Introducing......

I would like to introduce to you Dr. Traci Lyn Merkel Yandell.  Anyone who has worked as hard as she has deserves to have a title and 4 names!!!!  I am so proud of her.  People who know us know that my sister and I are night and day most of the time, but some days we are right on the same hour! I guess all kids are like that.  Fun facts about Dr. Yandell:
She is my little sister...in age, height, and weight.
She is my big sister...example wise.
She almost was flushed down the toilet after she was born, but my great-grandmother stopped that.
She would shiver and shake giving you a 30 second notice that she was about to wet her diaper(before pampers) and you better get her off your lap.  She was done when she smiled. Seriously!!!
She has always been the funniest of the two of us.
She is the bossiest also. That is why she has this degree and I don't.  ha ha
She tattled on me any chance she got, but when I got a spanking, She would sit there and beg mom not to kill me. 

She would put bubble bath in her pixie stix so I would learn to leave her stuff alone, and I would chase her around the house with the vacuum or chicken skin (this was when you had to buy the whole chicken in the grocery store.)
She threatened to "tell my great-grandmother" on my grandmother for letting me drive before I was 10.  Now she is a better driver than I am!
She is the only grandchild I remember my grandmother every threatening to punish. (and I can't remember why that happened)
She studied for her classes.  I learned where the library was during finals.  Consequently, she was in National Honors Society in HS and higher than 2.75 GPA in college.
She has a degree in Dietetics and Education.
She is my rescue number; the number I call when someone in my house needs comfort; the one who called my house EVERY morning for 10 years after Kelly passed away to be sure that I was up and able to handle the morning. She has driven to my house at all hours of the night to help me.
She is the BEST Aunt, sister, nurse, daughter, granddaughter and friend you could ask for.  My life would be nothing without her.
So Proud of you sis!  oops Dr. Sis.  This title is wonderful, but the best title you have is the one of Sister!!!

Dr. Yandell front right!

I would also like to introduce to you my soon to be Sophomore daughter in her FFA "dress".  Sorry it isn't bigger, but she has on a skirt AND black hose!!!! I am so proud of her accomplishments this year.  We have had many ups and downs (ask her Aunt), but she has trouped through it and constantly lets me know that there is more to life than homework, yard work, dishes, a clean room and laundry.  I think she looks pretty dad-gum cute in her little outfit(that I pressed) and her nice straight hair(that took an hour to do) and our second pair of shoes because the others had a piece of silver design on the top.  Very Very strict on this "dress" but I love it!  Ag had been a true blessing. Her friends are either band geeks or Ag kids.  Great choices that she made there!!  I must say that yesterday we all three (the son included) sat around and mourned.  Seriously, I had planned to take her to get her driving permit, and she didn't want to go.  She just didn't have it in her......her day had been flipped with a roller coaster of emotions.  Her first and favorite (not because he is the first) Ag teacher announced today that he will be leaving to take a job out of the Education world (yes....I am a tad jealous).  Mr. Smith was a blessing to our school.  He got things where they needed to be however, I understand him wanting to be at home with his family more.  He has two younger children, and in today's world, I agree that Daddy needs to be there more!!  Bless his heart, he started looking for "stock" in August.  Continued that through the first of October, and taught school, built a barn, and got things on track.  He then attended judging contests, major livestock shows, and MORE judging. In all of this, he set a wonderful example to my children of how you work and complete what you commit to do! Makaley loves "Smith", and I could not have asked for a better way to start our freshman year. The good news is that he will be in town, and we (really Jordan and the kids) still have him to call on and hang with. His daughter shows pigs, and she hangs with "the older girls" most of the time.  We love that family.
Finally.....My pianist showing off their ability.  Makaley played a piece written last year by our neighbor who was 17 at the time.  It is absolutely beautiful and she played it by memory perfectly.  I hope that we will be able to get a good recording of it and on her wedding day (way down the road), she will walk down the aisle to her own accompaniment.

And now..................we are ready for summer!!!!  Pigs are just months away and we are going to rest up!

And in your other spare time......(part2)

Yes it is a beautiful day outside,but I just wanted to get this post in before I get ready to post again.  Hahaha..go ahead and laugh.  You think I won't post for another 6 months, but have I got news for you.  Well, will have for you (and NO, I am not getting married but someone in our family is changing a name!)
And so when you have spare time what do you do?  From my previous post, you can tell that most of my time is consumed by pigs and kids.  Just today, Makaley and I were driving thru town, and she saw a street named "Green Acres"..she started singing the song and then talked about the pig Arnold.  A few streets over was "barrow" street.  She whimpered and said...."I miss my barrows".(yes Jordan, she did!).  And then about 6 streets over is "Grand" street.  She said something about winning "Grand" at a major.  This family is "ate up with it".
Believe it or not, there are other things to do in your spare time besides feeding, washing, and showing pigs.
For example....you can attend Benefits for Breast Cancer Awareness.  My mom, cousin and I traveled to Odessa to attend the Pink the Basin with my other mother's daughter Susan. Go ahead and think on that one! lol.  You know Suzie...friends for 41 years. Anyway, it was a wonderful, wonderful day.  Even the newspaper was pink that day. Food was great, speaker was WONDERFUL, but family and friends...priceless!!!.

Can you guess which one is my cousin Brandi?  Seriously, she would say she is the one with no hair and no boobs.  BUT...that aint the case now!!! That girl has the cutest hair growing in and has bi-racial boobies! She said they didn't have two alike when she was ready, so she bought "friends".  BEST OF ALL...she is free!!! No more chemo, medication, no cancer!!!!!  I am so proud of her.  All of our family(except my dad and kids) attended at least one doctor's appointment or "draw" with her. So I could say...in your spare time you could WHOOP cancer!
Or during your free time, you could create a planet.

This is Kauy's science project. He designed it while sitting in a pig pen in Ft.Worth. It was ready for class a week before it was due.  Yep....I thought I had returned home with the wrong kid! of course, with the name of the planet being "Planet Goodyear", with a NASCAR theme, I knew it was the right kid!! Notice the ring around it..Next to the Flag is a NASCAR race car. There were moons(not in this picture) called "the intimidator" and "Junior", and Lake Lagano.  He did a great job and received an A.  Most expensive A ever made I can promise!!!  I am saving it incase NASCAR would like it for their museum.  At this price, I need to get lots of wear out of it.
Now...if you have some real good spare time you can have surgery!!!! Makaley was diagnosed with scoliosis in November of 2011.  By 2012, the curve had changed 15 degrees and was at a 64 degree curve and the bottom one was about 30 or so.  It was decided that we should correct this since if left untended, it could become a severe health concern.  Like it wasn't already?  Hello!!!  As a mom, I was sick to my stomach.  I wanted to reach into her back and fix it for her.  I wanted God to let me act as one of His apostles, lay hands on her and fix it.  But I couldn't.  I cried myself to sleep one night because I needed her daddy.  I just wanted to snuggle up to him and say, "Aren't you nervous?"  But you know...when that can't happen, you do the very best thing....Snuggle up to God and tell Him.  We prayed for our Dr. by name.

I had no idea that my baby girl was in so much pain until a few days before surgery. She never once said anything close to wanting to put this off, being scared, or having second thoughts.  She was a ROCK! Her doctor, Dr. Rathjen is amazing.  She also had a "Dr. McDreamy" who woke her every morning.  He signed her back the morning of her surgery.....they know your face, but I guess everyone looks the same from the back!  So he wrote his name so he was sure they had the right girl.We told her she didn't have to wash that spot for months if she didn't want to. They also decided to only put one set of rods in after visiting with each other. My girl was up and moving the day after the surgery. We walked the halls, and walked the halls again.  AND I cried and thanked God for wonderful doctors, and prayer warrior who carried us to His throne daily and during the surgery. We had great friends who came to the hospital and visited. I didn't do this alone....My sister Traci went with us.  I have the MOST WONDERFUL sister!!!! Scottish Rite Hospital is WONDERFUL.  We had the greatest experience there! Not because the surgery was successful, but the people there LOVE their jobs and it shows in their every move.  We felt like the queens!  Below is a picture of her hospital room, and then a picture of her 3 weeks after surgery, the Sunday before she returned to school for 1/2 a day. Fast track girl.

Look Mom...I am 1 1/4 taller!

If that doesn't take up your spare time, sign up for scoliosis research with your doctor.  Makaley decided to be a part of the ongoing research the doctors at Scottish Rite do.  She was excited even after she found out it was mainly just paper work to keep track of her.Oh, and the doctor apologized that he was unable to take some of the "teenage temperament" out of her while she was on the table.  Said that would be my problem to take care of!  Thanks....

Or....if you aren't into research, invest $386 in driver's ed.  Yes folks, she will begin driver's education in May.  I am full of mixed emotions again.  I told her she has to sit up straight behind the wheel and be proud of that new back! I can't believe she is ready for this because I'm sure not.  lol

I know that I missed a few things like..........going to NASCAR.  Kauy went with Suzie and Bobby....AGAIN.  They promise me that he acts great when he is with them.  I want a video!  That boy keeps us laughing and still holds my hand.  Gotta love him.  Of course, he isn't 15 yet.

I guess you could say that my spare time has been well spent!  We have had our valley moments and our mountain top moments, but God has blessed us through all of it.  I miss my grandmother so often.  Would love to hear her "smart" remarks on this past year! 

Enjoy your spare time!  I have!!!

When do you get spare time? Part 1

Spare what?  When I have spare time, it is either while I am in a show barn, a doctor's or dentist's offfice, or sitting in line somewhere.  And of course, those places do not accomodate you getting dinner cooked, laundry done, or a house cleaned. I promise, I don't sit around and eat ice cream bars!
So...let's talk spare time in the show barn.....go ahead and dream that is so.  If you have spare time in the barn, you can make the most uncomfortable chair the best "napping" spot ever.  And of course, all the kids take you photo and tell you you snore.  BUT...I was alert enough to get the score card right.  Here is the final outcome of this years pig shows!
Meet Squeaker: 5th in Ft. Worth and Pork Producers hat and bonus  Kauy's pig,Throwback, threw his back right into the "farm to Market" trailer. 

Meet Warfare(left) and Swagger(right)

This was the daily morning greeting.  Warfare was Champion Barrow at the Wylie Show, Reserve Cross at Taylor County, and Second in his class at San Antonio(placing in the sale.. plus another Pork Producers cap and bonus!

Makaley and Warefare and they battle for first place. Second made us just as proud.

Kauy and Swirl.  As a team they placed 9th in San Antonio! 

Rudolph and Swagger.  Swagger was Breed Champion and Grand Champion at Taylor county.  Rudolph was 1st  in his class at County also.  However, you can see them again at your local HEB.  They went straight to the trailer which was VERY hard on the old mom!
   

Finally meet Jorge....long story on that name...but this dude won 5th at the Star of Texas Show in Austin Texas.  Yep...put a few miles on the old Tahoe huh?  But they were fun miles I promise!!!!!!

We had a wonderful, wonderful year.  Our "team" set goals and achieved them! Our "team" represented our breeders very well whether we won or trucked right to the trailer.  One thing I have tried to instill in my kids is that you are a winner for even getting to where you are, and there is no need to blame a judge or pout when we didn't make the top nor is there reason to gloat for a win.  Kauy has a lot of his dad in him and that drives Jordan crazy sometimes.  When he wins, he just grins, takes the ribbon back to the pen and heads off to other things.  He lets the rest of us act the crazy fool!
And so...in this moment of spare time that I had(due to bronchitis) I want to say a few things about my spare time in the barn.  I LOVE it!!!  Thank you Jordan and Ashley for getting us to this point!  Thank you for loving my kids even when they are not doing what you want.  Thank you for wanting the best for them and "keeping on keeping on" when you think they don't listen.  We miss our pigs!  Just saying....
Thank you breeders....Jason Lackey, Will Winter, Craig Bessent, The Cobb Family, The Jones Family and Dirk.  Thank you for checking on us during the "growing" period and being at the shows to cheer for us.
Thank you Cody Smith, our new Ag teacher!  Wow, we loved working beside you.  We love the fact that you and Jordan had serious moments to study and advise! I am glad that you don't teach driver's ed., but if I needed anything, you were there in a NASCAR minute. And in Kauy's words..."Your not any Sacajawea." Thank you Suzie and Aunt Traci....probably Bobby and Timmy also.  You two were with us all the way.  Suzie didn't miss a show(from county to Austin, Jan. to March) and set with me while my nerves were on total edge!  Aunt Traci wasn't actually at a couple shows, but still didn't miss one because she watched them on line.  She would text me and say "tell that kid to"....whatever she felt needed to be done.  Thank you to the Phillips and Cagles who showed up or cheered from their living room chairs.  I think they also got a little Leighton time.  Thanks to you who listened to us ramble, or liked our photos on face book.
Finally, thank you to my prayer warrior, Margaret.  She began praying for Jordan and the kids as the pigs were being purchased.  She prayed the pigs through the spells of health issues and then prayed for us as we went to each show.  She is a single woman who understands the love between people and their animals...even if they are pigs.
Now, that is all the spare time I have today.  Dinner must be cooked, clothes folded, and homework completed. Yes, my kids could do all of that....could being the operative word here!
Hang on.....part two is coming soon.  Suzie, remind me in about 2 weeks. 

A lot can happen in 8 months....

There are lots of things that can happen in an 8 month time period.  I could have gotten married or had a baby, sailed the ocean blue, written a country song, or even written a book.  Just to set the record straight, NONE of that happened.  Instead, we had a great but busy summer and almost finished a semester of school.  Let me start with summer first....strange things happen when you have a teenage daughter.  When she invites me to do something with her, I put the rest of the world on hold and grab her hand.  She asked me to go with the youth group to McAllen ( haven't read my last post, but if I wrote about this already...fast forward or walk down memory lane with me...just don't hit the close button yet.)  I was the lone female sponsor for that trip.  Our first night there, we drove to Wal Mart;I broke the kids into groups(with another adult as the leader) and gave each a shopping list. I  stayed in the produce section selecting the "good stuff".  It is amazing how many adults do Not stick to the list.  However, almost everything was eaten during our time there. I will say that other than serving the Lord alongside my daughter, the greatest thing there was the homemade Mexican food.  Oh heavens.....I know that these ladies who prepared food for us will be serving their dishes in Heaven.  The week after we returned from the mission trip, I sponsored the group to a Ranger's game and Hurricane Harbor.  As for the game....it was a nail biting winning game which was delayed by rain and a bolt of lightening that struck one of the poles outside of the stadium.  That woke 'em up!  As for Hurricane Harbor....I should have gone ahead and busted out my bikini. I decided that times are different than when I was in high school  Wear a bikini even if you can't see the strings because they are pressed into your skin so tightly that they become part of the roll above and below. Yep....we were definitely NOT the norm there.
We like that game so much, that two weeks later, we went to another game...WIN and then yet another!  We had just soooo much fun!
Now during that time, I was shopping for an Alto Sax for Kauy and listening to Makaley groan about how she didn't want to go to band practice in August and wouldn't stay in band longer than a year.
So that brings us to the end of August when I bought the kids glasses, and we all started school.  Makaley began High School and Kauy started Middle School.  Excuse me but it would be nice if the schools talked to each other about scheduling parent night, paper work, and supplies.  By the end of the first week, I had not seen my house but on a Wednesday night,, had writers cramps, and was just about flat broke!  Can we say that since August to today, I have purchased my High Schooler 10 T-shirts!!!  TEN.  For the love........I will be able to make everyone in our family a t-shirt quilt when she graduates!  Yes, that is in 4 years just so you know.  Kauy had to have a zillion supplies for his saxophone.  And for those of you who have children or grandchildren who want to be in the band, have them play tuba.  All you buy is the mouthpiece.  A sax mouthpiece was 149.00. That was a three digit number with two zeroes after it. Still broke...
Pigs began coming in, excitement filled the air and then it happened.  Makaley had to look me in the eye(seriously since she is my heighth) and say these words to me....Mom, you were right.  Band is so fun and I love it.  Guys, I almost had that put on the billboard alongside I20.  She marches every Friday night, and Kauy and I go to every game. Here again she invited me to chaperon the bus to one game, and then asked if I could chaperon to the State UIL Marching contest when they went in November. I couldn't say No...so off we went.  The short versions is...Kauy was left behind to tend hogs and attend school.  I was assigned Makaley's bus and her room at the hotel.  The first night we were there, the girls had a swimming pool size leak in their room.  After getting them to their new room and finally getting back into my bed, the fire alarm went off in the hotel and there was a voice in my "dream" saying "We have detected an emergency in the building, please do exit using the stairs"  So...down the stairs we go only to notice that my daughter was not down the stairs.  Up I run to floor 3 (glad to have lost some weight so I could do that) only to find that the alarms had not gone off on the third floor.  All the "security" tapes were on the doors.  About that time the alarm went off again and they heard it on the third floor....took only seconds for the tape to rip off.  Although sleep was interrupted, and the temps were high, the kids marched with perfection and few were grumpy. 
The next week, Kauy made the UIL Social Studies team and I immediately told him that I would travel with him too.  He wasn't that thrilled.
Now...here we are.  We have pigs in the barn...Squeaker, Throwback, Jorge, Warfare, Swag, Swirl and Rudolph.  Jordan worked hard to find us these guys, and we are excited about them.  We are looking forward to the Major shows that will begin after January. 
It is funny how we measure our lives by the activities that we do. After pig season is over, we will journey down a road that we have never traveled.  Makaley will be having back surgery.  Her scoliosis changed 15 degrees in less than a year.  Moved right on over to the surgery number.  I am very anxious, and she is very ready to have great posture.  We like her surgeon who is at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Please pray for our family.  The part I haven't mentioned is that my cousin Brandi is working toward victory over Breast Cancer.  She is giving Uncle Timmy a run for his money on the shiniest scalp!  My sister Traci is working hard to finish her dissertation for her Dr. degree, and was recently in a wreck with a goober so they had to purchase a new car, and now we prepare for Makaley to have surgery.  We are ALL good....acting like my precious Grandmother and laughing our way through it.  God will provide for our needs....doctors with steady hands, doctors with the right knowledge, cars, and friends to help us through. 
This has been long I know.  AND...Suzie, it may be another 8 months before I do this again, but I hope not.  I hope we will have winning pigs and then I will have a week of just sitting with Makaley and will try to blog her progress along with the before and after pictures.
May you...those of you who read this crazy blog be blessed with many blessings this Holiday season.  Now you may hit the red X at the top right corner!  lol

I have been out of the house more than Once!!!

Back in October, my life long (40 years this August)friend Suzie was given the best birthday present ever by her husband. Today, months later, I am still at a loss for words when I think about her birthday present that she shared with me. Suzie and Bobby know that I can never repay them for the things they do for me and the kids, but I do know that God will continue to bless them way beyond their wildest dreams because He knows that they do it because they love. They love Him, and they love others....a deep loving for other people. Anyway, I could go on about those two forever......Suzie chose the location, booked the flights, hotel room, activities, and then did exactly what I like....told mewhat to bring and when to be ready. I would love to tell you the details, BUT...like they say: What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas! I will say this much, Martina McBride even made her concert (a large conference room at a resort) all about friendship. The two plays contained "friendship" and the ladies at the spa talked about never having a friendship that spanned this many years. I smile today when I think of that weekend away from "mom would you..?"

Just this week was my next "leaving on a jet plane" moment! I gathered up some "guts" and went to Washington DC with 41 teenagers. Yep may I say we were loaded with hormones and testosterone! I was short on both of those, but not short on fun! We had a blast. The weather was amazing, and the cherry blossoms were in full force. This is the 100th year for the cherry blossom celebration. Afraid there will not be many blossoms left when they have the actual celebration, but we enjoyed them.

I survived. Makaley survived! We both enjoyed new friendships as well as already strong relationships. We did all of the "normal" touring stuff, but it was our bus driver who made it the best trip. Joe was a history buff. On his days off, he researches for new information about the town, the memorials, the buildings, the people, and anything else he can find. He was our tour guide at the Cemetery. I would have to say that the cemetery was my favorite. Not because I am a lover of cemetaries (although my grandmother thought no vacation was complete without visiting the cemetery because you could learn so much there) but because of the different emotions I experienced there. Pride...Amazement...Sadness...Pride...hurt...and more Pride. We were part of the wreath laying ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Solider. As they played taps, tears ran down my cheeks. The thoughts running through my mind were of family and friends as well as solders who I don't even know but because I know the pain of loosing someone you love so dearly, I understand a moment of a family's pain. Do you know the words to that simple tune? "Day is done...Gone the sun...From the lakes from the hills from he sky....All is well....safely rest....God is nigh." 24 notes that make my skin stand at attention and my hand automatically find a place over my heart. The solider didn't have to ask. After the ceremony, we exited the steps only to find ourselves witness to flag draped casket being carried to its resting place in a wagon pulled by a team of horses, and a military band marching ahead. Soon we heard the band then the sound of the 21 gun salute. Again, it was one the greatest places to be because of the history that never stops. My other place of awe was the memorial to those at the Pentagon on 9/11. Wow...that is an amazing tribute.

We walked and walked and walked. We listened, learned and loved. We ate wonderful meals(one night was all the fresh fish we could muster), and practiced our friendly Texas ways. Those people in Washington don't know what to do with 41 teenagers and 10 sponsors who say "hello", "hi", "how are you" when passing on the sidewalk. Students thanked those in military dress. And again they would just look at us with those sceptic eyes. Don't understand those Texans.
On my return, I realized again how much I miss my grandmother. She would have loved to spend the day with Makaley listening to every little word she said and combing through all of the photos. She would have even listened to the personal stories of the guys getting stuck in the baggage claim, the girls with the drama, the girls she hung with, the sponsor who wanted to roll down hills (don't know that person!) and any other little things that were important to her great-granddaughter. She was the one who for the first time in a long time said that we should spend the money, get on an airplane and fly 1300 plus miles to a city where there are hundreds on the street at a time, guards at every location, and strangers in charge of our lives for 4 days. (My family will understand that) She was so happy we were going. So Matt...we loved it! We had a blast. And, yes, Obama was at the White House. The kids were told he was the person in the window on the west wing (one had a very good camera and took a picture) but no Matt....I couldn't give him a piece of my mind.

Lessons in Life

On December 3 2011, we lost one of the greatest teachers of my time. She was born on Feb. 28, 1916. She taught her first years with just an 8th grade education. She received her GED in 1971 but her teaching stlye didn't change. She never taught in a classroom although her lessons were carried into my room on a regular basis. She was and is....my grandmother!!! I want to honor her by sharing a very very small portion of what she taught me. It is just a short novel.
She taught me the art of cooking. We perfected mud pies. Forget icing, I had Johnson grass, dried fruit,grass and honeysuckle for decoration. I didn't have to eat them thank goodness. She made thebest desserts for Sunday lunch, birthdays and gatherings. My favorite? hmmm apricot cobbler (you know you have to cook the left over crust with cinnamon and sugar on it), banana pudding(no instant pudding used), and her strawberry cake. The strawberry cake was always the best part of the birthday celebration. You never knew what would be in the center. Her best strawberry cake had a used medicine bottle filled with cash hidden in the center under all the icing.
And speaking cooking, she was not just the dessert chef . Let's talk red beans, fried chicken and pea salad. I sometimes think Kelly married me for her fried chicken. After he and I had been dating for about a year, my sister, my room mate and I blindfolded our boyfriends and took them on a picnic. My precious grandmother had made fried chicken and mashed taters. We hadn't gone far when Kelly said something about smelling her chicken. Yep...we each married our date....I am sure the chicken helped. Her #1 rule for cooking: It isn't done until the smoke alarm goes off!
She taught me all about fashion and dressing for success. On Sunday afternoon after church and lunch, the granddaughters would head to the middle bedroom for "dress up and modeling". We were styling because no matter what we selected to wear, we had the accessories to go with it. Matching shoes, hat, purse and sometimes gloves. My favorite....the hot pink suit with hat! Later after I was "gainfully employed" she would say to me...."be sure you wear nice clothes to school. Save the jeans for later. Look professional and you will be respected."
She taught me about "putting on my face" as she called it. During church on Sundays,I would place my head in her lap, and she would "pretend" to put makeup on my face. Patting on the foundation(keeps wrinkles at bay), lining my eyes and lashes, lining and applying lipstick. To this day, I don't use a downward motion while putting anything on my face. Gravity does enough of that!
She taught me to care for pets. My class at school had the "hatching chicken" lesson going on. When it ended we had a chicken with no where to go so my grandmother took her. Henny Penny became the "watch chicken" Even I feared her. She even made the newspaper about every other year. This chicken didn't know how to get off the roost. Iwould have been more than happy to let her rot there after she flogged me a couple of times. But my grandmother lovingly put her on the roost and took her off daily. Years later, she inherited a poodle (Buffy) who had a trust fund. That precious puppy had painted nails, bows, and Grandy's chicken often.
She taught me about Jesus. In the back bedroom of the house was the chest of drawers that is now in my garage. In the big bottom drawer was her stash of Bible lesson materials. We would tell Bible stories on the side of the bed using the bedspread as the flannel board. And in the bathroom for as long as I can remember....sat one of her Bibles. After she got her GED she would read in there. Go ahead, laugh...bet you read in the bathroom too. You would find a Bible by the bed also. One time she told me that she read the entire Bible yearly. Her life showed that in so many ways.
She taught me to be nosey. Living on a busy street, she would have many sirens go whirling by. Many a time we would hop in the car and follow because...well, we might know the people.
She taught me to dance. We bunny hopped through the house on Sunday, waltzed on Saturday, and jigged anytime we were happy. And if we were in the store passing through the "music" department, you just had to know that she was going to cut the rug right there in front of God and everybody in the middle of Montgomery Ward or Sears. Yep, I became the great Houdini...I could hide just about anywhere! She joked about us playing "Prop me up side the Jukebox when I die" at her funeral.
She taught me about love. Even though her husband passed away when I was just 6, my grandmother remained married to Frank Moran until the day she went to meet Jesus. Just last year the minister had those to stand who had been married for more than 5 years. She stood and I was okay with that. Then those married more than 10 remain standing. He continued on and on and she continued to stand. He said something to her about it and she announced to the auditorium something about still married to Frank Moran. She told me stories about starching and ironing his shirts because she wanted him to think about her every time he put one on. And she told me how she gave in to him so that my mom could have her name. She cried with me when Kelly died and without saying one word, I knew she understood my broken heart. She taught me about the love between a mother and her daughter as she cared for her elderly mom during Mother Ray's final years. She taught me about the love between siblings as she rejoiced over a card or call from each one,delighted in going for a visit or wept as she learned of their passing. She loved her last living sibling even when the rest of us thought she wasn't extremely lovable.
She attempted to teach me to see the best in every one. I am still in the early lessons for that one. She always encouraged me practice forgiveness. I am not certain that I could find one person that she held a grudge against. And when things weren't going her way, she would find some way to flip it into something humorous. She preached that life was too short to sit around and mope!
She taught me to drive! and my sister threatened to tell my great grandmother on her during one lesson(I was in the 6th grade)! I know to keep chicken wire in the car so you can get out of the snow drifts. Keep both hands on the wheel. And always chew gum when you drive on long trips. We traveled together many many times. I was her traveling buddy.
She taught me to be a protector. There were many nights that she would come stay with me when things just weren't right or I would come to her house. She always chased away the "boogie man". We once were stranded in Sweetwater Texas because of an ice storm. Since hotels were full, we ended up in a two story house with tons of "junk" in the attic with us. She instructed me to go to sleep, and she would wake me up if the house caught on fire.
She taught me that age is NOTHING and your heart holds it all. Dance till you can't move any longer. Love till you breathe your last. Trust in the One who created you. Drive till the paint wears off. Leave the handicapped spots for those older than you...you need the exercise even at 95. When you go, don't look back or stop to throw salt over your shoulders. When you depart this world, leave a legacy. A legacy of love, respect,pride and strength. Live so that when people say your name in years to come, that they can't say it without a smile on their face and "jig" dancing in their heart!
Love you Matt.....I missed calling you to wish you a happy birthday, but I know you celebrated in style. I have a smile on my face, a jig in my heart and a quiver in my chin.

Oh yes I did!

This has been a great week. Not once but twice my friend of 39 years (this month) has been in my very dirty home to spend the night. I love spending time with her and her family!
This morning after Suzie and Nikki left, I put on my big girl panties (true size) and headed into the "tax free jungle". (Oh yest I did)Not because I was planning on saving a load of money (I had some great coupons) or because I wanted to be like all the other goobers in the world, but I went because I suddenly realized that I needed shoes for both kids and feared that IF I waited until tomorrow I would be unable to fine those shoes,and there might be no more jeans my daughter's size. (she is a teen and very picky!) So, We called Aunt Traci and faced the day. We hit the mall which wasn't too bad. We shopped several stores and then ate.(the eating is another story...had to go home later due to what I ate). At one point we decided to go into Victoria's Secret. My son was looking at the back of his new DVD and didn't realize where we were until we went into the store. At that point there was sheer panic on his face. The scene was as follows:

Kauy: Mom, No, No way am I going into this store. Please No. (he is the one who hides his eyes during the commercials and then asks if it is legal to put that on daytime TV)
Me: It will be okay just a few minutes.
Kauy: No, Mom NO
Me: Noticing two teenage boys standing just inside the door waiting for someone, I said to Kauy: You stay here with these two guys. Don't go anywhere. You two guys...you are in charge of him. Don't teach him to drool.(Oh yes I did!) Everyone laughs...I go deeper into the store.
So, Traci, Makaley and I are looking at a few things, and I hear the sensors at the front of the store go off. Then, I hear it again two more times,and one of the ladies head to the front quickly. She approaches my son whose eyes are huge. she looks at him and says: "Sir, I will need to search your bag". Makaley says: "For what, a bra?" I am laughing because I KNOW that my son has nothing lacy,frilly nor does he have Victoria's sexy secret in his bag! He won't even touch my underwear to do laundry. Makaley is beside herself because she knows how he acts at home to anything that isn't his whitey tighties. So they search his bag which contains the DVD and his new lego man. What they finally figure out is that when he came into the store, he had his DVD in his hand covering up the sensor, but when he put it back into the sack and stepped in front of the sensor,there was nothing to block the detectors hence, the alarms go off. And since he is a little on the inquisitive side, he moved in front of the sensors to see if he really was causing them to go off....hence it goes off three times.
He will probably never step back in there again. When he marries, his wife will have to do her own shopping there. I am sure he is scarred for life.
On the way home (about 2 hours later) the kids are talking about how much fun they had today trying on things, looking, and being silly. Suddenly, Kauy says, "And what lessons can we learn from today?" Makaley makes her statement; Traci hers, and I finish up and ask him what his answer is.
"Victoria's Secrets's detectors are messed up. Of course...that store is messed up!"
All in all....the jungle today was bearable because "oh yes I did....have fun!"