41 Years today, and many more to come!

It sure is difficult for me to believe that 41 years ago this time, we were getting ready for our wedding ceremony! I remember that it was cold and blustery, and a few snow flurries. About 100 people, family and close friends gathered at the church, decorated with evergreen boughs and plain trees. Then everyone came to our house for the reception. With an 8 o'clock service (so all the farmers could milk), we expected few to attend, but I recall Mother being delighted that so many relatives braved the elements to be there. I made my gown and train from white velvet, and selected a mantilla secured with a pill-box crown, which I chose not to wear... did not want the additional height! The gal who did my hair used 100000000 bobbie pins to secure all these curls at the back of my head. What a pain that was to take out! So, my attendants made their own dresses: Marianne had a red velvet dress, and sister Carol and Nancy(Anthony) wore green velvet. Each carried a white muff with a matching pillbox hat. I carried a bouquet of carnations and white roses... there was not too much heat in the church, and the florist advised against using too many flowers for the ceremony. Heat was provided by the two pot-bellied stoves, so everyone in attendance needed to wear their coats the whole 15 minutes they were there! One vivid memory I have is of Uncle Chuck driving Dad and me to the church. When we approached, I noticed that Aunt Jean had a smallish Christmas tree lighted on the front steps to the church. Such an elegant yet simple touch... she always knew what it took to make something beautiful with the everyday decorations that we had on hand. She always brought Mom and Dad the most beautiful anniversary bouquet of tulips and other fresh spring blossoms for their anniversary in mid-May. We see in the pictures of that evening that my Grandfather James K. Howe (90+) and grandmother, Anna M. Hall were there. Additionally, Dennis' grandparents, Albert and Mabel Ware as well as Nat and Essie Rogers were also there at the church. Am not sure that any except my Gram went back for the reception. She was never one to miss a party! Memories.... that is what we live for, and love for, forever!

Christmas Celebration

Our families are celebrating today, but many miles apart! Here is a picture of Britt and Anna, ready to open presents in Hawaii. Beside them is Addie in Florida, placing Baby Jesus, as she gets ready also. My wish to everyone is for a Merry, Merry Christmas... Be thankful for family and friends , and secondly, for any material things you may receive!!! Most of all, remember the reason for the season, and have a wonderful celebration!!!

Years ago....

Back in 1976, Hannah Broughton Rogers was born in Rutland Hospital, Rutland, Vermont. We were living in Proctor at the time, just 25 minutes from the hospital! I remember so vividly when Andrew was born, but now I must really jog my memory bank to bring up details of this birth. I remember that starting in November, I was supposed to stay off my feet as much as possible, as I was starting to get puffy hands and feet. They never called it bed rest, but I needed to have Andrew and Dennis wait on me as much as possible. Of course, in those days, Dennis was really a foreigner in the kitchen... so we had lots of quick and easy meals. Andrew played with Jay, who lived down the street, so I never really worried about what he was doing, after all, he would be 5 that December, and was going to 1/2 day Kindergarten. So, my afternoons were free to rest... I wonder what else I did? Back to the birth day: I know that we went to the hospital about 11:30 PM, and were charged for that extra day, much to Dennis' chagrin. I tried to get the labor going all night, and finally early in the AM, they started a drip.... the baby seemed to be large enough for me to go into labor for real. Well, I would start labor, so they would stop the drip... then I would stop my labor. Well, this continued all morning, and finally by about 1PM, it was starting to really happen. The problem that arose was that there was football on TV, and the doctor was a big fan. He and Dennis would watch the plays while I was working on delivering this baby! Well, during the pregnancy, we had not taken the class for expectant parents, as Dennis had not planned to go into the delivery room. In that day, the only way to get into see the arrival of our second child, one had to take that class. Well, I guess Dennis had bonded with the doctor, for as the time for Hannah's arrival came, the doctor told Dennis to don a gown, and go with him! So he did! Dennis tells me that he was there... I had a spinal, and did what they told me! I remember vividly that I told the nurse I felt like I really had to go to the bathroom. She said, it must just be a "feeling", not to worry, just let it go! Well, I did! the entire bed was soaked! That's me!!!! Back to delivery... All I remember was the joy of Hannah Broughton arriving, and her being placed on my chest! That became a very comfortable place for her, as we started nursing in the hospital, and continued successfully for 18 months. "Mommypies" were always there!!! Well, that was the most wonderful and rewarding time that I ever spent! The bond between Hannah and I has been very strong over the years, although I do know that she and her Dad have a very special relationship... and that is wonderful! They show and know a bond of love and respect much different from our bond. The mother/daughter relationship is one of empathy, pleasure and pride. Getting ready for the birth of two babies at one time has strengthened and reinforced our bond, as so much of her preparation has been a shared effort, and I am so pleased to be able to be a part of all of this! Thank goodness I retired! All this is so much different than my life, but I was always away from where my mother was living when I was pregnant. She never really came to spend much time with us, but we always made the effort to get to Tunbridge to see and share our our time with our Moms and Dads. Giving them the time to be Grandparents was so important in the lives of our children, and for that I am very thankful. So, 32 years ago, I "birthed" a wonderful baby girl... a beautiful individual whom I love dearly, and am so thankful to be a part of her life.

6 DAYS later...

One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed. Bernard M. Baruch
Big Wisdom (Little Book), W Publishing Group, 2005


As I tried to decide what topic to write about, I remembered saving the above saying from a daily thought for the day that I receive, some time ago. Sounds like advice that most of us receive at some time in our lives, but do we really think about it, and act upon it? If you go to bed and toss and turn, perhaps you have some forgiving to do! Me... I seem to get plenty of zzzzzzzzzzz's most nights with no problem. Think I inherited that from my Dad.

Talked to my sister, Carol, in Albania today, via IM'ing on the computer. What a wonderful device that is to have available! Although she is 6 hours ahead of us, we are able to connect 3 or 4 times a week if we are lucky. All seems to be going well with them over there, and although the natives do not celebrate Thanksgiving in that country, they do observe other holidays about that time. I am thankful every day for their safety, as we all know that there is always the potential in that area of the world for "strange" and dangerous things to happen. They seem to have good friends there, a decent place to live, and the opportunity to get good food to eat.

Speaking of being thankful, it is getting near to Thanksgiving and everyone seems to be especially appreciative for the country in which we live, and all that we have been allowed to enjoy in our lives. I was particularly pleased when Addie (4 years old)asked, " Know what I am thankful for, Grammie?" and she started to list all her family members, her pets, her belongings. Her Pre-K is working on learning songs and a cute poem for their program next week. I am so pleased that they have the "time" to do these fun activities, and then share them with any family members who able to attend. Their Thanksgiving celebration is scheduled for lunch time, so any parent is able to attend, if they have a designated lunchtime, and they are able to leave! I am delighted to be able to attend, as I must admit that I was not always able to go to Hannah's performances, if they had them during the day. You see, that is one more thing to be thankful for ... employers who realize how important it is for parents to attend their child's school as is necessary. Our educational system would be so much stronger if a parent were free to go their child's school frequently. Teachers would have a direct line to the parents, and any educator knows how imortant that connection can be for success in our schools!

Celebrate good times, Come ON!

Many of you know that I have been working hard to lose some weight, and I am proud to announce that on Tuesday, I had made my first goal!!!Yahoooooooooo! so far, I have dropped 22 pounds, my new goal is 18 more. That will be enough. I started this phase on 14 August, so it has been almost 3 months, but a little at a time is supposed to be best! With that in mind, I look forward to dropping about 2 pounds per week. Even though the holidays are coming, I still will continue on my venture. Cannot let it all go, at this point!!! I am not doing it myself, but have a doctor's guidance. I weigh in once a week, have a Vitamin B shot, get some tablets, and pay my FEE! That keeps me on task $$$$. Do not want to waste too much! So, today I was able to wear some new pants that I had purchased a couple of years ago, and I just could not bear to wear them! Sure felt good........ no girlie photo... maybe later on!

An email that I received

I received this entire message in my email today. I felt like it was too good not to preserve, as well as share with my friends!

This is what John Wesley, of yesteryear said: "Do all the good you can; by all the means you can; in all the ways you can; in all the places you can; at all the times you can; to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." You can contribute to your own happiness and health; have a happy, healthy day, and life!




SACK LUNCHES



I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.' Great Lakes Air Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq .After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago , and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.As I reached for my wallet, I overheard the soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago .His friend agreed.I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked,'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?''Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.'This is your thanks.'After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here,take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car,I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.It seemed so little... "



"A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."

Branching out!

I have been named as a host for the Better Homes and Gardens Cookie Swap House Party Event on 6 December 2008 at 4 P.M. Please go to the following web site to check it out. Invitations will be out shortly... so be watching, and if yours does not arrive, and you would like to be included, do not be afraid to let me know! According to the plans, goodies should be arriving shortly for all who are guests at the event.

http://houseparty.com/party/92791