One of my Minnesota Bible study friends...who was actually from Pennsylvania!...gave me the most clever gift one year for my birthday. I came across the "survival kit for life" list while looking for another list I kept..."crazy things I was asked while working in a church office"...didn't find that one...but will keep looking until I find it. It will make for a most comical blog!
So the "survival kit for life" is a list of items that you can easily carry in your purse...and the explanation as to why you may need them...and it goes like this...
Toothpick...To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. MATTHEW 7:1
Rubber band...To remind you to be flexible, things may not always go your way, but they will work out. ROMANS 8:28
Band-Aid...To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's. COLOSSIANS 3:12-14
Pencil...To remind you to list your blessings every day. EPHESIANS 1:3
Eraser...To remind you that everyone makes mistakes and that it's okay. GENESIS 50:15-21
Gum...To remind you to stick with it, and you can accomplish anything with God. PHILIPPIANS 4:1
Mint...To remind you that you are worth a mint. JOHN 3:16
Hug and Kiss (Hershey's candies)...To remind you that everyone needs a hug and kiss every day. 1 JOHN 4:7
Teabag...To remind you to relax daily and to go over that list of blessings.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
Thanks, Sal, for giving this list to me! I hope that all of you find it to be valuable!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A little bird told me....
Once upon a time one of my sweet little birds may have mentioned that my wardrobe needed to be updated. You know what it's like...you get comfortable in the old blue sweatpants with the elastic at the ankles...the teeshirt you have had since high school...and the sneakers that you have several pairs of the same style...all in varying stages of wear...one for "good"...one for "workout" and one for "working in the yard".
I know I am not alone here...because the other day at the hairdressers I sat next to a woman that had on the same sneakers that I wore for years. And in discussing the "comfortableness" (is that a word???) of them, she, too, mentioned having several pairs. I used to get a new pair every year for Christmas! After much prodding by my children I did finally ditch the sneakers and tried a pair a bit more "in the now".
Now I have tried several different brands of sneakers but have not...as of this point in time...ever found a pair as comfortable as the originals. But, for the sake of keeping the peace at home, I will not go back!
After all...nothing ever stays the same. And I do enjoy being experimental...like the time I had red hair! Ohhhhhhhhhh...so daring!
So, it was time to give my page a "new look". You like????
I know I am not alone here...because the other day at the hairdressers I sat next to a woman that had on the same sneakers that I wore for years. And in discussing the "comfortableness" (is that a word???) of them, she, too, mentioned having several pairs. I used to get a new pair every year for Christmas! After much prodding by my children I did finally ditch the sneakers and tried a pair a bit more "in the now".
Now I have tried several different brands of sneakers but have not...as of this point in time...ever found a pair as comfortable as the originals. But, for the sake of keeping the peace at home, I will not go back!
After all...nothing ever stays the same. And I do enjoy being experimental...like the time I had red hair! Ohhhhhhhhhh...so daring!
So, it was time to give my page a "new look". You like????
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sisterhood of the "Pee your Pants"
I love my sisters. I have two of them...Marcia (Marcia, Marcia, Marcia or M3)and Carol (Sissy). Whenever we are together we always seem to get a giggle fit about something. Nothing better than a good knee slappin', snortin', cryin', pee your pants giggle fit. It is good for the soul, and some say your health.
Several years ago we made a promise to get together more often...just the three of us. We managed to do some really fun things together on a pretty regular basis, then I moved to the land of snow. It was a little hard to stay connected, but every time I came back home we managed to at least go to dinner together.
So, since moving home over a year ago...can you believe that one!!...we are finally settling in to a routine of a once a month connection...at least we are trying! A few weeks ago we bundled up and took a bus into NYC for the day. As always...we had several giggle fits.
Now, I could bore you with the details of all of them, but I know that during the translation a lot of the humor will be lost. You know what they say..."guess you had to be there". So I will just fill you in on the one at the Lincoln Center.
While waiting in line to use the ladies room...why is there always a line for the ladies and not the mens?...you would think someone would have remedied that problem by now!...we saw a very funny "optical illusion"..of sorts. The door to the ladies room was propped open. Directly inside was a wall of mirrors...and a counter. The "facilities" were off to the left...at least that was what we thought.
My sister, Carol, was the first in line and all of a sudden turned around giggling so hard it was a good thing we were so close to the bathroom. What she saw...or thought she saw reflected in the wall of mirrors...was a woman sitting in a bathroom stall with the door open...reading a paper! Behind the open door to the ladies room was a chair. The woman was sitting there relaxing...reading the daily news...minding her own business...not even knowing we were looking at her and doubling over in laughter. The reflection Carol saw in the mirror was of a woman sitting on the pot reading a newspaper with her stall door wide open. I know, it lost a lot in the translation...but it was funny!!!!
Another thing we observed while standing in line was the most unusual...I use that word out of kindness...sweater I have ever seen. A woman had on a home-made...obviously...knit sweater with a crocheted doily attached to the center of the back of it. Interesting way to use old doilies. I never saw the front but I am hoping that she did not have two smaller ones attached there! :)
Well, in NY...anything goes!!! Maybe she started a new fashion trend??
Looking forward to our next adventure...stay tuned!
Several years ago we made a promise to get together more often...just the three of us. We managed to do some really fun things together on a pretty regular basis, then I moved to the land of snow. It was a little hard to stay connected, but every time I came back home we managed to at least go to dinner together.
So, since moving home over a year ago...can you believe that one!!...we are finally settling in to a routine of a once a month connection...at least we are trying! A few weeks ago we bundled up and took a bus into NYC for the day. As always...we had several giggle fits.
Now, I could bore you with the details of all of them, but I know that during the translation a lot of the humor will be lost. You know what they say..."guess you had to be there". So I will just fill you in on the one at the Lincoln Center.
While waiting in line to use the ladies room...why is there always a line for the ladies and not the mens?...you would think someone would have remedied that problem by now!...we saw a very funny "optical illusion"..of sorts. The door to the ladies room was propped open. Directly inside was a wall of mirrors...and a counter. The "facilities" were off to the left...at least that was what we thought.
My sister, Carol, was the first in line and all of a sudden turned around giggling so hard it was a good thing we were so close to the bathroom. What she saw...or thought she saw reflected in the wall of mirrors...was a woman sitting in a bathroom stall with the door open...reading a paper! Behind the open door to the ladies room was a chair. The woman was sitting there relaxing...reading the daily news...minding her own business...not even knowing we were looking at her and doubling over in laughter. The reflection Carol saw in the mirror was of a woman sitting on the pot reading a newspaper with her stall door wide open. I know, it lost a lot in the translation...but it was funny!!!!
Another thing we observed while standing in line was the most unusual...I use that word out of kindness...sweater I have ever seen. A woman had on a home-made...obviously...knit sweater with a crocheted doily attached to the center of the back of it. Interesting way to use old doilies. I never saw the front but I am hoping that she did not have two smaller ones attached there! :)
Well, in NY...anything goes!!! Maybe she started a new fashion trend??
Looking forward to our next adventure...stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Taking Inventory
As octogenarians, my Mom and Dad are definitely categorized as being in their "golden years". I have found that my interpretation of the "golden years" was very much the same as my interpretation of the "empty nesters"...way off the mark!
The only information I ever had about these stages of life was negative and came from other people...people who were either experiencing these times themselves or had "heard" of others who had "been there".
When I stepped into the "empty nest" stage of my life I found it to be refreshing...not so bad at all! I found humor in the everyday "brain spasms" I had and even the fact that I have slowed down a bit. But, that's me. There are so many things in this world to worry about that you DO have control over, that worrying about things in God's hands is not worth the time or effort it takes. It's all about faith...I leave that stuff up to Him, and I know that He will take good care of it.
I think my Mom has the same attitude about the "golden years". She takes each day with stride. Although she likes to share each ache and pain with you...each comment from the doctor...which new medication she is on...the dose...the reason she is taking it...yadayadayada...she is for the most part content with her life. After all, that IS her life!
We admitted Mom to the hospital last night as a precautionary measure. She has been fighting a respiratory infection and it has not improved...even with the doctor's mega prescriptions. He felt it best to admit her so that they could monitor her and make sure that pneumonia did not set in.
So her nurse, Doris, was asking her the usual questions for her file...which things had she suffered from in the past or was currently suffering from. As I listened to her answer these questions I realized that she really was in great shape for 86 years old! No history of heart problems...no strokes...no arthritis...no diabetes...no replacements (knee, hip, etc)...only one surgery (gall bladder a few years ago)...good eyesight (although she does have a few cataracts that the doctor "just chooses not to do anything about"...her words)! I commented to the nurse that she could run a marathon if she was not short of breath right now from this infection!
Then she asked Mom if she had dentures. "Nope...they're all mine! As a matter of fact I was just counting them the other day to see how many I still had!"
What a hoot! I laughed until I had tears running down my face...as did my Dad, I might add. She is most definitely living this stage of her life with humor.
Lesson number 1,732,815 learned!
The only information I ever had about these stages of life was negative and came from other people...people who were either experiencing these times themselves or had "heard" of others who had "been there".
When I stepped into the "empty nest" stage of my life I found it to be refreshing...not so bad at all! I found humor in the everyday "brain spasms" I had and even the fact that I have slowed down a bit. But, that's me. There are so many things in this world to worry about that you DO have control over, that worrying about things in God's hands is not worth the time or effort it takes. It's all about faith...I leave that stuff up to Him, and I know that He will take good care of it.
I think my Mom has the same attitude about the "golden years". She takes each day with stride. Although she likes to share each ache and pain with you...each comment from the doctor...which new medication she is on...the dose...the reason she is taking it...yadayadayada...she is for the most part content with her life. After all, that IS her life!
We admitted Mom to the hospital last night as a precautionary measure. She has been fighting a respiratory infection and it has not improved...even with the doctor's mega prescriptions. He felt it best to admit her so that they could monitor her and make sure that pneumonia did not set in.
So her nurse, Doris, was asking her the usual questions for her file...which things had she suffered from in the past or was currently suffering from. As I listened to her answer these questions I realized that she really was in great shape for 86 years old! No history of heart problems...no strokes...no arthritis...no diabetes...no replacements (knee, hip, etc)...only one surgery (gall bladder a few years ago)...good eyesight (although she does have a few cataracts that the doctor "just chooses not to do anything about"...her words)! I commented to the nurse that she could run a marathon if she was not short of breath right now from this infection!
Then she asked Mom if she had dentures. "Nope...they're all mine! As a matter of fact I was just counting them the other day to see how many I still had!"
What a hoot! I laughed until I had tears running down my face...as did my Dad, I might add. She is most definitely living this stage of her life with humor.
Lesson number 1,732,815 learned!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A year of mixed emotions
Well, 2009 is gone. Just like that. I was looking forward to it ending, and hoping that it would not all at the same time. We have had an unbelievable year full of blessings...and great sadness.
But...life moves on.
We moved back "home", built our dream house...filled it up with our little birds and grandlittle birds, rekindled old friendships...life was grand...life was just as it should be. Then it screeched to a halt. We are still feeling the affects of the whiplash. Our lives have been altered...forever. I miss my sweet grandlittle bird, Carter, every minute of every day. There is an empty place in my heart...a place that was reserved for him.
I know I should be focusing on all the blessings in our life...there are way too many to count! God has been so good to us. He has filled our lives with the love of a wonderful family and numerous friends. And He has covered us with His grace to get through our pain and deep sadness.
2010 has arrived. There is no going back. Yes, life moves on.
This year ended an era in the Wilkinson family...the whole Wilkinson family...not just our nest. We have traditionally gathered at the home of D'dad and Namby...my honey's parents...every third Christmas. All the birds flew home to the "mothernest"...brother Andy and his flock, sisters Jenny, Martha and Annie and their flocks. There are around 30 birds, grandlittle birds, and great grandlittle birds. What fun we have had over the years...such wonderful memories we have made!
But, this year was the last year we will all gather in Illinois at the "mothernest". It was an emotional year for me...I have been a part of the Wilkinson family traditions since 1973 when my honey and I started dating. Although we plan to continue to gather at the BlessInn every third Christmas because that will be D'dad and Nam's new address, some of the traditional things that we have come to love will stop or at least be quite different.
Yes, life moves on.
I am thankful for everything the year has brought to us, but I am also happy to say goodbye to a year that ended so tragically. I am thankful to be a part of such a close and loving family with such strong traditions, but am sad to see them end or change.
Wishing us all a happy, healthy 2010 filled with the love of family and friends, and the beginning of new traditions. May God continue to pour his blessings on us all!
But...life moves on.
We moved back "home", built our dream house...filled it up with our little birds and grandlittle birds, rekindled old friendships...life was grand...life was just as it should be. Then it screeched to a halt. We are still feeling the affects of the whiplash. Our lives have been altered...forever. I miss my sweet grandlittle bird, Carter, every minute of every day. There is an empty place in my heart...a place that was reserved for him.
I know I should be focusing on all the blessings in our life...there are way too many to count! God has been so good to us. He has filled our lives with the love of a wonderful family and numerous friends. And He has covered us with His grace to get through our pain and deep sadness.
2010 has arrived. There is no going back. Yes, life moves on.
This year ended an era in the Wilkinson family...the whole Wilkinson family...not just our nest. We have traditionally gathered at the home of D'dad and Namby...my honey's parents...every third Christmas. All the birds flew home to the "mothernest"...brother Andy and his flock, sisters Jenny, Martha and Annie and their flocks. There are around 30 birds, grandlittle birds, and great grandlittle birds. What fun we have had over the years...such wonderful memories we have made!
But, this year was the last year we will all gather in Illinois at the "mothernest". It was an emotional year for me...I have been a part of the Wilkinson family traditions since 1973 when my honey and I started dating. Although we plan to continue to gather at the BlessInn every third Christmas because that will be D'dad and Nam's new address, some of the traditional things that we have come to love will stop or at least be quite different.
Yes, life moves on.
I am thankful for everything the year has brought to us, but I am also happy to say goodbye to a year that ended so tragically. I am thankful to be a part of such a close and loving family with such strong traditions, but am sad to see them end or change.
Wishing us all a happy, healthy 2010 filled with the love of family and friends, and the beginning of new traditions. May God continue to pour his blessings on us all!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Merry Christmas!!
2009 started off with a big move…...
“We’re going back ‘home’, said Lex, “do you approve?”
Patty spent the next months unpacking and then……
Transformation complete - “Money Pit” to “BlessInn”.
Our dream home completed, just one thing to do……
Fill it up with the kiddos and their kiddos, too!!
At Easter the little birds returned to the nest.
Our family time together is always the best!
In May, Jessie came to PA and moved in.
Our nest was less empty, a new chapter begins.
June 10th marked the arrival of our second grandbaby.
Carter Alexander shares his birthday with Auntie Leigh.
The summer was spent with great anticipation.
All the kiddos and grandkiddos came ‘home’ for vacation!
We loved every moment of that time they spent here.
We will cherish those memories year after year.
Before we could blink…...the time flew by too fast……
Cailyn Rose had a birthday - she’s 2!! What a blast!!
She and Carter celebrated the day at Paradise Park,
Then put on Halloween costumes and went with Mommy in the dark!
They had a fun-filled day from morning until night……
Dorothy and the Penguin - oh, what a sight!
Little did we know that the very next day
Would bring a tragedy so great, the words are hard to say.
Our sweet little Carter would be taken from us.
He now rests in the arms of precious Jesus.
We do not know why; we can not understand.
But we trust that somehow this fits into God’s plan.
Our lives are forever changed by this one sad day.
The pain of broken hearts we pray will go away.
But through this all one thing remains the same……
The closeness of our family even with a broken chain.
We are linked together, drawing strength from one another -
Dad, Mom, Cailyn Rose, three sisters and a brother.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that your new year is filled with the love of a precious family, and too many friends to count!
Love,
Lex, Patty, Cailyn Rose, Carrie, Jessie, Leigh and Will,
and baby Carter, forever in our hearts
“We’re going back ‘home’, said Lex, “do you approve?”
Patty spent the next months unpacking and then……
Transformation complete - “Money Pit” to “BlessInn”.
Our dream home completed, just one thing to do……
Fill it up with the kiddos and their kiddos, too!!
At Easter the little birds returned to the nest.
Our family time together is always the best!
In May, Jessie came to PA and moved in.
Our nest was less empty, a new chapter begins.
June 10th marked the arrival of our second grandbaby.
Carter Alexander shares his birthday with Auntie Leigh.
The summer was spent with great anticipation.
All the kiddos and grandkiddos came ‘home’ for vacation!
We loved every moment of that time they spent here.
We will cherish those memories year after year.
Before we could blink…...the time flew by too fast……
Cailyn Rose had a birthday - she’s 2!! What a blast!!
She and Carter celebrated the day at Paradise Park,
Then put on Halloween costumes and went with Mommy in the dark!
They had a fun-filled day from morning until night……
Dorothy and the Penguin - oh, what a sight!
Little did we know that the very next day
Would bring a tragedy so great, the words are hard to say.
Our sweet little Carter would be taken from us.
He now rests in the arms of precious Jesus.
We do not know why; we can not understand.
But we trust that somehow this fits into God’s plan.
Our lives are forever changed by this one sad day.
The pain of broken hearts we pray will go away.
But through this all one thing remains the same……
The closeness of our family even with a broken chain.
We are linked together, drawing strength from one another -
Dad, Mom, Cailyn Rose, three sisters and a brother.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that your new year is filled with the love of a precious family, and too many friends to count!
Love,
Lex, Patty, Cailyn Rose, Carrie, Jessie, Leigh and Will,
and baby Carter, forever in our hearts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Look Who's Stuffed Now!
Well, the little birds and grandlittle bird have all flown away...back to their temporary homes in Minnesota and Missouri. (At least I refer to them as temporary homes...because you can only have one true home...and that is with your mother...and in this case that is in Pennsylvania, right??)
The Thanksgiving decorations are put away...I am slowly replacing them with the Christmas ones, although I am struggling to get "in the mood" this year. The apple and pecan and pumpkin pies have been devoured. The green bean casserole and oyster stuffing enjoyed by just a few...but some traditions you can not stop! Grandma Carrie's strawberry dessert has been successfully mastered by yet another one of her grandchildren. The turkey carcass has once again become the base for a delicious soup. Yum.
So now I am the one stuffed and my refrigerator is bursting at the seams with left-overs. I have delivered containers of food to my parents, my aunt...the sweater maker...and my sister, and I have not put a dent in the supply.
My mom used to tell me I should eat everything on my plate because there were starving children in Africa. Food was not to be wasted. I still suffer from that childhood lesson. That's why I feel guilty about cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing it all away. Instead I just keep eating it...over and over and over. I am stuffed.
Maybe I need to seek professional help.
The Thanksgiving decorations are put away...I am slowly replacing them with the Christmas ones, although I am struggling to get "in the mood" this year. The apple and pecan and pumpkin pies have been devoured. The green bean casserole and oyster stuffing enjoyed by just a few...but some traditions you can not stop! Grandma Carrie's strawberry dessert has been successfully mastered by yet another one of her grandchildren. The turkey carcass has once again become the base for a delicious soup. Yum.
So now I am the one stuffed and my refrigerator is bursting at the seams with left-overs. I have delivered containers of food to my parents, my aunt...the sweater maker...and my sister, and I have not put a dent in the supply.
My mom used to tell me I should eat everything on my plate because there were starving children in Africa. Food was not to be wasted. I still suffer from that childhood lesson. That's why I feel guilty about cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing it all away. Instead I just keep eating it...over and over and over. I am stuffed.
Maybe I need to seek professional help.
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