Laughter in their eyes!

Ollie and I went out to dinner last night with Mom and Dad at Russo's, or, as they call it, "up on the hill!" Mom was her usual perky, beautiful self! Dad was all smiles too and was sitting in his wheelchair waiting in the doorway when we drove up! He was ready to go!!! We walked up, said our hellos and went right to the car!!!

Dad is getting around with his walker very well! He seems very balanced and strong! He and Mom are amazing in their ability to communicate and in their expressions of love to each other!

Ollie and I will be away from March 20 through April 3rd for our big antiques sale in Warrenton. If you get a chance, come see us! We are in a building called Cole's in Warrenton. All the aisles in Cole's are named and we are on "Waco Dr." The parking and admittance there are free!

Please remember to keep Mom and Dad, Aunt Dorene McNair and Amanda Polasek Lumpkin and all our huge family of loved ones in your prayers!!!

Blessed are You, loving Father,

For all Your gifts to us.

Blessed are You fro giving us family and friends

To be with us in times of joy and sorrow.

To help us in days of need,

And to rejoice with us in times of celebration.

Father, we praise You for Your Son Jesus,

Who knew the happiness of family and friends.

And in the love of Your Holy Spirit.

Blessed are You forever and ever.

Amen.

I'll be back to blogging after April 3rd! Love to all!

El Paso City, by the Rio Grande...

Ollie and I attended and participated as vendors at the Texas State History Association's annual meeting in El Paso this past week. It was a very nostalgic trip for me, more nostalgic that I thought it was going to be. I was unprepared for my emotions when we approached El Paso and on I-10 and saw the Juarez mountains in the distance. The sight of them, unexpectedly, caused me to get all choked up, and I remained that way most of the 4 days we were there!

When I was born in Austin in 1955, Dad was struggling to make ends meet to provide for his then family of 3 little girls. I was born in June and we moved to El Paso when I was about a month old so that Dad could go to work for Grandpa Smith. We lived there until I was 5, moved and lived in Mission Texas for about 3 months, then moved back to Austin to our house on Mullen Drive, just in time for me to start the first grade at the age of 6.

We lived in the eastern part of El Paso on Mt. Rushmore St. and Grandma Fairy and Grandpa Smith lived on McKinley Ave. I set out one morning with my GPS and found both houses! It took me a bit to find Grandpa and Grandma's house because I didn't know the exact address. I drove down the street once and couldn't find it. After conferring with Jean and Sue (who, to my advantage, happened to be together going to visit Aunt Dorene in rehab), I got my bearings and found it! I had no idea, again, that I had so much nostalgia tied up in that house! A lot about it had changed, but it was their house nonetheless. As soon as I spotted it, I started crying! Once I got gathered my composure, I got out and stood looking at the house. Many memories came back of playing out in the yard and on the rock walls. The front yard was 100% dirt - not one blade of grass. The tall slender cedars that stood on either side of the house were gone. The front porch was encased in security bars and mesh. But, I stood on the sidewalk and allowed my memories to take me back to the way it looked when Grandpa and Grandma Smith lived there and I held those memories in my heart. "In childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking out. In memories of childhood, we press our nose to the pane, looking in."

One of the things I wanted to see most was the mail slot. As a child, I thought it was so cool that there was a mail slot built into the wall to the right of the front door. There was a metal door on the outside with a flap that read "MAIL." On the inside of the house there was a cute little door with an arched top that opened to a little cubby for the mail! We kids would write little notes and slip them in the mail slot so that we could retrieve them from the little cubby! I was able to take a picture of the mail slot from the outside, but, sadly, I could not go inside the house to get one of the little arched door to the cubby. I knocked on the door with hopes of getting to go inside the house, but no one was home. I could see through the screen door though. The french doors in the dining room that used to lead to steps down to the back yard were there, but a huge addition to the back of the house is under construction, so the back of the house and the back yard were totally different. The fireplace on the right wall of the living room was still intact. I walked around the corner of the block and took some pictures of the alleyway behind the house. As kids, alleys were something foreign to us and we ventured out there often.

There used to be rock walls that lined the boundaries of each yard on that part of the block. We visited Grandma and Grandpa every Easter after we had moved back to Austin. While visiting, those fences were a fascination to us kids! Glenda, Danny and I would walk the fences like tightrope walkers or ride them like they were our horses. Many, many hours of fun and imagination were spent on those rock walls! In our neighborhood on Mt Rushmore, we would even could use the rock wall fences as walkways to our friends' houses! Well, there were no longer walls in the front of the house and the walls along the side of the house had been torn down for the construction of the addition to the back of the house. The driveway was totally paved, there were sidewalks down the length of the block and there was concrete between the sidewalk and the curb. So, all in all, much of the personality of the house had been altered, but I held onto my memories and tried not to allow that to disappoint me.

I spoke to a next-door neighbor and was told that the house had been owned by a couple who grew old there, died and left the house to a granddaughter and her family. The only person in the neighborhood who would have remembered Grandpa and Grandma Smith was a 92 year old woman who lived across the street and down a couple of houses. Ironically she passed away that same morning that I was there! I would have loved to have visited with her!

The Smith house was made of flat rusty-colored rock. Amongst the rock in the exterior of the fireplace was a perfect cross! I did not remember that being there! When I saw it, I said a prayer and thanked God for childhood memories and for that reminder of His presence! I loved taking that vision home with me.

I left McKinley Avenue and drove to Mt Rushmore Street to see the house our family live in. The neighborhood had drastically changed. Most of the houses were in sad need of repair, there were broken-down cars in the driveways, carports used for storage, no grass in the yards...not a very pretty picture. Our house had security bars and screens locking away the front porch and distorting the view of the big picture-window in the living room, and the carport had been enclosed. I didn't have nearly the same emotion tied to this house as I did Grandma and Grandpa's. I remembered so many things about this house and so many things that happened there, but I didn't feel as emotionally attached to this house as I was to Grandma and Grandpa's. I did go to the door to the porch and spoke through the screen to the elderly woman who now lived there. She was unwelcoming, so I did not linger. I drove a short distance to the Church we attended, Blessed Sacrament, and took pictures for Jean and Glenda. They attended school there and Glenda received her First Communion in that Church.

Ollie and I had a fantastic time in El Paso and I felt very fortunate and blessed to have been able to take a little trip down memory lane! Thank you for letting me share it with you!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again..." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Doin' Great!

It was a glorious Sunday! Ollie and I drove to Marble Falls and met Mom and Dad after Church at the River City Grill for lunch. We are borrowing their Suburban for a trip we are taking to El Paso to participate in the Texas State History Association's Annual Meeting. We are going to be vendors with books and documents as well as attend some of the meetings and the auction which will be at the banquet. The Suburban works great for that kind of trip because Ollie's boxes of books fit in the back, along with our luggage. Otherwise, we would have to tow a trailer. We certainly appreciate Mom and Dad lending us their wonderful vehicle! I intend on going to the antique malls and stores in El Paso and may drive to Las Cruces NM, which is about 40 minutes from El Paso, and check out the antique shopping there! I also found out that there is a great outlet mall down there! Poor Ollie will have to do all the work while I play!!! Luckily, he loves his work!!!

Mom and Dad were great! We were seated for lunch and I told Mom that she looked beautiful! Her hair and make-up were so pretty and she just seemed to glow! While I was complimenting her, Daddy, with a huge grin on his face and nodding "yes", pointed to me and then pointed to Mom in total agreement! She said that a couple of the younger women at Church had also commented on h ow pretty she looked! I think she is perfectly find with the way their life is going. "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." How could Dad or his children have been any more blessed?! I keep saying it, but Mom is an amazing woman! She will be 85 years "old" on May 3rd, and she runs around like someone half that age! And, she always has that beautiful smile and positive attitude! What an inspiration!

Dad looked perfectly healthy and happy! He has regained his appetite and seems to have a good bit of energy and strength. Mom takes such great care of him!

By the grace of God, Mom and Dad will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on May 5th! Again, they are an inspiration to all of us!!!

I found this quote while surfing the Internet that made me think of my relationship with my husband Ollie. It was said by an 8 year old boy who was being asked about the nature of love. "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too!" We all must have our priorities and keep them straight!!!

Ollie and I will be away until March 7th, so I will miss blogging with you for a while! Meanwhile, please keep Mom and Dad in your prayers and go see them if you can!

Hello All!

Glenda, Austin and I went to Mom and Dad's Thursday. Jean had been on Wednesday and Danny went on Tuesday! Needless to say, Mom and Dad were very happy!

Danny went out there early Tuesday afternoon. He visited with both Mom and Dad and then took Daddy out to the deer camp with him. That night was the guys' monthly steak dinner and poker game! Ollie is in charge of the seasoning and grilling and Dad used to say that it was the best steak he ever ate! He will rarely turn down an opportunity to have one! The guys try to get Dad to go every month. Some months he feels like going and some he doesn't. It really seems to perk him up when he does go. Ollie said that Dad had a lot of fun during the poker game. Of course, all the guys give each other a very hard time and Dad gets a kick out of that! He laughed a lot and had a great night. Danny took him home when he was ready. It's great that they can work that out so Dad can go. Leslie Stephens, our great friend, usually takes Dad and has steak and plays poker with them. However, Leslie's daughter is on her high school basketball team and they play on Tuesday nights. I'm sure Leslie will go back out there as soon as basketball season is over!

Glenda had brought lots of great food (from Whole Foods Market, of course) so we had a wonderful lunch. It was a gorgeous afternoon and Austin persuaded his Papaw to take him for a ride on his scooter after we ate! They loaded up, both grinning from ear to ear, and drove over to the shop to see what was going on over there. Dad and Leslie's employee, Juaquin, was cleaning up the lawn mowers and sharpening the blades in preparation for Spring. It was good for Dad to get out and Austin loves spending time with his Papaw!

Later, Dad was sitting napping in his chair. Austin noticed that he had woken and went over to him, very lovingly rubbed him on the shoulder and then took his hand and then rubbed him on his cheek. It was a precious moment between the two of them. I wish you could have witnessed that expression of love. It was 100% unconditional love from a child. I must admit that I had to leave the room and shed a few tears. "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:10

While we were at Mom and Dad's the nun from their Church, Sister Claudia, came to visit. She is very down-to-earth, upbeat and happy...good for the spirit! She visits often and keeps Mom and Dad updated on news of their co-parishioners. Mom and Dad are attending Mass on Sundays but Sister always knows what's going on with the members of the Church. I don't mean to sound like she comes with gossip. She just mentions those who are ill, in the hospital, etc. She also brings Mom and Dad communion. Their Church Deacon, Pat, also comes weekly to bring communion. They greatly appreciate those and all their visitors!

I will be so happy to see Spring arrive so Mom and Dad can have more outdoor activities! We have a few outings in mind. Glenda recently asked Daddy if he would like to ride a horse! He laughed as if he thought she was kidding. When he realized that she was serious, he said yes, that he would like that. I am in contact with a facility in Georgetown whose business is therapeutic horseback riding. I have to go visit it because it is geared towards handicapped children, but they do have saddles for handicapped adults. I had great conversation with one of the ladies there and she said that they would absolutely be able to accommodate Dad, but they have a waiting list. Dad is currently on their list, but I want to go check it out and have further conversation about how they would treat Dad. For instance, we wouldn't want someone leading him around, but we would want someone walking by him in case he needed assistance. So, I need to find out their parameters.

I have just found out that Dad's sister, Dorene, fell yesterday and fractured her hip. She is in the Georgetown Hospital and is scheduled for surgery either today or tomorrow. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

I am constantly reminded to be thankful for my blessings. I recently found this to share with you...

BE THANKFUL...

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have NEVER experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful...you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder...you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we are.

- Author Unknown

Amen!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Whoa! How can it be that I haven't posted anything since January 26th?! My how time does fly! There hasn't been much action at Mom and Dad's house! The cold weather has kept them in, but has not dampened their spirits! Mom bundles up every morning, despite the weather, and walks down to the road to retrieve the newspaper! She really enjoys that! On the morning that the temperature was 13 degrees, she said her face got cold, but that was all because she wore plenty of layers! Isn't she amazing?! YES, in many more ways than that!!!

Dad is doing great. He and Mom are staying happy and warm in the house. They have a great routine in their day, one that works perfectly for them. Mom seems very unstressed these days since she has worked out a schedule with Jerry, the male caregiver, coming a couple of times a week for a couple of hours. He does anything Mom asks him to, a little housekeeping, washing dishes, changing light bulbs, staying with Dad while she goes to Wal-Mart or the grocery store, etc. She is so much more comfortable asking Jerry to do those things than family or friends. I think she hates to inconvenience any of us and there's a bit of pride involved also! But, like I said, it works for her and Dad, and that's what's most important!

Sadly, I have not been to their house in two weeks. It makes me so sad when my work or something in my schedule interferes with going to see them, but they are so supportive and make me feel okay about it! I won't let anything stand in the way of seeing them this week.

Being that today is Valentine's Day, I think so strongly about how Mom and Dad's love started this incredible web of family and taught all each of us about true love. I recently read that, "Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." ~

Robert Heinlein ~ That quote seems to fit Mom and Dad perfectly. Often Dad will stop Mom as she walks by, take her hand and look into her eyes. Their eyes twinkle spontaneously and they have this moment that expresses true, unconditional love. They smile at each other, share a teenager-like giggle, as if they are sharing this secret that they're not going to tell, and then give each other a sweet little kiss to seal their lips! It's precious! We could only be so blessed to have a love like theirs! It's a fine God-given example for us to follow!

"We learn to love not by finding a "perfect" person, but by loving an "imperfect" person perfectly." And, the perfect example of this is God's love for each of us! "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." ~ 1 John 3:11

Amen!

Good Day!

I headed to Mom and Dad's this morning and arrived about 10:30. Mom had already been down to the road to get the newspaper, come back to the house, gotten Dad up and was in the process of getting him dressed when I got there. I took Dad's new favorite dish. tortilla crusted tilapia! It's so easy, just pop it in the oven for 7-12 minutes! I made baked potatoes and green beans and the meal was ready when Dad came down the hall! Dad doesn't seem to mind skipping breakfast and going right to lunch! He took one bite of the fish, pointed to it and said, "Ummmm!" He sure knows how to make me feel appreciated!

For years, it has been my job to do Dad's manicure! Nothing fancy, just clipping and filing his fingernails! Immediately after cleaning off the table, I set up the stuff and did my duty! I almost got fired for hitting a tender spot in attempting to go after a cuticle!

Mom washed her hair and I was tickled to help her roll it! She can do it herself, but sometimes it makes her hands cramp. She said that , since she has been sleeping in the wrist brace we gave her, that hasn't been happening! Hooray!

A friend, Pat, a dean from Mom and Dad's church, came to the house around 2:15 and brought them communion. That is so very kind of Pat and it is very important to Mom and Dad, even though they have been able to go to church on Sundays for a while now. After Pat left, the three of us found a comfy spot and had about an hour's nap! By then it was 4:00 and Dad was pushing Mom to go get ready for their dinner date!

Dad and Mom had dinner plans tonight with dear friends, Debbie and Bobby Sonnen. They were meeting at Russo's, a very nice restaurant "on the hill" on the south side of the bridge going in to Marble Falls. Mom asked Bobby if anyone else was going to be there and he said possibly a few others. Knowing Bobby, there is no telling how many folks were there to greet and entertain Mom and Dad! I can't wait to call her tomorrow and find out. That bunch of friends can get a little loud and crazy! Just what Mom and Dad needed to perk up their week! Mom and Dad adore them and it's mutual! They were both looking so forward to it!

God-willing, I will be back to Mom and Dad's next week and bring you more news! Until then, God's blessings! Love, Sandi

Hello to all of you!

I went to Mom and Dad's Thursday and, as planned, my housekeeper/friend, Dora, went with me! After introducing her to Mom and Dad she immediately went to work. Dora had to be back in Austin by 3:30 to pick up her kids, which was perfect. It gave us a time goal to work around.

Mom's favorite restaurant is Rosie's Tamale House on Highway 71, just west of Austin in Bee Cave. She doesn't get to go there often, so we decided to go there for lunch since we had plenty of time! They eat out in Marble Falls often, so Rosie's was a welcomed change! Our plan worked great! I called Glenda and asked if she wanted to meet us there. I didn't tell Mom and Dad until the last minute and they were pleasantly surprised! The four of us took our time and thoroughly enjoyed our Mexican-Food lunch! Mom and Dad's favorite thing to order is called "Willie's Plate." On the way there Mom was so excited about getting to eat there that said she thought she could eat two Willie's Plates!!! I often contemplate how much of our lives and our lives' pleasure is centered around food! However, cooking is such a stress/chore for Mom. This was really a treat for her!

While we were eating, old friends of Mom and Dad's had been dining there also and didn't see them until they were leaving! Delbert McKinney used to rope with Dad. It had been over two years since they had seen each other. In fact, he and his wife Ellen didn't know about Dad's stroke. Delbert and Dad used to rope together when Dad was team roping. Delbert was a header and Dad was a healer, so they partnered up at local ropings. Delbert reminded all of us that he was Dad's header at the roping where Dad won his big fancy saddle that hangs in his office! After spending a few minutes catching up with each other they left with promises to go visit Mom and Dad. I sincerely hope they do soon because even that short visit seemed to perk up both Mom and Dad!

We got back to the house about 2:15. Perfect timing...Dora had just finished up, so we grabbed our things, said our goodbyes and headed back to Austin. If you have been to Mom's house, then you know that her house is never very unkempt or dirty. Dora told me that, now that she had seen how clean Mom kept her house, the next time she cleaned it the cost would be much less because it wasn't very dirty! Now, if a housekeeper tells you that, that's pretty good!!! Mom enjoyed the fact that Dora vacuumed the window blinds, cleaned all the light fixtures, swept the corners and ceilings for hidden cobwebs and did extra things that Mom just doesn't have time to do! That was exactly what I hope she would do! Of course, Mom is VERY particular and was able to find a couple of things that didn't meet her approval, but they are very fixable, so I hope she will let Dora come once a month or so! It was huge progress that she agreed to a housekeeper even once!!! Thank you God Dora helping Mother!

Danny had spent time at Mom and Dad's last week. Dad was exercising his legs at the bar on the wall and Danny asked Dad if he could walk without holding on. Dad gave Danny a quizzical look and tried! Low and behold, he could! He was a little unsteady at first, but he did walk a short distance without assistance! Even Mom was amazed! We are never going to give up encouraging Dad to make personal progress! Dad's walking unassisted was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless! All through the power of God!

Jean visited Mom and Dad on Monday and went with them to Dad's doctor's follow-up appointment with the urologist. An extra pair of ears and the ability to ask our own questions is good! Glenda visited Mom and Dad on Saturday and encouraged Dad to go outside for a walk in the sunshine! She asked Dad if he would like to try to ride a horse and his reply was a loud laugh! She made sure he knew she was serious and he said that he would like to try! I am researching facilities in their area that have the capability and equipment to handle handicapped riders. There were two places that offered horseback riding and lessons for adults. I have emailed both of them to see if they can accommodate a handicapped adult. Horseback riding can be VERY therapeutic for the handicapped! If you haven't read about it, you should look it up on the Internet. It is very beneficial for physically and mentally handicapped children and adults!

So far we think it would be better to take Dad to a facility rather than have a horse at their place. It would be an added stress for someone to have to tend to it. One step at a time! Believe it or not, Dad has always wanted a mule! Yep, a mule! If horseback riding works for him, I would someday LOVE for us to surprise him with a mule!!! How I would love to see the look on his face to see a mule tethered to their fence! That's a wild idea, I know, but fun to think about! Anyway, if any of you know about handicapped horseback riding facilities in the hill country, please let me know!

Please keep in mind that Mom and Dad are always welcome visitors! You don't have to stay long, just go whenever you can! I think early afternoons are the best time to go. Call Mom (830/693-3957) to be sure they don't have a doctor's appointment or other commitment!

Thank you for reading and I'll leave you with this thought...

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

Author Unknown