On the edge of eternity

This is K, with Cosmo, in September, before she went into the ICU for septicemia.

My mom called me yesterday, and said she was not doing well. I showered and got right over to see her. A nurse had been there all night, as K was having difficulty breathing. But she was calm when I got there. She's on morphine for discomfort. Her whole family was there. My brother has been continually by her side. Soon, many of our family was there too. My mom, dad, Sarah, and my little sister, Robin. I brought Josh and Ben in later in the day. Rebekah is coming on the train today. It'll take her almost 12 hours to get here.

My mom, K's mom, and Sarah are spending the night. I'm really glad, as Steve won't be alone if something happens.

Another nurse came around noon, and after assessing K, said she was "very close." We knew the Lord could heal her that very day, but we don't have our heads in the sand either. God knows what's best for K, and we are all trusting Him.

K seems to be on the very edge of eternity. This very night, she could be in the presence of her Lord and Maker, and all the Christians who have gone before her. Moses, Isaiah, David, Paul, Peter, John, and later believers such as Keith Green. Her father and step-father await her. I am excited for her! I am heart broken to see her go this soon, but I do want to see her relieved of her diseased body, the shell that holds her sweet spirit.

Martin Luther King, Jr

Tonight, I read, for the first time, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. It was an assignment from my professor. I was moved by that speech, and imagined what it must have been like to be black at that time, especially in the South. What an awful thing to live in a world of double standards, different bathrooms, drinking fountains, places to sit on a bus. To live in fear of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and have a crime pinned on you, just because you were black. How foreign that is to us now. I am so thankful for the civil rights movement. It was, as Dr. King pointed out, a hundred years in coming, but his dream has come true.

Cuddle Chat

Sometimes on mornings like this, when Noah has no school, we have "cuddle chat." We snuggle on the sofa, while I have coffee, and he tells me his thoughts. At bedtime, he asks the big questions, often about God, or tells me his fears. A few nights ago, he asked me if I thought his bed could wrap him up like a mummy, and then become a coffin. He hasn't seen the movie, Mummy, but he has seen a Scooby Doo with a mummy in it. I guess that inspired his fear that night. In response, I knocked on the bed, and said, "Nope, this is just a regular bed; it's not magical. It won't come alive. This was Papaw's bed when he was a boy, and it never came alive then." This seemed to work, as he fell right to sleep.

Barak Obama will be sworn in tomorrow. It's great to see a bi-racial* man become president, but it's frightening that he is also a socialist. I'm dreading the negative changes our country will go through. My British friend, Paula, could probably share with me all about Britain's health care. I've already heard one bad story. I also heard a tale, just the other day, of Canada's socialist healthcare system. A man had done poorly on a stress test, and needed a bypass surgery. He was put on a list, and waited over a month for his "turn." Thankfully, he survived the month. Sadly, the British tale didn't end the same. The gal died waiting for her needed surgery. And this is what is coming our way. I pray that my children and grandchildren survive it.

*I refuse to refer to black or (black and white) bi-racial folks as "African American." I don't require others to call me "Swiss-Irish American" (the two main cultures I come from). If I'm called white, it's not any different to call others "black," though "pale peach" and "brown" would be more appropiate. Maybe I'll start a movement, while we still have free speech, and use these terms from now on. I can see it now, on a form:

Race (check one):

Pale Peach
Pale Pink
Dark Brown
Medium Brown
Light Brown
Olive-tone
Yellow-tone
Red-tone
Other (for example, green, purple...)

Freezing Sylvia

I have an outdoor cat, Sylvia, a plain vanilla tabby. She used to be an inside cat, but she and Sarah's bunny, Fluffles, began a territory battle. In other words, Sylvia became a naughty-potty kitty. All I could do was kick her out, and provide an insulated box for the chilly nights. But she doesn't use it. The other night, as the temp dropped to about 8 degrees, I began to fret about her. I tried to take her to the Humane Society, but they required a $127 surrender fee! So I have her in the storage room until I can figure out what to do with her.

4:07pm - David, Noah, and I just returned from Circuit City. They had big sales on because they're going out of business. We brought home a new phone system, a remote control for the PS3, and three DVD's: Over the Hedge, Annie, and Wallace and Gromit and the Were-Rabbit. David and Noah are watching the Hedge right now. I'm trying to get away from owning too many movies, as over-watching them makes them not as special. However, some movies are just too good not to own. Annie, for instance. I must be able to watch and hear Carol Burnett sing Little Girls anytime I want. Besides, our VHS collection, which is large, is, as a whole, getting very grainy. A family needs to have a certain amount of movies on hand. Some of our "musts" are:

Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth)
Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant)
Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow)
Gone with the Wind
Singing in the Rain
Oklahoma
The Ten Commandments (Charlton Heston)
The Prince of Egypt
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
All six Star Wars movies
The Incredibles

That's all I can think of for now. Time to blog-hop.

Christmas Sparklies

My dad and his wife, Brenda, gave me these lovely earrings on Christmas Eve. They are versatile - I can dress them up or down. They were a complete surprise. I wear them a lot!
























Then my sweet hubby gave me this ring on Christmas morning. I LOVE it, and wear it every day. It's a high-quality emerald cut cubic zirconia, set in 14K gold. I get some nice complements on it. It really looks like a diamond.

Christmas day

I just had to put in a pic of my Polish pottery clock. It was from my mother-in-law. I asked for it especifically, and she ordered sight-unseen. I LOVE it. It is very unique.

A picture album of our holiday

Order of pictures:

1.Becka and Noah decorate cookies

2. & 3. Becka and Josh make gingerbread houses

4. Ben and his friend, Kelsey, at the school Christmas choral program

5. College kids holiday get-together

6. Christmas Eve, the gift exchange game

7. My step-mother, Brenda, laughing as her sister excitedly explains the rules of the game. My Jewish brother-in-law, David, is on the floor. I think he gets a kick out of our Christmas-ing.

8. My sister, Gayle, a professional photographer, catches the moments forever

9. L-R: Sarah, Grandpa (my Dad), and Erin (my little sister)

10. Noah, visions of sugar plums dance in his head

English Composition 101

I started class on Wednesday, the 14th. I got there a few minutes early, but most of my classmates were already there. I took a seat in the back row, center, and tried to blend in best I could. My professor is a nice guy, soft-spoken, who enjoys class participation. Our first big assignment is a case study on someone we know. I'm looking forward to getting into that, but I'm not sure who it'll be. It has to be someone I know, not a public figure. It can be a person who has died, and for that reason I'm seriously thinking of one of my two grandmothers.

Rebekah called tonight. She is all healed up from her wisdom teeth surgery. She is busy preparing for her upcoming spring play, as well as a small part in a musical. I'm really looking forward to seeing her in the play. I don't think we'll make the musical, with the long drive. Her big part is in the play, so that's our priority, though I'd love to see her in the musical.

Here's Becka about 2 weeks ago, ice packs in place, following her wisdom teeth-ectomy. Cosmo was her moral support, as well as a handy heat source. Becka had a hard time of it, much more pain that Josh, Sarah, or I did. We all had our wisdoms out within the year. I think she may have more nerve endings in her mouth that the average person. She's doing fine now.

I went to a "Ya-Ya Sisterhood" meeting tonight. This is a group of ladies I have met through my friend, Faith. They often go to movies and have pie afterwards. I've seen two movies with them so far. It has been fun. Women need their times of bonding and general silliness from time to time.

Lately, I am feeling increasingly sorry for my cat. It is freezing cold out, and she must be feeling it! I tried to find her to bring her inside tonight, but she wouldn't come when I called her. I have an insulated box outside for her , but she doesn't use it. I think I'll have to keep her in the basement until it warms up.

I'm reading a book called Fantasy and Your Child. I finished Peony in Love a week ago. It is the second book in 20+ years to make me cry.

I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend.

Ben's glasses, Noah's cello

Ben has new glasses. They look smart on him, and he looks smart in them. He's so happy. He lost his last pair some time ago, and we had to wait until this year to get the new pair. (insurance reasons) After we left, Ben very happy to see so well, I was reminded of my own happy sight moment. I was 13 or 14, and had "lost" my 5th grade glasses a couple of years before. My eye-sight worsened to the point that my 6th grade teacher warned me, at least twice: "If you don't get glasses soon, you'll be blind by the time you're 20!" I hid my need for the glasses from my parents. They were distracted at the time, too, as they were going through a separation and later, a divorce. So, if I was careful, and I was, I could get away without wearing the glasses I hated so much. By age 13-1/2 or 14, I had reached a point of desperation in near-sightedness, and told my mother, "Mom, take me to the eye doctor - I can't see good at all!" She did, and he was taken back by my poor eyesight, and the fact that it had not been corrected for so long. When he showed my mom how blurry my vision was, she was also shocked. But as bad as it was, I had to be the one to wear the glasses, and Mom knew that. She knew that my other glasses had gone missing, but I never complained. Somehow, I slipped between the cracks as far as the school eye tests and my mom knowing the truth. (I probably never gave her the letter containing my test results.) Anyway, I'll never forget the thrill of seeing correctly for the first time in 3 years. I loved my glasses, and wore them non-stop. A year later, I started wearing contact lenses. Good sight is a huge blessing. I sometimes wonder about near-sighted people hundreds of years ago, and how hard their bad eye-sight.

Noah takes his cello lesson tonight. His teacher is very pleased with his progress. He can now play five variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Also, he knows Scotland's Burning, Hot Cross Buns, and of course, Ants. His teacher is going to teach him Allegro for the upcoming Suzuki area recital, held in a large local orchestra hall. Her students, ages 5 - 16, will all play this piece, with Noah and the other little boy, our front. I'm really looking forward to that. I've already told all the grandparents about it.

Bipple Madness

Mr. Bipples is the name we often call Cosmo by. Sarah came up with his full name, Cosmond P. Bipples. Mr. Bipples is the result. It does suit him, as he is little and whimpy. This name is perfect. His middle initial, P., is for "pathetic," as that is the look he has on his face much of the time.

From this name, Mr. Bipples, a few terms have come about:

Bipple Bin, his crate, usually untouched.

Bipple Bed, his cozy, usually empty dog-bed.

Bipple Bombs, the "presents" he leaves outside on the grass.

As more are thought up, I'll revise this list.

Mr. Bipples had a bath today. After being banned from the sofa for general stinkiness, I found the source: the Bipple Bin and Bed were soaked. Apparently, Bipple Dripples happened overnight. There, a new Bipple-term.

Bipple Dripple, what happens when a small dog's bladder just can't hold out.

He's giving me the pathetic look even now, wanting to hop into my lap. Unlike Sarah and Rebekah, I just can't stand typing with arms reaching overtop a lapdog.

Happy New Year

It's 2009 - already? It seems to happen a little faster every year. It seems the older I get, the faster time flies. I must be having some fun!

Firstly, I am thankful that my sister-in-law is still with us in 2009. A month ago, the doctors said that she would probably not see the new year, yet she has. She is a miracle, there in her hospital bed, in the living room of their home. I am continually amazed by God's hand in her and my brother's lives over the last three years. I've seen a lot of spiritual growth in them. I can see how heavily they rely on the Lord for all their needs, and we all see His involvement in the big and small matters of their particular situation.



K started hospice a few weeks back. She is in their home, and my brother is her full-time care-giver. Her mom is there for several hours every day, giving Steve a chance to run errands, or just get a shower. Sometimes he asks my mom or me to bring in groceries. He calls my house once or twice a week, to see if any of us want to hang out or watch a movie. We've enjoyed some rich visits this way. Sarah and Rebekah enjoying watching TV with Aunt K. and they chat and laugh over little things. Rebekah keeps Aunt K's nails looking their best. She pretends that they're in a nail salon. K gets a kick out of that.


I'm thankful for all the blessings of the year. In March, David and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. We watched each of our kids grow another year older. Josh graduated high school and started college. Ben took up the guitar, and has applied himself every day to playing it better. My in-laws took us to Cape May, along with David's sister, Nancy. It was there that David gave me a lovely diamond ring there, atop the Cape May Lighthouse. Sarah Jane started her last year towards her BSN this fall. We got a new dog, Cosmo, our Boston Terrier. I registered at the local community college, and was accepted for the Spring 2009 semester, where I plan to take English Composition 101. Noah started first grade, and the suzuki cello. These are just some of the year's highlights. I am thankful for all the blessings and provision God has bestowed on us.


What did we do on New Year's Eve? Noah slept over at Nanny and Papaw's house, and the rest of us stayed home and relaxed. Following an easy dinner of Steak-ums and frozen pizza, I made a pot of Starbucks coffee, and we all collected in the family room to play Apples to Apples. We "lit" the HD on-demand "fireplace," which crackles away, with or without music, for 30 minutes, and played and laughed through this game of providing the best nouns for a chosen adjective. It sounds like an English lesson, but is really a fun game!


After the game, we put on Raising Arizona. By this time, I was ready for bed. After tossing and turning for two hours, I began to slip under, when Pop! Bang! - fireworks were going off across the river, close to our home, and I looked at the clock to see 12:00 - it was 2009! I came downstairs to kiss David, and found my family scattered about. Ben was playing with a new gadget from the Dollar Tree. Josh and David were playing video games on two different TV's. Sarah had her nose in a book, and Rebekah was in bed.



Rebekah and Maisy were sick today. Both were sick to their stomachs, and Rebekah had a headache as well. I don't know if Rebekah had a migraine or a virus, but I know why Maisy was sick. I gave her a ham bone the night before, and she ate the whole thing before I knew it. Apparently, small dogs and large bones don't mix. The bone made a reappearance, all over the house. Lesson learned.

I must list my favorite Christmas presents:

1. Diamond earrings from my father and his wife, a complete surprise, and they are perfect for dressing up or down. A very touching gift that I will always treasure.













2. An emerald cut cz 14K gold ring from David, just what I asked for. I love it! I wear it on my right ring finger.

3. 1995 BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice, from my mother-in-law. An amazing mini-series, one of my top 10 favorite movies.

4. A Polish pottery clock, also from my mother-in-law. It is unusual and perfect for our cozy family room.

5. Big checks from the Dads. Most useful of all, especially with three kids in college.
I'm feeling real sleepiness coming on. I hope and pray I get eight hours tonight. I've not slept well for about a week. Not really sure why...