Dreamin'

Sometimes when we get together we dream. Mainly it has been of the business's we will start... so we can quit our jobs and all be together.
Our first plan was to buy Bliss's house as it has a beauty shop on the side... because we came up with the name "DUEYS DOO's" (and we were so happy about it we still laugh!) we figured that Duane would go to school to be a barber. Curt will do the wiring of anything that would need to be "hooked up". He will do this with great happiness and quickly of that we are sure! Al would still need a job - we wanted to give him his own but sense he worked for UPS we figured he could deliver the latch hook rugs that his wife will be "hooking" - he will still be working for UPS - thus he will hold the insurance for all of us. In order for Ringo to do her "hooking" - Carol, will need to go out and get some "shopping" done. She is going to get her degree in "retail" while Duey is doing the doo in beauty school. Now, that leaves me and I can never seem to remember what I am suppose to do - but, I figure I will do the cooking for the crew. We will dine on things like tofu chili, brown rice, and vegetarian lasagna.(If there is anything in crinkly bags - I will eat that while no one is looking and then it is like it wasn't ever there to tempt the others in the group). As I am cooking these wonderful - good for you - vegetarian meals - with my set of salad master pans, I will vacuum with my rainbow in my left hand and my Norwix microfiber (with silver) rags in my right hand! Maybe I will happen upon that game of life that disapeared from my early years of cleaing?
And after the day is done...( and Ringo finishes up the "paperwork" ) we will all sit around the fire (for pleasure) pit in the back yard and talk about our dreams!

Checkout

She was walking through the store and found this wonderful vase. Her cart is full but the vase will sit in there quite nicely yet.... at this time she is not sure if it is really something that is needed. There has never been a vase quite like this one... it is tall and has little pieces of green glass grouted together. The light twinkles off the glass, leaving shreds of glimmer that are pleasant to the eyes. As she walks around the store looking at all the things they have to offer...her mind tells her that she really doesn't need another thing sitting around her house. She has many vase's - she should just put it back where it was... thinking... shopping... knowing that it would not be money wisely spent. The decision is almost made - the vase will go back where it was found.

Heading back toward the isle a lady asks her.. "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT VASE! IT IS GREAT I HAVE TO HAVE ONE!

...."I GOT IT BACK THERE BY THE HOUSEHOLD THINGS, BUT, I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE THE LAST ONE."

... And she took her cart, with the green vase, and checked out!

Turning 50

To my bestest friends Carol and Robin, whose unselfish love and constant encouragement have helped me to get this close to 50!

To my husband and bestest friend, who brought me out of the basement of despair and showed me that I was indeed worth loving.

To my momma who gave me life. Who loved me unconditionally as a momma and became another bestest friend. Who had good choice in men and gave me the best dad anyone could have asked for.

To my brother who has always been there for me. I love you more than you could ever know and I thank God you were given to me.

To my children, Emily Jo, Lindsey Kay and Lacey Lynn for their faith and patience, good humor and love. You are all my favorites... I couldn't have asked for more.

To my son in law and son in laws to be... for taking on where we left off with the most wonderful blessings that ever happened to us. For treating them with the greatest of love and caring for them.

To my grandchildren whose beautiful and gentle spirits have brought this grammie to a place where I would have never dreamed. If I could take all the good things in my life, and paint a picture with them... its beauty might be close to looking like the love I have for all of you.!

To all the people The Lord has brought into my life... you have made a difference to me - you have made my life here on earth so enjoyable - I have been truly blessed beyond measure with friends and family!

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... thank-you for knowing me and yet still loving me. I give You all the Glory and Praise Your Holy Name!
Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these things I will commit my day. If I succeed, I will thank-you Lord! If I fail, I will seek Your grace.
.... and when this day is done, I will give You thanks for all I have been given, and I will lay my head on my pillow and rest! (ML) ... I'm almost 50!

The rosary - another moment

When I work I have the "Widows Wing". I go down this wing before each activity and check to see who would like to come. You get to know the ones who will come and the ones who would just like to chat with you a bit and then have you leave (without them!) John was one of those who loved to visit... but, he didn't usually come to many activities. He had a bad winter health wise and spent some time in the hospital and then recovering in his room at the end of the hall. They have said that only a tiny bit of his heart was working as it should be.

The one activity that John usually came to (and many times his wife led)... was the rosary. We have a volunteer from the Catholic Church come in to say the rosary with the residents once a week on Mondays at 9:30.

The unique thing I found about John was that almost every time I went in to his room to see how he was doing he would have his rosary beads in his hands. He would always stop to talk to me a bit and tell me what he was praying for... his grandson running the farm land - that he would be able to get all of his work done. His grandson that was going to graduate from college - that all would go well for him as he was looking for a job. His wife - that they would be able to celebrate their anniversary together with family and friends and he would be healthy for the celebration. His staff, the world, the president, those in the armed forces, farmers, and ME.

Rosary beads would be in his hands - so beautiful against his aged hands, changed in form from arthritis. He was talking with God, and God could entertain him in ways that I could not. So I would leave his room with a new bounce in my step - he would give you a smile as you were leaving - that would warm any woman's heart and you knew you were being prayed for.

Today John left the dining room from eating breakfast, he joked with a few of the staff, wheeled his chair towards the end of his wing and died. I believe he was on his way to say the Rosary.

Blessed be the memory of this wonderful man - the smile that he gave to all, even as he was leaving...and Lord, help us to be the example that he was - always with a prayer on our lips for others.

(Names and dates have been changed, these stories are true only in my mind)

Grand

What a beautiful place to be...
The music was GRAND, a jazz band featuring two guitars (a red electric guitar, and an acoustic), a big ole floor base and a violin.
The company was GRANDIOSE, a good friend, the bestest friend and her husband and the favorite brother.
The building was a GRAND old hotel, old bricks on the walls, chandeliers hanging from the high tin ceilings, wood floors and candles on each table.
And I am a GRANDmother
What a beautiful place to be!

Fathers and Hawaiian guitars - another moment

Today when I was in with Delbert we listened to music. It was Alan Jackson singing the old beautiful hymns to guitar music. As the music played he sat in his antique rocking chair, me next to him in the chair for visitors. I don't feel like a visitor in this place = I feel like I am a child... with an innocent heart waiting to hear a beautiful story. And then it comes, he looks over at me as Alan Jackson starts singing the Old Rugged Cross ... he starts the story...

"When I hear good music it sends chills up my spine.' He continues smiling and talking to me about when he was a little boy his family had a radio. The radio had three dials on it and each one needed to be turned just so and then you would be tuned into "WANX "- Yangton South Dakota!! Yes, he can remember listening to the radio and hearing someone sing and play guitar. As he would strum the chords Delbert would be able to tell exactly what chords he was playing even though he hadn't yet played guitar. He tells me that it is a gift that was given to him by the Lord. Later his older sister would go to start her own life outside the family and she would leave behind her Hawaiian guitar (this could be changed to a Spanish guitar with just one little part ) he tells me how he got to play it... how he taught himself... it was a gift - he is a musician. As he talks to me I can actually see the Hawaiian guitar in his lap as he strums, this man is even more a part of who I am than I realize. Inside my heart I hear my dads voice whisper. The Holy Spirit fills the room and we are surrounded by that "great cloud of witness's" I feel like a little girl sitting here... enveloped in the precious love that fills the air.

Oh it has been so long sense my dad left this earth...

and yet here I sit with him...

....I sit with Delbert, holding his hand

....I sit with my Father in Heaven feeling His love pouring over us both

...and oh what a day it will be when I can see this picture again!!

...but, until that day I will Thank the Lord for these moments I have been blessed with, I will hold them tight in my heart and know that My Father Which Art in Heaven shares this moment with us.

Thank-you Lord for Hawaiian guitars, fathers, memories and gifts!

(The names and dates have been changed, these stories are true only in my mind)

blankets

Today Conner's Auntie Lacey was babysitting him. She was sitting on the recliner with her 8 month pregnant belly. Little Conner came over to her and brought his blankets (the blue ones that were cut in half so he would always be sure to have one when the other was being washed... however, washing no longer helps them to be clean... and he usually needs them both!)

He layed each one of his cherished blankets over her belly.

"I want your baby to have these blankets so she can be warm and comfortable - I love you"!

...and I wonder - are all little boys this wonderful? To share the one material thing in the world that is important to him with a little girl he has never seen? To have a faith like a child... that Lacey will indeed give his blankets back to him - once her baby is warm and comfortable!

Rain

Well, I say praise the Lord for such miracles. She heard her daddy's fire pager go off at 2:00am for the first time. She wondered if it was raining in the basement, and asked to turn the sound on "big comfy couch" down! The Dr. said "it makes no sense to give this child any speech or language help until she gets her ears fixed... she is not hearing what is being said". The push from the system forced us all to look at our baby girl in the terms of the world, she was not learning the way she should be. So her parents tested and doctored, took time off from work, made phone calls and most of all prayed. On Friday May 7th Jaci got her first set of "tubes". Her ear drums are flat and the sounds she was hearing was as if she would have a big bowl over her head. Can you imagine living like this and never complaining? What a miracle that God showed her family that she needed help - it was as if he was yelling!! "Get her some help for those ears so that I can help you." Even with perfect ears sometimes it is hard to hear the voice of the Lord... and just when you are ready to throw in the towel you hear the rain in the basement!

the graduates

My middle baby graduated with her masters degree in exercise science today! Lindsey Kay we are so proud of you! Emily Jo graduated with her masters in teaching in 2008 Emily Jo we are so proud of you! Lacey Lynn with her associates in general in 2007Lacey Lynn we are so proud of you. How did we get to this place? Where you girls have so surpassed your momma and dad in the education areas? Three girls born, three girls graduated from college and I am still making the same amount of money I did when we raised you! You all did this on your own... what more could a parent ask? We certainly made the right choice when we gave you to the service of the Lord when you were babies. The Lord Jesus Christ will use all that you have learned and use it for His Glory and that is all we ever wanted - that you would be followers of Christ. And as I sit here and type - words that someday you will read... I want you all to know how proud we are of you and all you have accomplished - but, most of all I want you to follow Jesus - so that we will always be together even when we are apart!

Meetings

The big wheels have called a meeting... it will be on Tuesday at 9:00am and probably last a couple of hours. How else can you set up rules and determine policy?

When someone has lived in a LTC facility or assisted living for 7 years - is this considered their home? Can we determine this answer or must we have policy to know exactly when can you say something is "your home"? If you live under a bridge or in a old car... is this your home? Can you have a party for yourself? or, do we indeed need to gather together everyone with a college education and some leadership training and write up some policies?

How about if you are going to turn 100 years old and you have lived in a LTC facility for 8 years? Would you like to celebrate your birthday with the people you have lived with for these years? Would you also like to invite what friends and family you have left to join the gathering? How about putting a Open House invitation into the paper and inviting those friends and family to your LTC for your 100th birthday? Your family will supply the food and drinks for all that want some? They will be there to serve up food and to talk with your friends.

Well STOP the meeting - I have used my common sense here...

If someone is turning 100 years old and they want to have a birthday party in the residence where they live - they can. However, if they are turning 98 I am sorry - but we will need to wait until they are turning 100 - or until we get together a meeting and write up a policy for someone wanting to have a 98th birthday.

Don't forget... make a copy of policy, laminate it, put it eye level in all common areas. Also make sure there is a copy of the hand washing policy in all the bathrooms before the party... a laminated copy - I like the one where you sing the ABC's while you wash your hands...

Alaska

I watched the Kindergarten concert in Foley today. My granddaughter was in the front row, blue and white dress, white tights, jean jacket and hair curling around her petite beautiful face. This child has a smile that would melt Alaska!! As I am sitting there listening to these adorable kids - tears start to roll down my cheeks and a pain is in my heart. I wonder what is wrong with me? Why do these cute little songs make a 50 year old cry? I take in each moment of her, loving her, feeling a joy that can not be described on blogs. As the concert comes to an end and they all stand up to sing there last song - I savor the moment hoping it will go on forever...
Remembering my baby girl 25 years ago...
Black and white dress, white tights, hair curling around her petite beautiful face.
Smile that would melt Alaska!!
And as time ticks on - the snow melts from all those beautiful smiles - I soak up the rays savoring these moments! Thanking God for this time, knowing that songs, little girls and boys - have always given me a joy deep in my heart -
.... and when snow melts - there is always tears!!!

Cinderella

Lindsey is getting married! The date, April 16th 2011! She is going to have her brother-in law, Chris, sing at the wedding. She called and talked to Chris and told him she would like him to sing "Cinderella" while they are showing a slide show of their lives. It is a song written by Steven Curtis Chapmann that has quite a story behind it. He talks about how he needed to give his two little girls a bath, get them ready for bed and then get to work. They had other plans, after the bath was filled and daddy was all ready for them - he couldn't find them. When he did indeed find them - they were dressed again, in their play clothes - telling him they were "Cinderella". In his mind, WE NEED TO GET DONE WITH THIS BATH AND TO BED DADDY HAS GOT TO GET TO WORK!! He finally finishes the task and goes to his work studio where he produces songs. Steve said the Lord washed over him, telling him not to be in such a hurry to have his kids grow up... to take these simple times and enjoy them and to not rush them. He wrote these words:


She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing, oh please daddy please"

SO I'LL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA WHILE SHE IS HERE IN MY ARMS
CAUSE I KNOW SOMETHING THE PRINCE NEVER KNEW
OH I WILL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA, I DON'T WANT TO MISS EVEN ONE SONG
CASUE ALL TO SOON THE CLOCK WILL STRIKE MIDNIGHT AND SHE'LL BE GONE.

She says he's a nice guy and I'll be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says "dad, prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing, oh please daddy please"

SO I'LL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA WHILE SHE IS HERE IN MY ARMS
CASUE I KNOW SOMETHING THE PRINCE NEVER KNEW
OH I WILL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA, I DON'T WANT TO MISS EVEN ON SONG
CAUSE ALL TO SOON THE CLOCK WILL STRIKE MIDNIGHT AND SHE'LL BE GONE.

She came home today with a ring on her hand
July glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says "dad the wedding's just six months away
And I need to practice my dancing, oh please daddy please"

SO I'LL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA WHILE SHE IS HERE IN MY ARMS
CASUE I KNOW SOMETHING THE PRINCE NEVER KNEW
OH I WILL DANCE WITH CINDERELLA, I DON'T WANT TO MISS EVEN ONE SONG
CAUSE ALL TO SOON THE CLOCK WILL STRIKE MIDNIGHT AND SHE'LL BE GONE.


Chris has been practicing with his little girl. They were in the truck together and he sang to his baby... and I'll dance with Cinderella...
and she looked up at her big, strong, daddy...........and smiled!
...and his heart melted as he smiled back at her and drank in her smile and took in her innocence
........and someday he will sing this at JaciAnnas wedding
.................and he will dance with Cinderella
...........................and the world will stand still as it did that day in his truck!

The runner

I can not begin to understand how a little girl can do this. How her small legs could carry her this far and she would not complain, not ask for water, and never once wanted to stop. They were on walk to benefit MS. It was a beautiful day with many runners. If she would have needed to take a break - it wouldn't have mattered to me. All that mattered was to hear the excitement in Emi's voice as she talked about her little girl walking beside her for 8 miles. And, as I am thinking of the story it suddenly comes to me...
The reason she didn't need to have water, or stop, the reason she didn't complain is that she was with her momma - and sometimes that is all you really need.

Tone after the beep

I had to save the message. We were not home to talk with him, to let him know that Curt was working, that Tim Berger was doing well, that JaciAnna could indeed get sassy, and of course Dallas Conner too!

On our answering machine the message says: "You have reached the Schmidts, sorry we are not home to recive your call... please leave your message after the beep"

On our answering machine is my brothers voice:

"Call me, TONE AFTER THE BEEP!"

Say Daygo...

Our three girls have a favorite uncle. His name is Jeff! He was always a large part of our girls life. Many times the way he would "play" would be to pester them. He would laugh if they would get in trouble for something. One of his questions to me about the girls was "does she get sassy"? He would laugh when I would tell him "yes, they can get quite sassy!" As the years have gone by his communication skills are less... but he still has his questions...
How is Curt?
How is Emi and Chris? Does JaciAnna sass?
Have you seen Tim Berger?
How are Carol and Duane?
How is Robin and Al? ...
We patiently answer each question the same as we always have through out the years - it is his way of communicating of telling you he is interested in what is going on in your life, many times before you answer he will be asking about the next person in his mind. Then for each set of people I have named he has a separate set of questions - Example: If he calls and gets Emi on the phone...
How is Chris?
Is JaciAnna Sassy?
Does Chris have his scanner?
How is Dallas Conner? Is he sassy?

If he gets Carol on the phone...
How is Nick?
Is he working?
Does he have the Sheriffs car?
Is his scanner with him?

If he gets Al on the phone...
How is Steve Alatzke?
Where is Nate?
Do you still have the 57 Chevy?

Well... you get the picture

One thing that he would always say... he would sit close and reach over to the kids and smile at them and say - "say Daygo". After 30 years he is still saying this... we never knew where it came from but it was something we enjoyed as a family. It seemed to be his way of saying to them "I notice you, I am interested in what you are doing and I love you... say Daygo!"