A place for everything.

I am spending my days, keeping busy while my husband is laid up.


Always SO MUCH to organize! I am the ultimate organizer!!! I think even if I had my entire house color coded, labelled and put exactly where it can be found, I could find a new thing to organize. In theory, to organize things you need to think, "A place for everything, and everything in it's place". So, if I were to look for... say the tape, it would be in the part of my house where I keep stationary items. Never sitting out amongst a bunch of newspapers. Or say, the stapler, same thing? I actually have drawers that are catagorized by items-Pencil drawer, pen drawer, drawer for things that hold things together (stapler, tape, glue). I actually do have a misc drawer-for paper clips, rubberbands, etc. Not sure if the rubber bands and paper clips should be in the drawer for things that hold things together.


My hubby is of a different opinion. So, I try to organize for him, probably causing him extreme frustration, I'm sure. He knows where he put his stuff and just because I don't think the restaurant receipt bills, or the TV cords or nails do NOT belong in his sock drawer, does that mean he isn't organized? It's all in your viewpoint I guess.


I think he might have gotten this quality from his Mom. While visiting her in the hospital, we were cleaning up some things at her house. I feel a bit guilty throwing out things of hers while she is in the hospital, however, I honestly do NOT believe that receipts for groceries from 1992 are important to keep. Or old empty mayonaise jars. (Not just one-a whole cupboard full!) Or old kleenex's-the used kind!


When Jim and I got married, I was so afraid to move his things and throw out his "Stuff". But again, I found 2 year old coupons and confidently threw them out. Now, I confidently throw out all kinds of things!. I also confidently throw out the wrappers off of candy. Not without a comment like, "Are you saving this for a reason?"


I maintain that in order for him to continue to need me, though, I need to organize his stuff and he will need to ask me where things are-thus creating a need for my presence!!!


So, while he is recouperating from his foot surgery and laid up in the bed, unable to walk, I can do what I love to do. Organize his stuff! I even bought new file folders to organize the two file cabinets. And I can throw out those old receipts and coupons!!

Shred Shred Shred!!!

Away and Sad news.

I've been away. My husbands Mom has been ill and we are glad she is now stable.
The doctors and nurses at the hospital in Moose Jaw, Sask were awesome.
We could really see how hard they are trying to give her great care.

At one point she was quite upset that she could not drink or eat anything. So, Jim said a prayer with her and we told her to focus on Jehovah. We told her Jehovah knew how she felt just like he did David when he was undergoing trials.
So, when they brought her ice chips, I asked her, "Who brought you those ice chips?"
She replied, "Jehovah." Thumbs up Madelyn!

Unfortunately, my camera is still in Moose Jaw waiting to be picked up. So, I don't have any current pictures for awhile.

And, very sad news. We lost my Aunt Marian. She was 97.
When I was about 5, my mother left my father with 3 small children to care for. He knew he could not take care of us alone, so he temporarily sent us to live with my Aunts. My sister and I lived with Aunt Marian, my brother with Aunt Lorna. After we returned home, we visited Aunt Marian every year growing up on vacation.
Aunt Marian taught us so many things! Love, obedience and respect were some. Also, that you better be home when the noon whistle blows or there will be consequences, and how to iron my uncle's shorts!

About 2 years ago, we had the opportunity to go back to Breda, Iowa and visit her and go to see her home. You know how often you think it would be nice to go back and see the home you lived in when you were a child, but of course, it would never look the same. Well, in this case, it was EXACTLY as it was when we grew up! How exciting! The corner cabinet that held the comics was still there-with the comics! And, the bed we slept in was still there upstairs-I think it even had the same bedspread! The tile steps to the upstairs-the same. Although, I remembered the steps much higher then they were. (Maybe she had them shortened?)

When we went to see her, what touched us the most was her memories of us being there. She told us how much she wanted to adopt us and keep us. But, she could not and it made her sad. That meant so much To have someone care that much for us was very tender and dear to my sister and I.

So many memories. So sad to see her gone.

We just look forward to seeing her again. With my Father, also.

Daddy's Hands

There is a song by Holly Dunn called "Daddy's Hands" that will always make me cry when I hear it. It reminds me of how my Dad would hold my hand and fiddle with my fingers.
When I was a teenager he would want to hold my hand in the mall, of all places! How embarrassed I was that my Dad was holding my hand! (My husband holds my hand when we are in the car and fiddles with my fingers the same way! Amazing!!! )

As a teenager, I never thought there would be a day when I would just love to feel hands again.

Some events this week have brought those memories back to mind. Before my Dad died, he was in the hospital on a respirator. We would fly to see him and hold his hand and look into his eyes as he struggled to breathe. After a few months of struggle, we knew he would not be long with us. He decided to end his struggle and remove the breathing tubes. So, we flew to his side and held his hand and told him we understood. We all knew it would be a hard thing for us, but we knew we didn't want him to struggle for each breath any longer either. We held his hand many times that night. We kept a vigil at the hospital for nearly 24 hours before he lost his fight for life. It was one of the very hardest things I have ever done in my life to see my Father die.

"I remember Daddy's hands

There are things I have forgotten that I loved about the man,

But I will always remember the love in Daddy's hands."

This week, we lost a dear friend. He also was struggling for each breath. Several of us were there to hold his hand. Many times I wished I could just take one breath of my own and give it to him as I wished I could for my Dad, but of course that isn't possible. I look forward to seeing our friend again.
I also look forward to holding my "Daddy's Hands" again one day. That day, I will never say I am too embarrassed to be holding his hand!

Our Meeting TV

Our CO was so sweet. But, not impressed with our outdated technology in ASL. So, he bought a new TV before the meeting on Tuesday. A few technical difficulties, and because it was only 32" TV, it didn't work, to his dismay.

Now, we knew we needed to be "Upgraded" but we are waiting on renovations and the regional building committe to approve. The progress has been slow, for sure. So, Jim and I took the TV back. Cute-he gave us his C Card and the next day I told him what a nice shopping trip we took!

But, we now have an awesome "Loaner" 42" TV that was obtained from publishers who got it in the US at a great price! Jim and and another brother installed it on Friday before the meeting.

That little sliver in the corner is what I got. If I was Amy, it would be much clearer. But, since I forgot my camera, this is all I have.

WOW what a difference! Except, now when we comment, you can see EVERY part of your signing, and face ever clearer. Some days, not what you want!

Best Ever C.O.Visit!

I haven't blogged in awhile, and it's because we have been really busy! We have finally gotten our own Sign Language C.O.! What a HUGE difference. When we had the English ones, it just didn't fit. But this week, we were HUGELY blessed! Our small, but amazing group needed this boost!

This was our Saturday Public Talk group. The deaf and friend visitors are mostly up front. Jim and I are carefully positioned in the back. Front and centre is woman I have been able to study with while a sister was away for a month.

At the 1st Meeting on Tues, I wanted to meet them. I tried to be very proper and wait.....
Finally, last one in the hall to meet Sister Donaldson. I signed to her, "I patient, want to meet you." She hugged me and I knew we were going to have a great week!

We were blessed with an English Pioneer Meeting, though. (Thank you! Thank you! Brother Donaldson!) I was just praying that I would be able to understand what he was signing this week because I so BADLY wanted to get the most out of his visit.


Our Pioneer meeting was missing 3. (1 on vacation, 2 have a family member gravely ill and sadly missed the entire week. But we will share what we learned with all.) He helped us focus on working with the arrangements by ...watching those DVD'S!! and how we should be BOLD, and STUDY STUDY STUDY!, and Commenting with our hands WAY UP! Our newest Pioneer next to me, her 1st ever pioneer meeting! She was ECSTATIC!

From Left to Right: Brother Donaldson, Me, Scott D, Kim A, Isaac and Joanna (back from Kenya for 6 mos), Evelyn C (our other US sister from California) Kristin and Jens K.


We just had to take this next picture. With some missing this week, we were together all week. It just made us so close! It was like a party week, for sure. This is our "Sisters" group. 4 of this group were out every day.

From L-R: Me, Kristin, Chris, Joanna, Sharen, Kim & Kylie, Katrine, Esther (our aux Pio for the month). (Sharen, Kim, Esther and I were out every day this week. )

And the reason for the awesome week:

Now, for me, it felt like I was back home! They are from the US, so that was fun for me. And just as LIVELY as they can be. Of course, sign language is always active. But when we were meeting for service and he was dancing and signing the song "I will survive!" we laughed so hard, it brought tears to our eyes!
We had a Starbucks "incident" and she was explaining: Sistah! You have to go in and tell them, "You should give me a free cup of coffee and they should also give you a $10 gift card!" That ain't right!" If you can imagine!

And if it's good, "That's just the Bomdiggity!"
Or, her explanation of what she did at the Pioneer school when she introduced herself. (Her husband was one of the instructors) She said, "My name is Sharen and I sleep with one of the instructors!

That says it all!

No where but in Jehovah's Organization can you meet people on Tuesday and cry when they leave on Saturday because you will miss them so much!

True BIZ awesome!

This is NOT what fun looks like.

Unfortunately, this is 4:00 AM! And I am up against my will. And I have actually been awake for 1 1/2 hours, just finally gave up the effort to sleep!

I

This is day 3 of this cold and I have taken everything possible to allow me to

sleep, breathe and stop aching.
I want to be out in service and I am stuck at home with this, my new friend:

I decided a picture of the used ones was not something I wanted to show people.

Now, I am hoping that you feel sufficiently sorry for me.

I'm sure this will pass. Soon, is all I hope.

Sneeze, sniffle, sneeze sneeze.

7 out of 9 was a good thing.

We had the AWESOME opportunity to visit with 7 of our 9 grandkids.

Do you think they should have entrusted us with their care?

Well, you know they were content!

And look at my face! Am I afraid of the challenge ahead or are they?

These people actually left us in charge! With a smile!

(What did they know that we didn't?)

And here is the smile afterwards!