Describe a Grandparent

My grandpa was a hardworking man, kind and loving. He worked as a mailman for 33 years. He got up early and worked hard 6 days a week. He also took good care of his home and all of his possessions. They lived in the same house my grandpa was born in.

He and my grandma had a big garden. They grew sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, tomatos, potatos, carrots, onions, lettuce, radishes, kohl-rabis, beets, green beans, and they had a huge flower garden of petunias, peonies, zinias, marigolds, geraniums, and gladiolas.

Nothing was ever wasted. They lived frugally, yet they always had enough. My grandma would make good simple meals, beef roast or chicken, or meat loaf or pork chops, and then plenty of vegetables from the garden like green beans, lettuce salad with grandma's home made dressing, beets or carrots, radishes, and then bread. Sometimes grandma would make her own bread, and this was a long time before bread makers existed. As a dumb kid, I didn't like grandma's home made bread or salad dressing. Now what I wouldn't give to taste those things and have my grandparents back.

My grandpa would pile his plate with food, and he would eat every last thing on his plate using the bread to sop up everything and wipe the plate clean. Nothing went to waste. But they weren't stingy.

I believe they had a lot to show us about being good stewards of what the Lord has given us. They lived in a quieter, simpler time when sharing kindness and generosity were the norm. They lived simply and enjoyed their lives and what they had

The Streets of my City

About two blocks east of where I live there are some residential streets that I love to walk down. They are tree lined and several of the homes are brightly colored Victorians and restored to their former glory. I love walking down those streets and looking at the houses imagining what life was like in times gone by.

I Love Paris

It's very fun and exciting traveling to a different country, culture and language. I've always loved Paris and France. I've had a strong desire since my early 30's to learn the language and culture and go there. So, I did. I've visited several times now and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before I go again. I admit, I'm dragging my feet on traveling right now for a number of personal reasons. However, three years ago, I got to go back to France on a trip with meaning, more than just for my own selfish pleasures. I went with some people from my church and we met and stayed with some people from a small church in a town north of Paris.

It was a wonderful experience being with Christians of a different culture and language. We stayed with a retired couple who spoke no English. I was really able to put to work my mediocre French with all its mistakes! Something happened, though and my French actually improved over the course of the trip. Well, some nights, I collapsed in my room feeling like my brain would explode, but there's nothing like immersion, the "you have to use whatever French you know or you don't get to communicate" mode to force you brain into action.

The couple we stayed with was charming, warm, welcoming and friendly. We all tried very hard to speak their language, be gracious guests, and not offend them with our loud and brash American ways. Dany, the lady of the house made us wonderful home cooked meals every night. Every meal had at least three to four courses including a cheese course and desert, and don't the forget the wine! I'm sure I gained close to ten pounds on this trip.

We did want to provide some service to our French friends on this trip. We met with the pastor of their church. There was a lot of work to be done around the parsonage. So we helped with some of those jobs. Paul, one of our team members worked on the kitchen doors which didn't close right. He sanded them down and worked on the lock so they could close correctly and not cause drafts or be broken into.

Chris and I varnished the back stairs that led out into the back yard, and we also painted the iron gridwork on the front door. I had paint all down my shirt on that one. I don't think the actual work we did was much. In the grand scheme of missions, it's fairly far down on the list of life changing things. But Jean-Claude the pastor and his wife Joelle were really grateful, and the couple we stayed with, Willy and Dany, we became really good friends. We started thinking of future work projects we could do on subsequent visits. They looked at us and said. . . do you really need a work project to do, in order to come back and visit us?

So, the mission of our trip was really to make friends, to offer encouragement and pray for other Christians in France where it's extremely difficult to practice one's faith. These small acts made the trip worthwhile. Yes, they took us sight seeing in Paris, and we spent a weekend traveling around Normandie and we were blessed with their friendship and hospitality. This was the most fun and meaningful trip to France for me.

Home Sweet Home

Sitting at home, at my kitchen table, I can hear birds chirping outside. My cat Sutherland loves to chatter and cluck at the birds. When I sit with my notebook at the kitchen table, I can hear Marcel happily munching his dog food. Pancho is in the other room barking probably at Herbie, my other cat. The TV is blaring, HGTV, what else. Double chocolate muffins are baking in the oven. Sutherland is lounging on the kitchen table. Did I mention that I like being at home? I know it's not a chic or sophisticated notion, but I love my house. It's cute as a button. It's light and breezy in the summertime, and warm and cozy in the wintertime. Yes, it needs some work, but until I can afford to do some major things, everything is functional. This house makes me feel calm, and it sparks my creativity. Traveling is wonderful, to go to different places, different cultures, languages, people and things are all wonderful to experience, but there's nothing like coming home.

I remember. . . .

I remember when I started going back to church. A friend had mentioned this huge church, and how it really gave good sermons and the music was good, and she really liked hearing the people on the platform give testimonies. She thought that was very real and worthwhile. I started going with her. At the time, I was ready to turn back to God. We usually arrived five minutes late and sat in the balcony. The pastors explained how Jesus died for our sins and that by believing in him and what he did, we will go to be with him in heaven when we die. All of a sudden I understood the magnitude of what this meant. I thought of the great love and sacrifice Jesus did for me! I thought, how can people not want to take him up on his offer? Surprisingly many people don't, even after hearing and understanding the gospel message.

So sitting in the balcony, listening to Mel or Stuart preach, I accepted the work of Jesus for me with my whole heart, and I was instantly filled with joy. The process of changing me from the inside out has been a slow one. Thank the Lord for his infinite patience and kindness with me.

I remember coming to church 5 minutes late and sitting in the balcony. Now I come half an hour early and sit right down in front in the middle. It's funny how things change.

Herbie

I love my cat Herbie, or as I affectionately call him, Herbert, the Derbert. He's always so happy, and cuddly and relaxed. He doesn't have body issues. He's content to let it all hang out, wherever, whenever. He's comfortable in his own skin. Whenever I'm stressed out at work, I like to look at pictures of Herbie, and I instantly calm down.

My Red Pumps

Cherry red pumps

Two inch heels

I had in my 20's

Wore them with a pale green pleated mini-skirt

Well, actually it was a "skort"

They were really shorts but looked like a skirt

I wore white ankle socks

The red pumps

And a white sleeveless button down shirt

The tune "The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes" going through my head.

I have not been able to find red pumps like that since.

And those shoes have long been in a landfill.

I wore them until the heels were practically falling off.

I wore them all over the east side in my clubbing, bar hopping days.

Now I just want to find a pair I can wear to work.

Where Is the Air Conditioning Guy?

Don't you hate waiting for repair people? You get a window of time, and you need to be at home during that window of time. If you go out to the store, or run down to the corner, they will surely arrive while you're gone, and then you'll have reschedule that appointment.

Anyhow, my appointment for the repair of my air conditioner had a two hour window. Better than a four hour window. I decided to do it on my lunch hour, between 12-2. Of course he came at about five minutes to two.

Turned out the problem was the capacitor, not to be confused with the "flux capacitor". If that was the case, all I'd have to do is shove an old banana peel and half empty can of beer in the thing, and then I could zoom back to the future, and have a cool house to boot!! It took him twenty minutes to change out the part. The bill was $243. Now, our hot days seem to be over for the time being. Oh well, I'll try to be an optimist and wait for some more hot days this summer. Actually, it's kind of nice to not have to use it. I love having the windows open, hearing the birds and having a nice breeze flow through the house. However, the next strong heat wave we get, I'm ready!!