Our little adventure

Today my sister and her family graciously drove me to Amish country near Marion KY to purchase patio furniture. Let me show you why......

I purchased the wicker furniture in 2000 or 2001. I really wanted Adirondak furniture but couldn't afford it. So I settled for a Fred's special. Yes, that Fred's store. That's me, find it cheap.

Well, the wicker furniture looked pretty nice. It WAS light tan with burgundy and hunter green striping. As you can see, no color is left whatsoever. Just a putrid grayish mud color.

Not to mention it's about to fall apart. Remember, my house is just a few feet from my street in a neighborhood with houses built since 2000. My front porch looked pretty pathetic.

So I saved my money and decided to just do it. I asked people at work (suggested Lowe's or maybe find a local craftsman) and searched local stores (Lowe's - the only one in stock was unfinished, rough, kinda wobbly, and soso sitting comfort) and online (no WAY I could afford to order - the freight would bankfupt me).

Then I remembered visiting the Amish families in Marion with my Aunt Dorothy a few years ago. I remember excellent craftsmanship and friendly service. My aunt told me just the place to go - Yoder's Furniture & Variety Store. Of course, they don't have a website but I did find a map online. Now to find a truck.....

Here's where my sister's family gets involved. I sweetly call them early in the week, wanting to know if they wanted to take a day trip with me on Saturday. And oh by the way, can we drive your truck?!?

My family is wonderful. They packed up their 2 boys and away we went. The 1 1/2 hour trip each way sped by. I sat in the back with the nephews and had a hard time not laughing at everything they said or did. Kolbee has gotten to be such a 'big' boy. He's the quiet one. Konner is the 4 year old, and in his parent's own words he 'never shuts up.' I witnessed that first hand. I doubt there was a solid minute at any time today that he wasn't saying something. He just has lots of thoughts in his brain he wants to share. Nothing wrong with that!

In no time, we reached Yoder's and voila! All kinds of outdoor furniture.

Decisions, decisions.

Regular chairs, rockers, or gliders?

2 Singles with separate table or double settee with table built in?

Finished or unfinished.

And will it fit in the truck? Yes with the gate down, harness straps, and staying under 60 mph on the interstate.

We made it fine. Check out my front porch now!

Beautiful, huh? It's a double cedar glider settee. The finish just brings out the beauty that cedar wood has and the gliders could put you to sleep. And of course I had to get foot stools. You KNOW how short my legs are.

My front porch looks MUCH better and I can hear my neighbors breathing a sigh of relief.

Too bad it's well over 90 degrees and too hot to enjoy this this evening!

Thanks Jennifer, Michael, and nephews!

Celebriality/Reality

Wow, what a day in celebrity world - the loss of both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. They were so much a part of my childhood.

It's hard to be 'touched' by celebrities when we live in small town America. But you've got to admit you followed them too.

Like him or not, Michael Jackson changed the things we listened to and saw on tv. I remember when MTV was 'born' and the same cheesy videos played over and over again. Then along came Thriller. There is NO way you can't get up and groove to that! One of my favorite movie scenes is Jennifer Garner getting a stale party going when she breaks out the Thriller dance in '13 Going on 30.'

I know he got weird and I'm not one to think or talk about him but his music was the best of the best and he made his mark on the world in so many ways.

Much sadder for me is the death of Farrah. I loved watching Charlie's Angels and yes I knew who Farrah was. Since I was not some lovesick boy, I didn't have any of her posters or really followed much of her career, until the end.

Her very public telling of her fight with cancer was so raw. It's hard for me to even write this because tears are flowing so hard. Seeing actual video diaries of her getting treatment, losing her hair, extreme weakness, pallid face, hollow eyes - and then her coma-like state and lack of recognition, confusion, and extreme lovingness at the end .... it's just too much.

My grandmother went through all the stages of this except the battles with treatment. Pancreatic cancer took her life just 2 months after being diagnosed. My most painful memory of that time is her unknowingly accusing me of trying to poison her by making me take her meds. Tears were streaming down her face because she thought her granddaughter was trying to kill her. Even though I recognized that as a sign that she is progressing towards death, it floored me nonetheless. My favorite memory of those times is near the end, all she wanted to do was tell people she loved them and how much she cared for us. She even hugged and kissed at the cat (best the cat ever got before was food, water, and an occasional rub). Hearing/watching Farrah go through those same stages really brought back those memories.

On the other side of the coin, Farrah's pain, grief, hair loss, emptiness shown for us all to see was what my mother lived through. Since before she was diagnosed with Colon cancer, she was in pain. Treatment seemed to put her in more pain. Watching a loved one in this much pain should NEVER HAPPEN! I see pictures from that Christmas before she died and I see the pain she was in. She tried to make the best of it for her granddaughter and us. But it was just too much. The week she died, she had a premonition that it was going to be soon. She told each of all week that it wouldn't be long. That phone call during Sunday morning worship service on February 11, 2001 will haunt me for the rest of my life. She was 51 years old - just 12 years older than I am now. Elizabeth is 14.

12

14

Those are numbers that keep going through my head. My sister and I regularly get colonoscopies. We promised mom and dad. As much as they are unpleasant to prepare for, I will ALWAYS get tested.

Right now, if I can make a difference in anyone's life, I urge you to get a colonoscopy at least by age 40. I know the recommended starting age is 50 but my mother was diagnosed when she was 50. She had never had the test. She was in pain for several months and put off going to the doctor for reasons to talk about later. All the medical facts indicate that by the time you 'feel' any symptoms of colon cancer, it's too late. She was immediately diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

GET TESTED!!!!!!!!

This cancer is almost 100% curable if caught early.

So today's celebriality brings me to my reality.

Tonight, I cry myself to sleep ... remembering.

Just me and my shaaaadow

After a busy day with 4 meetings, summer orientation tomorrow, and no time to breathe between I'm sitting home with NOTHING TO DO. Elizabeth is at her dad's house. It's too hot outside (yes, I'm a wimp). There's nothing on TV. Of course, I could always clean house, organize, blah blah blah.

Well, Elizabeth is trying new things. She is wearing contacts. We are seeing how this first week is going. It makes her look even more grown up than she already is. Her blue eyes just pop! Where did my little girl in 'pink tales' (you'll have to ask her on that one) go?!?

NEWSFLASH - she willingly gave me a hug and kiss after dropping her off at her dad's house. She even talked to me the entire trip and shared jokes and funny moments - completely carefree and didn't bother her that she was talking to her MOM! I'll take whatever little moments I can get.

Best compliment ever

Wednesday night I received the best compliment a daughter could ever get.

I was talking with a longtime family friend that I haven't seen in a few months. In the course of her conversation, she said that my mother was a 'good christian woman.' She talked very highly of her, of the things she did for our family, teenage girls from the congregation, influencing others.

I have heard this compliment several times before from various people. There's no doubt my mother died way too young. That didn't stop her from leaving a legacy. She was the spiritual glue for our family. My parents are the reason I am what I am today. And I'm proud to say that. Any disappointments, wrongdoings, or shame is my own and is NOT a reflection on them.

I regret that my daughter won't get to have the full benefit of my mother's touch. I am very grateful that she practically raised her the first 5 years of her life. Nevertheless, I will make sure I pass along her influence and essence to my daughter and my nephews.

Mom-I will see you in heaven!

Welcome Home

My baby is home! She has been at church camp for the past week with her friend Amber. This is her fifth year at this camp and she loves it. I think I missed her more this year because it's sinking in that she won't be my 'little girl' much longer.

Amber's mom and I picked up the girls tonight. They had lots of fun and talked about it the entire trip home. Amber wants to return next year and Elizabeth wants to be a junior counselor when she turns 16. That camp is so peaceful and the staff are so friendly and family-oriented. I'm glad they have a camp like this.

Now it's time to wash lots of laundry and bedding and time to sleep.

First one

Well, this is my first blog posting. Kinda cool. My daughter will probably freak when she see this. She's at that age where she doesn't want to claim she even has parents. How I remember those times!

So what am I doing right now? I am trying to convince myself that I need to go to sleep NOW instead of blogging or watching TV. This week I am getting up at 4:30 am to take my nephews to school. 4:30 gets here way before I want it to. But getting to see my nephews every day for a week makes it worth it. :)