And it just keeps going and going! I did get a short walk this morning. Breakfast, then work. Had a few things to do at each location, so I didn’t get home until later. I had to pop down to the cemetery to sign a release form. The person I dealt with used to work for a dealership, and he spent about half an hour sharing his experiences! He was very excited to be able to tell some of his stories! I was very happy to just listen!

Got several beautiful cards in the mail today. And the love just keeps pouring in. Such sweet thoughts and memories.

Autmn sent me pictures – yesterday she went with her family to the Renaissance festival. She even dressed the part, and looked so perfect for a fun and exciting day! She got to meet the mermaid, and also the queen, to get her picture taken. She also bought a wax-dipped rose, and since her middle name is Rose, that is her personal symbol. Happy Autmn! Beautiful Autmn!! She may send me more pictures, and if she does I’ll share a few.

On this day in 1813 ‘Uncle Sam’ was first used to reference the United States, and in 1921 the first Miss America Pageant was held – Miss Washington DC, Margaret Gorman (age 16) was the first Miss America (youngest winner ever). Grandma Moses was born in 1860 and Buddy Holly in 1936.

TOMORROW September 8 is:

• National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day
• National Ampersand Day

WHY do we need a national ampersand day? Who knows…. I am planning on catching up on household chores, maybe run an errand, & I have a picnic at Hanna’s Town if I can get there. Have a happy day! God bless…

I took the holiday at its word. I had lots of labor to do today. Started out in the cool of the morning with a nice walk. Shower, then breakfast, then washing windows. I guess I am back on track now, because it is tradition for me to wash windows Memorial Day and Labor Day, and then whenever they need it in between. I can see clearly now… I think that’s a song!

I ate a bite of lunch – leftovers from last night’s dinner at the church – then weed whacked and mowed. I could have probably pulled some weeds and cut off some dying stalks, but that just didn’t appeal to me today. I wanted to include a picture of the little bouquet I brought home from the spray that was on the casket. The flowers look so nice and brighten up the room.

My step-niece Pam likes antiques, and I told her about the little tiny desk I had that was John’s. He was going to toss it, and I rescued it from disaster several years ago. I believe she is going to be a grandma soon, so I told her I would give her the desk. She kept insisting NO, and I kept saying yes. I finally convinced her, so I dragged a small shelf up from my shed today, painted it gray to match the trim in the family room, and emptied out the tiny desk. I’ll take it up to the farm and leave it for her on Thursday. I’m happy it can stay in their family. I have a desk upstairs from the school mom attended as a little girl, so I am content with that!

In the mail today I received a package from Karen, Beth, Holly and Dan – three of the Skunk Hollow girls and their brother Dan. Beth told me that since Mom and I shared the love of gardening she wanted to send a blanket that would remind me of that. The inscription at the bottom says: When someone you love becomes a memory, your memory becomes a treasure. Such a beautiful way to remember, and it IS a treasure. Thank you all – love you much!

On this day in 1620 the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth England with 102 Pilgrims and 30 crew; in 1901 William McKinley (25th President) was shot. In 1916 the first true supermarket, Piggly Wiggly, opened in TN. In 1969 H R Pufnstuff debuted, and in 1997 the funeral was held for Diana, Princess of Wales, at Westminster Abbey. The Marquis de Lafayette was born in 1757, and Joseph P Kennedy, diplomat, was born in 1888. Burt Reynolds died in 2018 at age 82.

TOMORROW September 7 is:

• National Beer Lover’s Day
• National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day
• National Grandma Moses Day
• National Acorn Squash Day
• National Salami Day
• National Grateful Patient Day
• National New Hampshire Day
• National Another Look Unlimited Day 

Sure are a lot of things to celebrate tomorrow! I am going to just celebrate going to work, being happy, and knowing my sweet Mom is at peace and rejoicing! God bless…

A memory from the book: February 27th – Tell about the best pet you ever had. “We had a big farm cat we named Tibby. She went to visit a neighbor and Elsie left her in her kitchen and fed her. We would wonder where she was. We were down to visit Elsie (Dad’s cousin) and there was Tibby in the kitchen. We shared her as long as she lived. She was always having kittens so we had kittens in the barn to play with all the time.” (And they almost always had cats and kittens at the farm in Albion, too, as long as we all can remember!)

What a blessed day it was. There were so many people around us to share love, sorrow, joy, memories, support, and friendship. It truly was a celebration – of Mom’s life, her love, her faith – – and those who had that in common with us. I was amazed at the number of people who came – family, friends, co-workers, church friends, neighbors. The funeral director even said that this was the biggest attendance they have had in over a year and a half. And almost 50 people stayed for the service, in addition to the live stream.

The florist did a great job to incorporate some fall colors into the spray of flowers. She loved fall best of all, and she would love the beautiful roses. Since there will be no burial for a week, once the day was over we pulled the flowers out and made several bouquets to take home and enjoy.

Kelly’s in-laws sent a beautiful woven blanket in deep colors that were my absolute favorites, with a scripture verse at the bottom. I was very touched by that. We also hung Kelly’s wind chimes beside the casket and several times throughout the afternoon people would go by and make them chime. The funeral home gave Kathy and I each a candle with Mom’s favorite verse. Precious remembrances.

Everyone loved the pictures, and enjoyed seeing the long, beautiful life that Mom shared with all of us. There was lots of laughing and remembrances, and it truly was a cause for rejoicing, thinking about her life and those she has touched. Byron had the message and commitment, and Paul did the prayers and said a few words of encouragement and comfort. Byron did a great job, sharing stories and describing the life and faith that Mom lived every day.

Several people shared comments, but I knew I could not do that. It was touching to hear how Mom brought John’s family closer together, and how truly devoted they were to her. They loved her as we did. I’m so glad we are drawing together as a family now.

My friend Dianne (and her husband Jim) from church, plus Mary and Teresa, handled all the preparations and the food organization for the dinner at the church. I could not have gotten through the day had we been responsible for that ourselves. A huge thank you doesn’t even sound sufficient.

Thanks to all who attended; some who drove 3 hours, some 1 1/2, some 1 – some even further. And several local ones who struggled to get just a few miles. It was a wonderful tribute. Each person, each kind word, each hug and smile and encouragement, will stay in my heart for a very long time. I wish I could write to each of you, one at a time, just to say what it meant to have you there.

A bit of advice from mom’s book. October 4: Do you have a good piece of advice for me? “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

Tomorrow is Labor Day. I wish for you as little labor as possible! God bless —

Started the morning with normal chores: changing bed sheets, two loads of laundry, shower and breakfast. Kathy came over and we started working on the posterboards of pictures to take tomorrow. We planned to have 3: Steiner family, Graves family, Cabin family. Ended up with five full boards! Could have done 5 more! But it was fun looking through the photos and picking out special memories.

I forgot to mention one of our exciting moments yesterday! Keith and his cousin were out in the barn and called Pam in the house. “Look outside – there’s a bunch of turkeys by the stream!” So we all rushed out to the porch and watched a few grown ones, with babies trailing, walk across the tree line and back into the woods. They for sure wouldn’t do that in hunting season! Fun to see!

After Kath left, I had to run out to get gas in the car and pick up more poster board (since the three weren’t enough). While I was out, Rege called and said he was at my house with food! I zipped back home real quick, and he had a huge tray of meats and cheese from DeLallo’s for us from my Pinnacle guys. Such wonderful people to work for. I was feeling the effects of missing mom, in addition to hearing Chrissy wasn’t feeling her best and they were at Med Express. So the kindness got me teary-eyed. Got a call that Chrissy was fine and cleared of any issues, so good news there, and I felt much improved.

Then the mail came, and I opened an Amazon package (which Kelly told me to expect). It was the sweetest windchime, with a beautiful poem. I held up the chimes and listened to the heavenly music, and just sat on the deck and sobbed. I hadn’t cried yet, and I needed to. I felt cleansed and relieved and very touched at the beautiful gift. Every time I hear it I will think of Mom, and the love that formed my life, and the love that sent the gift. Blessings abound.

I still have ironing to do so I’ll post from Mom’s book then get busy. Hope to see some of you Sunday at the viewing and service. Don’t forget that you can live-stream (4pm) if you cannot be there but want to be included. Thank you for your kindnesses and prayers. You fill our lives and hearts with joy.

November 10: Did you go on a honeymoon? “We bought bus tickets to go to Niagara Falls. We rode to Indiana on the bus and hated it, so we cashed in our bus tickets and came back to Greensburg. We didn’t tell anyone we were back until someone noticed our apartment light was on.” God bless young love!!

Have a beautiful Sunday. God bless…

Beth, Kath and I left for Albion at 8am. Spent some time on the way up finalizing some details with the funeral home (via phone) and of course sharing memories of our mothers. Beth’s mom and our mom were sisters. We had a lot to share! As is tradition, we stopped at the store on the way and grabbed lunch for everyone who would be working. Kath, Beth and I tried on coats just for fun. And it WAS fun!

Barb and Whitey were already at the farm, as were Dottie’s daughter Pam (who seems to share a love of antiques and history!), her husband Keith, and Keith’s cousin. The two guys made short work of carting out mattresses, couches, heavy furniture, and tossing it into the dumpster. They also lugged a few tables for us. It was fun to be all together, and we thoroughly enjoyed our morning. Dick and Bobbie got there about 2pm and we all left at about 4:15pm. It was a really great day.

One of the things we wanted to accomplish was to go through the BOXES (!!!) of photos we found and pull out ones of ALL the families. We found quite a stack, and I suspect I will have to get more posterboard as three won’t be enough! What precious pictures! What a precious family!

I will share another page in Mom’s book: May 31; Do you have any good bathtime stories? “We always had a bath tub but no running HOT water. We had to heat the water on the gas stove and mix it in to the cold water in the tub. We were allowed to slide in the old fashioned tub and we would have water splashed all over the bathroom. We always used Ivory soap.”

Tomorrow will be another busy day – so I’d best get moving. Have a great weekend. God bless…

I have been overwhelmed by the comments from so many people. People who knew Mom intimately, people who knew her casually, and people who knew almost nothing about her. And people she never even met. You all have been such a blessing these last months, and especially these last two days. Her life touched more lives than any of us will ever comprehend. What a wonderful blessing she has been to so many, and to Kathy and I especially. We love the verse: Her children rise up and call her blessed. And we do.

I can’t image how I can express to everyone how much their thoughts, messages, prayers, cards, emails, posts, texts, calls, and notes have meant. I cannot begin to respond to each of you with what is on my heart. Thank you all. Thank you.

If any of you know me well, you know that I am not good with disruption to my schedule and routine! Well, these last days have shot that schedule all to pieces. WHAT routine? Yikes! I even miss going to work! I haven’t looked at ‘today in history’ or any national holidays since Tuesday. Hoping you are all coping without those vital statistics! 🙂 Kath and I have been busy with everyday, necessary tasks (I cut the grass this morning so I wouldn’t get lost when I went for the mail….), keeping the family in the loop of plans, and figuring out what those plans might be.

For those of you who do not yet know, the services for Mom will be on Sunday, September 5th, at Kepple-Graft Funeral Home – 524 N Main St Greensburg. Visitation is from 2-4, with the service, conducted by Byron Gurnee (her pastor from Albion) at 4pm. There will be no grave-side service. We’d love to have you join us in honoring her life and her memory.

We picked up her belongings after making arrangements at the funeral home, then went through them. Kathy and Paul were watching Millie while her parents worked, so she helped go through the boxes. She was very good at redistribution, and I found a stowaway (pink button down sweater, size TOO SMALL!) in the box of blankets I was bringing home to wash. But she was having fun, and found herself two balloons and a pretty spiffy hat to wear!

I need to grab something small to eat (it’s after 9pm) so I’m going to close with a quote from the memory book. If you ever had a hero, tell who; tell why: “I think Rev. Russell Wilson from the Church of God. He was a young man and went in the army as a chaplin. He wrote to Hazel, Jim and me.”

Have a happy Friday. God bless…

Today, at about 3:30pm, the heavens gained another angel. She has been in training all her life, and those who knew and loved our Mom felt like she was their personal angel, anyway!

I can just imagine her stepping into the arms of Jesus, getting hugs and welcomed by family and saints. Probably one of the first things she did was to check with the head gardener, to see if she could be any help with the flowers. And just possibly she might give them some quiet advice about how to take care of them, and where to plant what. She had a way of getting things done without anyone actually realizing she was running the show.

I’m wondering if she has to keep our dad and John apart, or if they are all just one big family! Dad would be a handful, for sure! He probably ordered pizza for the whole bunch of them. Mom was soft and sweet and smart and kind, and touched the lives of so many. Right now I am thinking of the song, ‘Thank you for giving to the Lord; I was a life that was changed….’ She for sure had a heart for the Lord and shared His love in her everyday life.

Kath and I were scheduled to visit Mom at about 4pm, but just as I was getting ready to leave the house, Kath called me with the news. They let us go into her room and see her before the funeral director came in. The hospice chaplain was waiting, and had prayer with us. He had visited her often and we were comforted by the fact that he had shared scriptures and hymns with her. She looked peaceful, and it really seemed like she was looking right at me.

Tomorrow we will go to the funeral home and make the arrangements for the viewing, the service and final resting. Not sure yet so will share when we have details. In the meantime, thank you for your love and support – we could not get through this parting without all of you! We love you!

We rejoice with Mom, settling into her mansion, meeting old friends and making new ones; hearing the heavenly chorus and walking with God in the garden. We will miss her, every day, all the time, but we can’t be sad that she is where she always wanted to be. Rejoice with us, and with her, as we celebrate her life. We’ll miss you, Mom – we already do!

Page from Mom’s memory book: Share a memory of going to church as you were growing up: “I remember when I was very small we went as a family. They closed the church and after that I went with the neighbors to their church. When the second world war started and gas was rationed, Aunt Hazel and I walked to our church, about 2 mile from us.” God bless my faithful mother!!!

Nice morning for an early walk. Neither store was too busy today – but I stopped at Gabe’s on the way home to look for a fall patterned blanket. I didn’t find that, but there were shelves of Christmas items out all over the place! Too soon for my taste, and I’m a Christmas persons!

After a quick grilled cheese sandwich (on homemade bread), I made a few phone calls then cleaned out my box of files for Mom, John, and the farm, etc. I was able to toss quite a bit of unnecessary paperwork, and I had a lot of duplicates, for some reason. I think there were about 8 copies of her Driver’s License and Photo ID cards. One is enough! All neat and tidy now.

It started to rain on my way home, and although my phone app said NO RAIN all day, it RAINED all day! It let up to a drizzle about 4:30, and I went out and pulled some weeds. I did get pretty wet, and did not entirely finish, but at least I accomplished something. I was hoping to mow – so I’ll hope that again for tomorrow! (Although it DOES say rain all day tomorrow….)

My cousin Paul’s wife Laura is in the hospital with pneumonia, so requesting prayers for her and the family. This is a tough time for them. Thank you.

Here is another page from Mom’s book. Tell about your first kiss: “Frank Redinger was in my class at Davis School. His sister Vera and my brother Jim would take us with them when they went out riding in the evening. They kept teasing us one night about kissing. I guess we thought that was what they wanted us to do so we kissed. Nothing very exciting but we pretended it was something great. We liked each other for a long time. He is a nice person today.” (Written in 2004)

On this say in 1895 the first professional football game was played: Latrobe (PA) YMCA beat Jeannette (PA) Athletic Club, 12-0 (Web site shows conflicting dates…). Right in our own back yard! In 1997 Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car accident in a Paris tunnel at age 36. Laurence Olivier (Rebecca) married Vivien Leigh (Gone with the Wind), and Arthur St. Clair died at age 81 in 1818 (15th president of the Continental Congress). Today my niece Sarah and her husband Kyle have been married for 8 years. Congrats, and happy Anniversary! Love you!

TOMORROW September 1 is:

• National Burnt Ends Day *
• National Acne Positivity Day
• National Chicken Boy’s Day
• National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason for tomorrow’s national day celebrations. I will celebrate National Clean your House day! And maybe, National Mow your Grass day! 🙂 God bless…

Took a morning walk, then had a pretty crazy day at work. It felt like the stars were not aligned – everything was off-centered and uncooperating. But – here I am to tell about it, and all is well! Joe told me they had the pretzels I like at Aldi so I stopped and bought some. THAT was a happy event!

Ron sent me this picture earlier – I guess that’s most of what we need to know, right?

We went to see Mom – she slept the entire visit, but we talked to her and told her stories (Kath is better that THAT part) and sang songs to her. We were glad that she looked more relaxed and peaceful. We were told she ate her yogurt and pudding for breakfast so that was encouraging, too!

Here is the next thought from Mom’s memory book, February 21st: What is the biggest problem you remember having in Grade School? “When the boys would keep us from going to the outhouse. Our teacher said to wait and go when everyone was back in the school house after recess. We couldn’t go together. We each took our turn. We had the ‘bullies’ in our day the same as today.” (Poor Mom! That would definitely be a problem for ME!!!)

On this day in 1682 William Penn sailed for the New World, and in 1993 it was the 150,000,000th visitor to the Eiffel Tower. Shirley Booth (TV show HAZEL – Kath and I loved that show!) was born in 1898; Fred MacMurray, actor (My Three Sons) in 1908; Kitty Wells, Queen of Country Music, in 1919, and Cameron Diaz (The Holiday – love that movie!) in 1972. Vera-Ellen, Judy in White Christmas) died at age 60 in 1981. And Happy Birthday to one of my ‘bosses’ – Ken Moore. Hope you had a great day and your year will be successful and fun! And today would have been my Grandad Crooks’ birthday. He was born in 1892. Miss you, Grandad!

TOMORROW August 31 is:

• National South Carolina Day
• National Matchmaker Day
• National Diatomaceous Earth Day
• National Trail Mix Day
• National Eat Outside Day

Let’s all eat outside tomorrow, even if you carry your toast out to the car and eat on the way to work! 🙂 Have a happy day! God bless…

Another warm day. Right now it looks like it’s going to storm – nothing yet. I was cleaning out the freezers yesterday and decided to defrost and bake the turkey pot pie I made. So it’s in the oven now and I’ll have some when I finish this post. It will feed me for several days, and I’ll be happy to have it! — update – it’s starting to storm out there.

We finished the lessons on Gideon this morning in Sunday School. It was the lesson where the Israelites surrounded the Midianites and blew trumpets and had torches. The Israelites won without even fighting. The boys, Max and JJ, thought that was the most amazing thing! And it was!

As I was tidying up a bit after lunch I was fluffing the pillows downstairs. I saw something poking out of the chair cushion and approached it cautiously. It was just a small spot of black. I lifted the arm and … it was Logan’s sock! Stowaway! I’ll wash it and have it for when they come back up.

Mike’s message was on First Lessons in Discipleship. WE are disciples of Jesus. 1) Requires engagement in spiritual warfare. a) against powers of darkness. b) we’ll be equipped for the task c) the most important war/battles are against Satan d) God’s power is greater. 2) Requires mercy and compassion. a) turns unfortunate situations into lessons and encouragement b) needs personal touch c) be sensitive to the need of those around us. d) it’s not ‘one size fits all’ – our response is individual for each need. 3) requires spiritual recharging a) pray and rest. b) Seek the father c) worship and study scripture). We are in training – all the time!

After the message, Kyle (our youth minister) made the official announcement that he and his wife Janet (children’s director) and their 3 kids have accepted a position as a full-time senior minister in Logan, Iowa. Kyle is more than qualified and educated to take a position as a senior minister. And although we will miss their family, when God calls, it’s important to answer the call! God bless them – and Anaya, Josiah, and Noah – as they make this transition.

On this day in 1862 the 2nd battle of Bull Run was fought – Confederate victory; in 1885 Gottlieb Daimler was granted a German patent for a motorcycle, and in 1896 Chop suey was invented in NYC by a Chinese visitor. In 1929 Anne Lindbergh made her first solo flight (aviator); in 1945 General MacArthur was named Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan; in 1966 it was the last Beatles concert, and in 2005 Hurricane Katrina’s 2nd and 3rd landfall – category 3 hurricane – devastating much of the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress, was born in 1915 (Cactus Flower – one of my favorite all-time movies!); John McCain in 1936, politician and American war hero; and in 1958 Michael Jackson, King of Pop. Ingrid Bergman died in 1982 on her 67th birthday, and Gene Wilder (Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) died at age 83 in 2016.

TOMORROW August 29 is:

• National Chop Suey Day
• National Lemon Juice Day
• According To Hoyle Day

Tomorrow we have a planned visit with Mom. Kath and I both have to work. Nate and Dave (B&B Windows) are on vacation! Autmn works, and the other 4 are in school. Have a wonderful week! God bless….