I could go up at lunch time and feed Buddy...who was just four years old...and then go back from 5 to 8. Even when he was the sickest, in Intensive care...I couldn't stay with him. It was frustrating. The only phone we had was in the dining room....and on a short cord. I was afraid to go to bed, fearing I'd miss a call from the hospital. Avanelle and I took turns sleeping on a pallet on the dining room floor to be near the phone during the crisis episodes....the days waiting to find out if he'd live....and then the days following the graft surgery.
Believe me, I spent hours on my knees imploring God to let Buddy keep his arm..then to let him live. God, once again, proved faithful and Buddy came home nearly good as new....with a great big scar on his arm and thigh!

One thing stands out in my mind about Buddy's hospital stay. I was there one afternoon when they had to clean his arm. The nurse said it was very painful for him and would be helpful if I could hold him while she cleaned the sore. Bravely, I sat on the bed with Buddy in my arms...cuddling and kissing on him while she removed the bandage. He was screaming. I was crying. Then, I took one look at that open hole...and fainted dead away!! It was only the second time in my life I had fainted...and the other time was when Buddy was just a year old and had to get stitches in his face....where he had hit the back of the car seat on a sudden stop when another car ran a red light. He hit the seat hard enough it broke a spring...that split his cheek from his chin up to his eye socket...and then from his eyebrow to his hairline.

Anyway....the nurse called another nurse in to help her ...I was only out momentarily...and managed to again hold Buddy in my lap....being especially careful to keep my eyes everted from his arm! From then on, they never cleaned the sore when I was there.

LIFE WITH MY CHILDREN PART 2

Margaret Tammy..age one

Today, I'm going to backtrack a couple of years....back to my life in Battle Creek, Michigan and the first time I found myself on my knees, asking my Lords' help with a situation I could not handle by myself.

Without going into detail, I found myself a single...separated...mother of two babies. Tammy was two and Buddy was one. Mark was in Labrador and his family was in Grand Rapids, while mine was in Ypsilanti/Belleville. I was totally alone. When he left, we made the decision I would remain in Battle Creek because I had a good job with an insurance adjusting firm. But shortly after he left I began hearing tales of his infidelities and had to deal with that heartbreak. During that winter, from October to March, Tammy was in the hospital three times with pneumonia/bronchitis and Buddy once.

I had a live-in baby-sitter. A sixteen year old girl whom I took in after her parents kicked her out of their home for delinquency. In April, Alice got married and I had to find another baby-sitter. Answering an ad in the paper, I met a girl my age when we were both checking out the same baby-sitter...and both chose her. It was perfect for my kids...a small farm, a stay-at-home mom with two small kids of her own, just on the northern edge of Battle Creek.

Jane, the other gal I met and I became friendly. One thing led to another and we decided to move in together and share expenses. We rented a big three bedroom apartment. I had no furniture of my own except cribs for Tammy and Buddy. Jane was living with her parents...so they furnished the apartment for us. I paid the first month's rent and Jane paid the required one month's deposit.

For two months everything was great. Jane and I were very compatible. She had one child, a little boy about 9 months old. She worked at a local restaurant and had varying shifts....most days a split shift. When she worked evenings and weekends, I kept Robby for her. It was no hardship...he was a sweet baby whom I quickly came to love.

Then, one day a visit from her ex-husband made everything come crashing down. He showed up on a Saturday, while Jane was working. Now, she had warned me that he was not allowed to see the baby and to never let him in the house. But, this day I was in the bathroom when he knocked on the door and Tammy opened the door and let him in. I demanded he leave....when he told me I was a fool. He had legal papers with him...showing Jane had been served with child custody papers. His story was that he was trying to get custody of Robby because Jane was unfit. He said she was a prostitute and the nights and weekends she was supposedly working at a restaurant she was instead plying her other trade....a high-priced call girl. He further said I would be subpoenaed as witness....as to hours Jane actually spent with Robby.

When Jane came home, I confronted her. She admitted everything. I told her that I couldn't take a chance with my babies and would find another place to live the first of the month. She was very nice about it, very apologetic about misleading me.

The following week, I saw very little of Jane, a few minutes here and there. Then on Saturday, I went to work, for four hours, as usual, dropping Tammy and Buddy off at the baby-sitters. At ten a.m. I got a call from the child welfare office...telling me they wanted my children. Panic-stricken, I asked why...and the social worked told me she had visited my apartment that morning, and I could not keep two kids living in a vacant apartment. I explained it was not vacant when I left for work that morning...and she snottily said..well, it is now! I immediately told my boss I had an emergency and had to leave.

I went to the apartment...and the social worker was right. Jane had moved out...taking everything except my cribs and our clothes, which were thrown all over the floors of mine and their bedrooms. She even took the refrigerator for which I had paid half. I sat down in the middle of that vacant place and cried. Scared to death. I could not lose my babies. They were my life.

After I pulled myself together, I went out to the farm and picked up Tammy and Buddy. Because I had a good relationship with my mother-in-law, that was where I went. Grand Rapids was only an hour away and I was sure Margaret would help me.

When I got there and explained the problem, Margaret was very sympathetic as I knew she would be. But, Aaron, her husband, was a different. I asked them to keep the babies for two weeks...when I would have enough money saved to rent another apartment for us. At first, Margaret said ...great, she'd love having them. Then, Aaron, who Mark had always said was a mean drunk...had other ideas. He told me they'd be happy to keep the kids....forever! If I left them for two weeks, he'd go to court and get custody of them!

Completely devastated, I put Tammy and Buddy in the car. Margaret was crying. So was Susan, Mark's sister....and me and the kids. Margaret kept saying she was sorry but had to do what Aaron wanted. I hugged her and said I understood...but my kids would never again be in her house. That was the last time we ever saw her.

Leaving there, I had no choice but to go home...to my parents. So, I drove to Sumpter...and to my surprise, mom and dad had moved and I didn't know where. I went to Aunt Susies and she said they had moved to Indiana two weeks ago. The kids and I stayed with Aunt Susie that night...but it was obvious we couldn't stay there. They had a small three bedroom home with five kids. Saturday night, not being able to sleep, I got up and went outside. Sitting on the steps, I prayed.

Lord, I said, I know I haven't been a very good Christian, but I know you love me and my kids. Father, I have nobody else. I need a place for us to live and a job so I can support us. I'm asking for your help and trusting you.

There was more, because I spent a good hour there praying and crying. The next morning, Aunt Susie said Mom and Dad may have paid rent for the month and had not taken everything from the house. So, I decided to check it out and see if the kids and could live in their old house for a couple of weeks. Mom and Dad had left an old coal burning stove in the kitchen and a couple of old mattresses and bedsprings. The place was desolate...but I thought, it might do for a couple of weeks...at least we'd be warm and dry.

I left to go see the landlord. On the way, I stopped at my friends, Nick and Helen. Helen had been my best friend when I lived in Sumpter. After hearing my tale of woe, they invited me and the kids to live with them until I could get back on my feet! Talk about an answer to a prayer!
Nick even took his pick-up to Battle Creek and picked up my cribs and belongings.

During the two weeks we stayed with them, I found a job working for a real estate office in Ypsilanti. The first of the month, when I got my allotment check, I rented the same apartment Mark and I had started our married life in...where we lived when Tammy was born. I have always been eternally grateful to Nick and Helen. I think they, literally, saved our lives. Had we moved into that old house, who knows what would have happened to us.

to be continued.

LIFE WITH MY CHILDREN

My son wrote a loving tribute to me on my 70th birthday. It got me to thinking and remembering those child-rearing years. Like all mothers, I made some mistakes...I wasn't a perfect mother. But, I wanted to be..and did try to be. My older two were only 10 months apart and kept me hopping. I was a single mother to them for most of their childhood and we had a lot of financial difficulties. Usually, by Thursday, my cupboards were, literally, bare. WE had a standing invitation for supper at my Aunt Susie's anytime I wanted to go...and I took advantage of that most Thursdays!

I worked in an office from 8 to 5...and was usually home by 5:30 when I'd rush around getting a meal on the table for us. We ate a lot of hot dogs and vegetable soup and mac and cheese. Supper was usually over by 6...and that was my time with my kids. For two hours, I concentrated on them, playing, cuddling, talking about their day with the baby sitter or school. After they were in bed at 8, I did the dishes, ironing, or whatever needed doing,..then reading or watching TV... getting in bed myself sometime between 11 and midnight.

For a few years, my weekly take home pay was $40. Out of that, I paid $15 rent, $15 baby-sitter...and the other $10 had to cover everything else...food, clothes, laundry, gas, medical, etc. my ex was in the Air Force, so I did get an allotment for child support...$80 month...which went for car payments. Our entertainment was cheap...usually visiting family and in the summer, taking a car full of kids...mine and cousins...to drive-in movies.

When the kids were 3 and 4, I bought a house on a land contract. My boss gave me a bonus one year of $100 and I used it for a down payment. I was so proud of that house! It was a little story and a half white frame with aluminum siding, two bedrooms upstairs, living room, dining room, kitchen and bath plus a small den off the living room downstairs, a little sitting front porch and a decent size yard. my payments were $80 month and since I'd gotten a $10.00 weekly raise, I could just barely afford the payments and utilities. My uncle went to auction sales and found furniture for us. We lived there for 18 months...and I got an eviction notice, suddenly! Seems the people I was buying it from had a mortgage on it and were not making their payments so the bank foreclosed on them.

I was heart-broken! Of course, the bank offered me a chance to buy it from them, but I couldn't raise the money they required down. With no money for a deposit plus first weeks or months rent, I was scared. I didn't know what I was going to do. One night, I went into Tammy and Buddy's bedroom after they were sleeping, and climbed into bed between them, cudding each up against me. I laid there and prayed and cried as despair filled my soul. "Lord, I need your help. I'm at my wit's end, here. We have to be out of this house in two more days and I don't have any where for us to live, nor any money to rent a place for at least another month. What can I do, Lord, to provide a home for these two kids that You have given me? I'm placing our lives in Your hands, Father. I've done everything, looked everywhere, talked to everybody, that I can think of and haven't been able to find us a place to live."

The very next day, my cousin Avanelle, called me. At that time, the kids stayed with a baby-sitter across the street from her...and we had gotten into a habit of stopping by her house for a few minutes every few days when I'd pick them up. Anyway...she called and said she had talked to her landlord and he had said it would be okay with him if I moved in with her and shared the expenses. We had discussed this back when I first got the eviction notice, but because she was a single mother with three children of her own, not working, and on welfare, she was afraid of what would happen to her benefits if I lived with her. But, that day she said she had also called her social worker and got the okay from her. Since welfare had been paying her rent anyway...they would just cut their payment in half.

Talk about a load being lifted off my shoulders! All I could do was say, Thank you, Lord! He had come through in my darkest hour. And...thank you, Avanelle!

to be continued.

ANOTHER DAY

Well, my 70th birthday day is nearly over...bedtime for me. It was a good day....had phone calls from my three wonderful kids and some of my lovely grandkids. Plus a sweet, loving tribute from Joey on his blog (the6bennetts.blogspot.com)

My son, Buddy, gave me a Smartphone cellphone which I have had fun today figuring out how to work. He put me on his family plan and he and Joey, my youngest, are going to share the costs...Thanks Boys!

Now, let me ramble a little bit.
As a child in Kentucky I went to church every Sunday with my grandmother (Granny)whom I adored. My parents seldom went on Sundays...but we always, as a family, attended tent meetings...church revivals held by visiting evangelists in a tent. The Sunday dinner, held the last day of the revivals was the best part for me.

After we moved to Michigan when I was 13, I still took my brothers and sisters to church every Sunday. In Romulus, we rode a church bus from our project on Middlebelt Rd. into Wayne. It was there that I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was fourteen. My cousin, Phyllis was my constant church companion both in KY and Romulus. Phyllis could never sit through an alter call. As soon as the Invitational hymn started, with tears streaming down her face, she was at the alter. Not me...I was taking Jesus at his word. Once was all I needed.

Then in Belleville, we walked the two miles each way. Many Sundays my siblings refused to go if the weather was bad...but I seldom missed, along with my best friend, Helen. Helen had a younger sister who could sing like an angel and the pastor wanted her to sing every Sunday. She was so shy, the only way she'd sing was for me and Helen to sing with her. Now I'm the worst singer...I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Helen was fair. But Ruby's voice soared. So all I had to do was mouth the words...and the church thought I was a good singer. Ha ha.

As I was raising...(or rearing to be correct) my three children, I was a sporadic church-goer. In Michigan, I would often take Tammy and Buddy to my grandmother's church. Then when I married Joe Wussles, I joined the Serbian Orthodox Church and for a few years, we never missed a Sunday service.

I divorced, remarried, and moved to Bremen, Indiana. ~There my husband Steve and I started going to Community Gospel Church. Again, for a few years I seldom missed a service or bible study...often holding the bible studies at our home. Then I opened a restaurant, and the church had problems...our Pastor, whom I loved, left. After Pastor Bob left, I never again attended Community Gospel ...and have been a sporadic church goer ever since. I did find a church here in Fort Wayne and a pastor I loved. Again, the pastor quit. I still attended most Sundays...until my health became a problem....my coughing was embarrassing and since our church is so small, it disrupts the service. I still go there occasionally...when my coughing is under control.

I believe every family should go to church. I believe every child should be raised in the Church and taught about our Lord. I believe in my salvation. I KNOW that, like Paul, to depart this body is to be with the Lord.

All parents should encourage their children to take part in after-school activities...sports, music, drama, something...that builds character and self-confidence and teaches them commitment. I also believe all children should attend Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. That not only teaches them about the Bible in a fun way, but also teaches them values and gives them a sound foundation for the rest of their lives.

SEVEN-O

It's after midnite...so I'm officially 70 years old. Actually, I was born about three in the afternoon onthe 25th.

My children and grandchildren have feted, gifted and loved me. I am so blessed!

A few random thoughts. I supposed some people would think it strange...odd...that I could be so happy on my 70 th birthday...doesn't that make me officially old? Well, let me tell you...not many people in my lineage have lived to see 70. My family has not been known for longevity. On my Shepherd side, I think Uncle Troy, who was 78 when he died, was the oldest. His father, brothers, sister, grandfather, for several generations back, all died in their 60's. On Granny's side...Fitchpatrick...Granny lived to be very nearly 82. She died just a month before her birthday. She had one sister, Dora, who lived to be 90...all the rest of her family died in their 50's and 60's. Dad was 67, Mom was 69 just six weeks before she died. Oh, there was one other person...Grand daddy's sister, my great aunt Polly...lived to be 90 something.

As I look at this...and recall all those I knew who died younger than 70...I think the Lord for allowing me reach this great age. With granny living to 82, Mom to 69, me to 70 plus...and my birth father lived to 84....there's hope for longevity for my children and grandchildren...so I'm celebrating!

Now I just have to find someone to plant all these flowers for me! I absolutely love flowers...and the perennials will be here to enjoy for many years, if I can get them in the ground.

TAMMY

Tammy had appointment with the ENT...Ear, Nose, Throat...specialist today. He said he doesn't think it looks bad, but is sending her to Indy for a "fibro-optic" test on her throat. fibro-optic...that's what she said. He further said it is entirely possible that her throat problem is caused by her stomach...and suggested she make appointment with her gastrologist. She laughed and said everytime something is wrong, the doctor blames it on her stomach....which nobody will try to fix. We all feel better and are more confident that the test will be negative. After all, I'm sure this doctor sees enough bad ones to recognize it when he sees it. Praise God...and thank you all for your prayers.

GEORGE

The bad news just keeps coming! George, Joe's brother, went to his eye doctor on Friday. There's something more wrong with his left eye and he has to go see another specialist in Indianapolis. I didn't go with him...and he didn't understand just what the problem is with his eye. The doctor he will see specializes in corneal transplants. Also, lasek surgery. So I have no idea what the problem is...just that it's serious. We're waiting for this doctor here to call us with an appt. for the Indy doc. So, please add George to your prayer lists. He has been having problems with his eyes for five years now. In 2004, he had three surgeries for detached retina...two of them on that left eye. Then a year later, he had cataract surgery on both eyes. Since then he's suffered from dry eyes and has to use drops and ointments in both eyes. Also, pressure has been high all this time. It has been a miracle that his sight has been saved this long.

Bad eyes run in his family. His mother had been blind for some time when she died at 63. He has a first cousin on his dad's side who has been blind since she was around 65...about ten years. Joe had cataract surgery on both his eyes about 1985, and no problems since. Praise God!

GOOD VISIT

Thursday Tammy and I went to Indy to pick up stock at a couple of distributor warehouses. We stopped by Joe and Tia's ...and Leann was there! What a treat...getting to see her as well as Joe's family! Tammy and I had Kadyn with us. That little two-year-old thought he'd died and gone to heaven with all the swings, slide, cars and little house, not to mention the kids, to play with. Bennetts gave him a race car set that thrilled him to death. He had to hold the cars on the way home.

I worked our shop at the flea market today. Talk about dead! I may have talked to five people who weren't other vendors. I did manage to sell 2 crystal tennis bracelets and an aquarium motion lamp.

Tammy needs prayers. She has an appointment next Friday with an ENT...Ear, nose and throat specialist to check out lumps in her throat

Also, Joe and I could use your prayers too as age is slowing us down. Joe is having balance and walking problems and my back and hips ...as well as my lung disease...keep me down most of the time.

MOM

My mother has been gone since Oct. 21, 1991...and I still miss her. What I'd give to pick up the phone and call her and talk to about Kadyn, the flea market, Tammy's health, my pride in my boys and their families!

My mother was a complicated woman. She was a better mother to us when we became adults than when we were children. There was just so many of us! When I was very little, living in Kentucky, Mom worked very hard. She and Dad raised a big garden every summer, then she canned most of our food for the winter...beans, corn, tomatoes, pickles. They always raised lots of green beans and besides canning them, Mom dried them (on strings for what we called shuck beans), pickled some and cooked them every day when they were ripe, usually with little home grown potatoes.

Since we didn't have electricity, Mom washed clothes on a wash board...after carrying and heating tubs full of water. One of my first chores was scrubbing socks on the washboard. She spent a lot of hours during the day just cooking on the coal cookstove...building a fire in it first thing each morning and keeping it hot all day....irregardless of the outside temperature! Breakfast was usually eggs, gravy and biscuits...and the eggs were from the hens mom raised and tended to. Supper was usually a pot of beans...either pinto beans or green beans and cornbread. Lunch at home was usually fried potatoes and cornbread. School lunches were usually peanut butter spread on biscuits. The biscuits were cut in half and spread with the peanut butter...sometimes with potted meat. Sometimes just jelly that mom made herself.

Every wash day Mom would take the bleach water and scrub all the floors with it. We had wood plank floors that were white when she scrubbed them...from all the bleach water that had been used over the years. But...we had coal burning fireplaces for heat besides the coal cookstove...so the floors...nor anything else...stayed clean very long, from the smoke and soot.

With all the work Mom had to do, its amazing that she even had the time to bear nine babies! And she doted on each baby...until the next one came along. She loved us and we knew it...but she was not affectionate to us...after we stopped being the baby. She made sure we were always clean, fed and polite. Mom was big on manners. Please and Thank yous were an important part of our vocabulary taught as soon as we could string words together.

Mom hated for us kids to fight and squabble with each other...and many times we wore the switch stripes to prove it! She often said friends would come and go...but our brothers and sisters were ours all our lives.

We were poor and never had many, if any, luxuries...but Mom shared whatever we had with people....friends, strangers and relatives...who had less. Many times I've seen her pack a box with fresh vegetables from the garden or jars of her canned vegetables, paper bags of sugar, flour and cornmeal and she and Daddy would carry it several miles to my grandparents, uncles and aunts...or the family down the road who she knew didn't have any money.

After we moved from Kentucky to Michigan, Mom had all the luxuries she had never even dreamed of. Electricity. Hot and cold running water. Inside plumbing. Electric cookstove. Wringer washing machine. Refrigerator. And, since most of the work she had always done was not necessary now..like making all our clothes...she didn't do much of anything. During my teen years I can remember Mom only doing the cooking and laundry. Us kids did everything else. But still, Mom mothered us all. Still teaching us all she could. She took care of us when we were hurt or sick. She worried about us when we were out...not sleeping until she knew we were all home and safe again.

Mom always said she didn't care if we "liked" her or not. She didnt' try to be our friend...she was our mother who had to teach us right from wrong and keep us from making disastrous decisions...until we were able to leave home...then she trusted us to do the right thing. But, God help us if we were ever discourteous or sassy to daddy. Dad was the center of her world and we all knew it. Mom was the disciplinarian...always saying she didn't believe in waiting for Dad to come home to mete out punishment for misdeeds. Consequently, Dad seldom punished any of us...and we all worshipped him, just as Mom planned.

After I was grown, Mom became my best friend. I could and did call her nearly every day after I moved to Indiana. While I lived in Michigan, I never let more than two months go by without driving to Indiana to see her for a weekend. After my husband and kids, Mom was the most important person in my life. I couldn't imagine a life without her in it. And since she's been gone, there's been a hole in my life that nothing has been able to fill. I still look at Mother's Day cards and wish I could buy the biggest, prettiest, most sentimental one and give it to her.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!

SORE HANDS

Okay, Tammy and I've come up with this new product to sell at our flea market store. We make necklaces out of little pieces of tootsie rolls...tie them together with yarn, a bow between each piece. I must have made 50 of them already and my blisters have blisters. We sell for for $1.00 each...20 pcs of candy in each necklace. The bags of candy have 360 pcs...cost about $5 per bag...so the profit is good if they prove to be as popular as we think they will.

We have added a lot of new stuff to our inventory. We have salt lamps, sequined newsboy hats, 22 inch vinyl dolls, and aquarium lights...in addition to our other stuff. The Sea Salt Crystals and electric oil warmer lights are still our biggest sellers. The beautiful dolls are selling too. In fact, we need to make another trip to Indy to buy more dolls. Our space keeps growing and filling up as we try to find just the right items to sell...you know, the things people just cant' live without and didnt realize it until they saw it.

Now, if the owners of the flea market would do a little more advertising and get more traffic thru the building, we might make a profit! So far, since January, it's been good enough that it is supporting itself, but all the money we take in has gone right back into buying more inventory.

We are carrying a lot of religious articles...signs, crystal paperweights, oil warmers, etc. and they sell pretty good. AT least they are conversation starters and give us the opportunity to share our faith with others.

Tammy is planning to go to Shipshewanna at least one week a month, perhaps more if she can. A couple of other vendors have offered to go in with her, sharing a booth, and helping her with the work. We're also planning to do the ThreeRivers Festival in July. Haven't decided yet whether we'll do the craft show there, as in years past, or get a booth in the vendors area. I have to do more research on this.

BABYSITTER

I kept Kadyn today...from 9:30 til 3:30.....looooong day! But it was really good, too. He was such a joy...not perfect...but a perfect two-year-old. He played by himself a lot of the time, but still watched to make sure I was watching him! We watched a lot of cartoons...SpongeBob, Curious George, SpongeBob, Noddy, SpongeBob, Bob the Builder, SpongeBob, Backyardigans...and more SpongeBob. About 1:30, I started negotiating with him to take a nap. Every time I'd say he needed to nap, he'd run to the table and grab his plate (he was too busy playing to eat) and yell, I'm EATING! I finally talked him into laying on the couch and watching Spongebob...and he was asleep within five minutes. Slept until his mother came, about an hour and a half.

DO THE MATH

As of May 25, I will have spent 25,550 days on this earth!
I have read AT LEAST 1,100 books...including the Bible.
I have washed a mininum of 1,100 loads of dishes.
I have visited 36 states...all the mainland except for northwest and northeast.
I have lived in 4 states.....Kentucky..13 years, Michigan...19 years, Indiana...25 years, Michigan again..7 years and now Indiana again...6 years. There was a brief three months in California.
I raised 3 children.
I have 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
I have been an orphan for 18 years...19, this October. I can't believe Mom's been gone that long!
I have six living siblings, 2 deceased siblings.
I have owned 13 cars...in my name.
I have been a computer addict for 17 years!
I have loved 3 men (not counting Dad and my sons) and been truly loved by 1 (Thank you, Lord, for Joe).
During my working live, I had 6 jobs. Legal secretary, Insurance secretary, Real estate secretary, Selling real estate, Holiday Rambler and Elkhart Door. Shortest one was 2 years, longest was 8 years (tie between real estate secretary and Holiday Rambler.)
I was 13 years old when I accepted Christ.
I reaffirmed my salvation when I was 34, and am still a work in progress.
I have cooked at least 36,500 meals.
Then longest trip I made, where I did all the driving was 2300 miles.

I know there's more numbers...but it's late and I can't think anymore.

HALLELEUJAH!!!!! HE'S HOME!!

Praise God, Chance is home. This morning an older man and a young woman brought him home. What they said about how they got him didn't make much sense to me...contradictory statements, etc. But, I don't care. At least they brought him home. He stunk to high heaven, though. I had to bathe him right away. I think "they" took him to use for breeding purposes and kept him caged up. That's the only explanation I can think of for the way he stunk.

GOOD RESOLUTION

Resolve to be tender with the young; Compassionate with the aged, Sympathetic with the striving, And tolerant with the weak and the wrong; Because sometime in your life, you will be all of these.

DESOLATION

I am desolate! I miss my little buddy...my little foot warmer (always at my feet)...my little bed partner....my greeter when I walk in the door...those little black eyes that were always full of love when he looked at me.

I pray every day that God will take care of him. That whoever took him will love him as much as I did and be good to him. And I pray that he is NOT missing me as much as I miss him.

I LOVE YOU CHANCE! ( I even miss your irritating barking)

LOST DOG

I'm kinda bummed out. My dog Chance is missing. We let him out Saturday a little after noon and he's been gone ever since. The thing is, we have an electric fence and he had his radio collar on. So, if anybody took him, it had to be from our yard. We went to the Humane Shelter today, thinking they might have picked him up...but he wasn't there.

His barking irritates me to death...but right now, I'd give anything to hear him bark!

GROWING OLD

I don't like old age one bit. Who started the fallacy that these were the GOLDEN YEARS anyway? What's golden about being nearly house-bound? or crippled up with arthritis? Or getting out of breath just walking to the bathroom? or being afraid to drive out of town because you get body cramps?

I do Thank God that I'm still able to drive to walmart...I furtherThank Him for Walmart and Meijer providing electric shopping carts! Still, its frustrating to want to go to Indianapolis and have to depend on someone to drive me...and they always have their own problems and can seldom go when I want to.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy what little life I have. I can still read...play on my computer...enjoy having the kids over and, with some difficulty, work (babysit) the booth at the flea market on Friday afternoons when Tammy has to babysit Kadyn and Grant.

This Sunday, Easter, I'm going to roast a turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and a salad. I'm not sure who will be here for dinner, but I'll have enough for whoever shows up.

OH...there's one positive advantage. I now have an excuse for not doing housework!

I'm trying hard to live by my motto: DON'T LET THE THINGS YOU CAN'T DO STOP YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

MUSLIMS

I got this in an email and have not verified it. But I've heard this before..and if its true, its very scary.

SATAN IS MIGHTY, BUT GOD IS ALMIGHTY>

SPREAD THE WORD>


Subject: Muslim Belief>

This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well-known leader> in prison ministry.>

The man who walks with God always gets to his destination.

> If you have a pulse you have a purpose.>

> The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the> United States , especially in the minority races!!!>

Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for> maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training> session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the> Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of> their beliefs.>

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The> Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a> video.> After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.> When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: >

'Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and> clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the> infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel(which is a command> to all Muslims), they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the> case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'>

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he> replied, 'Non-believers! '>

I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers> of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith> so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?'

> The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to> that of a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the> cookie jar.'> He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'

> I then stated, 'Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope> John Paul com-manding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr.> Stanley ordering all protestants to do the same in order to guarantee> them a place in heaven!'>

The Imam was speechless!>

I continued, 'I also have a problem with being your friend when you and> your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me!> Let me ask you a question: Would you rather have your Allah, who tells> you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells> me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there> with me?'

> You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. > Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the Diversification> training seminar were not happy with my way of dealing with the Islamic> Imam, and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs.

> In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S... to> elect the President! I think everyone in the U.S.. should be required> to read this, but with ACLU, there is no way this will be widely> publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make> a difference..> > > > > >

NOTHING NEW

Same old, same old here. Tammy, Sarah, Kadyn and I went to Indy yesterday...boughts lots and lots of "stuff" for our flea market store. Got elec oil warmers, signs, plaques, candles...and two beautiful electric aquarium picture lights. We went to two distributors. It was a full day and I've been bummed out all day..spent most of it in bed. When we got home, it took me nearly 10 minutes just to walk into the house. My legs refused to work...or even hold me. Guess I better not do that anymore!

And what's new in your world?

REMEMBER THAT?

Yeah, I Remember That!
If you are old enough...take this stroll...Close your eyes. Go back...before the Internet ... Before semiautomatics and drugs...before SEGA or Super Nintendo...

Way back...

We're talking 'bout hide and go seek at dusk. Sitting on the porch, Simon Says, Kick the Can, Red Light, Green Light. Lunch Boxes with a Thermos...that broke, Chocolate milk, going home for lunch, Penny Candy from the store, Hopscotch, butterscotch, skates with keys, Jacks, Mother May I?Hula Hoops, and Sunflower seeds, Whist and Old Maid and Crazy Eights, Wax lips and mustaches, Mary Jane's, saddle shoes and Coke bottles with the names of cities on the bottom, Running through the sprinkler, circle pins, bobby pins, Mickey Mouse Club, Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Fran & Ollie, Spin & Marty...all in black & white.

When around the corner seemed far away, and going downtown seemed like going somewhere.

Bedtime, climbing trees, making forts in the backyard... A coaster made from orange crates and an old skate, Backyard Shows, Lemonade stands, Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, Sitting on the curb, Staring at clouds, Jumping down the steps, Jumping on the bed. Pillow fights, "company," Ribbon candy, angel hair on the Christmas tree,Jackie Gleason as "the Poor Soul," white gloves, walking to church, walking to the Community Center, Being tickled "to death", Running till you were out of breath, Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt, Being tired from playin'...Remember that?

Not stepping on a crack...or you'll break your mother's back... Paper chains at Christmas, bobbing for apples and popcorn balls on Halloween, silhouettes of Lincoln and Washington...the smell of paste, book bags and Evening in Paris...What about the girl that had the big bubbly handwriting...who dotted her "I's" with hearts?? The Stroll, "fruit loops" on the backs of shirts & sock hops.

Remember when... When there were two types of sneakers for girls and boys (Keds and PF Flyers) and the only time you wore them at school, was for "gym." And the girls had those ugly uniforms. When it took five minutes for the TV to warm up. When nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school. When nobody owned a pure bred dog.When a quarter was a decent allowance and another quarter a huge bonus. When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny. When girls neither dated nor kissed until late high school, if then. When your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces. When all of your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done everyday and wore high heels.

When you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, for free, every time. And, you didn't pay for air. And, you got trading stamps to boot

When laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes, or towels hidden inside the box.When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or use him to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents.

When they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed... and did. When the worst thing you could do at school was flunk a test or chew gum. And the prom was in the auditorium and we danced to an orchestra, and all the girls wore pastel gowns and the boys wore suits for the first time and we stayed out all night.

When a '57 Chevy was everyone's dream car... to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady and girls wore a class ring with an inch of wrapped dental floss coated with pastel frost nail polish so it would fit her finger. And no one ever asked where the car keys were, 'cause they were always in the car, in the ignition and the doors were never locked. And you got in big trouble if you accidentally locked the doors at home. No one ever had a key.

And lying on your back on the grass with your friends and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a........". And playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game. Then...baseball was not a psychological group learning experience, ....it was a game.

Remember when stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals, 'cause no one had yet to poison a perfect stranger. And...with all our progress... don't you just wish...just once...you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace ... and share it with the children of the 80's and 90's...??????So send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, Laurel & Hardy, Howdy Doody and the Peanut Gallery, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow knows...Nellie Belle, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk...as well as the sound of a reel mower on Saturday morning, and summers filled with bike rides, playing in Cowboy land, baseball games, bowling and visits to the pool...and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat, but we all survived because their love was greater than the threat.Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that

HURRY UP SPRING!

It snowed today. I think it was just to make us appreciate the wonderful spring days when we do have them.

I worked our "store" at the flea market on Friday. It was very slow and boring, but I sold a few things...like 4 electric oil warmer touch lights. I was so proud of myself! Then, today, Tammy called me, all excited because she had one customer bought SEVEN of them!! Four weeks ago, we had an inventory of 54...now have five left. Looks like a trip down to Indy this week to our supplier is a must! I'm so glad we have hit on something that people really go for.

New Pictures

Here's some updated pix of our "store" at the Speedway Flea Market in Fort Wayne.

CRIME VICTIM

The other evening as Tammy drove up to the house to let me off after a shopping expedition to Indianapolis, we noticed that the license plate was gone off Buick. At first we thought maybe it had somehow dropped off. But after further investigation, we discovered it had actually been stolen! I had driven it to Walmart just the day before, and a police car was behind me, so I'm sure it was stolen during the night.

What a hassle! I called the police and was told I had to go downtown to the police department and fill out a report. The next day George took me downtown. a Policewoman took my report and gave me a form to take to the BMV. When I went to the BMV they said a replacement plate was $9.00, but a new one was only $49. When she looked at my registration, she said I had paid the wrong amount for the stolen plate. I paid $45 and it should have been $49.

Anyway, I got the new plate for $49 and now I'm good until December of 2010.

I don't like being a victim!

THE MOM SONG

I COPIED THIS FROM TIA (the6Bennetts.blogspot.com) Click on it and check it out. so funny.

the Mom Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7R9SFBLvIk

FLEA MARKET PICTURES

these are pictures of our booth at Speedway Flea Market. Tammy is standing by our new sign. The day it was finished and hung, she was so excited she called me and insisted I run right up and see the sign.

SENIOR ALPHABET

A for arthritis,
B for bad back,
C is for chest pains.
Perhaps cardiac?



D is for dental replacements and decline,
E is for eyesight--can't read that top line?
F is for fissures and fluid retention
G is for gas (which I'd rather not mention.)

H high blood pressure (I'd rather have low)
I for incisions with scars you can show.
J is for joints, that now fail to flex
L for libido--what happened to sex?


Wait! I forgot about K!
K is for my knees that crack when they're bent (Please forgive me, my Memory ain't worth a cent) ?
N for neurosis, pinched nerves and stiff neck
O is for osteo- and all bones that crack.


P for prescriptions, I have quite a few
Give me another pill; I'll be good as new!
Q is for queasiness. Wine or flu?
R is for reflux-- one meal turns into two

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears?
T for tinnitus--I hear bells in my ears.
U is for urinary: difficulties with flow
V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy", you know.

W is worry, now what's going 'round?
X is for X ray-- and what might be found.
Y for another year I've left behind
Z is for zest that I still have my mind!

Have survived all the symptoms my body's deployed,
And kept twenty-six doctors gainfully employed!

TWENTY FIVE THINGS ABOUT ME

1. BLUE IS MY FAV COLOR
2. FRIED CHICKEN IS MY FAV MEAT
3. I LOVE THUNDERSTORMS
4. I DON'T WATCH MUCH TV
5. I WOULD RATHER READ THAN WATCH TV
6. I'D RATHER PLAY ON THE COMPUTER THAN WATCH TV
7. I HATE SHOPPING
8. I USE ELECTRIC CARTS WHEN I DO GO SHOPPING
9. MY MEMORY IS GETTING BAD...I MAKE LISTS SO I WON'T FORGET STUFF...THEN CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT I DID WITH THE LIST!
10. NOW I'M PUTTING PICTURES FROM GREAT GRANDKIDS ON MY FRIG DOOR.
11. I CAN'T CARRY A TUNE IN A WASH TUB...BUT I LOVE TO SING ANYWAY
12. I GET A GUILTY PLEASURE OUT OF JOE DOING DISHES EVERY NIGHT
13. OF ALL THE DOGS I'VE HAD, I LOVED KRISTIE MOST...BUT MISS FRECKLES MOST.
14. I THINK FAMILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE.
15. I LOVED BEING A MOM...FROM CONCEPTION TO THE PRESENT.
16. I LOVE BEING A GRANDMOTHER...AND A GREAT GRANDMOTHER. BUT, IF KADYN ONLY HAS
12.5 PERCENT OF MY BLOOD,THAT MEANS HIS GRANDKIDS WILL HAVE BARELY A TRACE...AND THAT MAKES ME SAD.
17. I CAN TALK TO ANYBODY, EVEN PERFECT STRANGERS
18. I LOVE BIG FAMILY DINNERS
19. SPRING IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY FALL.
20. MY FAVORITE DESSERT IS ANYTHING CHOCOLATE...EXCEPT I DON'T LIKE CHOCOLATE CAKE.
21. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED WALKING IN THE RAIN...NOW I JUST STAND OUT IN IT!
22. I HATE MAKING BEDS
23. I WOULD RATHER TAKE A SHOWER THAN A BATH
24. I ACCEPTED JESUS WHEN I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD...REAFFIRMED MY SALVATION WHEN I WAS THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OLD. (IS THAT WHAT I MEAN?)
25. I KNOW I'M GOING TO HEAVEN

WEEKEND

We had a pretty nice weekend. Tammy did a lot of work on our booth at the flea market. We moved across the aisle to a larger space...8 by 14 now...had 8 x 10. One of the vendors there made us a sign...TARAH'S GIFTS....looks really good. I'll post some pictures when I can. So many booths are selling jewelry...like every other one there...we've taken ours to a backseat..kinda...and emphasizing scents....scented rocks (sea salt crystals), fake perfumes, fragrance oils and the electric oil warmers-night lights. the scented sea salt is our biggest seller...but need to sell lots of it at $3.50 for six ounces to pay the rent! At this point, I'm still putting much more money in it than we're taking out. But...hope springs eternal!

Car Repairs

Egads!! I just had some work done on my car. Two weeks ago, when I left the flea market on Saturday, it wouldn't start. I finally had to get it towed in to a garage. Needed a new fuel pump. Also, the driver's door hasn't opened from the outside for over a year, so had that fixed...and they said the band holding the gas tank was nearly rusted through, so had to replace that. Totat cost was $595!!! For the life of me, I can't see how anyone raising a family could ever afford something like that. I remember once when a timing belt went out on Steve's Buick and it cost us $250 to repair it...we had to eat beans and macaroni for a month! That was a week's pay for the two of us combined!

MUSIC!!!!

I finally figured out how to put a music player on here. I hope you enjoy it.

I've been sick this past week and have not posted anything...nothing serious, just a cold, turned into asthmatic bronchitis. Thanks to the doctor and ClaritonD, I'm feeling much better.

The flea market has improved....it paid the rent for Feb!!

Since its late and I'm sleepy....after working all evening on figuring out the music player, I'm going to bed and will write more later.

THREE ABOUT ME

Okay...I stole this from Tia..who said she stole it from Steve Gall. I liked the idea, so here goes....Three about me.....

THREE JOBS I'VE HAD (and liked)....Legal secretary...when I first got out of high school, the lawyer also paid for me to go to night school and get a legal secretarial certificate.

Real estate secretary. I loved the job and my bosses. Over the nine years I worked there I became sales manager, property manager and they paid for me to go to school to get an appraisers license and my own real estate license.

Real Estate Salesperson. It was a wonderful job when my last child was born, Icould choose my hours.

THREE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.....Tammy, Buddy and Joey. I thank God every day for entrusting those precious lives to me....and for all His help in making them the wonderful adults they are.

THREE FOODS I could, but don't want to, live without.... Peanut butter M&Ms...should be one of the major food groups. Fried Chicken. Fried baloney sandwich.

THREE PLACES I've lived....Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana

THREE PEOPLE who have had the most influence on my life....Mr. Banks, my 4th and 5th grade teacher, Granny (my grandmother Polly Shepherd). Pastor Bob Hueni.

THREE PLACES I'd love to be right now....forget this one, I don't want to be anywhere else at this point in my life or with anyone else but Joe.

GRANDMA'S APRON

The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken-coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER THIS! Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

DEAR GRANDSON

I have become a little older since I saw you last, and a few changes have come into my life since then. Frankly, I have become a frivolous old gal. I am seeing five gentlemen everyday.

As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed. Then I go to see John. Then Charlie Horse comes along, and when he is here he takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves, Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn't like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint.

After such a busy day, I'm really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What a life.

Oh yes, I'm also flirting with Al Zymer.

Love, Grandma

PS The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking of the hereafter. I told him, "Oh I do it all the time. No matter where I am, in the parlor, upstairs, in the kitchen, or down in the basement, I ask myself, "Now, what am I here after?"

DOCTOR DAY

Today was a big day....both Joe and I went to the doctor! Mine was just routine (you know the usual routine from the doctor....you still smoking?)

Joe went to get his ankle checked out. He's had an open sore on it for two or three months. I clean it every day and put neosporon and bandage on it. It seems to heal...redness gone, swelling gone....then within a week or two it's back, as bad as ever.

Doc said it's a Venus Ulcer. He cleaned it (abraided it...or something like that) and put a bandage on it. Joe has to go back in two weeks.

After the doctor, I dropped Joe and George off at OTB and went to the flea market...worked there for four hours....froze my project off!! This zero and below temps are the pits. At least it's supposed to be warmer tomorrow....in the 20's....Heat Wave!

LOOKING GOOD

LOOKING GOOD

My face in the mirror isn't wrinkled or drawn.
My house isn't dirty. The cobwebs are gone.
My garden looks lovely and so does my lawn.
I think I might never put my glasses back on

THE LORD'S PRAYER...A CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Our Father which art in heaven ..."

"Yes?"
"Don't interrupt me. I'm praying."

"But you called me."

"Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father which art in heaven ..."

"There ... you did it again."

"Did what?"

"Called me. You said, Our Father which art in heaven. Here I am. What's on your mind?"

"But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done."

"All right. Go on."

"Hallowed be thy name ..."

"Hold it! What do you mean by that?"

"By what?"
"By 'hallowed be thy name'?"

"It means ... it means ... good grief! I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?"

"It means honored ... holy ... wonderful."

"Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

"Do you really mean that?"

"Sure, why not?"

"What are you doing about it?"

"Doing? Nothing, I guess! I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there."

"Have I got control of you?"

"Well ... I go to church."

"That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money ... all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?"

"Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at the church.

" Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it ... like you, for example."

"Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others."

"So could I."

"I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to ... you know ... be really free."

"Good ... now we're getting somewhere! We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you."

"Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread."

"You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is."

"Hey, wait a minute! What is this ... 'Criticize me day?' Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups."

"Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer ... (pause). Well ... go on!"

"I'm scared to."

"Scared? Of what?"

"I know what You'll say."

"Try me and see."

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

"What about Ann?"

"See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories about my family. She never paid back the debt she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!"

"But your prayer? What about your prayer?"

"I didn't mean it."

"Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?

"No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor. She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood."

"You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that."

"You can? How?"

"Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem and not yours. You will have settled your heart."

"Oh, you're right. You always are. And more than I want to revenge Ann, I want to be right with you. Ann, I want to be right with you ... (pause) ... (sigh). Alright! Alright! I forgive her! Help her to find the right road in life, Lord. She's bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Someway, somehow, show her the right way."

"There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?"

"Hmmmm ... well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest."

"You're not through with your prayer. Go on."

"Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

"Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted."

"What do you mean by that?

" Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up. Also, about the time you spend having coffee with your friends ... if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should re-think the value of those friendships. Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up with." And please don't use me for an escape hatch."

"I don't understand the last part."

"Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me. "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?"

"Yes and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am."

"Which bargain are you remembering?"

"Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out. I remember praying, 'Oh God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."

"I protected you, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?"

"I'm sorry, Lord. I really am. Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did."

"Go ahead and finish your prayer."

"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."

"Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?"

"No, but I'd like to know. I now want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made of my life. And I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers."

"You just answered the question."

"I did?"

"Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no telling what we can do together."

"Lord, let's see what we can make of me, okay?"

"Yes, let's see."

CREATION

On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long, suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said, "That's a kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I'll give back the other forty."

And God agreed.

On the second day, God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give back the other ten."

So, God agreed.

On the third day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty year life span."

Monkey said "Monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy. Do nothing, just enjoy, enjoy. I'll give you twenty years."Man said, "What? Only twenty years? No way man. Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back, and the ten the dog gave back and the ten the monkey gave back. That makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God. "You've got a deal."

SO: That is why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy, and do nothing; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody.

AMERICAN IDOL

Yeah...yeah...I'm a big fan of American Idol. And these two nights of auditions have not disappointed me. I really liked the blind guy last night. I think he will go far. Tonight, my favorite was ...again...the last performer, the mother of three. I think it's going to be a good season!

Nothing much is happening in our lives right now. So.....I'm going to be inserting some articles...humourous and otherwise....on being a senior citizen, culled from other sites on the internet. I hope you enjoy them. Don't be afraid to comment.

I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN

I'M A SENIOR CITIZENAnd proud of it!I'm the life of the party... even when it lasts until 8 p.m.

I'm very good at opening childproof caps with a hammer.

I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going.

I'm good on a trip for at least an hour without my aspirin, beano, and antacid.

I'm the first one to find the bathroom wherever I go.

I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a word you're saying.

I'm very good at telling stories. Over and over and over and over.

I'm aware that other people's grandchildren are not as bright as mine.

I'm so cared for - long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.

I'm not grouchy, I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, children, politicians.

I'm positive I did housework correctly before my mate retired.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a secure place.

I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.

I'm having trouble remembering simple words like...uh???...uh.

I'm now spending more time with my pillows than with my mate.

I'm realizing that aging is not for sissies.

I'm anti-everything now: anti-fat, anti-smoke, anti-noise, anti-inflammatory.

I'm walking more (to the bathroom) and enjoying it less.

I'm going to reveal what goes on behind closed doors. Absolutely nothing!

If you are what you eat, I'm Shredded Wheat and All Bran.

I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days.

I'm in the initial stage of my golden years. SS, CD's, IRA'S, AARP.

I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150?

I'm supporting all movements now...by eating bran, prunes, and raisins.

I'm a walking storeroom of facts, I've just lost the key to the storeroom.

I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN, and I think I am having the time of my life!!!!

LEAD RULE IN CHILDRENS PRODUCTS

I must have had my head in the sand the past few months. Just today, for the first time, I read an article about the lead rule that goes into effect Feb. 10th. It effects all products aimed for children 12 and under....and any other product that will be used by children. From the research I have done this morning, the list seems endless. It is a good law for children...we all want to protect them from lead exposure. But what will it mean for manufacturers and retailers?

One article said Feb 10 is being called NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY DAY. Why? because small manufacturers can not afford the $300 or more cost to test each of their products. Makers of Hand-made products can't afford the testing, Resale shops...like Goodwill....can't afford the testing. And what about the small flea marketers? Their choices are to either disregard the law, thereby selling illegally, or trash all their existing products.

I suppose a small retailer like a resale shop or flea marketer could ignore the law and keep on keeping on. But, if they should get tested by the "lead police" the fine is $100,000! EEK....I don't know of any flea marketer who could afford that!

There goes all the handmade hats and gloves and jewelry that sell at the flea markets. There goes all your cheap children's clothing at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Because, after Feb 10, they must be able to prove, by testing, that the products are compliant with the lead rule.

I'm mostly concerned about the hand made products. None of us would knowingly use lead products...but even if we absolutely make sure the components we buy and use are lead free, we still have to be able to prove it. Or maybe not....perhaps we just have to make sure we're not selling something manufactured before Feb 10...including components. Probably, if you get nicked by the "lead police" they would have to test your product is see if it is compliant. And woe be to you, me, us, if, say a yarn manufacturer or retail store slips an old skein of yarn in on us that is found to contain more than the allowable amount of lead!! Or, you used an old charm or button you had lying around. See...every component of hand made stuff must pass the test!

What can you do? Write your Senators and Congressmen....ask for an exception for hand made items.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANN

Annie....I hope you have a wonderful birthday. NINE!!! my, you are growing up so fast! Always remember, your Grandma Lori loves you very much. You are very precious and special.

GOOD WEEKEND

This was the best weekend we've had in two months. If we could do this every week, we could pay the rent and make a little profit! So, I have faith that things will improve! Today, three local tv stations were at the flea market filming...news at 6:30 and 11. That is going to make a big improvement in foot traffic!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy new year to all my loved ones. I hope this new year will be your best ever. The economy looks bleak, but that can be a blessing in disguise. It might force us to spend more time...quality time, too...with those who matter most.

My new year's resolution is to praise God more for what I have and petition him less for what I wish I had.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Our family Christmas was held yesterday, Saturday, at Billy's house in Napannee. We had a wonderful time. Billy and Erica were super ....food was terrific. One of the best family Christmas get-togethers, ever.

There were 22 of us present....all of my immediate family...except for Joe and George who opted not to go. But that is mind-boggling to me, knowing that at least seventeen people are in this world because I am.....and because my Mom was....and my Granny was. and so on. My memory bank only goes back to Granny. That means my memory bank has direct knowledge of six generations. Awesome!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS

I hope today was a wonderful Christmas for you and yours. Ours was....not quite what I had planned!

Tammy, Sarah and Kadyn came over about 9 am and Kadyn opened his gifts from us (me and Joe.) He was one excited little boy. I do believe his favorite present was the Spongebob Squarepants hat and mittens. We got him a gadget-belt that he liked, too. And a bunch of other toys.

We were supposed to go to my brothers, Jim and Loretta, for dinner. But after the kids left, Joe said he didn't feel good and was not going. Therefore, we all stayed home....and I had not bought anything to cook a Christmas dinner. We had chicken wings and vegetables with dip. As it turned out, Joe was not sick...he just didn't want to go. He thought I would go alone. When I stayed home, he felt bad....after I moped around and made him feel guilty!

Teri, Anthony and Grant didn't come over, they'll stop by tomorrow to get Grant's presents. Then Saturday, we're going to Billy's for our big family Christmas. I'm going to that one whether Joe goes or not...and I don't think he will. But I doubt he'll fake another illness!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

It's Christmas Eve...everybody here is asleep except me. I've been trying to play bingo on the computer, but my mind keeps wandering. But, it keeps going to a good place. I finally had to give up a little bit ago and read the story of the first Christmas...in my bible. We all know the story how Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem because there was no place else available.

But, for some reason, tonight my mind keeps going to Mary. Can you imagine how scared that girl was....and she was a girl. Only 13 or 14 years old. We all know it hurts to have a baby. And here she is, in pain, wanting, needing, somewhere she can lie down. And everywhere Joseph checks, they're turned away. I'm sure he was frantic. Mary was telling him she was hurting...find something, anywhere. Finally, someone tells him about this cave where livestock is kept. At first, I would imagine he scoffed at it. But when he told Mary, she said...lets go, somewhere is better than nowhere!

Once in the cave, I imagine Joseph cleaned out a spot for Mary, covered it with fresh hay and straw, left there for the animals, covered it with his or Mary's coat, making her as comfortable as possible. By then Mary wouldn't have been worrying about where she was. Her body would have taken over her mind as she entered that world only another mother could know. All her energies and emotions and thoughts would have been centered on the painful contractions that were bringing her baby into the world. Do you think she was was thinking it was God's baby she was bearing? I don't. It was her baby. She had carried it for nine months, felt it move and kick inside her.

After the baby was born, as she and Joseph examined and exclaimed over how perfect He was, perhaps then, they talked about who the baby's Father was. And gave thanks to HIM for the litle baby He had entrusted to them. Do you think they had any idea of the impact that baby would have on the world?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

Thank you Mary, for bringing my saviour into the world! Thank you Joseph, for being a godly enough man to take on the task of raising God's son! Thank you God, for giving your son, knowing he would die a horrible death, to save me!

CHRISTMAS JUNKIE

Here's an essay I wrote a few years ago...and it is NOT autobiographical!

I love Christmas! I love the Christmas carols on the radio, in the mall and blaring from speakers on the street corners. I love the cheerful "Merry Christmas" from a perfect stranger. I love the brightly colored lights, the blinking rope lights, the gaudy lighted santas, and the nativity scenes that remind me every day of the real meaning of Christmas. Most of all, though, I love the anticipation of Christmas morning.

I begin preparing for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Making "santa lists" and dragging the decorations down from the attic. Of course, my list will change weekly or even daily, as I change my mind about what will be the perfect present for each person on the list. Now, I have 20 people on my list, and each gift will take at least one full day since I always think the next store will have that perfect gift for my daughter, my son, my husband or my brother. So you can see why I have to begin shopping the Monday after Thanksgiving. (Not the day after because the stores are too crowded.) And every gift I buy, as soon as I pick it up, I can tell if it's the right one or not. All the time I'm wrapping it, I imagine how happy it's gong to make her or him. I can see the surprised look and glowing smile and hear "Oh, Mom! It's perfect and just what I wanted! How did you know!" And they won't realize they're holding more than a bought present... They're holding my love in their hands.

This year my Christmas was proceeding just as planned. The house was decorated, the tree was trimmed, and I was making good progress on my list, when my daughter showed up one morning.

Now this child of my heart, who I carried in my body for nine long months and brought into this world throughh great pain, knows me well. At least I thought she did. Yet, when she walked in, stomping the snow off her boots, she looked around, laughed and said, "Wow, Mom, you've out-done yourself this year. Looks like Christmas has puked on your house!" Puked??

I had barely recovered from that artless remark, deciding that maybe it wasn't meant to be derogatory, when, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a plate of homemade peanut butter fudge, she said, "Mom, I have a great idea. Since I don't know what to buy you for Christmas, let's go to the mall and you can pick out what you want. I'll even pay for lunch."

Pick out my own present? What was this child thinking about? Nobody picks out their own present. Most of the fun of Christmas morning is anticipation...wondering whick present is yours. Maybe it's that gayly wrapped green one with the speckled bow...or the big red package in the corner that wouldn't fit under the tree. ( And, NO, I never looked ahead of time.) Okay, so I'm sixty-eight years old, so what? Everybody's a child on Christmas morning!

Well I did go shopping with Tammy. How could I refuse? We visited every store at the mall. And every thing I liked, she scrutinized with great care and then decided was not quite "me" and maybe we could find something better at Macy's...or Steinmart....or Target.

Sitting in the car several hours and 20 stores later, rubbing my swollen, aching feet, Tammy said, "See Mom? That's why I don't know what to get you for Christmas. You're really hard to buy for. Why don't you just give me a list of things you'd like."

Things I'd like? I had just shown her fifty things and she didn't think any of them were just right!"

"Look, Sweetie," I said with great patience, "you know I'll like whatever you give me." And before she could offer any argument, with an inward smug smile, and an outward tired sigh, I suggested, "Why don't you just surprise me!"

GIVING

I just read a post on the Bennett's blog (the6bennetts.blogspot.com) that reminded me of my dad.

Most of you know I was an original "coalminer's daughter" but my dad, though dirt poor, had a heart as big as the sky. When we lived in KY, every Christmas Dad and Mom would pack up several bags of fruits, nuts, candies, and canned vegetables, maybe a freshly killed and cleaned chicken, some salt pork....and, on Christmas Eve, carry them several miles to my grandmothers and the aunts and uncles worse off then we were.

After we moved to Michigan, Dad continued this tradition. Only now, our relatives were better off than we were. What he would do is ask the town marshall in Sumpter for a family who needed help for Christmas. Then he and Mom would make up their bags and boxes and deliver them on Christmas Eve.

One year, after the annual delivery was made, Dad happened to talk to the marshall, who toldhim about another family with five kids who had been over-looked by the township Santa.
Dad fretted and stewed about that poor family all the rest of the day. At supper, he said to Mom that they had to do something. Mom replied that we didn't have enough to share anymore. Dad looked around the table at each of us and asked how we'd feel if we were those little children.

The upshot was...of the two chickens Mom was planning for Christmas dinner, one would go to the poor family. Our fruit salad would be a little smaller...five each apples, oranges, bananas, and a handful of nuts would go in their box. Then Dad did the unthinkable...he asked each of us kids to give up one present we knew we were getting.

Of course, we all balked at first. But Dad talked to us and made us see that giving is more rewarding than getting. We didn't contribute much. As I recall, I gave a fuzzy collar I knew I was getting (there was a girl about my age and those collars were all the rage ...worn with sweaters). Pauline , who was about 13, offered her new socks...but ended up giving new pj's.
Jimmy bargained hard to give away his socks, too...but ended up giving the nine year old boy a cap pistol. Sue gave away the tea set Santa was going to bring her and Margaret gave crayons and coloring book to the youngest.

About ten o'clock pm on Christmas Eve, we all piled into the car and delivered the boxes of goodies. We all stayed in the car while Mom and Dad carried the boxes to the door. When the woman answered the door....Mom and Dad handed her the boxes and said Merry Christmas. Well, that woman broke down. She set the boxes aside and grabbed dad in a stranglehold. Her husband...on crutches....came to the door and when he realized what was going on, he too, cried and hugged Mom. Watching from the car, I sobbed unashamedly.

That made my Christmas that year. nevermind that the family was not the same color as we were. They were so grateful, but like Dad told them, we were the lucky ones....we had enough to share! I never again saw any of them...they lived in a different school district, but I never forgot them, either. Or how wonderful my Dad was!

GOSPEL MUSIC

I love the new contemporary Christian Music. Yet, I find myself singing the old time hymns I grew up with. The first song I ever learned all the words to was

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.... and it remains one of my all-time favorites.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain: So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God
left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.
(Refrain)
3.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
(Refrain)
4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)

And my new favorite Contemporary Gospel song is..Here I am to Worship (and any song by Michael W. Smith)

Light of the world You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross.

You can do a search on the title to hear the songs...can even download them to your computer.

BRRRRRRR COLD FREEZER

As if the ice isn't enough to deal with, now we're getting zero degrees temps plus blowing snow. In all my years, I've never seen an ice storm like this one. Ice was between one and two inches all over. Trees were falling...electric lines were breaking...over 100,000 homes were without electricity. As of 8 pm tonight, still 50,000 homes didn't have electric. And with this cold weather, its not going to melt anytime soon.

The flea market was open today...but it was a waste of time. I didn't go but Tammy worked it all day and said she might have seen 25 people who were not other vendors. The parking lot and walks were pure ice. I was afraid to go out. All I need is a broken hip!!

Tammy and I are making "scrubbies." ....little pot scrubbers. We crochet mesh fabric into little pads. They work great on non-stick pans and the stove without scratching. I'm so proud of us, hahah. We're also making lots of hats and gloves. What we don't sell at the flea market, we'll donate to various charities around town that collect coats and hats to give to people who need them. We have already donated some for Christmas presents.

HAPPY WINTER!!

The eve of the first day of winter hit with a vengeance! We had...have...at least an inch of solid ice on both decks and both cars. Closings were numerous...schools, businesses....even our flea market.

God compensates. I looked out my kitchen window and the trees were absolutely gorgeous in their shiny coats of ice. It didnt' bother me anyway, I had nowhere I wanted or needed to go. I went out yesterday and finished my Christmas shopping. Nothing really jumped out at me, so I bought what I liked and hope they like it too! Now I have a mountain of wrapping to do.

It looks more and more like we will have a White Christmas this year!!

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

I'm really running late this year on my shopping. Usually, I'm all finished before Thanksgiving....except for one or two I save for the first snowy day when it looks like Christmas. This year, here it is, less than two weeks until Christmas and I still have several presents to buy. As the grandchildren get older, they get tougher to buy for. Too old for toys....and Idon't know their style in clothes. Gift certificates seem so impersonal. Therefore, I make several forays through Walmart and Meijers and Big Lots...hoping something will jump out at me and be "just the right thing."

I'm really looking forward to Christmas morning. Santa Claus is going to drop off Kadyn's presents here! He will be over probably by daylight...well, maybe not that early. We're talking about Sarah here, too. Has she ever gotten up at daybreak??? Anyway, it will be fun watching that wonderful two year old boychild open his mountain of presents!

CHRISTMAS AT THE FLEA MARKET

Although the crowds are still small, they are all in a festive mood. This is likely due to the Christmas decorations each vendor has put up (except us). Every space has Christmas "stuff" for sale...ornaments, trees, lights, dancing and singing santas, reindeer, snowmen. I bought a singing and dancing hillbilly santa for my brother, Jimmy. We even have a Santa taking pictures with kids. But not with Kadyn...Kadyn is scared to death of him!

Vendors continue to come and go. We lost the vendor next to us, but we're taking over the space...expanding. Jewelry is not selling good enough to support the space, so we've added other stuff and are too crowded in one space. Besides jewelry, we are selling Scented Sea Salt Crystals..(an air freshener), candles, smelly jelly, hats, gloves, scented waxed bears, and we're adding some everyday items...dishes, etc. (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em). Tammy made some dish scrubbies out of nylon mesh and they're selling well. The metallic bracelets are going good. I sold five of them yesterday...Friday.

Today, we had a Mexican Radio Station broadcasting from there and it brought in a whole bunch of Mexicans. Tammy does the brunt of the selling...booth sitting, anyway. I have to work when she has to watch Kadyn...usually four or five hours on Friday and perhaps two or three hours on Saturday. If I'm feeling okay, I actually enjoy it.

I'm still convinced that this venture can be a money-maker...even tho nobody gets rich selling at a flea market. We just need more foot traffic. All in all, to be a new venue, its going pretty good. I'm still pouring money into it and getting no return back...but it is accomplishing my purpose...and that was to give Tammy a purpose. She's been so sick she can't work, but she can sit at the flea market and take money...most days, anyway. I think its helping ease her depression.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FLEA MARKETS.

HOLIDAYS

Thanksgiving was great this year. On Thanksgiving day, I had dinner at my brother, Jim's. Besides him and his wife, Loretta, my other brother, Frank and his wife Linda were there as well as Jim's son and wife and four kids. My daughter, Tammy and her daughter Sarah, and Kadyn along with my husband Joe and his brother, George. We had a wonderful time visiting and all ate too much. I haven't seen so much...and such a variety...of food since Dad died and we stopped having Thanksgiving at Mom's....in 1985.

Then today, Sunday, we had another Thanksgiving dinner at my granddaughter, Teri's house. my son Joey and wife and four kids were there as well as all of Tammy's kids and grandkids. It was wonderful seeing all of them. The food was great, the company was greater. Teri's baby, Grant, gets cuter everytime I see him. He has these great big blue eyes that seem to be taking in everything he sees so he will remember it next time. We only stayed a couple of hours. I had a coughing spasm that left me weak and exhaused and all the little kids were getting on Joe's nerves. He loves the kids and loves to see them. But in small doses! Kadyn adores Joe. As we were leaving, Kadyn stood in the door and said, over and over..."uv oo, papaw...uv oo papaw" You think he'd say to me "uv oo gram" but no....Kadyn loves me...but when Joe's around, he's number one to Kadyn.

Joey's son, Andrew who is five, brought me a box of crafts he'd made. He wants me to sell them in my "store"...at the flea market. There's book markers, door knob hangers...all with Colts theme. Stories...in book form...he's written...some pictures, a bracelet, tree ornament. About 20 items total. He has put a lot of hard work in them. Amy and Ann grow prettier and sweeter every day. I am so lucky to have such wonderful grandchildren. They are my legacy to the world and the world will be a much better place with them in it!

Soon it will be Christmas...always my favorite Holiday. This year we will celebrate it as a family at my grandson, Billy's house on the Saturday after Christmas. But first, I'll have Tammy's daughters, Teri and Sarah, and their babies here at my house for Christmas morning. I can hardly wait. I'm buying a bunch of little things, just to see Kadyn's face when he opens them. I wish I could talk my brother, Frank, into coming up and playing Santa. I'll work on getting him up to Billy's! Frank has this wonderful white beard, mustache and hair. Tho, his belly is not as big as it used to be, he'd still make a great santa claus! If he's able to do it. He has Lou Gerig's disease and it is advancing rapidly lately. Please keep him in your prayers.

Things I'm thankful for

God has been good to me. He's given me much to thank Him for. Here goes....Joe, my husband. My children...Tammy, Buddy and Joey and God-given daughters, Leann and Tia. My wonderful nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Health...Joe and I still can get around to take care of ourselves! My brothers and sisters and inlaws. My car. My home. George.

Im thankful for Thanksgiving. It gives me a chance to reflect on how good life really is...even when I'm sick and in pain.