This morning when I went outside I noticed many leaves had turned color and fallen to the ground. September and frosty nights are just around the corner. I'm loving the chill that has been in the air tonight after several hot days this week. I want to snuggle up in a cozy sweatshirt with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa.
This time of year, when thoughts turn to getting back to school, is my favorite time of year. We got new school supplies for the kids today - backpacks, pens, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters, rulers, scissors, protractors, erasers, glue, folders, notebooks and paper. The little ones were so excited about their new supplies that they kept their backpacks on all evening - even when they went to the park!
We officially started school this week, after about a month off. I typically don't take a long summer break. I like our schedule to stay pretty much the same year-round. And then when we do take an impromptu day off for fun, or if someone is sick, I don't worry that we are not getting enough school time in. Today we studied Bible, math, spelling, and two new countries from our list of countries of the world, which encompasses geography, history and social studies. Peachie also worked with the little ones in their activity workbooks. Next week we'll continue to work on reading with Punkin' and Peanut. I'm hoping PeeWee will even pick up on some of the reading, even though he is only five.
I'm a little blown away by the thought that our oldest is already in tenth grade - a sophomore!! I've picked out a Higher Mathematics course I want her to take and I'm still looking for a good high-school level science program. I have a few ideas there. She is talking seriously about possibly going to beautician's school. Right now her plan is to live at home for at least a couple years after she graduates. She wants to get a part-time job her Senior Year to save up for a car. After she graduates she also intends to take some courses at our church's tuition-free Bible college. She has also tossed around the idea of going into the medical field. I think I need to have her take an aptitude test to see where her strengths and weaknesses are. It might help if she can do a little job-shadowing as well. It's hard to grasp the thought that the little girl who was bouncing around like Tigger not so long ago is quickly blossoming into a young woman. The rest of the kids are not far behind her either!
I hope you are looking forward to Fall like I am - brightly colored leaves, crisp fresh air, ripening apples on the trees, warm cider and cocoa, baked potatoes and squash, cozy soft sweatshirts, football games, harvest ending, the garden's bounty reaped and stored - then on to Thanksgiving, then Christmas...Oh, the seasons fly by so fast.
Reflectively yours ~ Beth ~
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
In Memory of Dad
Ten years ago today I was standing in a hospital room with about ten or fifteen other relatives, watching my Dad take his last breaths. I was taking his pulse as I felt his very last heartbeat - and I was certain I knew the moment his spirit left his body. It was the first time I had ever seen anyone die.
Three weeks prior to Dad's death we were admitting my Mom to the hospital for knee replacement surgery. Dad had been suffering from a severe headache - we all thought it was the flu. My sister (an RN) noticed Dad was having weakness on one side, so immediately after seeing Mom off to surgery, she escorted Dad to the Emergency Room to get checked out. The doctors ran some tests and admitted Dad to the hospital. A couple of hours later I was visiting Dad in his hospital room, and I noticed he was very confused and did not know where he was, or what was going on. He thought he was still back in Arizona, and that my brother had just made him the best cheeseburger he'd ever had. I immediately alerted the nurses to Dad's confusion and told them he appeared to be experiencing some short-term memory loss. By the time test results came back, Dad's stroke had worsened, and that evening they took him off to surgery to put a shunt in his brain. The surgeon's predictions were dire - he said if Dad survived 24 hours, he would likely be a "vegetable". I was sitting in the ICU waiting room with my oldest brother when the surgeon gave us the news. It was all very surreal.
Amazingly, Dad survived the surgery and within a couple of days was alert and talking, although he still experienced some weakness on one side, as well as some confusion. Some of that could have been attributed to the medications he was on, but it looked like Dad was going to pull through this stroke and survive. However, infection began to set into his body, and he began to worsen. I can't remember all the details - one day seemed to blur into the next with all the stress of having Mom in Rehab for her knee, Dad in the ICU - and on top of all that, we were moving. I had three little children at home and was juggling them between friends who were generous enough to watch them.
Dad had to be in restraints in the ICU because he kept trying to pull out tubes and fiddle with lines and leads that went to the monitors. I noticed that if someone was in the room talking, he would relax and listen. If it got quiet in the room, he would pull against his restraints. Having the tv on made no difference - he wanted to hear someone talking. I think he must have felt alone and scared. So I started to read to him - the Bible and Reader's Digest. I went to the Bible book store and purchased the New Testament on tape - and even the nurses would play the tapes for him. As long as there was was someone talking or the tapes were playing, he would remain calm. Many times I encouraged Dad to be sure that he was ready to meet his Creator and I prayed with him many times.
Shortly before we had to make the decision to cease all treatment and move him out of the ICU I saw a friend of mine, who is a doctor, and told him about what was going on with Dad. He had just admitted a patient of his to ICU and he looked over Dad's chart - and he told me the infection was not survivable. I was shocked - no one had been so blunt to me up to that point about the seriousness of Dad's condition. The next morning we moved Dad to a regular hospital room and decided to cease the feeding tube but continue the IV fluids and pain medications as needed. One very rude and angry nurse chewed me out for "allowing" Dad to have IV fluids - she said it was time for him to die and the fluids could keep him alive for weeks. I was dismayed that someone who did not know our family and had not followed Dad's case could make such a harsh judgement call. We had made the decision to cease all "heroic" or invasive treatments (ventilators, further surgery, etc.) as a family - it was not my decision to make alone. The day we had to make that decision I looked the doctor in the eye and asked him if it was HIS Dad how he would handle the situation - and he gave us some very good advice. In the end it was my Mom's final decision anyway. I was only there for moral support. That nurse's harsh criticism made the situation even more painful and difficult.
The morning of Dad's death we decided to cease IV fluids. It was obvious death was imminent and we wanted all the tubes gone. I asked Dad if he could hear me, to squeeze my hand - and I felt a little squeeze. I told him he was not going to be with us much longer - and urged him once again to be sure he was ready to go. I prayed with him and asked him if he knew he was ready to squeeze my hand again. One little tug, one little movement of the fingers from his once very strong hand - and my heart was assurred. Daddy was ready to go Home. Sometimes, especially now that Mom is gone too, I miss him so much that I cry. I wish I could see him chuckle over a shared joke, or over the children's antics. I wish he could have seen our youngest two children, born after he was gone. Our youngest child is named after him. It makes me sad they will never know the man who worked so hard all his life, and had such strong, capable hands, and could fix anything he set out to fix. I'll have to settle with sharing my memories of him with my children, and living with the hope that I will get to see him again someday.
Shortly before Dad died I heard the words to this song on the radio - "Just think...of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven ~ of touching a hand, and finding it God's ~ of breathing new air, and finding it celestial! Of waking up in Glory ~ and finding it Home."
Three weeks prior to Dad's death we were admitting my Mom to the hospital for knee replacement surgery. Dad had been suffering from a severe headache - we all thought it was the flu. My sister (an RN) noticed Dad was having weakness on one side, so immediately after seeing Mom off to surgery, she escorted Dad to the Emergency Room to get checked out. The doctors ran some tests and admitted Dad to the hospital. A couple of hours later I was visiting Dad in his hospital room, and I noticed he was very confused and did not know where he was, or what was going on. He thought he was still back in Arizona, and that my brother had just made him the best cheeseburger he'd ever had. I immediately alerted the nurses to Dad's confusion and told them he appeared to be experiencing some short-term memory loss. By the time test results came back, Dad's stroke had worsened, and that evening they took him off to surgery to put a shunt in his brain. The surgeon's predictions were dire - he said if Dad survived 24 hours, he would likely be a "vegetable". I was sitting in the ICU waiting room with my oldest brother when the surgeon gave us the news. It was all very surreal.
Amazingly, Dad survived the surgery and within a couple of days was alert and talking, although he still experienced some weakness on one side, as well as some confusion. Some of that could have been attributed to the medications he was on, but it looked like Dad was going to pull through this stroke and survive. However, infection began to set into his body, and he began to worsen. I can't remember all the details - one day seemed to blur into the next with all the stress of having Mom in Rehab for her knee, Dad in the ICU - and on top of all that, we were moving. I had three little children at home and was juggling them between friends who were generous enough to watch them.
Dad had to be in restraints in the ICU because he kept trying to pull out tubes and fiddle with lines and leads that went to the monitors. I noticed that if someone was in the room talking, he would relax and listen. If it got quiet in the room, he would pull against his restraints. Having the tv on made no difference - he wanted to hear someone talking. I think he must have felt alone and scared. So I started to read to him - the Bible and Reader's Digest. I went to the Bible book store and purchased the New Testament on tape - and even the nurses would play the tapes for him. As long as there was was someone talking or the tapes were playing, he would remain calm. Many times I encouraged Dad to be sure that he was ready to meet his Creator and I prayed with him many times.
Shortly before we had to make the decision to cease all treatment and move him out of the ICU I saw a friend of mine, who is a doctor, and told him about what was going on with Dad. He had just admitted a patient of his to ICU and he looked over Dad's chart - and he told me the infection was not survivable. I was shocked - no one had been so blunt to me up to that point about the seriousness of Dad's condition. The next morning we moved Dad to a regular hospital room and decided to cease the feeding tube but continue the IV fluids and pain medications as needed. One very rude and angry nurse chewed me out for "allowing" Dad to have IV fluids - she said it was time for him to die and the fluids could keep him alive for weeks. I was dismayed that someone who did not know our family and had not followed Dad's case could make such a harsh judgement call. We had made the decision to cease all "heroic" or invasive treatments (ventilators, further surgery, etc.) as a family - it was not my decision to make alone. The day we had to make that decision I looked the doctor in the eye and asked him if it was HIS Dad how he would handle the situation - and he gave us some very good advice. In the end it was my Mom's final decision anyway. I was only there for moral support. That nurse's harsh criticism made the situation even more painful and difficult.
The morning of Dad's death we decided to cease IV fluids. It was obvious death was imminent and we wanted all the tubes gone. I asked Dad if he could hear me, to squeeze my hand - and I felt a little squeeze. I told him he was not going to be with us much longer - and urged him once again to be sure he was ready to go. I prayed with him and asked him if he knew he was ready to squeeze my hand again. One little tug, one little movement of the fingers from his once very strong hand - and my heart was assurred. Daddy was ready to go Home. Sometimes, especially now that Mom is gone too, I miss him so much that I cry. I wish I could see him chuckle over a shared joke, or over the children's antics. I wish he could have seen our youngest two children, born after he was gone. Our youngest child is named after him. It makes me sad they will never know the man who worked so hard all his life, and had such strong, capable hands, and could fix anything he set out to fix. I'll have to settle with sharing my memories of him with my children, and living with the hope that I will get to see him again someday.
Shortly before Dad died I heard the words to this song on the radio - "Just think...of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven ~ of touching a hand, and finding it God's ~ of breathing new air, and finding it celestial! Of waking up in Glory ~ and finding it Home."
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Grove Family Update
It's a lovely summer day today and we are having a busy morning on the "Almosta Homestead Ranch". No, that is not a fancy name for a Spanish-style farmstead. You might need to read it a couple of times to get the pun. If you don't get the pun, you can chalk it up to my odd sense of humor!!
Last night I washed a load of stuffed animals. I know, that sounds kind of weird. But we've been having allergies galore lately so I thought that might help. Besides, the kids each got a new stuffed animal yesterday at the "National Night Out" that was held at the park, literally in our back yard. The local law enforcement, fire department and ambulance department were there, handing out T-shirts, whistles (which we confiscated when we got home! ACK!), stickers, bracelets, can wraps, and other goodies. There was also a pig roast (I haven't been to one of those in a long time - probably since one of the last weddings on my Dad's side, yup, a pig roast at a wedding!) and that pig's head was one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. Peachie got the apple from the pig's mouth - but didn't eat it when Kyle pointed out WHERE the apple had been! Besides the barbecue they had ice cream and root beer. Yum! The little ones thoroughly enjoyed the inflatable jumping thingy (you know, the jumping thingy they go inside and jump around in) and it had a slide down the side. PeeWee wore himself out with all the activity. It was a lot of fun and many people from our little community were there. Plus I didn't have to cook supper!!
Peaches and Pickles are heading to Bible camp next week with our church youth group. It is held in Chetek, WI - and they cannot wait. I'm excited for them and praying they will grow spiritually, along with all of our teens.
We are still praying about/waiting on the Lord concerning whether or not to move to Moorhead or stay put. We have not yet gone to the bank to see if we might qualify for a loan with decent terms/interest rate that would buy us a house in the country within our budget. It would be nice to be putting that money each month into home equity. But then again - it's convenient when something needs repairs to just call the landlord! Please keep praying God will show us which direction to take.
It seems the weather has been especially nice this summer - not too many unbearably hot days so far. The house stays pretty cool if I shut everything mid-morning on those days it is promising to be hot. I'm thankful for that since we don't have AC. (Well, we have a tiny window unit but don't use it because it can't keep up!)
I hope this note finds you enjoying your summer and doing something you truly love. I'm off to work now on the Almosta Homestead Ranch. Gotta feed the critters and muck out the stalls!! ;)
Last night I washed a load of stuffed animals. I know, that sounds kind of weird. But we've been having allergies galore lately so I thought that might help. Besides, the kids each got a new stuffed animal yesterday at the "National Night Out" that was held at the park, literally in our back yard. The local law enforcement, fire department and ambulance department were there, handing out T-shirts, whistles (which we confiscated when we got home! ACK!), stickers, bracelets, can wraps, and other goodies. There was also a pig roast (I haven't been to one of those in a long time - probably since one of the last weddings on my Dad's side, yup, a pig roast at a wedding!) and that pig's head was one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. Peachie got the apple from the pig's mouth - but didn't eat it when Kyle pointed out WHERE the apple had been! Besides the barbecue they had ice cream and root beer. Yum! The little ones thoroughly enjoyed the inflatable jumping thingy (you know, the jumping thingy they go inside and jump around in) and it had a slide down the side. PeeWee wore himself out with all the activity. It was a lot of fun and many people from our little community were there. Plus I didn't have to cook supper!!
Peaches and Pickles are heading to Bible camp next week with our church youth group. It is held in Chetek, WI - and they cannot wait. I'm excited for them and praying they will grow spiritually, along with all of our teens.
We are still praying about/waiting on the Lord concerning whether or not to move to Moorhead or stay put. We have not yet gone to the bank to see if we might qualify for a loan with decent terms/interest rate that would buy us a house in the country within our budget. It would be nice to be putting that money each month into home equity. But then again - it's convenient when something needs repairs to just call the landlord! Please keep praying God will show us which direction to take.
It seems the weather has been especially nice this summer - not too many unbearably hot days so far. The house stays pretty cool if I shut everything mid-morning on those days it is promising to be hot. I'm thankful for that since we don't have AC. (Well, we have a tiny window unit but don't use it because it can't keep up!)
I hope this note finds you enjoying your summer and doing something you truly love. I'm off to work now on the Almosta Homestead Ranch. Gotta feed the critters and muck out the stalls!! ;)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Recipe Time!
Hey kids! It's recipe time!
On Sunday I made my (infamous? notorious?) Taco Chili for the Teen Singsperation. I often get asked for this recipe so I thought I would share it here with you. Keep in mind that we have a big family - so I make a huge batch of this. You might want to scale down or freeze the excess.
Taco Chili
3 lbs. hamburger
1 large onion
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 large can corn
1 small can black beans
1 huge can kidney beans (I like to use the gallon-sized can, but sometimes these are hard to find.)
4 packets taco seasoning - you might want to add more according to your taste
Brown the hamburger and onion, drain, add taco seasoning and water according to directions on seasoning packets. Put into large stock or soup pot, and dump in all the canned stuff (no draining necessary). Add extra water if desired - I usually don't because we like it thick. Heat it up, let it simmer, serve with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, black olives, flour or corn tortillas, hot sauce - whatever your little heart desires.
This recipe is what I call a "no-brainer" because it is almost fool-proof - and so easy! You can use ground turkey or shredded chicken in place of hamburger, you can add any kind of beans you like, or even rice. Throw it in the pot! Use up those leftovers! Enjoy!!
If you have a recipe to share, post it. Especially if it is as easy as this one!
On Sunday I made my (infamous? notorious?) Taco Chili for the Teen Singsperation. I often get asked for this recipe so I thought I would share it here with you. Keep in mind that we have a big family - so I make a huge batch of this. You might want to scale down or freeze the excess.
Taco Chili
3 lbs. hamburger
1 large onion
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 large can corn
1 small can black beans
1 huge can kidney beans (I like to use the gallon-sized can, but sometimes these are hard to find.)
4 packets taco seasoning - you might want to add more according to your taste
Brown the hamburger and onion, drain, add taco seasoning and water according to directions on seasoning packets. Put into large stock or soup pot, and dump in all the canned stuff (no draining necessary). Add extra water if desired - I usually don't because we like it thick. Heat it up, let it simmer, serve with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, black olives, flour or corn tortillas, hot sauce - whatever your little heart desires.
This recipe is what I call a "no-brainer" because it is almost fool-proof - and so easy! You can use ground turkey or shredded chicken in place of hamburger, you can add any kind of beans you like, or even rice. Throw it in the pot! Use up those leftovers! Enjoy!!
If you have a recipe to share, post it. Especially if it is as easy as this one!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Assumptions
Many years ago when I was in college I had a roommate of mine tell me that I was "presumptuous" when she was angry with me for borrowing a sweater of hers without asking. I was eighteen years old, very naive, and honestly did not know what that word meant! I must admit though, that this has been a character flaw of mine. It is very easy for me to assume that I know stuff. God has worked on me in this area of my life but something happened yesterday that reminded me I have not "arrived" and still have some work to do. Let me 'splain.
When I woke up yesterday morning I was thinking about the house we might rent in North Moorhead. Although I have not seen inside, we did peek in the windows last summer when we had first applied for the rental when it was still empty. Since I know the general lay-out of the main floor I was arranging furniture in my head, thinking about where I would put things and setting up housekeeping in my mind. Then it dawned on me: What if God does not want us to move? What if He says, "Wait." I must confess that I had already assumed what God's will was going to be for us in this situation. The "Pros" list is longer than the "Cons" list and in my tiny brain I figured that was the obvious direction God was pointing us.
So, with conviction in my heart, I confessed my assumptions to God and asked Him to truly have His will in this. Yes, I had already asked for His will - but because I assumed that we'd be renting this new place I was setting myself up for disappointment and a feeling of failure. So while I prayed I asked God to help me relax in His will and to trust that He knows what is best. Maybe, by some miracle, God has a house in the country for us to buy instead. Maybe He wants us to stay here in this little town we have fallen in love with. Maybe He wants us to be missionaries in Outer Magnolia. (No, that's not a typo. Think "Monster's Inc." ;)
"Thank You, my Beloved Heavenly Father, for once again reigning me in and picking me up when I have fallen. Help me to rest in Your will, knowing that your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Help my actions, words and thoughts to be pleasing to Thee. Please show us which direction to take in all areas of our lives."
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen ~
When I woke up yesterday morning I was thinking about the house we might rent in North Moorhead. Although I have not seen inside, we did peek in the windows last summer when we had first applied for the rental when it was still empty. Since I know the general lay-out of the main floor I was arranging furniture in my head, thinking about where I would put things and setting up housekeeping in my mind. Then it dawned on me: What if God does not want us to move? What if He says, "Wait." I must confess that I had already assumed what God's will was going to be for us in this situation. The "Pros" list is longer than the "Cons" list and in my tiny brain I figured that was the obvious direction God was pointing us.
So, with conviction in my heart, I confessed my assumptions to God and asked Him to truly have His will in this. Yes, I had already asked for His will - but because I assumed that we'd be renting this new place I was setting myself up for disappointment and a feeling of failure. So while I prayed I asked God to help me relax in His will and to trust that He knows what is best. Maybe, by some miracle, God has a house in the country for us to buy instead. Maybe He wants us to stay here in this little town we have fallen in love with. Maybe He wants us to be missionaries in Outer Magnolia. (No, that's not a typo. Think "Monster's Inc." ;)
"Thank You, my Beloved Heavenly Father, for once again reigning me in and picking me up when I have fallen. Help me to rest in Your will, knowing that your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Help my actions, words and thoughts to be pleasing to Thee. Please show us which direction to take in all areas of our lives."
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen ~
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