Thursday

Mollie and I went to Mom and Dad's Thursday. She and Glenda usually go to every other Saturday, but Glenda's out of the country until the 31st touring Turkey!

Mollie and I got to the house about 11:30. Mom was waiting on us so that she could run to the medical supply and pick up a new walker for Dad!

Dad started with his new therapy in Burnet and the therapist suggested to Mom that Dad could use a hemi-walker. As its name depicts, it is half the width of a standard walker. Dad can use it with his left hand while his right arm hangs supportively in a sling. The therapist believes Dad's balance is good enough to teach him how to use the new walker. I am a bit concerned because he does get off-balance from time to time. We strapped his gait belt around his waist and had to use it once to keep him from falling. As you would expect, Dad is determined to do things on his own and he took too large a turning step and we had to stabilize him. I just hope and pray that he doesn't get too cocky with the new walker and fall.

I think I told you previously that I have been after Mom to get each of them one of those medical alert buttons that they wear and can press the button if they need help. Mom did get one for her neck and one for Dad to wear on his right wrist. Now the issue is getting them to wear them! Mom had Dad's strapped to the lamp by his living room chair and hers attached to the bed! Her thought process was that she might need it during the night and it would be right there handy for her. Same thing with Dad's...she thought it would be near him because he's in his living room chair most of the time. I explained to her that things can happen anywhere, any time and made her look me in the eyes and promise me that they would wear them ON THEIR BODIES all day every day! She giggled and said that she promised!!! So, when Mollie and I got there Thursday, she had Dad's on her wrist, but Dad didn't have his on at all! I gently fussed at her a little bit for not following through with her promise! If I keep checking on them I guess eventually she'll do it!!! Stubborn woman!!!

Mom, Dad, Mollie and I went to lunch at the River City Grill Thursday afternoon and really enjoyed the outing and the food! After lunch I asked Dad jokingly if he'd like to go shopping with us! He laughed out loud and when I said that I knew he was ready for his after-lunch nap his eyes twinkled and he responded, "Ah-ha!!" When we got home we said we'd stay for about 45 minutes more. Mom told Dad he should wait and have his nap after we left! Well...he tried so hard to keep his eyes open and pay attention to what we were talking about, but the heavy eyelids won!!! Mollie and I headed home about 3:00.

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all of you. You are always in my prayers, but I am saying a special prayer for all my relatives who are/were Veterans. Dad was in the Air Force as a flight engineer on a B-17, but, thankfully, never saw combat. God bless all the Veterans and our soldiers who are currently defending our country and all their families. Amen.

Today...

I got to see Mom and Dad twice today! For a while I'll be using the formal dining room as my office, so I am storing my china hutch, table and chairs in one of Mom and Dad's garages. For my first trip, I drove a truck-full of stuff there this morning. I parked the truck in front of the garage and Mom and Dad rode over in the golf cart. Mom parked close to the big double-door so Dad could see what we were doing. Well, Dad decided he wasn't close enough to the "action" so, from the passenger seat, he drove the golf cart through a just-wide-enough gap between the garage and the truck into the inside of the garage!!! His intent was to turn it around inside so he could watch us from in there and be facing the door. Once he got in there , it was going to require some maneuvering to get the cart turned around. I tactfully took over and did that. He was very pleased with himself that he got the cart where he wanted it! Mom and I playfully bickered about who was going to sweep the garage floor before the furniture got unloaded, who was going to unload what, etc. Dad would laugh and point at us while that was going on, especially if I would win!!! Mom and I are pretty good matches for each other and it was all in fun!!!

I came home and Ollie and I drove back this afternoon with another load. This was the heavy load so Joaquin, an employee of Dad and Leslie's company, helped Ollie unload it. Again, Mom and Dad came over to the garage in the golf cart. This time Ollie unknowingly had parked the truck closer to the doorway and the cart wouldn't fit! So Dad had to watch from a little further back, but the unload took a total of 5 minutes! Luckily, this time we didn't encounter any snakes!!! There was this one HUMONGOUS spider and another about half its size, but I'm okay!!! Spiders are worse for me than snakes!!!! I survived though!!!

We went back to the house to visit for a few minutes. Mom said that Dad had used his walker this afternoon and made the circle from the living room, through the dining room, kitchen, breakfast room and back to the living room 7 times! It's so obvious that he is getting stronger, especially when he's getting in and out of a chair to or from the wheelchair or in and out of the suburban or golf cart. He just stands right up instead of struggling! When I say something about how great he's doing, he gives me that look like, "Well, duh! Of course I am!"

The incentive for Dad right now is that he wants to go fishing! It's been suggested that he and some of the guys go to their old haunt at Choke Canyon and wet some lines! Mom isn't totally on board with this plan, but I think she is out-voted!!! If they go, I hope they'll do it before we go to Colorado so it won't be so hot...but, you know what...they didn't ask my opinion!!!!! I'll show them! If they go fishing, Mom and I will go shopping!!!!! We'll show them!!!!

Oh, I just remembered, I wanted to share this with you...it was written by Corrie ten Boom

who was a Dutch Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. You may have read her autobiography, The Hiding Place. Here it is...

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our path, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see. When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible."

Amen!

RATTLESNAKE!!!

Howdy! I hope this finds all of you happy and healthy!

Dad got to go to Danny and Ollie's deer camp for steaks and poker Tuesday night! Dad gets the biggest kick out of the camaraderie out there and enjoys watching all the guys (Danny, Ollie, Troy, Tom, Jeremy, etc) harass each other! There were enough guys to have two poker games going at the same time! Dad is certain that someone gets him out there in time to have his steak (especially seasoned by Ollie) and stays long enough to play a little poker! He used to be a fierce competitor, but now it seems he's more intent on getting home for an early bedtime!!! I don't think the stroke has anything to do with that!!!

Wednesday I met Ollie out at Mom and Dad's and we spent the whole afternoon out there. The four of us did run in to Marble Falls for a seafood lunch at Dock's, which will probably be our last time to eat there :(

After lunch, Ollie and Dad found their napping chairs and Mom and I snuck off to Wal-Mart! It's good for her to get away from the house, knowing a trustworthy soul is there to keep Dad company! The man who works a couple of days a week for them, Jerry, does a good job. However, Dad prefers one of his own "boys!"

When Mom and I got back to the house, the four of us walked over to one of the garages on their place. Ollie was checking out the locking mechanism on one of the big roll-up garage doors and Mom said, "Oh! There's a rattlesnake!" Sure enough, there was an 18" rattler inches from Ollie left foot! I think we'd have all freaked out if it had started rattling, but it stayed all hunkered down in its coil! Mom and Ollie went for the hoe while Dad and I kept watch on it! I don't know what we'd have done if it started trying to get away (undoubtedly NOTHING!!!) but the snake didn't budge. My hero, Ollie, chopped it into several pieces and hauled it off! Mom was a great supervisor!!! One of her best talents!!! Anyway, we had a little excitement to talk about!!!

Dad was much more "vocal" at this visit. Not with words as of yet, but with sounds. He seems to be more comfortable with making sounds, which is very good! At the restaurant, he even hailed the server and showed her that he wanted another napkin! Until recently, he would show Mom or one of us and have us do it for him! When the check came, he looked over it and Mom conferred with him as to how much tip to leave! I loved that he is getting more involved in what is going on rather than just sitting there so passively!

Mom says Dad has his up days and his down days. I will interject that the same holds true for her. They LOVE it when any of us come to visit. All visitors are very welcomed and I encourage you to go! Any weekday after 11:00 is good. They eat lunch any time between 11:00 and 3:00, depending on how early they had breakfast and what's going on! It's always good to call ahead! The home number is 830/693-3957. If the machine answers, please leave a message. It throws Mom off when someone calls and doesn't leave a message! They usually are in bed by 10 p.m. Mom gets up between 8 and 9:00 and Dad usually sleeps at least until 9!

Mom has signed Dad up for therapy in Burnet. Currently he is scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00. Unfortunately 10 a.m. was the latest time available. Mom and Dad usually don't get going until about 11:00, but she said she'd just have to make it work! What a woman!

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

God is great and His praise

Fills the earth, fills the heavens

And Your name will be praised

Throughout the world.

Holy is the Lord. ~ Hillsong "God is Great"

Amen!

It was a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Our tradition is to spend Mother's Day at Jean and Jimmie's ranch! Our whole gang was there, except for my son-in-law, Robert, who had that stomach bug that's been going around our house, and Ahou, Clint's girlfriend, who appropriately stayed in Dallas to be with her Mom!

Mom and Dad arrived with big happy smiles because we all love to celebrate Mother's Day together! Jean and Jimmie provide us with such a great place to spend time together. The vast majority of the day was spent visiting on their porch. The weather was cool and inviting to be outdoors, so we took full advantage of it! Jean, Jennifer, Nicole, and Randy and Bradley all have new puppies ranging in age from 8 months to 8 weeks old, so the dogs were romping around, all the little kids were romping around and all the big kids, well...we weren't!!! We were pretty lazy!!! Jennifer's little dog was occupying a chair when Mom came outside. Dad took the puppy and put it in his lap so Mom could sit down. The pup was asleep and stayed asleep during the transition! It was so sweet to see that puppy asleep on Dad's lap! Sweet and funny at the same time because, in the past, Dad wouldn't have put the dog on his lap, he'd have pushed it onto the floor!!! Of course, everyone noticed that!!!

Mom and Dad are very excited because we're planning on taking a trip to Colorado the end of June!!! Yes, they're going on a little vacation!!! Our cousins Fran and Jimmy Callahan have a "cabin" outside Steamboat Springs CO. Jimmy has organized a golf game up there and he and Fran want Mom and Dad to come! They also invited Danny and Ollie to play gold with the guys! So Lisa and I will take Mom shopping in Steamboat and spend a LOT of time relaxing on the big front deck on the mountainside!!! It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!!! I think the change of scenery will be great for them! Danny and Ollie are great with assisting Dad, so Mom gets a break! Lisa and I will make sure Mom takes it easy! It's a win-win!!! God willing, we leave June 24th and return on June 27th! I can't wait to tell y'all all about it!!!

"The love of family is life's greatest blessing!" I would also like to add the love of friends into that! Amen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MILDRED!!!

Not only is today Mildred's 84th birthday, it was her first time EVER to don a sombrero!!! OLE'! Danny, Lisa, Ollie, Dad and I took Mom to Papasitas in Austin for lunch! After chips and salsa, tortilla soup, beef fajitas and grilled shrimp, the flan was muy perfecto!!! Mom didn't hesitate to put on the sombrero when the wait staff brought it out and she clapped her hands and laughed out loud while they sang their rockin' version of "Happy Birthday!"

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." George Washington (and seconded by the Smith kids!!!)

Dad got so tickled at Mom having so much fun with the sombrero and all! I missed taking a picture (pooh) but Dad kept making goo-goo eyes at Mom during lunch and then they'd grin at each other like they knew a secret than none of the rest of us knew!!! The rascals!!! I can tell you that Dad can clearly tell Mom he loves her, and he doesn't need words! It's heartwarming!!!

It's that secret that attributes to the longevity of their marriage! More happiness this week as Mom and Dad celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 5th!!! It's so awesome to be the product such a beautiful couple and to see how they created our wonderful family based on their love! What an inspiration!!!

Glenda and Mollie were out at Mom and Dad's house on Saturday and Jean is spending part of the day tomorrow out there. It's tough getting us all together at once these days, but we all will make a special effort this Sunday!

All the Harvey and Mildred Smith gang will party a lot more on Sunday, when we all gather for Mother's Day at Jean and Jimmie's ranch! We'll celebrate not only Mother's birthday and Mom and Dad's anniversary, but Bradley Koenig's 13th birthday (can't believe that he's a teenager!), Kelly Koenig's First Communion (the Koenig kids are some of Jean and Jimmie's grandkids), Mia Johnson's 3rd birthday (she's Danny and Lisa's granddaughter), Clint and Mollie Flanagan's college graduation (Glenda's kids), and Clint's girlfriend, Ahou's birthday! WOW! We sure do need a WHOLE DAY to celebrate all that!!! Can''t wait!

God bless all of you, especially all our Mothers in Heaven and on Earth!!!

Loving God,
we thank you for the love of the mothers you have given us,
whose love is so precious that it can never be measured,
whose patience seems to have no end.
May we see your loving hand behind them and guiding them.
We pray for those mothers who fear they will run out of love
or time, or patience.
We ask you to bless them with your own special love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.