this is my grandson jack who has my heart (and grandpa's) wrapped around his little finger. this was thanksgiving and his cousin age 5 was being silly and wild and he found it funny. he is only 5 months old and has a sense of humor already. my daughter was quick to capture it on her phone so the quality is not great but we play it over and over. yes it is really him laughing right down to his toes until he saw everyone looking at him.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
the Lord gives and the Lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord
i want to tell you about my dad.
he was 88 years young. born and raised in hartford, arkansas near ft. smith. although he came here at about age 18 to find work in the big city, his heart never left the country.
he was was unique, colorful, genuine, a man's man, complex, caring, tough as nails, emotional, frugal, strong as an ox, lean, macho. he liked to look good in clothes. he loved hats and time pieces (watches). he prayed eloquently and from the heart. he was gullible. he had allot of self confidence. people liked him. he was opinionated and funny. he liked to have fun with the grandkids.
he was married to my mom for 66 years minus some amount of time when they divorced and remarried each other. he had 3 children. all of us know the Lord and my brother was his pastor.
he ran track and played football for hartford high school and kept in touch with his classmates up until the end.
he grew up dirt poor. his dad was a coal miner and his parents grew/raised most everything they ate but he said they didn't know they were poor.
he was blinded in his left eye at about age 19 by a hot rivet hitting it because his shield was not down (it didn't stop him in the least for his life to come).
he joined the army and served stateside due to his blind eye during wwii.
he loved to dance jitterbug at the vanity ballroom in detroit and liked to sing. his love for singing continued his whole life only he sang for the Lord after he was born again.
he worked many different jobs throughout his life. plant security guard, chrysler, a hospital orderly, dry cleaning store owner, janitor and church custodian.
he went to dry cleaning school and opened many different dry cleaners until polyester probably put him out of business. he employed many different people along the way including his "mama" who was his seamstress, his "sis", my mom, sister, brother all worked for my dad. he sold the business when i was in high school and became a janitor at jcpenney and retired with a pension something he never thought he would have. he was proud of his job at jcpenney. he loved the fact that his employment gave his family a discount. he became the church custodian for my brothers church in his 80's.
he kept grueling hours his whole life. when he had his dry cleaners he was open 12 hrs/day 6 days a week. in his 60's he had to be to work at 5am and still did carpets on the side.
he successfully bid on a large contract with the government to clean their offices. he really was smart even though he only had a high school education. he had allot of self confidence and thought he could do almost anything.
he still had time and energy to be in church on sunday, two services and wednesday prayer meeting and choir practice and taught sunday school.
he was 6' 1" and very lean and very strong for his stature. he could hold himself perpendicular to a pole in his 60's we have a picture.
he loved baseball right to the very end. a fond memory as a kid was that he propped the radio in the window facing our backyard with the ball game on and my dad barbecuing or doing something in the yard listening to george kell announce the game
he and my mom went to a billy graham crusade in the then briggs stadium in the 40's and she gave him an elbow and said "let's go" when they gave the invitation. he said that was the best hit he ever took. maybe that is why he loved the game so much.
he set up a real boxing bag from the rafters of the basement and would box. he could make it go just like the pro's.
he in addition to running his business he cleaned carpets (before wall to wall) in our basement and hung them on boards from our basement rafters. he bought huge fans to dry them.
he rolled the carpets in butcher paper we would help roll and tie jute on the ends and the middle to keep the paper on so they looked professional.
in the last 15 years he tried out for a talent show at the mall and also sang in a senior show at a very large performing arts college near by. he sang a gospel song wearing his signature red blazer and they put a huge cross light as the back drop (try that today). he sang regularly at church. he was a tenor. he made tapes of the songs he sang and sold them. we just converted it to cd form. it is our treasure. he loved to sing: i'll fly away, 3 rusty nails, tell your roubles about Jesus, stretch forth thine hand, he has risen, higher than i've ever been, where could i go, amazing grace, just a closer walk, take my hand.
he was 88 years young. born and raised in hartford, arkansas near ft. smith. although he came here at about age 18 to find work in the big city, his heart never left the country.
he was was unique, colorful, genuine, a man's man, complex, caring, tough as nails, emotional, frugal, strong as an ox, lean, macho. he liked to look good in clothes. he loved hats and time pieces (watches). he prayed eloquently and from the heart. he was gullible. he had allot of self confidence. people liked him. he was opinionated and funny. he liked to have fun with the grandkids.
he was married to my mom for 66 years minus some amount of time when they divorced and remarried each other. he had 3 children. all of us know the Lord and my brother was his pastor.
he ran track and played football for hartford high school and kept in touch with his classmates up until the end.
he grew up dirt poor. his dad was a coal miner and his parents grew/raised most everything they ate but he said they didn't know they were poor.
he was blinded in his left eye at about age 19 by a hot rivet hitting it because his shield was not down (it didn't stop him in the least for his life to come).
he joined the army and served stateside due to his blind eye during wwii.
he loved to dance jitterbug at the vanity ballroom in detroit and liked to sing. his love for singing continued his whole life only he sang for the Lord after he was born again.
he worked many different jobs throughout his life. plant security guard, chrysler, a hospital orderly, dry cleaning store owner, janitor and church custodian.
he went to dry cleaning school and opened many different dry cleaners until polyester probably put him out of business. he employed many different people along the way including his "mama" who was his seamstress, his "sis", my mom, sister, brother all worked for my dad. he sold the business when i was in high school and became a janitor at jcpenney and retired with a pension something he never thought he would have. he was proud of his job at jcpenney. he loved the fact that his employment gave his family a discount. he became the church custodian for my brothers church in his 80's.
he kept grueling hours his whole life. when he had his dry cleaners he was open 12 hrs/day 6 days a week. in his 60's he had to be to work at 5am and still did carpets on the side.
he successfully bid on a large contract with the government to clean their offices. he really was smart even though he only had a high school education. he had allot of self confidence and thought he could do almost anything.
he still had time and energy to be in church on sunday, two services and wednesday prayer meeting and choir practice and taught sunday school.
he was 6' 1" and very lean and very strong for his stature. he could hold himself perpendicular to a pole in his 60's we have a picture.
he loved baseball right to the very end. a fond memory as a kid was that he propped the radio in the window facing our backyard with the ball game on and my dad barbecuing or doing something in the yard listening to george kell announce the game
he and my mom went to a billy graham crusade in the then briggs stadium in the 40's and she gave him an elbow and said "let's go" when they gave the invitation. he said that was the best hit he ever took. maybe that is why he loved the game so much.
he set up a real boxing bag from the rafters of the basement and would box. he could make it go just like the pro's.
he in addition to running his business he cleaned carpets (before wall to wall) in our basement and hung them on boards from our basement rafters. he bought huge fans to dry them.
he rolled the carpets in butcher paper we would help roll and tie jute on the ends and the middle to keep the paper on so they looked professional.
in the last 15 years he tried out for a talent show at the mall and also sang in a senior show at a very large performing arts college near by. he sang a gospel song wearing his signature red blazer and they put a huge cross light as the back drop (try that today). he sang regularly at church. he was a tenor. he made tapes of the songs he sang and sold them. we just converted it to cd form. it is our treasure. he loved to sing: i'll fly away, 3 rusty nails, tell your roubles about Jesus, stretch forth thine hand, he has risen, higher than i've ever been, where could i go, amazing grace, just a closer walk, take my hand.
a memory from when i was about 10 was my parents taking me to an "all night sing" downtown to hear gospel quartets. he loved the blackwood brothers.
he and mom drove me to cleveland to see elvis presley when i was 13.
he loved to think up inventions, we found some drawings.
he wrote things down in scads of pads of paper, his thoughts on scripture mostly..
he could fix anything, maybe not the right way but he could fix it, he loved duck tape.
he used the word bugger like "he could run like a bugger" .
he played the harmonica well, and took piano lessons in his 70's.
he garbage picked allot everything had value.
he enjoyed our dog who always was with him on the couch.
my mom suggested we plant him a garden this year for fathers day. we did while he supervised and he said that was the best fathers day gift he ever got. the gardens he used to plant sometimes took up our whole back yard and we had a very large one. mom and he canned.
he planted fruit trees, we had a peach, plumb, apple and pear all at the same time.
he used to make us a skating rink in the back yard.
he made snow ice cream for us in the winter, clean snow, milk and vanilla just like when he was a kid down home.
he bought us 3 pools the last was the biggest 4 x 24. he would go swimming only once a year and he would have to get in the shower start warm then turn it colder, run on the towels he lined on the floor to the back door and then jump in and we would all laugh.
he believed in vitamins and he had a sweet tooth.
he was a big worrier, my brother is 55 and lives 5 minutes away and he made him call when he got home at night.
he saved his money well and was frugal. he would give you the shirt off his back.
he hated christmas and argued about the tree being put up each year.
he was an avid reader, the paper everyday, always the op-ed page and sports he would frequently write to the editor.
he owned stock that he would check everyday until his cataract would not let him then he made my brother check it.
he memorized scripture.
he was very patriotic, made his own red, white and blue flag pole, he wanted to sing the national anthem at a tigers baseball game.
he was buried in the veterans section of the cemetery with a 4 man army detail burial, taps were played and he would have not felt worthy but would have been very proud to say the least.
he always wanted to be buried near his brother "johnny" who died in 1969. we picked his plot only to be told they moved it a few over. we don't know why. but he is now about 60 feet from his brother whom he loved.
he was with me for 50 years, my brother for 55, my sister for 63, my mom for 68. life has now taken a turn down a road we have never been before. we will have to find our new normal but life will never seem normal without dad.
he loved to think up inventions, we found some drawings.
he wrote things down in scads of pads of paper, his thoughts on scripture mostly..
he could fix anything, maybe not the right way but he could fix it, he loved duck tape.
he used the word bugger like "he could run like a bugger" .
he played the harmonica well, and took piano lessons in his 70's.
he garbage picked allot everything had value.
he enjoyed our dog who always was with him on the couch.
my mom suggested we plant him a garden this year for fathers day. we did while he supervised and he said that was the best fathers day gift he ever got. the gardens he used to plant sometimes took up our whole back yard and we had a very large one. mom and he canned.
he planted fruit trees, we had a peach, plumb, apple and pear all at the same time.
he used to make us a skating rink in the back yard.
he made snow ice cream for us in the winter, clean snow, milk and vanilla just like when he was a kid down home.
he bought us 3 pools the last was the biggest 4 x 24. he would go swimming only once a year and he would have to get in the shower start warm then turn it colder, run on the towels he lined on the floor to the back door and then jump in and we would all laugh.
he believed in vitamins and he had a sweet tooth.
he was a big worrier, my brother is 55 and lives 5 minutes away and he made him call when he got home at night.
he saved his money well and was frugal. he would give you the shirt off his back.
he hated christmas and argued about the tree being put up each year.
he was an avid reader, the paper everyday, always the op-ed page and sports he would frequently write to the editor.
he owned stock that he would check everyday until his cataract would not let him then he made my brother check it.
he memorized scripture.
he was very patriotic, made his own red, white and blue flag pole, he wanted to sing the national anthem at a tigers baseball game.
he was buried in the veterans section of the cemetery with a 4 man army detail burial, taps were played and he would have not felt worthy but would have been very proud to say the least.
he always wanted to be buried near his brother "johnny" who died in 1969. we picked his plot only to be told they moved it a few over. we don't know why. but he is now about 60 feet from his brother whom he loved.
he was with me for 50 years, my brother for 55, my sister for 63, my mom for 68. life has now taken a turn down a road we have never been before. we will have to find our new normal but life will never seem normal without dad.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
thanksgiving thankfulness
thank you all for your prayers and comments.
i cannot post all that is in my heart right now. it is overflowing with so many things since the home going of my dad. i have been staying at my mom's for the last 6 days and will leave again shortly to go help prepare our meal for today but i need you all to know how very thankful i am to have each one of you in my life. our eyes have never met, our ears have never heard each others sweet voices but our hearts have touched each others and i am blessed by you.
may your thanksgiving be blessed because your creator, the maker of the universe! loves you with an everlasting love.
many blessings ~janel
i cannot post all that is in my heart right now. it is overflowing with so many things since the home going of my dad. i have been staying at my mom's for the last 6 days and will leave again shortly to go help prepare our meal for today but i need you all to know how very thankful i am to have each one of you in my life. our eyes have never met, our ears have never heard each others sweet voices but our hearts have touched each others and i am blessed by you.
may your thanksgiving be blessed because your creator, the maker of the universe! loves you with an everlasting love.
many blessings ~janel
Monday, November 19, 2007
My Dad
my Dad went home to be with the Lord November 17, 2007. i will post much more later but ask that you pray for our family, my brother (dad definitely was his best friend), my sister and her family and most of all my mom who is not in the best of health. we need to get thru these next two days (today the viewing and tomorrow the service) thank you dear ones i covet your prayers.
~love, janel
~love, janel
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
jenny taged me
jenny tagged me so here goes.
link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog. share 7 random/weird facts about yourself. tag 7 random people at the end of your post, include links to their blogs. let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog.
7 random factoids about moi:
1. i basically wear socks 24/7
2. i go out to breakfast with my husband each weekend
3. my best friend growing up was lebanese and i love to eat and sometimes cook labanese food
4. i frequently sleep with head phones on listening to beth moore
5. i love being a grandma
6. i would have made a good nurse i became a secretary instead
7. i want to start memorizing scripture
i tag y'all:
1. abby
2. bethanne
3. cheryl
4. fran
5. kathy
6. midwest nest
7. rhoda
their links are on my side bar.
link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog. share 7 random/weird facts about yourself. tag 7 random people at the end of your post, include links to their blogs. let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog.
7 random factoids about moi:
1. i basically wear socks 24/7
2. i go out to breakfast with my husband each weekend
3. my best friend growing up was lebanese and i love to eat and sometimes cook labanese food
4. i frequently sleep with head phones on listening to beth moore
5. i love being a grandma
6. i would have made a good nurse i became a secretary instead
7. i want to start memorizing scripture
i tag y'all:
1. abby
2. bethanne
3. cheryl
4. fran
5. kathy
6. midwest nest
7. rhoda
their links are on my side bar.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
i'm not a strong singer
ya so i had the old yearly check up this week only it was 4 years ago. ya i'm bad. i used to be much better taking care of these things. so i've been feeling very tired that was one of my concerns and i knew i lost some weight but did not know exactly how much because our scale broke a few months back and we have not replaced that bad boy. before you ladies get all jealous don't be. we can't help some things. i'm one of these people who is slight in stature and size. sorry. it's all genetics. i wish i had a little meat on my bones for the times when you get sick and lose a little and say wow i'm glad that happened, but i'm not. when i get sick and lose a little i get worried because i need all i got. anyway, she noted i had lost 4 lbs in 2 months cause i just saw her with a dang blasted kidney infection in august. so then she felt my thyroid and said i need to have it checked out right away. my cardiologist (my heart is fine just a little irregularity i've had for a long time) just ordered some blood work and i thought he ordered a thyroid test so she didn't and he didn't. now i have to have someone maybe her order me up some thyroid tests. so of course now that i know the little thing is there in the front of my throat i have become acutely aware of my swallowing and any sensations in that area like breathing and singing. and i have noticed my singing voice is deeper and it's harder for me to hit the high notes without feeling like i'm straining. doesn't the deeper voice come with the same menopausal territory as mustaches. i don't know, i'm must asking?
at our church the music is so loud you really can't hear yourself sing. i like that. i usually don't hear the person behind me sing so i guess i had a little false confidence today. so at church today during this one song i think i sounded really bad then this very lovely middle aged couple turned around after the song and gave me the o'l i need to see who is sitting behind me look. now i know, how do i know what that was all about. i really don't. but this i do know, it was not because i have the voice of an angel and they were scoping out some new talent for the praise and worship team. really i'm laughing inside. i was dying to just say oh i'm so sorry, i know it sounded bad i'll sing a little softer on the next song. i was just cracking up and still am.
well sisters when i sing, i love the fact that it doesn't matter what i sound like. it's for Him and when it hits His ears i do sound like an angel (and you do to) cause He made my voice just the way He wanted it to sound like.
do you ever think of the planet on a given sabbath whether it be saturday or sunday and the voices all over the world singing praises to our King? singing starts in one time zone and goes to the next, and then to the next encircling the world with praise to Him.
another thought: when we are singing corporately let's say in eastern standard time at 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. if we could hear us all at the same time what it would sound like? i know most of you have attended a LPM conference. haven't you just stopped singing just to hear all the voices? that is an experience like no other isn't it? a little taste of heaven wouldn't you say.
at our church the music is so loud you really can't hear yourself sing. i like that. i usually don't hear the person behind me sing so i guess i had a little false confidence today. so at church today during this one song i think i sounded really bad then this very lovely middle aged couple turned around after the song and gave me the o'l i need to see who is sitting behind me look. now i know, how do i know what that was all about. i really don't. but this i do know, it was not because i have the voice of an angel and they were scoping out some new talent for the praise and worship team. really i'm laughing inside. i was dying to just say oh i'm so sorry, i know it sounded bad i'll sing a little softer on the next song. i was just cracking up and still am.
well sisters when i sing, i love the fact that it doesn't matter what i sound like. it's for Him and when it hits His ears i do sound like an angel (and you do to) cause He made my voice just the way He wanted it to sound like.
do you ever think of the planet on a given sabbath whether it be saturday or sunday and the voices all over the world singing praises to our King? singing starts in one time zone and goes to the next, and then to the next encircling the world with praise to Him.
another thought: when we are singing corporately let's say in eastern standard time at 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. if we could hear us all at the same time what it would sound like? i know most of you have attended a LPM conference. haven't you just stopped singing just to hear all the voices? that is an experience like no other isn't it? a little taste of heaven wouldn't you say.
Friday, November 2, 2007
what was i thinking?
oh what a difference a few years make. things seem to change when your kids are older. one day after trick or treat day and we got nothin' left. do you feel my pain.
so my daughter emily and grandson jack stopped by last night. i was kind of out of it, takin' me a power nap just before the dinner hour, nursing a head cold to boot. i was on my feet all day helping my old partner at american greetings set christmas in her store. i was tired, blowing, sneezing and i had to fight the need hold my little grandson. ugh. then she exclaimed with a bit of a panic in her voice but yet trying to sound hopeful.
mom don't we have any chocolate in the house?
if there is one emotion i live on, well, that would be guilt. so when i had to answer:
no, we don't. i think if all the flood gates of guiltdom opened up and drenched me to the bone.
would somebody just shoot me. how could i have just purchased enough chocolate to pass out to the little munchkins and be fresh out the next day. DUH!! how could i have been so short sighted.
emily had that look on her face that said it all.
have you lost your mind mother.
yes, i did and i don't know where it is at the moment.
SO i'm on a mission.
i know cvs can see me coming and they better have what i'm lookin' for. cause' i got that unmistakable look. you know the one that says here comes the lady who ran out of chocolate look. kind of wild-eyed throw back to the beanie baby days. i'm here for a reason and i'll get the job done just get out of my way if you know what's good for you. wish me luck.
i only hope i've learned my lesson. when it comes to chocolate, this house can never never be overstocked.
so my daughter emily and grandson jack stopped by last night. i was kind of out of it, takin' me a power nap just before the dinner hour, nursing a head cold to boot. i was on my feet all day helping my old partner at american greetings set christmas in her store. i was tired, blowing, sneezing and i had to fight the need hold my little grandson. ugh. then she exclaimed with a bit of a panic in her voice but yet trying to sound hopeful.
mom don't we have any chocolate in the house?
if there is one emotion i live on, well, that would be guilt. so when i had to answer:
no, we don't. i think if all the flood gates of guiltdom opened up and drenched me to the bone.
would somebody just shoot me. how could i have just purchased enough chocolate to pass out to the little munchkins and be fresh out the next day. DUH!! how could i have been so short sighted.
emily had that look on her face that said it all.
have you lost your mind mother.
yes, i did and i don't know where it is at the moment.
SO i'm on a mission.
i know cvs can see me coming and they better have what i'm lookin' for. cause' i got that unmistakable look. you know the one that says here comes the lady who ran out of chocolate look. kind of wild-eyed throw back to the beanie baby days. i'm here for a reason and i'll get the job done just get out of my way if you know what's good for you. wish me luck.
i only hope i've learned my lesson. when it comes to chocolate, this house can never never be overstocked.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)