Monthly Archives: April 2014

April 28, 2014 · 7:11 AM

The Measure of Days

Meet Elizabeth. My husband, daughter and I care for her. For the past six days, she has been in the hospital. Without going into all the medical jargon, her quality of life is the key to her time left with us. She may be elderly. She may be frail. But she has the heart of a lioness! She is like family. She has not only enriched our lives but all with whom she comes into contact. After a specialist performed a procedure on her, his words to us were, “Well, I didn’t want it to happen, had no intention of letting it happen, but she got to me. She’s in,” he said and added, “She’s in here,” pointing to his heart.

Indeed, to know her is to love her. Today she’s back home with us and we are grateful. I cannot help but think about the measure of her time left with us.

I think about an hourglass; time flowing like sand, slipping away.

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I think about the tick tock of a clock, a timepiece of the human heart’s mortality.

Photo Credit: Left Foot via Compfight cc

“LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.” Psalm 39:4

The above scripture reminds me that life is fleeting. Although I cannot truly measure my days, I will strive to make each day count and remember that while I may be weak, my God is strong. When I think about life, I can’t help but think about a 103-year-old woman name Elizabeth with her zest for life, her love for others, and all that she means to me!

I wrote about this remarkable woman before; you can read my post here This Lesson Called Life

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Tagged as elderly, life, quality of life, time

April 19, 2014 · 6:15 PM

Easter Reflections

Four Generations – Easter 2007

My granddaughter Grace – 2011

My precious grandchildren: Ryan & Grace – 2012

He is risen!

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Tagged as Easter, Easter reflections, Family

April 10, 2014 · 11:33 AM

Memory Lane …

Do you remember something as a child that stood out? I have plenty! Here are some of mine mentioned in my memoir, Running in Heels:

“I remember the unpleasant chalky taste of Phillip’s Milk of Magnesia and the fishy tasting cod liver oil by the spoonfuls, administered for any complaints or discomforts given to me for cures by Grandma. Those included the green rubbing alcohol, Vicks VapoRub, and Mercurochrome for fever, colds, or scrapes respectively. They were Grandma’s tried-and-true remedies coupled with a prayer or two.”

Here’s another one:

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“Fascinated with ant piles, I liked to dig apart their colonies to watch the different activities of the workers, the soldiers, and the queen ant that I read about in books. I never developed a fear of grasshoppers, even if they spat “tobacco” on my fingers, or of handling caterpillars that pricked when they crawled on my hand, or of sneaking up on lizards that left their wiggling tails behind, wondering what the funny red thing on their throats going in and out was all about.”

And one more:

“As a treat before bedtime, Grandpa always gave me a cup of eggnog made with warm milk, an egg yolk, and sugar. He said it would help me to sleep after a hot bath. He was right. Sleep came like a welcomed friend.”

As a memoirist, I find that one word can trigger an event. I dig deep and write some pleasant ones as a child: bubbles, puppies, balloons, swings, ice cream, Easter...!

Definition of memory: 1) The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information. 2) Something remembered from the past; a recollection. The mind is fascinating and stores a lot of information and images. We know that there are two types of memories – pleasant and unpleasant.

My precious granddaughter, Grace, celebrating Easter!
2011

YOUR turn!

Everyone has a story.

Take a walk down Memory Lane and focus on something pleasant to share.

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Tagged as balloon, bubbles, childhood memories, ice cream, memoir, memories, memory lane, pleasant story, puppy, swings

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P.S. I Love You

It’s hard to fathom that we’ve reached a milestone. Come April 6th, we have been married for twenty amazing years.

From the beginning, I knew I could rely on you. For the first time, I didn’t have to face my struggles alone. When you vowed in becoming my soulmate, you stood up to the plate in becoming a loving daddy to my children. Although the roads have been bumpy, the ride has been exhilarating.

The route may not always be smooth, but the pathway is attainable because of your steadfastness. With every twist and turn, I find strength while learning to lean on your shoulders. In your arms, there is a shelter in the midst of the rainstorms and warmth from the frigid winds.

You believed in me before I believed in myself. I am not afraid to be me when I am with you. Your laughter is music to my ears. When I look at you, I see the love in your eyes still twinkling … for me.

I want to thank you, babe, for all the years by my side. I pray that God grants us many more to come. I appreciate you, admire you, and love you more today than I did yesterday. I thank God for making us one, knowing that together we will weather the storms.

Your soothing voice calms my fears; your gentle touch chases away my tears.
Your strength is my abiding force; your soothing words, are my guiding source.