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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Princess' Wings

One of the realities we live with as the family of an "Aicardi Princess" is that at any time she might be called Home with God. The recent passing of Katelyn is a reminder that we have Hillary for as long as God wants us to, and not a second more. I humbly offer the following poem in honor of "KK" and all the Princesses who have become Angels.




A Princess got her wings last night,

She traded in her crown,

God needed her in His angel court,

Where only love is found,

Free from the twisted body,

No more the weakened lungs,

She now can run so freely,

In God’s playground up above,

We all will miss her sweetness,

None so much as family,

She bound us all together,

With strong bonds no one could see,

God sent her here to teach us,

Though it was she we tried to teach,

Her patience was a testament,

To how hard we are to reach,

In caring for her Earthly needs,

All who knew her saw her strife,

And while trying to relieve her pain,

Gave her a beautiful life.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

A Long Overdue Post!!!

Well, I've no excuse except for having some computer problems and a full life, but I did want to do a Thanksgiving post!  So, my scattered readers, I offer you the following "list" post of things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for the memory of a perfectly clear, bright, deep blue sky with puffy white clouds day from last summer that I spent with Princess Hillary at the park, having lunch and looking at Horseshoe Lake from a bench under the most wonderful tree which provided us with dappled sunshine that danced as a breeze played through the leaves.  I go there in my mind frequently.

I am thankful for a husband who understands that even if we can't afford to go away on vacation, we can do "vacationy" things, such as going to the zoo and out to dinner as a family, or taking a drive over roads we don't usually travel, stopping for lunch where we don't usually eat, and capping it off with a few hours on a warm Novemeber afternoon on our patio by the chiminea feeding it wood and junk mail until it's dark out.

I am thankful for a wonderful grown daughter who still enjoys being with her family, even going on "staycation" with us!

I am thankful for being able to host Thanksgiving dinner and sitting around the table over pie and coffee reminiscing with my brothers and sister-in-law about the past while all our children listen intently, learning all they can about our pasts.

I am thankful for a work environment that allows for laughter, discussion, and some argument without becoming hostile, and for a wonderful group of ladies who make it all possible.

I am thankful for having a comfortable place to live, and enough food in my pantry and freezer to feed us as many meals daily as we wish to have.

I am thankful for all of my friends; those who have known me for 40+ years, and those who have known me for 1 year, and all of those friends in between.  Their acceptance and encouragement are priceless.

Last, but not least, I am thankful for all of you who read my blog! 

Friday, November 4, 2011

AUTUMNAL MEMORIES

As we move further into autumn, I find myself thinking of things that I haven’t for a while. Memories of being in marching band in high school, and how cold it was in the stands, especially when it was raining. Somehow, we didn’t really care. We were having fun with our friends; we had hot chocolate and hot dogs, blankets, mittens, and hats. We all went home hoarse from cheering the football team on, and chilled to the bone. The next week we were ready to do it all again. We had a game on Thanksgiving Day and it was usually snowing or sleeting as we gathered in the morning for the last game of the season. How wonderful to get back home tired and cold and be enveloped in the warmth and smell of a house where turkey and all the trimmings were soon to be served!

Halloween was a time much anticipated by me, not so much for my mother. I don’t remember many of my costumes, but I remember the feel of the plastic mask, the elastic thread that held it on, and the nylon “dress” that tied in the back at the top. When I was 16, I was in the hospital for Halloween recovering from gallbladder surgery. (Yes, quite young for such a surgery!) My friend Cathy walked to the hospital the night after my surgery, told the staff she was my sister so they’d let her up, and gave me a flower in a beautiful glass bud vase. I still have that vase, one of my most treasured possessions. On Halloween she and my friend Joan went out trick or treating and brought me some candy in a bag they took off an out of service parking meter which was placed there by the police department in preparation for the Halloween parade downtown. How bold that seemed at the time!

Other memories I have are of standing outside the middle school in a dress and tights freezing in the early morning chill waiting for the doors to open, and watching the boys all racing each other from one side of the blacktopped playground to the other. I recall walking to that same school through the cemetery with acorns falling on our heads while we rustled through the leaves collected on the path. We used to walk that same route with my mother when we were younger collecting colored leaves to take home, dip in paraffin wax, and display in a bowl as a centerpiece. The smell of the crisp air and decaying leaves never fail to remind me of days gone by.