Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Family Time
What a wonderful surprise when the call came asking what we we're doing for Easter weekend.Naturally I wouldn't let that chance get away from me.The family time we had with everyone was unique.Ashley,their cocker spaniel joined them on their trip northward and was a warm welcome in the house and out of the house as she would have her ball thrown for her time and time again.Sunday after Church our home became warm with family love and laughter.Our dining room filled to compacity,smelled deliciously of ham,potatoes,and lucious desserts.Of course we had more than ham and potatoes.The typical holiday meal was set out on the table.After dinner we settled in for the kids to watch a new dvd movie by Max Lucado,Buzby(The Misbehaving Bee).A movie teaching about using the straight path.Dad and Tom ended up closing their eyes,and caught up on some needed z's.After the movie,Bryan went out to fire up the firepit.We we're out of the house till late into the evening enjoying the campfire evening with lots of laughter and fun.It was a wonderful way to spend our Easter this year with everyone we love.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Light On The Horizon
FootPrints
One night a man had a dream.He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.For each scene,he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;one belonging to him,the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,he looked back at the footprints in the sand.He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,there is only one set of footprints.I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.
The Lord replied,"My precious,precious child, I love you and would never leave you.During your times of trial and suffering,when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Poem by Margaret Powers
Picture by Dianne Strube
As I was posting my Grand Haven Beach picture one of my favorite poems came to mind.
Looking at this picture I see sparkling water,soaring birds,light on the horizon and footprints in the sand.This beach will soon have the bright,beaming sun freshing up the sand and new footprints of souls to walk it.What will their hearts be holding? I am ready to begin my journeys back to my special place of restfullness and peace.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Whom Is Whom?
This picture was taken just after Judy Bowker's daughters funeral.A very heart wrenching,sad time for Judy and Larry.
Jill Poore is to Dianne's left and Wendy Lovins is to Dianne's right.Judy Bowker is on the right end. To the other side of Wendy is her sister,Julie Shroeder.Melody and Tammy I always get mixed up.I am alittle fuzzy.
The Twins
Amazing how the lives of these two twins have transpired over the years of growing up into young women.The separation of College brought many changes.The Lord has worked in both of our lives through good and bad times for our best. Though Shalt Trust The Lord Thy God With All Thy Heart And With All Thy Soul And Lean Not Unto Thy Own Understanding And He Shall Direct Thy Paths.One of these twins we're to meet up with another twin and become one as man and wife.Oh to imagine if I had met the other twin,what could have happened.I don't know if people could have put up with two sets of twins in the same family,but oh what fun we could have had.The Lord knows best and that didn't happen.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Dad In Muskegon At Maxine Berry's
Dad's Cousins.
Maxine Berry on the left sitting on the bench.Barbara sitting next to her.Leona standing next to Dad.
Grandma Smith's dad was Henry John Saegar. Maxine's mother was Grandpa Smith's sister. Maxine's mother's maiden name was Smith. Maxine married and became a Berry. Maxine's mother's name is Edna.
Bud Wells is brother to these girls.
Robert Wentwood Wells
Bernica Maxine Berry
Barbara Jean Vanderlind
Lenore Annette
I can't remember what Maxine's husband's name was.
The Two Brothers
Uncle Don and Dad
This picture was taken at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house just after Grandma's funeral.
Saegar and Smith Reunion
Reunion in Millington,Michigan.Always takes place the sunday after Labor Day in September.Join us?
Randy and Ronnie Smith,Our Cousins
Our Cohorts In Northern Michigan
Cousin Randy lives in Wisconsin
Cousin Ronnie lives in Gladstone
Friday, March 11, 2005
Bridge Over Bathing Bodies River
Ron and Pat Smith
They are leaning against the bridge abumpment that once had soap bubbles popping and crabs watching toes wondering which to snap onto.Our bath river to boot.
Kin Folk
Aunt Ruth,Karen,Linda,Ronnie and Randy
This picture was taken in what was Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Don's house in Perkins,Michigan just after Uncle Don's funeral.The home has been now been sold and Ron and Pat are living on the outskirts of Escanabe in a home they built.
Pump and Terrine
Water In Water Out
Does anyone recognize this outside the back of the cabin? I have a picture of the place last I saw it but can't find where it went after I scanned and saved it.Chuck's help is needed. The first thing that would happen as we got to the cabin was for Dad to take the large milk can down to the creek down the road for water to prime the pump with.Others used the mighty wood sitting box and Mom immediately began dusting and sweeping everywhere. I believe Mom never finished until the day before we left to come back home.
Where Poets We're Discovered
Tranik Elementary School
Our two room school house with the cafeteria in the basement.The one side to house kindergarden through third and the other side,fourth through sixth.
Our Humble Church Family
Limestone Baptist Church
They have rebuilt the church which was once facing the road.Pastor Joel's ministered here.
Alittle Bigger Then,Now You See It,Now You Don't
Traunik
Our town which housed our grocery store and Bill and Jeannie's HighSchool.Once a week our trip into Marquette would get the laundry down and extra items that could not be done in Traunik.Help me if I have it backwards.Trenary was just the store with the gas pump in front by the elementary school I believe.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Needed: Loving Family
Once Upon A Time:
Once upon a time there was this young family with a dog who decided to live within my domain.They loaded up their car with family,luggage,and dog to make their journey into the Northern Woods.Two bedrooms,One large open kitchen and living area,with bathroom facilities in the great outdoors with the bears and porcipines.One very large tree was supplied and stood proudly beside the humble abode.This story can be continued by each of the rest of you for further detail
Alittle like continue to add on and then it will close.Have fun with it.
Ok:: This mighty,magestic example of a monstrous tree once held a young girl captive for a short while.She sat on my limb wondering what would become of her.She called down for her twin to recognize her plea but to no avail.Unbenounced to her,her twin was lurking around the corner laughing hysterically at her twin sister's demise.Oh what will become of this young maiden sitting on my limb? Suddenly a thought crept into her mind.Shall I show her I won't be kept captive? Shall I jump and free myself only to laugh back into her face? Yes I believe I shall.OOps,Ouch,with blood squirting everywhere and me crying tears of anguish,mother was soon summoned.Away,Away to the doctor I went to have stitches in my precious,unblemished leg.I'm not sure who ended up on the better end of the bargin.At night as the evening approached and the light grew very dim,we would take our flashlights with us down alittle ways from the cabin and flash cars.Oh my,as kids we we're very unwise.We would flash down a car and then as the car would come to a screeching stop,we would run into the woods,hide behind a bush and be very quiet as we listened for the car to start up and drive away,only to submerge and do it again to the next car. Anyone out there want to continue?
Monday, March 07, 2005
Daniel and RuthAnn his daughter,3 years old,birthday party.
Daniel,our oldest son and his daughter RuthAnn
The Special sort of mother for a handicapped child by Erma Bombeck
Most women become mothers by accident,some by choice,a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.
This year,nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong,Beth,son.Patron saint,Matthew.
"Forest,Marjorie,daughter,patron saint,Cecelia.
"Rudledge,Carrie,twins,patron saint-- give her Gerald. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel, smiles and says,"Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one,God? She's so happy."
"Exactly,"smiles God."Could I give a handicapped child a mother who doesn't know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off,she'll handle it.
I watched her today. She has a feeling of self and independance that's so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles."No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
"She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She never will take for granted a spoken word. She never will consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it. When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance,cruelty,prejudice--and allow her to rise above them. She never will be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life,because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice,"he says.
This year,nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong,Beth,son.Patron saint,Matthew.
"Forest,Marjorie,daughter,patron saint,Cecelia.
"Rudledge,Carrie,twins,patron saint-- give her Gerald. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel, smiles and says,"Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one,God? She's so happy."
"Exactly,"smiles God."Could I give a handicapped child a mother who doesn't know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off,she'll handle it.
I watched her today. She has a feeling of self and independance that's so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles."No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
"She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She never will take for granted a spoken word. She never will consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it. When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.
"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance,cruelty,prejudice--and allow her to rise above them. She never will be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life,because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice,"he says.
Sun sets On Hello Problem
Captured Sunset
This evening an awful frustration was successfully corrected with posting pictures on my blog.I sat here and wanted to cry being so thankful.I voiced a huge Thank-You Lord, and heard a repeat from my granddaughter who was sitting here next to me.This sunset was captured on the road coming home from Tom's in Kentucky.I was watching the sky as it progressed into such deepening shades of colors.I was magnified to it which was probably not to healty since I was driving the caddy at the same time while looking back over my shoulder. Finally I couldn't take it any longer.The car came to a halt beside the road to let other cars by me while rolling down my window to take several pictures in succession.It was the only sunset I succeeded in getting on my trip.I saw a beautiful sunrise going down as we we're going down freeway 96 but didn't feel I could pull over to capture it.I wish I had taken the time to do it and will next time remember the need to do it.
As Our Senior Age Approaches.....
An elderly husband and wife noticed that they we're beginning to forget many little things around the house.They were afraid that this could be dangerous,as one of them may accidently forget to turn off the stove and thus cause a fire.So,they decided to go see their physician to get some help. Their physician told them that many people their age find it useful to write themselves little notes as reminders. The elderly couple thought this sounded wonderful, and left the doctor's office very pleased with the advice. When they got home, the wife said,"Dear, will you please go to the kitchen and get me a dish of icecream? And why don't you write that down so you won't forget?" Don't be silly, replied the husband."A dish of ice cream and some strawberries, I can remember that!" Ok, dear, but I'd like you to put some whipped cream on top. Now you'd really better write it down now. You'll forget.Come now, my memory's not all that bad,said the husband. "No problem--a dish of ice cream with strawberrries and whipped cream."With that, the husband shut the kitchen door behind him. The wife could hear him getting out pots and pans, and making some noise inconsistent with his preparing a dish of ice cream, strawberries, and whipped cream.He emerged from the kitchen about 15 minutes later.Walking over to his wife, he presented her with a plate of bacon and eggs. The wife took one look at the plate, glanced up at her husband and said,Hey, where's the toast?
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Back to Our Roots
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Isn't it amazing how we become like our parents who raised us? Our kids who we have raised could make the same statement now about us only a few centuries later. It evolves over and over again. It doesn't matter how we say we are determined to not be the same way, but unfortunately it does happen. It's normally the bad traits we are determined not to continue happening, but for some reason it doesn't stop.
I love the sillyness and the of-the-moment happenings that were created to spice up our life. It frustrated Mom, and did upset her at times but she submitted to Dad. This picture was taken at Grandma Hudson's funeral in Pontiac at the reception after the funeral at Marimont Baptist Church. I remember the laughter that erupted when Mom slid her glasses down on her nose, and Dad following suit after that. It made the heavy moment lighter, which was welcome.
The moments when our loved ones pass is heavy, but they have gone on to be with their beloved Lord, and they are wanting us to move on. Mom, I know you're smiling down on us and waiting for the day. Sillyness is in the family to stay-- whether good or bad, it's how we handle it.
Change Over the Years
As I pulled up in front of the house on Naylor Street that was once my growing up home, I was mystified. I looked at the surrounding homes in comparison to our home, trying to get my bearings as to whether or not this was the home I had come to remember. The side yard that had held our circle drive, the rabbit and pigeon house, and our three apple trees were no longer in existence,only to have been replaced by another home. The road we pulled up on was paved, no longer a dirt road. I was in shock at what I saw.
Change--is it good or bad? In this situation I only wanted to cry and in anticipation of the moment, Chuck took me in his arms and held me for a few moments as I cried. Oh, if only the walls of this ole house could talk of days gone by. If only this ole house could have reached out to me and said, "I remember you. What took you so long to come back?"
Change is good,right? At this time I could very definately say no. I wanted to see it as it once was. If these walls could talk! The home was filled with many happy fun filled moments, many sad, heart-wrenching moments, and many precious wonderful moments we wouldn't change for a moment! Nothing changes the fact this was the home where we grew up together as a family. Cherish all the moments one and all.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
The Ide's of March
Ide really love to see a robin sitting on the tree limb outside my bathroom window.
Ide really love to wake up to the bright beeming sun bringing in 7o degree weather.
Ide really love to get the program hello to open up and work for me.
Ide really love to see that pussy willow bush in bloom in my front yard.
Ide really love to find that lion that brought March in so strong and tell him a thing or two.
Ide really love to stay and chat some more but shopping day has arrived and its time to go.
The Lion and the Lamb,such opposites they are.It reminds me of the picture of the Lamb and Lion of God.The Lamb is so gentle and the Lion so strong and fierce. Love to all.
Ide really love to wake up to the bright beeming sun bringing in 7o degree weather.
Ide really love to get the program hello to open up and work for me.
Ide really love to see that pussy willow bush in bloom in my front yard.
Ide really love to find that lion that brought March in so strong and tell him a thing or two.
Ide really love to stay and chat some more but shopping day has arrived and its time to go.
The Lion and the Lamb,such opposites they are.It reminds me of the picture of the Lamb and Lion of God.The Lamb is so gentle and the Lion so strong and fierce. Love to all.
