AUNT LAVERN

Several weeks ago my mom called to say my Aunt Lavern had been taken to the hospital. She had been having some kind of heart issue and her blood pressure was dipping dangerously low. In all the testing, a spot was discovered in her lungs. The doctor said they would continue to test, but seemed cautiously convinced it was cancer. Testing proved what we all feared. It was lung cancer. My aunt chose not to have any kind of treatment {she was a nurse and knew first hand what treatment, and lack there of, would entail}. Her daughter moved her in with her, and many of her siblings were able to see her. On Monday, I was informed she was back in the hospital and would be having a bone scan. It was thought the cancer was in her entire body and having a scan would help in focusing on pain management for my aunt. She was dying. The goal was to keep her as comfortable as possible. We didn't know how long she had or how bad it really was. It was all happening so fast. Last night, as I walked in the door from a whirlwind day of meetings, homework, ballet practice, housework, PTA responsibilities, cooking, etc...etc..., the phone was ringing. It was mom saying my aunt had died. The inevitable had happened. So much sooner than we all had selfishly hoped. I am grateful she did not suffer through a long drawn out ordeal. That she spent those last days with her children and her little brothers and sisters. That she was surrounded by love.

My memories of my aunt have been flooding my mind. She loved to play poker. And she would sit quietly, playing for hours, making bets that was just giving her money away. She loved getting together with family. She was great with children. She was gentle, quiet, laid back, calm, and kind. She always smiled, was patient {she would let me "perform" my "concerts" as a kid as many times as I wanted}, and made the world's best peanut brittle. I love my Aunt Lavern. And as grateful as I am for her quick passing, I am so deeply saddened. I will miss her so very much. She was a wonderful part of my life for 36 years and I thank my Lord above for her. I thank Him for blessing our family with Aunt Lavern.

Friday Funnies

B. and I were driving home from school listening to Acapella's "Roll the stone away" on the tape player {yes, I said tapeplayer, they didn't put Cd players in cars when ours was made 13+ years ago}. From the back seat I hear my sweet daughters high pitched, off~key voice singing, "roll the cr** away, roll the cr** away, Lord God all nighty gonna roll the cr** away"...

Most of us, when trying to get someones attention, will say their name..."George". They may say back, to show they know who they are talking to, "Bob". Here is B.'s version of that. B. "Daddy", The President "B.", B. "What?"

B. asked me to babysit her dolly while she was in school...here are her instructions. "You can just leave her here in the car. She likes that. You don't have to change her diaper. Even if she gets smelly. I'll do it when I get home. I don't want to pay you for changing her. Don't let her get out of the car to watch TV. Don't forget to bring her when you come to pick me up, I know she'll be stinky by then". Poor baby!

This video is from a christian comedian, who I think is hilarious. For my 1.2 male readers, this video is for you. {and ladies, you'll get a big kick too}

Happy Friday!!

That Day...

I have never been a real political gal. I have never really believed much of what comes out of politicians mouths. I vote on specific moral issues, and have never enjoyed the banter of policy talk and heated debates and smear campaigns. But, as I sat in my bedroom, putting on my makeup for work...I was forever changed. I watched in disbelief as something hit one of the world trade centers. I had been up early that day as I was nauseous {I was pregnant...we just had no clue yet} and decided to watch a morning news program {something I NEVER did}, and there it was. This almost incomprehensible tragedy. My eyes welled up, my heart broke, and I felt a fear, and sadness, and anger I had never felt before and pray I never feel again. That day has had an immeasurable impact. Even for those of us who do not live in New York, or know anyone who was on one of the planes, or in one of the towers. It has defined a presidency, sent brave men and women {like my step-son}into a foreign tumultuous land, brought a nation together in mourning and renewed patriotism, produced a baby~boom, caused people to take stock of their lives, made us appreciate "the small things" more, and sent people on a path to find God. Time has faded these things, I am afraid. Our resiliency as a nation has led some to forget {and excuse} the horrors of that day. My prayer is that God bless the USA. That He will spur voters into poll booths, that He will guide candidates as they campaign, that He will only allow the best man for our country to become president, and bless that man with wisdom in all those areas I never cared about 7 years ago. I pray that we, as Americans, will remember the lives lost, both on that day and on the battle fields. That we will remember the lessons learned on September 11. That we will praise Him for the wonderful country He has blessed us with.

Is this you?

Oh how I have admired people who have a strong prayer life. How I listen intently to them talk about the power of prayer in their lives. How I spend hours thinking of ways to immulate that in my own life. Ways to be a "prayer warrior", ways to "give it all to God", ways to lock myself in my closet and come into the presence of God almighty for a deeply profound time of thanksgiving and reflection. Somehow, my prayer life often goes more like this....





What about you?

I still got it!

While having my weekly Wednesday lunch with B., a little boy sat down on the other side of the table. He was rambling on and on {and on and on and on and on}, but stopped for a second and with a shy grin on his 6 year old face he says "If you get any prettier, I'll have to stick my head through the window". Now, I don't want to be responsible for hurting the poor kid. Guess I'll play up the housewife frump next week;)

My Birthday

Day spent frantically cleaning: 57 achy muscles
Dinner at The President's favorite restaurant: free
Holding my adorable nephew: 22 slobber~drenched kisses
Brunch at my favorite restaurant: $58.00
Watching my nephew learn how to crawl: 9 "look at you go"'s
Having my sister here for a birthday visit: PRICELESS

One of those days....

Ever had one of those days when you should have just stayed in bed? When Newton's law, Murphy's law, and every other law is stacked against you? Sunday was that kind of day {for The President}. Everything was fine until lunch time. A friend was having a birthday party and wanted The President to bring me home some food before the party got started {I was home not feeling well, so The President was on kid party duty-problem 1}. He asked if I wanted some chips and grabbed a bag out of the bin on the pantry floor. A few seconds later, something caught my eye. Tons, and I do mean tons, of ants were crawling all over my counter and bar and sink and dishwasher and it was horrible {problem 2}. He ran to get ant spray from the utility closet, and the shopvac and the mop. We were out of ant spray {frustrating when you need something and your housewife didn't get that stocked for you, huh? problem 3}so he grabbed the wasp spray and used at least half the can on my kitchen countertop. Everything came out of the pantry, chips went into the outside trash, ants were chased down and sprayed to a horrible twitching death. And you know all the scrubbing, vacuuming, and washing that followed. Forty~five minutes later he was back at the ant free party.

On his was home, he decided to get ice cream and called to see what I wanted. I told him a banana split {what? I'd had a trying day, too.}. A few minutes later he walks through the door covered in ice cream, strawberry topping, and whip cream {problem 4}. The holder had collapsed and the melted ice cream went all over him and the car {problem 5}. So, we cleaned & scrubbed on the car and I ran his clothes and the towels we used through the wash. Forty~five minutes later he was falling asleep watching the Olympics.

We needed gas in the car {problem 6 with gas prices:)}, so later we stopped at the QT and decided to get some snacks as we were having family movie night and you need snacks while watching The Princess Bride. The President got himself a big ol' sprite. When we were getting settled in for the movie, B. was trying to get her daddy's attention and as he turned to look at her {you can see it coming, can't you} his arm brushed that big ol' sprite and sent it flying {problem 7}. Forty~five minutes, 8 towels, a swept and mopped floor, a washed couch, and another load of laundry later~The President called it a night. Good idea.