I am grateful for my son Mark.  Wow, Mark!  Mark was my last born (or so I thought).  I held him and loved on him so much.  I was so glad to have a little guy and to have him stay little for awhile.  He loved sports.  His dream was to be the governor of Wisconsin and to own the Dallas Cowboys one day.   He purchased his father a years subscription of Sports Illustrated along with the swimsuit edition for his father for Christmas one year.  One might think, Wow, that was really nice of him.  LOL!!  He paid for it with his father's credit card.  Mark continually tried to enter a football game the men of our church were playing.  He finally got in there and was dogpiled and for his effort got a broken leg.  However, before the cast was fully dried I found him at the top of the tree in the front yard.  Throughout his life, the trait I have most admired in Mark is his tenacity or indomitable spirit.  He is not a quiter and that character trait has helped him in trying times.  I don't think I could have endured some of the things he has.  One of the things I am proud of him for is his love for his children.  I am glad that he found a church in Georgia that he and Stephanie as well as the children enjoyed going to.  God loves you and has a plan for your life Mark!!

I am thankful for my son Michael.  I didn't know if I could love another baby as much as I loved Matthew and then along came Michael.  From the moment he was born he stole my heart and I knew I could love him as much as I loved his brother.  Michael charmed me with his tiny little short body and bulldog wrinkles across his forehead.  I thought he was beautiful.  Michael was always my sensitive, peacemaking child.   I remember him placing his arms around me when he thought I needed comfort, his "peons" he wrote for me, (I still have them), and his many drawings.   I am so proud of Michael, he too, had many sleepless nights, working his way through school while taking care of his family.  He also managed to get his degree and then was accepted into OCS and became a naval officer.  Michael just returned home from a deployment and will get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with his family.  I am grateful that he and Becky have a good church home and support of christian friends in San Diego when their family is unable to be there for them.  I love you Michael and I know that God will use your life to help others. 

I am thankful for my eldest son Matthew.  From the moment he was born I was madly in love with the little guy!  I have treasured the memories of the dead worms he would bring to me in his little pockets when he was three.  He was thrilled to bring me his treasure.  I said yuck, and did not realize that he was sharing what was valuable to him.  I remember the soccer games, the cooking contests, the sheep, and the dirty boots.  After spending all afternoon cleaning stalls he would try to enter the house without removing his boots and say, "Mom, my boots aren't dirty!"  He loves his wife Edna and tries to be a good provider for his family.  He has worked his tail off trying to go to school full time, work full time and still parent his children.  Somehow he found the fortitude to take his kids to the park and play with them.  Through much hard work and sacrifice on his and Edna's part he earned his degree.  He has been to Iraq three times.  He has also begun to go back to church and work on his relationship with God.  He has been attending classes on parenting his daughter.  Matt takes Abi and Adan to Awana's.  He has been going to church even when it isn't easy and I know God is working in his life as well as that of his family's.  I am grateful to God for his love toward Matthew and each of us who "call upon his name."  I am waiting for the time when "my boy" will sing again and I know he will!  I am so proud of you Matthew and I love you very much!!!

November has kind of snuck up on me.  I cannot believe it is actually the 2nd day of November.  This is the time of year I seem to do quite a bit of reflecting.  I really love November and what it means to this country and to me personally.  It is a time to be together with family, sharing laughter, love, and many memories.  I want to thank Mrs. Barbara Barkdoll and Polly Beers for the many times they came to visit my family and invite us to church.  I am thankful that someone took an interest in me, a bus kid, a kid that didn't have much, and invest time in me.  They taught me to sing, spending countless hours of their own time teaching me to sing specials.  One day, my heart was touched, and I saw myself for the sinner I was and received Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  I am so grateful for how he saved me and has worked with me through the years to bring about changes in me.  My prayer is that I will reflect Christ in my life. 

I am thankful for my family.  I am blessed to have a husband who works hard to provide for his family and to help others around him.  He gives of himself freely asking nothing in return.  He challenges his grandchildren to read their Bibles and to pray by example and by an encouraging word.  I am thankful for the parents God gave to me.  My father instilled in his children a good work ethic and loyalty while my mother taught us to be mindful of our words and actions and how they affect those around us.  Where would I be if not for their influence in my life.  Thank you mom and dad!  Thank you, to my husband, John!  I love you!

Christmas Parade in Irving!

Today was the day I had planned to go to the Christmas Parade in Dallas. However, it was not easy getting everyone out the door early enough to get parking and good seats. Consequently, the parking lot where I usually park was full and I was directed to a parking garage and told I could watch the parade from up there. I debated after seeing the people hanging out of the garage and said, NO WAY!!! I turned around and began looking for an alternative. I couldn't find one so we began to head on home. I knew there was going to be a parade in Irving so all was not lost.

I decided to pay a "surprise" visit to Charlotte. Mary and I went to make a Dunkin Donut run then went to her house where there was some wonderful coffee waiting for us. My crazy sister had her back door wide open enjoying the nice fresh air. It was a little cool but "hey" she was happy.

I enjoyed my coffee and of course some sister time. We headed back home a little later than I intended. We stopped by the house for a potty break and then went on to the parade. The grandchildren really enjoyed the parade but really loved collecting candy.

I am looking forward to the Walk-thru Nativity next weekend when my family will get together to enjoy each others company and to enjoy celebrating a little bit of the holiday together.

It is feeling more and more like Christmas. I love this time of year!!!

Reflections

Well here we are at Christmas time again. Before we begin this new season I want to say a few things about our Thanksgiving holiday. We had been planning to go to Albert's this Thanksgiving and well, things just didn't work out. Instead, we had our Thanksgiving at home.

We hung around the house and the kids got to sleep in. They had a friend over for a visit a couple of times and we learned how to hook up the playstation. The children enjoyed playing their racing games and then we moved on to Rock Band. We had two singers, two guitar players and a drummer. I enjoyed hearing Jacob and Josiah's rendition of MISSISSIPPI QUEEN. I was able to get a little Christmas shopping in.

MaryEllen came to stay for a few days. We were able to have some time to go out and to play a game of dominoes with her "special friend" Quentin. We were able to see Matthew, Edna, Abigail and Adan. That was nice. The grandchildren were able to spend a little time with their mother. Michael and Becky weren't able to make it but they will be here for Christmas. Mark had to work during Thanksgiving so he was not able to make it home. However, he will be home for Christmas too.

Thanksgiving was not the big splash we had last year but it was a very enjoyable time nonetheless. The boys voted for pumpkin pie and the girls wanted chocolate cake. We had both. MaryEllen's request was for yellow squash and sweet potatoes. How could I refuse? We also had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and mixed vegetables. I used a tablecloth and my good dishes. The girls were able to carry them to the table and help place them. They were oohing and aahing. I had to serve them their dessert on pretty plates also. We played Sorry, and Jacob beat me. He was very pleased with himself.

I am very thankful for many things. I have a nice, snug, warm home. I get to care for and have an imprint on the lives of my grandchildren. My husband and I were able to spend some time together. I had Mary and Matthew at home to visit with. I am healthy. I have been given a clean bill of health this year with no recurring cancer or developing cells. I am now in the home free zone. I have a wonderful family. I have four great sisters and a half sister I am getting to know more and three wonderful brothers. I have a father who is in great health and fun to be around. He is married to a wonderful lady who loves us and treats us kindly and is very supportive and loving to my dad. I am thankful for John's family. He has a great dad who has been there for us especially in the early years. John's brother Ricky who has faithfully visited even though it is rarely returned and Laura, John's sister. I wish she would come and visit sometime. Cough, cough!

I am thankful for my bible and for being able to read it. I am thankful that I live in a country that I have the freedom to go to church and worship God without fear of retribution. Thank You, Lord, for my blessings! Help me to learn to not take things for granted.

Memories of Grandma Ramsey

During the holidays I seem to become sentimental, and or nostalgic so please allow me the priviledge to walk down memory lane. Lately, we've been having conversations about names and why people name their children as they do. I am speaking about family names, primarily.

I'd like to tell you about my grandmother. Everyone called her Grandma Ramsey or Ruby. Those were the names I knew her by. I know people will find this surprising, but I do have a big mouth that has been known to say things before I think. Mmmmm, imagine that! Allow me to share a bittersweet memory about my grandmother.

My given name is MaryEllen. Just plain ole MaryEllen. Nothing fancy, classy, unusual or exotic. I remember as a child wishing I had a name like Melody, Melissa, Kathryn, Candace. Nope, I received MaryEllen for my handle. Just like the MaryEllen on the Walton's. Old-fashioned, Yuck!

One day I was speaking to my grandmother. I don't remember what we were talking about. I just remember the outcome-I hurt my grandmother's feelings. I told my grandmother emphatically, I do not like my name. She said, "you don't like your name?" I said, "No!" She said, "My name is MaryEllen." I was quiet, stunned. What, I never knew that. I felt like two cents. I loved my grandmother and would never hurt her. If only I knew I never would have said anything.

Over time, I began to learn some things about this grandmother and the kind of person she was. I am glad my mother named me for her and that is why I named my daughter after her. If my daughter and I could become a fraction of the woman with a servant's heart that she was. Wow! I would love to be remembered as a person who did for others.

Grandma was a single mother raising two children in the Bronx. She later moved to Massachusetts. She worked for the Milton Bradley company in the sweatshop making crayons. We are all familiar with those crayons, Crayolas. She did not make a lot of money but was very frugal. She would save money all year and during the summer come for a visit and take us kids shopping for school shoes and some clothes. She would take us to the five and dime store for an ice cream sundae or a hamburger. I would be so excited. This was a treat because our family could not afford to eat out.

When her mother's husband died, her mother moved in with her and she took care of her mother until her mother passed away. Anytime one of her brothers needed anything she would help them out. If they needed money she gave it to them. She gave her burial plot to one of her brothers after he passed, paid for surgery for several different people, paid for the burial services of her father-in-law, and other family members through the years. She helped her son and his family. This lady was not a Susie Homemaker. She was not the storybook grandmother like our father's mother. I am sure she would have been a great one if she had been given the opportunity. She always had to work and provide a living for herself, her children and later for her mother.

I wish I could have told her about MaryEllen before she passed away. I wish I would have told her how sorry I was for the thoughtless thing I said. Most of all, I wish I could tell her how very proud I am to carry on her name because of the person I found her to be. Many of the things I found out about her were through records, paperwork she kept after she passed away. I am truly blessed to have been named for her and hope my daughter realizes the legacy as she matures through life.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope this blesses you. It was fun for me to put some of these thoughts down. Grandma was a Proverbs 31 lady without realizing it. She was saved so I know I will see her again one day.