Another first

Holiday time is a wonderful time.  Families get together, share good times and a great meal together.  They make wonderful memories together.  I cherish those memories and traditions.  In my job, I am required to work holidays.  Every other Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I’m spending those holidays with someone else’s family taking care of them at sometimes the worst times in their lives.  I chose this profession. It’s part of the job.  I told my family a long, long time ago I didn’t want them changing our traditions to accommodate me.  So, my mom fixes the dinner on the holiday every year. She doesn’t let us help with anything as far as preparing the meal.  This year things will be a little different.  There’s another empty chair at the table.  In a way, I’m kind of glad to be scheduled to work because it’ll be a bit sadder at our home with it being our first holiday without pap.  He surely enjoyed his holiday meals.  Y’all remember us and all the other families spending our first holiday with an empty chair.  

❤️I love all y’all.  

Until next time.  

Ten Years

I find it hard to believe that it’s been ten years since my family started on one of the hardest journeys in our life. I will never forget those 104 days.  When I first started writing, it was to help me deal with everything I was feeling over his illness and death.  The death of a spouse is something you never, ever completely get over.  The grief has always been there since March 6, 2010 (and really since the tumor was found).  It has changed to where it’s bearable though.  For a while, I wasn’t sure it ever would be.  Our marriage wasn’t perfect by any means but it was ours.  We were planning our 25th anniversary party.  We didn’t quite make it though.  I’m fine. It’s just an anniversary of. And those are hard!! 

Y’all pray for your friends, family, neighbors.  Our county, state and country.  

I miss him and think about him every day.  He loved his family and friends. He never met a stranger. 

Until next time.  

❤️ I love all y’all.  

It’s been a while

Since my computer died and Blogger wasn’t supported by my iOS, it’s been quite a while since I’ve written anything. So much has happened.  I have a daughter-in-law and new grandson.  His name is Xavier Thomas and he is 8 months old (in a few days).  He’s the sweetest baby boy around. He loves to give gamma sugars.  We also have Stella and Moon. They are good dogs.  

It’s hard to believe ten years ago today was our last “normal” day.  I worked that day. Rick came to work and brought me a Diet Coke.  He also offered to pick up Wendy’s for supper.  That was the beginning of recognizing something was not quite right.  

Speaking of Diet Coke, it’s now been 3 days since I’ve had one.  I almost caved yesterday but didn’t. Today, I’m hanging on not having one.  I can’t say that I’ve craved one at all today.  And there are none in the house.  I suppose that helps.  

I’m not sure how this post will turn out.  I’m excited to find this app though and possibly get back into the habit of writing. Time will tell.  

❤️ I love all y’all.  

Derby Day 2017

Today was Derby Day. It is a day I have celebrated since I can remember. We always watched the Derby. I have never been. I doubt I will ever get there. When I was 22 I had an opportunity to go, I was not able to get there though. I do regret that. It was in the infield. I am not much on crowds these days so I am not likely to attend. But I do watch. Every year. Sometimes I pick the winner. Sometimes I don't. Today I was not even close. Always Dreaming won in 2.03.59 - By a few lengths if I remember correctly. It was a muddy sloppy track.  I have never bet on a race. Likely won't ever do that either. And I don't drink the bourbon or mint juleps that are common at the Derby. But, it is part of our heritage.

Today was my youngest granddaughter's birthday too. She is now a six year old. Six years ago today was my first day back to work after a trip to Chicago. She waited for Gamma to get back to be born. Ha Ha.

Today is National Nurses Day as well. It is the beginning of Nurse week (May 6-12 annually).  It is hard to believe I have been a nurse for nearly 39 years. Next month will be the 39th anniversary of my graduation from LPN school. Don't even suggest LPNs are not nurses. I was the only nurse on 11-7 of a 22 bed floor when I started out. I went to 3-11 the next year and stayed on that shift until I returned to work after the birth of my first child. I moved to CCU in August of 1980 and have been in critical care since. I went to nursing school following my cousin, Denise. She was a great CCU nurse and I wanted to be like her. Our grandma Childress was a midwife in her community. She helped deliver all the babies around where they lived. She even helped deliver twin cousins of mine. Jerry and Terry were born at home in February. They were very small. There was a lot of snow on and they couldn't get out and the Dr couldn't get to them for several days after they were born. But they were healthy. I think nursing was in our blood.

I think this is all for today.


I love all y'all! ❤️
To be continued...........

Ten months ago

It has been ten months since my last post. I didn't realize that. It is very difficult to post from my phone and I cannot post from my tablet. My laptop charger cord was eaten by one of the mutts. Val got a new laptop and I am using it.

A lot has happened in 10 months. My dad has had a stroke, it wasn't very severe thankfully; but a stroke is brain loss. It has affected his walking somewhat. That is better now though. It has also affected his personality and memory a little I think. That is just me though. He will see a neurologist next week. 

Mom has recovered nicely from her fractured femur from last March. However, the C word is now in her vocabulary. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 weeks ago.  We have seen the oncologist. She will see the surgeon this Friday. Prayers are appreciated. We are traveling an unknown path right now.

My sister-in-law (my brother's wife) had esophageal cancer. It has been difficult. They live in Ohio so we didn't get to be there for them as much as we wanted to. We did send up prayers on their behalf though. She has been given a clean bill of health. No sign of cancer at this time! Her feeding tube was removed and she can eat normally. It was scary for a time. And still on the back of our minds is the ever looming worry that it will come back. That is where faith comes in!

Another sister-in-law (Rick's sister) has COPD. For all you non medical readers that is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease similar to emphysema.  Her breathing is really bad. She was given the option to receive a lung transplant. They looked into it and decided against it. A few months ago she was on the ventilator and made the decision to have the tube removed and not replaced. We were all there and she was not expected to survive. They removed the tube and she did well. God had other plans. He is not finished with her. She recovered slowly and went to rehab for a time and still goes as an outpatient for rehab. Her husband Tom is very supportive of her and her sisters and brother are as well. They are available to her at any time.

I have been very lax in thanking God for His many blessings over our family. He has blessed us so many times. I forget to thank Him. I just don't seem to be able to take the time to give Him the time He deserves. I find time to watch Star Trek. I find time to watch Law and Order and Blue Bloods. Seems like I should find time to talk to Him a little more.

My grandchildren are growing like weeds. When I get my laptop back I will post pictures.

I think this is enough for one post.

I love all y'all. ❤️
To be continued.............

            

Saying Goodbye to a Generation

Today my dad and I said goodbye to Aunt Mary. She was my grandmothers youngest sister. The baby of that family. Her parents were my great grandparents. Aunt Mary was a schoolteacher like 2 of her sisters and one of her brothers. Uncle Charles (her husband) has been gone for many years. I remember when he died, I just don't remember how long that it has been. I'd venture to say over 40 years though. She never remarried. They had 2 children, a son, John David Bowles, and a daughter Nancy Withers. John David and Nancy are a little older than me, but not by a lot. I hadn't seen them in quite some time. Aunt Mary was just 8 1/2 years older than my dad. Ma and Pa Bird had 6 kids, 4 girls and 2 boys. They were in sets of 3. Mammaw James was 13 years old when Aunt Norma Lee was born. Norma was number 4. Each set had 2 girls and a boy with the boy in the middle. I can remember the Bird Homecomings first at Mammoth Cave then at Capitol Hill. The last 20 or so years there have only been 2 or 3, and they were at the community center in Brownsville. The Stices also came to that homecoming. Ma Bird was a Stice. "Billy Hill" near Green River at Houchens Ferry was named after her father, Billy Stice. 

I remember Aunt Mary coming to visit many times as I was growing up. She and my dad were a lot like siblings rather than Aunt/nephew being only 8 years apart. He used to tease her about her age.  One time, my dad had lost his wedding band fishing somewhere in hart county. A hart county fisherman had found it and placed an ad in the local paper there listing the inscription inside the ring. Uncle Charles saw the ad, had her call and it was his ring! They retrieved it for him and we rode up to Munfordville to pick it up. 

This picture belongs to my cousin Jo Ann Collins. I know she won't mind that I used it. She reads this blog sometimes as does her sister Linda. Aunt Norma Lee and Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is on the right. Not sure when this was taken. They were both at the funeral home when Ricky passed away. He had met both of them several times over our 25 years together. Both are gone now. I will miss them.

Hold your loved ones close. You never know when the pale horseman will ride by.  

Psalm 116King James Version (KJV)116 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.19 In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

The preacher read this today. He stressed upon verse 15. It is precious to be witness to the final minutes and passing from life unto eternal life. It truly is. 

That is all for now. 

I love all y'all. ❤️

To be continued........

I let it get away

After my computer got very sick, I kind of got away from writing much in my blog. Mostly, that was because it is quite difficult to blog from a tablet or tiny iPhone than it is from my laptop. Now, that obstacle is overcome, so I hope to be back to writing regularly. Even if there are only a few who read it, it helps me to write. So, I will write.

There is so much going on right now. I am not able to write about it, but I do pray about it. Its not easy to do though. There's so much I don't understand about it. I ask for your prayers, God knows all about it already. I will write about it when I am free to do so. Know that in this life, everything is not always as it seems! There are always 2 sides to everything. Usually, the truth is somewhere in between! Bad, bad things happen to good people. That doesn't make the person bad! We are quick to label people and blame when we don't know the whole truth. Remember that. Mild, meek people can be snakes in the grass!! It's our job to pray for them! Not blame or ridicule or gossip about! But, we are human! We just have to remember what gossip does! 

gos·sip

ˈɡäsəp/

noun

1. 1.

   casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

I have definitely been guilty of gossip. No denying it. One thing I learned, it hurts everyone involved. Everyone. I have been hurt by it. Both ends of it. One time I was in the cafeteria at City-County Hospital. I was working with a new nurse who was quite bossy. She was new to our hospital. I had been there on that floor almost two years already. She had put in her transfer for the ICU and had been accepted. The ICU girls were asking me how I liked her. I told them. THEN I saw her husband was one table over. I don't know if he heard me. Pretty sure he did, he never even blinked to let me know he did. Never acted differently towards me. But, I am pretty sure he did. I felt so guilty, even though what I told them was true by my perception of her. I should have kept it to myself. Then, there's the guilt of the person gossiping about you. Their guilt gets to them and they apologize. But, you didn't know about it and now you are hurt because they were talking about you and you didn't know because they are nice to you to your face. Their apology did a lot to lighten their load. But, what did it do to you? You didn't know about it so you weren't hurt. After they confessed to you, you knew. How do you get past knowing. It hurts to know. I'd just as soon not know personally. 

                    Proverbs 6:16-19

16 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Here is a song by Disturbed. David Draiman is the lead singer. They are a metal/hard rock band. But, listen to the words of this song. Just listen.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=_LypjOTTH6E

Also, listen to this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4

Have a blessed day!
I love all y'all!❤️
To be continued...........