R-E-S-P-E-C-T

You all know the Aretha Franklin song about RESPECT! We were happy to seen an article in the January issue of Lutheran Magazine by Jonathan Cordero and Don Waisanen.

When we were kids, grandparents were not doing all the work, all the gift-buying or all the entertaining. Exactly when did that start happening?

We see this happening all around us. Grown "children" calling with all kinds of problems to be solved by their parents. Adult children with children of their own and houses of their own expecting to be entertained and helped by the older generation. When did this start, exactly?

When I was a kid, we would drive out to West Toronto to bring the grandparents up to our house for Christmas dinner and gift opening. It wasn't all roses. One year my grandmother asked what I would like. As they were very fashionable at the time, I asked for a "robe necklace of beads". This was a fairly long necklace of colored beads and not too expensive.

When I opened the first box, there was a short necklace - not stylish at all and it was not going to be attractive on me. I smiled and thanked my grandparents.

In the next box, there was another necklace, just like the first, only a different color. I smiled and thanked my grandparents.

The third box I opened revealed the same item in a different color. Obviously, a pattern was forming and Mother told me she needed some help in the kitchen.

When we got there, she told me she knew this was not what I hoping for but to please act happy because Grandma had meant well when she bought them.

I happily opened five boxes containing five necklaces and no harm was done. Grandma never knew and my mother bought me a more suitable strand of beads after.

My point is that it did not kill us to be extra kind to grandparents.

I remember my grandfather as being rather stern - he had been a policeman, you see. Grandmother was a very gentle lady with wonderful knitting and crocheting skills which she was happy to pass on to me.

Where did we go wrong? What happened to a little respect - just because we are older now? It surely must be our turn to sit back and let the younger ones do for us.

Are You Ready For Halloween?

Hope you have an Ava at your Thanksgiving Table!

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia - October 2007

Ninety Years - A Beautiful Landmark!

I have a wonderful mother-in-law from my first marriage who keeps me in her extended family up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This week she turned ninety! Now, she's the one on the right there, with the naturally black hair, and that's me on the left with the also naturally grey hair! This photo is from last year when we visited. Kay Webster still has her wonderful sense of humor and a great love for family. So, today, there was a wonderful party for her and over 40 people came to visit, some from British Columbia and some from Ontario. Happy, Happy Ninetieth, Mom!

Scrapbooking for Breast Cancer Research

This Saturday, scrapbooking enthusiasts from all over the country will be "cropping" for Breast Cancer Research.  We'll be wearing pink, of course!

You know I love to crop and find it very relaxing. That's why Hubby makes sure I get lots of time for this passion!

This Saturday, we will crop to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

We crop for our friends who are survivors - like Sue, the owner of Scrapbooks & Memories in Lufkin, Texas and Judy in Port Hope, Ontario.

We crop in memory of those now gone - Jayne Sutton and  Mary Maude Croome - Keith's first wife and my grandmother, who survived for many years. 

We crop so we can get out the word to women to have mammograms and check-ups. We crop to raise funds for research that some day this disease will be eradicated.

Call your local scrapbook store and ask if you can join this crop. Many shops are having all day scrapbooking events.  When I went to this Crop last year, it was my first time and I got hooked! You know, this is a super hobby and this is a great time to try it!

At Scrapbooks & Memories, we will be going at it from 9 to 9 and there will be lots of food, camaraderie, prizes and diligent scrapbooking!

What will I be cropping this week? Well, my sister-in-law's great-grandson's eight-month pictures, of course; some from Vacation Bible School and some old family photos including my Grandmother Croome.  

Scrap Pink on Saturday!

It Makes Cropping Easy!

Now that we are great-grandparents and great-aunt and uncle, people are really good about sending photos of the children to us! This is our nephew whose parents have been meticulous about sending monthly photos. See how they even put how old he is this month? This is our Notre Dame Undergrad and I sure do love cropping him! Keith likes me to go scrapbooking because it is so relaxing and calming for me!

Like Father, Like Son: Always Learning!

Always Learning and Re-Affirming

Well, we said to ourselves, what have we learned from Hurricane Ike?

Keith’s father, Dee, who lived to be 94, said he always tried to learn something new every day. We try to live by this philosophy also. 

So, did we learn from Ike? 

Oh, yes. We learned that sometimes we only think we do not really need to do something. This time, at the last moment, we decided to board up a window in a middle room. Keith spent almost all day Friday on this. Of course, being the Engineer he is, he meticulously built something semi-permanent which can be removed after hurricane season (November 30^th, folks)! 

It held up extremely well, as opposed to a neighbor’s efforts preparing for Rita. That came down with the first gust. 

So, what was the difference between Keith’s job and the neighbor’s? Well, Keith is a little older than that fellow and so that makes him more experienced. It also means he really might not want to be up on a ladder on his own doing the Paul Bunyan thing! Also Keith had made window protectors years ago when he lived on the Gulf Coast of Texas. So, he knew what he was doing! 

Does granddaughter Krista’s firm belief from when she was a child that “My grandfather can fix anything” ring true? Sure does!

What else did we learn? Well, like most people in hot climates, we sure do like our air-conditioning, although we were blessed with cooler than usual temperatures. 

We also like all our gadgets, some which have become “necessities” but most powered by electricity. So, we are no different in that respect than younger people. 

We missed being current because we are always up on everything that is happening everywhere. Or we try to be! 

And did we learn anything about our family? Sure did! We have a super family who all love us and were all really concerned. They kept in touch – some by calling, some by texting. 

We also learned that we have lots of friends. 

We also know that we could have help from several people and all we have to do is ask! That feels really good! 

We missed church on Sunday very much. But, you knew we would! There were a few little problems that would have made it difficult to hold service. So, some of us called around and told as many as we could. Pastor put a sign on the door and the TV and radio stations announced it also. 

We also learned how blessed we are that our house was spared. 

We are very much people with a routine and Hurricane Ike kind of spoiled that routine this week! Think we have instilled routine in Buddy the Lhasa Apso also and he is also glad we are back to usual routine.

Also, wasn't it nice that Keith dropped me off at my favorite scrapbooking place to crop for a couple of hours while he ran some errands! You gotta love that! Of course, Hubby knows that cropping is calming. He's a smart guy, you know!

Dear Lord, Thank you for helping us and our friends and neighbors through Hurricane Ike. And, God Bless Texas! Amen.