My Friends ~ You Guys are the Best!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Life 101

Three things you should know before you read this post ....

Either I have forgotten how to post or blogger is acting a little crazy.
Life is very busy, but my good friend, Linda, said I needed to let everyone know I'm okay.
Blogger will not let me add a picture.....
I have missed ya'll like crazy!  Oops, that was 4!

Oh yeah, I'll try to get this Christmas stuff changed out before 4th of July! ~ *finished!* ;)

This is one of those times, when I just don’t know where to start. So, I’ll begin by thanking each of you…..thank you for your thoughts, your prayers, your cards and your calls. Knowing you care about me and my family means a great deal.

Your know Granny rec’d a pacemaker the latter part of December. Well, that didn’t workout too well. There was also a medicine she was put on in December that didn’t workout well either. So, trips to the E.R., two hospital stays, after which she was admitted to a nursing home. She lived another 5 days in the nursing facility, passing away on January 12th. Her funeral was the following Saturday.

Her niece, Dot (who I had requested prayer for), lost her battle with cancer the following week. At Dot’s funeral, we learned there isn’t much hope that dh’s aunt, Onie, will regain her sight.

By this point, we were all emotionally drained and physically exhausted. But there were good things too. And there were things that made us laugh. Humor is such a wonderful gift.

At 92, Granny’s mind never faltered. She knew each of us up until the last few hours of the morning when she passed away.

We had beautiful weather for both funerals and both funerals were more a celebration of life, rather than the normal funeral. One of the pastors that helped with Granny’s service related a story…

When he and his wife moved back to this area to pastor, they came by to visit Granny. That was two years ago. Bro. Cary went to introduce himself to Granny and said, “Sister Dorothy, you probably don’t remember me, but I’m Cary Girth and my wife and I will be pastoring the Oil Center church.” To which Granny replied, “Why Cary, I remember you. I did yours and Judy’s wedding!” Bro. Cary was a little taken back, so Granny told him, “I made all the flowers for your wedding!” The wedding was in 1973. Btw – I found a napkin from their wedding still tucked in Granny’s family Bible.

There were many stories like that and the church was packed! The Women’s Ministries kept us fed, encouraged and just did an amazing job of keeping us going.

In the early morning hours, the day of Dot’s funeral, her son (Roger) and granddaughter (Camie) decided they wanted to add extra gravel to the bottom of the grave…..(we use a family cemetery). Anyway, Roger is a perfectionist and he climbed down in the grave to make sure the gravel was level. Then he couldn’t get out. So Camie was trying to help Roger out, she fell in head first! Later at the cemetery, we all got a good chuckle….picturing Granny and Dot watching the “circus act” from the rim of heaven. We could almost hear them saying, “Would you look at what those crazy kids are doing!”

Oh, and get this….there was an amazing amount of beautiful music at Dot’s funeral (partly because son-in-law did his share of the music, but there was a number of singers and they all did an outstanding job). But….Granny and Dot were “Nelsons” and Dot has always loved (cousin) Willie’s music. So Roger and his sister decided at the close of the service at the cemetery, they would play a cd of Willie Nelson singing Amazing Grace, only the guys from the funeral home didn’t have the cd programmed on the right tract, so we got to hear a little of, “I’ve got the money, honey…if you’ve got the time.”

Clancy Davis also sang at Dot's funeral. Clancy is a cousin to Blake Shelton, however Clancy is much more talented than Blake was at this age (19). You'll be hearing more of him. Clancy's mother died of cancer about two years ago. And after he sang, he gave the sweetest testimony and just spoke from his heart how much everyone needs salvation through Jesus. It was just one of those spontaneous things that blessed me so much.

The following week, we had a horse get sick. In the process of doctoring said horse, I found myself looking up at blue sky. I’m still sore…..so sore! But the horse is doing much better.

During the first ice storm, I had the stomach flu (yuck!) and we lost “Pig.” For me that wasn’t a great lost, but I still hate to see any animal "go". Then we lost a little puppy, the same day that pig kicked the bucket. The puppy didn’t die from the weather, as she was in the house. It was just one of those things. Her brother is doing great and feisty as can be.

Our family managed to increase during this time….Dot’s great, great, granddaughter gave birth to identical triplets…precious little girls. One was discharged from the local hospital in time, so they could take her to see Dot (who was in a hospital in OKC). They are all three at home now. This is the first multiple birth in the family since dh and his twin brother were born!

As for Onie, she is not only willing for us to try and help her, she is excited. We will be using some natural remedies, along with changing her diet and covering her with lots of prayer. I ordered the herbs last Thursday. I know we can help her feel better and I know God can restore her sight. Nothing is too great for HIM.

I could easily write a small book about the past three months, but I’ll save the rest of this story for another time. Through all of this, we have had extra grandkids nearly everyday, which I love…..but it wears me out.  We are also, right in the middle of kidding season.  We have nine brand new babies on the ground and three more nannies left to kid.  Then there is the garden and all the planting.   (Tired as I am, and it is 2:30 a.m., I love this time of year!)

It seems, I am always apologizing for something and this is no exception.  I know, I owe many of you different prizes and such and you cannot know how much I appreciate your patience.  You sweet ladies are the “best”.  Over the next few weeks, I will be trying to get caught up.  Don’t give up on me, please.

Remember ~ God writes good stories and we are those stories!

Love you all!
Cheryl

10 comments:

  1. Cheryl, you sure have had alot on your plate. Sorry about your losses, but praising with you on your new births!! We have missed you, and look forward to hearing more!
    Love your saying, "God writes good stories and we are those stories!" So true!

    ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  2. YAY! A post from Cheryl! I am so sorry for the losses you've experienced over the last three months. I know that even though you rejoice in the fact that these dear ones are in Heaven, it still leaves a void at times in your earthly lives.

    Spring is almost here ~ new beginnings. Glad to have you back as part of the most wonderful time of the year!

    Hugs to you, my friend,
    Dianna

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've missed you. I'm so sorry for the storms of life you've been going through but praise GOD for his strength.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cheryl,
    you've been sorely missed! I am so sorry for your many losses. It's been nice to catch up with you though and I hope you stick around for awhile!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i have wondered where the heck you have been....living life!! just like the rest of us!! yep, my life has been just as crazy & hectic and filled with loss, death, joy & laughter as yours. God is good. I praise Him in the storms....I praise Him now as Spring is trying to arrive and I hope that things slow down a bit. Blogging hasn't been the priority for me either....just not the season for it, but you have been always in my heart and mind. Prayers will continue for you. Please remember me & if you will my great nephews who have been removed from their parents home because of drug use....i had one of them with me for a short while....long story...but my heart is heavy to pray for the family. Love you cheryl, your prayers mean so much to me. I know God honors the prayers of his children. God bless, I am glad to see/read you here again. Love.....

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so sorry to hear all of this. That's a lot to take on!
    I've had a yucky 2011 so far, too, but if we had a contest you would win.
    Sending hugs and prayers your way.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cheryl,
    I was so surprised when I got home from church this morning, peaked at my blog list and saw you had posted!
    I am so sorry for your losses, you have experienced some trying months. I enjoyed your stories about the funerals. I am sure Granny and Dot were having a good chuckle.
    Congrats on the new additions to your family.
    Good to have you back and I am thrilled that you are OK.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How nice sweet friend that you are back!!!!!!! As you see you were missed. Loved all your stories.........the one about falling into the grave was a toooo funny!!!! Sorry.........it has played over and over in my brain......my bad.

    So glad we can all come and visit you again.........have a super SONday.......sweet pea!
    Hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aw Cheryl! What a delight it was to see a post from you pop up in my Reader! So glad that you followed the admonition to let us know you are okay! Sounds like a busy life filled with beginnings and endings all tied up in blessings!

    Love you!
    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  10. My goodness..you HAVE been gone awhile! Missed you sweet friend! Sorry for your losses and hope to see you more often!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! It is always a joy to hear from you.