RSS

Tag Archives: Family

The MAD Life: Episode 34

The MAD Life will never be over. What has been, can never be erased. What is now known cannot be unknown.

My mom passed on from her Alzheimer’s on March 14, 2025. It was a long time in coming. She’d been under hospice care in addition to Memory Care in November when she stopped eating for the first time. It took several times of not eating to finally go strictly to palliative care and no longer encourage her to do what she didn’t want or need to do anymore.

Her life was more than just these last few chaotic years that she never wanted. She believed in euthanasia as a gift we give loved ones, and she wanted that, but it’s not permitted in Michigan. Fortunately, her life was family, friends, and faith … far more than her diagnosis or the peace she wanted earlier than she received it.

She now has the ultimate joy with all of her treasurers in heaven who went before her. She is en-robed by love.

I’ve been told many people feel like orphans after their parents pass on. I don’t feel that way. I am blessed with the best of friends, many mothers by friendship, some father figures in faith, and my family.

Perhaps it’s because I have always spoken to my father, sister Cheri, grandma Julia, niece Erin, aunt Gladys, Isabel, and so many phenomenal souls who have passed from this earth into the great beyond. I believe they hear and guide me. I feel their voices and presence in my soul. I hear their laughter and words of wisdom.

Moral of the Story: No one is ever alone. No one does anything alone. Mom is in a joyous place with her treasures in heaven. We are surrounded by a greater cloud of witnesses whether we want them or not. May you feel love and encouragement from those who have gone before us and those here with us on earth.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on July 23, 2025 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Lent – Day 1, March 5, 2014

I am following www.40acts.org.uk for Lent this year. Day one is starting a journal and beginning with a gratitude list. Here goes:

  • A God who teaches agape love
  • A solid family
  • A phenomenal array of friends
  • A band of adorable pets
  • Hope that tomorrow will be warmer than today
    (but if not warmer, at least not in the negative numbers)

P1040639 Sign

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on March 6, 2014 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Family Fun

Last night I finally got together with family to play euchre for my first time. It was fun to play with my mom, aunt, and cousin. It was a fun girls night with good conversation, laughter, a game I’m still not completely sure of (but making progress), looking at photos, a shared meal, and dessert.

As fun as euchre was, the dessert was the attention getter. My cousin bought a pie from Sam’s Club that has four fruits in one pie shell … separate from one another. I got a slice of peach and blueberry (please see lovely photo). My aunt had the same (but they were a 1/2 slice of each since I nagged my cousin for a combo piece), and my mom and cousin each stuck to a single fruit. Even after we enjoyed delectable bites of 1/2 the pie, I’m pretty sure it still weighed 10 pounds when we moved it back to the kitchen.

We had so much fun, we plan to do it again. I must count my blessings yet again. I enjoy the time spent with family, laughing with them, and remembering them in my prayers. I pray you also have family to enjoy, and if not – great friends who become like family.

IMG_20131206_211339187 Sign

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 8, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks – November 27

I give thanks for tasty treats. Here is a before photo of Fried Green Tomatoes.

I am celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow not only with family, but also with vegetarians who know how to make near any veggie absolutely delicious.

I look forward to tasty treats with my fantastic family. I pray you have a joyous Thanksgiving!

IMG_2989 Sign

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 28, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks – November 25

I give thanks for being raised on a farm, sometimes in a barn, and sometimes with lots of charm.
It has led to the ability to tell quite the yarn. I hope someday the stories are worth a darn!
No matter, this life was worth more than a darn because of the family, friends, faith, and farm.

IMG_2562 Sign

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 26, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks – November 5

I give thanks for history … now. It sure wasn’t a subject I had any appreciation for during school days, unless it was a family member telling stories of their childhood.

Today, I see the value in history. We can learn from it, avoid mistakes because of it, see each other with new eyes, and find the humor in our past actions. Sometimes, even the bad in history can show how far we’ve come … or how far we have yet to go. Other times we can see how much we have changed, and how much remains the same.

May you leave a history behind you worth reading about.

Bourner 11

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 6, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks – November 4

I give thanks for family!

Most of these photos were taken in October 2004 when we celebrated my dad’s 80th birthday for him, since he was busy chatting it up in Heaven. Obviously, his photo was taken well before, but a few others were taken after, such as his new great-grandchildren. Two in this grouping are no longer with us here, but we will all be together again one day. It’s worth the wait to enjoy all of the family … immediate, mom’s side, dad’s side, and those we’ve adopted into our hearts.

Family!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 5, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Giving Thanks – November 1

A friend is posting on facebook things she is thankful for each day of November, in honor of Thanksgiving. I’m poaching her idea. Thanks, Meg!

The first thing I’m thankful for is my parents. I thank them for life, a good home life, a great family, instilling in me care for all of God’s creatures (mostly the furry ones), teaching me faith in the Lord, and having patience with me … most of the time.

Harold and Jean Wedding

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 4, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Bliss by Eric Weiner

Bliss by Eric Weiner was an interesting mission to seek out what happiness means to people around the world.

This was an intriguing read. In Eric’s travels around the world, he talked with people from each area asking what made them happy. The answer varied from place to place: friends, family, free time, work, money, and alcohol availability were just a few of the answers.

I read this slowly, and didn’t finish in time for book group. I couldn’t get into it at first. It took me about 6 months to complete, as the least. Perhaps it will go more quickly for you. For me, happiness was not reading this book, but having finished it after so long a time.

The image I’ve selected for this portrays two of the things in life that put a smile in my heart: reading and pets.

IMG_1910 Sign

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 26, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dad’s Gifts

My dad wasn’t big on gifts. He felt that being your best everyday was a gift to all of your loved ones. (I, on the other hand, am my best only now and again, so friends and family are very likely to receive gifts from me.)

After my dad retired from dairy farming (not from farming, just the dairy), he had more time on his hands. He and mom could take more time when they ran errands for the farm since there were no bossies waiting for his return. They would not only stop for lunch near their destination, but visit friends or family, stop by the nature center, and do a little site seeing.

On one of their afternoon outings, they enjoyed the Nature Center. It is always a delight to be there in that protected space. A while later, my mom received a hummingbird wind chime set that they’d seen at the Nature Center’s gift shop. My mom was thrilled! Not only did he get her a gift, but he had to go back later to do so!

Actually, dad gave us all gifts every day: a pleasant conversation, not judging us when we made mistakes, showing us his love of animals, sharing his memories, and so much more.

Today, the hummingbird chime is still in our front yard. Mom and I still think of dad when we see or hear it. One of those gifts that keep on giving.

Moral of the story: The greatest gifts of all, are the gifts of time, talent, and talk.

2012_04_11_0944 Signed

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 3, 2013 in Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

 
The Republic Post Informer

YOU are the news now...

Write With Joy

Freelance writer, editor, hobby photographer, and administrative assistant

Ex-Mana Book Group

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx

The Accidental Minister

A spiritual but religious WordPress.com site