Dog Beach

Easter Sunday - April 24, 2011


Diamond is trying to get her tennis ball out of the water. This is the first time she has seen the sea.

She ran up and down the beach...was inside and outside of the water...and greeted every dog and person with a tail wag. She is a one-year-old pitbull-lab-bull mastiff.

My son brought her home many months ago. At first I resisted, but now she is a special friend to all of us. If it wasn't for her, I never would have this family picture at the beach. We all love her...so that gives us something in common. And we need that in our family.

After spending a little time at the dog beach, we drove further down the coast to my parents home where we celebrated Resurrection Day with a family dinner.

Thank you Lord, for Easter...a reminder of your power over evil and death. And for granting us a peaceful, fun day.

Writing again.

There are a lot of things I could write about. But I think it would probably be R-rated. So I better stick to G. Yes that's G for grandma.

But truly, we have experienced a wonderful answer to prayer over here and Mozart just got a little extra work, which we needed. And life with 2 young adult sons can keep you on your toes. Not to mention on one end of the vacuum cleaner.

Karen--thank you for your kind comment. It has kept me going.

(continued from previous post)

It was a lot easier on me to have Kathryn next door. Of course none of my friends could understand how having a mother-in-law next door was easy, but with 2 pre-school age boys one can feel pent up.

“Let’s go over and visit grandma,” I would say. Grandma was always glad to see us.

It’s nice when someone is always glad to see you.

And one bonus was that I could brag about the boys forever, and she would never get tired of it. That’s just something you can’t do with your friends. Grandma never thought I had a big head—because she had a big head.

We took them to all the doctor appointments. That was not easy as grandma insisted on going in her own car which she never drove. She always said she would get back to driving one day, but in the meantime I should drive.

So I had to take the 2 car seats out of my own car and put them in hers. Then there was the wheelchair in the trunk, for grandma. We had a lot of fun trying to get into the elevators before the doors shut. But usually some kind soul would hold the door open. Most of the people at the doctor's office were old and they looked at my children with tender eyes. It made me feel good to see them smile at my boys with their bananas and books.

Writing a Story in 60 minutes

In memory of Jasper, who sat next to me as I weaved my stories.

(Is May 21 Judgement Day? My friend Susan, writes on the topic--click here.)

My friend Debby is writing a novel in one month. You can read about it here. It's a good project for a writer because it teaches you NOT to edit, but to just let it flow. Editing can come later. (lots of editing!)

I don't have a novel in me...but I have articles/personal experience stories in me. Normally it might take me two weeks or more to get an article down. And another 2 weeks to hone it. So I thought...Why not "write an article in 60 minutes".

With that in mind, I remembered that Chicken Soup for the Soul is looking for stories about Caregiving family members. I want to write about my experience caregiving my mother-in-law. That was an 8 year experience. I can't seem to get an angle on it, so I thought I would just start writing haphazardly. So here is what I produced in about 15 minutes.

Her favorite food was cottage cheese and rice crispies. Her hair was sandy brown and she always made sure she had her glasses on in pictures, because it made her look smarter.

I would go grocery shopping for her every Monday morning. By the time I was done, I could barely push the cart. Especially with my chubby baby sitting in the cart’s little seat eating a banana the produce man gave him.

“I’ll watch the baby,” Kathryn would say. But I was afraid to leave Corey with her because she couldn’t walk without her walker. She couldn’t pick him up and hold him. But she kept insisting. So one day I left Corey with her. He lay in his bassinette in the middle of the coffee table. Kathryn sat in a chair next to him. Toys were resting on the floor. She cooed at him and made faces. “Go ahead and go! We’ll be fine.” That was the fastest grocery trip I ever made! But when I got back, sure enough, she was still cooing, and making faces at him. He kicked his legs and smiled.

As the days past, Kathryn needed more help than just grocery shopping. She could no longer drive, and needed to go to the doctor. And on Thursdays she got her hair done. Soon the errands were too much for me. I had another baby boy to care for now. My husband and I wondered what to do. As if God had heard our thoughts, the house next door went up for sale. It was a small place with wooden shutters on the windows, two bedrooms and a big back yard. Grandma Kathryn sold her house and bought it. My husband had it painted to her specifications and she moved in.

Well THAT WAS FUN. I'm not sure what I'll use it for. I'll keep going on this as practice. Oops I can see things that need changing already. But NO. I'll keep moving forward. Maybe I'll hit upon a memory I can submit to Chicken Soup for the Caregivers Soul.

Mother's Day Thought

My mother and I visited La Jolla last weekend, and walked along the bluffs. Click on the picture and you will smell the flowers and feel the spray of the ocean!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

My mother sent this to me...and I'm sending it to you. I hope it encourages you, as mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and anyone who cares for loved ones.

* * * * *

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life. She feared she was wasting her potential being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference. At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.

It was during these moment of questioning that she heard the still, small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart.

You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye but I notice. Most of what you give is done without remuneration. But I am your reward.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

-Excerpt from Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer

* * * * *

My mother and I, after tennis in La Jolla last weekend. More about our trip will be coming soon...

Computer Broke

My computer broke and I won't be able to post, or visit, for a little while. I'll come over and let you know when I'm back. My camera is also broke!

Along with the sprinklers, and our DVD player.

I'm sure some good will come out of this.

Oh I had a wonderful birthday weekend in La Jolla. I took pictures with my mother's camera. Eventually you will see them!