Well, I think it will be short and sweet tonite. I am really tired and have not felt up to par today. A good nights sleep will do me wonders.
Norm and I went out and bought our tomato and pepper plants today. I couldn't resist a couple of flowers, but we are going to have to really get going on Monday, to get things planted. I have one flower bed to do, and we have beans, beets, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, radishes and lettuce to plant. Do you think we will get all of that done?? We are really late on our garden this year, but, I think it will still do alright. Norm wants to can this year, so, I guess that will be our summer. It sure is nice in the winter tho!!!
Norm was off his oxygen again today. He is doing so well. It will be good when we can find an exuse to have someone listen to his heart to see if he is still in a regular heatbeat. The nurses in rehab will do it, so we may try and find one on Monday when we go for therapy.
We sat out on the deck tonight and watched our sprinklers!!! How nice it is too see water comming out of them!!!!! Our lawn is doing pretty darn good. Now, if I can just get my flowers and veggies planted. But of course, when you get them going, you have to pull the weeds. But, gotta take the bad with the good. There's more good than bad. The tomatoes in the store taste like cardboard so, it will be nice to have them. Our rasberries and really doing well and the onions are coming along, so, we can't complain.
Tomorrow is a "day of rest" and I am going to take advantage of it because we are going to be hoppin' on Monday.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Charlie McCarthy
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Ain't it Grand!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, my sprinklers are sprinklin', my cooler's coolin' and I have cold pizza in the fridge!!!! How much better can you get than that?? All is well here at my house!!
Norm had a great session at speech therapy today. It felt really funny not to have other therapies, and I sure do miss those people, but, it is wonderful to be moving forward. Norman is making so much progress it is just amazing. He was off his oxygen all day long today!!! I couldn't believe it when he got out of the car for speech!!!! We always take it with us, because I am afraid that he will need it and we have left it home.
Anyway, I thought Norm had forgotten about it when he got out of the car, and would notice it when he needed it. He went in and checked in with the receptionist and I parked the car. I just knew that he would need it by the time I got in there, but he didn't. Amazing!!!! He turned it off when he got up this morning and didn't turn it on till he went to be tonight. We even took a small walk without a walker or oxygen!!!! He is really "cookin' with gas" now!!!!
Dr. Mitchell's office called today and said that they want him to have an EKG every three months, so that is all set up. I think poor Norm is going to be poked and prodded for a long time to come. He is well known throughout the valley now, I think. Everyone is keeping an eye on him now. He won't be able to have a bloody nose without someone worrying about it!!!!!
Today when he walked into speech, the receptionist said that he looked really good. He looked different somehow, but she couldn't figure out what it was...then realized that he didn't have any oxygen!!!!! Everyone is really happy for him. He really does look good. Lots of color, and smiles galore.
We had some more wonderful neighbors come over this morning and finish our cooler. I just don't know how to ever thank everyone. They have been such a huge blessing to us. Sometimes I think about when we first thought about moving to Utah. We prayed about it, thought about it... did everything we could think of to help us decide on the right thing. We had a nice home there, my dad and brother were there, we had some wonderful friends there, a wonderful ward, good insurance, I had a job that I loved. The list of good reasons to stay was far longer than the reasons to leave, but yet we moved. True, we missed our children really bad, but there was still that feeling of "why are we doing this???? Is this the right thing to do????" After we got here we looked for a house for four months, while living with Norms sister. We never did find one that we fell in love with. Well, there was one, but we thought at the time, that they were asking too much money. Now we are dealing with ...I wished I had!!!! Anyway, we bought this house because it was closest to what we wanted. We had a lot of trouble with the house and had to do tons of work on it, but it turned out nice enough....but, was just not "home". But, slowly, I have begun to understand why we are here. It wasn't for a house!!!! Aside from being with our children, we live amongst some of the kindest people I have ever met. From the very first day, less than an hour after we pulled that big U-Haul into the driveway, there have been people here willing and ready to help us. And they are that way with anyone that is in need. I have learned a lot about being a friend and neighbor from them. That is part of the reason we are here, to learn from some of the finest. We have had the opportunity to serve in the temple, we have had access to some of the greatest medical people around, and boy did we ever need them. Very talented and caring and ready to do whatever it took to get Norm well. I am so very grateful.
Now I am here, and my children and grandchildren are around me, but I really miss my Dad and my brother and his new wife, my friends and I really miss my job. But, life is good here and I can't help thinking that there are reasons yet to learn, for my being here. I do wish I was able to help my brother with my dad, tho, and help Sally and Rich.(our best friends...he is in kidney failure)
There have been blessings unmeasured, by serving in the temple, and we have learned so much that it is overwhelming. Every day, I am finding myself thinking, there's another reason. I have seen three of my grandchildren born. There is just so much.
Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
~~~Martin Luther King Jr.
Norm had a great session at speech therapy today. It felt really funny not to have other therapies, and I sure do miss those people, but, it is wonderful to be moving forward. Norman is making so much progress it is just amazing. He was off his oxygen all day long today!!! I couldn't believe it when he got out of the car for speech!!!! We always take it with us, because I am afraid that he will need it and we have left it home.
Anyway, I thought Norm had forgotten about it when he got out of the car, and would notice it when he needed it. He went in and checked in with the receptionist and I parked the car. I just knew that he would need it by the time I got in there, but he didn't. Amazing!!!! He turned it off when he got up this morning and didn't turn it on till he went to be tonight. We even took a small walk without a walker or oxygen!!!! He is really "cookin' with gas" now!!!!
Dr. Mitchell's office called today and said that they want him to have an EKG every three months, so that is all set up. I think poor Norm is going to be poked and prodded for a long time to come. He is well known throughout the valley now, I think. Everyone is keeping an eye on him now. He won't be able to have a bloody nose without someone worrying about it!!!!!
Today when he walked into speech, the receptionist said that he looked really good. He looked different somehow, but she couldn't figure out what it was...then realized that he didn't have any oxygen!!!!! Everyone is really happy for him. He really does look good. Lots of color, and smiles galore.
We had some more wonderful neighbors come over this morning and finish our cooler. I just don't know how to ever thank everyone. They have been such a huge blessing to us. Sometimes I think about when we first thought about moving to Utah. We prayed about it, thought about it... did everything we could think of to help us decide on the right thing. We had a nice home there, my dad and brother were there, we had some wonderful friends there, a wonderful ward, good insurance, I had a job that I loved. The list of good reasons to stay was far longer than the reasons to leave, but yet we moved. True, we missed our children really bad, but there was still that feeling of "why are we doing this???? Is this the right thing to do????" After we got here we looked for a house for four months, while living with Norms sister. We never did find one that we fell in love with. Well, there was one, but we thought at the time, that they were asking too much money. Now we are dealing with ...I wished I had!!!! Anyway, we bought this house because it was closest to what we wanted. We had a lot of trouble with the house and had to do tons of work on it, but it turned out nice enough....but, was just not "home". But, slowly, I have begun to understand why we are here. It wasn't for a house!!!! Aside from being with our children, we live amongst some of the kindest people I have ever met. From the very first day, less than an hour after we pulled that big U-Haul into the driveway, there have been people here willing and ready to help us. And they are that way with anyone that is in need. I have learned a lot about being a friend and neighbor from them. That is part of the reason we are here, to learn from some of the finest. We have had the opportunity to serve in the temple, we have had access to some of the greatest medical people around, and boy did we ever need them. Very talented and caring and ready to do whatever it took to get Norm well. I am so very grateful.
Now I am here, and my children and grandchildren are around me, but I really miss my Dad and my brother and his new wife, my friends and I really miss my job. But, life is good here and I can't help thinking that there are reasons yet to learn, for my being here. I do wish I was able to help my brother with my dad, tho, and help Sally and Rich.(our best friends...he is in kidney failure)
There have been blessings unmeasured, by serving in the temple, and we have learned so much that it is overwhelming. Every day, I am finding myself thinking, there's another reason. I have seen three of my grandchildren born. There is just so much.
Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
~~~Martin Luther King Jr.
I'm functioning!!!
Well, we have sunshine today and I slept all night!!! Those are two good things!!! Of course there are a lot more good things, but those are two that haven't happened much lately. I don't seem to do too well on no sleep.
For some reason, the last two days seem to have been pretty complicated. I don't seem to do too well with that either. It's futile, I know, to think that your days should just go smooth and easy. Not!!!! But, it is a foolish dream of mine!!!! The day before yesterday was dark and yukky, and a little cold, so we couldn't go out and do much outside. Norm seems to get cold really easy now, so if it is the least bit cool he is not comfortable. Used to be the other way around. He has lost 30 pounds through all of this, so, one would understand I guess. Most of the weight loss, unfortunately, has been muscle mass, so, he's not so lucky loosing that. Most of what his recovery will be, at this point, getting muscle back..strengthening, and working his heart to get it in shape (thus, the reason for Cardiac Rehab)
We now have a referal for cardiac rehab and I am excited about that because that is where Norm can learn how hard he can push himself, and when he has to stop. It will be good for both of us to learn. When he had his stints put in a couple of years ago, and did cardiac rehab, they would have let me get in there and excercise right along with him, but at this hospital, they won't. But, I can learn too, even if I have to watch.
Wednesday, was our last day for physical therapy, and occupational therapy!!!! The nerve of them to think we should do it on our own!!!!! As I have said before, we will be continuing speech, and I have to get Norm all set up with Cardio rehab. I made appointments with the diabetes clinic, so, it looks like maybe soon, we will get this stuff all straigtened out. I am not sure how long cardio rehab will be. Not sure about the diabetes clinic either. It just takes a bit to get seen as an outpatient rather than an inpatient. You would think they could transper the records, but that is not the way it works.
We are also in the process of finding another primary care doctor, so that complicates things a bit too. In the midst of all of these highly qualified specialists, I didn't realize that the primary doctor is the big guru still. They have a lot of power, and we don't care for the one we have now, so, we are looking. We have an appointment with one that lots of people have recommended, so we shall see.
Yesterday, was another one of those "adventures" We had a wonderful neighbor come and see if he could fix our water cooler, only to discover that it was going to be a lot more complicated than he thought, so maybe we would have to call someone to fix it. In addition to this, this kind friend has some serious illness himself and wasn't feeling so well. I felt awful about him being here, but he insisted.
Our daughter had asked us to babysit Katie a couple of days ago, but called the night before last, to tell us that she wouldn't need us. Then we got a call at about 6:30 a.m. or so, saying, "Mom, can you watch Katie????" Of course we said yes, because she is so much fun and makes the whole world feel better. So, our friend who came to fix the cooler and Katie were here at the same time, and they both needed me.
Then I was petting my dog, Clancy, who is spoiled beyond belief, and my almost best friend, if not best.....and discovered that he had something wrong with his eye. And, we became concerned because it is the only eye he has!!! So, I called the "eye doctor" he goes to and she said to bring him right in. So, I had to call on another wonderful neighbor, who is the wife of the other good neighbor, to come and sit with Norm and Katie, so I could take my Clancy to the vet. When they examined his eye, they discovered he had an ulcer on his eyeball. We are not exactly sure how it got there, but it was still very superficial and not cause for panic. So, $178.00 dollars later, we have a bottle of antibiotic eyedrops to be put in his eye three times a day, and a re-check in 10 days. It is a good thing that I brought him in but, it wasn't a good time.
It was all better when I came home and Katie just smiled and laughed and was really glad to see me. She was so sweet and she makes everyone feel o.k., so all was cool then. Her smile was the answer to all of it.
My grandson Bridger had a doctors appointment yesterday and I usually try to go with Ty when the kids have checkups, so we can both cry when they get shots. Bridger was behind on his shots because he had been sick when they were due before, and the doctor didn't want to give them....so, that poor little one had shots in both legs, and both arms!!!!! That still didn't catch him up, either. Maybe I can go cry with Ty next time.
I sure miss those kids. Ember is my best little buddy and Bridger is finally deciding that "Grandma" isn't really the monster he thought she was, and Austin and Kurtis are, Austin and Kurtis, but, I still miss them. It was wonderful having them over the other night and look forward to having them over more, because Norm is so much better now.
Today we have speech therapy, and that is it!!! We can come home and get something done and slow down a bit. It is nice to have some time to do what you want to do. Of course that dreaded housecleaning thing still crops up and it is not that you "want" to do it, but it still is better than living with crusty stuff on your kitchen floor!!!!
On to sunshine and good stuff today!!!
The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself!
~Benjamin Franklin
For some reason, the last two days seem to have been pretty complicated. I don't seem to do too well with that either. It's futile, I know, to think that your days should just go smooth and easy. Not!!!! But, it is a foolish dream of mine!!!! The day before yesterday was dark and yukky, and a little cold, so we couldn't go out and do much outside. Norm seems to get cold really easy now, so if it is the least bit cool he is not comfortable. Used to be the other way around. He has lost 30 pounds through all of this, so, one would understand I guess. Most of the weight loss, unfortunately, has been muscle mass, so, he's not so lucky loosing that. Most of what his recovery will be, at this point, getting muscle back..strengthening, and working his heart to get it in shape (thus, the reason for Cardiac Rehab)
We now have a referal for cardiac rehab and I am excited about that because that is where Norm can learn how hard he can push himself, and when he has to stop. It will be good for both of us to learn. When he had his stints put in a couple of years ago, and did cardiac rehab, they would have let me get in there and excercise right along with him, but at this hospital, they won't. But, I can learn too, even if I have to watch.
Wednesday, was our last day for physical therapy, and occupational therapy!!!! The nerve of them to think we should do it on our own!!!!! As I have said before, we will be continuing speech, and I have to get Norm all set up with Cardio rehab. I made appointments with the diabetes clinic, so, it looks like maybe soon, we will get this stuff all straigtened out. I am not sure how long cardio rehab will be. Not sure about the diabetes clinic either. It just takes a bit to get seen as an outpatient rather than an inpatient. You would think they could transper the records, but that is not the way it works.
We are also in the process of finding another primary care doctor, so that complicates things a bit too. In the midst of all of these highly qualified specialists, I didn't realize that the primary doctor is the big guru still. They have a lot of power, and we don't care for the one we have now, so, we are looking. We have an appointment with one that lots of people have recommended, so we shall see.
Yesterday, was another one of those "adventures" We had a wonderful neighbor come and see if he could fix our water cooler, only to discover that it was going to be a lot more complicated than he thought, so maybe we would have to call someone to fix it. In addition to this, this kind friend has some serious illness himself and wasn't feeling so well. I felt awful about him being here, but he insisted.
Our daughter had asked us to babysit Katie a couple of days ago, but called the night before last, to tell us that she wouldn't need us. Then we got a call at about 6:30 a.m. or so, saying, "Mom, can you watch Katie????" Of course we said yes, because she is so much fun and makes the whole world feel better. So, our friend who came to fix the cooler and Katie were here at the same time, and they both needed me.
Then I was petting my dog, Clancy, who is spoiled beyond belief, and my almost best friend, if not best.....and discovered that he had something wrong with his eye. And, we became concerned because it is the only eye he has!!! So, I called the "eye doctor" he goes to and she said to bring him right in. So, I had to call on another wonderful neighbor, who is the wife of the other good neighbor, to come and sit with Norm and Katie, so I could take my Clancy to the vet. When they examined his eye, they discovered he had an ulcer on his eyeball. We are not exactly sure how it got there, but it was still very superficial and not cause for panic. So, $178.00 dollars later, we have a bottle of antibiotic eyedrops to be put in his eye three times a day, and a re-check in 10 days. It is a good thing that I brought him in but, it wasn't a good time.
It was all better when I came home and Katie just smiled and laughed and was really glad to see me. She was so sweet and she makes everyone feel o.k., so all was cool then. Her smile was the answer to all of it.
My grandson Bridger had a doctors appointment yesterday and I usually try to go with Ty when the kids have checkups, so we can both cry when they get shots. Bridger was behind on his shots because he had been sick when they were due before, and the doctor didn't want to give them....so, that poor little one had shots in both legs, and both arms!!!!! That still didn't catch him up, either. Maybe I can go cry with Ty next time.
I sure miss those kids. Ember is my best little buddy and Bridger is finally deciding that "Grandma" isn't really the monster he thought she was, and Austin and Kurtis are, Austin and Kurtis, but, I still miss them. It was wonderful having them over the other night and look forward to having them over more, because Norm is so much better now.
Today we have speech therapy, and that is it!!! We can come home and get something done and slow down a bit. It is nice to have some time to do what you want to do. Of course that dreaded housecleaning thing still crops up and it is not that you "want" to do it, but it still is better than living with crusty stuff on your kitchen floor!!!!
On to sunshine and good stuff today!!!
The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself!
~Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Well, Shucky Darn!!!!!
Can you believe that.....we have sinus rhythm!!!!! Norm went to see his cardiologist today to see if he is still in sinus rhythm and he is!!!! How sweet is that???? We really needed to hear that. The doctors are so happy, and we are praying that it stays. Gosh, we are really "stoked". The doctors P.A. did the testing and then as we were leaving the room, the doctor happened to be coming down the hall and asked how it went. We said "we have sinus rhythm" and he put both of his arms up in the air and said "YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!" The nurse's were happy, the P.A. was happy, the doctor was happy!!! Everyone was happy. I even called the hospital and left a message for his heart surgeon. Jake told him, and although he was in surgery at the time, he was really happy for Norm. Norm, most of all, needed to hear some good news. It did him wonders. Of course we have had good news before, but this was for Norm. It was wonderful.
One of the procedures they did, when they were doing the open heart surgery, was called a "maze procedure". In a nutshell, they cauterize the parts of the heart that are trying to "misfire". Sometimes the "maze" takes a while to start working and sometimes it works right away and sometimes it never does. Yesterday marked 13 weeks after surgery, so, it could be that the "maze" has finally kicked in. The sinus rhythm is what they call a "paced rhythm" supported by the pacemaker. That is not necessarily a bad thing...it would be just a little nicer if it was his heart doing it on it's own, but we won't complain. Not in the least!!!!! We'll take it!!!!
We have the go-ahead to begin cardiac rehab, which is another good thing. Dr. Walker wanted Norms heart to have a rest after the cardioversion, but now we get to go to it. That is the last step to Norm's being truly cut loose. Of course he will always have to be monitored to a certain degree, especially after all he has been though, but, this will be an "excersize class" just for the heart.
Everything else seems to be falling into place. It is actually kind of scary. We really haven't had it so bad, but it sure is nice to just see things kind of "flow". Norm has been able to spend more time every day, off his oxygen. Our goal is to get him off of it entirely, during the day, and the more excersise he gets, the sooner he will be able to do that. He may have to have it at night for quite a bit longer, but if we could just loose it during the day, that would be so nice.
The "big sprinkler in the sky" came on over the weekend, with nothing short of a monsoon, (sp?) so our yard got watered. The lawn is looking pretty darn good. Too bad we didn't have our garden in, but, if we had, it may have washed the seeds away!!!! It was a really heavy storm for a few hours. Just what the doctor ordered. At least the lawn doctor.
The rain managed to hold off long enough on Monday to let us get over to my sons house, and seated in a chair outside. Jake just took the burgers off the grill when it cut loose, so, we had to get everything in quickly. It still tasted good tho, and we all had a nice visit. Our daughter and grandaughter came with us, so, we were all there. It was a very nice day. Norm was pretty tired when we got home, so, after his shower, he kind of crashed, and so did I. All is well today tho.
After the doctors office, we went to the plumbing supply store and got some part for the "big, expensive, sprinkler in the ground". Had to get another regulator. We thought they had parts for the one we already had, but they didn't so we paid $70.00 for another one. Is a green lawn worth it???? Of course, we could have a green lawn with just regular house water, but we would pay a lot more than $70.00. Again, I am grateful. It will be so nice to have the sprinklers working. I think our neighbors will have a party!!!!!
We had a visit from my son and his family tonite. They brought over pizza and cooked it here. We had already eaten so they just sat and visited with us while they ate. It was fun. We have a great back yard for the kids to play in so it was a neat time. I love my deck and back yard. Nothing fancy, but just kind of comfortable.
What more could one ask for.....a husband in sinus rhythm, a visit from both of your kids, and ...Taco Bell for dinner???? How do you get better than that????
But, I think I am going to have to make an appointment with my doctor. I have a few friends, (very few, I might add) that love housekeeping. They love the "Little Suzy Homemaker" thing. Well, I think I may be catching that. I hate to admit it. It is a very rare sickness and I have no clue as to how or where I was exposed, but, I feel a little excited about vacuuming and getting dishes done. It just feels so nice to get even a tiny bit done. Today, I got the dog hair off one of my couches, did a bit of laundry, and a few dishes!!! It felt good!!!! (Maybe I am the one that had the 12 minute code!!!)
Real elation is when you feel you could touch a star without standing on tiptoe. ~Doug Larson
One of the procedures they did, when they were doing the open heart surgery, was called a "maze procedure". In a nutshell, they cauterize the parts of the heart that are trying to "misfire". Sometimes the "maze" takes a while to start working and sometimes it works right away and sometimes it never does. Yesterday marked 13 weeks after surgery, so, it could be that the "maze" has finally kicked in. The sinus rhythm is what they call a "paced rhythm" supported by the pacemaker. That is not necessarily a bad thing...it would be just a little nicer if it was his heart doing it on it's own, but we won't complain. Not in the least!!!!! We'll take it!!!!
We have the go-ahead to begin cardiac rehab, which is another good thing. Dr. Walker wanted Norms heart to have a rest after the cardioversion, but now we get to go to it. That is the last step to Norm's being truly cut loose. Of course he will always have to be monitored to a certain degree, especially after all he has been though, but, this will be an "excersize class" just for the heart.
Everything else seems to be falling into place. It is actually kind of scary. We really haven't had it so bad, but it sure is nice to just see things kind of "flow". Norm has been able to spend more time every day, off his oxygen. Our goal is to get him off of it entirely, during the day, and the more excersise he gets, the sooner he will be able to do that. He may have to have it at night for quite a bit longer, but if we could just loose it during the day, that would be so nice.
The "big sprinkler in the sky" came on over the weekend, with nothing short of a monsoon, (sp?) so our yard got watered. The lawn is looking pretty darn good. Too bad we didn't have our garden in, but, if we had, it may have washed the seeds away!!!! It was a really heavy storm for a few hours. Just what the doctor ordered. At least the lawn doctor.
The rain managed to hold off long enough on Monday to let us get over to my sons house, and seated in a chair outside. Jake just took the burgers off the grill when it cut loose, so, we had to get everything in quickly. It still tasted good tho, and we all had a nice visit. Our daughter and grandaughter came with us, so, we were all there. It was a very nice day. Norm was pretty tired when we got home, so, after his shower, he kind of crashed, and so did I. All is well today tho.
After the doctors office, we went to the plumbing supply store and got some part for the "big, expensive, sprinkler in the ground". Had to get another regulator. We thought they had parts for the one we already had, but they didn't so we paid $70.00 for another one. Is a green lawn worth it???? Of course, we could have a green lawn with just regular house water, but we would pay a lot more than $70.00. Again, I am grateful. It will be so nice to have the sprinklers working. I think our neighbors will have a party!!!!!
We had a visit from my son and his family tonite. They brought over pizza and cooked it here. We had already eaten so they just sat and visited with us while they ate. It was fun. We have a great back yard for the kids to play in so it was a neat time. I love my deck and back yard. Nothing fancy, but just kind of comfortable.
What more could one ask for.....a husband in sinus rhythm, a visit from both of your kids, and ...Taco Bell for dinner???? How do you get better than that????
But, I think I am going to have to make an appointment with my doctor. I have a few friends, (very few, I might add) that love housekeeping. They love the "Little Suzy Homemaker" thing. Well, I think I may be catching that. I hate to admit it. It is a very rare sickness and I have no clue as to how or where I was exposed, but, I feel a little excited about vacuuming and getting dishes done. It just feels so nice to get even a tiny bit done. Today, I got the dog hair off one of my couches, did a bit of laundry, and a few dishes!!! It felt good!!!! (Maybe I am the one that had the 12 minute code!!!)
Real elation is when you feel you could touch a star without standing on tiptoe. ~Doug Larson
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thank you!!!
Well, I need to say thank you to my daughter for reminding me of the things we all need to be thinking about this weekend, especially tomorrow. I spent the afternoon, after we came home from church, trying to make some stupid origami flapping crane and trying to think of a way to talk Norm into letting me buy a laptop that was on sale for Memorial Day, and it was such a good price. Gosh, what a loon!!!! Norm went to bed early so, I came down here to the computer and played a bit of Zuma. Then I decided that I would make the rounds of the blogs that I check every day. The first one was my daughters. I would urge any who would like, to check it out. What an awesome job she did in telling us all what we need to have our mind on tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives. http://www.rogerandchristylowe.blogspot.com/
Most of my life, I have been a follower rather than a leader. I never am the first one to get a good idea, and after I see what someone else has done, I wonder why I didn't think to do it, or think it, or act it. This is another one of those times. I am ashamed that I didn't think to do something like Christy did.
Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?
~ Red Skelton
Thank you again, to my daughter for giving me reason to remember and ponder the many blessings we enjoy, living in the United States of America.
Most of my life, I have been a follower rather than a leader. I never am the first one to get a good idea, and after I see what someone else has done, I wonder why I didn't think to do it, or think it, or act it. This is another one of those times. I am ashamed that I didn't think to do something like Christy did.
With malice towards none...With charity for all; With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan-- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865
Cheers for the sailors that fought on the wave for it,
Cheers for the soldiers that always were brave for it,
Tears for the men that went down to the grave for it,
Here comes the flag!
~Arthur Macy, The Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance
I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,one Nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,one Nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?
~ Red Skelton
I, among many others, hopefully, would like to extend my thanks to those who have died to preserve the many freedoms that I enjoy each and every day. To those who have lost sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, I thank you! To those who live, and are fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others, as I sit here and type, I thank you!
To those who would not support those who have fought for the freedom to be able to be in opposition, I would say "I am sorry for you". ~ Frances Lyman
“Let me be a free man. Free to travel. Free to stop. Free to work. Free to choose my own teachers. Free to follow the religion of my fathers. Free to think and talk and act for myself.”
Chief JosephNez Perce Indian Tribe
Thank you again, to my daughter for giving me reason to remember and ponder the many blessings we enjoy, living in the United States of America.
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