Flowers, Books, Travels & Time

Good morning son! It's your type of weather today; chilly and raining. You'd love it. March weather has been very different here in NY. One day it's sunny and warm and 78 and the next, cold, windy and raining. The trees are leafing out, the flowers are blooming and my peony's stems are growing taller and taller. I can't wait until they bloom. I've had fresh flowers in our house for a month now. Daffodils, carnations, baby's breath and soon...peonies. This year dad is going to plant me a Double Delight rose so I can see it from the living room window.  I wonder how many Double Delights are being enjoyed right now? Dad has planted them for me at every place we have ever lived. When he first started planted them years ago I was sad to have to leave them when we moved. I wanted to start planting them in pots so I could take them with me. Then it dawned on me, it would be a great gift to leave for the next family. Somewhere, up and down the west coast many Double Delight roses are budding out and are getting ready to share their beauty and fragrance with many families. I hope they enjoy them as much as I do. I'm looking forward to having my roses again.

Josie & Jamison (the dog, not the brother)

Well, last night was a first. Josie spent the night. She did great. We watched Ella Enchanted, which at this very moment, we are watching again. We colored, we read books and we laughed tons. This morning she and Jamison had an argument about who was going to get the window. Josie finally gave us but Jamison shared and they both got to share the window. Josie is use to having Bisky who's much bigger than Jamison. Jamison is use to having no one but us so they're getting use to each other. Believe it or not, most of the time he tries to ignore her. 

Remember this one?

I must say, as we were reading last night it brought back so many great memories. As I read each book I can actually remember where we were when I read those same books to you. After all, they were your books. Dad and I read them all to you hundreds of times, actually, if dad remembers correctly, a couple of them were actually read thousands of times, like the Joke Book. After a while we actually tried to hide that book.  It didn't matter how long dad had been on the road or if he had read that book to you three times the night before, you wanted the Joke Book. Sometimes at night I think I actually still hear dad reading that book to you in his sleep. Just kidding, but it sure wouldn't surprise me.


We've talked about this so many times before. How as parents we did things with and for you so you would have memories. We later find that the memories we created were for us. Half the time when we'd say, "Hey son, do you remember when?" and you'd look at us and say , "huh?". Now we really realize how important it was to create those memories. Dad and I have some of the greatest memories on earth. We're so glad we made the time to create those memories. What would we do without them today?


Those little books that we read together so many years ago? They're still making memories today.  We read and shared them with Allegra, Arianna and Alexis and made tons of memories there, and not with Josie. Who would think that a book could have such an impact on so many lives. Could create so many great memories. Memories for a lifetime, for so many.


Can you believe we've been here almost a year? Dad and I were just talking about that yesterday. Neither of us can believe it's almost been a year. Where has the time gone. Well, I can pretty much tell you. Time is a commodity there will never be enough of. It seems as though we just get up in the morning and the day is gone. We're busy the entire time but we never seem to get it all done. But, we're enjoying what we're doing. We're starting to plan day trips, we're planning a weekend trip. We're even looking out to December. We're going to CA for Christmas this year, Lord willing. We're talking about whether to Jamison or not. I already know we should. If we don't the first thing dad is going to say when we get there is, "I wish we had brought Jamison". Besides, if we stay a month, that's too long to not have him with us. Who would have ever thought that when we're making plans to even run an errand we make the decision based on what's the best for him. Usually, if we can't take him because it's too hot or too cold, we postpone the errand until he can go. We leave him when it's best for him but we'd rather not. What an important part of our family he is. Who would have ever thought? (Okay, you can stop laughing now!)

As you know, I got my DBA and applied for my Certificate of Authority so I can collect sales tax here in NY. I received the certificate Saturday. Auntie Jan Creations is now official. I spend a lot of time in the studio, thanks to dad! I just ordered three children's rocking chairs so I can get them ready to sell, I'm putting together a supply of cards, I have a junior chair ready to decorate and a dozen of other items to refurbish. I was able to change my hours at work to 8:39 am - 12:30 pm M-F so that gives me all afternoon to work in the studio. I've incorporated the largest portion of the dining room into studio work area for painting larger items and a drying area for my painting projects. The dining room table is perfect. So, what projects are you involved with? Brushing angel wings? Polishing the pearly gates? Shining the streets of gold? Singing with the choir of angels? I hope you have some downtime to sit by the River of Life with grandpa and share in his memories. Let him tell you all about his life. It's just been recently, as I've heard someone share their story, that I realized, I didn't really know a lot about grandpa's life. Ask him to tell you.


From the roses, to the moves, to our time together, to sharing your books, to making new memories, to planning ahead, to living in the present, to balancing life, it's all a part of who we were, who we are and who we are to become. I had a chance to explain about Choosing Joy again last week. It's amazing how many times the opportunity comes up. You left quite a legacy son. One that I am proud to be able to share whenever I get the opportunity.


Until next week, be Aaron, I love you, mom

Just A Mom

Not me, but close enough.

Good morning son. Sorry I'm late this morning. It's been a rough couple of days. A couple of teary days. Have no idea why. Just is. I won't say I haven't tried to figure it out. Every thing and everyone reminds me of you the last couple of days. I saw an ad this morning for a flex pen you use to use for your insulin and I burst out in tears. It's just been a crying couple of days. I've been so thankful it's been the weekend. I feel so heavy with sadness this last week. I wish I could control all of this. It just hit me out of the blue, there's that color again. Did you misunderstand me last week. When I talked with you about adding blue back into our home I was talking the color blue, not the feeling blue. Get it right next time will ya! lol  I sure do miss laughing with you. I hope you're on a roll in heaven and that they appreciate you and your ability to make people, and angels of course, smile and laugh.

It's suppose to be 74 here today and in the 80's tomorrow. Gino just posted a picture on Facebook of the snow at the end of the season on Willamette Pass.  It seems so odd to have more snow in Oregon this year than here in New York. I'm sure this coming winter is going to be totally different here than it was this past winter. I have plenty to do however and dad will have plenty to read and help me so all is good.

I've been making cards this weekend. I'm trying to get some stock built up so when my Certificate of Authority to charge sales tax comes through I ]'m ready for my "sales/marketing manager", your dad, to hit the streets with the product.  Today I'm finishing up a doll crib for a friends daughter for her birthday. I'll post a picture for you next week. 


Last week, Jamison had an eye infection, conjunctivitis. I don't know how he contracted it but it happened literally, overnight. It's really the first time, other than for annual check-up and shots, that we've had to take him to the vet. He's doing fine now. Dad gave him a both yesterday and he's all soft and fluffy. Next month, haircut! He is such good company for dad and I. We love him so very much. Believe it or not, he's doing better at not barking. In the house anyway. When he starts to bark we tell him good job and thank you. He turns around and looks at us, barks one more time (must be a Jamison thing) and lays back down. Now in the car...a very different story.

Grandpa Coffman

What's the weather like in heaven? Do you get the light, warm rain that you love so much? Does God cry real tears? Does it get hot? Sorry, that's a whole different place. Is there a cool breeze from angel's wings? When the Lord gets angry is there thunder and lightening? Tornadoes? I would imagine when He/She speaks with authority to get a point across it would make the thunder roll. Do you feel comfort in heaven? Do you think about us like we think about you? Is the reason God called you home clear? Why did He need you? Do you know grandpa in heaven? What about your great grand-parents, mamaw, papaw, and great grandpa and grandma? What about your grandma and grandpa Jamison and your uncles that are there? Have you seen any of them? Are there trees in heaven? What about rivers? Right, I forgot, the River of Life. Is that where you sit when you're drawing, writing and writing your music, by the River of Life?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just been a couple of days when all these thoughts and questions are running through my mind. I'm not the only one wondering. I may be the only one voicing the questions, but I know I'm not the only one asking. I know you're not wondering or asking. I know that everything is perfectly clear to you and I know that you don't really understand why I'm asking. I don't know why either. I guess it's probably because I miss you really bad today. It's another one of those times when just about the time I think everything is settled it all pops up again. Corey tells me this is normal. Since I have no idea what normal is, never did, I'm taking that to mean it happens to everyone when someone they love dies. It's really tough to have days like this. It doesn't take anything for me to cry and your poor dad wants so much to make it all better. I cry when I see the news about the tornadoes,  I cried when a Police Chief dies last week, two weeks before he was scheduled to retire. Explain that one to me will you. I watched many of my friends die soon after they retired from the City. Why? They work 25/30 years for an organization they believed in and loved and within weeks/months of their retirement, were gone.





Until next week, be Aaron. I love you, mom
 

We're Blue - Again.

"Easter Morning" Donald Zolan

Good morning son! And what a beautiful morning it is. The Son has long risen. And so has the sun. Both so beautiful. It's Easter morning. Our first without you. I have no sadness. Loneliness for you, but sadness no longer. 

Dad and I are spending a quiet weekend. By choice.We took a day trip yesterday with Jamison and spent the day in Vermont. We saw some beautiful scenery. Although the leaves are just beginning to sprout on the trees and shrubs we could just imagine the rolling hills as they become greener and greener as the Spring and Summer seasons progress.Hey, do you have rolling hills and grass in heaven? Probably hills of emeralds. Or,have you even noticed? I know if it's grass you're sneezing your head off. Or are you? No sickness in heaven? Right.  Oh well, just more of that human curiosity. 

I think it's interesting sometimes, well, actually the majority of the time, for us I think, the things in our lives that become so clear when we take some "down time". When we push everything out of our  minds but what's right there in front of us. I don't think dad and I have really had an opportunity in a long time to do that. We have finally realized that these are days we really need. We've been intense for so long, we really don't know how to relax and when we try, we feel guilty about using resources, time and money, to do it. We've become dull. We never use to be dull. How did that happen? The only reason I'm asking myself is because I don't want to repeat it.

It really amazes me how the most unusual things can make me see so clear. God has such a sense of humor. He takes me to places where I see no purpose and bang! Right there in front of me is a piece of the answer. One of the first stops we made yesterday was a furniture store. I didn't ask dad to stop because it was a furniture store. I asked him to stop because the sign also said, "candles, crafts and decorating items". Those are three magic words to me. I usually have no intention of buying, I want ideas for decorating and crafting. (Stop laughing!) I know on occasion I have given in to the "buy, buy demons. But, he gets to me very rarely anymore unless it's something to re-purpose as a gift or to sell. Okay, I digress.

Bennington VT

Anyway, our first stop was a furniture store. As we pulled into the parking lot, here stood a huge black and white moose. As we would learn as we continued into Bennington, these moose were everywhere and in every color. Just like the ducks in Eugene! Jamison barked as through his life depended on it. True to form for him. We parked in the dusty parking lot and headed to the store. As we opened the front doors, there, right in front of us was a beautiful, bright spot of color. It was simply a couch. Very simple, straight, tailored lines. It wasn't the couch that caught our eyes, although it was lovely. It was the color and how it struck dad and I at the same time. Blue. Blue thin stripes that crossed to make a pattern on a white background. My mind began to race. Not because I wanted a new

"The House Aaron Made"

couch or wanted to take the couch home with me. It wasn't about the couch, it was about the blue. It was as though a my heart lifted. Dad was having a very similar reaction. Until that moment I hadn't realized how much dad missed the color blue. He was actually excited.Blue use to be the standard color in my decorating. For some reason, except for our quilt from Aunt Lena and of course, "the house Aaron made", blue is no where in our home. Why is that? (Do you have blue in heaven? Of course you do? Sapphire gems though, not blue couches. What DO you sit on in heaven? Or, do you sit at all?) 


Why is it that we eliminate things that we love from our lives? I don't think any two people would give you the same answer when asked this question. But, for me, I can remember, consciously making a decision to eliminate blue. The only reason I can faintly remember for doing it though was that EVERYONE decorated with blue and I didn't want to be like everyone else. I don't think that's really ever going to be a problem for me, but I can remember thinking it. 

My new motto...and in BLUE.

Why is it that we, as people, remove things from our lives that we truly love? That is the greater question. You know that I love country and shabby chic styles mixed. I love the shades of white mixed with the blues, greens, pinks. I love the lightness and freshness of the look. Why then did I go to dark colors of moss green, mustard, gold and deep, deep red? I have no clue. I love those colors too. But, they are not colors I should use to decorate our home I've found. If I really stop and think about it, which I did on the way home from our trip yesterday , dark colors just arent's for either dad or me. 
I
 think when I retired, I wanted things to change. I wanted to be able to see the change. I didn't want a subtle change, I wanted an extreme change. Well, I got it, but it was a wrong change. That change has created some real challenges for both dad and me. I just haven't been able to make this house a home. I know, I know, a home is created by the people in it, not by the things. But no matter where we have lived, our home has been cheerful, warm and welcoming and we felt comfortable and at peace. This house is exactly what I've always dreamed of having and of decorating. But it doesn't feel like home. We've been here almost a year. Can you believe that, a year. Where has the time gone? The things in our lives are just things. But, they're in our lives and if they're the wrong things they can adversely affect our lives. I need to be very careful about what I add or take away from our lives.


I think that sometimes we remove the things in our lives that bring us joy and replace them with other things just because we want to be different. Why do we do that? Why do I do that? I don't know! Sometimes why do I even ask the question? Because, "inquiring minds want to know". (Gotcha!)


Okay, so let's get on with it. It's good to be an individual. In fact, it's great.I don't know why I make drastic changes in my life. I think I made this one because there have always been so many things in my life that I had no control over that I just wanted to change what I could. There's nothing wrong with that. But, this change affected more than just me. The change of color in our home very much affected that most import person in my life, my hubby. True to form though, he's really never said anything outright. He's always left decisions about the decorating to me. However, as I think about it after our trip yesterday, he has left many subtle hints. Hints I don't think he ever realized he's said. I remember dozens of times when he's said, "I miss blue", "I loved it when we had blue colors in the house", "I miss your Cobalt Blue glass collection you use to have in the hutch". Dozens of clues, all missed.


So, I guess what I'm saying is, being an individual and changing things in your life is absolutely something you should be able to do. But, just because you should be able to do it,  and just because someone in your life gives you license to do it,  doesn't make it the right thing to do.


Needless to say, the color blue will be re-entering our lives here in the Jamison household. It's as though a whole new world has opened and the sun is shining again. And what better day, than Easter. A time of new beginnings.


Until next time, be Aaron, love, mom

Heavenly Sandpaper

Good morning son! Dad and I have been sickies this week but we're rounding the bend and we both rested well last night. Following a week of beautiful weather, March rang itself out with some snow and cold weather. It was cooler but beautiful yesterday. Dad was finally able get out and take a brief walk down the driveway with Jamison and his friend, Sammy. Sammy is spending the week with us this week. He's so much fun and he and Jamison have a great time together. 


Today is April Fool's Day. Dad's feeling a little cheated today. His "partner in crime" for April Fool's Day isn't here. The two of you had some very fun times on this day every year. It was some contest as the two of you tried to top each other every year. I'll bet Alan has something up his sleeve for Kristin again this year too! 

As with many things in our lives these days, next week will be another first. It will be the first time in 38 years I've not made you an Easter Basket or colored and decorated Easter eggs. I'll be content to enjoy the daffodils, and thank the Lord for the Easters we had. I've not been to "your rock" up on the hill since we've scattered your ashes on Christmas day. Easter Sunday will be a good day to do that. No, not because I think you're going to "rise again". Just because I want to.

Hey, guess what I found yesterday? 80's GLAM by Sharpie! Sharpie has some new colors you'd love. Wish I could send you a set but then, what would you use them for. I should have brought your vast collection of Sharpie's with me. I could have left a small shred of memory of you on everything I created! You already have the most amazing colors to use for your art. I mean, I don't think we can even image the colors of heaven. 

As you know, I love to embellish my art. Whether it be a doll cradle, a card, a T-Shirt. Doesn't matter to me, art needs depth. For me, that means, embellish. I can only imagine how the Lord has embellished heaven. I mean, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, gold, silver, saints and angels.  And the real deal. I can only imagine how "bedazzled" heaven is. I mean I cannot even imagine what the "real deal" looks like. I'm bedazzling with acrylic and plastic. I can only dream about what streets of gold look like. The pearly gates. The stained glass windows made with real gem stones. You wouldn't like to send a chip or two to your old mom would you? Just kidding!

Life is kinda like that too isn't it? Bedazzled I mean. Sometimes we don't see it that way, but it really is. Not in the way most of us think of bedazzled, with jewels and precious metals, but in the most heavenly ways. You bedazzled my life. You added depth, joy, challenges (some very interesting challenges), laughter, hugs, smiles, tears. All of those are really the jewels and bedazzlement of life. There are also things and people that bedazzle our lives here on earth everyday: birds, flowers, trees, family and friends. I can just see God adding all those things to the world and our lives here on earth. He's looking down and saying, "Let's put this bird here, he needs the sounds of music today. Let's put this flower here, she needs a reminder of the beauty around her today. Let's put this river here. They need the coolness of the water today". I can just see Him adding these embellishments to his handiwork and us not even realizing what's going on around us.

Easter card with hand painted & crafted; embellished wood egg.

I've been making greeting cards lately and I'm really enjoying it. It's wonderful to really think about a specific person, the event in their life, whether it be a birthday, a new baby, an anniversary, a family or friend who has been taken from their life, and make a card specifically for them. I do spend a lot of time doing research for my cards. Thanks heaven dad's not put off by the hours I spend researching for just the right embellishment to add to a card or item I'm refreshing. Thank heaven he understands that I get a lot of my creative joy by adding just the "perfect" touch to an item that will make it extra special. For me, it's very important that when I give someone a gift, a card or complete a re-purposed piece of furniture or make a special sign, all of them have that very special touch. That's what I consider a card to be, it's important the card tell the person, "I think you're important and I've thought about you when I created this gift with you in mind". Not just, "Oh, yeah, I need to get a card for so-and-so, I wonder what I have on hand I could make work". Yuck! I can just imagine the Lord doing the same for me every single day. He adds a bird to the sky, a squirrel taking a run up a tree or rain falling from the heavens. It's all embellishment. At that moment,it's all for me. It's all pretty cool if you think about it. I'd like to think it's all just for me. I mean, what would our world look like without all those things. Pretty bland I think. No blue sky, no ocean, no seashells, no trees, no flowers, no animals. Pretty bland indeed!

It takes "heavenly sandpaper"...

to polish the coal...

We also have people in our lives. Some good, some not so good.  If I really think about it, the people, family and friends in my life are embellishments too. Some good, some not so good. lol (Yes, I'm including myself!)
I've never considered anyone in my life a frivolous embellishment. Well, maybe. Not intentionally but maybe. I hope not, but maybe. 

People are put in my life for all sorts of reason. Some are there to help polish this piece of coal into a beautiful diamond. Sometimes I want to hug and kiss them, sometimes I want to smack 'em. And I know they feel the same way about me. None-the-less, they are an "embellishment" or jewel that God has graciously, and with a great deal of thought, placed in my life to help me celebrate, grieve, play, work and live. The embellishments on my cards are there to bring happiness, joy, laughter and to show that I've thought about the person, care about the person and want that special person to know all those things. The embellishments in my life God puts there for the same reasons. To bring happiness, joy, laughter and to show that He's thought about me as a person, He cares about me, the person, and He want me to know all those things.

to get the diamond.

So although embellishments are thought of as something glitzy, with no real purpose, they can be, and usually do, give us joy, help us know we are loved, make us laugh, comfort us when we're sad and sometimes help us grow. It's all about how we choose to view embellishment and accept them as God intended. True embellishments, I mean the real deal: diamonds, silver, gold, emeralds, rubies etc., nearly always have to be dug out of the ground. You have to seek them out. You have to go to the right places and know what you are looking for. You don't usually find a diamond at the bottom of the lake or raining down on your head from the sky! You have to seek them out.


Sometimes God uses people in our lives to help us become the "embellishment" in someone else's life. To rub us the wrong way. Your grandma use to say, they're "heavenly sandpaper". Heavenly? Not so sure. Sandpaper? Absolutely.  Some people in our lives are just like sandpaper against a piece of coal. The sandpaper is there to round off the rough edges, help get rid of the dust, and let the real diamond shine through. These people help in filing down the sharp edges, forming the soft, smooth lines of the glittering, gleaming, brightness of the sparkling embellishment beneath the hard surface. The diamond. The "sanding" is often a painful process but one well worth the prize beneath, a beautiful diamond, strong enough to withstand anything that life throws at it. Some of us take more sandpaper than others. Just about the time I think I've had all the "sandpaper" I can handle, I turn around and I'll be darn if God doesn't put another piece of sandpaper in my life. Good grief, do you think I'll ever get to the end of sandpaper in my life? Don't answer that!

Happy Palm Sunday. Rejoice in the Lord!

Until next time, be Aaron, I love you, mom

Does It Really Take An Elephant?

Springtime in heaven?

Good morning son! It's been a very interesting and busy week. How about you? I'll bet things are really a hummin' in heaven this time a year with Spring popping out all over and preparations for Easter and Passover. We're having an early Spring this year. Everything is blossoming out, I hope not too early. The daffodils are blooming already. We've been having 70-75 degree weather the last couple of weeks. And now, tomorrow night, it's suppose to be 17 degrees.I'm going to put a sheet over our daffodil bed tonight in hopes that they won't freeze. I've been in cropped pants and t-shirts for a couple of weeks now. Today I'm back to long pants, sweat shirt and socks! I don't like like it. I don't like it one bit!

(L-R) Dylan, Josie, Trey cuddling on the couch

Dad and I were really busy last week, busier than usual. We filled in for Diane at Jon and Corey's! One week, seven kids. "Nuff said?" (I know you're laughing. And I know it's happy laughter knowing we were surrounded by kids and knowing we loved it.) It was fun.  We are totally pooped but we had a great time. It takes both of us to get everything done. But just like we have always done our entire marriage, when we do it together we have this way of being able to see what needs to be done and each of us doing a piece to make it all come together. It doesn't matter if it's taking care of a household full of kids, working at a business or working in the kitchen. We have this way of just flowing together to get the job done. Years ago, when dad was working with Tony and Tony found out dad and I worked together in the office Tony told dad that was the quickest way to end in divorce court. Husbands and wives just couldn't work together. Dad and I had never given it a second thought. We'd always worked together...and we still do.

You remember last week when I was telling you I needed to do something in my studio to increase storage but I wasn't willing to give up my natural light in order to do it. Well, I had to eat my words this last week. I went through dozens of scenarios. Well, actually not dozens. In my 7x9 space, one of those walls is 4'. One entire wall, the longest wall, has a baseboard heater on it. The walls are plaster and lathe and it's a pain in the neck to hang things on them if they're hang at all,  you're options aren't great. But, I had to do something.


In an email to Rita, I told her this morning, I never every thought I'd say the words again, "this weekend I'll...". When I retired last year I didn't think I'd ever have to say those words. But, I hear myself saying them more and more often. Anyway, yesterday, Saturday, dad and I took the opportunity to go to Habitat for Humanity and take a look to see if they had any cheap options. Sometimes just looking around I can find something that will fit the need. I have been thinking, for quite some time about a nine drawer dresser. There really are plenty of them out there, but sometimes they're all dresser and really no drawer space to speak of. I mean the lumber is really thick and beautiful but very little content space. As I was roaming around I found a 6' long dresser. It had three large drawers on either end and a set of doors in the middle. As I took hold of the door handle to open it, I was hoping I would find three additional drawers behind the doors, I really needed more drawers, not just a big open space. And there they were. Three more beautiful drawers.  I took my measuring tape from my purse; 6' long. Perfect, it would fit right against the back wall of my studio.  I knew I could get everything I had in the 7' paper sorter into the drawers of the dresser and the shelving I already had. It was made by Thomasville so I knew it was going to take three men and an elephant to move and load it, but it was perfect. I had set a $35 budget. I know, I'm cheap. Not really. I had been shopping on Craigslist for a month and knew I could find things that would work for that price, but it would have probably been additional mileage to pick it up and dad and I would have had to load it. We could have done it but I would have rather not. Unloading is enough for both of us. So now there was just one thing left to do. I said a quick prayer and looked over at that tiny white 1" square sticker right in the middle of the top of the dresser. I mean really, who would put something sticky right in the middle of a nice piece of furniture. Never mind, I won't go there. Anyway, I eased my eyes slowly over to the sticker and took a look. $25? That couldn't be right. I mean, this was a really nice piece. It was missing one drawer handle but I didn't want to embarrass myself and ask for a discount for a missing drawer handle, or did I? No, just kidding. I did have to take a second look though. $25? Yup, there it was, right in front on me, $25. SOLD! Now we come to the part of three men and an elephant. I lifted on one end. Well, I reached down and thought I was lifting one end. Rather than me lifting the end of the dresser the dresser stayed right where it was and I dropped down. Uh, if Habitat couldn't provide the three men and I couldn't find an elephant, that dresser wasn't going anywhere!

Not really!

Luckily, the elephant wasn't necessary after all. Habitat provided two men and a cart and away they went to the loading dock. Dad backed the car up to the loading dock, we made room for the dresser and they slid it into the car on it's back. It hung out the back just enough so we couldn't get the hatch closed so dad pulled out his trusty length of rope we never go without, tied it down and we headed home. We had an uneventful trip home. Dad and I did have a good laugh on the way home as we pictured ourselves in a VW Beetle that I had wanted when be bought the Subaru. So many times we've had a good laugh when we think about trying to do all the things I want to do in a VW Beetle. I mean I REALLY WANTED that VW. We can always hear your grandma saying though, "It's not your needs that get you into trouble, it's your wants and desires". What a mess we would be in these days if we had not listened to that still small voice telling us that a VW Beetle was the wrong choice. Was it an easy choice? Heck no! I wanted that beetle. Was it the right choice to buy the Subaru? We've never been sorry about the decision a single day. Anyway, We get to the house and then it hits us, no two men and a cart and no elephant. Just us. This dresser is 6' long and has to weigh at least 175 - 200 pounds. I say 300 but dad is a better judge than me. Sure felt like 300 as we both got hold of an end and tried to lift it. Dad was smart though. He backed the car right up to the porch which was the same height. We slid the dresser right out of the back of the car, grabbed hold and just eased it up onto it's legs. You'd think we'd move it right into the house right. Not! We left it on the porch and headed to Pancho's for a Diet Pepsi and lunch! We needed a breather. 

An hour later we were back at the house. Dad sat down to watch NCAA Basketball and I set about to get ready to make room for the dresser. I took one look at the space and realized. I was going to have to move my L-shaped work table away from the window. I didn't like that option at all. As I stood and pondered I realized there just wasn't any other way. If I moved my work table forward I couldn't reach my shelves. If I left it where it was I wouldn't be able to get the drawers of the dresser open all the way.So, rather than just empty the 7' paper sorter, I had to rearrange the space. I slid the sorter out of the space and began. (Luckily I was smart enough to put all large or heavy pieces on sliders when we moved into this house!) Dad came in and helped me turn the work table around. We were actually able to do that without emptying the work table and without standing it on end. We just rotated it in the center of the room. It always amazes dad and I at what we can accomplish when we work together...and without an elephant! We headed to the porch to get the dresser. The most difficult was lifting it about 5" over the door sill but we did it. We just slid it down the hall, lifted it over the door sill into the dining room, put sliders under the legs and slid it right into the studio and put it underneath the bookshelves and the window sill. All without a hitch...or two men, a cart or an elephant. I sent dad on his way to watch his basketball game and I began the transition. By 8 o'clock last night I had a new space and everything was organized. All with only adding one nail to the wall. To rehang my calendar over my work table.

During the entire process I kept thinking about how great God has been throughout our entire lives. There have been some really, really rough times. (I should write a book.) But it has always been a great life. I've learned so much through life experiences. I know that for most people probably, finding this dresser means nothing. But to me, it's like God knowing my heart, the deepest part of my heart. Knowing my desires and helping me fulfill them. I have no expectation that God fulfills my desires or gives me everything I want. But for me, when I find exactly what I want for $25, it's like God, my heavenly Father, looking down and smiling and telling me, okay, you've done your research, you've waited patiently, you're wiling to work to get it, here's a surprise for you.  When I see or experience things like this happening and when they happen for me it's like, wow! With all the creatures in the world having wants and needs, God answered mine. How amazing is that!

You know me and painting. Around our house you guys use to say, "the only thing that doesn't get painted is what or who is moving". It's getting warmer all the time so my mind naturally goes to, let's get painting. I thought I had decided I wanted yellow in the kitchen. But, you know how it is with me. I always have in mind what I want, but I'm very versatile. It's really about finding the first right piece and then going with that. For the kitchen here it was the wallpaper border. I found exactly what I wanted. It has many of my favorite color AND chickens.. I was going to paint next but before I could get that done, I found the curtains I wanted. Once I put the curtains up I decided I didn't want yellow at all. It would have totally looked washed out. I was still undecided when we were at Habitat yesterday. I decided to browse their paint section. I walked to the end of the first aisle and there was a can of Valspar paint, a full gallon, in the exact color to match the trim on my kitchen curtains. One gallon of an excellent paint in the perfect color for $4. Now I mean really, coincidence?  You've got to be kidding me. Remember, it's the small things. I was also undecided about the paint color in our bedroom. I have the quilt Aunt Lena made, on our bed. I've tried others but I always come back to this quilt. It has reds, blues, greens, yellows, taupes and browns and some others in it. At first I had decided on taupe and red. But the more I got to thinking about it, I didn't want that much red. So, I hadn't made any decision except for the fact I didn't want blue. It just sounded to boring. Everyone has blue. Until yesterday. As I rounded the corner of the paint aisle I spotted this can of Sherwin Williams paint. It was an awesome color of blue. Again, a full gallon for $4. So for $35 yesterday I found the paint for the kitchen, not just any paint, but Valspar. I found the paint for our bedroom AND, I found the storage for my studio. I'd say God sees the little things. How about you?


Until next week, I love you. Be Aaron. Love mom

Careful - Who Knows Who's Watching!

I

Good morning son! It's predicted to be a beautiful  Spring day again today. The weather has been amazing since we've arrived in NY last year. It was one of the mildest winters anyone can remember. If the last couple of days are any type of indicator, Spring is going to be awesome. Yesterday I had  all the windows and doors open. We opened the back deck yesterday and Jamison spent most of the day on the deck in the sun getting reacquainted with all the birds, squirrels and chipmunks.

It's March and you know what that means around our house, March Madness!  As much as dad talks about it and loves basketball I can honestly say that in the 42 years we've been married this is the first time he's really spent the afternoon watching the games.  I love it! He's having a great time. He and uncle Bill have picked their brackets and call each other a couple of times in the afternoons to just say "wow, did you see that!".

Let me tell you, I was ON yesterday! I threw the windows and doors open and hit the studio. I painted a doll cradle, which will get it's coat of polyurethane later this morning. I made eight greeting cards, some for Easter. I was torn about doing Easter cards but decided to give it a whirl. They were really fun to make and I'll probably do a couple more this afternoon. I hand painted and decorated wooden "eggs" and "chocolate rabbits". I added them to the front of the cards so they can be removed for a keepsake if someone would like to keep them. I did a couple of blank note cards for Spring and a couple of birthday cards. I mean I was really moving. I'm going to try some using vinyl lettering today. I use to do that but haven't done it in a long time. 

I'll get started next week end on another doll crib. Dad is going to start doing all the prep work for me. He can get things ready during the day while I'm at work and then when I get home in the afternoon I can do what I do best, embellish it! Woo hoo! . My studio is in the perfect room of the house. Right off the dining room. My dining room doesn't look much like a dining room any more. The dining room table usually has a project in one stage or another perched on it. My work table is set right in front of a window. It isn't the most efficient use of space since it puts the L-shaped work top right in the middle of the room but I'm not willing to give up the natural light. Speaking of light, what's it like in heaven this time of year? Do you have seasons? Do you have flowers? Does it matter to you if you don't? Probably not! Just curious.(No, I don't want to hear about the curious cat!) I keep waiting for my missing you to subside. It isn't. Maybe it won't. Something was going on with Netflix night before last and before dad knew it he was saying, "I'm going to call Aaron." It just happens in an instant. You've always been such a huge part of our lives it's just weird to not have you here. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want you to come back here for anything. As much as I'd like to give you a hug...and you have no idea how much I miss your hugs, I wouldn't wish that pain back on you for anything. You're exactly where you're suppose to be.

Chickens laid, dad gathered..and ate

Anyway, Spring. As I was taking Jamison out yesterday I noticed green shoots coming up through the grass in front of our porch. It dawned on me, I didn't see those last Spring. For an instance I wondered why I hadn't noticed them before. We weren't here last March. Can you believe in June we will have been here a year. A year. It's almost impossible to believe. Where has the time gone. So much has happened. Our lives are the same, and yet totally different. We're the same and yet, totally different. I don't know if it's good or bad or that it even matters. It's a good life. Always has been. As dad and I were coming back last night from putting the chickens in and playing with Biscuit the sun was setting. I was waiting on

17 March 2012 Sunset Troy NY

dad and standing in Jon and Corey's backyard watching the sun set. It was absolutely beautiful. Between the rim of their backyard and the sun setting, lay the city below in a valley. The lights in the valley were twinkling and orange. It was so gorgeous and I just had to stop. I took a deep breath and said "thank you Lord. Thank you for this beautiful place, for wonderful friends near and far and family that surround us and for trusting us with the care of a home we love. Thank you for helping us arrive safely in this wonderful place and for keeping us while we are here".

This while adventure has been truly amazing. Thank you for your encouragement son. For loving us and for wanting the best for us, over and beyond what your wants and needs were. 

I feel so very blessed in this life. Dad and I have always talked about our life of adventure. You've heard me say many times over the years, "I can never say I've ever experienced boredom". That continues to be true to this day. At times, life has been very difficult. But boring? Not a chance. The thing about having a challenging life is that challenges give us so many opportunities to be resilient, respectful of others, and more tolerant. Challenges show us we're not alone. Everyone faces challenges in life. Challenges are relevant. They are relevant to where we are at the time. One day getting out of bed might be a challenge for one of us. The next person might find it a challenge to share what they have. It might be that our challenge for the day is acceptance of something we don't understand or the challenge of doing something we don't know how to do. It can be a challenge to accept the fact that someone you love is dying and there is nothing you can do to save them. As I said, challenges are relevant. As I see it,  challenge is that thing in your life you are not prepared for but face. They build character and strength....if you accept the challenge and work through it. You can "just wait it out or let someone else do it". Changes are tough. If you choose that path of ignoring the challenge it most likely will "pop up" in your life again and again, if you're lucky, until you face it, work through it and be strengthened by it. Of course it doesn't feel like a good thing at the time. It shouldn't. 

If the flowers in the Spring didn't accept the challenge of breaking through that ground, rock, weeds and force themselves to accept the challenges, where would our Spring flowers be? Sometimes accepting the challenges of life are not about us. Sometimes they're challenges we need to accept because someone is watching us to see how we're going to accept and handle them. We sometimes forget that people do watch us to see if we practice what we preach so to say. They look to see if we really do what we say and believe what we believe. It's one thing to spout how strongly we believe in something. It's something altogether different when we're faced with a circumstance where we actually have to demonstrate that belief. My mom and dad always told us that actions speak louder than words. I know they are right.



I know that I never believed in my wildest dreams (and I've been having some pretty extremely wild ones lately) that God would put the challenge in my life that he did over the last five years. As I look back over my life, over this last half a century, it frightens me to think what type of example I have been during some of life's challenges. At the time I'm sure I wasn't thinking about being an example. I was simply trying to get through the challenge. I hope and pray that as people watched me stumble through the challenge that they were able to see, and that I did, work through the challenge and came out on the other side stronger for it. I hope they were able to come out stronger by watching me work through it.


I can't say that I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. I can say, I'm tired, physically, mentally and spiritually. Sometimes I don't think I will ever feel strong and clear again BUT, therein lies the challenge. I hope I'm up to it. Who knows who's watching!


Until next time, I love you. mom

Laughter - Just Do It!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Son!

So son, a sunny good morning to you. I'm sitting, stretched out on the couch looking out the living room window. The sun is bright and beautiful this week and is suppose to continue throughout the week.  We continue to get longer and longer glimpses of warmer and warmer periods of Spring breaking through.

Last week I tried an experiment. I decided I'd get busy in the studio and run some errands and THEN write my blog in the afternoon when dad and I normally have out quiet time for the week.  It didn't work. By the afternoon my mind is abuzz with millions of things I need to do for the week, I'm reading, making cards, working through schedules for the week; thus, I'm not able to concentrate and write. So I'll consider it a learning experience and move on.


Tuesday this week I'm having some friends come over for a craft night and just a good time. We're going to make some cards, have some snacks and laugh. I wish my friends from Springfield were here. All my friends in Springfield would love this group of friends.

Laughter, a common bond.

We could have such a great time together. I've been reconnecting with friends in Springfield and checking in more than I had been. It's so good to talk with all of them and find out what's going on in their lives. For so long now I've been wrapped up in what's happening in my life, and they have been too. You know, the truth of the matter is, even in all of the tough times, our family has been able to share laughter.  If we hadn't, I don't know where we would be today. I grew up with laughter. 

What do you mean you're not laughing?

As far back as I can remember our home growing up was always filled with laughter. Sometimes when I think about growing up and remember family events, because we had a lot of them, I can hear the laughter of my dad and mom.One of my best memories, that always makes me smile and giggle, is the sight of my dad coming up behind my mom while she was working at the kitchen sink, patting her on her butt and that chuckle coming from my dad!

I can remember coming home from school and walking into my grandma's kitchen. Before I even entered the house, I could hear their laughter. My mom and my grandma sitting at the kitchen table in my grandma's first house, corn everywhere as they cut it off the cob for canning, my shoes would stick to the linoleum from the corn juice, sticky floors, and stream from the pressure cooker filling the room and they'd be laughing. Even as I was walking up the walk I could hear the laughter. 

My mom and dad. Laughter abounded.

Your grandpa had a wonderful laugh. Sometimes, without even thinking about it, I can hear grandpa laughing. He loved to laugh. He loved people. He LOVED his kids and grandkids. I can still hear your grandma laughing. All your grandparents loved life and laughter. I wonder, how do people make it in today's world without laughter? Even now, I can look at pictures of you and hear you laughing. I know you're laughing in heaven. I can just see you and grandpa pulling pranks on the angels and rolling with laughter as you wait to see their reaction. Have a great time son. No more pain. I'm so happy for you.


Laughter is a wonderful commodity. It would be a shame not to hare it. Laughter gets us through so much. We, as a family, have always approached life with laughter. 


As I write this blog I just learned that a co-worker's grandmother has passed away. The co-worker is half way around the world from her grandmother.I'm feeling her loss. Even though we weren't half way around the world when you left it, as a mom it sure felt like it. I'm feeling for her right now. It devastated me when my dad and grandparents passed away and I was only a state away and I could get to my family. She is so far away and has to be heartbroken. I lift her, and her family, up to the Father.In the days and weeks to come she too will again find laughter in her life and it will help to heal the hurt. I know from experience, that at some point, when the time is right, even though she doesn't think so now, her laughter will return. The sun will shine and she will again have peace.

If you don't laugh...you need help!

Laughter is a great friendship "binder". I don't know how I would survive in life if I didn't have the gift of laughter. Laughter can defuse so many moments in life. I think the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a true statement, or at least the very least, the apple helps. I think an even truer statement would be, "A laugh a day keeps the doctor away".

As I look back over my life and even today. Laughter has been my best medicine. If I look back through times with friends, what did we do the most of? We laughed together. We still do. Through thick and through thin, rough times, happy times, sad times, celebrating times, we laughed together. When you choose to have joy in your life, laughter seems to be a natural follow-up.  My goodness son. When I think back through our lives, we did a lot of laughing. We always found something to laugh about. Even if it was a dumb "knock, knock" joke. I mean really, "How do you know an elephant has been in the refrigerator? By the footprints in the butter." I mean really. What's not to laugh about that? 

Take yours today!

Through all the years, all the changes, all the moves, all the cities, all the states, all the friends, all the family, all the heartache, we managed to find laughter. That has been a constant, solidifying, continuous stream in our everyday lives here on earth. What a legacy to leave; to know you have had true joy and happiness and to pass those gifts forward. You did that! Sure you did! Through all the pain, grief and loss, you left a path of joy and happiness. I hope that someone, someday when I'm gone can say the same about me.


Until then, all my love, mom