This is December 1, 2008. Another year is drawing to a close so very fast! As I write, it is snowing outside! We have been getting snow falling now for 2 days! There's more to come yet this week. It is a 'Winter Wonderland' around here for sure! The winter season does not begin until December 21 or 22.
These past 9 days of November we enjoyed with our 4 children and their families here at our house. They were all here before Thanksgiving Day and a few days after. To start the visit was a Notre Dame game at the staduim for six of us and 2 grandchildren. Lots of walking that day was accomplished! The strollers were appreciated. As usual, we enjoyed some local eating places that are favorites for our family. One is a local pizza place, called Harvey Hinkelmeyer's. They have the best pizzas around! Also very good Italian and Mexican foods are served as well as the American favorites. Thanksgiving Day's feast was so very good! All the usual favorite dishes and favorite pies of the season! Also there were many goodies like favorite cookies and candies to munch on for all. Many other favorite meals were enjoyed. Our family games we all enjoyed at one time or another, usually after little ones had gone to bed. The 10 grandchildren had fun interacting with each other. Nora was able to see her cousins that she had not seen in almost a year. All the other cousins live close together and worhsip together and visit often with each other. There were many toys to play with that were our children's toys. The children were able to enjoy some days outside playing with riding toys on the patio as well as shooting some basketballs. The piano was played by 3 granddaughters that are learning to play it. Also Myron enjoyed much time at it entertaining us with easy going music from the 40's and earlier. We sang hymns for our mid week bible study hour. This is always enjoyed by our family, since we love to sing together. Also we did our gift exchange since we wouldn't be together again before the year end. Many fun times with the grandchildren were enjoyed. Our house was a busy palace for several days with the noise of the younger voices keeping days very vibrant! Then each evening it would become very quiet as they would all be put to bed! Each morning would awaken slowly as the little ones would awake and begin their days with each other. Now we are back to just we two. It is very quiet, sometimes too quiet, when we'd love to hear the little voices more often. The toys still are setting untouched where they were left as they all left. We much appreciated the visit together. We'd not have it any other way. The house, toys, and our hearts are looking forward to the next visit in the future. It was that 'Perfect Thanksgiving Visit' until another one comes our way! We have so very much to be thankful for in our children and grandchildren. They all are a joy!
No one works harder than you at those visits! You are constantly doing something all the time to serve the family from cooking and cleaning to holding, feeding and playing with all the grandkids! Thank you for all of it! It was a nice visit with many good memories!
I thought about you when we had your pecan pie at our Thanksgiving dinner...and as usual I get a ton of compliments on it and it always makes me smile as I remember making it with you for the first time!
Now it is the month of November of 2008! It is very hard to believe that turkey month is already upon us! We were given some cold and windy days recently with frost and lows into freezing temperatures. Now we have a few more very nice days with mild temperatures to allow us time to do all those needed chores before it stays colder. I am always so glad to get all of my windows and curtains cleaned for the winter months. That I have finished today and am so relieved! The leaves are still falling. Many trees have been so pretty in color this fall. Now many of our trees in this area are becoming bare. A few more windy days will blow the remainder of leaves from them. We still do have some colorful trees that are always late in loosing their leaves. We have our garden cleared for winter. My flowers can no longer survive these cold temperatures, so this is the end of my prettiness on our porch and around our house. The heat in our house sure does feel good!
We just returned from a trip to Kansas City to visit with Howard's father. We traveled with him to Branson for a couple days. While there we were able to enjoy some shows. One show was the group called 'Six'. They are 6 brothers that sing together accapella. Very outstanding sound! These brothers have four other brothers. Their parents wanted them to learn how to sing and enjoy it, and they have definatly carried on their parents' wishes. In the audience that day was their elderly father whom they honored so highly. Their mother is deceased because of cancer several years earlier. They are sure worth one''s time to enjoy their performance. They have very close harmony and are so versatile with their many songs. Then to end our time there, we enjoyed a concert of the 'Oak Ridge Boys'! They have their own concert hall there that they perform in. This also was a very outstanding performance! We have alsways enjoyed their concerts. Both groups are very clean with their shows. Something else that we noticed around the Branson area is that they honor veterans in their shows and openly everywhere. It was neat to see all the veterans stand when asked, and Howard's father being one of them. He made us proud! Also they are not afraid to honor God. God is mentioned a lot in conversations. We were in a very small restaurant for an ice cream cone, and religious music was playing, for this is what the owner enjoyed. This was a warm and great feeling to be around these folks. So, yes we enjoyed our time there just relaxing. An entire week could have been spent there and still more places could have been discovered and enjoyed.
On our way back to KC we stopped by in Springfield to see a former student of Howard's in college. We wanted to spend more time with her but didn't have all the time we wished. We travelled on to visit with Howard's brother and family. The few days were enjoyed and disappeared so fast. Back in KC we spent the last day with his father. Our flight was on Halloween morning. Back in Indy, we went to visit our neice and husband's little baby girl, Mackenna, at Riley hospital. It was good to see her doing so much better than the previous time we were there to see her. She is a cutie and so tiny! We were glad that she is doing much better as she is recovering from her heart surgery. To end our night back home, we took a walk around our town along with all the trick-or-treaters! The evening was still quite nice weatherwise. Then we were visited by former students, that are seniors this year, for a while. This was an excellent way to end October!
We are leaving on Saturday by train to Orlando to be with Myron, Emily, and Nora for awhile. We'll enjoy some time at Disney with them before going to their house. We'll get to hear and watch Myron sing many times while at Disney! Yea! We'll enjoy a party for Nora for her 2nd B-Day while there. Yes, and by the way, Nora shares her birthday with Brittany on the 30th. Happy Birthday, Brittany! (Early!).
I have been thinking a lot of what Leah wrote about on her blog concerning Mothers and their use of time throughout each day as they conduct their motherly responsibilies. I look back on my own rearing and how my mother conducted her daily chores. She left many great examples for me and my siblings. My mother was at home daily with us children until my father returned back home from work of an evening. She arose with my father to help him by fixing his breakfast and packing his lunch daily. We did not have two cars. He would leave for his day of work well before we would arise of a morning. It was mother who would always have us get up and get outside of a morning to do our chores. We older children had the animals to care for before school each morning and again each evening before any other activity happened. Anyway, mother would have our breakfast waiting for us when our chores were finished. Our chores consisted of milking the cows; feeding the pigs; feeding the chickens and gathering eggs of an evening. In the summertime, Mother would be given a list of chores by him for us children. She would see to it that these chores were done by us by the time he returned home from work. Sometimes in the fall we'd need to cord wood in the woodhouse; we always took turns pumping water from an old pump in the summer kitchen to fill a cow tank with water (for cows to drink) after school. Usually we pumped for 10 minutes at a time. This was a daily chore! Then back to the morning: After our breakfast, it was getting ourselves ready for school and out the long lane we'd run to wait for the school bus. This was in all kinds of weather! We didn't have a parent to drive us to the end of the lane. It was responsibility that was being taught. Also it was our responsibility to make sure our chores were done properly daily. We also had our music lessons on our band instruments and piano to practice. Our days were filled from arising from bed to reclining back to our beds.
I also think of my mother's daily schedule. It was seeing after all six of us children, with our age differences from oldest to youngest being 14 years. She totally cared for us all without my father's help each day until he would get home from work. I remember always seeing my mother ready for the day when we arose from our beds of a morning. She never took time for herself after we were out of bed. Her time for herself was before we arose or after we had all been put to bed of an evening. Even then my father would have chores or jobs to be done outside with the farming that kept him out till dark many a night. He planted the fields in the spring with corn and beans, which required longer hours after his day of work at the factory. Mother had the meals to prepare, dishes to clean with no dish washer, only the human type, with the help of us children. There were several other chores, like caring for the little ones, washing clothes in the old maytag washer with rinse tubs that were wheeled into the kitchen from the back porch on Monday mornings. We only had coal and oil stoves for heat. We didn't have running water in the earlier years. So the water had to be pumped and poured into a huge tub and put onto the coal stove to heat the water for the washer. She would string the clothesline throughout the house from nail to nail and hang the clothes on the lines to dry that day. By evening she then would take them down and fold them when they were dry. Many clothes had to be ironed back then. So a stack of those clothes would be laid aside for to be ironed on the next day. I remember many times getting to iron. She taught me how first to iron handkerchiefs, then pillow slips, etc. I remember loving to learn this all from my mother. My mother planted a garden each spring and canned each summer. Also, chickens were raised, and several roosters, so that we could use them for meat. Mother taught me how to cut up chickens for frying. Days of dressing the chickens to freeze and can the meat were busy days. I enjoyed learning these tasks from her also. Then there were the chores of cleaning the house like we all still have today. Also there were sewing days for making and mending clothes. There are probably many more experiences that I am not presently remembering.
I have been thinking, lately, of this part of my past, as well as how much easier I had it than my mother. Yet I have tried hard to imitate many of her examples that she set while rearing our own family. A mother's work is never done. While I think of the mother's responsibilties, I also think of the husband's responsibilities. Our husbands are to be the bread winners. They have the task of earning the money for our families to live by each week. This is a large responsibility, if they handle this properly. Yet, when they do get home from their jobs, they can be of help for the wife with the children and other chores, if they are finished with their jobs. I beleive it is most important that each mate holds up the rightful part of their responsibilities. Neither should increase the stress on the other mate by causing them to cover for what was not handled rightly by him/her. I do know that my mother was a prime example of doing her part, and more than her part each day. My father had his share of tasks to accomplish also. I don't remember hearing my mother complain about my father not being there to help her with us children. She was a great example of Proverbs 31 in so many ways. I would hope that each of the mothers with children today would continue to strive to do their part of their motherly duties. What's more, she should cooperate with her husband as he works tirelessly each day on his job to provide a living for his wife and family. Let us each strive to be a woman like the one of Proverbs 31. That way, we will honor God, our husbands, and our children with the best example of motherhood.
One of my favorite things about being at your house in the summer before camp was how nice it was to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with everyone as a family. We always ate breakfast on our own...lunch would be together maybe in the summer and dinner was only once or twice a week as a whole family together. I have admired how well you guys managed to meet together each morning before going off to work and other places to start your day together. Thanks for those sweet memories!!!
Great thoughts! Hope you guys have a great time in Florida! Wish we could be with you all! Have a safe trip...we'll be praying for you and thinking about you tomorrow, as you begin your trip on the train. :)
I hope you have a great time in FL. Thanks for the b-day wishes! Also, thanks for sharing about grandma and the family...I have never heard about the daily happenings like that.
This post is so interesting to read. The ways of the wife in those days with no modern technology and her daily responsibilities really bring out how good we have it, huh? AND, to do it all without complaining and probably with a good attitude really puts me to shame. Thanks for encouraging us mothers and wifes to remember our roles and to check our attitudes. I know I need reminding often. Have a great trip!
Reading your description of Grandma certainly sounded like you. Even though today we have modern technology which makes all of our jobs easier, it can also pose distractions which deter us from doing our jobs well and being responsible. I am glad I have you to look to as an example. You are a wonderful Mother.
I love hearing about what your life was like. Even though, I know it was a whole lot of hard work, I know it was a lot of fun. With all that work to do, there was not a lot of time to be distracted for sure. Grandma left a legacy of loving hard work and you carried it on for sure. I agree with Nathan, that you sound just like your Mom:) I hope that I can become better and better at being like you. Thank you for your example!
Have lots of fun in FL!! Wish we all could be there with you all too:) Give Nora kisses from Aunt Leah:)
I often wonder to myself how woman years ago did everything, because I feel I cannot get it all done, most days. I know that I have many conviences that they did not. Hope you have a great trip. I was just saying to Dan the other day that it would be neat to take the kids on a trip on a train.
Abigail was very sick w/cold and cough. We were planning on coming for a little bit, but she started getting a fever and coughing so much we thought she was going to puke. We did miss it! I was looking forwad to see you guys too! Lord willing, we'll see you soon!
We are always looking for ways to make our days last longer and hoping that the months will last longer. I find myself wishing that visits with our children would last longer than they do. However, we know that each month only has so many days and each day only has so many hours. We can't change the time. Yet we know that it is moments like these that we cherish and wish to extend the time to be longer. Usually the events happening are positive and perhaps like a dream that we do not want to end! Have you ever dreamed a dream in which there's a break for some reason and you hope that you get to dream on to experience the the conclusion of the dream? I have several times, and wish to fall back into my sleep so that I can experience the rest of the happening. Our moments in life are much like this in that the good ones are ones that we want to see continue longer.
Sometimes seasons of the years are like that in my mind. I enjoy so very much all the seasons, and often wish for each season to last longer! Here we all are sitting at the end of summer and knowing well that fall is edging into the picture. On September 22 fall arrives. With its arrival comes different chores around our properties to be done. The leaves are already starting to fall. Farmers' fields of corn and beans are turning into the golden colors, reminding us that soon will be harvest time. I enjoy fall with the many vibrant rich colors of the season, everywhere we look. We have a field just south of us that was planted into either decorative pumpkins or gourds this spring. Many migrant workers have been busy picking by hand this field for the last two weeks. My garden is almost to its end. The birds are enjoying the sunflower seeds. I hear this morning in a back tree many birds noisily conversing, as they are gathered together with perhaps the intention of migrating south.
We started this month with visits from our children for the Labor Day weekend. We thoroughly enjoy our time together. The grandchildren especially made use of their time out on our patio with all of the riding toys each chance they had. The weather was so perfect with its temperatures. We hope to make a trip next week to be of help for our families in St. Louis. Later in the month we will be taking a train trip to Orlando to be with our son and daughter-in-law and grandaughter for some days. We'll be a fews days at Disney World with them, and then on to their home for time together. This month will come to an end while we are there! I'll leave with this poem from a relative of mine about Fall.
Fall
The HEAT OF SUMMER'S OVER,
THE WIND NOW BRINGS A CHILL;
THE DAYS ARE GROWING SHORTER
AS FALL COMES UP THE HILL.
THERE'S A CRACKLE TO THE GRASS NOW,
THE LEAVES ARE TUMBLING DOWN;
THE CORN AND BEANS IN FIELDS
ARE GOLD AND BURNISHED BROWN.
THE BITTERSWEET AND APPLES,
THE PUMPKINS, SQUASH AND SUCH,
ADD BEAUTY TO THIS SEASON
THAT WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH.
Written by K.L. Guyer 1985--a retired school teacher (age 90)
Nice poem. I enjoy Fall, but I could have used a longer summer. :) Glad you are getting to spend so much time with the kids. I know you all enjoy your time together.
We are coming to the end of yet another month. It seems that our daytime temperatures have calmed down somewhat. Our mornings are so pleasant with around 60 degrees. We have been walking of a morning and the temperatures have been so nice for our walks. We walk around our little town of Denver. It is a half an hour walk. Sure has been a good way to start our days. Also, it is good for our health! We are starting to notice some leaves already falling from some trees. A few of the leaves on some trees are starting to change colors. This is early! Yet it may be because we have been so dry. We were thankful for what little rain we have received these past days. We hope for even more, if possible. We need it to keep God's creation green and healthy. I walked out to our garden, only to find that some animal had helped itself to some of my ripe tomatoes. So I picked more off to allow to ripen on our patio, so they aren't eaten into. Quite interesting that animals also love the fresh veggies that we do.
Heritage Days are this weekend in Peru. This has lots of history behind it for this area. There are many neat exhibits and events to enjoy! Crafts of various kinds, such as quits made by many in the area on display. Many local musical performances entertain. The Miami Indians always have their talents displayed in their crafts and music by drums and dances.
On to another subject that I have to share: Howard has been rehearsing singers and instrumentalists for a musical for over a month in Wabash. Long practice hours for several weeks. A lady from Wabash, Susie Jones, has written this musical, which is named "Wait Till You get To Wabash". It is about days of old in about 1850 of how several families wanted to meet in Toledo to take a canal boat, called "Prairie Hen", to Wabash, by way of the canal and Wabash River. The performers are all amateurs, young and old, from in and around Wabash. One can only imagine the many obstacles that would be placed in front of them all for a trip of this nature with so many families aboard. This morning's performance was the first before a full house of many school children at the Honeywell Center in Wabash. Then tonight, they gave their first evening performance. They will perform yet Saturday night at 7:30 pm. and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. If anyone is interested in attending, tickets can be purchased by phone (260-563-1102) or at the ticket office at the Center. Tickets are $10 each, and $4 for children. I must say, after attending tonights show, that it is really worth one's time and money to see this! It has lots of history with it that is so good to learn about. The costumes by all were made by some seamstresses around the area. The colors are so vibrant! Howard directs from the orchestra pit for all to be able to stay with the beat. They are few in number in the orchestra but mighty in sound! There is a huge canal boat that has been built on the stage. It really makes it seem quite real! It is well performed! I might add that with Howard's assistance, it all comes together. I am very proud of his knowledge and ability and talent to bring this together so well. This group could tour the US and have great audiences that would always enjoy the story portrayed. I will be attending the rest of the performances, for there is so much action that I will catch happenings in another one that I did not catch tonight. The audience can be a part of it at the end, which is so neat! Has anyone that reads this seen it before, when it was performed 5 years ago in Wabash? Come and take a step back in time to the middle ninetenth century with the Wabash Community Theater!
Wow! That musical sounds really interesting! So glad that Dad can be a part of it and use his expertise. Wish we could see it too!
Glad you are enjoying your morning walks. I enjoy walking in the mornings as well. You just feel better overall! :) Looking forward to seeing you soon! :)
The musical sounds fun. I've gotten away from exercising again. I've got to get back into school routine before I'll be able to start that up again though. :)
It sounds really neat! Wish we could have seen it too. That would have been fun!
Can't wait till the weekend! The kids keep asking me how many more days:)
