Happy Mother's Day

My Mom has been gone now for 8 years next month. Oh how I miss her. Don't know why but the longer it is the more I seem to miss her.

Her name was Zelma Opal and she never liked her name. I always thought it was cool, cause I have never ever heard of anyone else having that name. One of my uncles used to call her Old Pal, which I liked too.

When I was very little she was very strict with me and spent a lot of time teaching me manners and how to behave. Every once in a while I would rebel and my punishment was to stand in a corner. I would be very upset and to get back at her I would pick my nose and wipe my boogers on the wall. Oh my, it was very hard for her to understand how her sweet child could act so horrid. As you can see, I definitely needed to be taught those manners. Poor Mom. I did eventually learn all she taught me and am so thankful for her patience and love.

I always knew she loved me, but she sometimes had a little problem. She was not always the most brave person. One time when we were up to a lake visiting some relatives, she and I went for a walk. I think I was about 7 or 8 years old. Suddenly out of no where a billy goat had gotten loose and started chasing us. Well so much for a Mother protecting her child.. We started to run toward the house. We were running as fast as we could and suddenly she ran right past me and into the house way before me. Leaving me to fend for myself. Luckily I did outrun the silly goat, but I never let her forget the fact that she was supposed to protect me. We laughed about that for years.

She was a wonderful cook and baker of the best cakes, pies and cookies. She loved to garden and had the most beauiful flowers around. Some called her the "flower lady". She and I just loved to go shopping together. She adored her grandchildren and the feeling was mutual. She was my very best friend and all my girl friend loved her too. She liked nothing better than to sit and gab with all us girls.

So I am missing my beautiful, wonderful Mom today, but I really miss her everyday. I shall always love her.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are still loved and missed by so many.

Some of the pretty flowers I rec'd from my thoughtful children. They all treat their old Mama very well. Thank you all and I just love you all to pieces!

MY HOW THINGS CHANGE

Today as I was going through some drawers full of lots of old pictures and such I found something kinda interesting. It was interesting to me because in my last post I wrote about my birthday.  So what I found was the hospital bill for my birth 74 year ago.  There seems to be quite a difference from the hospital bills of today. The bill was for $50.00 and my Mom spent 10 days in the hospital.  To be fair, I guess I should say that I think my Dad was making $15.00 a week delivering coal and my Mom was not working.  When my folks first got married, my Dad had a paper route which paid him $2.00 a week and my Mom earned $2.00 a week working for some rich folks.  She cleaned, cooked, did laundry and ironed.  She managed to save enough money out of those earnings to buy my Dad his first ever top coat.  Amazing.

Some day I will post a picture of my Dad  in his that new top coat.  He really looked quite dapper.

Birthday

Celebrated my 74th birthday yesterday.  Yikes, how did I get that old.  Was a good birthday because I rec'd many phone calls and Facebook greetings from all my family and many friends all over the world.  What was strange, was when it dawned on me that this was the first time in 74 years that I have ever spent my birthday alone. Bothered me for a while until I went to the store and got myself a cake and ice cream.  Didn't quite take the place of having folks around to celebrate with me, but it helped quite a bit. On the other hand, being able to celebrate all those years with family and friends is a true blessing which has given me a wealth of wonderful memories.  One of my favorite was the surprise party my hubby sprung on me for my 45th birthday.  It was really a big surprise to me and so many people came.  It was great fun.  Best gift I rec'd was from my dear departed friend, Betsy Powell.  She made me a pillow that said, "I would rather be 45 than pregnant".  After having been pregnant with 7 children  for 13 years it seemed quite appropriate. So now it is on to 75, the good Lord willing.  Besides I do not feel a day over 45.  I do need to get rid of all my mirrors tho.

A Wonderful Winter Break

I returned a couple of weeks ago from a most wonderful month in Florida. This is the first time I have gotten to stay that long. Amazing how fast that month passed by. The weather was great with most days in the 80's, but the nights cooled off, so it was good sleeping weather. I stay with my old friend, Joann. She has been my friend for over 40 years. Used to be 4 couples of us were in Florida together every year, but as the years have passed, our group has gotten smaller and smaller and now only the 2 of us get down there. Sad!

Jeanne and Richard took us out on their boat one day. We went to Cabbage Key to have a cheeseburger in paradise. I love going there. The day we went was a beautiful day.

Deedee, Mary Lou, Joann and I also went out on a gambling boat, the Big M and that was another beautiful day. And I won. Course I only play nickles, but hey, who cares if ya can win!! We eat out at the Shrimp Shack every Thursday night. Got to Captain Con's a couple of times, a German place, the Lazy Flamingo, the Island Cow and a new pizza place we all liked. We went shopping, spent time at the library, ate lots of key lime pie, ate a bit of ice cream, read 5 books and think we went to pool every day but two days. Met lots of new people. Had a car the whole time, which is really nice. Think we went someplace everyday. The day I returned it was in the 60's in GR and felt pretty good. when I arrived home, was delighted to see most of the snow had melted. Sadly spring did not last and a storm came last night and today. I could not even get my doors open. Sounds like it is going to be a cold week also. Guess I came home to soon!! But it is nice to be home. Now I am thinking about spring cleaning, yard and garden work. May have to take another road trip once the snow gets gone again.

So proud of my son and another adventure

At the end of January I took a trip, via Amtrak out to Iowa for my son, Evan's induction into his high school Hall of Fame for his swimming achievements. Of my 7 children, Evan is the only one to be in a Hall of Fame.  It was a very special and wonderful occasion and honor. 

He gave a wonderful acceptance speech.  He included his whole family,, friends and coaches in his speech and told how each  had inspired him and helped him attain his swimming goals.  He still holds 4 records after all this time. He attend high school from 1991-1994.

All his siblings were able to attend except one.  In fact about 30 friends and family attended in his honor.

  

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Evan, his wife Traci and daughters, Tori and Tessa traveled all the way from Arkansas for the induction.  It was a very quick and long trip for them especially with the new baby.  It was also the first time for most of the family to meet Tessa. 

I am so glad I was able to attend.  My only regret was that Evan's dad wasn't still around to be there.  He would have been so proud of his "Big Evan" as he affectionately called his 6'5" son.  Evan paid great tribute to his Dad during his speech. Always makes me cry!

Returning home from Iowa turned out to be a new adventure.  First of all I was delayed for two days because of blizzard that hit Chicago really hard.  I took for the first time the Mega Bus from Des Moines to Chicago and then the train from Chicago to Michigan.  Mega Bus pretty good, especially because it only cost me 50 cents.  When I got to Chicago, Union Station was so busy I could not believe it.  People were stacked up everywhere and all the trains were late.  I got into Michigan 2 hours late.  Luckily my dear brother had stopped in Holland and shoveled my car out for me.  Would have taken me forever.  As it was I did not get home until almost midnight.  I was one tired gal. 

 It was all well worth it tho.  Anytime I can spend time with all my family is a great time and I will do it every chance I get!

My Dad

My Dad passed away 1 year ago today.  How is that possible that a year has passed so quickly?  Here I am living in his place, a place he and my Mom loved so much. Memories of them surround me everyday.  Thank you Dad for taking such good care of me for 73 years. I love you,and miss you so much, always will.

Thanksgiving 2010

There is an old saying that goes.  The faster I go, the hinder I get.  Well in November and December I just got hinder and hinder with my blogging! So this will be an attempt to catch up a little bit.

The week before Thanksgiving I took the train to AR to meet my new granddaughter, Tessa.  Oh how I enjoyed that week.  I got to hug and squeeze that sweet baby for a whole week.  I was in heaven. She is just such a little butterball and so much fun to cuddle with.



Sweet Tessa



Got to spend some quality time with Tori also.  Was able to see her swim in a swim meet, went to her school, went to her favorite yogurt place and we danced and danced.  Dancing bout did me in but sure did enjoy it at the time  Tori is a great swimmer and for a 6 year old, she has the most beautiful strokes.  Probably doesn't hurt that her Dad is a swim coach!!

Dancing!



Diving in!





Mimi, Tori, Tessa and me.



We fit an awful lot into that week.  Got to go out to eat at some fun places and meet a lot of Evan, Traci and Tori's friends.  Even got to spend some time will Mimi, the other grandma. I really loved my whole time in AR and being with my family.



Then my son, Evan drove me  to just south of Kansas City and my son Eddy came from Iowa and  met us and he took be up to Iowa.  Then I got to spend a week in Iowa and got to see a lot more of my family.  Ended up having 3 Thanksgiving dinners.  I first stayed with Eddy, Karen and Owen and  had wonderful Thanksgiving Day dinner with them and Karen's brother and his wife.  That evening we went over to Ethan and Maya's house, where we had delicious appetizers and soups.  A lot of my family came to that.  Then on Saturday a big gang of us went up to Elin and Terry's for another terrific Thanksgiving Day dinner,  It was another great week.  Everyone made great efforts for us all to get together several times and  I loved being with my kids and grandkids..



Some of my tough girl, granddaughters. Carrie, Katy, Anna and Jenny.





Erin and John.




Anna and Ian.




Elin and Terry who hosted one of the great Thanksgiving dinners.




Eddy and Karen feeling mighty full.




Jonathan and Owen chilling!


I got back around December 1st and it dawned on me that Christmas was not far off, so I got busy shopping, mailing cards and packages and baking up a storm.  My daughters, Elie and Erin came all the way from Iowa to be with me for Christmas.  On Christmas Day we had Elie, Erin, Jeff, Dawn and Bob and Sue here for most of the day.  It was a fun day.



Bob and Sue enjoying their Christmas.

  

Christmas Eve dinner with Dawn, Jeff, Erin, Elie and me.



My "Kiss My Face" lotion.  It is just peachy!''



Elie at State Park with her new cross country ski's



So I got thru the holidays pretty good.  I still had my times of sadness when I started missing, my Mom, Dad and John.  They all loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays so much.  Must be thankful for all the wonderful holidays we did have together, but it is very hard sometimes. It is always amazing to me, when you can be in a whole roomful of people and suddenly waves of sadness hit you, cause you know someone is missing and you know how much they would have loved being there. I believe I will always have these moments for as long as I live.



After the girls left for home, I had another downer time for a while, until I decided I had to make some things happen.  I guess I have to have things to look forward to or I don't do so well.  So I got busy and made plans for "The Sisterhood with the Views" to come spend a weekend here on 15th.  Then I go via train to Iowa for my son Evan's induction into the Swimming Hall of Fame at end of month.  I will come home from that and a couple weeks after that will leave for FL for a month.  By the time I get home spring won't be far off and there is always lots to do at that time of year. Then summer with family visiting, garden, flowers, golf and beach - I should be good for a while again- but who knows!! Besides by the time I get back, I should have lots to blog about!!