Hurt and forgiveness

A family member of mine has been going out of her way to make trouble for me for over 20 years now. I have never known another person quite like her. This lady actually admits to enjoying causing emotional pain to others, much like a sadist. She will even go so far to do things to hurt others even when there is no benefit to her.

Over the years our relationship has waxed and waned. I have loved her, helped her, given her things, supported her, and sometimes I think I have honestly reached her heart. But just when I feel comfortable with her she turns around 180 degrees and stabs me in the back.

I have been stabbed again, and I’m bleeding.

For the past few days I have been praying about how to forgive one more time. How does one forgive while they are bleeding, anyway?

I think I have figured it out.

Forgiveness does not mean that I must accept any abuse or condone the abuse that I have received previously. What it means is that I must give up trying to receive something from her, quit hoping for an apology or even recognition that she has done wrong. She is not the center of my life, but she will be if I continue to dwell on this.

‘Nuff said.

Well everybody, I'm writing!

I have been tagged fair and square by Alicia.

For those who have never done this before, this is called a “Meme.” I’m not sure, but I think it’s because this is a chance for things to be all about ME! For those that I tagged that don’t have a blog, just post your “meme” in my comments. Thanks! I love to read about everybody!

First, the rules:

1. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
2. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment letting them know they've been tagged and to ask them to play along and to read your blog.


What I was doing 10 years ago - 1998


1. I went back to college for a second time.

2. I was the day time charge nurse on a cardiac stepdown unit.

3. I was driving carpool for Shelby to soccer, baton twirling, and dance.
4. I was having fun chasing a very active 3 year old named John
5. I was adjusting to Jim being away at college for his freshman year.



Five things on my to-do list today

(It’s almost the end of the day but still have a few small things)

1. Go get John some allergy medicine
2. Get my scrubs ready for tomorrow
3. Take a shower
4. Look over Shelby’s summer mission trip info
5. Watch the news and Jay Leno with Arthur





Snacks I enjoy

1. dry Cheerios
2. Cheezits
3. cashews
4. string cheese
5. veggies and ranch dip


Things I would do if I were a billionaire




1. Reopen and repair the former Campfire Camp Cimarron
2. Finance a dental clinic for uninsured kids
3. Donate a new piano to our church
4. Donate to the Jesus House, City Rescue Mission, Sister BJ’s Kitchen
5. Travel regularly

Five of my bad habits

1. I am a procrastinator


2. I am on the computer way too often
3. I don’t get up early enough to keep from rushing in the morning
4. I don’t balance my checkbook regularly and sometimes it bites me
5. I am forever losing things


Five places I have lived


1. Detroit, Michigan from birth to age 8
2. Detroit suburbs until age 26
3. Springfield, Ohio for several months
4. Oklahoma City
5. There is no number 5! :)


Five jobs I've had


1. Car Hop for A&W

2. Cashier
3. Waitress for Pizza Hut
4. Blood lab technician
5. Nurse (Hospital, Hospice, School)



Five people I tag

To be announced here after I send them a tag! :)



Edited to add: See Annie's blog for her answers to these questions.

Would you like to see pictures of my grandkids?

Sure! I knew you would!!!!

Tiffanie sent some new photos of my handsome grand-twins yesterday. They are now 9 months old.

Here is my sweet Stevie Baby:




Here is my sweet Andy Baby:




Since a picture is worth a thousand words I am saving myself a whole lot of work, not to mention preventing carpal tunnel syndrome, by posting more photos than words.

Yeah, yeah, I know this is just a big excuse for not writing much! I promise to share some of my deeper thoughts sometime in the near future!

The Top Ten reasons Shelby should be Drumline Captain!!!

This entry is written especially for Shelby’s band instructors! So, Mr. E and Mr. C:



The Top Ten reasons Shelby should be Drumline Captain:


….. by Shelby’s Mom!



10. She has rhythm!!!

9. She is calm, cool and efficient.

8. She is a willing teacher.

7. She is always present and on time.

6. She is a natural born leader.

5. She is a genuine “morning person.”

4. She is very organized.

3. She comes from a long line of percussionists.

2. She has a big vehicle that will hold lots of drums!


.... and the Number One Reason Shelby should be Drumline Captain: (drumroll!)


Her mother won’t have to worry so much about who she is with and what she is doing!!!



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OK, for the REST of my readers… keep your fingers crossed for Shelby!!! :)

The news out of Detroit

As former Detroiters, Arthur and I have been actively following the big news from there as it unfolds. It’s not particularly because we are news junkies, but because the arraignment hearing for Mayor Kilpatrick was heard today at the 36th District Court where Arthur worked for 33 years.


Arthur knows most of the behind-the-scenes people in this photo on a first name basis.

I have always loved the city of Detroit. I was born there, grew up there, and in the immortal words of Dorothy:

“There’s no place like home.”

But I feel so bad for my homeland, between the failing auto plants, the housing crisis that is even worse than the rest of the nation, and now this:

Full Coverage: A Mayor in Crisis.

A Polish Easter

He is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter!



Shelby, John, Arthur and I are exhausted, happy, and very, very well fed at the present time.

Our Easter music marathon week is now officially over. We sang every day since Wednesday, and the kids played their instruments each day except on Good Friday. Music always makes me feel a bit closer to understanding the Divine Mystery, and the Easter choir sessions are among my favorite yearly activities.

After the service was Easter Dinner time. Once again we had our Polish feast, but with a twist. Grandma ordered a big shipment of Kowalski goodies from Detroit. We had real honest-to-goodness fresh kielbasa, spiral cut ham, polish candies, and real horseradish. (You know… the kind that clears your sinuses!)





The biggest thrill for me is the box included a butter lamb. You can’t get those in Oklahoma.



Kathy made Kapusta from our old family recipe, and it was delicious! It brought back so many wonderful childhood memories…

…mostly about saying “bleachhh!”

Kapusta is one of those things you really need to be grown up to appreciate! :)


Here is the recipe for anybody that is interested in trying some authentic Polish cuisine:

Groch Z Kapusta

Ingredients :

1 cup Dried Split Peas
1 qt Sauerkraut
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 med Onion Sliced
1/4 lb Salt Pork
2 TBSP Flour

Method :

Wash and soak peas overnight. Cook peas in same water until tender. Drain and rinse sauerkraut, reserving 1 cup liquid. Combine pepper and kraut in enough water to cover and cook about 1 1/4 hours.
Fry onion and pork until lightly browned. Blend in flour. Stir until mixture is smooth. Mix with sauerkraut and peas, add sauerkraut liquid as needed to thin mixture. Put mixture into a buttered (butter, not margarine) baking dish and bake, covered, in 325F oven for 20 minutes.(May also cook on stovetop or in slow cooker.)



I made the pierogi from my favorite recipe. Here it is:

Take 3 boxes of Mrs. T’s pierogies, fry in butter and onion, and serve with sour cream.





What, did you think I would make ‘em from scratch after the music marathon??? Dream on! (Actually, I did last year. Never again!)

Besides the Polish treats we had the standard Easter eggs, rolls and butter, etc. In addition we had Arthur’s super-duper special lumpy buttered mashed potatoes. You would have to taste them! They would NOT be as good without the lumps. Once upon a time he attempted to use a beater on them, and his brother had a fit.



Finally, the piece de resistance: Marilyn’s strawberry cake, and Alex’s cookies



See what I mean about being well fed? I wish you all had been here!!!

Love to all!

Easter Blessings

The light comes gradually,
coloring the horizon in deep pink tones,

Slowly changing the gray clouds of pre-dawn to pale gold.

There is a freshness in the cool, misty morning air of early spring.

The still serenity of the dawning day invites a time of contemplation,

A time of introspection and reflection.


Vivid yellow daffodils dot the garden,

Peeking out amid the profusion of slender green blades surrounding them.

From a perch in the near-by tree top,

A tiny bird heralds the glorious morning with a song of greeting.



The fresh, new day comes in tranquil magnificence–

Its brightness and beauty dissolving the darkness of night.

A peaceful, pastoral scene–

So detached from headlines in the morning paper,

So oblivious of events in the world.



The certainty of the cycle

Of sunrise following sunset offers comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

Yet the day, like life, is transient–
Seasons come and go.

There is a time for birth and a time for death.

Nothing is static–

Everything is changing with the constant marching of time

Toward the inevitable moment when time ceases to be.



The mortality of man and of woman is reality,

Yet the human mind dares to contemplate the concept of immortality.

The stone has been rolled away from the tomb;

The garden grave lies empty.



My soul goes in search of the Risen One–
Daring to grasp Him,

Daring to come to faith as the Risen Lord is encountered
In a moment in time.



Peggy A. Alexander

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian

Tulsa, Okla.

She said "YES!!!"

Shelby and Alex have a big date coming up on April 26th!! :)

I became a Mom 30 years ago today!

Happy Birthday my "Sun." You have given me more joy than you will ever know.

Love,
Mom

Joining the ladies

I have always wanted to fit into a “ladies clique.” By that, I mean my desire is to be a woman who feels at home in my own skin when I am attending a ladies event such as a church potluck or a baby shower. This gal has been a very shy person since childhood.

Truth be told, the fine art of female small-talk has always escaped me. That’s not to say I don’t have female friends; I do. My friends and I rarely do the small-talk thing, however. Rather, we engage in lively, animated (and sometimes heated!) political discussions, or try for hours to figure out the meaning of life.

Last weekend an opportunity came up for me to try once more to fit into a casual gathering of women. A group from my square dance club had a 4 hour “sewing bee” to make our new club dresses. Each of us was to bring our favorite salad, and I decided to bring a chicken Waldorf salad.

My Waldorf salad always turns out pretty good, so I decided not only was I going to make it for the sewing bee, I was also going to take photos of it as it was being created! I have seen beautiful posts with delicious food being prepared, so why not chronicle my creation in the making and post it here! But, alas, I can’t even do the girl-party thing correctly for my blog.

I start out by cutting up the apples:



Then the celery:



But I really didn't want to cut this:



Yes, I cut my thumb! Doesn’t that figure? So much for my photo shoot!

I had to “heal myself” before I could leave for the gathering, so I was late arriving. Everybody was super nice, but I felt frazzled. Once again, the shy side of me took over..

Sigh. Maybe next time!!! :)


Oh, the salad did turn out pretty good, my mishap aside!

Happy St. Pat's Everybody! :)

Here’s a bit of St. Patty’s Day cheer in the form of my little leprechauns Shelby and John. These photos were taken in 1995.

A Touch of Spring

My daffodils burst into bloom this morning. :)



This little bunch was cross-pollinated by John when he was 8 years old. He was fascinated with how new colors of flowers could be created by cross pollination, and asked if it would work with daffodils. I wasn’t sure; I had only done it with daylilies. I figured it wouldn’t hurt for him to try, and since I was busy with another garden project I told him how he could do it.

John spent about an hour rubbing the heads from a common yellow daffodil into the heads of some white ones. Now, that’s not a very scientific way to create hybrid flowers, but it worked! The seed pods grew into these yellow and white odd shaped flowers. I have seen some with similar color at the nursery, but shaped a bit differently.

Little surprises like these flowers keep me happy! :)

A Wacky Wedding in the family

Sung to the tune of “The Great Pretender”…

Ohhhhh… yes I’m the Great Procrastinator! Oooo Oooo!

(Yeah, I know you have to cram those syllables in, but I can do whatever I want on my blog! Ha Ha!)

I have been meaning to post these photos since Halloween, and I’m just now getting around to it. But these are too cool to ignore.

On Halloween my Step-step daughter Sherri and her fiancé Mathew were united in Holy Matrimony. And what a wedding it was! (If I have to explain “Step-step daughter,” you won’t understand. My mom says she needs a road map to keep track of how all my extended family members are connected, and I think she is right.)

Anyway, here is the wedding of Elvira and the Grim Reaper!!! They are each on their third marriage, and they are hoping the different twist will bring them better luck.


The happy couple with their bridesmaids:



A Ghoulish wedding cake:



The Bride and Groom!



And there you have it!

May they have a frighteningly awesome life together! :)

A short political rant

Following the current state of the primary elections is wearing me out.

Oh how I long for the simple "Good Old Days" of politics!



Yes I really wore this, and yes I threw my vote away. But I didn't like either of the other candidates!

OK, rant over! :)