The Dead Cat Reflection #22

I don't normally tell someone else's story, but this one is too good not to share. We were told this in person by my Aunt Shirley and ideally, I wish I had video-taped her because we haven't laughed that hard at something in a long time. She's a great storyteller. I will try to do it justice and accurately in written word.

My aunt's sister and her friend were on a shopping trip one day when they witnessed the car in front of them hit a cat. They were appalled that the driver didn't even stop. They stopped and the cat was indeed dead. They felt they couldn't just leave it there. They thought about taking it to the ASPCA (why, I don't know) but it was in the opposite direction of the mall. It was decided to put the cat in a bag from their purchase at a previous store and put the bag in the trunk, go to the mall and on the way home, stop at the ASPCA. 

When they got to the mall, they were concerned that the dead cat may stink up the car while they were shopping, so they decided to put the bag on the hood of the car until they came back.

A while later, as they were returning from shopping, they could see a woman grab the bag from the hood of their car and quickly walk away. They watched her go to her car. She obviously thought she was stealing something good. When she got to her car, she opened the bag and looked inside. She passed out!

A man passing by saw her faint and helped revive her and help her sit in her car. Then he placed the bag on her lap. She passed out again! A parking lot patrolman came along, and they called an ambulance. The girls watched as they put her in the ambulance, and they sent the bag along with her! 

The story doesn't end there. A while later, my aunt was taking a speech class and had to tell a true story. She decided to tell this one. Imagine her surprise when one of other students said, "I was a nurse working at the hospital when she came in!" 

I wonder if the woman had to admit to her crime, but I bet this cured her permanently of shop lifting. What a great example of "crime doesn't pay". I leave you with God's word from Exodus 20:15, "Thou shalt not steal."

The Pool Incident Reflection #21

 

Summer is coming and I was reflecting on the days spent in my parents' above ground pool. When we had kids, they loved going over there to swim. My Mom went in the pool once in a while, but usually sat on the deck watching. When all the adults were working, Mom would have the kids over for games, crafts, TV and pool and many snacks too. Lunch was often pizza rolls or frozen pizza and chips. I'm trying to remember what else, I'm sure my kids remember. She always had snacks on hand, and I guess I have followed in her footsteps. 

There was one summer day that ended up with a story that has been retold by different eyewitness accounts over and over again. I wasn't there, so this is second hand and I'm sure if my kids read this, I may have to amend some things as to how they remember it. Tiffany and Ben were probably about 12 and 9, I think. That was the first time ever, that my Mom left the deck to put the pizza rolls in the oven. The kitchen wasn't far from the deck. What could happen in a few minutes? 

Soon there was screaming. The way I understand it, "someone", as was common with many of us, kicked the pool wall to get a push to the other side in their float. In a flash, the whole wall collapsed, and all the water came gushing out taking Ben down the small berry bush covered embankment into the back yard. Tiffany somehow remained in the pool but screaming and crying for fear of her brother as he was washed away.

Mom came running out to see the disaster. Ben came up from the embankment with the deflated tube around his waist and with scratch marks from the bushes all over his body. 

This incident has been one of those family stories the kids retell over and over. Tiffany says she feared for her brother's life as she saw him disappear over the embankment. Now Ben has a different (teasing) spin on it. I think his comes from the fact that Tiffany was laughing in relief that he was ok and of course, seeing him walking up the hill with the popped tube around his waist was also humorous. Ben even made a little video with Barbie dolls reenacting 'The Day My Sister Tried to Kill Me" (she maintains he kicked the wall). As for my mother, she would always say, "The ONE TIME I left them alone." She felt remorse and guilt, but what could she have done? I can imagine how surreal it must have been to come out and see the collapsed pool and only one grandchild in it. 

This scary incident became a funny memory. Each one there had a different tale to tell about the incident--the two eyewitness accounts and the one innocent bystander who arrived at the scene moments later. 

Life is like that; we can all share the same experience and have different feelings about it or even different viewpoints of what really happened. Some people survive avalanches of water and being scratched by thorns, some will watch in fear and helplessness as others suffer and those who don't even witness the event can be personally touched by the circumstances, sometimes feeling remorse. We are shaped and grow through our life experiences. It is great when incidents like this one, can turn into a happy tale to tell after the fact. Not all experiences always do. Likewise, as Christians, we may have different testimonies of our lives. and different experiences that shape us and our identity. Different ways to share our life's stories and still serve the same God.

I leave you with God's word: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 

I Corinthians 12:4-6

"Put Me in Coach, I'm ready to play!" Reflection 20

I love trivia and I heard that John Fogerty and his fun song, "Centerfield" was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, the only musician and song to be inducted. I wonder about "Take me out to the ball game", but "Centerfield" is such a catchy song even for non-baseball players like me. Who can stop themselves from singing along, "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today."?

I was never athletic, and softball was no exception. I was always self-conscious when I got to bat and the other team would yell to their teammates, "lefty", as I was left-handed, and they would shift their positions. I hated the attention drawn to the fact that I was different, and I know they also all moved infield more too, knowing I would never hit the ball very far. I took it all personally but what was worse, was my maiden name was "Casey" and they couldn't resist taunting: "Casey at bat!" and we all know how that turns out. I didn't always strike out but making it to 1st base was miraculous. 

I had to google as to why in this song he wanted to play centerfield. I always thought pitcher or 1st base were priority positions. According to google, centerfield is the most critical defense position after the pitcher and catcher. Perhaps his favorite players played that position. (I had to google that too and found Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays and more). References referred to that position as defensive anchors and captain of the outfield. Interesting that this guy that I assume has been sitting on the bench wants to dive into such an important position. That is confidence. 

In the lyrics he says he has a beat-up glove and a homemade bat but a brand-new pair of shoes, that was all he needed to give him the confidence and I'm sure he played for hours on end practicing to get better. 

This next part is for my Christian friends. I wanted to tell you why I am writing these little essays or musings or devotionals or whatever they are. Yes, it's true that I love to write and create but I want to use these thoughts to gently show others that being a Christian is not so awful in this crazy world. I hope they will see that we are not exclusive, arrogant or unintelligent and that we have some pretty good beliefs and that maybe by sharing verses it will allow some to read some parts of the Bible they didn't even know existed or to recognize familiar thoughts, premises or promises they didn't know were from the Bible.

Since I'm not getting any younger, I thought it was about time that I used my writings in this way. I have my beat-up glove (my well-worn Bible), my home-made bat (my thoughts), my new pair of shoes (my fairly new laptop) and the Holy Spirit to guide me. I decided to tell God, our coach, "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today" and I made this commitment to write and share these thoughts. I love the thought of centerfield being the anchor but I don't feel confident enough to be in centerfield, I am more likely in the outfield, but I can still be an anchor out there standing for our beliefs and just helping by being on the team. I am trying to do what I can for God's kingdom. I know sometimes I am swinging aimlessly and sometimes I'll strike out, but with God's help, just maybe I can miraculously get to first base. It's the ninth inning and "Casey" is at bat, let's hope we do better this time. No matter what, I'm playing, and I am glad to have you as part of my team in whatever position you are playing. Play ball!

I leave you with God's words: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" 

Isaiah 52:7

Oreos Reflection #19

Anyone remember the jingle for Oreos that goes: "A kid will eat the middle of the Oreo first and save the chocolate cookie outside for last."? It's funny that kids don't have to be taught this. Our granddaughter naturally does this. The problem with her, is she will hide the chocolate cookie somewhere. She just wants that creamy filling! She feels the same about frosted donuts...eat it from the top down and leave the bottom, "I'm full."  The same thing with the frosting on cupcakes. And then there are sprinkles. They are mandatory in her life on donuts, ice cream, cupcakes, yogurt. Heck the other day I gave her a small bowl of just sprinkles. She was in heaven.

Last time we had Oreos, I asked her, "Are you going to eat the cookie?" She honestly replied, "No." There has to be points for honesty. 

Then there's our life...adulting. Let's face it, most of us would rather eat just the top of the muffin. Who wouldn't like not working and staying home and collecting money? (retirement is great!) Who likes paying bills or doing the necessary chores around the house or yard? Now I know there are some who enjoy those things, but I am sure they have some things they wish they didn't have to do. We all do but we all have obligations and if only our life was so "bad" that eating the outside cookie or the muffin bottom would be the worst thing in life.

There are some "adults" who try to get by just eating the middle of the cookie. Life is a game of getting, not giving. Society's rules are just suggestions. To some, a right turn on red doesn't mean stopping first, speed limits are suggestions or if the store clerk gives you too much change, that is your gain. They bend the rules of life. They continue until they get caught and some never do in this lifetime.

God gives us rules too. They aren't always fun or easy but what a perfect world it would be if everyone lived by the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That's from Luke 6:31. A lot of you may not have realized you have a Bible verse memorized. There's some really good stuff in that book not just the creamy center about love and forgiveness but the outside cookie about guidelines and laws and what Jesus did for us. We all need that part too. Eat the whole cookie, you may find it's delicious.  

I leave you with God's word: "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments." Proverbs 3:1

 

Crossing t's Reflection #18

Crossing t's

Just for the fun of it, I recently joined a left-handers Facebook group. It's fun to be in a group of lefties and to share our experiences. I was reminded of one when I was growing up.

At the parent teacher conferences when I was in third grade, the teacher had a couple of concerns about me. One was the struggle to get me to eat my lunch. She threatened no recess until I ate it all. I was fine with that. I guess I just couldn't get down another bologna, bread and butter sandwich (I don't know why condiments weren't used. I think they had been invented. Mayonnaise would have been a game changer.) She spoke to my parents and all agreed, it wasn't so important for me to eat all my lunch. It wasn't worth the battle.

The other thing that concerned her was my writing. Wait for it...she said I was crossing my t's right to left instead of left to right. The horror! It was true. That's the way I am wired. She was hoping I would conform, but I was a rebel and still am to this day. Perhaps if she had whacked my hand as some left-handers had to endure to use the other hand, maybe I would have conformed. I am so glad she didn't do that. 

When I drew this to the attention of other left-handers, most hadn't even thought about it and the majority did it the way I do, and many didn't even know that right handers do it left to right. When I think of it logically, I feel our way is more efficient. We get to the end of the word and swing back to dot the i's and cross the t's. However, a teacher in the group, had a book on teaching penmanship and we are supposed to be taught to cross our t-s from left to right. She tried to teach me correctly. I'm sorry if she felt that she failed. 

I guess the moral to this, is to know what battles you should fight. I know rules are in place for reasons and most we should follow, but we also have to be self-discerning and be sure the guidelines we are presented with are in accordance with our beliefs. What difference does it make in the scheme of life? 

"Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth."

Colossians 3:2

Bubbles Pop Reflection #17

 Bubbles Pop

We have a lot of fun playing with bubbles with our kids. When we were recently having fun creating a big bubble mountain with three kids, it was necessary to calm them down when one just couldn't resist popping some bubbles. I kept reiterating, that we all know "Bubbles pop" and that it's going to happen anyway. I hope in some way this will sink in as a life lesson to not sweat the small stuff. 

The older I get, it is natural to think about our own bubble of life popping. One day we will no longer exist on earth. There are always things that we still want to do but the longer we are blessed to live, the harder it is to do some things. We have to adjust our bubble of life to enjoy the moments we have.

Sometimes I think about when I am no longer here. I don't want my loved ones to experience that hurt that we all know. I think the worst part about dying is for the living who loved us. I am blessed that I know there are some who do love me more than a little and my empathetic rabbit trail mind thinks about how it will be for them when I am gone. I have found myself in tears thinking about that. I shed the tears already, so you don't have to. If only that could be the case...perhaps that's a road I should not go down.

I can only tell anyone who loses a loved one, that you know your loved one would be honored that your love was so deep that you are hurting so now, but they don't want you to be hurting or to stay sad. This is life, we come and go, we hold on to and we let go. Letting go is hard but there are always memories to cling to and to lift us up. For Christians, we know that this is not the end and we will meet again. It really is a happy ending meeting God, having a new unimaginable home and then reuniting with loved ones. What a party! So, crying for loved ones who have moved on to heaven is almost silly, almost. Crying for ourselves left behind is natural. "Doing" helps with healing. When the pain is heavy, do something in memory of a loved one to help yourself heal and to honor them. I think I'll take my own advice today and do something in memory of someone I miss. Maybe it will be blowing bubbles toward heaven. Unlike bubbles that pop, love lives on forever. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

Picky Eaters Reflection #16

Parents all go through it...the children who are picky eaters. There are those parents who lay down the law, "Eat it or go hungry. The cold food will be waiting for you when you are hungry." There are those who bargain, I remember being one of those, "Just 4 bites of carrots" or whatever the thing was that turned off the youngster. Then there are those who just throw in the towel and rationalize, if they are growing and getting something in them, don't bother with that battle. 

We remember when our son was about 4. Feeding him was a challenge. Baked potatoes or a banana were often breakfast. He didn't like peanut butter or jelly. I don't even remember what kind of sandwiches we gave him. 

We can remember clearly being at Pizza Hut or some kind of pizza place and of course, we had pizza. This 4 year old had previously told us he didn't like pizza. It was going to be one of those "just try it, please" dinners. Well, probably after some bribery of some type, he tried it. 

We all remember his reaction. He liked it! It was a "Green eggs and ham" eureka moment. But what he said is why we remember this incident, "I want to try more things I don't like!" We laughed about that for years--heck, we still find it funny.

In a similar vein, I wonder if you have been convinced that you don't like church for one reason or another. There are many different "flavors" out there and I would encourage you to taste test some. Not everyone is going to like the same ones and there are many varieties to try. You may have been turned off by a Christian or something that happened. Why did our son not like pizza one day and then realize he did like it? We don't really know, but he gave it a try again. Imagine never having pizza because you thought it didn't taste good? I would encourage you to put aside your pre-conceived notion about church and try something you thought you didn't like as you could be missing out on something delicious!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

Elephants Reflection #15

We always associate elephants with my Mom. Different people choose to collect different things. I used to collect lighthouses because I have always been drawn to the majestic symbols of protection and guidance especially along the ocean shores. My mother-in-law collected spoons. I assume she began that because they were something easy to find at many tourist attractions. Not only did she buy them, but her family members bought them for her. That's what happens when you start collecting something. People know it is something they can buy for you and the collections grow and grow. I don't know how, but George ended up with a keychain collection. I had another attraction to bookends too. Some people collect their favorite animal, some salt and pepper shakers, the list is never ending. There is no shortage of fun things to collect.

My Mom had a collection of elephants, but I never knew if it was because they were her favorite animal or if she was forced into it. I do know she did have an elephant Christmas ornament that she loved. I don't know the history of how she got it, I just know when it was accidently broken on Christmas, she let it be known that she was disappointed. My Mom rarely cried and she didn't at this time, but she did remind my father numerous times that Christmas and a year or two afterwards, "You broke my elephant," with a pouty face. I don't know if it was an over exaggerated expression teasing us, or if she was really hurt about the loss of this elephant. I wonder if it was a gift from her mother who had passed. I believe it probably had a personal sentimental memory for her. 

Well, that is how it all started. Dad and I forever tried to make up for the accident by buying her elephants time after time for any holiday. In retrospect, it's too bad I never asked her if she did love elephants or just accepted her fate. She never refused any we bought her or said anything negative. I hope we made sufficient amends for her loss however, if the original elephant was a sentimental possession, she must have just let those feelings go. She forgave. 

The funny thing about identifying one with their collections, is that the memory lives on after they are gone. I always think of my Mom when I see elephants and so does my family.

After she passed, my Dad would use her money to treat the kids and grandkids to an amusement park once a year. One year, my 2nd grandson won a stuffed elephant and he sweetly gave it to me. Whenever we go on vacation, I will often buy a Christmas ornament as a reminder. When we saw the Ark, it was obvious to me to get the elephant ornament. 

My Dad treated the family to Disney World a few years after Mom had passed. We all were sitting, watching one of the amazing performances, There were four different places that characters entered the circular stage. I think I wasn't the only one who became teary when the enormous elephant entered the stage at the entrance nearest us. 

Although she was sad when her first elephant broke and she did let us clearly know her sadness, I don't know if she truly "got over it". I don't know the reason for her attachment, but what I do feel is that she forgave. She knew we were so sad for her and always tried to make amends for the accident. It didn't happen immediately and my Mom did have a memory like an elephant (!) but she forgave.

I am glad that God is not like us. He will not remember our past broken elephants when we ask for forgiveness. He is capable of remembering but he does not. As far as he is concerned, we are forgiven, it is forgotten, and we don't have to keep buying more elephants to make things right. He forgives us simply for saying we are sorry. Isn't that great? 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:9

Mother/daughter being a part of history Daily Post #14

I am embarrassed to say that I have procrastinated on something for six years. Six years! It's so ridiculous. I have decided with Mother's Day around the corner, I am going to get this finished now in Mom's honor.

In 2018 I learned that there is a museum in California that will take your old Vietnam MIA/POW bracelets and put them on display. They will repair broken ones, like mine too. First, I did try to contact the family to see if they wanted them, but there was no response. I have learned that there were millions issued, so undoubtedly there were many issued for each service person.

The Palm Springs Air Museum has a display of the bracelets and will still accept ours after this long procrastination. I am glad for them to have a home to be permanently displayed instead of sitting in my drawer. The display has a bio about the serviceman, and they also ask for a picture of the person who wore the bracelet and some information about them. They wanted pictures from that time. It is difficult for me to find pictures from 1970's and my Dad said be sure to pick one that your Mom wouldn't mind on display. I decided for mine, I would use my high school graduation picture. For Mom's I had to dig deeper--thus, my procrastination. I have very few pictures from around that time.

For those who don't know, during the Vietnam War there became a movement to wear copper bracelets with the name of someone who was MIA or a POW in the war. This was to show support and to draw awareness. Mom and I got ours together. She was more faithful to always remember, even years later, the name of the man whose bracelet she wore, Major Rainford Tiffin, missing 7-21-66 at age 28. I have read that he was piloting a single seat F-105 Thunderchief on a combat mission over Yen Bai Province, North Vietnam when his plane was shot down. His body was never recovered, but he was later classified as KIA. Mom always thought about him and prayed for his return.

I wore the bracelet for Captain Richard Cooper missing 12-19-72. I researched him and he was thirty years old. He was in a B-52 when they went down in Hanoi. Four of his crewmates were captured, which must have always given the family a little hope. A daughter was born five months after the crash. Thirty-one years later, his remains were found and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

My Mom was always caring and empathetic. We had a neighbor who she was good friends with, whose son was in Vietnam. Mom wrote to him regularly and sent him care packages. I am so thankful to have had a Mom who was so caring to others...even those she didn't even know.

For Mother's Day, Mom, a museum will have on display in the future a symbol of your caring heart toward others and of something, we did together. 

"Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

I John 3:18

The long journey to our second house Daily Reflections #13

I neglected to say in my previous post that our first home was named by the Porter's, "Stony Hill". There was a sign claiming that (I wish I had more pictures from then). When we decided to sell "Stony Hill", we were anxious about the timing of selling and buying a new home. We were afraid of getting stuck with two mortgages, which we could not do. 

We researched towns, the school systems and location in regard to where we worked and where family was located, and my heart was set on Barkhamsted. When a buyer was jumping through the hoops with the bank to buy our house, the closing date kept getting moved. We hadn't found a house and we were too afraid to be too serious about buying and were afraid this buyer was not going to be approved.

We came close to just forgetting the whole plan. We could just add on to the house to make room for our bigger family. Our realtor suggested that we find a rent for six months and then buy a house. So, we decided on that path. We found a rent in Colebrook and started packing.

One week before the closing, the landlord of the Colebrook house changed his mind for some reason. We had to scramble to find another place to live. That is when we learned there was a two-bedroom apartment in Barkhamsted available, that was fortunate because Barkhamsted does not have a large number of rentals. 

We went from "Stony Hill" to "Rocktree Apartments". For apartments, I was so pleased with the setting. There were three buildings, surrounded by trees. Our apartment had sliding doors to a deck with a view of Ski Sundown when it was lit up at night. It wasn't perfect--there was a mildew problem in the lower rooms. Although we got along with our neighbors, one sometimes liked to have late night parties when our kids were sleeping. But for the most part, we were pretty content at Rocktree.

There were two favorite memories for our children. First was the gazebo. This was a large, rectangular, covered wooden structure, with built in seats all along the edges. The kids loved playing there and it was the perfect place for both of our kids warm weather birthdays. We were so grateful for that.

The other was the proximity to the woods where there was a brook that led to (or from?) Stanclift Cove and Goosegreen Pond. In the winter we walked out on the ice. One summer we found a huge, deceased turtle. 

There were also other kids around for the kids to play with in a big backyard. I believe my kids made good memories there. That's the good news. The bad news is shortly after moving in, George lost his job. 

Here is the raw, transparent truth: I worked part time at the post office and George did whatever he could to help keep us afloat. He worked at several part time jobs. Time kept passing and we ended up having to pay capital gains. Six months turned into years--eight years to be exact. There were tough times and we started building a little credit card debt. I remember buying juice boxes and some other food items at department stores so I could use my credit card. It is good that grocery stores didn't accept credit cards at that time or I probably would have gotten us into deep credit card debt. We went from a house within our first year of marriage to being in debt a few years later. 

One of George's part time jobs was working for a cleaning company. It was then that George thought about having his own cleaning business and he told his boss, Bill Babbitt, that he was thinking of getting a cleaning account on his own. He didn't want to compete against him. Bill Babbitt was more than generous helping George and mentoring him into starting his own cleaning business. What a blessing! And Minuteman Cleaning was born and we started crawling out of our debt. 

As we lived through those times, we never stopped praying for our own house and had many people joining in our prayers. And in 1993, our prayers were answered better than we imagined they could be. Thanks to finding a little newspaper article , about this organization that wanted to help people build affordable homes, we were on our way to answered prayers, Like the rest of the journey, it had its problems. When we went to purchase the land, there was a town meeting and it was hard to hear some say, "Not in our neighborhood." They overlooked the fact that our home was going to be bigger than one of the other homes in the neighborhood and about the same as a couple others. There were several much bigger too. It was a diversified neighborhood. This program had only 2 plots of land for sale. 

We bought our land in Barkhamsted (--answer to prayer!) We chose a ranch because we wanted one floor for when we got older. We said we wanted it to be a home we could retire in and over 20 years later, we did just that. 

Our home is not huge, but it's in Barkhamsted and over 30 years later, I still find myself thanking God for this home that I love. I could have thought the appendicitis mentioned before, or the long delays for the buyers (who I believe are still living at Stony Hill), or the rent in Colebrook falling through at the last minute and then George's job loss, our money problems, were signs that we should not have moved, but we persevered. We are fortunate to have lived in Barkhamsted since 1985 and we never dreamed we would have had a house built. We have never had past due credit card debt again. Sometimes blessings take the scenic route that we didn't expect to get there and when they do, we are all the more thankful. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Kind words: The best medicine Daily Reflection #12

Before I move on in my posts about our next home, I wanted to touch on an incident that happened a couple of months before we moved from Norfolk. Our daughter, Tiffany, left our first home with one less body part. That should have gotten your attention.

Tiffany was five years old and had a fever and stomachache. I took her to the pediatrician and they said it was the flu or some kind of virus. I don't remember what. When she didn't get better in a couple of days, I called back the office and the office person told me that these bugs take time, it will pass. I wasn't pleased with the answer, but I didn't know to question or push the staff.

I can clearly remember the day when we said, "Enough is enough" and I remember George scooping her up and carrying her to the car. We took her to the emergency room on Spencer Street in Winsted. We saw as she laid on the table and the doctor brought her knee up to her chest and she reacted in pain. I remember her pediatrician had done the same thing, but because she reacted in pain with both sides, he disregarded it as being her appendix.

It was close to rupturing, and they took her into surgery immediately. We couldn't believe a five-year-old having appendicitis but so grateful to God that we got her there in time. 

The Winsted Hospital was downsizing and no longer had a pediatrics department. Therefore, Tiffany was the only child in the hospital at that time and I truly think some of the staff didn't know how to work with children. She was in there for eight days. and I went to visit her every day after my morning shift at the post office. I may have visited again in the afternoon after my afternoon shift, I don't remember, but however often I went, there was someone on the hospital staff that thought it was too much. She reprimanded me for coming so often (and often bringing her a little toy--remember too, that this hospital was not equipped for children). She told me that I was spoiling her and because of my visits and gifts, Tiffany was enjoying the attention and was not trying to get well. I think her part of trying to get well was walking the hall every day. I can't imagine a child wanting to be there. 

When that nurse told me that, I broke down in tears. We had almost lost our child and I was being told I was spoiling her and hindering her getting well. I remember being in the hallway crying. I also remember Susan Forsyth, a nurse who lived in East Hartland (a customer at the post office where I worked), came and comforted me. I have never forgotten her kindness and I did tell her that much later. I needed that so much at that time. 

The greatest lesson I learned from this, is to keep questioning the medical staff if you know something is not right. We have to be an advocate for others in their pain and struggles and additionally, Susan was the medicine I needed for my hurting heart. You never know how powerful your words can be. I don't remember what she said, but that she took the time to say it and comfort me. Spread kind words. How true this verse is: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24. Amen.

The House, Daily Reflection #11

We were pretty happy to be married only five months when we were able to buy our cute little first house in Norfolk. It was a sweet little ranch with an actual staircase to the attic. It was on thirteen acres of wooded land. The older couple, the Porters, who lived there had actually built the place in their later years and we know they didn't really want to leave, but it was no longer easy for them to live there. We got to meet them when they were selling their special home, and they even left us a bottle of wine in the fridge when we moved in. When we ran into them later, we offered for them to come up and visit, but they said they just couldn't. 

The Porters were avid gardeners. Every year I tried to keep up knowing the name of the flowers that were blooming. We tried our hand at the vegetable garden which we were still reaping the benefits of some previous vegetables they had planted that kept coming up. But the biggest surprise treasure was the cultivated raspberry patch. So, delicious and so plentiful. We were even able to sell them at the local store. Stupid us, first year, we didn't realize that you always sell delicate raspberries, not by the quart but the pint. We sure gave people a bargain the first year of selling. We maxed at 450 pints one year. We tried to move some of the plants to my parent's house but I don't think they ever took.

At one point in time, we went to a boy scout camp that were auctioning off all their cabins. All the other people buying them were disassembling them and using the materials Not us, we hired a company to move it to our property. (Side note: someone stole our windows before we moved it. It should not have been too hard for the police to figure out who it was, but they did not pursue it.) It was quite a site seeing the truck carrying our house up our 450 foot long hill! It became our place to have the kids birthday parties, for one thing. We looked into starting a business of a party cabin and I would plan birthday parties for kids there. I so could have done that as I always gave themed parties with plenty of games. The cost of insurance for such a business killed that dream. We also thought the thirteen acres would make a pretty neat campground, but we never pursued that. 

Now that I've mentioned the albatross, I'll talk about the driveway. The house came with a jeep with a plow. If Mr. Porter, a senior citizen, had conquered that driveway with it, we could do it too. However, the first year, it died. I don't think we ever got to use it. It did start when we bought the house. Side note here: the septic system also went one week after we moved in! We didn't blame the Porters and we even purchased our spaceship looking like septic tank from someone we had met at the Big E, I digress.

We tackled that driveway with snowblowers, which seemed to break cotter pins often. Later we paid to have it paved thinking that would help. I'm sure it must have a little, but it didn't feel like it did. I can also remember standing there in tears shoveling a path up to the house. I don't know if we ever had anyone plow that driveway, maybe once. At times we parked at the bottom of the hill and pulled the groceries in a plastic shed to the top. Let me remind you, this was Norfolk, CT, the coldest and snowiest town in Connecticut. We lived there during the blizzard of '78. I can remember being pregnant in 1979 and trudging through knee deep snow that hill. 

Both of our kids were born while we lived there. They were one of four reasons we decided to move: we were outgrowing our cute little home, it was a toll call to my parents in East Hartland, it was a distance from our jobs and finally that driveway. We might have stayed, we could always add on and George grew up in Norfolk and liked his hometown, but that driveway...

I have to add one happy memory of that driveway. Our first year living there we threw an adult Halloween party with all kinds of crazy games for the adults to act like kids. People had to park at the bottom and hike up. Joe Sverni, George's good friend and an usher in our wedding, rented a gorilla costume. He picked a spot behind a tree halfway up our driveway and I'll leave the rest to your imagination. 

I have more to say on what happened when we left our first home, but I've gone on long enough this time. The lesson from all this: Although there were reasons to grumble and shed a few tears at our first home, we were so blessed to have had that home so early in our 20's and the experiences we had there. We also learned to look at the driveway first when purchasing a home. 

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

I Thessalonians 5:18

Only child, but not alone Daily Reflection #10

I am an only child. For most of my life I had wished I had a sibling. Growing up, I had fantasized how nice it must be to have someone to play with at any time or how nice to have someone else to commiserate with me when I thought my parents were being unfair. I envied my friends, all but one had siblings. 

As an adult, I wished I had a sibling just to talk to about things and was jealous of adult siblings who could reminisce and share memories about their childhood together. I have also wished I had an adult sibling to help me, help my parents. 

As I got older, I realized just all the benefits of having my parents all to myself--all their attention and love, the closeness, just the three of us. And let's face it, one kid is a lot less expensive and so they could spend more money and time on me. Although I didn't have siblings, I don't think I was bored. I pursued many solo hobbies that maybe I would not have chosen if I had had a sibling. I have so much to be grateful for. I also learned that not all siblings are close, and the grass wasn't always as green in those other yards as I thought. 

I found that friendships could be as deep as sibling relationships. I have been so blessed to enjoy so many friendships over the years. I cherish all those who I can call "friend". I appreciate our church family too. I am not an only child by any means. I thank God for friendships and family.

"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

Proverbs 27:9

The Race Daily Reflection #9

We recently watched a cool animated video comparing the speed of animals. We were surprised by some of the comparisons. Turtles are slow but look fast compared to a sloth or snail. It was amazing to see ostriches and kangaroos only using two legs each, but were faster than leopards, giraffes or zebras. Of course, the cheetah was the fastest at 55-80 mph. 

We all have our own strengths and abilities. We are each running our own race Sometimes it's a sprint and sometimes it's a crawl. Sometimes we are on a straight racetrack and other times a path in the woods. We just go where and how life leads us and there sure are surprises along the way. The important thing is to run a fair race, play by the rules and to do the best of our ability, so that in the end we can proclaim, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. Keep pressing on.

"Deb, This is Dad" Daily Reflection #8

Whenever my Dad calls me, he always says, "Deb, this is Dad." I smile to myself because I have caller id and I know it's him before I answer. Next clue, there are only a few people who call me Deb. Third, after all these years, I surely recognize his voice.

When I call him, I just say, "Hi Dad". He doesn't have caller id but he doesn't have any other children, so I don't feel the need to tell him it's me. He knows. 

It's pretty much like our heavenly father, he doesn't need us to identify ourselves. Even though, I am not his only child, he recognizes my voice and he knows us all by our voices and each of our names or nicknames.

The trickier part is listening to God when he speaks, to learn to discern his voice or signs in our life. Thankfully, we have the Bible to guide us and teach us how to listen. Help me to recognize my heavenly father's voice, just as I know my earthly father's voice. "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:15). 

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Luke 11:28

Why is it? Daily Reflection #7

Why is it?

We like to go to local theater productions. What annoys me is nine times out of ten, they never publish up front what the admission price is. I have to go on their website and select the date and sometimes even which seats. I can understand if matinees are cheaper or there are different prices for different seats, but couldn't they still give me a ballpark? Tickets $10-$25 or $25-$50. Why do I have to jump through hoops to get to the top-secret charge? I pick a date and then select seats and then I see the price. Then I start over and pick a date and different seats to see if the charge is different. Some venues, the tickets are all the same price. I don't understand why they can't publish them up front on their webpage. There has got to be a reason. Just a silly little thing that bugs me.

Then there are those ads online that suck you in with a video that is going to change your life from some new miracle cure or a fantastic new invention. You start watching and are intrigued and have to keep watching to find out how much this cost. These are videos that usually don't give you the option of fast forwarding. You have to sit through the whole thirty-minute video (or let it play out while you do something else) to get to the price. And if you are lucky, there will be a "But wait!" and there will be added bonuses or a discount. I have two rules of thumb(s) regarding sales. 1) If it's a video that you can't fast forward through and requires sitting through an undisclosed length of time, I will not watch it. You can keep your miracle product. 2) If you are salesman in person and you tell me that this offer is only good right now and won't be good tomorrow. I say, "Goodbye". It's a turn off and how ridiculous that it's only ok for me today when tomorrow you will offer the same deal to someone else. 

Of course, there wasn't money in the garden of Eden, but boy, did eating of that fruit tree come with a big cost. If only there was a warning of just how much that fruit would cost them and their generations afterwards until Jesus paid the final installment. Adam and Eve were sold a bill of goods by Satan without questioning the price--just thinking about the miracle cure they were getting and for free. Talk about a bait and switch. 

I pray that I pay attention to the cost of things, so I can be wise with my money but also be aware of the cost others, especially Jesus, have paid for me and help me to show gratitude in my life. 

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."

Romans 13:8

The Missing, Not Missing Piece Daily Reflection #6

My Mom was a jigsaw puzzle lover and so is her granddaughter and now her great granddaughters. Mom always told us to buy puzzles at tag sales to save money from buying them new. The only problem with that is there could be pieces missing. Kind puzzle people--rabbit trail ahead--what are they called? puzzle solvers, puzzle people, puzzle doers, puzzlers? Google informs me that they are called dissectologists--back to my original thoughts--Kind dissectologists often put on the box "1 piece missing or 2 pieces missing". Some cool looking puzzles I would think would still be fun to do, but if it said that, Mom didn't want it. I guess she couldn't stand the incompleteness. 

I bought this puzzle at a tag sale for my daughter. I love the notations on the box. Darn, one piece missing on this cool puzzle, but wait, here's another note, "found it!" and "not" added to clarify. If I didn't know the person who I bought it from, the picture of the puzzle sure gives a clue as to why the piece was missing--most likely a dissectologist who was also an ailurophile (showing off my rabbit trail skills--a cat lover). I would wager that a cat had something to do with the missing piece. Pretty good detective skills, right?

999 pieces and one was missing. I'm sure this dissectologist looked under the table, in the box, under other furniture and in all corners of the room. 999 is a lot of pieces but what joy when she found that one missing piece. The puzzle was complete. It reminds me of one of my favorite parables of the lost sheep. Jesus, the good shepherd, will leave the 99 to look for 1. Jesus doesn't want any puzzle pieces missing or left behind--that includes you and me. How comforting is that? 

"It a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about the one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish."

Matthew 13:10-14

Following the Rules Daily Reflection #5

My 91-year-old Dad went to his bank for a couple of reasons, but one was to cash a check he gets periodically from stocks or something. It was for $3.29. His bank closed its local office, so he has to go to a different branch now.

He was slightly annoyed when they asked for his identification. He never had to do that with his local office. Then the clerk pointed out the check was made out to him and his wife and it needed her signature. He told them that would not be possible because she has been dead for over ten years. The clerk hemmed and hawed, and then told him to wait while he got his boss. My Dad replied, "I can't imagine what you make me do for $4.00!"

I love the humor, but I respect the rules. The bank is protecting us and themselves from fraud. (I know he needs to tell the issuer that his wife is deceased). Although annoying, the rules are in place for a reason. There have been rules to protect us from day one in the Garden of Eden. There are traffic rules to avoid chaos. There are rules to games to be fair. There are rules of etiquette, to make us decent to others and pleasant to be around others. There are laws to help us live peacefully in society. 

We cannot live without laws in our lives. Even Jesus was punished for supposedly breaking laws he did not break, but his punishment saves us from a trial in the end for all the laws we do break, as long as we have faith that he's going to cash our checks whether it is for $3.29 or $4.00, he will cash it for us in exchange for eternal life. We don't even have to show our id because he knows us! Thank you, Lord for your commandments to guide us daily. Help us to keep these rules. 

"And God spoke all these words:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20: 1-17

Road Work Ahead Daily Reflection #4

Today when I was on the road, there were caution signs warning me of a work area ahead. I slowed down and got ready to stop for the flagman, if necessary. Well, as has happened before, I drove on and on and this time, there were no workers. The signs had been left up. Another time, I swear I drove 5 miles before I finally came up on the construction site--it surprised me because I didn't believe the signs. 

Such is a life. We know God is there and will get us through, but we can't always see what is happening and our journeys are lengthened by detours, road work and sometimes accidents. We may get annoyed or sometimes, devastated, by the turn of events, but sometimes we need "road work".  Despite us not understanding or expecting all detours, we know he has given us signs and a hope for the future.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5,6

Ziggle and Zaggle Daily Reflection #3

I was curious about a store my granddaughter was telling me about. I asked her if it was far from her house. She said, "No. You go by my class, then you go down a hill and you ziggle this way and then zaggle that way and you are there." Well, I should know better than to ask a 4-year-old for directions. I wonder if ziggle is left or right or was the road curvy? 

This reminds me of the world we live in. There are so many people giving different instructions on how to live. We need to be diligent to seek knowledgeable sources. Let me seek trusted sources for my guidance each day. 

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

This Page Intentionally Left Blank Daily Reflection #2

The first time I saw this, I had mixed thoughts. As a child, I would have been excited to have an extra piece of paper for my paper drawer so that I would always have something to write on. As an adult, I thought of the waste of paper and of course, wondered why--a placeholder for the future, perhaps?  I am sure there is a good reason.

This made me think (the rabbit trails of my mind) of how often should I leave a page blank? Not physical paper, but words not said. The husband criticizing a wife's wardrobe choice, perhaps should be words not said. The wife instead of praising her husband for putting a dish in the dishwasher, criticizing the wrong placement--should be words not said. When easily falling into the gossip trap, those should be words not said. When an innocent child takes a marker to the wall, our first words should not be hurtful. Road rage never comes from a blank page.

On the other hand, silence can speak volumes. Lack of communication can kill relationships. Perhaps for us, the blank page doesn't have to stay blank, but sometimes we need to stop and think before we use it.  A blank page in our speech, also promotes listening. Be still and hear what others are saying.

Help me to remember the page intentionally left blank and help me to leave some blank pages today. 

"then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

Job 33:33

Bird Songs Daily Reflection #1

I've been following an Instagram account that teaches about the different songs the birds sing. It is intriguing to me how they communicate. The poor chickadee's song that I was used to hearing was their warning song. Their standard song is not as memorable. According to this expert, birds also have different dialects. I am always learning more and always, always in awe of God's creations.

"His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me."

Matthew 10:31