HAPPY FATHER'S DAY GUYS!

I know, I know! I am so remiss in blogging!!! Sorry! Someone please tell me where the time goes!!!

I have a funny/not so funny story to tell you on Ollie and myself! Every year, for many, many years, Ollie's Mom's family has held their family reunion on the first Sunday in June. After Ollie's sweet Mom passed away, they stopped having the reunion for about 8 years. Then, fortunately, they decided it was important and started having it again. It just so happens that my Dad's side of the family has been gathering on the first Saturday of June and the Goertz side of the family, my maternal grandmother's family, holds their reunion on the first Sunday of June (as they have for all of my life without fail). Since Ollie's family resumed their reunion on the first Sunday of June as well, he and I have alternated reunions each year. This year was our turn to go to St Louis and miss my family's reunions. So, we booked our flights, our hotel room, our rental car and bought tickets to two Cardinal's games. We were set. Here's the catch...Ollie got the email with all the info about the reunion, but he didn't notice the date. Yep, it was moved from the first Sunday, June 5th, to the second Sunday, June 12th!!! Fortunately, I said something on my facebook about planning on going to a couple of ballgames while we were in St Louis and Olile's cousin Al started putting 2 + 2 together! He immediately sent Ollie and email and said that something was screwy because he knew that the Cardinals were on the road the weekend of the reunion!! This was the night before we were scheduled to leave, mind you! Well, l ong story shortened, we decided to go ahead and take a little vacation and go on to St Louis so we didn't lose the money on our airline tickets and our Cardinal tickets! Ollie flew to St Louis this past Saturday evening and spent one night so he could actually attend the reunion!!! He got ribbed quite a bit by his relatives!!! Fortunately he can handle it!!!

The great part is that he and I had a fantastic time while we were there! We bicycled around Forest Park, drove around the area of Washington and New Haven MO where his Grandma and Grandpa Anderson were raised (we think), we went to two Cardinals' games, both of which they won, got to see Albert Pujols hit a total of 3 home runs, Lance Berkman 1 home run, and spent Sunday in Mark Twain's home town of Hannibal MO! All in all it it worked out fine! Poor Ollie was so upset that he didn't catch the date change, but as someone said, "Everything happens for a reason!" We just said "oh well..." and rolled with the flow!!!

The reunion for Grandma Pauly's side of the family met at my sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Jimmie's ranch on Saturday June 4th. There was a smaller turn-out than in the past few years, but there had been a wedding in the family just the weekend prior, so I guess some of the relatives felt like they'd seen their kinfolk enough!!! Mom and Dad thoroughly enjoyed those that were able to go!

Mom's Goertz Reunion (Grandma Grohman's side of the family) was held on Sunday, the 5th in Rockne, Mom's home town. That reunion is usually huge, and it didn't fall short this year! However, last year Grandma's bunch had the most attendees, but this year there were only 37 of our group. On average there are about 250 to 300 people that attend! And that's not nearly all of us! It's pretty awesome to look out over the crowd and know that you're kin to at least half of them! I like to think about my Great-Grandma and Grandpa Goertz looking down from Heaven and witnessing what they started! Yes, pretty amazing!!! I think about that, too, when all my immediate family gathers for Christmas or some other major event in the Smith family. I often go to Mom and Dad and say, "Isn't it amazing that the two of you started all of this?!" Dad usually lets out a big laugh! I'm not quite sure what that means!!!

Ollie and I went out to Mom and Dad's yesterday. I was so tickled when she asked us to come in the truck because she had a few honey-do's for Ollie! She wanted him to load up and haul her recyclables to their local recycling center, change her A/C filter and check her TexTag account. I highly complimented her on letting go of those things! It wasn't much, but it isn't like her to ask for help! She then told me that Leslie had been over the previous day and she had a list of honey-do's for him also!! Way to go Mom! Delegate those duties!!! Ollie and I picked up barbeque from Peete's Mesquite for lunch. Mom and Dad love their pork ribs and Ollie, who is quite the connoisseur of grilled foods, also thought they were excellent! Dad also loves their cabbage slaw! He let out a huge "Ah" when he lifted the lid of the to-go container!!! I love hearing that sound!!!

I never mean to leave out when any of my siblings go visit Mom and Dad. I find it hard enough time remembering what I did, much-less what they've done! Jean, Glenda and Danny each do spend quality time with Mom and Dad and I want to give them lots of credit for that! I am so incredibly blessed to have such a special family. I am so grateful and praise God for that! "One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts." Psalm 145:4

Dad's spirit and perseverance remains strong and Mom remains diligent in her loving care for him. I think this passage from Nephi sums up some of my feelings..."Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." Nephi puts his trust in the Lord, as do my parents. I am honored to be a witness of their faithful service to the Lord.

Ollie and I are headed to Coppell tomorrow to spend 4 days taking care of our twin 2-1/2 year old granddaughters, Livi and Madi, while their Mommy (Neely) and Daddy (Carl) go to Mexico for Carl's brother's wedding! It should be "interesting" because they have never been away from their Mommy for more than one night!! I have a box-full of little girly 'prises to use as distractions any time I feel a melt-down coming on!!! They'll go to their "school" on Friday and Monday to keep in their usual routine. I think we can keep them busy enough on Saturday and Sunday without any problems. My only "fear" is bed-time, when tired and they're so used to Mommy putting them to bed. Say a little prayer for us!!!

Since we will be in Coppell until Monday night, we'll have to celebrate Father's Day with Daddy another day next week! He gave us his blessing on that! All of you great dads will be in my Sunday prayers! "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

I hope and pray that you and your families are having a happy, healthy and safe summer! My love to all of you! Pray for rain! Amen!

Beautiful Sunday!

Ollie and I went to Marble Falls yesterday and met up with Mom and Dad after Church for lunch. Dad now uses a cane with a base and 4 rubber feet, rather than using his walker!!! Mom said that he "told" her that he wanted one and she shopped but couldn't find one. When she told him she was unable to find on, he "told" her that he knew where they could find one. They got in the car and he directed her to a local pharmacy. Sure enough, they had just what he wanted! For the first time since his stroke, Dad walked up to communion during Mass at Church yesterday!!! He must have felt so proud! He also walked into the restaurant and back to the car using the cane! Again, while we were back at the house, Dad walked around the house, rather than using his wheelchair! Hooray for progress!!! "Faith in one's progress brings contentment."

Mom looked beautiful, as always, in her Sunday best! She and Dad were in exceptionally happy moods Sunday! Mom has scheduled Jerry to come more often and she has hired a housekeeper to help her with cleaning around the house. This week she is only having her clean the bathrooms. That's what works for Mom, so we are happy that she is doing it her way! I think having this type of help is helping Mom to have more rest, hence the brighter mood! Having help for Mom makes Dad happier also!

When we got home from lunch, we all picked our spot and took naps! I don't think I've had that restful a nap in a long time! There's just something about being at my parents home that gives me peace! Pulitzer Prize winning journalist John Ed Pearce said, "Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and a place you grow old wanting to get back to." Amen!

Happy 65th Anniversary - May 5, 2011

It is such an honor to share with you that Mom and Dad celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Thursday, May 5th! For a change of scenery, we talked them into coming to Austin and having lunch at Papasita's (Mom's choice)! Danny, Lisa, Glenda, Clint, Ollie and I all celebrated with them. Jean and Jimmie were getting things ready to host over 60 members of Mom's family for Mother's Day, so they didn't get to join us.

Mom and Dad came to our house and Ollie and I drove them to the restaurant. In the car I asked Mom and Dad some details of their wedding. They were married on a Sunday in the priest's office at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockne. Since Dad was not a Catholic at the time, they were not allowed to marry in the Church itself. Either before or after the wedding ceremony, they attended Mass. The reception was held out in the front yard of Grandma and Grandpa Grohman's house outside Rockne. Mom said all her aunts participated in providing the meal. Luella Goertz, Mom's cousin and best friend, and Leroy Grohman served as their Maid of Honor and Best Man. They couldn't afford to take a honeymoon and they both went back to work Monday morning! Talk about a reality check!!! In later years, when I was about 13, they went to Hawaii and called it their 2nd honeymoon, even though they never actually took a first one! If you ask me, they have been on a honeymoon since 1946!!! They will certainly tell you that they have had their differences, but I truly never saw the fight or disagree with each other. Mom was in the era of wives not questioning their husband. I think she amended that to not questioning him in front of us kids!!! She isn't one for not expressing her opinion, but she is very tactful about it!! I will add that Mom always taught us to respect Dad as the head of our household! His word was law! He would tell us, "This is NOT a democracy! This is a dictatorship and I am the dictator!" He ruled with a loving heart and hand too!

Anyway, back to our lunch celebration, the wonderful staff at Papasita's brought out a delicious chocolate-lava cake with a candle at the end of the meal, announced to the restaurant full of people that they were celebrating their 65th Anniversary and sang to Mom and Dad! The candle was one of those that re-lit itself, and Mom and Dad both got a big kick out of that! As you can see in the picture (sorry for the poor quality), they were beaming with happiness!

At many weddings this is read. It meant so much when I read it today... this epitomizes Mom and Dad's marriage. What a fine example they set for us! Again, I am honored to be their daughter! God bless Mildred and Harvey Smith!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New International Version, ©2011)

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Happy Birthday Mildred!

On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, Mom celebrated her 85th birthday! Ollie, Danny, Jean and I went to Marble Falls and took her and Dad out to dinner! Glenda was very disappointed that she couldn't join us, but she was incredibly busy at work and could not get away. Mom chose for us all to go to the new Chinese food restaurant in town called Koy. It was excellent and I highly recommend it! Our great server brought Mom a piece of cheesecake with a candle on it and we all sand "Happy Birthday" to her, including Dad! Mom said he had already sung to her that morning, with her coaching him! It's amazing, but he can sing the words better than speaking them! It's because he uses a different part of his brain for that! It's not perfect by any means, but you can tell what he's singing! He can do it if someone else sings it with him! It's very special to be the one being sung to!!!

Mom was delighted to have some of us there! She kept saying over and over that she just couldn't believe that she was 85 years old! I just pray I'm in her great shape when I'm 85!!! As I have said before many times, she is an amazing Godly woman! Here's what Proverbs has to say about a good woman like our Mom...

• A good woman is proud. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs.

• A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.

• A good woman has a dash of inspiration and a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will at times have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them.

• A good woman knows her past, understands her present and forces toward the future.

• A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played with.

• A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons meant to bring her closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love.

~~ The Christian Bible Book of Proverbs

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Give a man a fish...

I am so pleased to post today! I received an email from our family's friend, Leslie Stephens, who took Dad fishing last weekend! They went to a tank near Marble Falls, fished for a while. Not to put down Leslie's fishing skills, but Dad caught a fish, Leslie didn't!!! Herbert Hoover said, "Fishing is a... discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish." Couldn't have said it better myself!! The really cool part is that Dad did the casting and reeling all by himself! He has a special fishing contraption! How cool is that?! It was suc a good outing for Dad I'm sure they had lots of laughs and that Dad loved getting out of the house! Mom wouldn't say so, but she probably enjoyed the time to herself!

Our family is gearing up for Easter. We will be spending the day together at Glenda's house. We are all thrilled because this year Neely and our twins, Livi and Madi, will be joining us! Most of the family have not seen the girls since they were barely crawling! They can now recite and recognize their ABC's without hesitation, count endlessly and tell you anything you'd like to know, like that they take ace-to-men-o-phine and speak so grammatically correct that it is a riot just to listen to them! They say very big-girlish, "Thank you Grandma for the drink of water!" They annunciate every consonant and vowel emphatically! That's what happens when the mommy was a teacher!!! Ollie and I are so anxious to share them with everyone! OUr day will be full of entertainment with them, Mia, and the rest of the kids, big and small!! Austin will be with his Daddy for this holiday, so he will be sorely missed. But, he is blessed to have a Daddy that loves him and wants to be with him as much as Robert does!

Mom and Dad have been suffering horribly with allergies this Spring. Mom's seems to have developed into a sinus infection, but she is taking good care to stay as healthy as possible, Jean and Jennifer are going out to see them tomorrow.

Ollie and I, Jean and Jimmie and Mom and Dad will all be together Thursday evening for the wedding of one of the Grohman clan. Michael, son of Archie and Mary Ann, is getting married in Kyle. Mom loves the opportunity to go to family events, especially when some of her kids are going! I love those good ol' country weddings with dinner and dancing with the cousins!!! I told Ollie that he didn't have to go, but that there would be dancing involved! He said that sounded like an ultimatum to him!!! He knows I love to dance with my cousins and that I would, even if he weren't there!!!

I pray that each of you and your loved ones have a glorious Easter!

Easter Prayer
Glory and praise to You, Risen Savior,
for You bring light to our darkness, joy to our sorrow,
and the fullness of love to our reluctant hearts.
Once and for all You have conquered sin and evil.
In the glory of Your Resurrection we have been
set free from all that keeps us
from following You.
On this Easter Day,
fill our hearts with Your Light and Grace
that we might joyfully echo the words of
Your Holy Angels:
He is not here in the tomb:
He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen

Surprise!

I paid a surprise visit to Mom and Dad Monday! I accompanied my grandson Austin's class on a field trip to the Berry Farm just outside Marble Falls. Since I was in my own vehicle, I just couldn't be that close and not go see Mom and Dad! I called Mom and said, "Guess where I am?!" She, of course, had no idea! So when I told her I was in Marble Falls, she was thrilled! She asked me to pick up a gallon of milk and come on over! So, I did!

When I got there Dad was asleep in the recliner in the bedroom. Dad hasn't been feeling well the last few days. The wind has stirred up all the pollens and his allergies had kicked into full gear. Mom was treating him with antihistamines (with the pharmacist's guidance) and he seemed to be feeling somewhat better when I was there. Mom made a nice pot of home-made soup that tasted so good to Dad. After lunch Dad and I went outside for just a few minutes to check on Juaquin who was spraying the bull-nettle out on their property. Once we got back to the house he settled down into his living room chair with a big, "Ahhhh!" I helped Mom check her emails and, before we knew it, it was 3:30 and time for their favorite TV program, "The Virginian." I love that they watch it because it gives Mom a reason to relax in her recliner too! We all got comfy and watched the show. When it was over I headed home.

My best friend from my high school days, Kim Wagner, and I are going out to see Mom and Dad again tomorrow! Kim is a wonderful cook and is making lunch for us to take! Mom and Dad LOVE her home-cooked meals and LOVE to see Kim! She's been a part of our family since she and I were juniors in high school! It's amazing to think that was 40 years ago!!! Yikes!!! When Kim and I meet from time to time for lunch, her daughter calls it our "marathon lunch!" We talk for a solid 4 hours and still have things left to say!!! I guarantee you that there won't hardly be a pause in conversation on our trip tomorrow!!! She and I have been through so many experiences of life together! I don't know what I would have done without her as my sister/friend! I am thanking God for her right now!

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away." ~Dinah Craik

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~Marcel Proust

Thank you Lord for the precious gift of friends! Amen!

Thank you!

Leo Tolstoy said, "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." I thank all of you for being patient with me in the time lapse since my last posting. Ollie and I are finally home from our 13 days in Warrenton, and are getting our "routine" back on track! We praise God for a successful sale and are very happy to be back home, especially to our own bed!!!

Mom and Dad drove to Danny and Lisa's in Lexington last Wednesday, spent the night and came to Warrenton on Thursday! They wanted to see where our booths were and see what we do! It was such a honor to have them there and to introduce them to our friends who have booths around us! Mom and I walked around Cole's, the building we are in, for a little while and looked at the antiques and such while Dad stayed in Ollie's booth. He seemed to enjoy Ollie showing him the Republic of Texas documents and rare books that he sells. They didn't stay long and then headed to Giddings to visit Lilly Doyle. As you all probably know, Lilly lost Herschel about 3 months ago. Mom said that Lilly is doing okay but misses Herschel terribly. Please keep her in your prayers. Mom and Dad spent Thursday night with Danny and Lisa and went back home on Friday. Danny said he tried to get Dad to go outside with him and take a ride around their property, but Dad just wanted to stay inside in the recliner. Traveling really tires him.

We got home from Warrenton Sunday evening. That old saying is so right, "There's no place like home!" Monday we drove to Mom and Dad's to store a couple of pieces of furniture in one of their garages and to return the flatbed trailer. We took lunch to them and didn't stay long. Dad wasn't feeling well and wanted to sleep most of the time we were there. He perked up a little when we told him a couple of funny things that happened at our show, but, for the most part, he was very quiet.

I spent some time on the phone with Mom this morning about increasing the number of days that Jerry comes to help her and hiring a housekeeper to come once a week. She agreed that both were necessary and was supposed to call and make arrangements before Dad got up. A friend at their Church really like his housekeeper, so she was going to call her. The hardest job in the world is being a care-taker. Mom tirelessly and lovingly cares for Dad and never complains. It is said that you can complain about the roses having thorns, or you can rejoice because the thorns have roses...Mom rejoices because she has Daddy with her!

I will be back on track now with visiting Mom and Dad weekly. So, hopefully you will hear from me more often! I leave you today with requests for prayer for Mom and Dad, Lilly, Aunt Dorene, Aunt Mary. cousin Amanda and her daughter Tessa and all our loved ones, family members and friends who are in need.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.