AN EMPTY PLACE AT THE TABLE

MEMORIAL DAY brings back lots of memories--back to OUR days in the service of our country. Yes, I said OUR, and that was brought back so vividly yesterday.

Sunday, the day before Memorial day--Got up in the morning (a beautiful Nevada day, no wind) got ready, made sure my Memorial Day poppy was securely fastened to the zipper on my purse and went to church. We celebrated Trinity Sunday with a rousing version of Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty and ended the service with America the Beautiful.

Later that afternoon I was invited to a bar b q at Amanda's. Reality is about to strike. We had a great dinner with the American menu of Hot Dogs, hamburgers, chips and dips, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob
and 4 desserts as only Amanda can make them. there were about twelve of us there, all good friends, but something (or should I say someone) was missing.

James should have been there. He is Amanda's husband, and Brianna's daddy. James was deployed in January and has spent these past months on Okinawa. He should be coming home sometime in July and then he will probably be deployed to Afghanistan or some other choice spot. You see, James is a United States Marine. Yep, one of those guys who has devoted his life to seeing tha t we keep our freedom.

We were somewhere between dinner and dessert when we heard a funny noise. Brianna, age 2, heard it too and ran running to the lap top yelling DADDY, DADDY DADDY. It brought tears to my eyes, she was talking to her daddy via skype, showing him her latest dance, telling him she loved him, and saying Daddy come home. You see our servicemen aren't the only ones who serve our country, their families and their friends who wait at home also serve. I know how I felt when my husband of 2 months spent the next 18 months in Okinawa. We didn't have Skype then and a phone call on our first anniversary cost $12 a minute so let me say

THANK YOU TO JAMES AND ALL THE JAMES'S EVERYWHERE AND TO THEIR FAMILIES WHO STAY AT HOME AND WAIT AND WORRY. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FALLEN HEROES. YOU ARE ALL HEROES TO ME AND BECAUSE OF YOU I CAN SAY MY PRAYERS AND SLEEP PEACEFULLY TONIGHT

GOD BLESS YOU EVERYONE

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS

Hmmm, not exactly sure I want to write this blog today. I am so afraid I disappointed so many people this weekend,maybe disappointed isn't the word, maybe p o'd decribes it better, but I will tell my story and when I am done, I will decided whether to post it or not.

This weekend was "Women of Faith" weekend here in Las Vegas, also Saturday night was t he night of our annual fund raiser for the mine. Having never attended WOF I was eager to go. I knew it would be a very busy week-end, preceded by a rather busy week(for me, anyhow) of Dr''s appts as well as a bone density t est and mamogram. Just
routine tests done annually, but none the less time consuming.

The Friday session of WOF started at 10 am and ending at 9:30 pm, followed by Sat session at 9 am ending at 5:30 pm, with the gala starting at 6 pm. Sound busy yet? While my mind said " you can do it" my almost 80 yr old body was laughing so hard. Kind of sounded like God laughing when I tell Him my plans for my life.

We arrived at the Thomas and Mack stadium with time to spare. Those of you who have visited the T & M know that you take the escalator or stairs to the concourse at the top and find your aisle and enter there and find your seats.

Praise the Lord, our aisle #118 was just across the concourse from the front doors. I just knew we would have to walk completely around the arena, but no we were right there. The aisle starts at row Z and goes straight down, and I do mean straight down. Those of you who know me well, know that I don't do that straight down thing well Oh, did I mention our seats were in the A row? Yup, you guessed it AwwwwwwwwwwwwwL the way down. Grasping tight to the railing, I was prepared. The railing lasted for about 3 steps and then a break before the next railing started. Oh trust me I was not the only one not liking this. I finally got down to A and decided neither hell nor high water was going to induce me to make that trip again.

The morning was inspirational. The worship team was great, speakers Sheila Walsh and Marcus Buckingham were motivational, had a great sense of humor and inspiring. Lunch, which several members of our group went and picked up was OK. We had a great dinner planned, so lunch was just something to tide us over.

Now it was time for the afternoon session. Of course, right POTTY TIME. Can I hold out for 3 more hours, be reasonable, I AM almost 80, sometimes it's hard to hold out from the bedroom to the bathroom, 10 steps. Of course my friends from church told me about the tunnel out of the arena to the elevator, which would take me back up to the concourse for the bathrooms. I dont understand why row A is NOT at the floor level, but there are at least 10 more rows below A. No, sorry I don't know what they are called. I walked down the rest of the stairs In my aisle they had a railing, in other aisles they did not and I understand on Saturday someone (not from our group) actully did fall down some of those last stairs and was ambulanced out of there. Fortunately I had a rail and used it wisely. A very looooooooooong walk thru the tunnel and winding around the hallowed halls I did find the elevator, manned by a character who was a cross between Rip Torn and Captain Kangaroo. He told me he was a 70 year old going on 39 and i countered with I was a 79 year old going on 40 and as I left the elevator he said "I love an older woman with a sense of humor"

Ok back for the end of the session. Now it was time to climb up those stairs so when you get to the top you can go down to street level again. Make sense? Yeah, sure!

Our group had decided to go to the Hofbrau House for dinner Did I mention there were about 60 of us. The HH had reserved tables for us and we had our own menu. Delicious. But during the course of the meal I knew I could not to the steps at the Thomas and Mack again that day, and decided to save my energy for Saturday.. We had lots of time between sessions, so Wendy drove me back to my car (parked at church) and I went home which was a good thing because I hate driving at night.

getting up t he next morning was a real project, every bone, every muscle told me I am not a kid anymore. I called my friend and said I was not going. I absolutely could not do that again. Besides, I had the gala that night.
Well, to make a long story short (a short pause for a long laugh) About half an hour before my friends were coming to pick me up the that event, I called them and begged off.

So my friends, if you are disappointed or even mad at me, please at least applaud the fact that i know my own limitations. I love you all an d I am thrilled when people tell me I don't look my age, but please understand that sometimes even tho the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. I think someone much wiser that me said that once.

Love you and God bless!

COME CELEBRATE WITH ME.........................

It was a rough close to 2009, and so far no better in 2010. I lost many good close friends this past year and
heard many heartbreaking stories of people suffering. I was not sorry to see last year go. I looked forward to
the fresh start of a New Year. I was looking forward to helping Carter celebrate his 3rd birthday at Disneyland and to see our Katie tu rn two. Our friend Nichoel and her boyfriend planning a wedding at the Wayfarer's Chapel, located on the Pacific Ocean, with McKenna and Gavin serving as flower girl and ring bearer.

All these events are happy events and went off as planned. Had a great time in Anaheim with a couple of tours to Corona to see Luke, Maggie and Gavin, as well as the parents, but the Biegers had to cancel due to some sort of bug that had infiltrated their household. We were sorry not to see them, but were happy they were not willing to share their germs. Carter and Bennett and parents and grandparents enjoyed two days at Disneyland, while Greatgrandma, that's me, vegged out at the hotel, sat by the pool, and even ordered up room service one night. I loved it. After a week of rain it was wedding time and thank you God, the w







eather was clear and bright, too bright, the sun created such a reflection on the ocean, pictures with that beautiful setting were impossible. Didn't darken the spirits of the bride and groom tho. The wedding was beautiful, the
reception was fun and the food was good. McKenna and Gavin danced the night away. Another good weekend.

BUT............And there always seems to be a but, in these few short weeks since Jan. 1st, I have lost several good friends, attended memorial services (or missed them because I was in Calif.) learned of two more people diagnosed with the big C and just this past weekend got downed by some bug of my own (feeling better tho)
oh yes, my TV developed a mind of its own turn it on and it will kick in anywhere in the next 24 hr period and then shut off whenever it feels like it. Dawn and Chip graciously donated their bedroom tv to me ( I think they want to get a flat screened one) and came out and hooked it up. Sure enough, I felt so lousy I stayed in my room and watched the little one most of the weekend. This morning my first e mail was to notify me of another friend's passing and the second one was warning me if I didn't read the whole thing and forward it to all my friends bad things would happen to me. I deleted it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, you are probably wondering why I am celebrating?

I was sitting here feeling pretty sorry for myself, when I looked at my calendar, and thought hmmm, I should change it, it is February, yo u know. February 1st and my mind drifted back to another
February 1st, 1982. 28 years ago when I had a radical mastectomy and God has seen fit to keep me cancer free all these years and I realize God does have a plan and who am I to question HIM.
I love him and he loves me. Lord, thank you for my life and thank you for my friends and family.. I know you have aplan for all of us and I ask that you receive my friends into your loving care and comfort those who have lost friends and family and hold my friends who are battling illnesses in your healing hands. AMEN

CHRISTMAS PRACTISE

Christmas is such a busy time of year, and so much gets lost in the shuffle. I like staying home for Christmas, I am comfortable at my own church, and this year I will be doing the power point at all 5 Christmas Eve Services. The comment was made that even the pastors don't do all five, but as I pointed out, (no pun intended) they have to stand and speak, I get to sit and hit a button. Dawn and Chip will be going to New Mexico for Christmas and so I decided to go to So.
Calif to practise Christmas there.

We (I) picked a weekend and it was compatible with all concerned, so I decided I would drive down to Corona on Saturday and come home on Monday. Driving was pretty much the only option as I had so much to take with me, and the airlines don't like that so drive, I will. I planned to leave on Saturday morning and we would all get together for dinner on Saturday nite. As usual, the best laid plans, etc, etc, etc. The weather chose not to cooperate. Remember, I have to drive thru the Cajon Pass, which can be tricky in bad weather. It had turned cold earlier in the week and we had an all day rain (unusual for our area). It cleared up later in the week, but a big storm was predicted for Saturday, so on Thursday, I decided I would leave on Friday and avoid the storm.

I planned to leave around 9 AM, but again, fate stepped in and I was still in Henderson at 10:30 am. Not too bad, got rolling and it was cloudy and threatening, but by the time I got to the state line the sun was shining and it was beautiful. A tad chilly, but good driving conditio ns. So with a Christmas CD and God in the passenger seat, we had a good trip. Got to Barstow and the clouds ahead were very threatening, but I pushed on. Darker and darker as we approached Victorville, with a murky looking bank of fog (smog) on the horizon. There is one really steep downgrade coming down from the pass, where we literally passed thru the clouds, it was a brief
period of time, but it was so eerie --almost like slow motion and weird--and then those clouds were hovering over m y head. No rain, but strange. Others must have felt the same way I did as everyone was driving rather slowly and I did not see even one crazy person. T hank you God. Got in some stop and go traffic between the 60 a nd the 91, but truly again, no nuts. Must have been no California drivers on the 15 that day. Arrived at Beth's in Corona about 2:45.

Mel and the kids came and got me and I went over and had dinner with them. Beth and Tony had a Christmas party to go to. Melanie made a pot roast with potatoes and we had a really good visit. Such fun seeing the kids and their parents.

Saturday morning Beth and I went back to Melanie and Brian's as Beth was babysitting. We had fun with the kids and Beth even taugh t them a new game. She put her I phone on a timer and
we had a contest to see if luke or gavin would keep quiet the longest. Luke won, he went over 8 minutes.

We came back for dinner later on Saturday and the Biegers came over (they actually picked up the dinner and brought it with them. Three delicious pasta dishes, salad and bread. the kids were anxious for presents, which Santa had brought while we were babysitting and that silly man in the red suit dumped them in my trunk so we had to bring them over.

I believe I forgot to mention that the weatherman called it correctly and it rained all day Saturday, sometimes a light rain, but of course everytime we had to be out in it, it was pouring.
After dinner the rain had let up a little bit and the kids wanted to go carolling. Beth, Melanie and Shannon took McKenna, Luke and Kyla and Gavin and went to the neighbor's houses, singing for them and then leaving them gifts. Of course the further away they got, the harder it poured, so they had to give up and come home. Our house was the last house they carolled at and they were so cute, singing their hearts out and looking like drowned puppies. Maggie came and stood next to my while the sang her song "Tinky Bells, HAY!" (Jingle Bells) Oh what fun. Poor Mags had lost her voice, so she could only "shine" her eyes were shining, her smile was shining and she was just enjoying the whole thing.

Now, it was present time. The girls got bracelets and the boys got roadbots and lots of candy.
Maggie can tell you that you cannot take a giant gumdrop and put it in your mouth all at one time, you have to take bites. Kids were place in new pajamas (getting out of their wet clothes)
Dessert time for the grown-ups, some photo ops, kids worn out from carolling and grandma looking like she had been out in the rain way too long, but love filling the air. Even Katie looked at me this time, didn't smile, but didn't look down either.


Where does the weekend go? It's Sunday already. Beth and I met Sherri for lunch and then met Melanie an Gavin at the Menswear shop where Gavin was measured for his "suxedo" He and
McKenna are going to be in Nichoel's wedding in January. I think Melanie is still in "sticker shock over the price of renting a tuxedo.

Sunday was a beautiful day, and promises of good weather to come. I planned to go home on Monday, and was able to get away on time. 9AM was the plan and I was home and had the car unpacked by 12:40. Very little traffic and very little wind.

Thanks for sharing our Christmas Practise with me, Now we are all prepared for the REAL thing
and GOD BLESS US EVERYONE

A STOLEN THANKSGIVING POEM

They caught me by surprise one night
and oh my heart was full of fright!
They threw me in a big old pot
And boy, the water was very hot
I knew I would have a very short night
Oh Oh, here comes the knife
But, it stops and they say "grace"
Now here it comes, finally at last
and all the pain is long gone past
It's now a battle I have lost
along with corn and cranberry sauce
THE END

A STOLEN THANKSGIVING POEM:

NOVEMBER/THANKSGIVING

I guess everyone has a month in their lives that they would like to skip over each year and get it over with. November has long been that month for me. It is a bittersweet month for me, one in which I lost many people I loved very much. Oh yes, I have lost people in other months, too, but November is the one I don't like the
most.

I LOVE holidays, so it doesn't seem fair, but that's why it is "bittersweet" I am grateful for my life, my friends,
and most of all for my family. God has been good to me and blessed me in so many ways. In a recent visit to
Idaho, our relationships with many of Wayne's family were renewed. Our facebook relationships, too, have taken us to a new level with being able to communicate more closely with family and friends separated by miles, yet connected thru the internet.

I am always reminded at this time of year of those I miss so very much. Let me tell you about two Thanksgivings that come to mind:

The first was in 1982 (I hope I got that year right) It was Thanksgiving, and everyone had gathered at our house on Shipman to celebrate the holiday. Not too much stands out in my mind about tha t Thanksgiving being any different from many others, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. It was the Tuesday following the
holiday that I got a frantic call from my mom, saying "Dorothy, something has happened to your Dad, can
you come over?" Yes, my Dad had slipped away quietly during the night. Thinking back to the T hursday
before, I recalled my dad and mom leaving our house and Dad kissed me good-bye, Not unusual, we always
kissed when saying good-bye, but what was unusual, he also hugged me, and said "This was the best Thanksgiving ever, Thank you" I never spoke to my dad again.

Then a few years later, another Thanksgiving is etched in my mind and heart. My wonderful husband of 35
years had just passed away, the week before the holiday. It is ironic that this year, 22 years later, the calendar is identical to 1987. On the 1st of November, an ambulance came and took Wayne back to the hospital. His cancer was winning.l It was a tough 19 days, with many calls to t he family that today could be
the day. Rev. Box, the chaplain at the hospital said, just t ake it one day at a time, look forward to Thanksgiving, but in my heart I knew that was not going to be. On Thursday, the 19th, one week before the
celebration of Thanksgiving, I had been at the hospital all day, as I had been the other 18 days. Beth and
Henry decided to take me out for dinner to give me a break, and said they would bring me back to the hospit al
later, if I wanted to come. We went to Coco's, a place Wayne and I had gone a lot, and the manager came up
and asked us where Wayne was. We explained the situation to him and the next thing we knew the waitress came up and told us the manager had paid for our dinner. Henry (always thinking ahead) said where can we go tomorrow nite and do the same thing.

Well, it got to be pretty late, so I went on home, planning to return to the hospital first t hing in the morning when about an hour later I got "t he call". Of course, guilt set in, but in my heart I knew I wasn't supposed to be there, and he was in the best hands, all the nurses who lovingly cared for him in his last days. Dr. Rohde later told me that after he had passed away, you couldn't find a nurse on the floor. Several attended his funeral service. dr. R said it was an honor and a privilege to have served as his doctor. He made dying dignified.

Thanksgiving was courtesy of K-Mart that year. They had donated all the food to the hospital, and Rev Box (Ray) had thought of us.

Yes, truly a bittersweet time, sadly missing all our loved ones who have gone on ahead, but loving the ones who are still around to love. Count your blessings and and hug those close to you

HAPPY THANKSGIVING