John Birch Society - Overview of America - Part 1

First Grandchild to Graduate High School

Today we attended the graduation of our first grandchild, McKenzie. Only 13 more to go.

This was not your typical graduation. It was held in a church, the pastor and her Dad spoke, her grandpa prayed, she was surrounded by friends and family, and she also had her senior piano recital. You see, she is a homeschooler.

This was her day. Not shared with a bunch of rowdy, obnoxious teenagers but focused on her, her talents and her accomplishments. How proud I was of this young lady who is mature, responsible, talented, smart, very social (despite what so many say about homeschoolers being too sheltered and anti social) and a beautiful Christian young lady both inside and out.

It was also exciting to see so many Christian home school families with their children and how they pitch in and help with what ever need comes up whether it is helping serve the food, cleaning up afterward, or looking after little ones whether they were siblings or not. These kids know how to take responsibility for any need they see.

I am so proud of my daughters who sacrifice to teach their children and so thankful to God for sons in law who support, encourage, and help them. God has blessed us.

McKenzie, we are proud of you and love you very much. There is only one problem - I don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time.

Memories

Last month my middle daughter turned 42 and one of my granddaughters turner 12this month. Time is flying and my girls are growing older and the grandkids are growing up.

I remember vividly when Kellie was born. I had just been put in the hospital with high blood pressure. Ed came by on his lunch hour and I told him I was really hurting. He asked if I thought I was in labor and I told him I had told the nurses and they said I was fine. Little did they know. He left to go back to work and a nurse came in. I said I am really hurting. She checked me and said oh my gosh you are in labor. You didn't eat your lunch did you? I told her I did because they said I was fine, to go ahead and eat. She started out the door with me and I hollered somebody find my husband. He did case work and this was before cell phones. I had the thought that what in the world was I thinking to let myself get pregnant again when delivery was so hard.

They were able to find Ed. My doctor was sailing the high seas and an intern delivered her. I kept asking for something for pain and because I had eaten they wouldn't give me anything. The yound intern was so excited and asked if I wanted to watch the delivery in the mirrors. I said I might as well since I am awake. When she started coming he kept saying oh my gosh, oh my gosh she is so big! Easy for him. She weighted 10 lbs. 2 oz. and was beautiful. Not skinny looking like most newborns. Kellie was a happy baby and child and was a pleasure to raise (most of the time). She never gave us any trouble except for the mischief she got into with her sisters. She would cling to me and I feared she would never want to leave me. Yet she is probably my most independent.

I also vividly remember the day my 12 year old granddaughter was born. Her Mom had been walking around the neighborhood with her husband trying to get her labor going. My oldest daughter was down here to help and we took the other two grandchildren to the park. My oldest daughter was having some problems with her pregnancy so we were concerned about her. My cell phone rang and Marcy said the doctor was putting her into the hospital because she was in labor and the baby was "flat". No one bothered to explain this to me so I panicked, called my husband, left the other 2 children with my oldest daughter and we took off for the hospital. To me flat meant no heart beat. I prayed all the way to the hospital. We quickly went to her room and there they sat laughing and joking like they didn't have a care in the world. I wanted to strangle them. I found out flat meant a slow heart beat meaning the baby was probably asleep. We went back home and our other daughter, Monica, went to the hospital while we babysat. Soon we got the call that the baby was here and everything was okay. There is much more to the story but needless to say she is fine and a joy and pleasure to have as #5 grandchild. She says her papa is her best friend.

When I get down in the dumps about my health and inability to do the things I want to do, I look at pictures of my beautiful daughters and "perfect" grandchildren and realize how blessed I am.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Not a lot going on in my life right now. It seems it is dialysis one day and tired the next. The weather is beautiful and I did sit in the sun a couple of days. I feel like I could do so much more if only my feet did not hurt so much from the numbness and gout.

I had my fourth surgery on my arm trying to get it ready to use for dialysis. It will make my life so much better if it will work. The date for trying it is March 2nd. Please keep me in your prayers. For those of you who turn on the shower and get in and let the water run over you, be very thankful. I have not had a shower since June. I use a hand held hose and have to keep the site where they do dialysis dry. When I wash my hair, I have to lean side ways to keep the site dry. WHEN the arm starts working, I am going to get in the shower and stay till the water runs cold.

We very much want to go see Kellie and her family in KY but I need to get stable with this site before we go. If I let myself, I get very depressed thinking about how I just want to get in the car and go. It is going to be quite a trip for us but we are going to do it. I am ready to see those grandchildren.

Monica and her children came down last week and we enjoyed the visit. It gets kind of lonely sometimes. Of course, just like Marcy, Monica works the whole time she is here. Carrington and Clayton worked too. Clayton picked up leaves with Ed while Carrington helped me with my room. Just wish they could come and we could just visit.

The one high lite of my week is our Bible study on Monday nights. I have learned so much as Ed teaches us each week. I have been in church all my life but was never taught the Bible like now.

I cannot believe our first granddaughter will graduate from high school in May. I watched her come into the world and have enjoyed every minute I have spent with her. Her parents have done an amazing job teaching and training her. She is a beautiful young lady both inside and out.

All three of our daughters and their husbands are teaching and training their children to love God with all there hearts and they live that before them each day. I am so thankful that each of our daughters married godly men who are supportive of them as they stay home and teach the children. Not an easy job. All of the grandchildren are a pleasure to be with and we enjoy and treasure each one of them.

Cherish your families.

THOUTHS AND PRAYERS FOR A NEW YEAR

As we entered a new year, I was in bed and ready to turn out the light. Meanwhile, some of my grandchildren were gathered together and celebrating like the mothers use to - by bangging pots and pans. They are young and looking forward to what the new year will bring. I, on the other hand, was thinking about the year that had just ended and remembering all that had happened to me in the past year. I started the year 2010 with a very optimistic attitude but it started down hill almost immediately. I spent a told of 10 weeks in the hospital, lost most of the use of my right hand and part of my left. And my kidneys failed and I am now on dialysis. I also had to give up my job. I have spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and missing the ability to do the things I would like to do. Recently, one of my granddaughters reminded me that without dialysis I would not be here. Of course, she is right. I am saving up for a small computer so I can take it to dialysis. It will help pass the time.

I have had three procedures done on my arm so that I can get the perm ma cath (?) out of my neck and be able to shower without using the hand held hose. I also will be able to swim. It isn't looking real good right now but hopefully they can do something to msake it work.

This year is going to be a good year. I am going to enjoy my family and can not wait to see Kellie's new home. Please pray that I will keep a good attitude. Love to all.

Good bye 2010

We had a very different Christmas this year. Monica and her family and Marcy and her family were to be here Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Marcy was going home and Monica was to head to Albany to the other grandparents on Christmas afternoon. Sunday Kellie was coming and Monday everyone was coming back and we would have our Christmas together. Christmas week Marcy came down with the flu and one by one the kids began to get it. We have spent every Christmas of Marcy's life with her. So that was a disappointment. Also, it meant the Maynors and the Holcombs would not get to see each other. Of course, the kids were very disappointed.

We still had a wonderful Christmas, spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Monica, Warren, Carrington, and Clayton. Kellie and her gang got there Sunday night and we were thrilled to see them. Scott was suffering with gout in his wrist the whole time he was here. I, of all people, knew the pain he was suffering. He is always the one who does the cooking so that was hard. He did help the night the Goldsmiths came back. He made some yummy meatballs.

If all goes well, Marcy and family will be here Sunday afternoon. We will have our snack foods that we all enjoy and open presents. The tree is still up and the lights are still on. Guess my cleaning girl will be putting away Christmas decorations for me next week.

I am praying that 2011 will be a much better year for our family. I wish for us and everyone who reads this will have a blessed, happy, and healthy new year.

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!

It is December 23rd and I am not ready for what we call Christmas. I keep reminding myself that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and if I don't have food cooked and sheets washed it will get done when the girls get here. I stay so tired and when the weather is changing, my hands ache and it makes it hard to do much. But - my family will be here and that is what matters. We may even get a touch of snow this year.

I will sit back and watch all the craziness going on around me. We have something to add to the confusion this year - Clayton got a dog for Christmas. I am now grandmother to Max. Clayton loves him - Monica and Carrington do not.

Ed has been so good to help me with shopping but we decided tonight we are shopped out. It will be different next year because I can't keep up shopping for 14 grandchildren. There may be some gift cards instead of presents for the older ones.

I worried so about what to take to the staff at dialysis and was trying to bake cookies. I realized I would never get enough baked so I made 4 pies and took them to them yesterday. Not one person thanked me. I didn't do it for the thanks but you still like to be appreciated. Oh well.

I pray that everyone has a blessed Christmas and a safe, happy, and healthy New year.