Gone for a few days!

Hello to all of you. I hope you’re all having a wonderful week. I will be away from the computer for several days as we have family arriving for Mom‘s memorial service and I won’t be home much. 

Alex and his family arrived about three hours ago. Dennis and I picked them up at the airport and I’ve already had three hours of Grandma time with “Baby J”, who isn’t much of a baby anymore, and Miss Piper. She knew exactly who grandpa and I were and immediately gave me an hug and said, “my house is far, far away, and I had to take two aero planes to get here.” All said with the sweetest little British accent. I just love her to pieces.

Although we’re gathering for a sad reason, I plan to make the most of every minute I have with family. Dennis‘s brother and his girlfriend arrive tomorrow and they will be staying with us. I know I won’t have a minute to myself until at least next Monday sometime. I plan to be back online then. 

Take care and enjoy your weekend and if you think about it, please say a prayer for our family on Saturday as we say goodbye to our dear Mom. 

Blessings and love, 

Betsy

Memorial Day

We’ve had a very cool and rainy memorial weekend here in Nebraska. I hope you have all had a good weekend, and that you took time to remember the sacrifice made for those of us here in the United States, by the men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms. We are truly blessed here in our country to have the freedom to live and speak as we want. We need to never take that for granted because those rights can disappear very quickly as we are seeing happen in many places around the world today.

On a brighter note, Miss Piper has had a very busy week. She earned her orange belt at taekwondo.

At the award ceremony at her middle school on Wednesday, she won several awards. She had all ones, or A’s as we used to call them. Honor roll all 4 quarters. She was on the yearbook staff and also took part in a community service project.

She was one of five students chosen to receive a “kindness coin” for sharing kindness to others at her school.

And here she is, all ready for her last day of school on Friday. Mandy made sure to tell us that she had shorts on under her skirt😂. The cardigan she’s wearing was one of her Grammys. It’s hard to believe that she’s wearing the same size clothes as Dennis‘s mom did.

I haven’t done much knitting or crocheting this week. The last blanket I worked on was using a hook a bit too small and I think I strained my wrist. I’ve been letting it rest for the last week, trying to get the pain to go away. I do have another blanket for Parsons House About 1/3 done but not really enough to take a photo of it for you. 

On Wednesday, Alex and his family will fly in from London. On Thursday, Dennis‘s brother Doug and his girlfriend Nancy will arrive. Saturday we will have the memorial service and burial for Mom. The young lady, Amanda, who we are going to her graduation in Kentucky next month, is going to be playing the piano. Our minister and good friend Jeff will be officiating at the service and Dennis‘s brother Doug will do the eulogy. Although Dennis has done a LOT of public speaking throughout his life, he doesn’t think he could make it through the eulogy without breaking down. I know it will be a hard day, but it will also be a joyful one as we celebrate Mom’s new life in heaven. 

May God bless each of you with the peace that only He can give.

Onward Christian Soldiers 

Text-Sabine Baring-Gould

Music-Arthur Sullivan

1

Onward Christian soldiers!
  Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
  Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
  Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
  See, His banners go!

 

Onward, Christian soldiers!
  Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
    Going on before.

2

At the name of Jesus
  Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
  On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
  At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
  Loud your anthems raise!

3

Like a mighty army
  Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
  Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
  All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
  One eternally.

4

Crowns and thrones may perish,
  Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
  Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never
  ’Gainst the Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
  Which can never fail.

5

Onward, then, ye people!
  Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
  In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor
  Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
  Men and angels sing.

A Cute Face

Don't you agree? Just look at this face. Our weather cooled off a LOT yesterday afternoon. We had the A/C on all week and then about 2:30 or so, we felt a huge gust of cold wind instead of the warmer winds we had had all day. Now it's a gorgeous 64F outside and we have the balcony door and the windows open. It's Zoey's favorite place to be when it's nice outside. She'll lay in her bed for hours watching the birds and activites outside.

We have a beautiful greenspace outside our condo with trees between the buildings but I see a branch that doesn't seem to have made it through the winter. It's a great place to sit with a cup of tea in the evenings once the sun moves around the building.

I finished a granny blanket for Parsons House where Mom lived. I plan to continue to make blankets for the residents there since they all seem to like them. I just finished the border on this one about midnight last night so it hasn't been washed and blocked yet. I'm sure some of the wonkiness will disappear.

These cabinets have driven me crazy since we moved into the condo almost exactly two years ago. The glass was clear and you could see everything inside. It was the only cabinet to keep our dishes and glasses in and they don't all match. It looked chaotic inside, not like the beautiful ones you see in magazines. 

We found this vinyl on Amazon for less than $9.00. You just wet the glass and lay the vinyl on top. This was SO easy to do and if we get tired of it, you just peel it off. There is no sticky residue and I think the cabinets look a lot better. What do you think?  Dennis has been hinting that we can redo the kitchen if I want to because the black granite is impossible to keep clean. DO NOT SET A GLASS down on the counter. You have to get the granite cleaner out just to get the mark off. It's ridiculous. And the space for the refrigerator is really small so a normal size refrigerator won't fit. I just can't bring myself to redo it though. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the cabinets and it would cost a fortune. So I'm keeping the kitchen and just trying to make it work for us. I know I'm blessed with a beautiful home and I'm truly grateful. We love condo life and hopefully will be traveling more in the future. We can shut off the water and just leave. No yard work or snow removal. I'm very grateful for our home.

Dennis is still dealing with paperwork regarding Mom's death. We had to go downtown to the courthouse last week and get a copy of Dad's death certificate. We drove around for quite awhile without finding anywhere to park. Finally I dropped him off and drove around and around and around the block waiting. There is so much construction downtown right now that I will avoid it like the plague until it's done. And what has happened to people's patience when driving? I see a lot of agression and anger. Especially downtown! :-)

I hope all is well with you all. I've been doing better about reading blogs this week and trying to catch up with all of you. I missed all of you when I was away. June will be busy. We're heading to Kentucky for a graduation of a young lady from church who is getting her Masters Degree in Nursing. She has no family going, so Curt & Barb and Dennis and I are camping our way to Louisville, Kentucky. We've had this trip planned since last fall. After the graduation we're going to Mammoth Cave and then we'll head home for a week or so before taking Miss Piper to the Black Hills to camp for a week at our favorite campground. She's never been there and we're looking forward to the trip with her. Zoey will stay with Lizzie, Brad and Mandy. Later in July we'll head west to Spokane, stopping in Montana to see our son and grandkids. We're also planning to go to the Oregon Coast for a few days before heading back to Nebraska. So a busy summer is ahead if our plans actually happen.

Take care and I'll be back soon.


Blessings and love,
Betsy

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Text: Joseph M. Scriven

Music: Charles C. Converse

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.

You’re all SO kind.

Hello everyone. First I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who sent cards and messages of condolence with the passing of mom. Our lives have truly been changed forever. Dennis and I are still a bit discombobulated. We wake up in the mornings, beginning to plan our days with visits to Mom and various things that need to be done for her, and then we realize that that’s all over. Every time I think of Mother’s Day tomorrow, I have a catch in my heart. She was the last of our parents and it seems that something has irrevocably shifted. I know that we’ll get used to this new normal, but it will probably take a while. We received a very nice email from the director of nursing at the assisted living this week. She told us that we were their favorite family, always easy to talk to and completely involved in their loved ones care. I thought that was very, very nice of her. I do plan to go back there and visit some of the residents who have no family to visit with them. There are more than you would think and it has always saddened me.

Mom passed two weeks ago this past Thursday. Dennis and I spent Friday at the cemetery and then at her apartment beginning to pack up things. On Saturday we went back with his brother and finished with the apartment. We needed to have everything out by the end of the month. Of course, most things were brought back here to our condo where we spent last week sifting through photos and memories. We sold her bedroom furniture on Facebook marketplace and distributed other things amongst the grandchildren. Of course, all of the paperwork remains to be done as we have not yet received death certificates. It’s a whole process isn’t it? So much to be done when a life ends. Meanwhile you have all the emotional aspects to work through while grieving.

Dennis‘s brother and his girlfriend left on Monday after over a week here with us. Last Saturday we decided to take them to the zoo along with one of Doug‘s daughters, Katie and her three children and Piper. It was a lovely few hours of escape, although the zoo was busier than I have ever seen it. With all that was happening in our family we had not realized that it was Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual week of meetings, each year many of the investors congregate in Omaha, Warren Buffett’s hometown. Along with all of the meetings, they have many social activities planned during the week. Apparently the zoo is planned for Saturday. 😬 We still had a wonderful time. Of course we always have fun when Miss Piper is with us! Here we are in the aquarium. It’s one of my favorite places in the zoo.

It was a welcome respite to an otherwise busy, busy week. I’m so glad to know that Mom is now at peace and enjoying her eternal life with Dad, Karen, and their baby Susan, who have gone on before her. It’s the hope and promise that each Christian holds onto.

I did make a few baby blankets since I last posted, although I went almost an entire week last week without picking up a crochet hook! Can you believe it? I had no desire to craft at all. In fact, I would sit here in the evening coloring on my iPad instead. A mindless, brainless activity for my numb mind.





After Doug and Nancy left about noon on Monday, Dennis and I packed up the camper and went to Mahoney State Park just about about 20 miles from home. We returned home on Thursday. We did absolutely nothing, besides opening up the camper for the season. And for the first time ever, everything worked our first trip out! Usually there are a few issues when we de-winterize. But not this year! I think God knew we needed an easy time of it. We spent time just sitting in our chairs outside, enjoying the birds and the quiet. I think it was just what we needed.

I’m planning to spend some time today trying to catch up on your blogs. Please, please forgive me for missing the last several weeks. Our hope is that life will soon slow down although we do have several camping trips planned throughout the summer.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

O That Will Be Glory

Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel

1 When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain:
O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me;
When by His grace I shall look at His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me

2. When by the gift of His 

infinite grace, I am recorded 

in heaven, a place, 

just to be there, and to look in 

His face will through 

the ages, Be glory for me.

3. Friends will be there. I have 

loved long ago; 

Joy like a river around me will flow; 

yet, just a smile from my Savior, 

I know, will through 

the ages, Be glory for me.