Love, Commitment and the Salvation Army

When Mick and I were first married, we had everything we wanted - a nice home, two cars and whatever we needed.  We had a deepening faith in the Lord and so much more.  We volunteered at the church and I went back to college.  There were so many wonderful things that lay ahead of us.  Of course, sometimes when things are "too good", we can become complacent and never realize how great we have it.

Then things changed.  My income was lost when my portfolio tanked.  We lost our home, our cars, our posessions and were forced to leave the dream home I'd designed and built.  It broke our hearts. However, our faith was strong and it was tested beyond where we ever thought it could be.  But love and the commitment we made when we were married anchored us and bound us together.

Sometimes we feel as if all is lost when things fall apart.  How can we stand alone to face the horrible things life throws at us?  Leading a charmed life means nothing when you haven't faced adversity and there are no challenges to surmount.  God doesn't give us anything we can't handle, so you have to pick yourself up and dust yourself off....then begin again.

Sure, I could get depressed or angry, but why?  Things happen in life - that's a fact.  Loved ones become ill and die.  Illness strikes and you have to handle it.  Sometimes being an adult isn't much fun and learning to do without all of those luxuries you feel you must have slams you back into reality that you CAN do without them.  No Iphones, IPods, Ipads, High Def televisions, etc., they simply aren't necessary.  But love and commitment are.  There is no shame in being poor - you simply have to learn to re-prioritize.

When we had been in La Crosse for about four years, we ended up being forced out of our home by an unscrupulous leasing agent and we had to live at the Salvation Army for a month.  We had to give up our beloved pets, one of whom died during our ordeal.  Mick and I were separated at night and the only time we really saw one another was after work for a couple of hours.  That was it.  People kept asking us how we could still smile through all the adversity we were in and we explained it was simple.  We had made a commitment through the good times and the bad.  Through sickness and health and through want and plenty.  And we put our focus on God and His constant love for us.  He is always the third person in our marriage - always.

 

After we found this apartment and our wonderful landlord Dave, things began to look up.  Then Mick got laid off for six months.  And I had to give up working because of my Post Polio. I poured my time into writing and finished up the final two books, getting them into print, but probably because of the cost, they haven't sold very well.  But that's okay.  Another learning experience and that's a good thing.

Now, Mick is unemployed again and our economy hasn't picked up yet.  He has health problems and is trying to quit smoking...not an easy task after doing it for 42 years.  One step forward - three steps backward.  But once again, the tests come...and go.  We are still standing strong.

For those who are considering marriage, just married or those oldsters (like us) who have been married for a long time, it's always good to look back and see what kind of glue is holding you together. God's love is for Eternity.  It's very real and tangible.  And it really doesn't matter what denomination you belong to - God knows your heart - what you really need to make your life complete.  For us, the challenges we face could have torn us apart numerous times and we still have many more to go.  But our love and commitment are strong and even the Salvation Army experience made us stronger.

Thanks to my friend Alma for her floral photos.

The Memory of Frost...

John Crane Watercolour

I think about all the winters of my youth, replete with overloads of snow.  None of this two to three feet business, but five, seven or ten feet of it...all in one storm.  I remember the winters of the 1950's in Iowa and for me, they were magical.  I had the best snowmen - over fix feet tall.  There were rides down Duck Creek Park hill on my aluminum saucer with my Boston Bull terrier Mickey scrambling after me all the way down.  He just hated that saucer!

And there was always a fire in the fireplace, stories by the firelight and hot chocolate with the mini-marshmallows in it.  I can still smell the cookies baking in the kitchen and see my family around the table for supper  (dog smacking his lips under the table). Those were the days we actually ate supper together.  No television - right to the homework.  Basically television was only for Saturday and Sundays.  Music was always playing, however and once in a great while, Dad would get out his Benny Hill recordings.  Mom was aghast at those, because they were too "blue" for her taste and naturally I was too young to hear such raunchy things.  But if anyone knows me well, they will tell you I can hear dust falling!!  I just loved those albums!!! And now they are classics!  And boy, are they tame!

But in school, I will always remember reading the poetry of Robert Frost.  His thoughts were so simple - nothing complicated or obtuse.  No wonder he was an American Poet Laureate.  My very favourite one is "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."  And here it is:

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping there

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Those wonderful nights when I could walk through the deep snow, listening to the snow falling on the ground, tweak memories of being in love, sharing those walks with someone who was also attuned to the falling snow and enjoyed such a simple pleasure with me.  I hope that wherever he is, he will still take the time to wander through a snowy footpath in the pristine snow, listening to those frosted flakes of diamond encrusted snow as they fall on the branches.

Robert Frost reminds us to savour the simple pleasures of life...snow, nature, a child's smile.  And perhaps, as I have grown older, I can appreciate those memories in a deeper way...innocence, wonder or love.  Those are the warm fuzzies of my childhood and a fantastic base for being an adult.  I'll never give up those dreams and memories - they will be tucked away in that tiny place in my heart where the good things are kept forever.

I'll stop by the woods on my way home tonight and smell the fresh air God has created for me. And I'll never take this for granted...nor the snowy woods on a winter's evening.

The "Holidays" are for the Birds

Why do people always celebrate "The Holidays?"  You have Hanukkah which is a beautiful celebration of Hebrew Tradition.  You have Christmas, which is the birthday celebration of Jesus Christ.  Then there is Kwanzaa - a celebration of the African culture.  And last but certainly not least, there is the New Year's Day celebration - football at it's finest and another day off from work.  The only "holiday" in here is actually New Year's Day.  The others celebrations of culture and one birthday..they aren't holidays.  I suppose I should mention Boxing Day - December 26th as a holiday, because people have that off (unless you are in retail) and people shop 'till they drop, so technically that IS a holiday.  But not everyone has Boxing Day to celebrate, so it's really only one.  It's not here in the United States.  But you can find it in the UK and other countries - just not here.  So one holiday will have to do.

 This is what holidays mean to me.  It's a vacation on the West Coast of Ireland..in Connemara.  I've been all over the world with my family and as a travel agent, but I always seem to come back here to give me peace in my life.  I wind down, I relax and soak up the tranquil atmosphere that is the Wild West.  Mick and I find commonality here.  He was a seminarian in Galway, Ireland with the Redemptorists.  Back in the 70's, Mick and I were actually in the same place at the same time, but never met.

Yes, it seems rather odd, but that's how things sometimes happen.  But if asked where we would want to retire (other than the UK, of course), it would he here, with friends and family along the Atlantic sea coast.  There is something familiar about it, something historic and ancient.  While thoroughly modern, there is a laid back attitude and "Irish Time" we love.  There are places where time has stood still and I feel the generations of my family still with me as I walk along the rocky pathways near the shore.  The beach beacons as I trudge through the grasses, then onto the sand and the tide pools show me a world I never knew existed.  How fun to simply be and see God's handiwork everywhere I look.  What do I see here?  There are tiny sea creatures in the tide pools, plus wonderful shells and other sea debris.  There are tiny fish who seem to leap at me in joy.  The seaweed has unfurled itself in a dense green display, ever shifting as the tide washes over it. There is always something new to see here.

As I become older, my memories fade just a bit, but most of them are still vivid.  Ten years ago, my sister Deb and I made our sisters' pilgrimage to the Republic to see the sights and visit my old haunts.  It was wonderful.  We toured through the Waterford Glass Factory, stayed in THE most unusual and delightful B&B in Ardmore, County Waterford.  And of course, we had to spend a good deal of time at Ben View House in Clifden with my friends Eileen and Des Morris.  They grew up in the house.  Deb and I drove up to Westport and had lunch on the Quay.  We went to Kylemore Abbey and took hundreds of photographs.  We also went up to Sligo then back down to Kleggan and Clifden, all the while seeing the rugged coastline, the awesome mountain ranges and the plethora of sheep - many of them in the road as we drove!  Now that's what I call a holiday.

Clifden, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland from the bay 2000.

And onto Epiphany 2011

I am reminded about the cold winter weather when I look outside my back door and see one of these - huge icicles.  This was taken a couple of days ago and it seemed to have grown about three inches in length each day, but sadly our warmer temperature today gave the icicle its demise.  Mick was concerned it would fall down and if someone were standing under it, it could be deadly, so he knocked it down.


Because of my Post Polio and my tendency to fall, I rarely go outside in winter.  It's dangerous for me to even try.  I must enjoy my winter from the window or doorway.  But it gives me more time to write.  A new story line came to me last night and this is a psychological mystery, rather than simply a murder mystery.  I've tentatively called it, Portal to Death and it's a story of a real estate agent in New Hampshire who stumbles across a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) property and an enthusiastic owner willing to make a deal.  The problem is, the real estate agent is new to the area and has no knowledge of the property's history.  It was a mental hospital for many years known for its brutal and almost savage treatment of its patients.  The owner tried to make it into a bed and breakfast, but found it impossible to make renovations or redecorate without strange things happening to the workers.   Tools would be misplaced, paint cans spilled, workers hit or slapped, glass broken in windows and a simmering howl could be heard in the hallways.  One by one the workers would leave the project and the owner simply gave up.  It would be up to the real estate agent to find a buyer and at the same time, maintain her sanity.  And in this case, she will be in for the fight of her life.


I think that sounds like a perfectly good story to me and could be part of my next book of stories. I doubt, however, it could be made long enough for an independent book.  But who knows?


The eBook is still in process.  I never realized how difficult editing it would be after changing the formatting.  It's making certain none of the content has been lost during the change and that takes the time.  However, I think I should be ready to submit in a couple of weeks, since I am making sure it doesn't go through the "Meatgrinder" and get rejected.  Whoever thought writing a book would be so difficult?

Now that we are moving into the new year, I am reminded that Epiphany is the time when the Magi gave the Christ Child their gifts.  These kings and wealthy men gave gifts they felt would help Jesus as He began His life here on earth.  Certainly the Gold would have helped when the Holy Family had to flee Herod's slaughter of the babies and children.  But Myrrh and Frankincense seemed to be more symbolic than useful.  How often do we receive gifts during this time which are useful - or are they merely symbolic of something else?  Gifts of love, wisdom, courage - all are symbolic.  A plasma, high def flat screen tv is useful.  But which gifts last longer and carry more weight in our lives - the television or the symbolic gifts?  It's something to really think about, especially now as the new year is upon us.  Which gifts will last long into our hearts and lives - and which gifts will we carry to Eternity with us?  Unfortunately, Christmas has gotten out of hand and the real meaning of Christmas has generally been lost.  This isn't the time for giving expensive gifts, seeing who can outdo who in setting up light displays or who can throw the biggest party.  This is the time to Celebrate the Birth of Our Lord.  If you don't believe in Jesus Christ or you simply give Him lip service, then please, do not celebrate Christmas.  Have a nice day off from work.  But also remember, God sees what we are doing.  And He takes notes.

Right now my thoughts are with our military and their families.  There are too many away from home during Christmas and New Year's.  There is a great emptiness they all feel.  Many of us are travelling this Holiday Season, too and if you see one (or more) of our military personnel, please remember to thank them for their service.  All it takes is a smile, a simple thank you and maybe a handshake to let them know they are thought about and appreciated.  It will make their being away from home at this time of year a bit more bearable and also help them to know they are making a difference wherever they are serving.


Happy New Year to all of you and your families as we swing into 2011.

A Christmas Tree and the Eggs

This year, I decided we should replace our 8" tree with miniature ornaments on it with something a bit larger.  I had found a box containing goose and duck eggs my sister Janice had decorated in 1968 and 1974 for each family member.  She'd cleaned each egg (as they were in the barnyard), pulled out the insides and dried them, then lovingly decorated each egg according to the person's likes or passions.  My Mother's eggs have pheasant feathers around the openings and a tiny ceramic French Poodle and/or bird inside.  Each egg has the person's name on the back, along with the year and Jan's name (and the rest of the family).  And each egg has incredible detailing on the sides and back.  Out of the eight eggs, only one had been broken.  So for next year, I will make one for Mick and one for each of his brothers, along with one for Jan.  That will complete the tree.

Now that our Christmas decorating is complete (except for finding two wreathes for inside doors), we are back on track for Advent.  I knew there would be a way for me to tie in our nativity set with the tree...and here it is.


You can see the eggs in a little more detail here.


The snow is still coming down and temperatures are falling into the sub-zero category.  I haven't seen it this cold so early in December - ever.  We are supposed to have -10 Saturday night.  I'm glad I stay in here most of the time.


I'm looking forward to making my Christmas gift to myself.  Years ago, I found some Peacock-coloured Freshwater pearls and I made a rosary.  I use it all the time and even sleep with it.  But I thought this year I would make another one for myself.  I found the same size, but they are Copper Peacock in colour, so these will be fabulous for my new rosary.  I make them industrial strength, because they are used so much!!!

Now I am focusing on getting the new e-book out.  "Seven Doors Of Time" should be out at Christmas, baring all obstacles.  Launch news will appear here and on our web sites.  Until the next blog, may you all have a blessed Advent as we anticipate the Birth of Our Lord.

Second Week of Advent Reflections

Both Mick and I have the Menorah in our blogs this week.  And we both focus on the symbolism of bringing light to the world.  The Festival of Light in the Hebrew Faith reminds us that by depending on and following our faith, miracles happen.  When there was only one more day's worth of oil in the Menorah, the concern was it wouldn't last.  However, with prayer not only did the oil last another day, but eight days in total, allowing more oil to be pressed, thereby keeping the light from being extinguished.

How like the Menorah are we as people?  Do we have a reserve of oil left in us somewhere to tide us over until we can get more?  Is faith to us similar to a Menorah in that for most of us, our faith runs deep within us and allows us to shine through the darkness?  Christ is our Light.  He is that reservoir which fills us with faith.  And it's this light which comes through in the way in which we live our lives, how we present ourselves to the world and to one another.  Our joy should radiate through us as the light of the Menorah shown for the Ancient Hebrews.  Jesus Christ is our Lighthouse - a beacon of light guiding the tired traveller home.

This Advent, we reflect upon our lives and events of the past year - what happened and how best to change the negatives into positives.  Jesus' birth celebrates a rebirth in us and the coming New Year gives us the opportunity to make resolutions for positive change in our lives.  But we should do that each day, not simply once a year.  Life is a struggle.  The world throws challenges at us daily and we must be prepared to deal with each and every one of them, with dignity and humanity.  Others will not.  But as people of faith, this is who we are and whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist (or another faith), our tenants are to respect others, not to criticize but to learn and grow.  And forgiveness is essential. We may not like what other people do to us - it may even be criminal in nature, but although we can never forget what they did, we must be forgiving of their atrocity.  Loving our enemies is a daunting task, but it is one of the things Jesus asks of us.  If He could forgive those who crucified Him, how can we do less?

I am reminded of those who will not be with us this Christmas and for Mick and me, that's everyone we love. Our families don't live around here and there are many members of our family who have departed for Heaven, where they will celebrate in magnificent style.  It's not about the gift giving, as we no longer do that, but about being with those we love and sharing the Good News of the Birth of Jesus Christ - the Light who came into the world to save us.  Right now I miss our cat Tyler who I am holding in the photo at left.  He adored Christmas trees and the lights. He was always my little light that never seemed to dim.  And he would never run away when I took out my rosary to pray, either.  Simon Peter was the same way.  Both cats would sit and listen to my prayers or when I would read from the Bible or Missal.  Could they have been simply kitty polite?  Or did they really understand?  We'll never know.  What I do know, my life must be a reflection of who Christ wants me to be.  That takes a lot of work.  And that's what Advent is all about.

Hey Baby it's Cold Outside

Winter is always cold.  At least in Wisconsin it is.  I'd rather be in Penzance in the UK where it's gorgeous ALL the time, but you can't have everything.  But at the beginning of THIS year, things are slightly off centre.

What you see here is our normal winter scenery.  This was from three years ago, but could very well be what we are experiencing in a week or so.  Being right on the Mississippi River, I can't actually say we get 'river effect' snow (similar to lake effect snow) but it must pick up some moisture to make this super thick snow.

I'm slowly getting into the Christmas Season of Goodwill, but it's a bit difficult with Mick's medical tests and all the discussions.  Puts a bit of a palour on things.  However, this Advent we consider why we celebrate at Christmas and I can see a light beginning to shine in the East!

There isn't much left of my Christmas village, but some of the pieces are still in a box.  This will have to do.  The David Winter house in the centre was a bit mangled when I took it out but now it looks perfect.  I do good work!!  I'll get a Christmas tree on Friday and get that ready, plus a few more figures for the nativity creche.  Then I will be finished for this year.

I like this watercolour by John Crane.  John told me this was painted from a scene outside of Woodstock, New York.  It could be right here in La Crosse, because this is what our countryside looks like.  I had a signed lithograph of this but it's been lost in moving.  The good thing is I can get another one.  The tough part is finding John and getting him to sigh the new one!!!  I love the scerenity of this farm scene, nestled in the snow.

Now is my time to focus on the spirit of December.  It's good wishes for all my family and friends.  It's prayers for a successful year ahead and for all the dreams and wishes they want to come true.  Mick and I have only a few things on our needs list this year...to find out why the xrays look as they do...for a job for Mick and furniture for our little flat.  We don't have wants...unless it's sharing a nice glass of wine, cuddled up in front of a warm fire, watching the snow falling gently on the rolling hills.  We must settle for a cup of coffee or tea, bundled up in woolies watching the eegits crash into each other - or take out the road signs next to the house!!!  But our real "wish" is for Peace in the world.  For an end to conflict, both globally and domestically.  Perhaps this coming year we will finally have the Peace Our Lord has spoken so often about. We need it.  We crave it but we so lack the ability to obtain it.  That would be the most wonderful gift of all....Peace.

Eegits on Wheels

Hahahaha.....will wonders never cease to entertain me?  I'm listen to and watching people spinning their wheels on the two inches of snow as they are sliding into the intersection of a major road.  These cowboys have no conception of how to drive on snow and ice.  They holler and swear, run around the car and get all pumped up.  I'm standing in the doorway out of sight in the dark laughing my head off.  I learned to drive on ice and snow - on hills, so I know everything they are doing wrong.  And people wonder why their insurance rates are so high!!

Yep, it's been a crazy day, but I think a productive one.  We spent the entire afternoon at the hospital - most of it waiting, and waiting, and waiting.  But we met a very decent, caring doctor and great support staff, plus we were able to get a voucher for the cab fare home.  Oh yes, and Mick met that funny pirate fella.... Jack...Jack-something.  You know, it's terrible to be poor, but a very expensive way to learn life's lessons.

I'd really love it if Tyler could come home for a visit, but I wouldn't let him leave.  He loved this Christmas tree so much.  The shells sparkled and Tyler was a high-maintenance kitty...thought they were gems.

Oh boy...someone has a snow blower going.  I'll take some photos in the morning of our first major snowfall of the year.  Tyler would love it.

I certainly didn't expect this.

There are some days that are good - and some downright trashy.  Yesterday was the latter.  Sometimes things hit you out of the blue when you least expect it.   We went to the pulmonologist to discuss Mick's COPD treatment and the doctor began to discuss lung cancer. SMACK with a wet kipper.  So, tomorrow we will see another pulmonologist who will do a biopsy to determine what we are dealing with.  I'm armed with questions to ask and ready to hear what the doctor has to say.  Mick and I want to know.


We've already decided that whatever we hear, we can deal with.  For us, God is in control of our lives and we will turn this all over to Him (which we have already).  This seems to be in an early stage and that's extremely helpful.  Now, to find out how to combat it.


Snow is on the way 4-7 inches overnight tomorrow and sub-zero temperatures.  Winter is definitely here.  We won't have as much snow as the UK has right now, but it will be some.  I'll try to get some pictures on here in the next few days.

I'm on track for the new book...ready for publication next Friday.  Hopefully we will have it ready before the Christmas gift-giving rush (if there is something of this type in an e-book market)...and I'm on to the two new novels and the second volume of stories, which I hope will follow in six months or so.

Happiness is a pair of fuzzy slippers - but not cheese.

I cleaned out the fridge the other day and found a package of cheese which seemed to have a life of its own.  I thought I saw it moving, but wasn't sure.  After all, we just got rid of the mouse population in the building.  I seem to see them all over the house...phantom meece.  I will take a nice pair of warm fuzzy slippers (not made from mouse fur) over that bag-o-fuzzy cheese.


Tomorrow I have to attend an appointment with Mick at the doctor's to find out about his treatment.  It shouldn't be a big deal...except for his stop smoking programme.  Now that might be the worst part of the treatment.  Emphysema he can handle.  Calcified lung tissue, sure.  Stop smoking?  Wellllll???


So the next couple of weeks might be a little rough around here.  Hopefully we can tackle this with humour and probably a lot of prayer.  And it would also be great if Mick's company called him back to work.  That would be a nice Christmas present.