A Bird in My Hair

So here's a funny story... maybe not all that funny, but it's a story.

We were at Walmart purchasing 20 bags of mulch for our yard. Mike was in the store getting some other items while the Walmart employee was inside loading up the bags to bring them out to our vehicle. I had opened a back side door of Mike's SUV to lay the back seats down. I was bent forward and my hair was kind of blowing around my face when I felt fluttering around my face, shoulder and hair. I shrieked (don't judge...you would have, too!) and swiped at it before I realized it was a little bird! I got still, not wanting to hurt it and it hopped across to the door on the other side. It looked like it needed a rest so I took my phone out to get a photo. I should not have done that, I suppose, but I was thinking like a blogger. Sorry, little bird.

I moved to go around to open up that door but he tried flying out a closed window and crashed. He was embarrassed about that so as I opened up ALL the doors, he hopped down and hid under the driver's seat for awhile. By then, the Walmart lady was loading up the back end. I explained what was going on but she just kept loading. Well, she had a job to do.

Finally, I kind of pounded on the seat (again, sorry, little bird) until he decided it was time to escape.

That's it. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

My New Favorite Photo

New Friends

Sam's girlfriend, Alaysha, was at our house last night. Today was the first day Cordelia ever met Alaysha.  I guess you could say that Cordelia knows how to quickly make friends. Yes, it is a bit intense, but sweet.

Mike as a Chicago Cubs Fan - NOT!

We are currently in the middle of a big fundraiser for True Care. Many of us have been going to various churches around our community as we encourage others to become sponsored walkers for our Who is a Person Walk? 

Our friend, Laura, had a wonderful idea to get people at our church excited about this walk. She proposed that if we got 8 sponsored walkers, Mike would wear a Cubs Hat. As you know, Mike has been a St. Louis Cardinal Fan most of his life. It was a stroke of genius, really. We had 3 volunteer walkers from our church last year and this year we have.... hmmmm.....I'm not sure how many at last count, but MORE than 8! Yes, Mike, you are going to have to wear a Cubs hat for the entire fundraising event!

You may not all know this but the Cubs and Cardinals have had a lively rivalry for pretty much ever.  Therefore, Mike has been the opposite of a Cubs Fan for pretty much ever. Just so you know, as I was setting up this photo, Mike said, "Don't take a picture of that hat!", then, he suggested I take a photo of it in the garbage.

Boo! That sounds like poor sportsmanship to me. He then was trying to figure out a way to wear it at the same time he wore his Cardinals hat. NOPE. That is not going to happen! He's got to do this right!

It did seem kind of a shame to pay for a Cubs hat, knowing that he'd only wear it for that walk, not a second longer. Last night I was looking at it and realized it was a Youth size! Aargh! So guess what!? I ordered another. Now I've purchased 2 cubs hats!

Oh well. It is worth it for this event.

The Plant That Keeps on Giving

About 20 some years ago I received a slip from my Grandma Rose's dieffenbachia plant. Grandma Rose had a wonderfully green thumb and her house had lots and lots of plants in it. The dieffenbachia seemed like the queen of them all. She'd grow to the ceiling and Grandma would cut off pieces and give them away. That plant grew an inch or two a day...or something like that.

When we moved from Montana to Southern New Mexico in 1995, we knew we were in for a cozy drive. We had a Ford Taurus packed with 2 adults, an almost 10 year old boy, a just-turned 14 year old girl and a 21 month old Sam. Throw in 2 frightened cats, no, make that 1 frightened cat and 1 psycho cat. Did you know it is hard to walk cats to go potty when you are on a trip? So, in our trunk we had to make room for a litter box. I have no idea how we brought any clothing along but I'm sure we did.

So.

I think you can understand why I had to give my dieffenbachia away. There was no place to set it in our car! I gave it to a good home, though. I gave it to my friend, Joey. I knew she would nurture  it.

Fast forward about 9 years. We moved back North, this time to Wyoming. Within that first year here, Joey came to Wyoming with a present for me... a cut from Grandma Rose's plant! I had not thought of it in some time but Joey remembered that it was from Grandma so she made a point of returning some of it to me.

This morning I was looking at the latest slip I cut from that plant. It is in water near a kitchen window and the morning light on it made me happy. It gave me happiness to think of this connection to Grandma Rose. It also gave me joy to have had a friend like Joey who knew how much I'd appreciate this returned gift.

What's UP With Eric's Hair?

Mike & I were not prepared for trampoline season.  We hadn't even set up the safety net before the fun began. Just so you know, no one fell off and Eric supervised the raising of the safety net soon after these photos were taken.

I'm not so great at photographing action shots but I enjoyed these anyway.
The hair is especially entertaining. I'm setting it up so that if you scroll down fast,
 maybe you will get the feeling you've been on a trampoline as well!

Enjoy.... but don't get dizzy!

Now, just in case you missed it, go to Maria's blog to see the best photograph of that evening.

Anticipation!

When this gate goes up at 

the top of our stairs, 

the stairs going down to the front door,

Bode knows what is coming!

The girls are coming!

He loves our little granddaughters but it is

the four-legged girls he is crazy for.

The gate goes there because he is SO crazy, he

will bulldoze through the people to get to them,

even those cute little people.

Sometimes the waiting is so hard.

Then, it's time for a fun evening!

Once everyone is here, he runs and jumps for awhile

but he does finally relax.

We all relax.

Every little detail is perfect.

London Community Gospel Choir: Joyful Joyful

I Like the middle

I am a middle child. I know that I am supposed to whine about that, but I really kind of like that spot. There is something about being in the middle that is comfortable for me. It is like I am protected by a sibling on either side! It's nice.

This post isn't about that kind of middle, though. It is about THIS middle...

Have you seen this show!?  Apparently it has been on for five years, but I only just started watching it. I think I'd seen a second or two of it once but didn't watch long enough to appreciate it. It is really funny! There is something about it that is really kind of familiar. 

I have a favorite character, too. Her name is Sue! Mike thinks she and I are a lot alike. Here's her photo...

She's a a goofy, awkward character and I think Mike refers to a resemblance to tease me.  Little did he know, I'm taking it as a compliment! That actually kind of proves he's right. That Sue would also perceive an insult as a compliment. I like her spirit and her insistence on being joyful and kind. So, thanks, Mike!

I'm thinking this actress must have a blast playing that sweet but silly character. Watch this little clip...

After watching her in several episodes, I decided she was really a very talented actress because I was totally believing in her character. She's a great comedic actress, even at that young age. She is made to look really homely on the show, but you can still tell she's a pretty girl. Tonight I decided to look her up on the internet. I wanted to see what she looked like in real life. Click here to see the transformation.

So, have you all already been watching this show? Are we the last ones to notice it? Who is your favorite character?

Preschool Graduation 2014

Joyful Melancholy

Tonight I ran downstairs on a little errand and I got distracted by a basket of old photographs. I'd pulled the basket out Sunday afternoon, thinking I should go through those old photos and get them sorted. I suppose I'm the only one long on good intentions and short on follow-through?  Anyway...

Like I was saying, tonight I wandered past that basket again. I didn't really go through it but I picked up one little batch of photos to treat myself to a walk down memory lane.  It took me back to when I was working as an oncology nurse. It was a time when I felt close to a lot of patients, knew many of them over an extended period of time. I loved my co-workers and enjoyed my days working with them. I've been gone long enough that I don't very well remember the bad days, mostly just the good.

The photos were taken the day we were having a big whoop-de-do outdoor party honoring our patients.  It had been arranged for a patient to cut my hair off for another donation to Locks of Love. I won't go through that story again now but you can read about it here on Maria's blog.  Her version makes me seem like some kind of hero, so of course I'm hoping you'll read it. I'm not a hero. I do admit to being  a fast hair-grower, though.

Tonight I looked at these photos and I realized I was standing there all alone in the basement, smiling widely with the memory of that day.  I remember the patients there getting chemo asking me about my weird hairstyle that day. I'd put it into a series of ponytails in preparation for the cutting. It was goofy but I felt I had permission to be silly that day. That's actually a pretty good feeling; it makes a person feel kind of free.

When I was called outside for the cutting, I was surrounded by onlookers and even reporters.

What a weird experience that was!.

It wasn't really about me, though.

It was about Sharyn and all the other patients.

I remembered how it felt to see Sharyn getting into the fun.

I'm sure she didn't feel well, but for that moment, I don't think she was thinking about her troubles.

This was my favorite photo, though.

Look at her eyes!

She was working those big chocolate eyes for the cameras!

Then, I thought of Sharyn and all the other patients that also became friends.

I still see many of them when I'm out shopping and such.

In fact, at mall lunch just today I shared a happy hug with a former breast cancer patient.

I'd spent so many hours with her during her chemo days.

I was so happy to see her!

Sunday night, when we were out for Mother's Day, I shared a hug

with the spouse of one of my favorite patients from the past.

I love that feeling, knowing that I was a small part of their family history.

Then, the melancholy...

So many people who are no longer living.

So much sadness.

So many families with holes in their tapestry.

How do people deal with that when they do not believe in a life after this one?

My faith does not stop my grief, but it gives me hope.

And after I wallow in the melancholy,

I come out the other side with

a sense of peace.

I feel gratitude for the relationships I've experienced.

I'm happy for the time with those special people, the patients and my co-workers.

I realize my memories, both joyful and melancholy, are a lasting gift.

Flowers Under Snow

Sunday was a rough day to be a flower or a flowering tree in Wyoming.

 We are trying to be grateful for the moisture.

But really, our first snow was in September.

Will this winter ever end?

Forever Grateful

This photo is nearing two years old, but I love it so much! That is my mother with my granddaughters! She is so beautiful, don't you think?  Well, what you see is just the surface. She is even more beautiful on the inside!

I will forever be grateful that this woman is my mother. She protected my childhood, encouraged my independence, supported my endeavors and always, always, always made me feel loved.

But I am just one person. Mom managed to pour out this unconditional love into all her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. It doesn't matter which she is talking to, but they all know she finds them delightfully special.

This woman taught me to be a mother.  More than that, she taught me to be a woman. By her example I learned a woman can be strong yet compassionate.  I learned a woman can fully support other's interests while still nurturing her own talents. It is also through my mother that I learned of God and the gift of faith offered to me. This is the gift that is the backbone of my life.

I will forever be grateful for the legacy she has passed on to me, the legacy of love, compassion, generosity and most importantly, faith