HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNETA!

This is a special day for me as my sister, Donneta, celebrates her birthday. Donneta is still quite young as she is 2 years younger than I am! During the "era" that she was born, mothers stayed in the hospital for almost a week after a delivery. I was not quite 2 and stayed with my grandparents. When my parents brought Donneta home from the hospital they said that I was so thrilled to see my mom, and I exclaimed, "Mama did come home! Mama did come home!" Then I realized that Daddy was carrying a bundle and I exclaimed again, "A baby! A real live baby!"
The memories that we shared growing up were so many and so special--just to name a few--the years that we played on the same softball team (she was the catcher and I pitched)--the two years that we were in high school and the shared activities (even when she beat me in the finals of the ping pong tournament and won a trophy that I so desired!), the many nights that we would stay up late talking and Daddy would call up the stairs "Go to Bed". (I should add that Donneta, Laurel, and I continue to make treasured memories together.)
I always felt that Donneta was so much like our mom. In photos of each of them in their "younger years" there is a strong resemblance. They both love their husbands and children, work so hard, love the farm, have great smiles, were/are teachers, and have such a love for the Lord Jesus. I could go on and on but let me close with a poem (author unknown to me) that reflects my deep love for both of my sisters, Donneta and Laurel. (Laurel, I realize that I "dropped the ball" on your birthday; don't hold your breath; but I will get to it. This is why my boys call me Slo-Mo which stands for Slow Mother.)

Sister, sister
Take my hand
and we'll go back
as far as we can,
Back through the fields
of memory
To the long-ago you and me.

Childhoold was home,
and home was light
and love and warmth
on a cold, dark night,
and there at the heart
of home were we.
The long ago you and me.

We whispered secrets,
laughed and cried,
Ran wild outdoors
or stayed inside,
Held safe in the arms
of family
The long ago you and me.

We were little then
Now we are grown.
But I LOVE YOU STILL,
My sister, my own
and still at home
in my heart are we.
The long-ago you and me.

Happy Birthday, Donneta! I love you so very much. Marilee

Our Son--TAD

In my blogs I want to tell a little about each of our 3 sons. This blog will feature our middle son Tad. Some people ask what "Tad" is short for. His given name is Thaddaeus and this has been shortened to a variety of names--Thad, Thaddy, Taddy, but most often "Tad". His middle name is Vincent--namesake of my father. Tad is a freshman at Trinity Academy and enjoying this first year of high school. (At Thanksgiving, my sister Donneta, asked us each to write down one thing that we were thankful for. Tad wrote, "Trinity Academy".) A highlight of his freshman year has been playing football. (He seems to be following in the steps of cousins Jason, Levi, and Alex.) He especially likes playing defense! In these photos he is wearing his new letter jacket which didn't make it here in time for Christmas. Presently, he is the point guard on his freshman basketball team. We are thankful that he is studying hard. He is trying to read his Bible each day and find direction and instruction from God's Word. Currently he is working hard to keep his room cleaned up each a.m. so that he doesn't get his cell phone taken away! Tad is quiet and thoughtful. (I know at times all of his mother's questions must be a source of irritation!) He is a joy and when he smiles I feel so happy. We love you so much Tad and thank God for you.

A Kind Grandson

Today when Tommy heard that I was going to visit my mom, he said, "Would you like for me to go with you?" Of course, I would! So off we went. First we stopped to see my mom (Grandma McBoyle). Many of you know that my mom has advanced Alzheimer's. She really smiled when she saw Tommy! Her speech is quite limited, but before we left, she was saying, "Tommy, Tommy" and this made all of us smile! From my mom's assisted living home, we journeyed over to Tim's mother's assisted living home. Grandma Helen was so happy to see Tommy! I told her about his good grades and how much he helps me around the house! Both of the grandmas were doing so well today and Tommy and I left each house so happy! The photos show Tommy with each grandma. Thanks so much Tommy for you kindnesses to your grandmothers. You touched their hearts and lives today and your dad's and mine too.

Mistakes Made--Lessons Learned

In early November our van was broken into and my purse was stolen. Here are some reminders so that hopefully anyone reading this can avoid my mistakes.

#1 If leaving your purse or valuables in your vehicle--keep it out of sight. (My purse was probably sitting on the front seat in plain view.)

#2 Don't carry your social security card in your billfold. (Why I had it there I don't know.)

#3 If at all possible--KEEP YOUR CHECKBOOK AT HOME. (I had heard on Money Matters that people will spend less if they pay cash than if they use their credit card--because this way they sense more the cost of something. This was a big part of my rationale for carrying a check book in my purse. Unfortunately I was carrying 3 checkbooks in my purse--one of which was my mother's as I often buy supplies for her. All three had just had new fillers of checks put in them.

Here's the reality--within less than two hours of the break in, the credit card companies realized that there was "unusual activity" on my cards, called our home#, and put a hold on the cards. Though the "break-in" individuals had amassed about $1500 of activity in that time period, none was charged to me. It was so simple to get the credit cards stopped and new ones with different account numbers reissued.

We closed out accounts at the three banks and new accounts were reissued. (My mom's account was with an Abilene bank, so my sister Donneta had a lot of work to do because there were direct deposits/withdrawals that had to be changed.) However, though accounts at a bank are closed this doesn't keep thieves from still writing on the existing checks. Many times a week I receive letters from collection agencies about these "returned checks". Each one requires me filling out an avadavit and having it notarized. A couple of businesses here in town have even accepted checks with a different name signed on them than my printed name on the check. (When I checked with the police detective he said that the name they are using on some of my checks is the name of another person whose vehicle they broke into. This poor individual have extra vehicle keys in her purse so they came back a couple days later and stole her vehicles.)

Both the banker and the police detective have told me not to carry a check book, so now they remain "at home". We have put fraud alerts on my name with the credit bureau and will do the same for my mother.

I have not had to pay anything for this other than a new van window, new purse, new billfold, etc. But many hours have been spent doing "damage control". Possible this reminder will help someone else avoid this disappointing event.

My next blog will record a happier event!

Thought For The Day

My sister, Donneta, and I enjoy using Franklin Planners to help us organize our days and time. We have fun at the beginning of each new year putting the new planning pages in our binders. This year I decided that I had to thin out some of the pages that I had been carrying around in my planner for years. One of these sections was "quotations" that I had copied. I was reading through a couple of these just now and want to include one that I had read by Stanley Tam and had entered in my planner page on 12/19/93. This may have been taken from his book "God Owns My Business". Mr Tam states the following:

"I can understand the plight of being average in mentality or in physical endowments--because I surely qualify in both categories--but I do not understand why so many Christians read a Bible abounding in promises to make them something beyond themselves and yet settle for a spiritual vitality so mediocre as to seem virtually non-existent."

I really thank the Lord for this reminder as I so need it. Later this week my mom and I go to wound and skin at Wesley Medical Center for their ongoing assessment of a wound she has that won't heal. We go about every 4 weeks and God is always so faithful, but I always start to worry ahead of time and "anticipate" all the "what-ifs" such as--what if the transport van doesn't pick us up on time, will the lift work at the hospital, what will the Doctor say, will home health keep coming and the list goes on. I love being with my mom but I so want to do the right thing by her and I wonder how much these trips accomplish.

I am glad that the Lord allowed me to read this quotation by Stanley Tam that I had copied a number of years ago. I will decide to focus on God's abounding promises and not the "what-ifs".