My Husband

This is him-the person that makes me smile. There are times that I can just think of him and smile. I think that after 30+ years of marriage that it is important that I can say that.

I have never seen him kinder than when I broke and dislocated my ankle. For weeks he took and picked me up from work, helped me take a bath, and made sure that I was taken care of. The first few weeks after surgery he would help me outside so I could take in the flowers. He even moved a huge pot to the back door so that I could see the flowers that were blooming. No one could have taken better care of me.

During my husband's brain surgery and recovery I was concerned that the person that I had married would not return. I don't think any one can be prepared for the difficulties that occur after brain surgery. Everyone recovers differently so there is no manual to prepare you for what will happen. I know that there are times that he has to really fight some of the lasting symptoms but it is important that he tries and will continue to fight.

I love him because he has put up with my family for all these years and he loves them dearly. He is more than willing to do what is necessary for them. I love him because he is a wonderful son to his parents. I love him because he still loves me and I know that he will still be here no matter what.

Liz

Kids

Our

Children

We have now reached the point in our life that we can look back and be thankful that our kids got through childhood relatively unscathed. I don't think it was because I was a great mother-I think that it was because I was a praying mother.

Our son and daughter in law have managed to both get their masters degrees while supporting each other. K started graduate school right before they got married. She worked at a couple of part time jobs while L worked full time. When she finished they packed up and moved to Denver where K worked and L went to school. During all this time they never asked for a single dime from either of their parents. They were responsible and did more with less money than any 2 people I know. Once L finished they packed up and moved to Houston and are now expecting their first child.

Our daughter and son in law are so considerate and kind. Z just finished his masters last week and I was so honored that he would call to tell me so that we could all share in his excitement. B has been at a job for almost 2 years and has proved to be such an asset to the company. She has been given new assignments and just recently been moved to another position that had just been created. I have been so proud of her and she deserves every recognition that she has received. The two of them just bought a house during the summer so it has been a busy year for them. They are so responsible and we are so fortunate that they live close to us.

I am grateful that we have reached this point in our lives that our children have also become our friends. I couldn't love them more.

Liz

Parents

My husband and I are very blessed in that all of our parents are still living and doing very well. I have watched my friends have to deal with the illness and death of their parents and we haven't had to deal with that yet.

My husband's parents divorced when he was young and his father is now 84 years old (and a very spry 84 year old man that still works part time as an electrical contractor). He remarried 40 years ago to a woman that had 3 children and then they had a child. Together they have 6 children. Although there are always problems in blending families I would have to say that they have been successful. Of course there were those difficulties when the children were younger but now that everyone is an adult they can see past those situations and there is no distinction between them-they are brothers and sisters.

My husband's mother has managed to come through some problems only because of my husband. He has always been the one that has taken the responsibility and help her through everything. Although there have been stressful times he has done what he has done out of love. As far as her health she has few problems.

My parents are very self sufficient. My dad (at 76) takes care of cows and all the chores that come with that. He may be a little slower but he is out there every morning and working hard. My mother may be 75 but there are times that she can wear me out. She goes with us on trips and never misses a beat. Through the trials of last year they were there to help us through it.

How thankful we are!

Liz

Thankfulness

Since this is the week of Thanksgiving it is a time that we should all think of things we are grateful for. I know last year at this time I was thankful for medical insurance.

The year 2007 was an eventful year and one I never hope to repeat. The biggest events were in a medical nature. In March of 2007 I was walking across the yard and fell. I ended up dislocating and broke all the bones in my right ankle. It was a very severe injury (or so the doctor told me 6 months later) and it doesn't heal in 6 weeks. It heals in about 2 years. I had to have surgery to repair it with 7 screws and a plate. In December I had all that hardware removed.

In September of 2007 my husband had to have surgery to remove a brain tumor. We had known about the tumor for several years but it had begun to cause sensory seizures so it had become necessary to remove it. Fortunately it was not malignant but it was a long recovery and in some ways he is still recovering. Our medical bills for the year were $150,000+. How much did we pay of that-a total of about $6,000. That includes all the co pays and our share of the bills. Without medical insurance we would be paying this off forever.

God had brought us to Texas for so many reasons. We had thought it was so we could be closer to our parents so we could help them. I think that for the year of 2007 we were in Texas so our families could be closer to help us go through that year.

This year we have so much more to be thankful for-one of the biggest things is that our medical situations have been nothing compared to 2007. Thank you God for giving us a year with nothing but happy events.

Liz

Seventh Graders

After completing 3 days in a 7th grade Language Arts classroom I am beginning to seriously think of swearing off 7th grade. I am so tired of students arguing with me about everything.

This class has had a revolving door of substitutes for the last 3 weeks so I know that they are tired of having different teachers. The regular teacher is pregnant and has been confined to bed rest for the next 4-5 months. Today the long term substitute was going to be in the classroom so at least they will have some continuity. I probably should have told her that she needs to rest up over Thanksgiving break because it will be a long 4-5 months for her.

The funniest thing to happen while I was in the classroom occurred on Monday. I was showing a movie when I noticed a student with his face lit up in a dark room. Aha-he has a cell phone. (The rule is that a student's cell phone is to be turned off when entering the front door in the morning). As I am walking over to take the cell phone another student sitting by Mr. Glowing Face tells him I am coming so the cell phone is thrust under his leg. When I arrive I just tell Mr. Glowing Face to hand it to me and don't even bother to say "What?". The cell phone is quietly put into my hand.

After class the warning student comes to me and tells me that he has lost his cell phone and did I find one. I wasn't born yesterday so I tell him that "Oh, that must the phone that Mr. Glowing Face had and you warned him that I was walking over." Guess what-oh yes-Mr. Warning denies that he ever said anything and he didn't know someone else had it. His words were, "It must have fallen out of my pocket". Sure! I just told him to save the story for the assistant principal because he will now have to get the phone from him.

As I am walk to the assistant principal's office (only to discover he wasn't in there which was no big surprise) another teacher tells me that she will take care of the phone and hands it to one of her trusted students and tells her to take it to the office secretary. Whew-my job is done, or so I thought.

On Tuesday morning I walk into school and there sits Mr. Warner with his mother and she is not happy with him. I hear her telling him that after she pays the fine ($15 cash) and gets his phone back he better never take it out of his pocket at school again. I just keep walking.

About 15 minutes later the assistant principal, Mr. Warner and his mother appear in my room. The assistant principal is looking for the phone. I tell him about the teacher taking over the phone and I take all 3 of them to that teacher. I ask her about it and she relates that the student gave HIM the phone. The assistant principal looks bewildered and so the 3 of them leave. (I could write a lengthy post on the assistant principal and the poor job that he does).

Two hours later the assistant principal walks by my room and tells me that they found the phone. I don't know where but I have a feeling it was right where he left it on Monday. I am sure that Mr. Warner will not be taking his cell phone out of his pocket for awhile.

Liz

The Shack

For several months I have been hearing of the book The Shack by William Young. I had read several different blogs in which people had taken quotes from the book and given their opinion. People seemed to love the book and thought it was wonderful.

For those of you that have not read this book here is a brief synopsis of it. While on a camping Mack's daughter disappeared and it was assumed that she had been abducted and murdered. Three years after this event he receives a note asking to meet "Papa" at "The Shack". The chapters that follow revolve around his experiences at this shack.

After hearing people talk about it and some practically gushing over it I was expecting to read a wonderful book that would take a devastating event and show how God is always there for us and would give a plan of salvation in it. I was disappointed and it is not a book that I would recommend.

I do think that the book tells a moving story of how this event had affected this man as well as his family. I do not think that the book shows a true relationship with Christ and the plan of salvation. At times I thought that the book touched on New Age principles and I had a problem with that.

I realize that a lot of people have read this book and have a totally different opinion than I do and would recommend that everyone should read this book. I just happen to differ from them.

Liz

Living Without a Newspaper

For the first time in 30 years I am no longer subscribing to a newspaper. I have always had a newspaper delivered and I read it daily.

Recently our city's newspaper decreased the size of the paper. They did this by combining some sections and eliminating some of the features-some of the things that I enjoyed. Some of the advice columns were gone as well as some of the puzzles.

When I received my bill I discovered that the cost of the newspaper subscription was going up. As I thought about it I realized that they decreased the size of the paper and were going to be charging me more for it. I decided that this was no longer a good value for my money.

This past week I called the newspaper office to cancel my subscription. When I was asked why I was cancelling I explained my reasons to them. The customer service agent told me that she understands and that they had had many people express my same sentiments.

I know that the newspaper had to make the decision to raise the prices and decrease the size because of cost. It is my option to continue to be a subscriber-or not!

Liz

Veteran's Day

On Saturday some of my mother's family met at my house to spend some time together. Some of my cousins came as well as my parents and brother and 2 of my uncles. My uncles fought in WW II and one of them was on Iwo Jima.

Tommy will be 95 on Nov. 14 and he is walking history. He can tell the day that he shipped out on a boat to go to Iwo Jima. He actually saw the flag being raised there and looks at his service as a time that he did what was needed to be done. He doesn't feel that anything he did was out of the ordinary but he was proud to serve. For someone that is 95 he doesn't look a day over 70! His health is good, he walks well, and although I am sure that he is slower at doing things I often think that he is more active than people that are much younger.

My other uncle, Travis, is 84. He served in Europe during WW II. His accounts of being in Paris are so interesting. He talks of walking the streets and the things that he saw. Yesterday he was wearing a cap that stating that he had served and he was proud He also can remember details of what he saw and like Tommy he is walking history. I feel that I am so fortunate to have these 2 men in my family.

As Veteran's Day approaches we should all take time to reflect on the many sacrifices that were made through the years by such brave men and women. It is because of them that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms we have.

Liz

Historical Election

The 2008 Presidential Election is over, and it was historical. It is amazing for me to think that I have seen an African American man elected president.

Like many people the winning candidate was not the person I voted for but this is not the time to complain. As Americans we should do what we have always done-unite and support our president. After all, we do live in the best country in the world.

Liz

First Monday Trade Days

Today we went to Canton, Texas for First Monday Trade Days. If you are not familiar with this event, just think humongous flea market. This event has been held for a very long time-the first Monday of the month.

Since we have lived here we (my mother, my husband, my brother and I) have gone once a year to Canton. In the past we have gone in December but this year we decided to go in November. Another twist-my father decided to go. The fact that he wanted to go was earth shattering. This is a man that absolutely despises shopping. For years he has called me every year to go and get the Christmas gift that he will give to my mother. One time he even bought a car over the phone, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He even sent my brother there to pick it up and drive it home. So the fact that he would want to go with us to Canton-a place that has so many people come that you can barely move through parts of it-was unbelievable.

We got up early an drove the hour or so to Canton. We get in line at the highway exit and my father is already saying that he has made a big mistake in coming. We park and cross the street and make our plans to meet back up for lunch. My mother and I walk around and look at things and do not buy anything because the thought of having to carry something around the rest of the day is not appealing, and there is no way we could ever remember our way back to that booth to buy it later. At lunch my father is now remarking that he will never do this again, he has learned his lesson. By the way-we decided that he would not ever come with us again.

When we split up again after lunch I thought that there was no way we could spend another 2 1/2 hours there but I thought that the rest of them might want to find some real bargains. My mother and I make our way through some more of the pavilions. She bought a candle and I bought a bag. We went to the car an hour early. My husband joined us about 30 minutes later and then my father and brother showed up about 20 minutes after that.

On the way home my father decided that it is in the Bible that to come to Canton is the unpardonable sin. We have all decided that next year we need a new family outing.

Liz

Halloween

We live in a cul de sac and I have never seen very many children in the neighborhood so I am never sure how many trick or treaters we will have. This year we had more than in years past. I think that we may have worked our way up to an even dozen, all cute.

There were the usual cute kids=the dragon that went grrr instead or trick or treat. That child had 2 pumpkin pails. I didn't know if she was collecting for someone else or was just greedy. It turns out that she couldn't make up her mind between the 2 identical pails so she insisted on bringing both.

I had 3 little girls that were sisters and when I put their Pixie Stick candy in their pails they all got excited, "My favorite!!". One of the little girls kept asking for more. I had already given her 5 Pixie Sticks and I wanted to make sure that I had enough for the other 6 kids that would show up so I just had to tell her that I had given her some. She kept pleading and telling me that she needed more. I finally just had to shut the door on that cute kid.

The best one of the evening was the group of 3 middle school age kids. I had made barbecue pork in the crock pot and one of the kids said, "OOH, it smells like barbecue. Did you barbecue tonight?" I explained what I had made for dinner and he said, "Oh, if you had some ribs in there I was going to have you take back the candy and just bring me those ribs". He had to be happy with the Pixie Sticks.

Liz