Remembrances of Louis Guapo

Yesterday was a day of gathering together to remember a brother, a father, a husband, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, a neighbor and a friend. Fred's brother, Louis Guapo, was loved by many. Most came to San Diego from the Los Angeles area to celebrate the life of their loved one. One daughter came all the way from Hong Kong to pay her respects to her father. I met more Guapos than I could have ever imagined.

My sister married Fred Guapo the summer of 1979 and he has been an important part of our family ever since. We have seen his son Freddy grow from being six or seven years old to the fine man he is today. We knew Fred's mother Bea and enjoyed visits with her over the years. The last time we were in Los Angeles we visited her grave at Forrest Lawn.

I remember Louie and his dear wife Virginia, along with their four daughters, from before they moved to Chula Vista. Donna and Fred came from L.A. to visit them as often as possible after they moved south. When Donna and Fred were in town they would sometimes take me to see Louie and Virginia. I remember the four girls from when they were quite young. They have grown to be lovely young ladies. They were each well spoken when they shared about their loving relationship with their father yesterday. I also got to meet Louie's son and his family yesterday. I enjoyed talking to Louie's daughter-in-law and granddaughter, as well as other family members.

Louis Guapo had been ill with cancer for ten years. He did have times of remission though. Fred gave his brother bone marrow which gave him much more time with his family. Louie had the most up to date medical care over the years. But when God is ready to call us home to be with Him we will draw our last breath here on earth. We need to be ready to hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Homegrown Poetry

In the last blog I was writing about going through our parents' belongings and deciding what to keep and what to throw away. Yesterday Laura was going through my old scrapbook that includes a lot of little treasures from when she was quite a bit younger. We enjoyed a few good laughs and were touched by some findings. I had forgotten much of what was inside the book. A favorite is some poetry that Paul wrote in the sixties. He always kept a journal but this poetry is rare. He was not impressed with himself for writing poetry, but I was impressed. I liked it so much that I copied some without his permission. He now knows that I did this so I'm sharing them with you.

   

                                                   White Crowned Sparrow

                                      White Crowned Sparrow with the yellow beak,

                                          What kind of wiggleworms do you seek?

                                                 I don't eat worms, I eat seeds,

                                            They are sufficient to fill my needs.

                                                 So what of the wiggleworms,

                                                    What happens to them?

                                                  They're eaten by a blackbird

                                                       Whose name is Clem.

                                                      Clem is a blackbird

                                                         So big and fat.

                                                        He's even chased

                                                          A skinny cat. 

  

                                                                         

                                  Clem, the Brewers Blackbird, was big and fat

                                     He even chased, as you know, a skinny cat.

                                   He chased him from room to room on the fly

                               Till the kitty's master came and baked him in a pie.

                                 The pie baked at one hundred degrees fahrenheit,

                                    Gave Clem a hotbeak so he took to flight,

                                          Singing, "I am not a dainty dish,

                                          When cats really should eat fish.

                                     I'll not be the one to make a skinny cat fat."

                                                    Black Brant Brando

                                Black Brant Brando with the waddly webbly feet

                            Wandered along the bayside in search of food to eat.

                     His waddling changed to runling  when a Plymouth Station Wagon

                        Chased him along the bankside until his tail was draggin'.

                                     He drug down into the salty watery bay

                                         Doing his very best to swim away,

                                     When in the middle of the bay he saw

                                  That the Plymouth didn't want him after all.

                                      Much relieved, he went about his hunt

                              Trying to avoid becoming just a duck sized runt.

                                 For wasn't he already the smallest of the gooses?

                              Yet his ambition was to be bigger than the mooses                                                                            

                                                        

If you heard me laughing as I typed this I wouldn't be surprised. Paul has a sense of humor that I haven't always appreciated, but I loved these when he wrote them and I still do even after all these years. He was a fledgling birder in the mid sixties when he wrote these. He didn't even use the term "birder" in those days. He said "bird watcher" as most people would.

As I continue to go through my treasures I'm sure I'll find more to share. We found some of my water color paintings last week that makes me want to buy some new paints and brushes.

Poems by Paul W. Marvin,Jr.

Image credits: jessicafm; SamJuk; gdahlman

A Time to Keep and a Time to Throw Away

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
    a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
                   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up,
                      a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We recognize the seasons of life, as we have often read in this passage from Ecclesiastes. We see in this book of the Bible that life has no meaning without God. "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless!...What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but earth remains forever."  Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

Then we see that a life lived for God is as it should be. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men...there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live...and find satisfaction in all his toil- this is the gift of God...everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."  Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

When we went through Mom's things in 1996 we learned the meaning of "a time to keep and a time to throw away." Mom grew up when you didn't throw anything away and she really took that to heart. We had a major job on our hands. I'm still finding her treasures amongst my belongings. Then a few years later we went through Paul's Dad's belongings. He had things more in order so it wasn't such a difficult task. Yet there were still precious belongings to go through.

We went through a time of searching and a time of giving up as we dealt with our parents' treasures. What to keep and what to give away was of importance. We realized that you can't take it with you when you go to meet your Maker. It felt like that is what Mom wanted to do.

I hope I follow the example of loved ones who set their eyes on God and lived for Him. I know that we have a beautiful heritage of Christians in our family that are not to be forgotten. We have grandparents and others who we will see in Glory. We may weep when they leave the confines of their earthly bodies, but they are in heaven singing and praising the Lord. "A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Let us all prepare for days of rejoicing with the saints in heaven.

Image credits: striatic; igorzoid

A Time to Be Thankful and a Time to Mourn

The tummies are full and we have much to be thankful for. We enjoyed time with family and heard from friends by way of the phone. Thanksgiving greetings were sent to many on Facebook. Handwritten cards arrived in the mail reminding me of loved ones we miss. We are so blessed.

On Thanksgiving eve we received a call from my sister with sad news. Her brother-in-law, Louie, had lost his hard fought battle with cancer, and heart problems. He had been diagnosed with cancer at least ten years ago. His brother, my brother-in-law, had shared his bone marrow with him a number of years ago. This helped for quite some time. But the illness prevailed in the end. Each time we saw him he was somewhat thinner than before. He was the patriarch of a beautiful family. He will be sorely missed by many.

This seems to be the time of the year that we lose loved ones. November is the month we lost my Dad, in 1964, when all of his grandchildren were quite young. He was only 53 years old when he lost a battle with cancer. We had not known why he had so much pain until it was much too late to properly fight the illness. Mom had to be courageous as a young widow and to continue to earn a living on her own. She had always had Dad at her side as she held a paint brush and climbed ladders to earn a living. It wasn't easy for her as she hated to be alone. She eventually married again. She buried her second husband the month she turned eighty.

Three years ago it was another November that saw the loss of my youngest sister Betty. She was just 67 years old and had endured pancreas and liver problems for some time. We are never really ready to say goodbye to our younger siblings. But her children were less ready to say goodbye. They had already lost their Dad ten years before.

December is also another month that we have had to say bye to loved ones. Both of Paul's parents went to be with the Lord in December. Paul's mother died on her 60th birthday in 1971 after suffering with cancer for some time. Paul's father lived until he was 89. He would have been 90 in April of 2000. He lived long enough to bury three wives.

I remember Paul's mother saying that she was glad to get through this time of the year without losing a loved one. It must have been near her birthday in December when she was around thirteen that she lost her father. That would be traumatic for a young teenager or child. She had four younger siblings. Her mother had to work very hard to support them after having been provided for by her carpenter husband.

Families have so many stories to share and we must not forget where we have been. I wish I could remember all the stories my grandmothers told me. Mom and Dad always talked about things they had done in years past too. Wish I had a photographic memory to recall everything that I have been told. I'll try to remember what I can so I can share.

We have much to be thankful for and I wish that all those that I love could realize this fact. I love our family and friends. I also love our country. God bless each one that I love.  :)

top photo-Betty McDonaugh Hamilton, my youngest sister; second photo-McDonaugh family; third photo-Gwladys Jones Marvin with Paul Marvin,Jr. family; bottom photo- Paul W. Marvin,Sr.

Reflections on Friendship

We all have such unique and various personalities. Some of us are ready to make friends with people we have never met before, and others are much too shy to be the first to speak. I guess most of us fall someplace in between these two extremes. I have been shy at times but that is not my usual stance. My mother never knew a stranger as she was ready to speak to anyone who would listen. I'm somewhat like that as I am interested in many of the people I encounter in my daily activities. I have made new friends over the years. I also stay in touch with those I have known for years.

There are people I know who are somewhat shy but they can be friendly if given the chance. Some just don't know what to say to keep a conversation going, but they want to be part of the action. Some are just waiting for us to draw them into our conversation.

Do you ever look at a class picture and wonder about the quiet student that was in each picture over the years, but you did not know him or her? Maybe that classmate had been there since kindergarten but you had never spoken to her. She may have had a few friends but you had no idea one way or the other. You were busy with your own friends and activities. The shy student was not your concern.

I have more than one example of this. When I meet someone who graduated a certain year, and I mention someone I know from that year, and they have no idea who I'm talking about, I am disheartened. I try to say something to help the discomfort, but nothing really makes a difference. 

Was I one of the unaware participants in neglecting a fellow student? One of my classmates wrote in the 50th reunion memory book that she didn't have any good memories from high school. What a sad commentary. I feel bad for her. Could I have made a difference if I had not been wrapped up in my own circle of friends. And I had problems of my own to deal with. But I always had friends and do have good memories.

I know more than one person not interested in going to high school reunions as their experience in school was not so great. I was sometimes hesitant to go to reunions and missed some, but I wish I had gone to more reunions. I was not one of the in crowd but I never lacked for friends so don't know why I was apprehensive about going. I could understand if I had been without friends and was hesitant to go. I have enjoyed each reunion I have attended.

My sister Donna enjoys reunions, but she likes all parties. Classmates do remember her. Who could forget Donna McDonaugh? I met one of her classmates recently and of course he knew who she was. I met a classmate of my other sister and he had no idea who I was talking about. Betty had been in Coronado since kindergarten. I know she had some friends. She may have been shy though. She did not get to go to any reunions because she lived too far away and never got any information about them. Betty had hoped to go to her 50th reunion though, but died the year before.

My daughter Kathy may have been shy but she had a kind way about her. I like to brag about something she did that is very special in my book. She was a good friend to one of the most picked on girls in the whole school. I don't know what started it, but Sherry was the victim  of a lot of mean actions. Now days the schools make a big deal about bullies, but maybe they did not know what was happening to Kathy's friend. I don't know what made me powerless to say something. Some things were so subtle though.

So that quiet or shy student may be someone that you would want in your corner when you are without hope.

"Be kind to one another"

Continuing to be Thankful.

There are more reasons to be thankful than could ever be written, but I will continue to try to express my thankfulness. "O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: because his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 118:1

41. We don't have to be Anxious for anything.

42. Now I Belong to Jesus, Jesus Belongs to me.

43. The Lord Comforts me.

44. He is Dependable.

45. It is Encouraging to be part of the Family of God.

46. I know that there is a place in Heaven for me.

47. We have also been blessed with good neighbors. Some are like family to us after living in the same neighborhood for 37 years. Some of the babies I cared for have had babies. What a blessing!

48. I'm thankful that some of our neighbors know the Lord. They have been a blessing to us.

49. I appreciate public transportation and being able to be out and about. Just being able to walk down the street is a blessing.

50. I'm thankful God made animals. We love our kitties. We enjoy all animals.

51. The birds of the sky are such a wonder to behold.

52. The sea and all that is in it were created by God.

53. I'm thankful for Laura's garden.

54. For flowers and trees and all the plants that God put here for our pleasure, I am thankful.

55. How can I not be thankful to live in such a beautiful part of our country? We are blessed.

Today I will close with a favorite poem that used to be above our sink. We have it memorized after looking at it every day for a number of years.

                                                 "Thank God for dirty dishes;
                                                        They have a tale to tell;
                                                 While others may go hungry,
                                                       We're eating very well.

                                             With home and health and happiness
                                                      I shouldn't want to fuss;
                                                  For by the stack of evidence
                                                        God's been good to us."

Thanksgiving 2010

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." James 1:17
The sermon this morning was to remind us to always give thanks to the Lord. All good things come from Him. We need to be thankful to God each day of our lives. Always give thanks to God for all things. Pastor Carey challenged us to make a list of things we are thankful for.

1. I'm thankful that God loves me.

2. I thank God the Father for giving us Jesus, His Son, to save us from our sins.

3. He is Lord of my life.

4. I give thanks for my family. I love each one.

5. I thank God for a Christian husband. I thank God for keeping us together for 56 years.

6. I thank God for my parents who are now with Him. They were hard workers and I appreciate what they did for my sisters and me.

7. I'm thankful for our children, Kathy, Laura, Bill and Griff. Children are a treasure from the Lord.

8. I'm thankful that Kathy married John Golden. I'm glad that he is a fine Christian husband and he is good to her.

9. I'm glad that Kathy and Laura love the Lord.

10. It is a blessing that our sons each served in the military and are honorable men. They are good to us.

11. It is a blessing to be a grandmother. I thank God for Becky and Melissa.

12. I thank God that Becky is married to Jay and they will soon be parents. I'm looking forward to being a great grandmother.

13. I'm thankful that Laura started me on the computer and got me to write this blog.

14. I'm glad that Bill took us on car trips this year. Paul and I got to go to Arizona with Bill. Laura and I got to go to Colorado with him, and we got to see our Colorado family.

15. It is a blessing to have an "adopted family." Josie and her little Joshua are my bonus daughter and grandson. ( She used to be our daughter-in-law.)

16. I thank God for extra special friends. Madeline is my sister in the Lord and friend since third grade. Her family is family to me. I love her dear mother.

17. My "other mother" is dear Rosalie who we have known since we were teen agers. She was our cupid.

18. I must not forget my siblings, Donna and Betty. Betty is not with us any more, but never to be forgotten. Donna has been part of my life since I was a toddler. Thank God for sisters.

19. I am thankful for nieces that are like daughters to me. I also Thank God for all of my nephews and nieces, including greats. They each have a place in my heart.

20. I'm thankful that my niece Elizabeth knows the Lord and is married to a Pastor now.

21. I thank God for new friends as well as old friends. Make new friends and keep the old, One is silver and the other is gold.

22. We have been blessed with being part of First Baptist Church in Coronado since our children were little. We have new and old friends there, brothers and sisters in Christ.

23. We have also been blessed with more dear friends at Westview Bible Church. I have much to be thankful for. Ellen and Dave, thank you for being there. Adria has been part of Laura's life even longer.

24. We are blessed with more brothers and sisters in the Lord than I can say here. Laura's dear friend Bea and her family are also family to me.

25. My Ladies Bible Study has been a real blessing. I thank God for so many sisters in the Lord. Lucia has adopted me as her "mother". Her Mommy is in another country.

26. I thank God for modern technology and getting to know friends better this way. I appreciate Vicki and Laura for encouraging me to blog.

27. Paul's family has always treated me as part of their family. His parents were dear people. His aunts and uncles were my aunts and uncles. Likewise , his cousins are my cousins. Two I knew before I knew Paul. And of course Paul's brother is my brother. And his wife is also another sister.

28. I have another brother-in-law that I also appreciate. Donna's husband, Fred, is family to us.

29. It is a blessing that Melissa, our granddaughter, loves the Lord, her church and her friends. She is in college and has a job as a preschool teacher's assistant. She also plays the violin in a group at church.

30. God is working in the lives of each one, and we pray that all of our loved ones will come to a saving knowledge of God. I'm thankful for answered prayers.

31. God created all things. The heavens declare the Glory of God!!

32. God's grace is sufficient for us.

33. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

34. We are blessed to live in this country. We are free to worship as we choose.

35. We have abundance. We have enough to eat, a roof over our heads and are well clothed.

36. I am glad that I am able to share what I have.

37. I'm thankful that people have been generous to me. Very generous!

38. God gives us peace that comes from knowing Him.

39. God gives us Hope and Joy. "Rejoice in the Lord always." Philippians 4:4   A favorite verse.

40. Today I want to close with some beautiful words Adria wrote on the Thanksgiving card she gave us.

       "He's Still the God of the Impossible.
Nothing is impossible with God. His Majesty rides upon the storm.
He brings clouds and rain in our lives, then gives Rainbows.
He's the God of all Comfort. What a Mighty God we serve."

Lessons Learned.........Part Four

61. One sweet lesson I learned was being a mother-in-law. Kathy's husband John quickly became part of our family. And just a year later, besides becoming a grandmother, I was also blessed with a sweet daughter-in-law. Griff was in the Marines and spent a year in Okinawa. He had the opportunity to visit the Philippines where he met Josie. They were married after he was able to bring her to the states. We became very close and she considered us to be her family since her family was so far away.We shared holidays together as well as other happy times. They never had any children. They were both hard workers and saved up for their long awaited house. But after sixteen years of marriage we received the very sad news that they were not together any more.

62. Eventually Josie met John and they got married. After a number of years they became parents to their cute little Joshua. Despite the fact we are not blood relatives I am Grandma to a sweet little boy. They were in Escondido until they moved to Colorado to be near her sister a year and a half ago when Joshua was not yet two years old. We stay in touch and I got to see them when we were in Colorado this year. They were also in San Diego one time this summer, mainly to see John's ailing father. I pray that they are raising Joshua to know that God is love.

63. We are going to be great grandparents to Becky and Jason's baby boy before this year is over. Becky is now twenty six years old, is married and expecting baby Jacob. Rebecca in the Bible had Jacob and our Rebecca is also having Jacob. They live in Colorado where Becky's family has been since the early '90s when Becky's Dad retired from the Navy. It has not been easy being a long distance grandma. There have been visits to Colorado, and some visits by their family to see us in San Diego. More bus adventures by me to go see them. Laura went with me on the bus once. There have also been several car trips, each a story in itself. I have also gotten used to flying though it is not my favorite thing to do. I have years that I don't get to go to see them. When the girls were in kindergarten and third grade Laura spent most of a school year there so she could help with their care when their parents were working. And now they are all grown up. Melissa is learning to be a preschool teacher. She loves the Lord and her church and friends.

64. Michael has three children but we don't have any contact with them. Kathy and John have barely had opportunity to see them. They would love to though. I saw the oldest one once when she was two and Michael was still with the mommy of his children. I briefly saw the other little girl on two separate occasions. I have not seen Michael's son, little Michael. I would have welcomed the chance to be a grandma to them. They do have grandparents and a great grandmother that care a lot for them. I pray that they get to go to Sunday School and to learn about Jesus.

65. Without knowing the Lord we don't really know the purpose of being here. Even if we love Jesus we sometimes take our eyes off Him and things can go downhill fast. Most of us have gone through these valleys. I have been through a dark valley in the past and only the Lord could change my course.

66. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."  Psalm 23

67. Another lesson we need to learn is forgiveness. Before being forgiven we should be forgiving. I have a problem of not forgetting and that can interfere with forgiving. The Bible tells us that we should forgive the debts of others just as He forgives our debts. God is merciful to us and we need to show mercy to others.

68.We need to let our light shine before men. We need to be a reflection of God's light to the world.

69. Memorizing Bible verses is not easy but we sometimes do it without realizing it. Many songs we sing in church contain scripture and we learn these songs. We remember Bible stories from childhood. These contain Bible verses that we may know. With repetition we can learn.

70. The most recent verse I memorized is James 5:16. "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." This is the NIV translation. I use King James for verses I learned earlier.

71. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Matthew 5:8

72. When we were young Christians, and also young parents, we were very much into Christian music. We bought some good records and surrounded ourselves with some favorite old songs and hymns. We listened to George Beverly Shea and Stewart Hamblen as well as other favorites. We didn't hear the popular songs of the day and didn't have a TV so weren't familiar with a lot of 60s songs. I could follow along with "It is no secret what God can do, What He's done for others He'll do for you..." We were blessed with hearing this song again on Sunday at Westview Bible Church.

73. I was blessed with being challenged to learn to lead our Ladies Bible Study at First Baptist Church.  I was used to teaching children for most of my life, but I preferred them very young and did not have skills to lead adults in Bible study. I felt led by the Lord to restart the Ladies Bible Study that did not have someone to lead it. It had been a year since our previous leader had moved. I was so happy to facilitate this group of dear ladies for a number of years. Eventually others stepped in and took turns leading this group. We are always adjusting to change since First Baptist is mostly military and members come and go. There are some old timers like Paul and me and that is good. But we welcome newcomers each week with open arms. Westview is similar but I think there are more old timers there.

74. In celebrating my 74th birthday next month I want to remember that life is always full of changes and challenges. What will the next year bring? Will I meet my maker? I love Jesus and have confessed my sins to my Lord, and know that He will forgive us if we repent and turn to Him. I have put my faith in Him and believe in my heart that I am saved. I am looking forward to more adventures and being able to spend time with loved ones. I'm anxious to meet baby Jacob and any future great grandchildren. Another four generation picture would be nice. But I am ready to sing with the saints in Heaven someday.  :)

More Lessons Learned in My 74 Years Part Three

49. I learned to be a mother when I was not yet nineteen years old when our first baby girl was born in August of 1955. Paul was away in the Army so I was a single parent for one and a half years. But we were blessed with family near us. The only baby sitters I ever needed were little Kathy's grandparents and aunts. Her full name was Kathleen Jean Marvin but we always called her Kathy. Jean is also my middle name. My father was R. Eugene McDonaugh and he went by Gene, so that is where Jean originated. The name continues in the next generation too. I loved being a mother and would not have wanted to miss this blessing for anything.

50. Lessons in being a mother continued with the birth of another darling baby girl in March of 1958. I consider her to be a miracle as I had major surgery during my pregnancy with her. I had ovarian cysts and had one and a half ovaries removed when I was two or three months pregnant. Believe it or not that didn't prevent me from two more full term pregnancies. Laura Elizabeth Marvin has my grandma's middle name, Elizabeth. Laura was a sweet child and loved to be read to, as did her sister.

51. On the day Kennedy was elected we were blessed with the birth of Paul William Marvin,III. We called him Bill but he prefers to introduce himself as Paul now. He is still Bill to family and old friends. Having a baby boy was a new experience for me. I didn't have any brothers so I was mainly used to girls. Baby boys are sweet too. Bill was a precious baby boy.  I loved my three beautiful children. But our family wasn't yet complete. A brother for Bill would be nice.

52. The day after Christmas in 1962 our second darling baby boy was born. We named him after Paul's  grandfather, Griffith Hughes. Paul's grandparents were from Wales and their last name was Jones. Our Griff has the Marvin last name. Griff and Bill had each other for playmates and had many adventures together. I had to learn to deal with children that were often able to outsmart me. When at least one of them is gifted it is a real challenge. When all four are smart, each in their own way, it is also a blessing.

53. We didn't have a TV but we had books and the children kept busy with other activities. Some of the children say it was good they didn't have TV as they learned to read more than if we had a TV. But at least one of the children feels that a TV would have been beneficial in knowing what was going on in the world. We had a brief time with a TV and some of us watched it too much, especially me. We do have one now and have had it for a number of years. I like having it. But my kids are not TV addicts. Some barely watch it or do not have one.

54. Like Paul and his brother, and my sisters and me, our four had grandparents nearby. They also had our small town, Coronado, for their playground with the beautiful Pacific Ocean on one side and San Diego Bay on the other. The old ferries ran between Coronado and San Diego until the bridge opened in 1969, and this was an enjoyable ride at little cost. I don't know if the children did as we did and enjoyed a ferry ride without our knowledge. Our children learned to ride the bus at an early age. Some things they were able to do would not be wise now days.

55. Some things that happened would result in the loss of a child in this day and age. I lost Griff one afternoon when he was two. Long story, but he spent several hours at the police station enjoying the attention. Now days I'm sure it would not be so easy to retrieve my child from the police station. Paul got home from work to a frantic search for Griff. He just picked up the phone and calmly called the police. He asked if they had a child there and they did. I bet that now days they wouldn't be so willing to return a little guy to the parent without a lot of hassle.

56. As a child I learned to like animals a lot. My sisters and I usually had a kitty or two. There were goldfish, birds, a turtle, a pet hen, and later on a puppy. We did not have too many pets at once though. We even traveled from Coronado, CA to Bellingham, WA with my turtle and our pet hen. We left Susie Q, our little red hen, on the farm when we came back to California. But Mac the turtle got to make the return trip with us. We brought a kitten with us on the trip to back to California. This was all just the beginning of my history with many pets. We had so many pets when our children were little that Bill's whole second grade class came to our house to see our zoo.

57. I also looked forward to getting to be a grandmother. Kathy was twenty eight when she got married to John Golden. John had a son by his previous marriage. Michael was a cute seven year old when Kathy and John got married. He was their ring bearer and looked handsome in his suit even though he was wearing a cast on his arm. Michael always called me Grandma Caroline and I liked the title. A year later we welcomed our first little granddaughter to the family. Rebecca Jean Golden goes by the name Becky. Being a grandma suits me quite nicely. I even got to baby sit for Michael and Becky when they lived in our area. We were able to get some four generation pictures of our family as we still had the older generation with us.

58. When Becky was a year old her family moved to Whidbey Island,WA and tears were shed when we had to say our goodbyes to this dear family. John was in the Navy and  duty called. It was a challenge to get to Washington at least twice a year to spend time with Becky and family. But I learned bus travel, and our favorite was train. My mother and I both had our first trips by plane when we went together when Becky was turning three. Mom was also going to Washington to visit her brother on his farm. I love Whidbey Island and really enjoy any trip to Washington so this was nice for me. Paul and I did a car trip too. That was a trip that included Montana and Washington. Laura and I were the first to go by train. That is Paul's favorite mode of transportation.

59. When Becky was four the family welcomed little Melissa Joy into the fold. Laura flew to Washington  to help keep care of Becky when Melissa was born. Laura and Michael traveled together to Seattle on the plane as he was going there for the summer. This was Laura's first flight, but I think he was an experienced traveler. Laura got to see baby Missy before I did as it was several months before I got my turn to go. I got to Whidbey Island several more times to see my sweeties. Many enjoyable experiences were had along the way. Becky loved having me there as I took her for walks and played with her.

60. When Becky was five years years old they were moving back to San Diego and that made me happy. Paul and I made one last train trip to go to see them on the island. We got to bring Becky back with us on the train. That was a fun experience. Kathy and John had a full car so one less child would make it less crowded. They had Michael, Melissa and three kitty cats in their car. Two of their cats were originally from San Diego so they were well traveled. They would live to go on another trip in several years. I loved having the family back in San Diego and I got to care for the girls when Kathy went to work. Lots of good memories. Lots of lessons learned along the way.

Lessons Learned in My 74 years Part Two

31. I'm thankful for being allowed to live in this beautiful, bountiful country.

32. I appreciate a roof over our heads, enough to eat, clothes to wear and all our abundance.

33. We need to appreciate the freedom we have in this great country. We have freedom to worship as we see fit. We have freedom to speak our own opinions. We are so blessed!

34. I'm thankful for my husband and children. I'm thankful for all my family.

35. I'm happy to enjoy friends of all ages. I have long time friends that I have known since I was a child and teenager. My friend Madeline is like a sister to me. She is my sister in the Lord. I've known her since third grade. I have newer friends that have also been a blessing.

36. I have learned to appreciate having to use public transportation. There are so many interesting people on the bus. And I have one good friend that I made while riding the bus.

37. We have two church families and I am learning new lessons each week. Paul and I have been part of First Baptist Church in Coronado since 1961, except for the five or six years we went to Midway Baptist Church. We have been back at FBC since 1984. It has been such a blessing to be part of this church family. We have recently been going to Westview Bible Church in Imperial Beach for several reasons. We have friends there and this is where Laura wants to go. It is nice to go as a family and it is closer to home than Coronado. Both churches have pastors that we like a lot. They teach the Word every week and we appreciate this. I do not want to lose touch with my Coronado church family as this is so much a part of me. But I also love the dear people at Westview.

38. I am thankful that Paul survived serious health problems ten years ago. He survived a heart attack on Christmas 2000.  He had to have his aortic heart valve replaced which we had known he needed earlier. He also had a double bypass and they would have done more but the surgery was long enough. They also repaired an aortic aneurysm that was found during the surgery. While he was recovering problems arose that caused him to need a pacemaker- defibrillator. He was in the hospital twenty one days. Thankfully he has recovered nicely. He is on his second pacemaker-defibrillator as they need changing after a while. This was all a learning experience.

39. As we get older we learn to watch our steps. We all have falls but Paul had a very bad fall in January of 2006. He was headed to one of his walks along the bike path in Imperial Beach when he slipped in some mud and found himself on the ground. He knew he couldn't stand when he saw the position of his foot. It was facing the wrong way and obviously something was broken. Some nice people came to his aid and called 911 for him. It was several hours before a doctor at the hospital reached me to tell me that he had a broken ankle. I had been thinking he was gone a long time. He came home that evening with the help of friends. We were able to get a wheel chair from one of our neighbors as he was not able to use crutches. The following week he had surgery on his ankle which required screws to hold it together. He had many visits to UCSD Medical Center to have his ankle checked and his cast changed. He was in the wheel chair for several months and it was a real learning experience for me.

40. Some of the biggest learning experiences for me come in time of need. We have been blessed with rides to the hospital whenever they were needed. When Paul was in the hospital so long after heart surgery I had a ride with various friends almost every day. I rarely had to go the distance on the bus. Again in 2006 when he had the broken ankle and had to go to his appointments every week we were blessed with friends to help us, wheelchair and all. We went to Coronado one time with the wheelchair on the bus. I respect people who continually have to deal with a wheelchair.

41. As we age we have to learn about the high cost of prescriptions, despite insurance. Thankfully there are some low cost meds involved too. I laugh when I think about Mom complaining about the one small prescription she had to pay for.

42. Dealing with Mom and then Paul's father, when they got older, were two of the most difficult experiences. Paul's Dad was a wonderful father-in-law and respected by many people. He lived longer than three wives. But his last year was difficult for him and we did what we could to help. Thankfully Paul's brother Charlie managed a lot of things which was a real blessing to me. This is when my husband Paul was showing signs of serious health problems. A few years before that we had the experience of trying to help Mom. It would take a book to share this story. She was a hard worker and very independent all her life. She and I often but heads with each other. But I loved her despite the battle. She also lived longer than her two husbands.

43. Thankfully I chose not to smoke or drink when I could have easily gone that direction as a teenager. Did I learn not to do this or just not enjoy either? I tried both and I did not really like them. My dad smoked so I grew up with this in the house. The smell didn't bother me when I was young but I can't stand it now. I was also exposed to Dad and his friends enjoying their drinks, I guess mainly beer, when I was a child. I hated the taste. Dad stopped smoking the last ten years of his life. He died much too young after working hard all his life. He was only 53 when we lost him to cancer. He was a dear Daddy to me. Oh, Paul would not have married me if I had smoked.

44. One thing I remember my mother saying is that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. I also remember that she didn't like people to say shut up. I don't even like it when it is just part of young people's slang which you hear on TV.

45. Learning not to say bad words would be a good lesson for many people on the bus or on TV now days. Grandma washed my sister's mouth out with soap for a small infraction of this offense. So I knew to be careful around Grandma. Actually I never had a garbage mouth but wasn't totally innocent either. When we didn't live with Grandma we learned a few words we shouldn't say. But I was usually with nice kids that did not talk that way. If I had done it Paul would have put an end to it.

46. We can learn to do new things if need be. As a teenager I baby sat out of necessity. I needed things my parents could not afford. As I got to be an older teenager I didn't desire to have a career or even further my education beyond high school. All I ever desired was to be married and have my own family. I got married very young and had my first baby before I was nineteen. As need be I often baby sat to earn a little extra money.  When the children were a little older I worked for more than a year at Avenue Variety Store in Coronado. It was an old time dime store. A lot of lessons learned there.

47. In the late '90s we went through a difficult financial situation that was so bad that our church helped us. Talk about being thankful! Also one of my friends at church helped me get a job helping an elderly lady in the Cays. I did that for a few months until she needed more skilled help. Then I got a child care job in the Cays to help our financial situation. I was used to doing child care as I had been doing it since I was a young teen. Still no end to lessons learned in life. Maybe being humbled is one of them.

48. Some of these stories overlap each other, such as Paul's health situation showed up as his Dad's last year was happening. I was also working in the Cays during that time. Part of that time we did not have a car until Paul's Dad gave us his car. We had so many blessings mixed with struggles. We are thankful for our church family, all of our family and friends who have walked through the valley with us. Those loved ones that spent time in the hospital with us or gave us rides in time of need are so appreciated. We were blessed with an inheritance from Dad which covered a lot of needs. More than this, God's love covers it all!

Lessons I Have Learned in My 74 Years Part One

Since I'm going to be seventy four on December 2nd it is a good time to think on lessons I have learned in all these years.

1. "Treat others as you would want to be treated." This comes from what is often called the Golden Rule in the Bible. Luke 6:31

2. "Be kind to one another."

3. "Love one another." All lessons from Sunday School.

4. We are to share and be generous as is possible. I always liked to let my sisters have the biggest piece of pie or cake so I could peacefully enjoy mine.

5. "Do not covet." Be happy with what you have. We don't have to have everything we want.

6. Be faithful and true to your word.

7. "Love the Lord your God, have no other gods."

8. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

9. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23  That includes me.

10. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

11. "Christ died for us." Romans 5:8  Each one of us.

12. These lessons took a while to sink in and to be personal for me. I may have been in Sunday School all my life but I didn't really hear the message until I was a young adult. I thank God for a praying Grandma. When I read old letters from Grandma I can see she was trying to get the message across to us.

13. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

14. Man made religions can not save us. Works don't save us. Only God can save us.

15. Then after we are saved we want to work for the Lord.

!6. Too soon old, too late smart. I wish I had learned so many lessons earlier in life. I wish I had known how to share the love of God more with my children.

17. I love, love, love my family and would like to go back and do some things different than I did when we were all younger.

18. Love people but don't count on any one person to make you happy. Only God can fill us with Peace, Hope and Joy!

19. But we can still treasure our friends and family. We need to share the good news of our Lord's love with them. People are all that we can take to heaven with us. Not things.

20. I still need to learn to share the good news clearly. I don't want to lose the opportunity.

21. Both of my grandmothers were not afraid to share what they believed with us. One shared Jesus love, and the other shared her Jehovah Witness belief. Thankfully I did not follow the way of the cult. This Grandmother was a dear lady despite her teachings. She was one of the original Jehovah Witnesses from the early 1900s. She went door to door well into her 80s. If we would be so dedicated to our Lord.

22. When Paul's Dad became a Christian in his 50s he became a very dedicated man of God. At that time Paul's Mother turned to her Christian Science belief. She had sent Paul and his brother to the Christian Science Sunday School in the earlier years when they were young, but she had not been too serious about that belief until after Paul Sr. was a Christian. She used to go to the doctor but when she became a more serious Christian Scientist she did not go to the doctor any more. This is sad since she ended up with breast cancer. She did get some care from a Christian Science practitioner and went to a sanitarium similar to a hospice. She died on her 60th birthday. We understand that Paul's Dad led her to the Lord before she died. We are thankful for this.

21. When Paul Sr. became a Christian we had been going to First Baptist Church in Coronado for around five years. He used to drive us to church sometimes, or at least he drove the children to Sunday School sometimes. After a while he decided to go too. You never know what will touch somebody's heart to lead them to church and to the Lord.

22.Thankfully Paul had read a little Gideons New Testament that he had received at school when he was quite young. He wrote his name in it where there is a place for a confession of faith. He believed and was saved. When he was a teenager he went to one of the churches in Coronado that had a good choir since he liked to sing.

23. Even though I didn't accept the Lord until I was a young adult I was attracted to church and the youth group at our church. I did not know I needed to profess the Lord as Savior. I probably thought I was a Christian. Thankfully I eventually got the message. I don't remember hearing this at the Methodist Church where I went for years. I will not blame the church though as I may not have been listening to what I needed to hear.

24. I continue to learn life lessons each day. We never stop learning. Who would have ever believed I would be at the computer writing. I avoided learning the computer for a long time. Laura still has to rescue me on a daily basis.

25 We can begin to learn patience but I don't know if it is possible to master it. At least I'm learning not to get so upset if I miss a bus. Buses are going to be missed in this life and it is not the end of the world.

26. Enjoy your children while they are with you. They grow up fast. And don't make a habit of losing your cool in front of them. Lesson learned the hard way.

27. Appreciate your parents. It is too late to thank them when they are gone.

28. Remember to thank a teacher. I had many good teachers but do not remember thanking them. I used to go back to the school to visit at least one favorite teacher though. May God Bless good teachers.

29. Listen to the sermon on Sundays, (or Saturdays). Write notes on the message to help remember.

30. Enjoy Christian fellowship.

To be continued  :)

Remembering Sixth and Seventh Grades--1948-1950

As the oldest sister I was sometimes the mother hen watching out for my chicks. We enjoyed each others company most of the time but we had our moments. We each had our own ideas of how things should be. I may have been the oldest but Donna could also rule the roost. She was ambitious and could lead the three of us in getting things done. Mom and Dad knew it too as she is the one chosen to spend a year on the farm to help our grandparents. She was not yet ten years old the summer of '48 when she flew all by herself from San Diego, CA to Bellingham, WA. I'm sure she was a great help to Grandma and Granddad. This was also a time of her being nurtured by our dear Grandma. I'm sure she got lessons in the kitchen as well as Bible lessons. And there were eggs to collect and other farm chores.

That was the summer I went to Girl Scout camp in Cuyamaca. I had a lot of fun the week I was there, but I also remember being homesick part of that time. That is the only time I ever remember being homesick. I remember one other summer when I was older going to G.S. camp which I enjoyed. We had some weekends there with our Girl Scout troop, too.

My younger sister Betty and I got to take violin lessons at school the year Donna was on the farm. I received an antique violin from an old family friend. Mom and Dad bought Betty a used violin that she treasured. We didn't get to even complete a whole year of lessons as we left Coronado and headed to Washington that spring. We finished that school year in Washington. I was in sixth grade. Then I started seventh grade in Washington. After Christmas we headed back to California.

A lot happened in that time as two of our California cousins came to live with us on the farm. They were from my Dad's side of the family and were city kids. They had never lived on a farm before. They didn't know what to expect when they arrived. They expected something more modern than what they saw when they arrived. We were in a time warp with an older house and the little house out back. My sisters and I didn't question these things until our cousins came on the scene. But it was fun to get to know Malcolm and Geraldine. We enjoyed our time with them.

When we moved back to California our cousins came with us. Their Dad came to help us move. My Dad had already gone back to California to make living arrangements. We ended up at my Aunt Clara's big old house in Spring Valley. It was still country then. My aunt wasn't living there at the time but one of her sons, my cousin David, was there. So my parents had a lot of responsibility with my two sisters and me, plus three other kids. My parents were going back to their house painting in Coronado too. I had just turned thirteen that December. Two of the cousins were teenagers. I'm sure this was a real challenge for my parents. Up to that point they had not been challenged by teenagers.

When we were in Spring Valley I went to junior high school in La Mesa and had to take the school bus as we did in Washington. At least one of my cousins went to high school in La Mesa and also took the school bus. My sisters and one cousin went to the nearby elementary school. This was my first experience with going to different rooms for each class. I was able to make friends as I do in each situation. I even had a boy friend who took me on a tennis date. His mother drove us to State College to the tennis courts so we could play tennis. Unfortunately I learned one lesson the hard way when I let some other friends talk me into sharing a secret that he had told me. I don't remember his first name but I do remember his middle name that I was not meant to divulge to anyone. Because I did not do the right thing by falling to peer pressure I lost my special friend.

In just a couple of months Malcolm and Geraldine headed back to live with their Dad in Alameda. I only got to see them a couple more times over the years. We are out of touch and I have no idea where they live.

After we were in Spring Valley for a few months my Aunt Clara sold her house so we needed to move again. My aunt had owned the house for many years and her family had grown up in this house. She was widowed when her children were young so I'm sure times were difficult for her.

My parents needed to find another place to live. We had good friends with a little house in Imperial Beach and it was available to rent. This was to be our next abode until we could move back to Coronado in the summer. Since we knew we were going to be in Coronado the next school year we went ahead and enrolled in Coronado schools. We weren't exactly above board as we gave our grandparents' address in Coronado to pull this off. Telling untruths did not come easy for me. I suffered with boils and hives during this time and for some time afterward. Of course this is a difficult age anyway.

During the summer we moved into the old house next door to my grandparents in Coronado. This is the house that my parents had wanted to rent for quite sometime. My sisters and I lived in this house until we each got married. Mom and Dad were finally able to buy their own house in the early sixties. It was the first new house they had ever lived in.

I started this story with a different thought in mind and will come back to that idea at another time. As for me watching out for my sisters when we were little, I have continued to be the mother hen of the family. I have been close as possible to my sisters children. One niece came to live with us for five years after she graduated from high school. Another niece is also close to me even though she lives in Washington state. I try to stay in touch with each nephew and niece. Over the years some have made special effort to visit us in California. I am still very close to Donna. We lost Betty November of 2007. We had a most enjoyable time with the three of us and some of the children when we were together in San Diego the summer of 2006.

More Thoughts of Our Son Bill

Since yesterday was our son's birthday I have more memories to share about his childhood. Bill was our child who had a favorite blanket. He enjoyed having it with him and had a pet name for it. One day I couldn't find Bill anywhere in the usual places in the house. I searched outside and was beginning to panic. One more search of the house and there he was sleeping on the pile of dirty clothes next to the washing machine. His favorite blanket was in the pile ready to be washed and he obviously missed it. I guess I got the message that he needed his blanket and knew how to solve his problem. He was so cute sleeping in the pile of laundry with his favorite sleeping companion.

One day after enjoying the swings at the park we couldn't find his blanket anywhere. We searched the whole park, including the trash cans, but no blanket anywhere. We had no choice but to go home without it. This blanket had history as it had been with us since our oldest child was born. It had covered Kathy and Laura as well as comforting Bill.

Bill solved his problem by adopting a favorite stuffed toy, a beautiful white fluffy kitty. It was not a washable toy and looked very much loved in a short time.

Another favorite memory from when he was a toddler is how much he enjoyed playing with his blocks. He would line them up precisely by color in a row. When he was a bit older he became quite skilled at doing puzzles. I bought a puzzle for a seven year old that he could do when he was three or four. I also learned that boys are definitely different than girls. Boys make boys noises when they play with cars and trucks.

We weren't going to have toy guns for our boys but we learned real fast that rule was not going to work. At one of Bill's early birthday parties he received more than one toy gun. I was not going to take his gifts away from him. Besides that, I learned that boys will make imaginary guns. I don' know if I learned that with Bill or his little brother, Griff. The younger one still likes guns.

A very favorite story in our family is when Bill's whole second grade class came to our house to see our zoo. We lived in a little house in walking distance from the school in Coronado. I put most of our pets on our patio for the children to see. We had guinea pigs, hamsters, a pet rat, birds, turtles, a dog and of course kitties. I don't remember if that is all. That is enough though. At one time we had a pet hen. She crowed so we gave her to someone in the country. That is not a mistake- she crowed.

Bill has matured into a son to be proud of. He goes by his first name, Paul, now days. But he is Bill to family and those close to us. We have the same situation with my husband Paul. He is Bill to his family and those who have known him most his life. Grandpa Marvin was also Paul.

Our hearts and prayers are with our sons each day of their lives. Hugs :)

November 8th

On November 8, 1960 I was great with child and was the mother of five year old Kathy and two and a half year old Laura. Kathy was in kindergarten that year and had the same teacher I had in kindergarten. I was almost 24 years old and was voting in my first Presidential election that day. I had been voting since I was 21 as that was the legal age to be able to vote at that time. On this Tuesday I got Kathy to school and headed off to vote that morning with little Laura along for the walk. It was my pleasure to mark the ballot for Nixon just as my husband would. I'm sure my parents were voting for Kennedy. They would never vote anything but Democrat.

Later that day the time had come for me to go to Mercy Hospital in San Diego. On this trip across the bay by ferry, (this was before the bridge), I think it was my parents that took me to the hospital. We didn't have a car so I depended on family or took the bus. Paul came a little later by bus and arrived at the hospital just in time to be greeted with the birth of our first son, Paul William Marvin,III. It had been a fast delivery which was nice. He was a healthy 8 pound baby boy. He would be called Bill, not Billy as Paul had been called as a child.

The other big news that day was our new President elect was Kennedy. He was a favorite of many over the years.

My parents and I had a little tradition when we took the babies home from Mercy Hospital to go by my Dad's cousin's house on Fifth Avenue, in San Diego, on the way home. We enjoyed this opportunity to show off the babies to this sweet cousin. We did this for Laura and Bill, then later on for Griff. Kathy was born in Coronado so we didn't have this tradition until Laura was born.

Over the years we have enjoyed other traditions such as children's birthday parties and first haircuts. I let Bill's hair grow until after his first year photo and then I gave him his first haircut. He was a cute little guy with blond locks.

Today is Bill's 50th birthday and he is not here to celebrate with. I sent him cards and am trying to call him. He could be birding which is a hobby he enjoys. Paul and Bill both share this hobby so we get to go on rides to do this when Bill is in town. He lives in Florida so doesn't get here as often as I would like. But he was here twice this year so we got to go a lot of places including Arizona and Colorado.

Bill served in the Air Force for ten years and then was active in the Air Force Reserves for enough years to retire. He went to Iraq twice for several months each time while in the reserves. The reason he is in Florida is because he bought his house while stationed there. Hopefully he will someday move back to our area.

Today we have men here installing a new furnace to replace the one that died this spring. This will be a nice thing to have when it is cold. So far I have been ok without a heater. This furnace is a blessing provided by the Lord as we could not have afforded it. God is so good!!

God has blessed us in many ways. I especially appreciate my dear family. My heart belongs to God and family. My spiritual family as well as my dear ones. Hugs :)

Our Grandparents' Farm

When my sisters and I lived on the farm with our grandparents we enjoyed many activities that would not be available to city children. When I look back I think of "Little House on the Prairie". We had fields to play in as well as the woods. We liked to watch our grandparents milk the cows and to help gather eggs. There were also pigs and an old farm horse.

The house was warmed by an old wood heater and sometimes we used the fireplace. Meals were prepared on a wood stove too. I remember helping Grandma bring the wood inside and pile it in a deep wood box in the kitchen. The bathroom had minimal use, as the toilet never was usable during my years there. We had to use the little house out back. It was a two seater with a deep hole in the ground. I remember when they dug a new hole and built a new outhouse. That was a big deal. And toilet paper was a luxury. Old catalogs did the job. I don't know if there ever was a working water heater as I remember the grown ups boiling water on the stove.

I can picture cold winters with icicles hanging on the eaves outside the windows. Inside the house we would have been enjoying conversation and doing little tasks Grandma instructed us to do. Christmas was a time to hear the story of baby Jesus and to try to remember a small verse for the Sunday School program at the Laurel Baptist Church. We had a tall tree from our nearby woods and there was something small for each of us under the tree. I remember trying to spot Santa Claus. And one of the songs we sang was "O Little Town of Bethlehem".  Our mail was addressed to Bellingham the closest big city near our farm. My mom and I were both born in Bellingham. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

We enjoyed riding on the back of the tractor, standing behind our grandfather. And I recall many a hay ride on the wagon behind the tractor. It was fun to be out in the fields with our grandparents while they were doing their many farm chores. One day when I came home from school I heard about my little sister Donna and her mishap of the day. She had been riding on the back of the tractor while Granddad was plowing the field. She had been holding on tight but must have lost her grip and fell off the tractor into the path of the plow. Granddad  immediately knew she had fallen and was able to stop the tractor before she was injured by the sharp blades of the plow. She may have had a scratch or two but it was a miracle that was all. When they got back to the house Granddad was in no condition to go back to plowing that day. That was the first thing I heard about when I walked in the house after school.

My mother was a farm girl all of her growing up years, but Donna, Betty and I only had a few years of growing up on our grandparents' farm. I treasure the memories and the love our grandparents showed us.

Grandparents

When I sit reading the Bible I am reminded of my Grandma who I always think of as having Bible in hand when she wasn't working. I learned Bible stories at her knees, or in her Sunday School class as she taught many a child. My Mother's parents were good examples of lives lived for Christ. They took more than one family of children under their wings, including my two sisters and me. During World War II my parents worked in Portland, OR while we stayed on our grandparents farm near the Canadian border. I have always had the warmest place in my heart for my grandparents. And I would love to be known as caring for others as my grandmother did, with Bible in hand.

Our other grandparents were also there for us when we lived in Coronado. My Dad's mother was a sweet lady and the house she lived in for close to 40 years in Coronado brings back precious memories. My family lived in a section of that house for a number of years. And later during my teen years we lived next door and used Grandma's phone. Not everyone had a phone of their own in those days. If our friends or baby sitting jobs called for us Grandma or my Aunt or Uncle had to come next door to tell us we had a phone call. I was always blessed with grandparents and other family nearby.

My children had all their grandparents nearby during their years in Coronado, much like Paul and his brother did. I wish my grandchildren could be nearby. They lived in San Diego while their Dad was in the Navy, when they were very young. I loved having them nearby to be able to care for them. I hope I have been a good long distance Grandma for my girls.

Jesus Loves The Little Children

"Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.' " Matthew 18: 2-5

 I remember singing "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so." I loved the song as a child, and continued to sing it with the children I taught in Sunday School through the years. Another favorite song was "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world". What a great message for children to hear.

We also read the message in Mark 10: 16. "And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them." We also see the relationship Jesus has with children in Luke 18: 16. "But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.' "

It is best if children grow up knowing these truths and take them to heart. But Jesus is waiting with open arms for each one of us to repent and become like little children, and to come to Him. "Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul all and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.' " Matthew 22: 37, 38

More Halloween Memories

We didn't get a lot of trick-or-treaters last night, but enjoyed the ones who came to our door. Since we have lived in this house since 1973 we have known several generations of children in this neighborhood. In recent years I have been taking pictures of the children we know that come to our door on Halloween. I sometimes miss getting a picture of some I don't recognize in their costumes. Some I mainly recognize because they are with their parents. They come at all ages as the older children bring their younger siblings.

I like taking the pictures for my own album and also to enclose in Christmas cards to our neighbors. The children are used to me with camera in hand on Halloween, but there are various reactions by the little ones.  Last year little Bridget must have already had enough pictures taken of her costume as she broke out in tears and headed home. Her older brother and sister were used to me taking their pictures so they stayed for treats and pictures. Later on that evening Bridget was back for treats, but no picture. This year all went well and she smiled for the camera. This is one of the families I have known since their mommy was a baby.

The children come in elaborate costumes, lovingly put together. Probably most come from a store but a lot of talent goes into the finishing touches. When my children were little we had two clown costumes that were shared by all over the years. Most years we used various items of clothing and our imaginations for good old fashioned characters. There were fat people, tramps, ghosts and one child wrapped in bandages (torn sheets) like he had been in an accident. This was pretty much the type of costume my sisters and I would have put together. Of course we enjoyed having masks too.

When my children were older my oldest daughter made an adult sized clown costume that we used for many years. One of their friends borrowed it and got the prize for best costume at the party he went to. I enjoyed wearing the costume a few times for the trick-or-treaters. My favorite disguise was the nose and glasses I wore with whatever else I had chosen for my costume.  As long as I didn't speak nobody knew it was me.  That was fun.

We can continue to have fun even as we get older. In many ways I'm young at heart and do not feel like I'm going to be 74 in a month. Yet I love the fact that I'm a grandmother and will be a great grandmother before the year is over. Wish I could give all my children and grandchildren hugs right now.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". Matthew 18: 3